I think everyone wants to win and to be honest the roster will need updated next year. We need a few guys that can get a bucket when one is needed. This group we have now no one can do that.
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Kentucky out on Rippey
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The only big game we played we scored 88 points. The only thing I’m asking is can’t we take a breath and give it a few games before concluding that?
What is it you think you are paying for actually? You rather he spend 50% of the budget to get one so called great player? These players are not out to attend a school. They are there to rake in cash. KY just another fat wallet.
Good points. But, we're trying to win basketball games. Not to make sure the feelings and dreams of the players go 100% fulfilled, or to make the Sunday church crowd happy. Id say the fact that we are even concerned with the religious leanings of a coach, is exactly why we are falling behind. And no, I'm not against religion or Christianity.. but there's a place for those things. If you start making business decisions on being righteous (both in your beliefs and being 100% honest at all times), then you're not doing it right. Kentucky needs to be a little more cut-throat and willing push the boundaries, just like any other coach in sports would do.
Kentucky basketball needs to step back and say "What do we want to be?"
If they want to do things the ol' "Kentucky way" (emphasis in-state 3-stars, cater to the blue-hairs, heavy religious emphasis, etc etc, etc) then they will fall into obscurity until that mindset changed.
Edit: And yes to @One2Three I am very concerned about Mitch's ability to spear head athletics in the 2020's. Agree 100% there. I honestly think he is the next to go. Even if Pope has a losing season, the next person up needs to get fired, because its showing problems at the top.
Bro, you don’t have to go 3-star in state guys or all-out McDonald’s high school team. Why not recruit and build with four stars in high school with upside and add portal pieces to fill in blanks. Maybe add one top end high school guy each year. Perfect recipe to me and the top end high school guy isn’t even needed, simply there to appease the fanbase
No, I'm not too worried yet. But my panic meter has moved, and I thin it would be silly if anyone thinks there's absolutely NO cause for concern, even if it's just a little bit. Because there is something not adding up. We should have had 1 or 2 of these guys, so something or someone isn't pulling their weight somewhere.. Might not be Pope at all. Could be Mitch and his antiquated ways, could be our NIL isn't all that great, could be other staff, could be a pretty meh city in Lexington that isn't really drawing people in.. it's a lot of things.
If we were halfway through the season, that would make more sense. We’ve played and lost one road game. That’s it, and you’d think we were 3-5
My point about the 3-stars though, is that this is what a lot of fans and blue-hairs want. They want that home-town hero to come in and win the title, and then go back into town to celebrate at the local diner with a soda pop, like this is still the 1950s. We've put far too much emphasis on getting those guys, when in reality, they generally aren't good enough for a program like Kentucky.
4-stars is different of course. and Maybe that will take time. But I still think you want to have a top15 guy every year, if you can.
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I hate the in-state guy thing so I agree. 4 stars are what we should be building with. They have talent and most of them are able to be here more than a few weeks. I don’t care if players are from Paducah or Pakistan.
I'm only really worried about our ability to draw in elite talent (coaching and recruiting). I think Pope's coaching abilities are more than good enough for Kentucky. He's certainly a better coach than Scheyer and Hubert Davis in my eyes. And he's dealing with a ton of injuries already.. which is a big reason why we aren't 4-0 and likely top5. So I'm fine with Pope's ability to coach. I do just think this team (and last years) is missing that one elite piece that can do almost whatever it pleases against the competition.
I keep trying to say though, that mythical elite piece is a completely unnecessary luxury. We are about to burn down the house and live in a camper bro
Our booms are quickly turning into little toots...
If that’s a euphemism for our inability to remain patient and see the bigger picture, yes!
Im not there yet with the crazies though. Im not ready to get rid of Pope by any means. I just have to adjust my outlook as new information is presented. Where I once was a 10 out of 10 with Pope, I have to dial that back a smidge because we currently are really having trouble drawing in the top guys. Im sure Pope is aware of this, and Im sure they are working on it. If we can kick back up our recruiting for 2026 and into 2027, then I'll adjust again.
