Nothing changes if Pope can’t solve the recruiting issue

[Farsight Clone]

I think recruiting is an issue yes.

The larger issue is that Pope has a specific scheme he wants to run which means he needs specific guys. If he cannot land those specific guys to run that scheme, he doesn't know what to do. Thus, a reason why we lost 4 games this year so badly.

To me Pope is learning on the job, which is not a good sign because you usually learn on the job with a good resume at another school to get the job at UK.

Pope is still not using some players right. Like Aberdeen, and Jasper. I know he was forced them to play the 1, when they are naturally a 2. With Lowe and JQ back hopefully full time, Jasper and Aberdeen can fit more naturally at the 2.

Pope is clearly learning on the job and it took him a while to adjust. He still some what uses zoom action, but swapped to a more high low ball (like tubby ball). Which works when Lowe is in the game.

When Aberdeen and Jasper is supposed to be your 1's as natural 2's they are not willing passers first. I have watched closely as I typically play 2 my self, and Jasper needs a bucket for him to mentally get in the game. Aberdeen not so much. Aberdeen is Ramel Bradly 2.0. Dribble, dribble, pass at the last second if he can't take a shot. Pope allows that, which is one reason why our offense was super stagnant in the first half yesterday. Pope needs to not allow that and rip azz. That is another issue.

To me the biggest issues with Pope right now are:

- Consistency
- Discipline
- Not using certain players to their full potential
- Recruiting.

Right now as we know, recruiting is a 50/50 issue mixed with Pope can't close and bad contracts with JMI and lack of JMI transparency. So its not fully Pope's fault, but he does have weight in fault there.

 

[UKCowboys]

Who’s he pulling in next year? We’ve had two top guys we were locks for and now we’re probably not gonna get

Ask me when he is done filling out the roster. Just like this season, you quit on it two weeks ago, I wait till its actually over to judge performance

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

That’s the problem though, he hasn’t exactly killed it in the portal either. How many players did Kentucky miss out on last offseason? Had we gotten a couple of those, Kentucky isn’t struggling early this year.

Hasn’t killed it in the portal?

We had the 2nd best portal class in the country, my guy. According to ESPN and On3.

Here are the links for you:


https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...etball-transfer-portal-class-rankings-2025-26



https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/team-rankings/basketball/2025/

If you hold the view that the 2nd best portal class isn’t good enough, then you’re gonna have to stop yapping about HS recruits because you’re not gonna have #1 in both. Two things can be true at the same time: Pope did not get all his first options (by the way, he probably never will for various reasons) and Pope landed an excellent portal class. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always mean the talent works that well together —- I bet Pope would like to have prioritized a little more known shooting. But let’s not pretend this wasn’t a top portal class. It objectively was.

 

[UKCowboys]

Hasn’t killed it in the portal?

We had the 2nd best portal class in the country, my guy. According to ESPN and On3.

Here are the links for you:


https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...etball-transfer-portal-class-rankings-2025-26



https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/team-rankings/basketball/2025/

If you hold the view that the 2nd best portal class isn’t good enough, then you’re gonna have to stop yapping about HS recruits because you’re not gonna have #1 in both. Two things can be true at the same time: Pope did not get all his first options (by the way, he probably never will for various reasons) and Pope landed an excellent portal class. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always mean the talent works that well together —- I bet Pope would like to have prioritized a little more known shooting. But let’s not pretend this wasn’t a top portal class. It objectively was.

Yeah man, this place is turning into comedy central

 

[TotheMoon88]

Don't have to make 50 threads to point that out. Or state it in other threads that are of a different topic. That is what is annoying. EVERYONE already knows OP's opinion on that.

What’s annoying is people like you not wanting to see the mediocrity we’re headed towards

 

[TotheMoon88]

Ask me when he is done filling out the roster. Just like this season, you quit on it two weeks ago, I wait till its actually over to judge performance

Should’ve already had a couple locked up and would have if there wasn’t an obvious problem with recruiting. I don’t know how you don’t see that

 

[UKCowboys]

Should’ve already had a couple locked up and would have if there wasn’t an obvious problem with recruiting. I don’t know how you don’t see that

You quit when things dont go your way...on recruiting, on the team, on the Coach. I don't. Since you have quit on all three, go away

 

[Dward13]

I’ve been fairly positive since the win. I’ve given Pope his props. Today was a good win. But simply pointing out that he needs to make some changes, even going as far as to suggest that I think he will make them going forward, makes me a troll.

