Mark Pope vs Billy G (45 games)

[ComebackCats98]

This is just a comparison of their time at UK through the first 45 games. I understand Billy G had some horrific losses (VMI, Gardner Webb, San Diego, UAB, Houston in CUSA) so I’m not trying to say these two are the same. However, they’re way to similar for my liking:

Record through 45 games:
Billy G 29-16
Pope 29-16

Losses:
Billy G: Gardner Webb by 16, UNC 9, Indiana 20, UAB 3, Houston 13, San Diego 9, Louisville 14, Mississippi State 5, Florida 11, Vanderbilt 41, Tennessee 3, Georgia 4, Marquette 8, VMI 8, North Carolina 19, Miami 6.
Average margin of defeat 11.875

Pope: Louisville by 8, Michigan State by 17, UNC 3, Gonzaga 35, Ohio State 20, Clemson 4, Georgia 13, Alabama 5, Vanderbilt 5, Arkansas 10, Ole Miss 14, Texas 4, Alabama 13, Auburn 16, Alabama 19, Tennessee 13
Average margin of defeat 12.4375

Some things aren’t factored in like the SEC is way stronger under Pope than Billy G, but it also should be noted Pope has had teams that are supposed to be more talented on paper. Thoughts?

 

[philstat]

BCG actually had a better stable of players, no question about it, he made some horrific decisions on/off court, though he was more of a classic BB coach than MP.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Puts into perspective how bad this is going. Good post, sad.

 

[JohnnyGreen]

Not a good comparison. BCG inherited a final four roster and put it in the toilet.

 

[One2Three]

The margin of loss being higher definitely confirms my suspicions that we’re getting blown out more under Pope than BCG. BCG had 7 losses over 10 points and Pope has 10 losses.

 

[ComebackCats98]

Not a good comparison. BCG inherited a final four roster and put it in the toilet.

How so? They lost 12 games the year before he got the job and bounced out in the round of 32. They were preseason ranked 23rd.

They had Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, and Patrick Patterson. You could say Jodie Meeks but he was injured quite a bit the first year.

 

[JohnnyGreen]

How so? They lost 12 games the year before he got the job and bounced out in the round of 32. They were preseason ranked 23rd.

They had Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, and Patrick Patterson. You could say Jodie Meeks but he was injured quite a bit the first year.

Think about it. Those were helluva players.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Not a good comparison. BCG inherited a final four roster and put it in the toilet.

Wtf u talking about?

UK hasn't made a final four since 1998 and G started n 2007.

 

[Kats meow]

Not a good comparison. BCG inherited a final four roster and put it in the toilet.

As opposed to Pope, who bought a $22M roster?

 

[JonathanW2]

Both were hit by the injury bug too:

BCG 1st year, Meeks was looking like was going to be a stud, had injury that he tried to play through but was a shell of himself & wound up only playing 11 games, then Patterson missed the final 6 games.
In year 2 his coaching and recruiting really showed was lacking (only 2 recruits were Liggins & in-state Miller)

Last year Pope had his starting PG miss 9 games, and the backup PG only played 9 games. And his expected lead scorer missed final 12 games (pretty much 13). This year after 9 games, (you can't count Quaintance because he knew he'd be out early), he's already played 6 w/out the expected PG & 4 w/out the expected PF.
Pope's first recruiting class includes 2 good prospects but both are in-state kids so probably took less effort to reel them in, a foreign player none of us had heard of before added, and a project who has good upside but needs the weight room bad. Of course now recruiting is 2-fold, FR and "the Portal". On the portal side of recruiting I'd give Pope a solid C, a lot of complementary players solid 3rd/4th options on offense, but not "the guy" to go get you a basket when you need one.

Injuries are no excuse. But they do explain how things can start to go south. The coach's job is to anticipate those, plan, and ADJUST.

 

[ComebackCats98]

Think about it. Those were helluva players.

I don’t disagree those 3 are good players, but they didn’t have much more on the roster than that. Certainly not a final four contender.

