Mark Pope - Reaching out to former UK players

[sosoblue]

"In a world where coaching can be transactional and relationships fleeting, Mark Pope is proving that Kentucky can—and should—be different. He’s showing recruits that if you choose Lexington, the bond won’t end after one season or one contract. He’s reminding alumni that no matter where they go, home is still Rupp."

"He doesn’t care whether you played for Calipari, Pitino, Tubby, or Rupp. He doesn’t care if you were one-and-done or four-year grinder. If you walked through those doors and put on that jersey, you’re part of his Kentucky family."

Full article below good stuff.

https://wildcatbluenation.com/mark-...together-and-rebuild-a-united-big-blue-nation

 

[ORCAT10]

Coach just gets it.
So glad that he’s our leader and coach.

 

[BCD]

He’s my coach!

 

[Someguywhodoesntlikeyou]

I said this many months ago he’s not dumb. He’s not going to alienate guys because some fans may not like who they played for or what the record was or whatever.

He’s especially not going to alienate the generational talent playing in the NBA because that’s going to be huge for this program 10-20 years down the road.

That and he genuinely cares about the program but I admire Pope’s mind and his long term thinking.

 

[DraftCat]

He's a busy man.

 

[ukwildcatwildfan]

In the age of NIL, having guys that made combined billions of dollars in the NBA among the ranks of the alumni could prove very fruitful later too, especially once Cal retires.

 

[Ahnan E. Muss]

"In a world where coaching can be transactional and relationships fleeting, Mark Pope is proving that Kentucky can—and should—be different. He’s showing recruits that if you choose Lexington, the bond won’t end after one season or one contract. He’s reminding alumni that no matter where they go, home is still Rupp."

"He doesn’t care whether you played for Calipari, Pitino, Tubby, or Rupp. He doesn’t care if you were one-and-done or four-year grinder. If you walked through those doors and put on that jersey, you’re part of his Kentucky family."

Full article below good stuff.

https://wildcatbluenation.com/mark-...together-and-rebuild-a-united-big-blue-nation

Somebody needs to tell Drew Holbrook, the author of that article, that:

A) The Timberwolves are playing the Lakers, not the Knicks. The TImberwolves and Lakers are in the western conference, while the Knicks are in the eastern conference.

B) Julius Randle plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, not the Knicks (though he did play for the Knicks the previous couple of seasons).

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

"In a world where coaching can be transactional and relationships fleeting, Mark Pope is proving that Kentucky can—and should—be different. He’s showing recruits that if you choose Lexington, the bond won’t end after one season or one contract. He’s reminding alumni that no matter where they go, home is still Rupp."

"He doesn’t care whether you played for Calipari, Pitino, Tubby, or Rupp. He doesn’t care if you were one-and-done or four-year grinder. If you walked through those doors and put on that jersey, you’re part of his Kentucky family."

Full article below good stuff.

https://wildcatbluenation.com/mark-...together-and-rebuild-a-united-big-blue-nation

I love it! Absolutely how it should be. Players should be welcomed under all coaches because we are Kentucky and they all represented us with their best.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

In the age of NIL, having guys that made combined billions of dollars in the NBA among the ranks of the alumni could prove very fruitful later too, especially once Cal retires.

Yup, it’s why I want Cal to retire soon. I want him to be welcomed back at some point and be his home. This is the place he will be remembered for IMO. His title, his most final fours and championships. His legion of NBA players. We need him in the family at some point so we can be united to dominate the future of the NIL era. It was time for both of us to split and I didn’t like his attitude toward the end but he does deserve a place here like all the other great coaches that hung banners for us.

One thing that makes Kentucky special is we don’t have a huge legion of coaches. We usually find a great one and stick with them for a long time with a lot of success. Billy G is the only one who didn’t fit.

 

[Game Se7en]

He's on cloud 9. Probaby still wakes up and can't believe he has this job. He won't fail for lack of trying, that's for sure.

 

[khole]

what a prick.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Yup, it’s why I want Cal to retire soon. I want him to be welcomed back at some point and be his home. This is the place he will be remembered for IMO. His title, his most final fours and championships. His legion of NBA players. We need him in the family at some point so we can be united to dominate the future of the NIL era. It was time for both of us to split and I didn’t like his attitude toward the end but he does deserve a place here like all the other great coaches that hung banners for us.

One thing that makes Kentucky special is we don’t have a huge legion of coaches. We usually find a great one and stick with them for a long time with a lot of success. Billy G is the only one who didn’t fit.

