Nate Oats?

[kyjeff1]

I can agree, Pope is not perfect. I think this year he really thought he could put together a roster without at least one alpha and win. He was wrong, if given a 3rd year, he needs to pay up and get an alpha.

My fear is next year there will be a completely new set of problems with an almost entirely new roster and I feel like his lack of experience and his cheeseball personality, we will struggle again.

It took him way too long to figure this out. We didn't have Lowe and JQ last night and look how good the team played. It puts that whole "missing players" excuse out of the equation.

I like Pope, he's a fantastic guy, but he doesn't have the experience, credentials, or the chops for this job. I hope he serves me up a huge plate of crow, but I just don't see it.

 

[HappyBlue]

This is why some of us weren’t sold on getting rid of Cal, but people threw out all nuance and accused of us being Cal lovers.

Personally I felt the chance of getting rid of him and rolling the dice with Mitch as the guy doing the hiring had a higher chance of failure than just waiting Cal out a few more years. And I always felt after the extra Covid year was over and players were normal college age again freshmen would return to being close to as effective as they used to be. Add in NIL which would keep guys like Chris Livingston in school another year and Cal didn’t sound that bad compared to a complete unknown hired by Mitch.

I think the Oats and Pearls of the world are pipe dreams and always will be.

Cal was still getting great players, Cal was still having good regular seasons. But it got to the point that you just expected UK to flame out in the 1st or 2nd round of the tourney. Say we kept Cal, then last year we probably have the same result we got with Pope, a Sweet 16.

 

[ukcats012]

Cal was still getting great players, Cal was still having good regular seasons. But it got to the point that you just expected UK to flame out in the 1st or 2nd round of the tourney. Say we kept Cal, then last year we probably have the same result we got with Pope, a Sweet 16.

I know most people here disagree with me, but I think people put too much importance into the tournament when assessing the success of the season as a whole. In single elimination tournaments anything can happen. Yeah it majorly sucked, but if I’m not mistaken those were the first two times we’ve ever been upset like that as a top seed in the first round since the tournament expanded to 64. It’s happened to everyone else and we were due. It happened to Coach K twice in a three year period as well about a decade ago.

 

[HappyBlue]

My fear is next year there will be a completely new set of problems with an almost entirely new roster and I feel like his lack of experience and his cheeseball personality, we will struggle again.

It took him way too long to figure this out. We didn't have Lowe and JQ last night and look how good the team played. It puts that whole "missing players" excuse out of the equation.

I like Pope, he's a fantastic guy, but he doesn't have the experience, credentials, or the chops for this job. I hope he serves me up a huge plate of crow, but I just don't see it.

Even if last nights line up is the best, this years roster construction is just horrible and I really think it was so badly constructed that a cloned coach using the DNA of Rupp, K, Pitino, Wooden and Knight could not have success.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

I know most people here disagree with me, but I think people put too much importance into the tournament when assessing the success of the season as a whole. In single elimination tournaments anything can happen. Yeah it majorly sucked, but if I’m not mistaken those were the first two times we’ve ever been upset like that as a top seed in the first round since the tournament expanded to 64. It’s happened to everyone else and we were due. It happened to Coach K twice in a three year period as well about a decade ago.

I cherry picked tournament losses when thinking about the late Cal era and I bet a lot of others did too. There’s randomness to the tournament and has been for a long time. Cal ain’t coming back here but I can admit I was a malcontent and I don’t want to make the same mistakes again. Will Pope succeed here? Probably not — it’s certainly appearing to be unlikely. I’m willing to wait it out and make sure first before we play the same card again and wind up with another situation where the grass ends up less green. Three years, elite eight — that’s what I’m asking for and I think it’s fair.

 

[HappyBlue]

I know most people here disagree with me, but I think people put too much importance into the tournament when assessing the success of the season as a whole. In single elimination tournaments anything can happen. Yeah it majorly sucked, but if I’m not mistaken those were the first two times we’ve ever been upset like that as a top seed in the first round since the tournament expanded to 64. It’s happened to everyone else and we were due. It happened to Coach K twice in a three year period as well about a decade ago.

I can not take anyone serious saying we put to much importance on the tournament. Nothing else matters but the tournament, SEC titles and tourney wins don't matter, having a great season doesn't matter if you fail in the tourney. It just doesn't when you are the fan of a blue blood.

 

[bbnkat02]

He might not be at the top of my list but has the most wins in the SEC since he became Bama’s head coach. That current 11-5 record is not concerning considering his resume.

This. The man has a recent FF. That's what we want here.