Ever had a friend addicted to drugs? I have. It’s like seeing them finally get clean and then they’re like “bro, I need a hit. It’ll make me feel better.” Bro, I’m watching it in real time right now. Sad lol
Bleeding hearts won’t like this take. Not ready to get rid of Pope. Did a great job year 1. Defense, preparation, and recruiting are issues. Win or get out. Is my motto. This is UK. If a coach fails to delivers wins and hardware, see ya. Just because Pope is one of us; and loves UK. Does not mean i’m gonna be fine if he starts dropping 12 games a year. I don’t care that he was a captain 30 years ago.
I will say, he’s done a really stellar job so far. Last years string of wins was awesome. Pope is a tactician. I think he deserves 5 years to see what he can do here. If he succeeds, those Alabama-UK games or Florida, could be like Arkansas-UK in the 90s. or UK vs Florida in the 2000’s. We gotta move quick. We have records to protect. And UCONN and Duke are chomping on our heels for national titles. We can’t afford to stumble in this new era.
The defense and lack of out of state recruiting success is an issue. I think part of it is, Pope is relatively unknown. He needs his Marcus Camby, or Cleaves.
Pope is just now getting started at UK. One of the reasons he went after JQ was likely to get his feet wet in the NBA player personnel. He’s a big piece to the puzzle he’s putting together
So far, out of the last 5 or 6 classes, this looks to be the only one that might end up legit for the top 5/10. Lately these classes have been junk. And they likely will be given the age of the leagues. Recruiting is a pay game, and Kentucky is likely being asked to overpay if they want them because the money is there. But they’re not going to do it because if you do, this is going to get real expensive really quick. And again I don’t think most of these freshman are even worth it anymore. Not majority of the time.
Give me the Aberdeens over this.
The issue right now is we can’t stay healthy. It’s not something people want to hear, they’d rather talk about recruiting banners. Pope is aware we just got rid of Calipari over this very issue he’s not going to go out and build teams of it. He’s trying to get some but for whatever reason it’s not happening yet.
Got to give it time to simmer. I never expected pope to get top 3 players out of the gate. Our major concern right now is health. If this team was healthy there would be no problem so that’s essentially your answer. We don’t have a problem.
So far, out of the last 5 or 6 classes, this looks to be the only one that might end up legit for the top 5/10. Lately these classes have been junk. And they likely will be given the age of the leagues. Recruiting is a pay game, and Kentucky is likely being asked to overpay if they want them because the money is there. But they’re not going to do it because if you do, this is going to get real expensive really quick. And again I don’t think most of these freshman are even worth it anymore. Not majority of the time.
Give me the Aberdeens over this.
The issue right now is we can’t stay healthy. It’s not something people want to hear, they’d rather talk about recruiting banners. Pope is aware we just got rid of Calipari over this very issue he’s not going to go out and build teams of it. He’s trying to get some but for whatever reason it’s not happening yet.
Got to give it time to simmer. I never expected pope to get top 3 players out of the gate. Our major concern right now is health. If this team was healthy there would be no problem so that’s essentially your answer. We don’t have a problem.
I'm confused on the comparison lol. Are you saying thats like our fanatical side of the fanbase? Yeah I think it's absurd to go off the handle so quickly. Honestly kind of remarkable for Pope to keep it close with what might be a top5 UofL team that has a top5 draft pick.. when we are without our most talented player (JQ), no Noah, and Lowe being injured. Kind of surprised we kept it close with that roster, game 3 of the season, having to go TO UofL's house for their superbowl.
Yes, we think the solution to our problem is the thing that got us sick to begin with. I think it’s pretty well documented that I went nuclear about the bad defense from the UL game, but I think we gotta let this play out some. If pope doesn’t get it done this year, we won’t put up with it, I’ll be the first one in line with my pitchfork. I worry we have jumped the shark as a fanbase though already. Lol
You have to have both to win a title.
Agree, but you need at least one top 10 freshman.
If Pope brings back the old UK logo. And clawing wildcat, ink him to a lifetime deal.
Defense has been an issue so far in the Pope era. Even a good defense goes to the elite 8 last year. And this year, looks concerning via eye test. You can say UL was just really good. And it made our defense look bad. But based off last season, i’m thinking if a little bit of both. Michigan state will tell us more.
