Does Pope get fired if they finish last in the SEC?

[Louis_Skunt]

I dont want him fired yet, but hypothetically speaking, does he get a 3rd year if they place dead last and miss the tourny?

I hate to be a Debbie downer, but after watching all these other games lately…we look so unorganized without a shred of defensive knowledge. (That’s back to back years with Popes inability to teach defense).

I’m hoping for a turnaround, but we’re going to need more of a Christmas miracle to get this back on the tracks.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

I dont want him fired yet, but hypothetically speaking, does he get a 3rd year if they place dead last and miss the tourny?

I hate to be a Debbie downer, but after watching all these other games lately…we look so unorganized without a shred of defensive knowledge. (That’s back to back years with Popes inability to teach defense).

I’m hoping for a turnaround, but we’re going to need more of a Christmas miracle to get this back on the tracks.

Go to bed

 

[CAWOOD FAN]

Does the team get fired/

 

[One2Three]

If Pope is last in the SEC, that means he’s likely sitting with a losing record. Considering it happened a few years due to Covid weirdness, is it suddenly acceptable to have an occasional losing season despite it never happening in over a 100 years simply because we had one recently?

Calipari had 3 Final Fours, a title and Covid go save his butt. Is Pope really going to safely ride through a losing season all on the graces of a 24-12 (10-8) 6th place in the SEC, Sweet 16 blowout loss to Tennessee?

Are we seriously that f*cked as a program where that would be acceptable?

I was thinking the only way Pope comes back is if he manages to salvage the season by getting into the tournament. But a losing season on $20 million budget? Boosters will riot.

 

[buc puppet]

If Pope is last in the SEC, that means he’s likely sitting with a losing record. Considering it happened a few years due to Covid weirdness, is it suddenly acceptable to have an occasional losing season despite it never happening in over a 100 years simply because we had one recently?

Calipari had 3 Final Fours, a title and Covid go save his butt. Is Pope really going to safely ride through a losing season all on the graces of a 24-12 (10-8) 6th place in the SEC, Sweet 16 blowout loss to Tennessee?

Are we seriously that f*cked as a program where that would be acceptable?

I was thinking the only way Pope comes back is if he manages to salvage the season by getting into the tournament. But a losing season on $20 million budget? Boosters will riot.

We will have a losing season. He won’t get fired. Next season will be proving ground

 

[One2Three]

We will have a losing season. He won’t get fired. Next season will be proving ground

He can’t come back on a losing season. Pope would be stupid to even try as he will not have the booster NIL support necessary to fund even a half-decent team and fans will give him and his family hell until he leaves. If he’s foolish enough to put his family through that then he isn’t the man I thought he was.

If you think the booing from the last couple games is bad, imagine how bad it’ll be going forward with a losing season strapped around his neck. He’ll be treated like Dallas treated Nico Harrison after the Luka trade.

 

[BlueSince92]

Yes.

Barnhart will not fire Pope after year two.

Come in dead last in the SEC after the nonconference results we’ve seen and it will be out of Barnhart’s hands.

(For reference, Billy Gillispie’s first year he tied for second place in the SEC and was SEC co-Coach of the Year. Billy Gillispie’s second season he tied for seventh place out of twelve SEC teams. No matter how much we love you, you can’t finish sixteenth out of sixteen in conference and keep this job.)

 

[buc puppet]

He can’t come back on a losing season. Pope would be stupid to even try as he will not have the booster NIL support necessary to fund even a half-decent team and fans will give him and his family hell until he leaves. If he’s foolish enough to put his family through that then he isn’t the man I thought he was.

If you think the booing from the last couple games is bad, imagine how bad it’ll be going forward with a losing season strapped around his neck. He’ll be treated like Dallas treated Nico Harrison after the Luka trade.

Mitch won’t fire him after just his second season.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

If Pope is last in the SEC, that means he’s likely sitting with a losing record. Considering it happened a few years due to Covid weirdness, is it suddenly acceptable to have an occasional losing season despite it never happening in over a 100 years simply because we had one recently?