 

[JohnnyGreen]

As opposed to Pope, who bought a $22M roster?

A few of our key “investments” from that 22M are hurt. Some of you guys don’t look at the overall picture. We are banged up. Get healthy and sky’s the limit.

 

[Quick Fiftino]

Hey, who hired both guys?

 

[UKJenning]

Pope has NIL $$$$ and the transfer portal.

BCG had neither and was drunk!!

 

[JonathanW2]

Not a good comparison. BCG inherited a final four roster and put it in the toilet.

What are you smoking?
BCG inherited: Bradley, Crawford, Meeks, Jasper, Stevenson Porter, Harris, and a committed recruit Patterson who kept his commitment.
Meeks had shown promise as a FR, as had Jasper, but both got hurt as Sophs, as did Patterson (although the season was already a bad one by then).

 

[JakeKx]

Where that nerd reporter that chased Billy Clyde. Need to get him on pope

 

[Anon1760284409]

How so? They lost 12 games the year before he got the job and bounced out in the round of 32. They were preseason ranked 23rd.

They had Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, and Patrick Patterson. You could say Jodie Meeks but he was injured quite a bit the first year.

Patrick Patterson was never committed to Tubby. billy G didn’t inherit Patterson.

 

[ComebackCats98]

Patrick Patterson was never committed to Tubby. billy G didn’t inherit Patterson.

You’re correct. I just meant the roster year 1 under Gillespie wasn’t a final four contender or even close.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

You’re correct. I just meant the roster year 1 under Gillespie wasn’t a final four contender or even close.

Of course it wasn't. Anyone arguing it is clearly is a troll or knows nothing about basketball.

 

[TFCat11]

Not a good comparison. BCG inherited a final four roster and put it in the toilet.

BCG’s rosters cost ZILCH! Pope’s? 10’s of millions!

NOT… A good comparison

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Wtf u talking about?

UK hasn't made a final four since 1998 and G started n 2007.

I wish everyone would just stop replying to this weird mofo. Seriously so weird.

 

[AFKY_Blue_RedsBengals]

I've seen some bizarre takes. Saying Billy Gillispie inherited a Final 4 team certainly takes the cake, with the likes of Mark Coury, Jared Carter, Michael Porter, the great Morakinyo Williams & AJ Stewart coming on board.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Yall remember BCG was actually SEC coach of the year in one of those years? Lol

 

[Snarks]

It’s sad this is even a conversation

 

[AllBall]

Where that nerd reporter that chased Billy Clyde. Need to get him on pope

Alan Cutler

 

[ComebackCats98]

Yall remember BCG was actually SEC coach of the year in one of those years? Lol

It’s crazy to think about. They start off like 6-0 or something. Ole Miss figured out how to guard Meeks somewhat and it was downhill from there that season. That’s when he smarted off to the reporter at halftime

 

[MegaBlue05]

How so? They lost 12 games the year before he got the job and bounced out in the round of 32. They were preseason ranked 23rd.

They had Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, and Patrick Patterson. You could say Jodie Meeks but he was injured quite a bit the first year.

Guy is trolling. Put him on ignore.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

It’s crazy to think about. They start off like 6-0 or something. Ole Miss figured out how to guard Meeks somewhat and it was downhill from there that season. That’s when he smarted off to the reporter at halftime

Ya know it really goes to show just how fickle these things are.

I remember as a Mets fan a few years ago Buck Showalter winning manager of the year in the NL in his first year with the Mets. By the end of year 2, he was fired lol.

 

[Mike-D]

A few of our key “investments” from that 22M are hurt. Some of you guys don’t look at the overall picture. We are banged up. Get healthy and sky’s the limit.

LOL

Posting this **** the day after we lose by 40 on a neutral court is absolutely wild.

 

[20MRoster]

LOL

Posting this **** the day after we lose by 40 on a neutral court is absolutely wild.

He's a troll, need to stop feeding him.