Pointing out that he needs to go with a smaller, higher quality roster going forward? Which would solve fans’ frustrations with Pope’s substitution patterns and obviously make us a better team. Troll!

Suggesting that Pope should put his foot down and not allowed to be scapegoated by Mitch Barnhart and JMI’s stupidity? Troll! And this accusation doesn’t even make sense! I’m showing empathy for the guy but I guess poo-pooing Mitch Barnhart and the JMI contract is troll-worthy material too.

Guys thinking that Sweet 16 exits and 6th place finishes is good enough by Kentucky standards means you’re obviously not a troll. Jacka*sses defending the JMI nonsense is obviously not on anyone’s troll-radar.

Hell, I guess thinking that Mitch Barnhart being considered one of the worst AD’s in Kentucky basketball history is worthy of being labeled a troll!

I’ve made constructive criticisms. I’m not blindly bashing Pope. But apparently that’s not good enough. He won so obviously we should only sing praises. The man is making $5 million a year to coach Kentucky, he’s not your friend. He should be constantly looking for ways to improve himself, his staff, his players and the program. Stop being parasocial for a guy who doesn’t even know you exist.

It’s the same people thst thought we should have been fine with Calipari’s last 4 seasons. I’m just putting them on ignore. I’d suggest you do the same. They’re only here to attack anyone that does anything but pump sunshine.

Completely derailed what should just be an objective conversation about the state of recruiting.

 

[Dward13]

I’m waiting a few cycles to see. If the recruting continues as it has fhis cycle then yeah theres a problem. Cant judge off one class though.

Every Kentucky coach in my lifetime has gotten players but some HAVE had bad classes.

Both of Gillispies classes here ended up good but what he had coming in the next few seasons was not.

Tubby signed more high school AA’s than rick but he also had a class with Adam Williams, Rekalin Sims and Jared Carter i think. I don’t…one of his classes was god awful.

But when he left he had Kenny Freease and Draymond Greene committed.

Cant be sure yet if this is just a bad cycle or there is an actual problem.

I suspect there may be a problem myself.

 

[James Arington]

I’ve been fairly positive since the win. I’ve given Pope his props. Today was a good win. But simply pointing out that he needs to make some changes, even going as far as to suggest that I think he will make them going forward, makes me a troll.

Pointing out that he needs to go with a smaller, higher quality roster going forward? Which would solve fans’ frustrations with Pope’s substitution patterns and obviously make us a better team. Troll!

Suggesting that Pope should put his foot down and not allowed to be scapegoated by Mitch Barnhart and JMI’s stupidity? Troll! And this accusation doesn’t even make sense! I’m showing empathy for the guy but I guess poo-pooing Mitch Barnhart and the JMI contract is troll-worthy material too.

Guys thinking that Sweet 16 exits and 6th place finishes is good enough by Kentucky standards means you’re obviously not a troll. Jacka*sses defending the JMI nonsense is obviously not on anyone’s troll-radar.

Hell, I guess thinking that Mitch Barnhart being considered one of the worst AD’s in Kentucky basketball history is worthy of being labeled a troll!

I’ve made constructive criticisms. I’m not blindly bashing Pope. But apparently that’s not good enough. He won so obviously we should only sing praises. The man is making $5 million a year to coach Kentucky, he’s not your friend. He should be constantly looking for ways to improve himself, his staff, his players and the program. Stop being parasocial for a guy who doesn’t even know you exist.

You guys her are so depressing.

 

[davtay]

What’s annoying is people like you not wanting to see the mediocrity we’re headed towards

Like I already stated, that opinion has already been stated many times. I get that is what you think. I guess you can say it fifty times more.

 

[Anon1751335390]

We aren't going to need a handful of McDonald's All Americans every year if we can retain, develop, and/or successfully hunt in the portal.

