JMI issues...

[Son_Of_Saul]

Yes, it’s having a direct effect on basketball. It’s pretty hard to deny — I know we are angry, but Collins and Stokes were specifically JMI related recruiting fails. I’ll find the links for you in a moment on those.

I'll give you that, but then it just demonstrates that Pope is an incompetent - too weak or too afraid to change the situation to provide his program with an advantage.

There's no way in hell Calipari, Rupp, or Pitino would take this one laying down.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

I'll give you that, but then it just demonstrates that Pope is an incompetent, too weak or too afraid to change the situation to provide his program with an advantage.

There's no way in hell Calipari, Rupp, or Pitino would take this one laying down.

Suppose really I just don’t agree. Whatever Pope should be doing to assist in correcting this certainly shouldn’t be public. Not when it involves a big money partner like JMI. I understand the frustration though.

 

[Argonaut]

Do you really think this is the #2 portal recruiting class based off what you’ve seen so far?

247 has us as the 5th ranked transfer portal class which is still way too high.

We had one player ranked in the top 35 of the portal. That was JQ.

And we spent 22 million!

We are #2 mainly because we took so many players in the portal. Our biggest recruiting prize was coming off a torn ACL/MCL and surgery.

Again, there really isn't much debate because there is 0 evidence he is even an average recruiter.

If the players fit what Pope was going for, only having 1 top 35 guy wouldn’t necessarily be that terrible. Problem is he threw together a mishmash of players who don’t form a cohesive unit.

It’s interesting seeing how Will Stein is recruiting players that fit his style of play. Pope hasn’t really done that. He’s throwing crap on the wall and seeing what sticks.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Suppose really I just don’t agree. Whatever Pope should be doing to assist in correcting this certainly shouldn’t be public. Not when it involves a big money partner like JMI. I understand the frustration though.

He's had more than 3 months to fix the situation, and almost two months since Collins was about to commit. If you can't correct a situation like this in 60 to 90 days, you're too incompetent to coach at Kentucky.

 

[Anony Moose]

If the players fit what Pope was going for, only having 1 top 35 guy wouldn’t necessarily be that terrible. Problem is he threw together a mishmash of players who don’t form a cohesive unit.

It’s interesting seeing how Will Stein is recruiting players that fit his style of play. Pope hasn’t really done that. He’s throwing crap on the wall and seeing what sticks.

But being a good recruiter requires that.

For instance, Cal, in the first few years just went after the highest ranked players available, but he somehow figured out ways to make them mesh. Pope can't do that.

Pope also doesn't seem to evaluate talent well or know how to develop guys into more than what they come to him as. And I honestly think players may lose respect for him pretty quickly.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

He's had more than 3 months to fix the situation, and almost two months since Collins was about to commit. If you can't correct a situation like this in 60 to 90 days, you're too incompetent to coach at Kentucky.

It’s a contract language issue — and we have no idea how simple or complex changes are for for that. Pope aside — I do trust it’s in JMI’s best interest to iron it out, as they have financial incentives from each signing, but even then, there’s still another obstacle. This is why i keep recommending you watch the attorney that discusses it in more detail. Once Pope closes on a player, JMI literally has to negotiate terms with the player. That’s not something Pope can change — it’s a legally binding obligation due to the way the JMI-UK partnership has been structured. There’s no speed running this — it’s going to take JMI time to improve their abilities to negotiate with players. As a company, their model has historically been fully predicated on B2B relations —- and this is brand new. We can argue about whether it was wise to sign onto such a partnership, especially given the timing, but that ship has sailed. The good news is this partnership has a good likelihood of paying longterm dividends.

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

Well, I'm back. After watching a complete 180 in the program since last year, Pope and now the addition of this JMI nonsense, I have to comment.
I can see the JMI contract as a major roadblock in recruiting for basketball. Not so much for football. My question on this point is why didn't Barnhart see it before the terms were agreed upon??? It's his job to do what's best for UK Athletics, is it not?

On to Pope...he may just be lacking the ability to helm UK. So far he has resisted hiring a GM. Why? Is it because of the loss of control he would have to give up? That would suggest a ego issue that may border on OCD. Possibly a good trait if you're a banker but, not so much when you helm a multi-million basketball program. And his infantile pouting and sulking after losses is getting on my nerves fast. It's very similar to the Calipari nonsense.

More on Pope...obviously this team is poorly constructed. Why? This was his first chance to put together a roster entirely of his choosing. And apparently the funds were there to do so. So, the only explanation is an inability to evaluate talent. Hard to believe when portal players all have a voluminous history on video. So, were down to just bad calls on some of the guys on this team. That stuff is on Pope and his staff.

Pope is now at the same W's and L's as the BCG led UK program after 50 games. It's HIS program to direct. Former player/star or not, he's quickly running out of time to do anything meaningful with this team. Win or be miserable. And a miserable fanbase won't defend him when the seat starts to get hot.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Pope sucks and JMI sucks. Mitch sucks the most. That trio is sinking Kentucky basketball. Do some of you really think that recruits are just passing on millions of dollars to play for UK without there being huge problems with JMI? I mean yeah Pope is weird but 18 year olds aren't passing up that money without deeper problems with the contracts.

 

[hypocrithatr]

MITCH BARNHART is responsible for this mess no matter who you decide is the problem. He hired Pope because he doesn't give a crap about MBB and he signed JMI when no other SEC program would have anything to do with JMI. Pretty damn clear to me who is responsible!! Pope should have never been considered for this Job, its really not his fault no one in his position would turn down that kind of money.

 

[Anon477434]

Let’s face it… The JMI angle was put out to cover for Pope. The Cat (pun intended) is out of the bag!

He’s done after this season ends. Has to be. No other way around it, and Mitch needs to go as well.

The JMI angle has been a thing since they sent Matt Jones a cease and desist letter around 2019-20. It’s become a bigger issue the more he has lost access.

This was Matt Jones 3 years ago talking about “NIL problems” and blaming JMI for common trademark and copyright protections the everyone does.

 

[JwUKFan11]

The JMI angle has been a thing since they sent Matt Jones a cease and desist letter around 2019-20. It’s become a bigger issue the more he has lost access.

This was Matt Jones 3 years ago talking about “NIL problems” and blaming JMI for common trademark and copyright protections the everyone does.

Yep we had Brady on this board telling us how he couldn't do NIL deals with the team due to JMI. Our fantastic AD then made it even better by signing a NIL deal with them 6 years later. Program is fckeeddd

 

[Damage_inc]

Keep in mind that the money paid to football players mostly comes from reg share with a little NIL to supplement. The money used for basketball is nearly all NIL and deals are negotiated by JMI.