Is it too early to be talking about Pope’s Future?

[Argonaut]

I’ve been firmly on the “fire Pope” train for awhile now, but as many fans have either firmly planted their flags in the “Pope absolutely gets a 3rd year” or the “get rid of Pope at the end of the season” factions, my biggest thought is perhaps we’re jumping the gun here. Maybe it’s just too early in the season to make absolute declarations about this topic. More specifically, it’s likely too early for the administration to confidently declare what will be of Pope’s future.

If things have or haven’t changed by mid February I think we’ll start to hear rumblings on where we’ll stand next year regarding Pope’s tenure. All I can say is be patient. Either he miraculously turns things around or continues down the path of a historically bad season, we’ll have a good idea what next year entails by early March, probably.

 

[TotheMoon88]

I don’t think it’s too early, enough incompetence has already been shown. Preseason #9 to unranked 9-6(0-2)

 

[AFKY_Blue_RedsBengals]

No, it’s absolutely not too early. This program has a standard, and what we’re watching isn’t even in the same universe as Kentucky Basketball. The results, the recruiting, the on-court product—none of it comes close to what is expected here. Waiting longer just means accepting mediocrity, and that has never been what this job is supposed to be.

 

[ComebackCats98]

He’s on par with Billy Gillespie. People that want to give him another chance because he played here are crazy. People wanted Billy G gone during year 2 for good reason. People should want Pope gone for those same reasons

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Is it too early to talk about?
No. We are 9-6. At Kentucky, shouldn’t happen.

Can we differentiate between WANTING him gone after year two and EXPECTING him gone after year two? That’s for you to decide.

Should he be gone according to fans?
Will he be gone?

^ Those two questions likely have two different answers.

 

[Anon470511]

I’ve been firmly on the “fire Pope” train for awhile now, but as many fans have either firmly planted their flags in the “Pope absolutely gets a 3rd year” or the “get rid of Pope at the end of the season” factions, my biggest thought is perhaps we’re jumping the gun here. Maybe it’s just too early in the season to make absolute declarations about this topic. More specifically, it’s likely too early for the administration to confidently declare what will be of Pope’s future.

If things have or haven’t changed by mid February I think we’ll start to hear rumblings on where we’ll stand next year regarding Pope’s tenure. All I can say is be patient. Either he miraculously turns things around or continues down the path of a historically bad season, we’ll have a good idea what next year entails by early March, probably.

The administration arent going to be the ones that will declare what Popes future is going to be...It's the folks writing checks. We lose tonight, that conversation is going to start getting really loud, if we lose at LSU...he gone. Ive been on the fire Pope train the second the hire was announced, and I love Mark Pope...but this is an epic **** up and the bleeding needs to stop sooner. rather than later, damage is already being done

 

[JHBr]

Whether it's too early or not, it's been a prominent topic here for awhile. I'd like to think it can be turned around but the two losses in SEC play have about emptied my hope tank.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

I’ve been firmly on the “fire Pope” train for awhile now, but as many fans have either firmly planted their flags in the “Pope absolutely gets a 3rd year” or the “get rid of Pope at the end of the season” factions, my biggest thought is perhaps we’re jumping the gun here. Maybe it’s just too early in the season to make absolute declarations about this topic. More specifically, it’s likely too early for the administration to confidently declare what will be of Pope’s future.

If things have or haven’t changed by mid February I think we’ll start to hear rumblings on where we’ll stand next year regarding Pope’s tenure. All I can say is be patient. Either he miraculously turns things around or continues down the path of a historically bad season, we’ll have a good idea what next year entails by early March, probably.

No. It’s late if people are just seeing it.

Stevie Wonder saw it early.

This was an epic failure of a hire.

We do nothing well.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

The losses wouldnt bother me much if this team simply looked better, looked like they cared, and our coach looked like he knew what he was doing.

Its not just the losing, its just how bad we look. When a team looks this bad, thats when you pull the cord early. No need to wait. This happens in sports more than we think. Jerod Mayo fired after 1 year. Jonathan Gannon after I think 2 years. It wasnt hard for those organizations to realize "this isnt a good fit".

 

[DrGlock]

A few things to remember…yes it’s a near historically bad season, but we’re only 5 years removed from a 9-16 season under Cal. The fact that that season occurred, and relatively recently, may make the administration view this season in a *slightly* less negative light.

Also, Mitch’s monumental F up with Stoops’ buy out may make the thought of doing it TWICE in the same school year untenable. Factor in Pope being “one of ours” and I think the powers that be will find it easy to keep him for at least a third year—both financially and sentimentally.

 

[TTTblue24]

Has he shown a fire or passion to be the leader of this program?? He uses big words and weird phrases to talk about basketball and the inner makeup of the team, why??? Has he changed things up when it’s obvious what we are doing isn’t working in game and game preparation?? Does he make any in game adjustments to exploit matchup problems for the other team and changed the offense to best portray the skill set this team has?? Does this team give you the impression they are giving their all every second of the game and just play hard for their coach?? Maybe it’s the players themselves but he’s the one that brought them here, again a complete miss on evaluation just like stoops and in the end…….the coach gets the praise for winning but then when these things happen it falls on the coach as well.

He seems to be in over his head, want it to work more than anyone for him but we’re not even close to competing for a FF much less a SEC title right now.