 

[UKCowboys]

You guys her are so depressing.

Amen

 

[Possum]

Some of our fans don’t accept mediocrity. Sunshine pumpers like you and several others are why the program has been allowed to get in the shape it’s in. Yall bury your head in the sand and pretend that everything is fine. I’ve watched a large portion of this fanbase do it for 7+ years now. In those 7+ years we’ve never been realistic title contenders. That’s beyond unacceptable here.

Newsflash: NONE of us accept mediocrity. We’re aware of our ineptness on the court in recent years. You and your ilk aren’t telling us anything we don’t already know. We all watch the games. Some of us just understand that there isn’t a damn thing we can do about it by whinin’ like ninnies on a freakin’ messageboard.

Some of you who have annointed yourselves as “gatekeepers” of the program are amusing. Like you’re better fans than the rest of us because you air your grievances with every breath you take on every post you make? Gtfo. Hate to break it to ya cowboy but as Pink Floyd put it, you’re just a Brick In The Wall. You ain’t special. Now go cry to your mommas cause your act is tired here.

 

[One2Three]

Hasn’t killed it in the portal?

We had the 2nd best portal class in the country, my guy. According to ESPN and On3.

Here are the links for you:


https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...etball-transfer-portal-class-rankings-2025-26



https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/team-rankings/basketball/2025/

If you hold the view that the 2nd best portal class isn’t good enough, then you’re gonna have to stop yapping about HS recruits because you’re not gonna have #1 in both. Two things can be true at the same time: Pope did not get all his first options (by the way, he probably never will for various reasons) and Pope landed an excellent portal class. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always mean the talent works that well together —- I bet Pope would like to have prioritized a little more known shooting. But let’s not pretend this wasn’t a top portal class. It objectively was.

We’re headed for another ten-loss season, and that’s assuming JQ and Lowe make it to the end of the year and manage to push this team beyond the sad state it was in before.

How is that “killing it”? Truth be told, he should be halving the number of transfer portal players in favor of paying more for fewer, higher quality players. I can forgive not getting top high school recruits if he brings in a few top 50 guys to develop and he did that last season. But why is he not doing that this year? He went after a bunch of top 20 players and has whiffed on every one of them so far.

But right now he has got to cut down on roster size. It’s screwing up roster construction and has made his choices in substitution patterns immensely frustrating. Some of the guys we got aren’t even going to contribute much and probably never will.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

We’re headed for another ten-loss season, and that’s assuming JQ and Lowe make it to the end of the year and manage to push this team beyond the sad state it was in before.

How is that “killing it”? Truth be told, he should be halving the number of transfer portal players in favor of paying more for fewer, higher quality players. I can forgive not getting top high school recruits if he brings in a few top 50 guys to develop and he did that last season. But why is he not doing that this year? He went after a bunch of top 20 players and has whiffed on every one of them so far.

But right now he has got to cut down on roster size. It’s screwing up roster construction and has made his choices in substitution patterns immensely frustrating. Some of the guys we got aren’t even going to contribute much and probably never will.

I can’t promise that every class will mesh and you get amazing on-court results. Don’t forget who you are talking to — I am not the “let’s fix this with a recruiting class” type. Data proves that is not how to fix elite rosters, whether portal OR high school. We had a top 2 portal class and a top 16 high school class (with very limited time to get that one) and you all still think the issue is recruiting. How the pieces fit, minutes continuity, roster continuity, etc are far greater indicators of winning than what rank your high school class was, what rank your portal class was, etc. The saddest thing is we can never actually get down to details because of this.

This is how most of us think and we don’t even second guess ourselves:

Premise: High school classes win.

(Team loses games.)

Result: Cause Confirmed. This means the issue was recruiting. I was correct.

All while ignoring every other factor. Bro, I couldn’t even get most of this board to agree with the sentiment that injuries matter. Literally something that should be so self-evident to require no discussion or debate. Truth is you can’t argue with someone who reasons in a circular fashion — Unless someone can actually argue a legitimate case going forward, I guess I’m just gonna join the rah rah Pope team and shoot across battle lines like everyone else….using zero logic and just “this is my side and that’s yours.” I have to tell you and this is me being very candid…I look forward to my actual arguments being torn to shreds —- it’s how my arguments grow and how I learn. However, none of you do that. It’s kind of lame.