I agree. Michigan State will tell us more.
Thats exactly right.
If you want to build a program differently than the way Cal did, and you inherit a roster with none, zip, zero players, you have to give it 4 years...which is something no one on this board wants to hear, but is the truth. Now, does that mean we have to suck for 4 years? No. We were Sweet 16 last season and I bet we are at least that again this season. But to have a program built the way Mark wants it built, you need a Sr class of your own players, supplemented with you talent. You can't just throw money at it and but a championship, it doesn't work that way in college hoops and it rarely works in the others or pro sports as well
You need a go to guy. Usually top 5-10 freshman are that. Your John Walls, Davis, Zion, etc. Flagg last year.
I’m scared we won’t make it four years with Pope. People want the get quick fix and absolutely ignore the world of reality surrounding this
Let me ask again. Why do you need a top 10 freshman? Why?
I answered your question.
You answered by saying we needed one and you listed a bunch of guys. I’m still trying to understand WHY you think it’s needed?
Kentucky defense last year DID get to the 50 mark, which you'd like to see it in the top25.. But I believe at one point we were in the low 100s.
Unfortunately the other ****** part here, we just can't stay healthy at all. 3 of the last 4 years were absolutely derailed by injuries to our guards. And I have to believe if Butler is healthy, our defense is more in the 30's range.
Unfortunately the other ****** part here, we just can't stay healthy at all. 3 of the last 4 years were absolutely derailed by injuries to our guards. And I have to believe if Butler is healthy, our defense is more in the 30's range.
Give me top 10 portal guys, sophomore or Juniors, and I would be happy 
Pope absolutely has to be better as a defensive tactician, but there isn’t a single thing we can’t correct about our defense this year that I’ve seen
I’ll be happy wherever we get the players from as long as they show progression and stay. That’s what it takesGive me top 10 portal guys, sophomore or Juniors, and I would be happy
I don’t know if we need a top 10 or not. Depends on what it is and who it is and what the roster looks like. This year sure, keeping what’s his name would have been ideal tiven the injury to JLow. But would I take him OVER a healthy JLow? Never. (He wasnt top 10 but points remains)And Pope did land him he’s just a kid with a head case father that’s all over the place.
He’s got a player that was top 10 some of the time in high school. Give him a little time. Not every freshman that’s going to be killer does it in week 2. Not every freshman playing well in week 2 will be by week 10. You really think Ament is going to be able to kill it like a vet at UT now that scouting reports are out there on him and Tennessee? I doubt it, he’ll come down to earth
I think much of the worry is valid but it’s in the wrong place. Now some are just crazy overboard but that’s about Louisville and it’s emotional - not about substance.
Also we’ve got a 4 star freshman that was a McDonald’s All American and he looks to be potentially the best center in the class.
We have nothing more than an injury problem at the moment. If Pope needs to do anything, it’s as of now stop going too thin at the PG position. But he’ll adjust and he’s been adjusting.
Most of this other stuff is just feeling like losses are piling over a recruit that we don’t even know will amount to anything. Many times over they don’t.
You need a go to guy, a bucket getter so to speak. A guy you can turn to to win games. Now, you can develop one, by taking a lower ranked guy. And hoping he’s a beast in a few seasons. Or you can take a composite top 5 to 10 freshman. And feel your chances are pretty good at getting that piece. Calipari was averaging almost 5/7 more wins with a top 5 freshman. The talent differential is insane. People get hung up on Calipari. He stopped getting those players and took middling 5 stars. And he slipped. His best teams had freshmen stars with vets. Say what you want about Duke. But they’ve been to two final fours with Flagg and Banchero. Two top 5 guys.
Flagg won games for duke alone.
You need a mix.
I completely disagree with you BUT purely for the purpose of debate I’m going to grant your position.
Do you want to know what the problem is at that point? Even the greatest recruiter in the history of modern college basketball, John Calipari, was getting out recruited by Duke late in his tenure here. There isn’t even an option on the board to win in that arms race.
Thankfully, I’m good with letting the Dukies have all the toddlers coz it don’t mean a hill of beans
He answered. He said you need a go to guy.