One year from today, Kentucky...

[MdWIldcat55]

...will either still be playing, or will be into the search for a new head basketball coach.

I honestly believe that, and I find it at least somewhat comforting. The "Millionaire Milktoast" Mitch Barnhart will be long gone and a new AD will have to act decisively or risk losing all credibility in his first year.

I HOPE Mark Pope surprises me and most others and actually proves he can run an elite program. Might as well root hard for that. But at least the countdown has begun.

 

[SECHonk]

If I were a betting man I'd bet on the former

 

[CUJO_1970]

There is currently no evidence at all to suggest Kentucky will still be playing at this time next year.

 

[UKJenning]

Popes gimmick offense paired with how soft his teams don’t play defense never equates to a great tournament run.

No way he can win 6 straight games against really good teams.

Our season will always end in a blowout loss with him coaching.

 

[BigBlue1992]

Duke and UConn with those awesome pregame hype videos and Popes out here in bidding wars with Jackson State. Not good.

 

[AllBall]

Popes gimmick offense paired with how soft his teams don’t play defense never equates to a great tournament run.

No way he can win 6 straight games against really good teams.

Our season will always end in a blowout loss with him coaching.

Yeah it's evident watching these teams we needed a roster overhaul and more importantly a new defensive philosophy.

I understand at times playing the percentage, but we never apply pressure. I want lock down man extended 3/4 court. Point of emphasis-*decide how you want to defend ball screens. Personally, I'd prefer switching everything but have bigs stay inside the 3 point line. Too often our bigs can't recover hedging or get lost on rotations.

 

[Cats_2010]

I’m still rooting for a BJ from a supermodel but it ain’t gonna happen.

 

[Anon1679859502]

Pope must not have been listening to Pitino when he use to say “Excuses are a sign of weakness”

 

[TFCat11]

Actually, people who know basketball, not just casual fans of the sitting coach, will know what’s going to happen next season, less than 6 weeks from now, when the roster is set.

If Pope brings in less than 3 star level players, he’s going nowhere but out!

 

[Kyhoward1]

Yeah it's evident watching these teams we needed a roster overhaul and more importantly a new defensive philosophy.

I understand at times playing the percentage, but we never apply pressure. I want lock down man extended 3/4 court. Point of emphasis-*decide how you want to defend ball screens. Personally, I'd prefer switching everything but have bigs stay inside the 3 point line. Too often our bigs can't recover hedging or get lost on rotations.

Agree on your defense slant.

We need a Lamont Butler type guard that can apply pressure at half court and not get beat off the dribble. Good defensive teams don’t have to scramble like we did on most of our opponent’s possessions.

Also, a physical defensive oriented big man that can make the opponent think twice about going to the basket and wants to snatch every rebound.

Do these players exist in the portal? I don’t know but our on-ball defense and rebounding must improve dramatically. I have no stats to back up my next statement but believe we were a poor offensive rebounding team also. Can Oscar come back?

 

[BGCATFAN2012]

...will either still be playing, or will be into the search for a new head basketball coach.

I honestly believe that, and I find it at least somewhat comforting. The "Millionaire Milktoast" Mitch Barnhart will be long gone and a new AD will have to act decisively or risk losing all credibility in his first year.

I HOPE Mark Pope surprises me and most others and actually proves he can run an elite program. Might as well root hard for that. But at least the countdown has begun.

In other words maybe this down and pathetic brand of basketball is about over. We can put up with another year of this to fix whats supposed to be a well oiled machine. Truth though after Mark gets tossed next year we still have to wait a year or 2 for the new hire. We are so far from elite basketball possibly 5 years still.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Pope will not finish the season at UK next season if he is the coach at the start.

The Pope era at UK has been over for a while.

It just hasn’t been time stamped yet.

 

[moses1uk]

Pope will not finish the season at UK next season if he is the coach at the start.

The Pope era at UK has been over for a while.

It just hasn’t been time stamped yet.

Goofy . Uk as most colleges would never fire a coach during the season .

 

[Catlogic1552]

One year from today we’ll be discussing which portal players Pope will be going after to try and improve on the 26-27 12 loss season.

 

[JohnRambo82]

Let’s hope for the best. People need to stop turning on each other. Don’t let the trolls win folks.

 

[Anon1774274437]

...will either still be playing, or will be into the search for a new head basketball coach.

I honestly believe that, and I find it at least somewhat comforting. The "Millionaire Milktoast" Mitch Barnhart will be long gone and a new AD will have to act decisively or risk losing all credibility in his first year.

I HOPE Mark Pope surprises me and most others and actually proves he can run an elite program. Might as well root hard for that. But at least the countdown has begun.

We should be looking this year, but alas, next year it is