 

[RunninRichie]

Newsflash: NONE of us accept mediocrity. We’re aware of our ineptness on the court in recent years. You and your ilk aren’t telling us anything we don’t already know. We all watch the games. Some of us just understand that there isn’t a damn thing we can do about it by whinin’ like ninnies on a freakin’ messageboard.

Some of you who have annointed yourselves as “gatekeepers” of the program are amusing. Like you’re better fans than the rest of us because you air your grievances with every breath you take on every post you make? Gtfo. Hate to break it to ya cowboy but as Pink Floyd put it, you’re just a Brick In The Wall. You ain’t special. Now go cry to your mommas cause your act is tired here.

Same guy who defended Mark Pope getting assblasted by Michigan state and Gonzaga. Getting abused on the recruiting trail.

 

[Possum]

Same guy who defended Mark Pope getting assblasted by Michigan state and Gonzaga. Getting abused on the recruiting trail.

Take your crybaby whining somewhere else. You’re not making one iota of a difference. The only thing you’re accomplishing is showing how stupid you are.

 

[RunninRichie]

Take your crybaby whining somewhere else. You’re not making one iota of a difference. The only thing you’re accomplishing is showing how stupid you are.

Pope isn't giving you a spot on staff either. For defending him.

 

[BarefootBeach]

Pope isn't giving you a spot on staff either. For defending him.

Still depressed over the win we can see

 

[Farsight Clone]

Take your crybaby whining somewhere else. You’re not making one iota of a difference. The only thing you’re accomplishing is showing how stupid you are.

Still depressed over the win we can see

Two sunshine pumpers detected

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

I think recruiting is an issue yes.

The larger issue is that Pope has a specific scheme he wants to run which means he needs specific guys. If he cannot land those specific guys to run that scheme, he doesn't know what to do. Thus, a reason why we lost 4 games this year so badly.

To me Pope is learning on the job, which is not a good sign because you usually learn on the job with a good resume at another school to get the job at UK.

Pope is still not using some players right. Like Aberdeen, and Jasper. I know he was forced them to play the 1, when they are naturally a 2. With Lowe and JQ back hopefully full time, Jasper and Aberdeen can fit more naturally at the 2.

Pope is clearly learning on the job and it took him a while to adjust. He still some what uses zoom action, but swapped to a more high low ball (like tubby ball). Which works when Lowe is in the game.

When Aberdeen and Jasper is supposed to be your 1's as natural 2's they are not willing passers first. I have watched closely as I typically play 2 my self, and Jasper needs a bucket for him to mentally get in the game. Aberdeen not so much. Aberdeen is Ramel Bradly 2.0. Dribble, dribble, pass at the last second if he can't take a shot. Pope allows that, which is one reason why our offense was super stagnant in the first half yesterday. Pope needs to not allow that and rip azz. That is another issue.

To me the biggest issues with Pope right now are:

- Consistency
- Discipline
- Not using certain players to their full potential
- Recruiting.

Right now as we know, recruiting is a 50/50 issue mixed with Pope can't close and bad contracts with JMI and lack of JMI transparency. So its not fully Pope's fault, but he does have weight in fault there.

This is an excellent post. Spot on

One thing about wins is they sometimes make you forget about very real problems that still need to be fixed. We've now seen our complete team and they looked excellent in the 2nd half. But this idea that we have turned a corner and are just gonna be whooping *ss from now on is overly optimistic. It's still gonna be an uphill climb, especially if we keep starting games the way we have been (during Pope's entire tenure tbh)
I don't understand the people that just laugh at posts like this or call people "fake fans". Did you see that first half on Saturday? No "fake fan" would willingly subject themselves to that. I would've happily turned that off and watched some Columbo reruns

 

[RunninRichie]