Calipari had 3 Final Fours, a title and Covid go save his butt. Is Pope really going to safely ride through a losing season all on the graces of a 24-12 (10-8) 6th place in the SEC, Sweet 16 blowout loss to Tennessee?

Are we seriously that f*cked as a program where that would be acceptable?

I was thinking the only way Pope comes back is if he manages to salvage the season by getting into the tournament. But a losing season on $20 million budget? Boosters will riot.

Cal had 4 FF’s. The first one his second season. Following an E8 and 30 win season his first year. He also started basically from scratch.

Pope is no where near that trajectory.

The boosters seem to have a shorter leash now. Pope has done himself no favors by embarrassing UK.

losing is one thing. Pitino’s first team lost a lot. But they did not embarrass UK. In fact, they did UK proud.

Getting boos in Bridgestone on national TV does not buy good faith.

 

[One2Three]

Mitch won’t fire him after just his second season.

Mitch won’t get to decide if boosters revolt.

 

[Goingfor9]

We willl have to win some games for pope to keep his job. Boosters know where this is headed and there isn’t an appetite for a lame duck year three after all the lame duck years with cal. Unless pope haas a team largely assembled for next year with some studs.

 

[One2Three]

We willl have to win some games for pope to keep his job. Boosters know where this is headed and there isn’t an appetite for a lame duck year three after all the lame duck years with cal. Unless pope haas a team largely assembled for next year with some studs.

If he pulled off Stokes, I could see most people, including boosters be willing to give Pope another year. Problem is it’s looking likelier that we end up with no 2026 recruits. What exactly does a 3rd season with no recruits promise? Hope he manages to pull off an elite portal transfer class when he’s failed to do that two years in a row?

 

[Goingfor9]

If he pulled off Stokes, I could see most people, including boosters be willing to give Pope another year. Problem is it’s looking likelier that we end up with no 2026 recruits. What exactly does a 3rd season with no recruits promise? Hope he manages to pull off an elite portal transfer class when he’s failed to do that two years in a row?

When is the last time we had no one in the early period.

 

[One2Three]

When is the last time we had no one in the early period.

I don’t think it ever happened with Cal. You’d have to go back to Gillispie? Tubby, maybe?

 

[ukfan042]

If this continues to trend down, the lack of people in the stands will change their mind quick. The crowd tonight was not good and if we lose to IU on Saturday, it will only get worse

 

[FitchandMurray29]

Since 2018, last place in the SEC has had no more than 3 conference wins.

Thats approx. 10-21 record…yes he gets fired at 10-21 geeze

 

[UKCowboys]

He isn't getting fired this year LMAO

 

[akaukswoosh]

Since 2018, last place in the SEC has had no more than 3 conference wins.

Thats approx. 10-21 record…yes he gets fired at 10-21 geeze

10-21? Both Pope AND Mitch should join Stoops lol

 

[UKbrassowTipIn93]

They wont finish last.

 

[bbnkat02]

Yes.

Barnhart will not fire Pope after year two.

Come in dead last in the SEC after the nonconference results we’ve seen and it will be out of Barnhart’s hands.

(For reference, Billy Gillispie’s first year he tied for second place in the SEC and was SEC co-Coach of the Year. Billy Gillispie’s second season he tied for seventh place out of twelve SEC teams. No matter how much we love you, you can’t finish sixteenth out of sixteen in conference and keep this job.)

Billy G wasn't fired for the bad second season per se....he was fired due to lack of accountability and off court issues.

That famous post game conference where he said he "wasn't an ambassador for UK" was the nail. He was gone after that.

 

[Kentucky15]

If Pope is last in the SEC, that means he’s likely sitting with a losing record. Considering it happened a few years due to Covid weirdness, is it suddenly acceptable to have an occasional losing season despite it never happening in over a 100 years simply because we had one recently?

