Imagine Bruce Pearl at UK with 22 mil

JwUKFan11

Heisman
Nov 11, 2011
6,697
13,019
113
I love how you guys make up your own context lol, I never said he wasn’t a great coach lol
I think you are misunderstanding me. I wasn't implying you said that just that since you brought up Cal getting 5 stars that is doesn't take the top HS talent in every class to be a good recruiter and roster builder.
 

JwUKFan11

Heisman
Nov 11, 2011
6,697
13,019
113
But is that cheating? Are there rules that prohibited that specifically?

I mean, Mitch was our AD when Cal was coach and when Stoops was coach. I can assure you, most of our high profile players were not coming for free or because of their love of UK and KY. We were breaking rules then just like a lot of big programs.
I disagree, I don't think we were breaking rules and there were even a couple of FBI investigations that never implicated UK.
 

KYWC36

All-Conference
Jul 11, 2013
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I think you are misunderstanding me. I wasn't implying you said that just that since you brought up Cal getting 5 stars that is doesn't take the top HS talent in every class to be a good recruiter and roster builder.
Right … that was my point. Most people on this board thinks you have to have 5 stars to be “talented” - which isn’t true and that’s my point about Pearl - he recruits the same level of players we currently have … sadly lol pope isn’t winning with them right now though consistently
 
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JwUKFan11

Heisman
Nov 11, 2011
6,697
13,019
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Right … that was my point. Most people on this board thinks you have to have 5 stars to be “talented” - which isn’t true and that’s my point about Pearl - he recruits the same level of players we currently have … sadly lol pope isn’t winning with them right now though consistently
By same level you mean HS star level. There is a big difference in seeing what they are rated coming out of HS or ranked in the transfer portal and what the coach can get out of them or picking guys that will exceed their rating.
 
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Tri-Countycat

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Jul 1, 2025
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At this point. I can’t believe I would even type this. I would pick Tony Bennett over Mark Pope. It would be like watching paint dry but at least we would be good at something. Our defense will be lock solid. We aren’t good at anything right now.
 
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KYWC36

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Jul 11, 2013
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By same level you mean HS star level. There is a big difference in seeing what they are rated coming out of HS or ranked in the transfer portal and what the coach can get out of them or picking guys that will exceed their rating.
there is, but this is where I differ than most everyone here, people throw off on this roster and I disagree. Talent is not the issue, every player we brought in where good pick ups, they just don't play well together and Pope cannot seem to make them mix, now you can definitely blame that on Pope, he controls the culture, but this team is talented
 
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Anon1759768907

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there is, but this is where I differ than most everyone here, people throw off on this roster and I disagree. Talent is not the issue, every player we brought in where good pick ups, they just don't play well together and Pope cannot seem to make them mix, now you can definitely blame that on Pope, he controls the culture, but this team is talented
i mean choosing to quit on the wilson recruitment and settle for mo was bad, and not trying for ament, and prioritizing a guy like aberdeen

so there were a bunch of headscratchers for sure
 

UKBB4Ever

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Jul 3, 2025
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there is, but this is where I differ than most everyone here, people throw off on this roster and I disagree. Talent is not the issue, every player we brought in where good pick ups, they just don't play well together and Pope cannot seem to make them mix, now you can definitely blame that on Pope, he controls the culture, but this team is talented
Preaching to the choir with me. I think this is a very talented group of players.

They are not a talented team. That’s on Pope.

Nor do they play hard for a whole game. That’s on Pope.

They aren’t getting better individually. That’s on Pope.

They do not play with discipline. That’s on Pope. He doesn’t even act when a guy just walks out of bounds with the ball.

They don’t play with heart. That’s not really on Pope except for bringing them here.
 

Anon1768287303

Redshirt
Jan 13, 2026
4
3
3
Just asking, but has the University of Kentucky done away with that pesky mandatory retirement at age 70 rule that they used to oust coach Rupp in the 1970s? If not, it seems that any 67 year old candidate would only get 3 years.
I would take Pearl at 67 yrs old. Give him 3 years and after that see if he is up for more.
 