This is an excellent post. Spot on

One thing about wins is they sometimes make you forget about very real problems that still need to be fixed. We've now seen our complete team and they looked excellent in the 2nd half. But this idea that we have turned a corner and are just gonna be whooping *ss from now on is overly optimistic. It's still gonna be an uphill climb, especially if we keep starting games the way we have been (during Pope's entire tenure tbh)
I don't understand the people that just laugh at posts like this or call people "fake fans". Did you see that first half on Saturday? No "fake fan" would willingly subject themselves to that. I would've happily turned that off and watched some Columbo reruns

This board can't help itself. It said up and down Sahvir Wheeler was a UK point guard. Calipari needed another year. It makes sense to bring Reed and Rob off the bench for spark plugs. Shaedon Sharpe will play. I still don't have confidence that we can hang with the big boys. Because we beat two mid teams.

 

[RunninRichie]

Still depressed over the win we can see

You were literally one of Calipari's ardent fans. Why am I not surprised you're doing the same stuff with Pope.

 

[Possum]

Two sunshine pumpers detected

One dumb hillbilly detected.

 

[Possum]

Pope isn't giving you a spot on staff either. For defending him.

You talk too much. You must be unemployed with all the time you spend crying on a messageboard. Get a life loser.

 

[Possum]

This board can't help itself. It said up and down Sahvir Wheeler was a UK point guard. Calipari needed another year. It makes sense to bring Reed and Rob off the bench for spark plugs. Shaedon Sharpe will play. I still don't have confidence that we can hang with the big boys. Because we beat two mid teams.

Learn ball

 

[RunninRichie]

You talk too much. You must be unemployed with all the time you spend crying on a messageboard. Get a life loser.

I work 40 hours a week, do you know smart phone exist, retard?

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

You talk too much. You must be unemployed with all the time you spend crying on a messageboard. Get a life loser.

i can't speak for Richie but i pretty much only post when i'm on the clock, lol. the ideal way to spend a work day imo

 

[Possum]

I work 40 hours a week, do you know smart phone exist, retard?

Crying like a ***** about something you have no control over while you work? You got loser written all over you. I’d fire your dumbass in a New York minute.

 

[Possum]

i can't speak for Richie but i pretty much only post when i'm on the clock, lol. the ideal way to spend a work day imo

You’re bragging about being non productive? Ok.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

You’re bragging about being non productive? Ok.

pays the same either way.

 

[BarefootBeach]

You were literally one of Calipari's ardent fans. Why am I not surprised you're doing the same stuff with Pope.

Hahaha, sure I did. I wanted Cal gone 4 or 5 years before he left. You are as accurate on me as you are UK basketball, so you are atleast consistent. Lmao

 

[Possum]

pays the same either way.

Ok

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

Ok

i just thought your initial post made you sound like a sh*tty *sshole. "hur dur i don't agree with you so must be one of them welfare queens hehe".
We talk hoops here, pops. Idk why you think you have any right to make a comment about someone's employment status. And saying you'd fire him if you were his boss? Who the f*ck are you?

 

[RunninRichie]

i just thought your initial post made you sound like a sh*tty *sshole. "hur dur i don't agree with you so must be one of them welfare queens hehe".
We talk hoops here, pops. Idk why you think you have any right to make a comment about someone's employment status. And saying you'd fire him if you were his boss? Who the f*ck are you?

He's a girl dad.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

He's a girl dad.

i love when a guy with thousands of posts on a UK message board tells another guy with thousands of posts on a UK message board that they spend too much time on a UK message board. that never gets old

 

[Farsight Clone]

One dumb hillbilly detected.

Brother I am 100% more literate than you. Have an higher IQ as well. Guaranteed.

 

[Vek96]

Right, everything is fine! We didn’t just have issues with Collins and Stokes and didn’t have a number of whiffs last transfer portal cycle! Our only elite guy was someone coming off an ACL and took almost half the season to get back.

He’s gotta do better than that.

What do you want? 9 five stars so we can flame out in 5he first or second round against a team with zero five stars?

If JMI has the final say on who their money goes to, then how are you still blaming Pope?
Please explain yourself .

 

[Possum]

He's a girl dad.

Retired military. No girls. 3 sons.