Our offensive identity

[RunninRichie]

looks that way

butler - elite defender and big time winner
robinson - few years in pope's system
brea - elite elite shooter and scorer
oweh - budding star
williams - unicorn big man

We really haven't had a stretch 4 since Carr. That's been the biggest weakness on our teams. Carr's ability to hit the 3 at a decent clip, really opened up driving lanes for our guards. Last year we had brick layers at the 4. McBride and Ousmane are streaky at best.

 

[UKCowboys]

looks that way

butler - elite defender and big time winner
robinson - few years in pope's system
brea - elite elite shooter and scorer
oweh - budding star
williams - unicorn big man

I still contend if that team is completely healthy they were a FF team at least

 

[Catastic5]

Year 1 was Pope's best roster. Which is ironic because most people, including Matt Jones and most posters on here, loudly proclaimed that it would be the weakest roster Pope would have here. There was a topic on here earlier today that for some dumb reason got deleted by super sensitive mods that pointed this out.

It has gotten progressively worse. To me, this year's roster is the weakest Pope has had. Give me last year's backcourt with Oweh alone over our group this year. And say what you want about MoD and BG, but I'd take those dudes over N'Diaye, McBride, and whoever else. Milan is good but limited in a lot of ways.

Arrow is definitely pointing down on the program.

I’m half convinced that negative recruitment harshly affected Pope. The way other coaches act towards Pope on the court, the potshots they’ve made towards him directly or indirectly off the court; I wouldn’t be shocked if they’re not talking mad sh*t about him to recruits. They’re bullying him. And sadly, they’re probably not wrong. Coaches can see it. Recruits can see it. The man simply wasn’t made to be a cutthroat basketball coach. And at Kentucky, you won’t survive like that.

Another theory is he completely abandoned what made him successful in his first season. Instead of running after under the radar players like he did his first transfer portal, he started pushing hard on elite players and guys that do not mesh with his play style and personality. He’s massively overcorrected because of the first season’s defensive deficiencies and has become obsessed with it. Problem is, the defense hasn’t really improved. And instead of bringing in a defensive specialist, he stupidly delegated the task to Mark Fox, for some inexplicable reason.

 

[RunninRichie]

I’m half convinced that negative recruitment harshly affected Pope. The way other coaches act towards Pope on the court, the potshots they’ve made towards him directly or indirectly off the court; I wouldn’t be shocked if they’re not talking mad sh*t about him to recruits. They’re bullying him. And sadly, they’re probably not wrong. Coaches can see it. Recruits can see it. The man simply wasn’t made to be a cutthroat basketball coach. And at Kentucky, you won’t survive like that.

Another theory is he completely abandoned what made him successful in his first season. Instead of running after under the radar players like he did his first transfer portal, he started pushing hard on elite players and guys that do not mesh with his play style and personality. He’s massively overcorrected because of the first season’s defensive deficiencies and has become obsessed with it. Problem is, the defense hasn’t really improved. And instead of bringing in a defensive specialist, he stupidly delegated the task to Mark Fox, for some inexplicable reason.

Just one more year and it's over.

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

I didn’t see any zoom offense last night, it looked like it was a bunch of individuals playing pick up.

We haven't run zoom since his first season. That's why we went from one of the most efficient offensive teams in the nation to whatever we have now.

Not good.

 

[Drogon]

Tonight the offensive identity is, shoot yourself in the foot.

He WOOOOOOD!!! GET YOUR ******* HEAD OUT OF YOUR ***!!!!

Just completely whiffed on a ******* block that would have given us a first down. On top of his holding penalty. He's having a terrible night.

 

[Cats_2010]

but other coaches do.......its so embarrassing when fans say stuff like this

Good lord dude, it was a joke!

 

[seccats04]

The first team never quit the second team quit in Nashville against Gonzaga and was booed rightfully so

Ohio St, Bama and UT games come to mind where we flat out quit that first year.