That being said, I'm not wild about him. He doesn't focus on defense and just wants a run an gun 3pt shooting NBA team. Well, when that's on, it's unstoppable. When its not, you get torched. And that's not a style I want in a single elimination tourney.

 

[HappyBlue]

I cherry picked tournament losses when thinking about the late Cal era and I bet a lot of others did too. There’s randomness to the tournament and has been for a long time. Cal ain’t coming back here but I can admit I was a malcontent and I don’t want to make the same mistakes again. Will Pope succeed here? Probably not — it’s certainly appearing to be unlikely. I’m willing to wait it out and make sure first before we play the same card again and wind up with another situation where the grass ends up less green. Three years, elite eight — that’s what I’m asking for and I think it’s fair.

I agree, if he can't get to the E8 next year probably time to move on. Unless next year he has a really great season, I am talking like finishing in the top 3, getting a 1 seed and then if he got upset in the Sweet 16, I could see one more year.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

I can not take anyone serious saying we put to much importance on the tournament. Nothing else matters but the tournament, SEC titles and tourney wins don't matter, having a great season doesn't matter if you fail in the tourney. It just doesn't when you are the fan of a blue blood.

That’s narrow, man. It all matters.

A poster the other day said every season is a complete failure without a championship. Even at Kentucky, that’s an idiotic thing to say. I have a tape library of wonderful memories spanning decades of joy and heartbreak and will unequivocally say that 114 of our seasons weren’t failures.

 

[TotheMoon88]

So shouldn't we give Pope at least a 3rd year to try and get a resume? Look I am not saying Pope is the guy, but if we keep firing coaches after only a year and 1/4 seasons, we are going to be in trouble. What happens if we fire Pope and get Pearl, a coach that a lot want. Then Pearl proceeds to lose 10 games his first season and makes the sweet sixteen, then in his second season he loses 12 games and loses in the 2nd round of the tourney, does UK fire him before a 3rd season? For the next coach hire do they tell the coaching candidates that if they don't make a FF in either the 1st or 2nd season they will be fired?

No we shouldn’t give him a third year to repeat the same pattern. Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results is insanity. He’s always been a double digit loss coach and has never been able to coach defense and never will be

 

[HappyBlue]

This. The man has two recent FFs. That's what we want here.

That being said, I'm not wild about him. He doesn't focus on defense and just wants a run an gun 3pt shooting NBA team. Well, when that's on, it's unstoppable. When its not, you get torched. And that's not a style I want in a single elimination tourney.

He has one final 4.

 

[ukcats012]

I can not take anyone serious saying we put to much importance on the tournament. Nothing else matters but the tournament, SEC titles and tourney wins don't matter, having a great season doesn't matter if you fail in the tourney. It just doesn't when you are the fan of a blue blood.

I guess let me rephrase my point. I don’t agree with making large scale changes to the trajectory of a program due to the outcome of specific games in a single elimination tournament. Obviously the tournament matters, it’s the way champions are crowned. But the results of the tournament don’t tell you anything concrete about the direction a program is headed.

NC State made the final four the year we lost to Oakland. That didn’t change their program, they were still headed in the wrong direction. We had the better team that year and our program was on a better track regardless of the tournament results.

The tournament can make awful seasons look good and great seasons look awful. But after it’s over you need to take a 30,000 foot view of a program before making any decisions on the future.

 

[bbnkat02]

Oat's was bitching about Alabama's NIL last season. UK just spent 22 million on our basketball squad. Big difference IMO. Kinda like asking if UK football has the same NIL as Ohio state. Our fanbase is also 2nd to none. You have 365 days a year support.

So why did Oats say "timing was wrong" and why did Hurley turn us down?

The landscape has changed. With the right NIL you can win a title just about anywhere or at least compete for one AND you don't have the pressure you do here.

I dunno man. I'm a proud birthright member of BBN but this job isn't as attractive as it used to be in terms of tradition and a chance at a title. Used to be great coaches would come here to get a natty. But now, great coaches can win a natty wherever they chose to be.

 

[HappyBlue]

That’s narrow, man. It all matters.

A poster the other day said every season is a complete failure without a championship. Even at Kentucky, that’s an idiotic thing to say. I have a tape library of wonderful memories spanning decades of joy and heartbreak and will unequivocally say that 114 of our seasons weren’t failures.

I don't think the seasons are a failure without a championship, but if we went undefeated, and then lost in the 2nd round of the tourney, the season was a failure. I will even say that being how dominant the 38-1 team was, that even though they made a FF, that season was a failure, only because of how dominant they were. Cal 100% failed that team in the game against Wisconsin.

