Mark pope 0-4 against Nate Oats

[anonymousunranked]

Mark pope is now 0-4 against Nate Oats and Alabama. we have pretty much NEVER been competitive against them since Pope was hired. What’s even crazier, is that Oats’ game plan/team’s playstyle has been virtually the same in all 4 games.

It really just makes you think how much better of a hire Oats would’ve been. The guy is clearly just leagues above Pope. Feel like until Pope is gone, we can just go ahead and slap an L on every game against ‘Bama for the foreseeable future.

 

[Seth_C]

Well, yeah. He was the better hire from the start. Everyone knew that. I’m not even sure we tried to hire him. Mitch’s list was “good Christian man” and it literally never went beyond that criteria. He ranked “good Christian basketball coaches” and went down his list. We got Pope because his first choice said nah.

 

[HappyBlue]

Nate Oates has been at Alabama for 6 years and has only 1 FF. Would UK fans accept that?

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Nate Oates has been at Alabama for 6 years and has only 1 FF. Would UK fans accept that?

Don’t you think he would have more than 1 at UK?

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Nate Oates has been at Alabama for 6 years and has only 1 FF. Would UK fans accept that?

How many did Alabama make before Oats?

Apples to oranges. But anyone with a brain knows that.

 

[NociHTTP]

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Nate Oates has been at Alabama for 6 years and has only 1 FF. Would UK fans accept that?

In the last five seasons Oats has had

1 seed
two 2 seeds
a 4 seed
a 6 seed.

Yes I think UK Fans would definitely accept that at this point.

 

[HappyBlue]

In the last five seasons Oats has had

1 seed
two 2 seeds
a 4 seed
a 6 seed.

Yes I think UK Fans would definitely accept that at this point.

And yet one FF in those 6 years.

 

[Drogon]

He also got destroyed by Mark Few teams

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

And yet one FF in those 6 years.

You know the best way to make a final four?

Be in the conversation as many seasons as possible.

How many teams have been in multiple final fours in the last 6 years? Can't be many coaches that's done that. Even fewer that would be willing to come to UK anyways.

 

[CELTICAT]

Nate Oates has been at Alabama for 6 years and has only 1 FF. Would UK fans accept that?

Kentucky hasn’t been to the final four in eleven years. Bama had never been before Oats. Their appearance was two years ago. Is this really what you’re trying to hang your hat on?

 

[deplion]

Oats definitely has his flaws, but there is zero debate as to who was the better coach on the court this afternoon.

 

[HappyBlue]

Kentucky hasn’t been to the final four in eleven years. Bama had never been before Oats. Their appearance was two years ago. Is this really what you’re trying to hang your hat on?

Hey as some fans have pointed out NIL has changed the game. Nate Oats has had too many tourney chokes in just 6 years to be considered for the UK job. Even Todd Golden hasn't proved he is worthy to be UK coach, yes he won it all last year, but before that he was mediocre and this season has been bad so far. He needs to at least win a couple more titles, reach a few more FF's, before he could be considered worthy.

 

[Argonaut]

Kentucky hasn’t been to the final four in eleven years. Bama had never been before Oats. Their appearance was two years ago. Is this really what you’re trying to hang your hat on?

Calipari only managed to make 1 final four at UMass and then another at Memphis but made 4 at Kentucky. I have to think Kentucky’s prestige and NIL commitment would give a coach like Oats a greater advantage than what he could get at Alabama.

 

[HappyBlue]

Calipari only managed to make 1 final four at UMass and then another at Memphis but made 4 at Kentucky. I have to think Kentucky’s prestige and NIL commitment would give a coach like Oats a greater advantage than what he could get at Alabama.

Cal didn't have to worry about NIL leveling the playing field.

 

[Seth_C]

Nate Oates has been at Alabama for 6 years and has only 1 FF. Would UK fans accept that?

1 Final Four in 6 season is better than ZERO in 11 seasons, which is where we will be after this year. So Kentucky fans better learn to ******* accept that, if it ever happens again.

Currently a Final Four every 6 seasons is a pipe dream.

 

[Woodrow24]

Nate Oates has been at Alabama for 6 years and has only 1 FF. Would UK fans accept that?

Here we go again with someone degrading fans because we have a coach that’s in over his head. SMH

 

[CELTICAT]

Hey as some fans have pointed out NIL has changed the game. Nate Oats has had too many tourney chokes in just 6 years to be considered for the UK job. Even Todd Golden hasn't proved he is worthy to be UK coach, yes he won it all last year, but before that he was mediocre and this season has been bad so far. He needs to at least win a couple more titles, reach a few more FF's, before he could be considered worthy.

tourney chokes? In what, the ELITE 8? Golden isn’t good enough for you? Should we shut down the program?

