If Cal had stayed...

[SlowWalkerSTL]

Again, not pumping Pope. Cal had NBA talent galore. He needed high level talent to win yet only one NC to show for it.

Yea, but he could have had 3 just as easily…maybe more. Bad calls, poor timeout management….just bad breaks. Sucks knowing how close we were every year it seemed like the first half of his career.

There aren’t many coaches in any sport that need top talent to win at a high level. I look at his win percentage over his entire career and it’s pretty impressive. He’s a good coach and a great motivator and recruiter.

Wish he last 5 years here weren’t so horrible. Sucks knowing he won’t have a legacy that celebrates all he did rather than complaining about his failures.

 

[Tim0808]

We are becoming too picky. A bunch of cherry pickers.

Don't tell me Pope's not good enough to coach. The guy just tried to beat Florida, who is probably a one seed in march....

For some reason, Cal woulda done worse with more talent like he's already done here before....

Pope is terrible and would struggle to win championship in a middle school Rec League.

 

[Tim0808]

False. We were already at a low point in Cal's final days, but Pope turned out to not be the person to dig us out of that hole.

Pope turned out to dig the hole deeper.

 

[Tim0808]

Ok Cat Fans, back on topic here. Who gives a crap about what Cal would have done. That ship has sailed. We need to stay focused on task at hand. Pope is terrible, Mitch is terrible and both need to go. Pope will prove that again next year, but until then, the pressure needs to be put on getting Mitch as far away from UK athletics as possible.

 

[Vek96]

What has Pope ever done?

Sweet 16 last season. Better than Calipari did his last 4 seasons here.

 

[UKGrad24]

I disagree Cal with 22M would have been sick! Arkansas is now PG university. Acuff the Jordan Smith jr

I mean listen there’s no comparison with Calipari and Pope let’s just not even go there. The problem is Calipari was done here, his system cannot win. He handcuffs himself before he starts. Calipari would have wasted a ton of that money enriching Wagner and a few others, then relied too heavily on freshman as always. Calipari has repeatedly said winning is not the priority. If you recruit and form a team without winning being the only goal you are not winning championships the line is very thin to do that. You’re already at a disadvantage due to the system we play in, if cut yourself short anywhere else and You will come up short that’s why he’s got nothing but a sweet 16 in 7 going on 8 years. So that kind of coach cannot be at Kentucky. Mark at least had a shot to be something, with Calipari you have no shot. So it’s not that we did a good thing I mean Pope is a flop hire. But you can’t Calipari. The boosters wouldn’t have given him money knowing he’s not playing to win. They were done.

Cal is a better coach. Cal couldn’t stay he can’t win. Pope sucks and shouldn’t m have been hired. All are true. And Calipari didn’t want Arkansas, they’re just the only program willing to take him. Rumors are he reached out to 2 other programs Ohio state being a certainty. They said no for a lot of the reasons I’m stating. So this is known across basketball.

 

[Tim0808]

Sweet 16 last season. Better than Calipari did his last 4 seasons here.

Comparing first two years to first two years are corresponding years.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I don't think even Cal could have screwed up a roster that featured Acuff, Thomas, Dybantsa, Wilson, and JQ.

 

[phunterd]

Multiple things can be true:

- We would be better than we are now if Cal were still here
- We would still underachieve and not be a serious threat to advance to the F4 much less win a title
- It was time for Cal to go

We’d be where Arkansas is now - a distant second to a Florida team that Cal lost to by 30. As an isolated season, that isn’t a horrible year. But it’s the high water mark for Cal and never surpassing that is not acceptable for Kentucky.

 

[Damage_inc]

How are your related to Pope?

Being engaged and interested is the bare minimum. I am engaged and interested. You are engaged and interested

wild that you thought my post was complimentary of pope.