 

[TotheMoon88]

So Pope was better, he got a Sweet 16 in his first year.

Pope also had a transfer portal to build with, Oats didn’t

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

I don't think the seasons are a failure without a championship, but if we went undefeated, and then lost in the 2nd round of the tourney, the season was a failure. I will even say that being how dominant the 38-1 team was, that even though they made a FF, that season was a failure, only because of how dominant they were. Cal 100% failed that team in the game against Wisconsin.

I respect the point. I was as sad after the WISC game as any in my life, but I’ll never call that year a failure.

 

[kyjeff1]

Even if last nights line up is the best, this years roster construction is just horrible and I really think it was so badly constructed that a cloned coach using the DNA of Rupp, K, Pitino, Wooden and Knight could not have success.

I agree, although, if fully healthy, it is a top 15 roster (in my opinion) and you could beat some of the better teams with it, but you need a good coach that is on top of his game.
At this point, I just want Pope to salvage this season, going to an NIT is just nauseating to think about. Looking at the schedule missing the tournament isn’t just on the table, it's the centerpiece of the table.

 

[HappyBlue]

I respect the point. I was as sad after the WISC game as any in my life, but I’ll never call that year a failure.

I wish I couldn't but, man that team was so much better than every other team.

 

[bbnkat02]

It's Nebraska. I'd like to see what he can do after this season is over. He could be one to watch, imo.

Nebraska is a T10 team right now, but I think it's a lightning in a bottle situation. Holberg's current record there is 100-108. WOOF .

 

[TotheMoon88]

Again, you got any proof 22 million was spent? Or you just following all the other lemmings that have latched onto this RUMOR.

You won’t accept any proof as evidence you’ll just say it’s rumor. You got any proof they didn’t? Stop defending the crap job Pope has done. He sucks man, I don’t understand why you want him as coach. He should’ve never been hired

 

[bbnkat02]

He has one final 4.

Yes. I fixed it..

 

[HappyBlue]

I agree, although, if fully healthy, it is a top 15 roster (in my opinion) and you could beat some of the better teams with it, but you need a good coach that is on top of his game.
At this point, I just want Pope to salvage this season, going to an NIT is just nauseating to think about. Looking at the schedule missing the tournament isn’t just on the table, it's the centerpiece of the table.

Yeah I guess in my 3rd your argument I should have prefaced that with it depends on how the year is. I might have to rethink it and say that if he misses the tournament, idk, maybe should move on. The SEC is a lot weaker this year, I just don't think he will miss the tourney.

 

[TotheMoon88]

The days of the biggest name coaches tripping over each other in a foot race to a blue blood job may either be over or nearly over. This is why when I’m looking at potential Pope replacements, I’m trying to be realistic and think of candidates who show promise but don’t have the extensive resumes. I’m looking for traits, behaviors and philosophy because a lot of the names we really want may be long shots.

When I get sad and think about a new coach, for example, my first name isn’t Nate Oats — it’s Bruce Pearl.

But Pearl is retired, he’d be nearing 70 and I’d bet doesn’t want to compete head to head in-conference versus his son.

We had a Hall of Fame coach that we ran off without a back up plan. Most fans, including me, were absolutely certain an upgrade was going to be easy — Hurley is coming, Oats is coming….I took it for what it was —- things are different now. Coaching changes are more complicated than they’ve ever been, so I’d rather keeping coping with Pope, hoping with Pope —- whatever thing some will say and really hope Pope proves he’s the guy. That, as unlikely as it is, is the best case scenario.

We’d be better off trying to get an elite coach than sticking with pope. He’s never going to be the guy

 

[HappyBlue]

You won’t accept any proof as evidence you’ll just say it’s rumor. You got any proof they didn’t? Stop defending the crap job Pope has done. He sucks man, I don’t understand why you want him as coach. He should’ve never been hired

And you will accept the 22 million rumor without any evidence, you will just I read it on the internet, and say has to be true.

 

[bbnkat02]

I guess let me rephrase my point. I don’t agree with making large scale changes to the trajectory of a program due to the outcome of specific games in a single elimination tournament. Obviously the tournament matters, it’s the way champions are crowned. But the results of the tournament don’t tell you anything concrete about the direction a program is headed.

NC State made the final four the year we lost to Oakland. That didn’t change their program, they were still headed in the wrong direction. We had the better team that year and our program was on a better track regardless of the tournament results.

The tournament can make awful seasons look good and great seasons look awful. But after it’s over you need to take a 30,000 foot view of a program before making any decisions on the future.

Yep. Anyone saying the 2015 team/season sucked would need their head examined for example. Yes the ending sucked. But that was a historically great year in CBB history, let alone UK history.