 

[kyjeff1]

I’ve been firmly on the “fire Pope” train for awhile now, but as many fans have either firmly planted their flags in the “Pope absolutely gets a 3rd year” or the “get rid of Pope at the end of the season” factions, my biggest thought is perhaps we’re jumping the gun here. Maybe it’s just too early in the season to make absolute declarations about this topic. More specifically, it’s likely too early for the administration to confidently declare what will be of Pope’s future.

If things have or haven’t changed by mid February I think we’ll start to hear rumblings on where we’ll stand next year regarding Pope’s tenure. All I can say is be patient. Either he miraculously turns things around or continues down the path of a historically bad season, we’ll have a good idea what next year entails by early March, probably.

It’s definitely not too early, we've been talking about his future since the Gonzaga debacle…… daily.

But that's all WE can do, is talk about it, we have no control over the situation, all we can do is project.

Bottom line, the roster is flawed, Pope burned 22 million dollars, because he doesn't know how to properly evaluate talent.

It comes down to this, is UK brass willing to be patient enough for Pope to learn how to coach at this level, or do they immediately get rid of the problem and bring someone in that knows what they’re doing? I know what I would do.

Not only does he not have the experience for this job, but his personality doesn’t translate to today's best young players. He’s a goofy girl dad, he would be a decent women's coach, but he’s not qualified for this job. I have no faith that he can ever be the right guy.

 

[Kyfan27]

Has a coach ever recovered from being on the brink of firing like Pope has? I know he's probably not quite on the brink yet but I can't think of anyone who fell to rock bottom like Pope has and climbed back out.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Has a coach ever recovered from being on the brink of firing like Pope has? I know he's probably not quite on the brink yet but I can't think of anyone who fell to rock bottom like Pope has and climbed back out.

Not to this magnitude at a blueblood that I can think of. My CBB active watching goes back to 1995.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Has a coach ever recovered from being on the brink of firing like Pope has? I know he's probably not quite on the brink yet but I can't think of anyone who fell to rock bottom like Pope has and climbed back out.

The story of K is pretty close to that.

Far different era though. K claims that when he was called to the AD’s office he was expecting to be fired. Only to be told they were 100% behind him.

 

[TortElvisII]

Soon there will be a deepening of healing the likes of which the world has never seen. It is in flowering that we are awakened. We must learn how to lead amazing lives in the face of suffering.

Look within and ground yourself. The infinite is calling to you via frequencies. Can you hear it? It can be difficult to know where to begin.

 

[DrGlock]

It’s definitely not too early, we've been talking about his future since the Gonzaga debacle…… daily.

But that's all WE can do, is talk about it, we have no control over the situation, all we can do is project.

Bottom line, the roster is flawed, Pope burned 22 million dollars, because he doesn't know how to properly evaluate talent.

It comes down to this, is UK brass willing to be patient enough for Pope to learn how to coach at this level, or do they immediately get rid of the problem and bring someone in that knows what they’re doing? I know what I would do.

Not only does he not have the experience for this job, but his personality doesn’t translate to today's best young players. He’s a goofy girl dad, he would be a decent women's coach, but he’s not qualified for this job. I have no faith that he can ever be the right guy.

“Goofy girl dad”…those 3 words perfectly encapsulate why we’re in this position. They’re also probably why Mitch hired him. We should’ve have hired a win-at-all-costs sociopath, not a goofy girl dad.

 

[Anon470511]

It’s definitely not too early, we've been talking about his future since the Gonzaga debacle…… daily.

But that's all WE can do, is talk about it, we have no control over the situation, all we can do is project.

Bottom line, the roster is flawed, Pope burned 22 million dollars, because he doesn't know how to properly evaluate talent.

It comes down to this, is UK brass willing to be patient enough for Pope to learn how to coach at this level, or do they immediately get rid of the problem and bring someone in that knows what they’re doing? I know what I would do.

Not only does he not have the experience for this job, but his personality doesn’t translate to today's best young players. He’s a goofy girl dad, he would be a decent women's coach, but he’s not qualified for this job. I have no faith that he can ever be the right guy.

Learning how to coach at this level??????????? He should have learned to coach at Utah Valley

 

[kyjeff1]

Learning how to coach at this level??????????? He should have learned to coach at Utah Valley

Learning to coach at Utah Valley is one thing, UK is at a much different level and before you take on this beast, you better have some hair on your nuggets.

 

[Damage_inc]

You can talk about whatever you want whenever. But it’s too early to see talk translated into
Action. Mitch is doing nothing this early

 

[RedwoodHigh]

Could another coach take this roster & win 22 games with this year’s schedule.?
Ky has 13 very capable players & they are well compensated living the life of celebrity.
Why did POPE sign 13 players instead of 9 studs & 2 future development players plus Potter & Hawthorne. Why redshirt Hawthorne at this point?
I loved the Pope hire & hoped Reed would return with Perry & Noah coming in BUT?
We were lucky last year in 5 different games with the Hoop Gods helping.
Now here we are facing 0-3 & the FIRE TUBBY DRUMS are Beating.

 

[wccat]

Not too early but seeing who our AD is, it doesn't matter. How the season finishes will matter but just can't see Mitch pulling the plug on Pope. But with zero recruits (regardless of how positive Pope says recruiting is going) and no trust that he can bring in the right personnel, where's the hope?

Stein has already hired a GM. What's Pope's excuse? No HOPE in POPE.