 

[Damage_inc]

Mods. If you actually exist. Make a new rule to auto ban anyone who starts these dumbass cal threads.
How hard is it to understand that cal was a joke the last 6 years he was here? He would still suck. He sucks at Arkansas with all the money he could want. HE WAS DONE. Our mistake was hiring someone just as bad

We don’t need thought police. I don’t agree with silencing folks we don’t agree with. If you don’t like what someone is saying then keep scrolling. This has nothing to do with cal or UK basketball. I feel this way in general. Free country. Free speech

 

[HipTer]

PG - Acuff/Wagner
SG - Thomas/Johnson
SF - Richmond/Knox
PF - We can guess here. CJ Wilson?
C - Quaintance/Moreno


This is a guess based on who he had recruited to KY before leaving, and guys that he recruited at Arkansas. It's VERY talented. It would be better than this mess we have.

Does JQ stay healthy if he never goes to Arizona St? Moreno is able to transition slower as the backup.

Acuff would've been the next great KY PG. I'll take Wagner as the backup.

Good scoring talent at the 2 spot and Jasper doesn't have to play PG where he gets exposed.

Richmond has elevated his game and brings athleticism and defense.

Cal recruited Wilson at Arkansas.

We'll never know.

I for one certainly wanted Calipari gone. And I’m still glad it happened, as it was well past time for that. It was nothing personal. I thought Calipari did a pretty good job in the seat, outside of the main job – e.g., having the primary goal every year be winning a championship.

If Calipari were coaching at a program that didn’t have the ability to put together basically any type of roster a coach wanted it would be one thing. Having a gimmick – signing and relying on as many projected OAD 1st round draft picks as possible - might be perceived as giving a Memphis or Xavier or St. John’s, etc. a chance to go for it and build notoriety. But UK, Kansas, UNC, and Duke (and a few others) don’t need the gimmick. They could build title chasing rosters most every year by developing and relying on All-Conference type upperclassmen, shoring up weak spots through top proven portal players and maybe one OAD with a special needed skill set (to help win rather than provide a place to bide time until the draft), and building a foundation with really good freshman you can mostly retain and develop. That’s the proven higher percentage system. UKGrad24 nailed it. Calipari’s system was a failed and completely unnecessary gamble year-in-and-year-out.

What Calipari did appeared to me to be personal vanity and a desire to build a legacy that he would be known for and keep him in demand even without winning titles.

Calipari always wanted his freshman gone after one year so he could bring in another crop and was careful not to bring in transfers that would compete with OAD freshmen. How is that not for his interest rather than the goal of winning a championship?

 

[Vek96]

Agree to disagree. How many games did we lose at home? How many games did we get blown out and were never in it? How many games did you see players not putting the effort? How manny times did we play on Wednesday if the SEC tournament?
Yes we lost to some really bad teams in the NCAA but now we are 19-12 and not even sniffing the SEC.

Uh, Calipari played on Wednesday in the SEC tournament in 2020, with a team that had a 9-15 record.

 

[Vek96]

I don't think even Cal could have screwed up a roster that featured Acuff, Thomas, Dybantsa, Wilson, and JQ.

So, again, Calipari has to have the best of the best to win. Wow, that’s impressive.

Do you just want to be the Dodgers? Just outspend everyone.

 

[Vek96]

Calipari had the best roster in the history of CBB, and still couldn’t win the title.

 

[Vek96]

Pope is terrible and would struggle to win championship in a middle school Rec League.

And Calipari is worse. You do realize Pope beat his *** at Arkansas, with three main players hurt, against his stacked roster? Do you have amnesia?

 

[Anon1759768907]

And Calipari is worse. You do realize Pope beat his *** at Arkansas, with three main players hurt, against his stacked roster? Do you have amnesia?

his stacked roster is a 2 seed, stop being blinded by head to head

 

[Tim0808]

And Calipari is worse. You do realize Pope beat his *** at Arkansas, with three main players hurt, against his stacked roster? Do you have amnesia?

I was not talking about Cal. Pope is horrible! However, since you want to talk about Cal. Cal will end up with a national championship, multiple national finalist, multiple final fours, multiple elite eights and some of the best teams to ever wear the Kentucky blue. Cal will have over 900 wins when he is done, maybe a 1000. (With less than 400 losses, he currently has 285).
If Pope coaches another 33 years (or until he is 86 years old) at the rate he has coached the last 11 years, he will end up with 4 sweet sixteen finishes, 920 wins and 536 losses.