As much as Cal made me sick towards the end nobody can take away all the good memories and things he accomplished in the beginning. He should have retired and been our Coach K. I was glad to get a new coach and new energy but I wish he would have retired and went to that GM role. But he’s a hog for now so beat his a**

 

[jgraf1]

This was early Cal as well. I'm not trying to draw parallels between them--couldn't be more different. Just pointing out he's doing what should be done. Cal did early on and was very well received---8 years down the road he started to alienate himself and thought he was bigger than the program. He stopped thinking "i'm humbled to be your coach"

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Yup, it’s why I want Cal to retire soon. I want him to be welcomed back at some point and be his home. This is the place he will be remembered for IMO. His title, his most final fours and championships. His legion of NBA players. We need him in the family at some point so we can be united to dominate the future of the NIL era. It was time for both of us to split and I didn’t like his attitude toward the end but he does deserve a place here like all the other great coaches that hung banners for us.

One thing that makes Kentucky special is we don’t have a huge legion of coaches. We usually find a great one and stick with them for a long time with a lot of success. Billy G is the only one who didn’t fit.

I was fairly young when Billy G was the coach. My question is what was his main issue? He drank and stuff and I know we didn’t have the best two seasons but was he a bad recruiter or just bad coach or just not cut out for the Kentucky job at all?

 

[jrpross_rivals]

He's a busy man.

Insanely busy. After a preposterous portal season, he visits something like 10 potential recruits in a week. And now he’s going IN PERSON to reach out to former players.

When he got hired, it was clear that he understood the ambassador side of the job. He knows the legacy and the storied history and he clearly wants to uphold that. But my worry was that the actual job performance might not measure up. That we might love the MAN, but the coach might leave a bit to be desired.

But it’s looking like this dude is really the whole package.

 

[SandyBell'sFaxMachine]

I was fairly young when Billy G was the coach. My question is what was his main issue? He drank and stuff and I know we didn’t have the best two seasons but was he a bad recruiter or just bad coach or just not cut out for the Kentucky job at all?

He couldn't handle the pressure of coaching here. Which lead to drinking even more than he already did and it was too much for him. That's why Cal even said UK is a 10 year job max and that's about when he should've left. He'd be remembered more fondly if he did

 

[jrpross_rivals]

Yup, it’s why I want Cal to retire soon. I want him to be welcomed back at some point and be his home. This is the place he will be remembered for IMO. His title, his most final fours and championships. His legion of NBA players. We need him in the family at some point so we can be united to dominate the future of the NIL era. It was time for both of us to split and I didn’t like his attitude toward the end but he does deserve a place here like all the other great coaches that hung banners for us.

One thing that makes Kentucky special is we don’t have a huge legion of coaches. We usually find a great one and stick with them for a long time with a lot of success. Billy G is the only one who didn’t fit.

Agree with every word here. I know a decent number of people here can’t stand him and swear they’d never welcome him back but they said that about Pitino too. Time makes bad memories fade away and Cal gave us a LOT of really great memories that will always be there.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I was fairly young when Billy G was the coach. My question is what was his main issue? He drank and stuff and I know we didn’t have the best two seasons but was he a bad recruiter or just bad coach or just not cut out for the Kentucky job at all?

His recruiting was a joke. His on court coaching wasn’t that bad, but he was in the midst of being a drunk. Everyone thought he was perfect because he lived and breathed basketball but it was because he was a drunk ******* and had nothing else. He made bad decisions and treated players like crap.

Who knows how he would have turned out had he not been a drunk but he was definitely more wired for a job not in the spotlight. He locked Josh Harrelson in a bathroom stall at halftime of a game, he wanted Perry Stevenson to eat Pop Tarts to gain weight. Just absurd things. The night Jodie Meeks broke the scoring record he said “This isn’t the University of Jodie Meeks.” Like he didn’t deserve it or something and was mad he did it. Meeks and Patterson carried his ***. Just all around a bad fit.

We knew we made a mistake his Second game at Rupp. We lost bad to Gardner Webb team 84-65 and it wasn’t even close all game. He kind of put it together a little in conference season but we were never a threat to win anything.

His recruiting really showed he was over his head. He was offering 8th graders and one 6th grader. His class of Dakota Euton, Vinny Zollo, and Dominique Furgeson was god awful. They looked like decent prospects in 9th grade but I don’t think any of them played high D1 and Euton was like a D3 player at best.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

He's on cloud 9. Probaby still wakes up and can't believe he has this job. He won't fail for lack of trying, that's for sure.

That he won’t, I hope he has a long successful run here. A couple titles and a bunch of final 4’s!

 

[UK CAT in FL]

This was early Cal as well. I'm not trying to draw parallels between them--couldn't be more different. Just pointing out he's doing what should be done. Cal did early on and was very well received---8 years down the road he started to alienate himself and thought he was bigger than the program. He stopped thinking "i'm humbled to be your coach"

Yes there was time he was visiting old time KY folks in the diners and coffee shops talking BBN - trying to get in good with those like Bowie and Joe B. Its a shame the early Cal didn't hang around.

 

[CRZ4UK]

He's a busy man.