Delusional is what you are.

 

[TALtruthatlast]

A lot of people don’t have a good record vs Alabama the last several years. I don’t think this game today was a good barometer. Kentucky has been playing better since the absolute low point of quitting vs Gonzaga. Let’s see what the next few games show.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Hey as some fans have pointed out NIL has changed the game. Nate Oats has had too many tourney chokes in just 6 years to be considered for the UK job. Even Todd Golden hasn't proved he is worthy to be UK coach, yes he won it all last year, but before that he was mediocre and this season has been bad so far. He needs to at least win a couple more titles, reach a few more FF's, before he could be considered worthy.

Why is Pope the coach then? He sucks way worse than those 2 guys.

 

[bbnkat02]

Nate Oates has been at Alabama for 6 years and has only 1 FF. Would UK fans accept that?

That's at the most winningest program in CFB history where basketball is often a "That's nice" thought.

That's not like legendary mind you, but its very good.

 

[bbnkat02]

Statistics overview

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
San Francisco Dons (West Coast Conference) (2019–2022)​
2019–20	San Francisco	22–12	9–7	5th
2020–21	San Francisco	11–14	4–9	8th
2021–22	San Francisco	24–10	10–6	4th	NCAA Division I Round of 64
San Francisco:	57–36 (.613)	23–22 (.511)
Florida Gators (Southeastern Conference) (2022–present)​
2022–23	Florida	16–17	9–9	8th	NIT First Round
2023–24	Florida	24–12	11–7	6th	NCAA Division I Round of 64
2024–25	Florida	36–4	14–4	2nd	NCAA Division I Champion
2025–26	Florida	9–4	0–0
Florida:	85–37 (.697)	34–20 (.630)
Total:	142–73 (.660)

Jury is still out on Golden in my opinion. Dude does have a title but it may be a one hit wonder. Continue to monitor at this point. I think this is a big year for him too in terms of growing legacy.


Oats is probably the best coach in the conference right now- by far. And I hate that to a degree because I don't think he'd be a good off court fit. The gun issues last year, his tone deaf answer on some of those questions, he's got some temper issues with putting hands on other players. Good coach.....worried about potential personality issues here. Remember, lights are bright here- even for good coaches like him. BCG was a solid coach before he came here as well. He just wasn't interested in being an ambassador for the program and that's a non starter.

Pearl would be a good reach out. He's iffy on ethics but I don't think he's had many major issues. I think he has to be on the list if Pope can't turn it around.

 

[HappyBlue]

Why is Pope the coach then? He sucks way worse than those 2 guys.

I agree, if UK can't find a coach that can at least win a title every other year we need to just shut down the program.

 

[Argonaut]

I agree, if UK can't find a coach that can at least win a title every other year we need to just shut down the program.

UK needs a coach that has the demeanor to thrive under pressure. Not someone who lashes out by the slightest amount of criticism. To me, past record isn’t as important to the next Kentucky coach more than their personality to weave their way through the pressure from fans and boosters.

Pope simply lacks that demeanor. This is why he was always considered a bad hire to me because he has never shown the ability to thrive under pressure.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

A lot of people don’t have a good record vs Alabama the last several years. I don’t think this game today was a good barometer. Kentucky has been playing better since the absolute low point of quitting vs Gonzaga. Let’s see what the next few games show.

You think we played better against Bellarmine?

You think we played better the first half of the St John’s and IU games?

Yesterday we go no 50/50 balls. We got out rebounded by a donut hole team.

Even dumbass announcers were saying Alabama was just out working us.

That is not better.

 

[UKCowboys]

Don’t you think he would have more than 1 at UK?

Probably not. He has had some pretty damn good teams at Alabama.
I think people are way overboard on saying Pope can't coach. If you want to bash him for roster construction, go ahead and deservedly so. But if you flipped the coaches yesterday for just that game, Oats wasn't taking this bunch and beating their bunch in their own building yesterday. No shot

 

[Mike-D]

Pope's average loss to Oats is 97-81.

These are mostly blowouts.

 

[RunninRichie]

Hey as some fans have pointed out NIL has changed the game. Nate Oats has had too many tourney chokes in just 6 years to be considered for the UK job. Even Todd Golden hasn't proved he is worthy to be UK coach, yes he won it all last year, but before that he was mediocre and this season has been bad so far. He needs to at least win a couple more titles, reach a few more FF's, before he could be considered worthy.