JwUKFan11

Heisman
Nov 11, 2011
6,697
13,019
113
there is, but this is where I differ than most everyone here, people throw off on this roster and I disagree. Talent is not the issue, every player we brought in where good pick ups, they just don't play well together and Pope cannot seem to make them mix, now you can definitely blame that on Pope, he controls the culture, but this team is talented
I think there is talent but not the level or mix needed for here. Besides Oweh we don’t have a sure fire player. The rest are great role players but you have like 8-9 guys that should be the 3rd or 4th guy that are all trying to be the 1st or 2nd option. I just think it’s poorly constructed imo
 
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Farsight Clone

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Aug 30, 2025
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I don't think it's worth speculating about Pearl at UK. Even if the Pope era ends after next season Pearl will be 67 going into his first season. Do we really want to hire a coach in his final years on the job, who already retired once...?

With that said I do think, if this doesn't work out with Pope, Kentucky MUST get someone proven this go-round. No more learning on the job, we need to know you've done it before. I think someone with Pearl/Oats' pedigree is the minimum--ie consistent success and at least a final four.
Every school Pearl coached out that school has became a better basketball program. He revived Tennessee and made Auburn a decent national name. This should be Pearl's 2nd year. I bet we would be a 3-4 loss team this year if we had Pearl.
 

TFCat11

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Mar 25, 2019
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Fans can argue back and forth about why or why they don’t like Bruce Pearl, but I can guaranGDtee every single one of you this…

He would wipe the court up with Pope or last 5 years Calipari, every single day of the week and twice on Sunday, with what UK could put in his tool box to compete with the rest of the high major programs!

And there ain’t nobody that can convince me otherwise!
 

TTTblue24

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Feb 1, 2004
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Soon as cow left I told anyone that asked I wanted pearl, he’s Pitino like in holding players accountable with tough love and would embrace the fans way more than Rick did. I don’t care about analytics, I care about coaching and seeing a staff work to put our players in the best positions to succeed…….i can’t say I see that in pope and this staff. We do nothing to try and change anything it seems and these guys make 6-7 figures., give Pearl any day and all day.
 
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UKGrad24

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Apr 2, 2024
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You do realize that Bruce Pearl effectively made Tennessee and Auburn relevant in basketball?
I get not everyone is up on this stuff, but Pearl not only made them relevant, really for this first time, he took both further than they’d ever been and to the top of the country lol.

The guy literally take trash, garbage programs and takes them to national championship aspirations and quickly.

This is never having ever coached a basketball school, let alone a blue blood.

We’ve had guys who can’t even get close to that with the best brand and resources.

It’s as bad as “Pope can’t shoot for them”. It’s unbelievable how bad some of these post are. Lowest IQ stuff I’ve ever seen.
 
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Madhuvan

Sophomore
Aug 11, 2024
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I don't think it's worth speculating about Pearl at UK. Even if the Pope era ends after next season Pearl will be 67 going into his first season. Do we really want to hire a coach in his final years on the job, who already retired once...?

With that said I do think, if this doesn't work out with Pope, Kentucky MUST get someone proven this go-round. No more learning on the job, we need to know you've done it before. I think someone with Pearl/Oats' pedigree is the minimum--ie consistent success and at least a final four.
It begins and ends with Oats. He should have been heavily pursued in April 2024 and he should be even more so now.
 
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UKGrad24

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Apr 2, 2024
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Absolutely. 67 is not very old at all these days.


…Now if a 73-year-old dude wants to come here and coach, you’d better be able to convince me he already won a title here and near enough two more.
Barnhart would go for his son first. He spoke good of the place and he’s younger, less baggage, that he knows of.

This is why Pitino was pushing for Ford and Pelphrey when we got Calipari. He didn’t want it because he knew what would happen to him at UL. He wanted UK to get Pope this time to mend his legacy. Cal wanted Pope because like he did with Payne he knew he could beat him.

You’re supposed to have an AD who can read through this stuff. We’ve got Mitch.
 

AllBall

All-Conference
May 5, 2015
3,866
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Pearl would have given 5 years or so of unmatched passion and energy. Should have been the call. It was right and logical. Then see who had EARNED the opportunity to be next. No 12 losss a year coaches who had never won anything of importance.
Yeah. We ain't getting beat by double digits 50% of quad 1 games w/ Pearl coaching. Fire and passion 🔥.
 

