KSR Post Bama Game Show

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
18,751
31,899
113
I listened to it just now. Matt is on the ball with most of his comments.

He of course says he isn't ready to say Pope needs to go after this season. He's worried though and thinks Pope is a douche when he loses and doesn't have the street cred to do so. Cal and Pitino at least had won something that matters when they had tough losses and were doiches when they lost.
 

UKortho

All-American
Oct 13, 2015
4,516
8,385
77
If he knows what’s good for his and his family’s sanity he’ll step down at the end of the year because next will will be the worst year of his life if he misses the tournament and refuses to leave.

Buyout would by about $15MM. And we already paid egghead $10MM. We paid BYU $6MM. That’s $31MM for two years lol. Only Fing MB
 

Argonaut

Senior
Jan 3, 2026
334
660
93
Buyout would by about $15MM. And we already paid egghead $10MM. We paid BYU $6MM. That’s $31MM for two years lol. Only Fing MB
If Pope’s as a good of a person as everyone claims he’ll step down without the buyout. If he doesn’t we can feel less guilty when fans make his life hell for refusing to leave. I’m sure as heck not going to feel bad about it.
 

deplion

Freshman
Nov 6, 2007
11
73
13
If Pope’s as a good of a person as everyone claims he’ll step down without the buyout. If he doesn’t we can feel less guilty when fans make his life hell for refusing to leave. I’m sure as heck not going to feel bad about it.
I could potentially see him negotiating a buyout at years end, but ZERO chance he leaves with nothing.

Can't fault him for that either. If we want to be mad at someone about the situation, it's Mitch.
 

ZaytovenCat

All-American
Apr 25, 2013
23,517
7,304
97
We did byu a massive favor and paid them 6 million. lol you can’t make this stuff up. How the hell is Barney still in the state of Kentucky?
Barnhart is the biggest idiot UK has ever employed. The fact that they’ve allowed him to keep his job 20+ years proves there’s many other massive idiots at UK as well.
 

Anon477434

Freshman
Jan 3, 2026
148
90
28
If Pope’s as a good of a person as everyone claims he’ll step down without the buyout. If he doesn’t we can feel less guilty when fans make his life hell for refusing to leave. I’m sure as heck not going to feel bad about it.
No one is stepping down without the buyout. He may take another job but no one is leaving that money on the table that he’s entitled to.
 

preston-lemasterpiece

All-Conference
Apr 15, 2025
1,057
1,925
111
If Pope’s as a good of a person as everyone claims he’ll step down without the buyout. If he doesn’t we can feel less guilty when fans make his life hell for refusing to leave. I’m sure as heck not going to feel bad about it.
Why would you expect him to do that? Just voluntarily walk away from millions he’s contractually obligated to?
I know we’re all angry right now and trying to come up with solutions. But…would you do that?
 

Argonaut

Senior
Jan 3, 2026
334
660
93
Why would you expect him to do that? Just voluntarily walk away from millions he’s contractually obligated to?
I know we’re all angry right now and trying to come up with solutions. But…would you do that?
Then I would say Kentucky fans aren’t obligated to play nice when they push him out of Lexington any way necessary for the remainder of the year. If he’s not obligated to do the right thing for this basketball program then fans can play dirty without a second thought simply because Pope is a good person.

Yelling “fire Pope” at games? Or in public settings? Refusing to serve him at restaurants? Anything that might make his remaining time in Lexington as miserable, and as short, as possible until he has no choice but to leave. Treat the man as an enigma to our wellbeing because we’re sure as heck aren’t happy.
 

dynastydreamuk

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2010
1,715
1,121
113
Then I would say Kentucky fans aren’t obligated to play nice when they push him out of Lexington any way necessary for the remainder of the year. If he’s not obligated to do the right thing for this basketball program then fans can play dirty without a second thought simply because Pope is a good person.

Yelling “fire Pope” at games? Or in public settings? Refusing to serve him at restaurants? Anything that might make his remaining time in Lexington as miserable, and as short, as possible until he has no choice but to leave. Treat the man as an enigma to our wellbeing because we’re sure as heck aren’t happy.
I think those extremes, we aren't there yet. Season isn't over. Who knows what happens. It sure looks like our trajectory is missing the tournament.