 

[wccat]

And multiple blowouts.

Not only blowouts but not even competitive in the second half. Games have been over by halftime.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

So, again, Calipari has to have the best of the best to win. Wow, that’s impressive.

Do you just want to be the Dodgers? Just outspend everyone.

To answer your question, yes, that's exactly what I want. I wish we had $50 million to spend on a roster.

 

[SkyPrince]

Get real. Knox and Richmond would have never both stayed a second year at UK.

I’d even be surprised if Wagner would still be here.

Fact is, even if all that went right you still have a coach who ***** the bed every chance he gets. Just because Pope is total *** doesn’t mean Cal doesn’t suck any less. Neither one remotely deserve to be at UK.

Who knows but as an AD none of that matters
You don't let a HOF coach walk unless you have an iron clad commitment from the guy you want to replace him.
You can't lose Cal and that recruiting class plus the other players on the roster just to throw a line in the water and see what bites.
The situation with Drew's wife if that was even a thing, should have been resolved before Barnhart could assume Drew was taking the job.
Another example of Barnhart not doing his homework on the situation.

 

[KyWideWes]

You just can't talk about Cal in a singular way. Something happened to him in covid and it took him going somewhere new to snap out of it. The other thing is he really struggles without an elite PG which is back to getting.

 

[Loucatfan30]

I mean listen there’s no comparison with Calipari and Pope let’s just not even go there. The problem is Calipari was done here, his system cannot win. He handcuffs himself before he starts. Calipari would have wasted a ton of that money enriching Wagner and a few others, then relied too heavily on freshman as always. Calipari has repeatedly said winning is not the priority. If you recruit and form a team without winning being the only goal you are not winning championships the line is very thin to do that. You’re already at a disadvantage due to the system we play in, if cut yourself short anywhere else and You will come up short that’s why he’s got nothing but a sweet 16 in 7 going on 8 years. So that kind of coach cannot be at Kentucky. Mark at least had a shot to be something, with Calipari you have no shot. So it’s not that we did a good thing I mean Pope is a flop hire. But you can’t Calipari. The boosters wouldn’t have given him money knowing he’s not playing to win. They were done.

Cal is a better coach. Cal couldn’t stay he can’t win. Pope sucks and shouldn’t m have been hired. All are true. And Calipari didn’t want Arkansas, they’re just the only program willing to take him. Rumors are he reached out to 2 other programs Ohio state being a certainty. They said no for a lot of the reasons I’m stating. So this is known across basketball.

Arkansas will be more relevant than us until Cal retires or Pope is gone. The longer it takes the harder it will be to correct. They are blowing up with Acuff. Everyone including us tried to Jordan Smith and he went to Arkansas because of Acuff is what was said. As soon as next year best PG signs which he will Beckham Black that's 3 in a row.

 

[UKGrad24]

Arkansas will be more relevant than us until Cal retires or Pope is gone. The longer it takes the harder it will be to correct. They are blowing up with Acuff. Everyone including us tried to Jordan Smith and he went to Arkansas because of Acuff is what was said. As soon as next year best PG signs which he will Beckham Black that's 3 in a row.

Calipari won’t win anything at Arkansas simply because his system doesn’t allow for it barring something insane. They will for sure be more relevant than us until Pope is out, along with every other SEC program save a couple. Calipari definitely won’t win one this year or make a final four. They’re going to get beat inside too much. Calipari has to have a big man. Also these freshman classes are really hit and miss. I doubt Calipari will be there past 2 more, and likely there won’t be a class this good in those. Most freshman who get pumped lately end up average or even worse.

I have to say, and i don’t like it, but if you’re going to hire Pope, just secure Calipari’s legacy and keep him until retirement. It’s caused a lot of problems and if this is who you’re going to hire then wtf?