One of my fears is it will be too much for him to continue like this. He seems to have family support but how long will Leeann sit home alone??
Joanne Pitino and Ellen Calipari seemed like BBN was too much and were not that happy. Donna smith seemed to be OK with BBN.

 

[ukwildcatwildfan]

Yup, it’s why I want Cal to retire soon. I want him to be welcomed back at some point and be his home. This is the place he will be remembered for IMO. His title, his most final fours and championships. His legion of NBA players. We need him in the family at some point so we can be united to dominate the future of the NIL era. It was time for both of us to split and I didn’t like his attitude toward the end but he does deserve a place here like all the other great coaches that hung banners for us.

One thing that makes Kentucky special is we don’t have a huge legion of coaches. We usually find a great one and stick with them for a long time with a lot of success. Billy G is the only one who didn’t fit.

Well said. If it happens it would be so cool to see Cal and Rick sitting next to each other behind the bench while Pope coaches.

 

[Dalroxas]

This right here is what I was talking about in the Dillingham thread. Bring all the players back to Rupp. Neutralize Cal, and when he quits he can rejoin the flock. This program is so much bigger than one coach. Coaches come and go, their legacies do not. One thing I’d add to this would be to include Sutton players and Billy Gs guys too. Heck bring Billy G back. Let him know that even though it didn’t work out we knew he had a problem. We forgive him and understand.

 

[Runt#1969]

More than smart. Brilliant !

In a very strange, and backhanded complimentary nod to something CCC said a long time ago, I'll add :

Perhaps after Coach Pope has been here awhile longer, embraced former players and the program in a way that Cal never could have, Cal was right when he said the greatest day in the history of the program was the NBA draft (in that year, and his subsequent ones) ....

But only because Coach Pope would be the one to translate that kind of self-congratulatory hyperbole of success and actually turn it into something that really WOULD prove to be the greatest DAYS in the history of the program.

Should Coach Pope take us into another "Golden Era" (the fourth, by my count, if CMP can take us to the promised land) then .... maybe the best is yet to come ?

Food for thought !

Go Big Blue !

 

[CastleRubric]

His recruiting was a joke. His on court coaching wasn’t that bad, but he was in the midst of being a drunk. Everyone thought he was perfect because he lived and breathed basketball but it was because he was a drunk ******* and had nothing else. He made bad decisions and treated players like crap.

Who knows how he would have turned out had he not been a drunk but he was definitely more wired for a job not in the spotlight. He locked Josh Harrelson in a bathroom stall at halftime of a game, he wanted Perry Stevenson to eat Pop Tarts to gain weight. Just absurd things. The night Jodie Meeks broke the scoring record he said “This isn’t the University of Jodie Meeks.” Like he didn’t deserve it or something and was mad he did it. Meeks and Patterson carried his ***. Just all around a bad fit.

We knew we made a mistake his Second game at Rupp. We lost bad to Gardner Webb team 84-65 and it wasn’t even close all game. He kind of put it together a little in conference season but we were never a threat to win anything.

His recruiting really showed he was over his head. He was offering 8th graders and one 6th grader. His class of Dakota Euton, Vinny Zollo, and Dominique Furgeson was god awful. They looked like decent prospects in 9th grade but I don’t think any of them played high D1 and Euton was like a D3 player at best.

Perfect summary

 

[precipitance]

Pope has a currency that most anyone else that would have taken this job wouldn't have. As a former player he already had an in for all other former players. He is one of them.

I'm glad he's using that connection to make them feel welcomed. Building a network of former players to draw from is a good tool to have for recruiting, motivation, and fund raising.

 

[ORCAT]

Pope is an awesome coach who is Kentucky Blue to the core. He's one of us, simple as that. His love for Kentucky comes through so much.

 

[Myotis]

His recruiting was a joke. His on court coaching wasn’t that bad, but he was in the midst of being a drunk. Everyone thought he was perfect because he lived and breathed basketball but it was because he was a drunk ******* and had nothing else. He made bad decisions and treated players like crap.

Who knows how he would have turned out had he not been a drunk but he was definitely more wired for a job not in the spotlight. He locked Josh Harrelson in a bathroom stall at halftime of a game, he wanted Perry Stevenson to eat Pop Tarts to gain weight. Just absurd things. The night Jodie Meeks broke the scoring record he said “This isn’t the University of Jodie Meeks.” Like he didn’t deserve it or something and was mad he did it. Meeks and Patterson carried his ***. Just all around a bad fit.

We knew we made a mistake his Second game at Rupp. We lost bad to Gardner Webb team 84-65 and it wasn’t even close all game. He kind of put it together a little in conference season but we were never a threat to win anything.

His recruiting really showed he was over his head. He was offering 8th graders and one 6th grader. His class of Dakota Euton, Vinny Zollo, and Dominique Furgeson was god awful. They looked like decent prospects in 9th grade but I don’t think any of them played high D1 and Euton was like a D3 player at best.