Calipari had 3 Final Fours, a title and Covid go save his butt. Is Pope really going to safely ride through a losing season all on the graces of a 24-12 (10-8) 6th place in the SEC, Sweet 16 blowout loss to Tennessee?

Are we seriously that f*cked as a program where that would be acceptable?

I was thinking the only way Pope comes back is if he manages to salvage the season by getting into the tournament. But a losing season on $20 million budget? Boosters will riot.

Mitch Barnhart has been creating apathy and lowering expectations here for 20 years. He’s done it slowly but intentionally. Pope would survive being last yes.

I remember before the Barnhart effect when we would nearly fire coaches for too many 10 loss seasons or too many elite 8’s. Now look at the what this bum has created. It’s acceptable to completely suck at UK now. And we’ve still got 25% of the base that’s okay with it too, as long as the coach is okay.

 

[JakeKx]

Just delaying the inevitable but what are our options at this point? If we don’t spend the money to get one of the best then what’s the point? You end up with another pope.
And due to that nerd in the AD office we can’t afford to spend the money to get one

 

[MegaBlue05]

Billy G wasn't fired for the bad second season per se....he was fired due to lack of accountability and off court issues.

That famous post game conference where he said he "wasn't an ambassador for UK" was the nail. He was gone after that.

Thank you for pointing that out. So many fail to realize BCG was fired for cause, not for his 40-27 record.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

If Pope is last in the SEC, that means he’s likely sitting with a losing record. Considering it happened a few years due to Covid weirdness, is it suddenly acceptable to have an occasional losing season despite it never happening in over a 100 years simply because we had one recently?

Calipari had 3 Final Fours, a title and Covid go save his butt. Is Pope really going to safely ride through a losing season all on the graces of a 24-12 (10-8) 6th place in the SEC, Sweet 16 blowout loss to Tennessee?

Are we seriously that f*cked as a program where that would be acceptable?

I was thinking the only way Pope comes back is if he manages to salvage the season by getting into the tournament. But a losing season on $20 million budget? Boosters will riot.

It had not been 100 years. Did you forget the Eddie Sutton season? Obviously it is not something that is acceptable. I don't know that it automatically equals firing your second year coach though. That is as far I care to discuss such a negative hypothetical at this point.

 

[One2Three]

It had not been 100 years. Did you forget the Eddie Sutton season? Obviously it is not something that is acceptable. I don't know that it automatically equals firing your second year coach though. That is as far I care to discuss such a negative hypothetical at this point.

How do you think boosters will feel if Pope had a losing season and has no top 50 recruits coming in and is given another year? Do you think they’ll shrug it off after spending $20 million?

Other coaches across basketball and football have been fired for less after losing the graces of boosters. In this NIL and transfer portal era, there’s no excuses.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

Mitch Barnhart has been creating apathy and lowering expectations here for 20 years. He’s done it slowly but intentionally. Pope would survive being last yes.

I remember before the Barnhart effect when we would nearly fire coaches for too many 10 loss seasons or too many elite 8’s. Now look at the what this bum has created. It’s acceptable to completely suck at UK now. And we’ve still got 25% of the base that’s okay with it too, as long as the coach is okay.

Suggesting that our expectations have fallen is beyond ridiculous. You think he has intentionally drug the program down? I assume you are referring to Tubby with the second part. Who was AD then? Nobody is OK with how things are going. Some of us just aren't impetuous babies that demand heads roll as soon as things don't go our way. It hasn't actually been one bad season for Pope yet. I'll see if we can turn this around before making definitive declarations.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

Just delaying the inevitable but what are our options at this point? If we don’t spend the money to get one of the best then what’s the point? You end up with another pope.
And due to that nerd in the AD office we can’t afford to spend the money to get one

Nothing is inevitable at this point. That is just an extreme personality flaw that makes you think that way.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

How do you think boosters will feel if Pope had a losing season and has no top 50 recruits coming in and is given another year? Do you think they’ll shrug it off after spending $20 million?