 

[seccats04]

looks that way

butler - elite defender and big time winner
robinson - few years in pope's system
brea - elite elite shooter and scorer
oweh - budding star
williams - unicorn big man

And that was a 12 loss team. 12+ losses again and Pope will rightfully be fired.

 

[Resignmarkpope]

I'm not sure what this team was trying to do last night, but that wasn't the offense I expected to see with this team.
Where were the back cuts or the motion sets that create wide open layups, or threes?
Last night's offense looked like pickup ball, where the goal was to just jack up threes. Any time our guys drove the ball, it was without a plan, or to try to score through 3 guys.
This offense won't work. It’s something a mid major runs against bigger teams.
My hope, is that Pope was playing possum before Tuesday night's game. I say that, because our guys didn't run the things Pope is known for offensively.
Or, maybe they just haven't worked much on offense. Not sure, but hopefully we see a better structure to the offense from here on out.

Relax guy! I’m hearing Mark Pope is out! Ad is worried about the Kentucky basketball brand! Some big donors also feel Pope is destroying the brand.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Relax guy! I’m hearing Mark Pope is out! Ad is worried about the Kentucky basketball brand! Some big donors think Mark Pope is destroying the brand.!

I hope you are right but I’m not hearing that from those donors. I know most of the major donors or friends of the major donors. They are all rightfully concerned but I’ve only heard one of them come out and say he’s ready to end the Pope experiment. And he’s the only one I know of that’s withholding donations to the school and not participating in NIL.

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

I hope you are right but I’m not hearing that from those donors. I know most of the major donors or friends of the major donors. They are all rightfully concerned but I’ve only heard one of them come out and say he’s ready to end the Pope experiment. And he’s the only one I know of that’s withholding donations to the school and not participating in NIL.

Some how, the dumbest moron on this board knows all the major donors. An idiot that responds to ResignMarkPope like he’s a normal person and proves his stupidity daily not only knows these ultra successful people but they “tell him stuff”. lol.

 

[ala_kat2]

I'm not sure what this team was trying to do last night, but that wasn't the offense I expected to see with this team.
Where were the back cuts or the motion sets that create wide open layups, or threes?
Last night's offense looked like pickup ball, where the goal was to just jack up threes. Any time our guys drove the ball, it was without a plan, or to try to score through 3 guys.
This offense won't work. It’s something a mid major runs against bigger teams.
My hope, is that Pope was playing possum before Tuesday night's game. I say that, because our guys didn't run the things Pope is known for offensively.
Or, maybe they just haven't worked much on offense. Not sure, but hopefully we see a better structure to the offense from here on out.

I think JSU was too quick and whatever we were trying to run just wasn’t working. Teams will pick up on this ( if they haven’t already) and Momcilovic will struggle to get open looks. Seems our only offense that works is striking early in transition, otherwise we’re in trouble.

 

[Anon1739778738]

Ohio St, Bama and UT games come to mind where we flat out quit that first year.

I don't recall quit in those games or remember posters talking about it but could be wrong

 

[Jazzycat]

UK better clean up the perimeter and interior defensive lapses as this will be their demise, especially in the SEC. Pope needs to speed up the offense - this team has a tendency to get slow and ploddy. Not convinced the coaching will help this team achieve success based on what I have seen to date, but hoping all the same…

 

[MidseasonTweak]

UK better clean up the perimeter and interior defensive lapses as this will be their demise, especially in the SEC. Pope needs to speed up the offense - this team has a tendency to get slow and ploddy. Not convinced the coaching will help this team achieve success based on what I have seen to date, but hoping all the same…

I am concerned for our D after JMU. Before that, it had looked like we had turned a page on D and improved finally. We made future bankers and accountants look like NBA All Stars from JMU.

I really hope it was us just looking ahead to KU. If we play like we did against JMU, it'll be over very quickly in embarrassing fashion. Think Gonzaga.

 

[Tim0808]

Year one had a really good point guard that led his mid major team to a final four or even maybe the national championship game. People really under estimate that first team. We had a damn good squad that year when healthy. Those fifth year seniors all knew how to play the game without Pope. They really hid him that year.