 

[HappyBlue]

Yep. Anyone saying the 2015 team/season sucked would need their head examined for example. Yes the ending sucked. But that was a historically great year in CBB history, let alone UK history.

The team didn't suck, but the season was not a success.

 

[TotheMoon88]

And you will accept the 22 million rumor without any evidence, you will just I read it on the internet, and say has to be true.

More proof points to it being true than not.

 

[Anon1679859502]

I would love to have him as coach. He has a philosophy and recruits to it.
Doesn’t sulk if he loses but gets angry and just the right amount of arrogance to coach at Kentucky

 

[ukcats012]

I wish I couldn't but, man that team was so much better than every other team.

I know I’m sounding contrarian, but I actually don’t think it was. Especially after we lost Poythress. We could have easily dropped two or three games in conference play. The first two went into OT and we only beat LSU by 2 later into the season. And the SEC was god awful that year with only one other ranked team.

Were we the best team in the country? Yeah. Were we absolutely heads and shoulders above everyone else? I don’t think so. Especially not Wisconsin. People continue to underrate how good they were that year. The had the most efficient offense in the country that year why a wide margin.

 

[HappyBlue]

More proof points to it being true than not.

Thank you for agreeing with me. Since there isn't 1 single thing that proves it, then it is more than likely a made rumor that people latched onto and ran with.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

We’d be better off trying to get an elite coach than sticking with pope. He’s never going to be the guy

First part of that, I’m not certain will happen. Second part, I’m pretty sure I agree with. See how it plays out, but yeah my Pope confidence is low unless he majorly fixes things somehow.

 

[Monday Nitro]

He has one final 4.

He gets facts wrong all of the time. Finally got tired of reading it and hit MUTE.

 

[TotheMoon88]

Thank you for agreeing with me. Since there isn't 1 single thing that proves it, then it is more than likely a made rumor that people latched onto and ran with.

Nope, been reported by multiple sources and pope hasn’t denied it. Pope sucks deal with it

 

[kyjeff1]

Yeah I guess in my 3rd your argument I should have prefaced that with it depends on how the year is. I might have to rethink it and say that if he misses the tournament, idk, maybe should move on. The SEC is a lot weaker this year, I just don't think he will miss the tourney.

I think we can all admit this has been a terrible year for Mark. He failed building the roster, he failed at in game management, he failed at game preperation, he moped in post game interviews and it took him 15 games to figure out the right system for this team.

Now, he obviously spent a ton of coin on this team. It’s at least close to 22 million, if we don't like that number, cool, we can settle on 15 million, either way, that's a lot of money. The bottom line is, you can’t burn that much money and fail like this. The donors are going to have a very large say in what happens. If he misses the tournament, I'd be surprised if they don't can him.

 

[HappyBlue]

I’m not on the fire Pope train until the end of next year. It’s too small of a sample size to know what the real Pope is, last year or this year. I know recruiting isn’t looking great

I know I’m sounding contrarian, but I actually don’t think it was. Especially after we lost Poythress. We could have easily dropped two or three games in conference play. The first two went into OT and we only beat LSU by 2 later into the season. And the SEC was god awful that year with only one other ranked team.

Were we the best team in the country? Yeah. Were we absolutely heads and shoulders above everyone else? I don’t think so. Especially not Wisconsin. People continue to underrate how good they were that year. The had the most efficient offense in the country that year why a wide margin.

Wisconsin was good, UK was better. The reason UK lost was because as usual down the stretch Cal played not to lose, refused to take out the Harrison twins and went on a 5 minute scoring drought. Ugh just thinking about it makes me sick.

 

[HappyBlue]

Nope, been reported by multiple sources and pope hasn’t denied it. Pope sucks deal with it

Again just because your cousin has a friend who has a source and posted on his Tik Tok channel doesn't make it a reliable source or true.

 

[kyjeff1]

He gets facts wrong all of the time. Finally got tired of reading it and hit MUTE.

LOL, is this what you're doing now, Herro's Hero's? Making snide comments about other posters while you get ripped apart all over the board?

 

[TotheMoon88]

Again just because your cousin has a friend who has a source and posted on his Tik Tok channel doesn't make it a reliable source or true.

Herald leader, bleacher report and other media have reported it not just some random

 

[HappyBlue]

Herald leader, bleacher report and other media have reported it not just some random

Well I assume they reported as 100% factual with proof, or did they report it as a RUMOR?

 

[BarefootBeach]

The number was leaked via Pope and his boys.

If it was leaked how do you know it was Pope?