***** Official Auburn vs Kentucky Game Thread *****

May 27, 2007
31,204
24,039
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There was a moment when we were healthy and beating Duke and Gonzaga that we were at least in the conversation. Not a favorite by any means, but one of the 15 or so teams with a chance.

Now? Not a chance.

I'm not entirely sure even then we were in that convo.

The mere fact we kept getting down by so much to any of the good teams we've faced at the beginning should have given red flags.
 

katwest

Heisman
Feb 16, 2003
39,506
13,186
113
No matter what happens from here on out, this team has already overachieved up until now. Pope had slim Pickens as to who he wanted for this team. We have had to deal with injuries all year and have little proven depth at point guard. Am I happy, hell no, but I’m not turning on Pope now. Some of the same people who said they would give him a year are turning on him now. This will be Popes weakest team, Auburn loses most everybody and this is a patchwork team right now and has been for a while. Auburn is the number one team in the country for a reason.
 

Eagles_Ball_69

All-Conference
Dec 19, 2003
2,936
3,783
82
Did anybody really think we would be 500 in the league? It’s so embarrassing.
After I saw the roster, before the season started, I said 1-2 games either side of .500 was the ceiling and the floor. Also said we’d be a borderline top 25 team. Some roasted me. Some agreed. The journey to get there was COMPLETELY different than how I thought it would be, but it looks about right with two games to go. The basis was how good the league was going to be and the lack of an absolute stud/dawg go get you a bucket type guy.
 

Cold Stout Beer

Heisman
Dec 10, 2023
9,855
30,784
0
a red and blue background with the words that 's all folks on it
 
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May 27, 2007
31,204
24,039
113
This is a horrible take! We are Kentucky.

That's lovely.

Just because we are kentucky doesn't make teams in the SEC get any worse.
Just because we are Kentucky doesn't mean 1st year coach who couldn't recruit his team would be good
Just because we are Kentucky doesn't mean we can't be hampered with injuries.
Just because we are Kentucky and have history of dominating doesn't mean we would this season.

It's not a horrible take. It's a realistic expectation on where we are at currently.

So your take on mine is horrible.
 

Kywildcat_nation28

All-Conference
Jan 28, 2014
2,280
2,596
113
No matter what happens from here on out, this team has already overachieved up until now. Pope had slim Pickens as to who he wanted for this team. We have had to deal with injuries all year and have little proven depth at point guard. Am I happy, hell no, but I’m not turning on Pope now. Some of the same people who said they would give him a year are turning on him now. This will be Popes weakest team, Auburn loses most everybody and this is a patchwork team right now and has been for a while. Auburn is the number one team in the country for a reason.
I hope your right but the days where kids playing for the name on front of jersey is over its about money I hope Pope understands this
 

rivercatinfl

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2012
1,702
1,595
97
No matter what happens from here on out, this team has already overachieved up until now. Pope had slim Pickens as to who he wanted for this team. We have had to deal with injuries all year and have little proven depth at point guard. Am I happy, hell no, but I’m not turning on Pope now. Some of the same people who said they would give him a year are turning on him now. This will be Popes weakest team, Auburn loses most everybody and this is a patchwork team right now and has been for a while. Auburn is the number one team in the country for a reason.
Yes!
 

BigBlue1992

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
1,873
3,283
0
That's lovely.

Just because we are kentucky doesn't make teams in the SEC get any worse.
Just because we are Kentucky doesn't mean 1st year coach who couldn't recruit his team would be good
Just because we are Kentucky doesn't mean we can't be hampered with injuries.
Just because we are Kentucky and have history of dominating doesn't mean we would this season.

It's not a horrible take. It's a realistic expectation on where we are at currently.

So your take on mine is horrible.
No your take is horrible that you’re okay with a .500 record in conference play. We’ve lost to plenty of teams we should’ve beat. Get real.
 

mash_24

Heisman
Sep 26, 2011
8,572
25,828
108
This team at full strength could have been a really fun team to watch in the tournament. Not that i thought they’d win it all, but disappointed how things fell. They’re mentally and physically shot right now. But to not give Pope time to implement his system and get more talent to run it is foolish. Been a fun season for me without the drama and bs of years past. Looking forward is fun for me.
 

TheWyldKat_rivals45219

All-American
Mar 13, 2016
5,684
5,215
61
Pope will have a big advantage next off season, more time, a few returning players and talented incoming Freshmen. The staff can be much more selective in the portal as we’ll only need 3-4 players, not an entire roster.
The SEC was a perfect storm of teams coming of age in the same year. I look for Kentucky to be back at the top of the league standings next season.
But…..can he coach defense?

His byu teams played the same way.
 

KFuqua

All-Conference
Oct 24, 2001
2,077
2,293
113
Well....I certainly missed on this one. I really thought the Cats had a shot.

As far as everyone trashing Mark Pope... you have to be kidding me? New coach, all new team, all thrown together late after Pope was made coach. Injuries to key players all season long. What did you think would happen this season? Considering everything, Mark Pope has done a great job. I'm happy to have him as Kentucky's coach. He's had some big m, big wins and there will be more in the future. It's such a huge improvement over the previous coach. I just don't know what some of you expected for this year?
 
May 27, 2007
31,204
24,039
113
No your take is horrible that you’re okay with a .500 record in conference play. We’ve lost to plenty of teams we should’ve beat. Get real.

Funny. I never said what I was "okay" with.
You just inferred that.

I said that people predicted this for a reason. I didn't offer my opinion on what I felt at all.
 