Maybe the worst take on this board. Of all time.

 

[Farsight Clone]

He also got destroyed by Mark Few teams

And so did we?

 

[true-blue1]

Pope's average loss to Oats is 97-81.

These are mostly blowouts.

I really don’t remember any other UK coaches to suffer so many blowouts.

 

[Woodrow24]

Oats is a good coach and doing a great job at a football school. The only people in the country that will say he’s not a good coach are a couple psychos on this board that hate him because posters they hate wish he was our coach.

 

[Phil_The_Music2]

Nate Oates has been at Alabama for 6 years and has only 1 FF. Would UK fans accept that?

No they wouldn't, at least not the ones on here.

Statistics overview

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
San Francisco Dons (West Coast Conference) (2019–2022)​
2019–20	San Francisco	22–12	9–7	5th
2020–21	San Francisco	11–14	4–9	8th
2021–22	San Francisco	24–10	10–6	4th	NCAA Division I Round of 64
San Francisco:	57–36 (.613)	23–22 (.511)
Florida Gators (Southeastern Conference) (2022–present)​
2022–23	Florida	16–17	9–9	8th	NIT First Round
2023–24	Florida	24–12	11–7	6th	NCAA Division I Round of 64
2024–25	Florida	36–4	14–4	2nd	NCAA Division I Champion
2025–26	Florida	9–4	0–0
Florida:	85–37 (.697)	34–20 (.630)
Total:	142–73 (.660)

Jury is still out on Golden in my opinion. Dude does have a title but it may be a one hit wonder. Continue to monitor at this point. I think this is a big year for him too in terms of growing legacy.


Oats is probably the best coach in the conference right now- by far. And I hate that to a degree because I don't think he'd be a good off court fit. The gun issues last year, his tone deaf answer on some of those questions, he's got some temper issues with putting hands on other players. Good coach.....worried about potential personality issues here. Remember, lights are bright here- even for good coaches like him. BCG was a solid coach before he came here as well. He just wasn't interested in being an ambassador for the program and that's a non starter.

Pearl would be a good reach out. He's iffy on ethics but I don't think he's had many major issues. I think he has to be on the list if Pope can't turn it around.

Sure. Let's pine over a guy who we know good and well Mitch won't touch and who doesn't even want to coach anymore.

 

[megablue]

He also got destroyed by Mark Few teams

2-10 against Few

 

[RunninRichie]

No they wouldn't, at least not the ones on here.
Sure. Let's pine over a guy who we know good and well Mitch won't touch and who doesn't even want to coach anymore.

Nate Oats has more elite 8s and more final fours than the entire UK program since 2015. It's time to wake up to reality. He also had a one seed in the NCAAT. Something UK hasn't had in 11 years.

 

[Woodrow24]

No they wouldn't, at least not the ones on here.
Sure. Let's pine over a guy who we know good and well Mitch won't touch and who doesn't even want to coach anymore.

You “like” every ****** post I see on this board and having read a few of your takes I believe you’re a complete moron. Definitely putting you on ignore. You flock to the troll posts like stink on crap too. You need to change that name to Phil the Moron

 

[Phil_The_Music2]

Nate Oats has more elite 8s and more final fours than the entire UK program since 2015. It's time to wake up to reality. He also had a one seed in the NCAAT. Something UK hasn't had in 11 years.

I have no problem with Oats. He's a good coach. My point is if he was here fans would be wanting to fire him too. The fans wanting Pearl are pitiful.

 

[Woodrow24]

Maybe the worst take on this board. Of all time.

Some of these guys need help and hate you because you don’t worship the coach. Cardstink literally hates Oats because you like him. Then you got Phil the Moron that backs up the trolls and coach defenders. You can’t talk sense into those people.

 

[RunninRichie]

You “like” every ****** post I see on this board and having read a few of your takes I believe you’re a complete moron. Definitely putting you on ignore. You flock to the troll posts like stink on crap too. You need to change that name to Phil the Moron

Don't forget abrasive.

 

[Phil_The_Music2]

You “like” every ****** post I see on this board and having read a few of your takes I believe you’re a complete moron. Definitely putting you on ignore. You flock to the troll posts like stink on crap too. You need to change that name to Phil the Moron

The fact that someone like you is putting me on ignore is a badge of honor. I'll wear it proudly.

 

[Woodrow24]

I have no problem with Oats. He's a good coach. My point is if he was here fans would be wanting to fire him too. The fans wanting Pearl are pitiful.

“It’s da’ fans fault!!!” Hahahahaha what an idiot