They really hid him.... Bingo! One of the most accurate analysis that I have ever read on this board!!!

 

[HolySmokes]

They really hid him.... Bingo! One of the most accurate analysis that I have ever read on this board!!!

Quit putting me on blast Tim ive been trying to be nice to Pope lol. Im hoping he has a good season. Gonna try to support him a little more because I've realized no matter how I feel he will be the coach until he isnt.

Im hoping he settles down and gets a little more comfortable at this level and results start to follow. Heck I've done prepared myself thinking Pope will be here until he retires. Thats me being glass half full and hoping he turns this around.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

We scored 1.31 points per possession.

I keep seeing this trend on this board. It happened during Cal and it's happening under Pope with critizing offense.

In the latter years with Cal, it wasn't offense that was the problem.

In Pope's first year here we had a top 10 offense in adjusted offensive efficiency.

The defense has been what has caused major issues the last 10 years or so.

This isn't to say the offense is pleasing on the eyes here.........but who cares so long as you are putting points on the board. We've shot well, rebounded well and last game took better care of the ball. We have one guy in MOM that can score a ton. We have other guys that are capable of big games.

 

[wildcat111]

I'm not sure what this team was trying to do last night, but that wasn't the offense I expected to see with this team.
Where were the back cuts or the motion sets that create wide open layups, or threes?
Last night's offense looked like pickup ball, where the goal was to just jack up threes. Any time our guys drove the ball, it was without a plan, or to try to score through 3 guys.
This offense won't work. It’s something a mid major runs against bigger teams.
My hope, is that Pope was playing possum before Tuesday night's game. I say that, because our guys didn't run the things Pope is known for offensively.
Or, maybe they just haven't worked much on offense. Not sure, but hopefully we see a better structure to the offense from here on out.

Apparently our game plan was to have the point guard pound the ball into the hardwood 30 feet from the goal while the other 4 players watched the shot clock run down.

 

[kyjeff1]

We scored 1.31 points per possession.

I keep seeing this trend on this board. It happened during Cal and it's happening under Pope with critizing offense.

In the latter years with Cal, it wasn't offense that was the problem.

In Pope's first year here we had a top 10 offense in adjusted offensive efficiency.

The defense has been what has caused major issues the last 10 years or so.

This isn't to say the offense is pleasing on the eyes here.........but who cares so long as you are putting points on the board. We've shot well, rebounded well and last game took better care of the ball. We have one guy in MOM that can score a ton. We have other guys that are capable of big games.

Well, the thread is about our identity. We looked discombobulated and not connected at all. That works against the JMU's of the world, but the offense we saw Friday night, won't beat anyone with a number next to their name.

 

[Farsight Clone]

Look moron. We know you’re the biggest idiot on this board. You don’t have to prove it on a daily basis.

UKBBNever is not a UK fan. I know that term gets thrown around a lot but you can tell these POS by the fact that UK is Always lucky when they win. Like that one Duke fan that lied about Flagg and Kneupel missing big minutes in the second half of that game UK won when they played the entire second half. Lol

So any criticism against Pope or the team you're not a UK fan? Where in his post what he says is wrong? His first year team over achieved and we did give up several games. Including the blow out against Tennessee in the Sweet 16.

Some people are so blind to their linear way of thinking they can't see the bigger picture.

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

So any criticism against Pope or the team you're not a UK fan? Where in his post what he says is wrong? His first year team over achieved and we did give up several games. Including the blow out against Tennessee in the Sweet 16.

Some people are so blind to their linear way of thinking they can't see the bigger picture.

Of course this ONE post is what was basing my reply on. Good lord.

You’re equally as stupid as UKBBNEVER if you conflate the first year team with the second.

 

[Farsight Clone]

Of course this ONE post is what was basing my reply on. Good lord.

You’re equally as stupid as UKBBNEVER if you conflate the first year team with the second.

You're literally calling the other guy a bad uk fan because he is showing fair and accurate criticism from Pope's first year team? Are you legally retarded? Do you have reading comprehension issues? Good lord man.