ArtLaibsGhost_rivals

All-American
Dec 6, 2020
4,710
8,736
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No matter what happens from here on out, this team has already overachieved up until now. Pope had slim Pickens as to who he wanted for this team. We have had to deal with injuries all year and have little proven depth at point guard. Am I happy, hell no, but I’m not turning on Pope now. Some of the same people who said they would give him a year are turning on him now. This will be Popes weakest team, Auburn loses most everybody and this is a patchwork team right now and has been for a while. Auburn is the number one team in the country for a reason.
Some of the same ******** who said they would give him this first year are turning on him now. Most overweight keyboard warriors who never did anything of note athletically in their lives. I am proud of this team and this coach , those that want to tear it down can kiss my backside
 

BigBlue1992

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
1,873
3,283
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Funny. I never said what I was "okay" with.
You just inferred that.

I said that people predicted this for a reason. I didn't offer my opinion on what I felt at all.
I don’t know what kind of UK fan you are or hang out with but I have never ever predicted Kentucky basketball to be .500 in conference games. EVER!
 

mash_24

Heisman
Sep 26, 2011
8,572
25,828
108
No your take is horrible that you’re okay with a .500 record in conference play. We’ve lost to plenty of teams we should’ve beat. Get real.
The Arkansas game is the only game I truly see as a really bad loss in conference. Nothing to do with Cal, they’re just not good. This conference season has been a gauntlet. We’ve struggled with injuries to key guys and weren’t overly talented to begin with.
 
May 27, 2007
31,204
24,039
113
I don’t know what kind of UK fan you are or hang out with but I have never ever predicted Kentucky basketball to be .500 in conference games. EVER!

At the beginning of the conference season........we had a thread on here predicting the record of the team.....check it out.

That's where I am getting that from.

Most people realized given the strength of the conference, a record around .500 was likely
 

Eagles_Ball_69

All-Conference
Dec 19, 2003
2,936
3,783
82
This is a horrible take! We are Kentucky.
And we also have a bunch of soft mid major dudes and 3 star frosh trying to play. Along with a coach that’s never won a regular season conference title, a conference tournament title, or a single NCAAT game. We may very well be Kentucky, but facts are facts.

And I like Pope and think he’s done a decent job. But I also think he’s in over his head and would’ve NEVER gotten the job unless he played here. I hope the UK brand carries him through, but there’s certainly reason for concern.
 
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BigBlue1992

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
1,873
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The Arkansas game is the only game I truly see as a really bad loss in conference. Nothing to do with Cal, they’re just not good. This conference season has been a gauntlet. We’ve struggled with injuries to key guys and weren’t overly talented to begin with.
We have dealt with lots of injuries but Arkansas isn’t the only one. Georgia, Vandy, and Texas just to name a few more. So there’s at least four.
 

mash_24

Heisman
Sep 26, 2011
8,572
25,828
108
We have dealt with lots of injuries but Arkansas isn’t the only one. Georgia, Vandy, and Texas just to name a few more. So there’s at least four.
I might give you Texas. They’re not good and we imploded down the stretch in that one. Vandy is a solid basketball team and it’s always tough to win there. Georgia just smoked Florida last week on their home floor. This league is crazy strong.
 
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May 27, 2007
31,204
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113
Always respect your takes, but nowhere near the talent level that team had. Our front court from 2015 would destroy this Auburn team.

Similar efficiency margin to us. So they are beating teams by similar margins that our 2015 team did.

I still think we are most likely better and would win that game more often than we lost it. Dunno about destroy. I mean I think this Auburn team is definitely better than 2015 Wisconsin or 2015 ND and we lost to Wisconsin and nearly to ND.

But yeah Auburn is legit.
 
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BigBlue1992

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
1,873
3,283
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And we also have a bunch of soft mid major dudes and 3 star frosh trying to play. Along with a coach that’s never won a regular season conference title, a conference tournament title, or a single NCAAT game. We may very well be Kentucky, but facts are facts.

And I like Pope and think he’s done a decent job. But I also think he’s in over his head and would’ve NEVER gotten the job unless he played here. I hope the UK brand Carrie’s him through, but there’s certainly reason for concern.
That’s exactly what I’m trying to say. Whether it’s bad players or a coach who doesn’t belong, I’m not doing somersaults as many others are. You’re preaching to the wrong guy. He’s the one who thinks the future is bright. You need to share your message with him.
 
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CrimsonCats_rivals

All-Conference
Mar 22, 2022
1,509
3,043
61
Always respect your takes, but nowhere near the talent level that team had. Our front court from 2015 would destroy this Auburn team.
I guess it depends on how you want to look at it. Auburn doesn’t have anybody with the NBA potential of KAT and Booker, but their efficiency margins as a college team are actually on the level of our 2015 squad right now.
 

rivercatinfl

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2012
1,702
1,595
97
Looks like a 20-11 finish for us. Then it's a new season. Hopefully our guys can get healed up. I look forward to us win a couple games in the NCAA tournament. Honestly the SEC tourney isn't that critical for us. I'm more interested in getting our best team on the floor for March madness.
Pope is gonna be much better next year with more athletic players.
I think he's done a good job given what he had to contend with this year.
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

All-Conference
Dec 19, 2003
2,936
3,783
82
We did not have 15 open threes. Auburn put a clamp on the 3 pt line. Our guys are not quick enough to get an open shot. We have great spot up shooters from 3 pt line if they don't have a hand in their face.
Yeah, he needs an answer for what teams are doing to all the zoom jamming. They dork Amari, switch super high, and basically just force the backdoor. But because they’re dorking Amari, his defender is in the lane jamming up the backdoor cut. To counter you get a lot of Amari dribbling to meet his defender then backing him down. They also try to counter with ball screens because you have to honor with Amaris defender because of the twist potential and step back 3. Problem is, we don’t really have guys geared to play downhill off ball screens. Honestly would like to see more of Amari in the low and run some of the old GSW offense with Durant in the low. It makes far more sense honestly. We do it “some”, but not nearly enough when teams defend us like Auburn did.