If we miss the Dance, yea pressure needs to be put on mitch and BOT because they will bring him back for a 3rd year I guarantee it.

I wonder if a sports fan base has ever held a public protest with signs to get a coach out lol. If any fan base I could see doing it, would be us, Bama, maybe the Lakers or something.

Again, we have to see the season end. If we so make the Dance, you probably got to give him a third year...even though I can't understand how thats acceptable when we spent 22 mil and were final four potential pre season and had picked the players.
 

Johnnie Africa

All-Conference
Feb 27, 2003
500
1,372
93
If Pope’s as a good of a person as everyone claims he’ll step down without the buyout. If he doesn’t we can feel less guilty when fans make his life hell for refusing to leave. I’m sure as heck not going to feel bad about it.

lol WTF are you talking about? Do you have a family yourself? Pope would be an absolute buffoon to not take the buyout, this is literally his lottery ticket and chance to take care of his family for life. He gave up being a doctor, could very well be stuck coaching small no name schools for life after this, this is his big payday. And he’s done NOTHING wrong. Guy is a huge Kentucky fan and brought home a championship here, why are you making him the bad guy? What did he do? He was offered the UK job and was thrilled. This is ALL on Mitch, 100%. Don’t get it twisted - this is 100% Mitch Barnhart. Also I’m sure lil ole poor UK, the same school that charges a poor kid from rural Kentucky 35,000 dollars for a sociology degree will be just fine. As if Pope is the bad guy here, good grief.
 

mhs1964

Junior
Feb 8, 2018
227
250
58
This might not work out (certainly trending that way) but the contract was not crazy. The next one will be similar if not more generous. There are few who are qualified who are willing to jump into this pressure cooker.
 

Argonaut

Senior
Jan 3, 2026
334
660
93
I think those extremes, we aren't there yet. Season isn't over. Who knows what happens. It sure looks like our trajectory is missing the tournament.

If we miss the Dance, yea pressure needs to be put on mitch and BOT because they will bring him back for a 3rd year I guarantee it.

I wonder if a sports fan base has ever held a public protest with signs to get a coach out lol. If any fan base I could see doing it, would be us, Bama, maybe the Lakers or something.

Again, we have to see the season end. If we so make the Dance, you probably got to give him a third year...even though I can't understand how thats acceptable when we spent 22 mil and were final four potential pre season and had picked the players.

lol WTF are you talking about? Do you have a family yourself? Pope would be an absolute buffoon to not take the buyout, this is literally his lottery ticket and chance to take care of his family for life. He gave up being a doctor, could very well be stuck coaching small no name schools for life after this, this is his big payday. And he’s done NOTHING wrong. Guy is a huge Kentucky fan and brought home a championship here, why are you making him the bad guy? What did he do? He was offered the UK job and was thrilled. This is ALL on Mitch, 100%. Don’t get it twisted - this is 100% Mitch Barnhart. Also I’m sure lil ole poor UK, the same school that charges a poor kid from rural Kentucky 35,000 dollars for a sociology degree will be just fine. As if Pope is the bad guy here, good grief.
He’s sacrificing his own and his family’s happiness for the almighty dollar. He won’t be happy if he returns, I guarantee it. Fans won’t allow him nor his family to experience a day’s worth of peace if he isn’t out of Lexington by the end of this season.

Pope is already cracking under the lightest pressure of softball questions from the media. Fans, and boosters for that matter, won’t filter their feelings for his sake.
 

Johnnie Africa

All-Conference
Feb 27, 2003
500
1,372
93
He’s sacrificing his own and his family’s happiness for the almighty dollar. He won’t be happy if he returns, I guarantee it. Fans won’t allow him nor his family to experience a day’s worth of peace if he isn’t out of Lexington by the end of this season.

Pope is already cracking under the lightest pressure of softball questions from the media. Fans, and boosters for that matter, won’t filter their feelings for his sake.

Luckily not everyone is a cold hearted psychopath like you that would harass a perfectly fine individual trying to live out his dream. You’re what they call the extreme loud minority. He’s also a 6 foot 8 former NBA player so I’d love to see you go up to his families face and say something to him 😂
 

Argonaut

Senior
Jan 3, 2026
334
660
93
Luckily not everyone is a cold hearted psychopath like you that would harass a perfectly fine individual trying to live out his dream. You’re what they call the extreme loud minority. He’s also a 6 foot 8 former NBA player so I’d love to see you go up to his families face and say something to him 😂
I don’t even live in Lexington, but you’re crazy if you don’t think he won’t feel pressure from the fanbase and the boosters who fund this team.