This is so why Mitch is retiring before he wanted to lol. This is such a bad mistake, his legacy is now tarnished. 24 years, Gillispie / Pope is all he will be remembered for. He’s trying to get out to curve the blowback he’s about to get. What’s even funnier is he now needs the Calipari hire to make it look better on himself. Mitch needs ole Cal. But Calipari with his tweet already exposed that, so he won’t get it. Everyone knows you didn’t hire him. Worst AD in UK history bar none

 

[Cats192]

PG - Acuff/Wagner
SG - Thomas/Johnson
SF - Richmond/Knox
PF - We can guess here. CJ Wilson?
C - Quaintance/Moreno


This is a guess based on who he had recruited to KY before leaving, and guys that he recruited at Arkansas. It's VERY talented. It would be better than this mess we have.

Does JQ stay healthy if he never goes to Arizona St? Moreno is able to transition slower as the backup.

Acuff would've been the next great KY PG. I'll take Wagner as the backup.

Good scoring talent at the 2 spot and Jasper doesn't have to play PG where he gets exposed.

Richmond has elevated his game and brings athleticism and defense.

Cal recruited Wilson at Arkansas.

We'll never know.

It's wrong to assume that Calipari would be doing the same things here had he stayed.

1. He was clearly very complacent in all aspects.

2. He wasn't getting the NIL support from boosters/fans after his lackluster results.

3. Mitch was handicapping what Cal could do NIL deal wise.

Cal has free reign again at Arkansas. He has a chip on his shoulder to prove UK fans "wrong" for not wanting him.

Arkansas was a 10 seed last year.
Kentucky was a 3 seed last year.

Arkansas will be 5 seed this year.
Kentucky is likely a 7 seed (maybe can win our way onto the 7 seed line).

Cal isn't having elite results. Cal getting a 10 seed and a 5 seed at Kentucky wouldn't have Kentucky fans happy.

 

[BigBluefoot]

Good grief. It's almost as we have some people unable to.learn the pattern after watching it for 13 seasons.
Cal is not the answer.
Pope is not the answer.
Neither are the answer for this program.

 

[Artlaibesghost]

All this if only we had Cal NONSENSE. His record at Arky with all these " studs" being mentioned is nearly identical to Pope. They both got to Sweet 16 last year and are 1-1 head to head. People still buying Cals used cars here I see. Cal is a Covair and Pope is anywhere Edsel.

 

[Tim0808]

I for one certainly wanted Calipari gone. And I’m still glad it happened, as it was well past time for that. It was nothing personal. I thought Calipari did a pretty good job in the seat, outside of the main job – e.g., having the primary goal every year be winning a championship.

If Calipari were coaching at a program that didn’t have the ability to put together basically any type of roster a coach wanted it would be one thing. Having a gimmick – signing and relying on as many projected OAD 1st round draft picks as possible - might be perceived as giving a Memphis or Xavier or St. John’s, etc. a chance to go for it and build notoriety. But UK, Kansas, UNC, and Duke (and a few others) don’t need the gimmick. They could build title chasing rosters most every year by developing and relying on All-Conference type upperclassmen, shoring up weak spots through top proven portal players and maybe one OAD with a special needed skill set (to help win rather than provide a place to bide time until the draft), and building a foundation with really good freshman you can mostly retain and develop. That’s the proven higher percentage system. UKGrad24 nailed it. Calipari’s system was a failed and completely unnecessary gamble year-in-and-year-out.

What Calipari did appeared to me to be personal vanity and a desire to build a legacy that he would be known for and keep him in demand even without winning titles.

Calipari always wanted his freshman gone after one year so he could bring in another crop and was careful not to bring in transfers that would compete with OAD freshmen. How is that not for his interest rather than the goal of winning a championship?

I am not sure we are doing that great of a job of building a roster since Cal left.

 

[RunninRichie]

Calipari's last season here we were a 3 seed. We had the 7th most efficient offense that season in college basketball.

Not really sure he had to "change".

He literally hired Welch to coach the offense that season. And still messed it up by not starting Reed and Rob.