KYWC36

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Jul 11, 2013
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I think there is talent but not the level or mix needed for here. Besides Oweh we don’t have a sure fire player. The rest are great role players but you have like 8-9 guys that should be the 3rd or 4th guy that are all trying to be the 1st or 2nd option. I just think it’s poorly constructed imo
It would flow a lot better if we had a true PG but yea
 

KYWC36

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Jul 11, 2013
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i mean choosing to quit on the wilson recruitment and settle for mo was bad, and not trying for ament, and prioritizing a guy like aberdeen

so there were a bunch of headscratchers for sure
That is not what happened, but I digress - it’s like people can’t believe a kid would say naw uk im good lol and if they do clearly it’s someone’s fault … popes for the pitch, the ad for the money - it’s like people just can’t accept these players don’t need UK and they sure don’t care about our tradition .. there is not a school in America that would have told Mo no, not one. And ament and Aberdeen have zero correlation, they don’t even play the same position.
 
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The Nightman2

Senior
Nov 30, 2019
822
854
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Barnhart would go for his son first. He spoke good of the place and he’s younger, less baggage, that he knows of.

This is why Pitino was pushing for Ford and Pelphrey when we got Calipari. He didn’t want it because he knew what would happen to him at UL. He wanted UK to get Pope this time to mend his legacy. Cal wanted Pope because like he did with Payne he knew he could beat him.

You’re supposed to have an AD who can read through this stuff. We’ve got Mitch.
Barnhart wasn't getting advice on who to hire from Pitino or Cal. Pitino was hoping he'd get a call about taking the job. After Pope was hired , Pitino talked about it being a great hire.
 
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TuesdayBoost

Junior
Jan 27, 2026
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But would he understand the assignment since he didn't have any previous relationship with the school or state? This should be one of the biggest prerequisites when hiring a coach at UK.

Signed,
Mitch Barnhart
Hell no he don’t understand the assignment because the assignment under Mitch isn’t winning. Pearl would want to win.
 

Anon1751517317

Redshirt
Jul 2, 2025
4
6
3
I honestly feel sorry for people who are still pining for a 67 year old coach who retired because he didn't want to coach any more, not to mention would never even get a sniff from Mitch. Poor souls.
 

Ash Williams

Heisman
Aug 3, 2022
7,761
25,570
113
I don't think it's worth speculating about Pearl at UK. Even if the Pope era ends after next season Pearl will be 67 going into his first season. Do we really want to hire a coach in his final years on the job, who already retired once...?

With that said I do think, if this doesn't work out with Pope, Kentucky MUST get someone proven this go-round. No more learning on the job, we need to know you've done it before. I think someone with Pearl/Oats' pedigree is the minimum--ie consistent success and at least a final four.
Kelvin Sampson is 70 and he's having his best success ever. You telling me you wouldn't have taken him three years ago?
 

UKGrad24

All-Conference
Apr 2, 2024
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Barnhart wasn't getting advice on who to hire from Pitino or Cal. Pitino was hoping he'd get a call about taking the job. After Pope was hired , Pitino talked about it being a great hire.
Okay.

Never said he was getting advice from them in this hire? Never thought that. Pretty much agree.

truth is, if you’re going to hire Pope, Pitino should have just been hired. And if you’re going to hire Pope and won’t hire Pitino, should have just left Calipari alone for the legacy play. There’s no reason to hire Mark Pope. Bad for Mark and bad for UK.

Barnhart sucks. Worst athletic director a blue blood basketball program could get stuck with. 100%.
 
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UKGrad24

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Apr 2, 2024
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Mark pope should go down as being the two year buffer between two national championship winning coaches in Calipari and Pearl.

it’s almost like it was meant to be with pearl stepping down.

There are several people that believe Pearl stepped down to literally open himself up for the job. He wanted the “father son” headline as the only duo to do it, and he wanted his championship which Kentucky gives you. Pearl lilely believed he did all he could do at Auburn and wanted to move on to the blues. He’s always wanted this, that’s why he’s always let it be known how much he loves the program and fans.

insert……Mitch.
 

UKGrad24

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Apr 2, 2024
499
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Kelvin Sampson is 70 and he's having his best success ever. You telling me you wouldn't have taken him three years ago?
Ash I think we’ve both been around here long enough to almost see Elvis walk through Graceland….

And the post have gotten worse which is hard to believe.

I’ll take 2 years of Sampson right now lol.