Even Cal couldn’t handle the pressure later in his career. Neither could Tubby or Billy G.

Fans won’t be ignored simply because you think he should be left alone. We didn’t for Tubby, Gillispie or Calipari. What makes Pope so special when he’s already cracking from softball questions from Kentucky media?
 

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
18,751
31,899
113
Luckily not everyone is a cold hearted psychopath like you that would harass a perfectly fine individual trying to live out his dream. You’re what they call the extreme loud minority. He’s also a 6 foot 8 former NBA player so I’d love to see you go up to his families face and say something to him 😂

This.

Not allowing someone to dine at a restaurant? What is this, the early 1900s n the South?
 

kfwa

Senior
Oct 12, 2014
269
525
93
I would bet the bank zero chance he walks away this year, even if they offered a generous buyout.

Someone is going to pull him aside and start talking to him about his behavior losing. And the rest of the world is going to start telling him that you can't have a week off and look like you just learned Alabama shoots 3's.

Look we all want a coach that hates losing, and we'd be more pissed if he was like Cal acted toward it, where he talked about getting "his" guys playing time and development was more valuable than winning (yes, Cal actually said that after a series of losses)

Pope definitely has a learning curve. He has a player management curve. He has a NIL curve. What he doesn't need is motivation.

He is going to get 3 years. Let it play out and see if he grows into the job.

Pope listens to people connected to the program, and I'd bet that includes the talking heads who can analyze the game.
 

Argonaut

Senior
Jan 3, 2026
334
660
93
This.

Not allowing someone to dine at a restaurant? What is this, the early 1900s n the South?
Maybe none of us will do it, but Kentucky fans are the type to send John Higgins death threats. Stop acting like fans are beneath doing crazy crap to get their way.
 

Johnnie Africa

All-Conference
Feb 27, 2003
500
1,372
93
Maybe none of us will do it, but Kentucky fans are the type to send John Higgins death threats. Stop acting like fans are beneath doing crazy crap to get their way.

Thanks for finally saying what you’re advocating for is crazy. I knew you weren’t being serious and just trolling. But if you want to harass Barnhart be my guest 😂 That’s where everyone’s vitriol should be aimed
 

Argonaut

Senior
Jan 3, 2026
334
660
93
Thanks for finally saying what you’re advocating for is crazy. I knew you weren’t being serious and just trolling. But if you want to harass Barnhart be my guest 😂 That’s where everyone’s vitriol should be aimed
Of course it’s crazy. But it’s not beneath something Kentucky fans have shown they’ve been willing to do in the past.
 

Johnnie Africa

All-Conference
Feb 27, 2003
500
1,372
93
Of course it’s crazy. But it’s not beneath something Kentucky fans have shown they’ve been willing to do in the past.

If you wouldn’t mind linking any evidence of the people in Kentucky openly harassing, and potentially verbally assaulting the Kentucky coach and his family regularly while he’s out in public I’d love to see it. And I’m not being argumentative, I’m just generally interested and would be curious if it’s happened before.
 

Possum

All-American
Apr 28, 2024
1,610
5,026
113
I would bet the bank zero chance he walks away this year, even if they offered a generous buyout.

Someone is going to pull him aside and start talking to him about his behavior losing. And the rest of the world is going to start telling him that you can't have a week off and look like you just learned Alabama shoots 3's.

Look we all want a coach that hates losing, and we'd be more pissed if he was like Cal acted toward it, where he talked about getting "his" guys playing time and development was more valuable than winning (yes, Cal actually said that after a series of losses)

Pope definitely has a learning curve. He has a player management curve. He has a NIL curve. What he doesn't need is motivation.

He is going to get 3 years. Let it play out and see if he grows into the job.

Pope listens to people connected to the program, and I'd bet that includes the talking heads who can analyze the game.
The main thing Pope needs to address is ROSTER Construction. He failed miserably this year. He proved he can coach last year but the duds he brought in this year are making him look inept at X’s & O’s. He’s trying his best to make chicken salad out of chicken ****.