 

[Anon1768287303]

At least Cal could recruit.

I

Yep. I watched Arkansas Missouri today. He seemed interested to me lol.

I still believe that is because he is at a different school with something new to prove to those who have said the modern game has passed him by.
Give him a 9 million dollar a year lifetime contract with a ridiculous buyout and see how interested and engaged he becomes.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

He literally hired Welch to coach the offense that season. And still messed it up by not starting Reed and Rob.

I mean i certainly agree with the bizzare decision regarding not starting those guys tho FWIW Reed did still play the lions share of the mins. So whatever reason it was, the offense was still very good. Not to mention that two years prior to that, the 2022 team had the 5th most efficient offense.

Maybe Cal should have hired a defensive specialists lol.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

I

I still believe that is because he is at a different school with something new to prove to those who have said the modern game has passed him by.
Give him a 9 million dollar a year lifetime contract with a ridiculous buyout and see how interested and engaged he becomes.

It's certainly possible that energized him.

It's just.........people seem to think 2015 "chaged things". I dunno. Cal has a massive ego. He doesn't really strike me as someone that has "checked out".

As evident by the fact that we still had some very good teams even at the tail end of his tenure here. Those 22 and 24 teams were very good. They choked in March when it mattered but that doesn't negate the fact that those seasons were good.

 

[Bugs092056]

I don’t understand why it is either love or hate Cal with our fans. It’s weird.

I am a Cal lover, but I hated his last 4-5 years here. It doesn’t make me forget all the great stuff he did while he was here and honestly, any success we have down the road, will be because of the huge brand he built us back into.

It didn’t end the way any of us wanted it to. None of us wanted his first 5-6 years to stop, but they did. It happens. We all held on too long hoping it would turn around. Why we forgot what happens when we hire coaches who haven’t proven themselves without speaking to a few different candidates is beyond me.

Hopefully either Pope turns into a superhero by next season or we find a coach who can perform to expectations.

I guess I should have clarified. Cal did work here until he didnt. Pope isn't the remedy but late era Cal wasnt much better.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

I guess I should have clarified. Cal did work here until he didnt. Pope isn't the remedy but late era Cal wasnt much better.

Yeah...I guess one could make that argument. Tho I would say 2022 we prob had a national title contender. We had a good enough year to earn a 2 seed and IIRC we were in the convo for a 1 at some point. I've yet to see a Pope team have that.

The late Cal era the obvious black mark was the two R1 exits..........not necessarily the seasons or the fact we had bad teams.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

That's why I'm always............I get it. People remember March. But 2024 was a fun team. That team shot 41% from 3. They were fun to watch IMO

 

[HipTer]

I am not sure we are doing that great of a job of building a roster since Cal left.

This year I'm pretty sure we did not - at least in regard to the Portal.

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

Calipari's last season here we were a 3 seed. We had the 7th most efficient offense that season in college basketball.

Not really sure he had to "change".

Then lost his final two games because he was too stubborn to start who needed to start. Ya was great.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Then lost his final two games because he was too stubborn to start who needed to start. Ya was great.

He started the same players that he did all season long............that earned those seeds to begin with.

People get hung up over Reed not starting but he had played the second most % of mins on the team. Only Reeves played more.

I mean these were the mins Reed was playing at the end of the season

 

[KYSouthpaw]

Calipari's last season here we were a 3 seed. We had the 7th most efficient offense that season in college basketball.

Not really sure he had to "change".

Cal had to change because he burned the bridges with all of the major donors. Who was going to fund the NIL deals of all of his NBA superstars?

He got the fresh start he needed with Arky and a fresh group of donors he hadn't burned bridges with...including the chicken people. He was done succeeding here.

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

Cal just lost to this same Florida team by a million. Just go to the Arkansas board. You’re clearly just a Calipari fan. Some of us have been here long before Cal. We actually had 7 national championships before Cal. Pope doesn’t look to be the answer. But the answer sure as **** ain’t Cal.

Same goes to the ppl that obsess over pitino...the guy that can't beat Cal