Add to that he thought the whole job was simply to recruit and coach (however badly). He could not or would do not all the rest that comes with being the head coach at Kentucky. Smoozing the doners, meeting fans, attending public events and so on. Plus he wouldn’t sign his contract, which was a real head scratcher and drove Barnhart nuts.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Add to that he thought the whole job was simply to recruit and coach (however badly). He could not or would not all the rest that comes with being the head coach at Kentucky. Smoozing the doners, meeting fans, attending public events and so on. Plus he wouldn’t sign his contract, which was a real head scratcher and drove Barnhart nuts.

Truth! That memorandum of understanding was so weird with him. Good for us as I think we got out of some of the buyout because of it.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

"In a world where coaching can be transactional and relationships fleeting, Mark Pope is proving that Kentucky can—and should—be different. He’s showing recruits that if you choose Lexington, the bond won’t end after one season or one contract. He’s reminding alumni that no matter where they go, home is still Rupp."

"He doesn’t care whether you played for Calipari, Pitino, Tubby, or Rupp. He doesn’t care if you were one-and-done or four-year grinder. If you walked through those doors and put on that jersey, you’re part of his Kentucky family."

Full article below good stuff.

https://wildcatbluenation.com/mark-...together-and-rebuild-a-united-big-blue-nation

Pope has a currency that most anyone else that would have taken this job wouldn't have. As a former player he already had an in for all other former players. He is one of them.

I'm glad he's using that connection to make them feel welcomed. Building a network of former players to draw from is a good tool to have for recruiting, motivation, and fund raising.

This. He is uniquely positioned as not only our coach, but a former player and nba player. That's a powerful in for sure and he's amazing at being an ambassador for the brand.

 

[UK’98UK’00]

Somebody needs to tell Drew Holbrook, the author of that article, that:

A) The Timberwolves are playing the Lakers, not the Knicks. The TImberwolves and Lakers are in the western conference, while the Knicks are in the eastern conference.

B) Julius Randle plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, not the Knicks (though he did play for the Knicks the previous couple of seasons).

I read it twice thinking I know I’m not the biggest nba fan but whaaaaattttt? Need more coffee I guess.

 

[kywildcat1021979]

"In a world where coaching can be transactional and relationships fleeting, Mark Pope is proving that Kentucky can—and should—be different. He’s showing recruits that if you choose Lexington, the bond won’t end after one season or one contract. He’s reminding alumni that no matter where they go, home is still Rupp."

"He doesn’t care whether you played for Calipari, Pitino, Tubby, or Rupp. He doesn’t care if you were one-and-done or four-year grinder. If you walked through those doors and put on that jersey, you’re part of his Kentucky family."

Full article below good stuff.

https://wildcatbluenation.com/mark-...together-and-rebuild-a-united-big-blue-nation

He definitely gets it I'm so glad he's our coach! The program is in great hands!

 

[MegaBlue05]

I was fairly young when Billy G was the coach. My question is what was his main issue? He drank and stuff and I know we didn’t have the best two seasons but was he a bad recruiter or just bad coach or just not cut out for the Kentucky job at all?

He had the Xs and Os to be the UK coach, but his recruiting ability and ability to do the more public parts of the job weren’t UK caliber.

Gillispie seemed like a chronic introvert who self medicated with liquor. Guy didn’t want to speak at rotary club luncheons or kiss babies and sign autographs for hours. Being a combative, rude ******* to beloved figures like Tom Leach didn’t do him any favors.

I think Gillispie could’ve been fine at a football school where basketball is secondary and he could just do his thing in silence. He just wasn’t cut out personality wise for a job like UK.

 

[TopCatCal]

In the age of NIL, having guys that made combined billions of dollars in the NBA among the ranks of the alumni could prove very fruitful later too, especially once Cal retires.

Considering that UK spent more NIL money this year than any other college basketball team. I believe that a lot of this money came from the recent UK players that's making tens of millions of dollars in the NBA. Murray, A.D., KAT, SGA, Booker, Fox, Randle, Bam, ect....ect.... Guys making 35/50/55 million dollars a year. They've got the money to get us a lot of good players.

 

[ukwildcatwildfan]

Considering that UK spent more NIL money this year than any other college basketball team. I believe that a lot of this money came from the recent UK players that's making tens of millions of dollars in the NBA. Murray, A.D., KAT, SGA, Booker, Fox, Randle, Bam, ect....ect.... Guys making 35/50/55 million dollars a year. They've got the money to get us a lot of good players.

Very well could be the case. I remember Cal talking about leaning on those players for the funding of a new practice facility. I don't think anyone is making the argument the current facility is actually holding back player development, it was just supposed to be a boost to recruiting. If that's the case the money would be far more effective added to UK's NIL coffers.