Other coaches across basketball and football have been fired for less after losing the graces of boosters. In this NIL and transfer portal era, there’s no excuses.

I don't know exactly how boosters might react and neither do you. The season is a long way from played out so you are just going extreme negative with a hypothetical at this point anyway.

 

[One2Three]

I don't know exactly how boosters might react and neither do you. The season is a long way from played out so you are just going extreme negative with a hypothetical at this point anyway.

Then why are you on a thread discussion the hypothetical situation where Kentucky ends up last in the SEC? This whole thread is about the hypothetical.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

Then why are you on a thread discussion the hypothetical situation where Kentucky ends up last in the SEC? This whole thread is about the hypothetical.

I never said you couldn't engage in hypotheticals. I said you are going extreme negative with your hypothetical.

To be fair I guess it is more the OP's hypothetical as opposed to being yours.

 

[Kywildcat_nation28]

If Pope doesn't make the tournament he has to get fired! 22 million reasons

 

[Tri-Countycat]

If JQ doesn’t come back and Mo can’t help I can certainly see a scenario where this team loses 10-13 games in the SEC, I don’t know what place that would put you in but unless Pope has some big name recruits signed and sealed, I could see a world where he steps down or is asked to.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Yes.

Barnhart will not fire Pope after year two.

Come in dead last in the SEC after the nonconference results we’ve seen and it will be out of Barnhart’s hands.

(For reference, Billy Gillispie’s first year he tied for second place in the SEC and was SEC co-Coach of the Year. Billy Gillispie’s second season he tied for seventh place out of twelve SEC teams. No matter how much we love you, you can’t finish sixteenth out of sixteen in conference and keep this job.)

Let’s hope not! With worthless as Mitch Barnhart at the helm though anything is possible. He may even negotiate a new deal in the middle of the season that says if he finishes 10th or better and makes the NIT that he gets an extra year and a bonus.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

We willl have to win some games for pope to keep his job. Boosters know where this is headed and there isn’t an appetite for a lame duck year three after all the lame duck years with cal. Unless pope haas a team largely assembled for next year with some studs.

Which he doesn’t. He can’t lock down any recruit, even the ones who are 100% CB and signing is imminent.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

When is the last time we had no one in the early period.

A long freaking time and most of the elite guys have already signed or committed. The two were supposedly were getting have now went radio silent and pushed it off until the end.

 

[Ukwazoo3]

Everyone keeps bringing up Clyde being fired after year 2, but he also had all kinds of reports of borderline abuse towards his players and no relationship with the fans or administration.

Pope won't be fired until year 3. Only way he gets fired before that is if some giant scandal breaks.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

If this continues to trend down, the lack of people in the stands will change their mind quick. The crowd tonight was not good and if we lose to IU on Saturday, it will only get worse

I’m not looking forward to watching us try to stop Wilkerson and Devries from 3. I could honestly see another 30 point plus effort from both of them.

 

[RuppLives]

We can talk in hypothetical scenarios all day long. Let's see how things play out and reassess in February. I think regardless, he gets a 3rd year.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I don't know exactly how boosters might react and neither do you. The season is a long way from played out so you are just going extreme negative with a hypothetical at this point anyway.

After spending 20 million dollars I think they will be and already are pissed off. They won’t continue writing large checks when guys don’t play hard and get embarrassed.

 

[One2Three]

Everyone keeps bringing up Clyde being fired after year 2, but he also had all kinds of reports of borderline abuse towards his players and no relationship with the fans or administration.

Pope won't be fired until year 3. Only way he gets fired before that is if some giant scandal breaks.

BCG never had a losing season, either. That and a $20 million roster.

This isn’t 2009 anymore. Boosters will ultimately decide if they want to keep supporting the coach or if they start prodding the admin into looking elsewhere for coaching.