Pearl weighs in again

Jul 30, 2024
4,401
7,853
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Cmon to Lexington, Bruce. We will all sweat our suits in preparation.

Nervous Key And Peele GIF
 

JHannibalSmith

All-American
Sep 28, 2006
2,399
7,294
98
Is Bruce Pearl obsessed with Kentucky or something? He’s been talking about us a lot lately.
HAS to be. The dude spent years at two different ORANGE schools just for the chance to play second fiddle as our temporary, “flavor of the month”, conference rival. That was his actual goal. And, why else would anyone ever voluntarily spend so much time wearing (soaking thru) an orange blazer? Or orange anything?
 
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Kentucky15

All-Conference
Mar 29, 2013
2,033
4,220
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Pearl has so much baggage no blue blood ever even inquired. He’s got a long history behind the scenes of being incredibly shady. You don’t end up at UT and Auburn; the two most corrupt schools in the conference and likely the nation as good as he is, unless you have major issues. Auburn is one of the worst power 5 jobs in the country and he couldn’t do better. And they hired him because they can’t do better. No coach of Pearls stature would even consider Auburn Alabama.

I’ve always said no way Kentucky goes that route but right now yes I’d say hire him. Just keep a tight leash on him.

Only issue is given his political talk of late he’s pissed off a lot of people especially given the situation with Israel and Palestine. I’m not inserting politics, I just know he has disgruntled players and he’s known as a staunch supporter of Israel and I’m not sure it’s not one the reasons he went on out and let his son come in. Maybe it’s not important at all. But I think Bruce mainly is setting up for a political run in some form so doubt the timing is ever right to make it happen. If Kentucky wants Bruce you have to do it now or by the end of the season. No way Mitch is going to do that. He’s more interested in his preferences than winning.

This would be the time for the boosters to withhold all money and force a change but then you have to pay Mark 25 million on top of the 37 million to Stoops. All of this is to say how the hell is Mitch Barnhart still employed? Now that isn’t sht for Kentucky to pay. They’ve got plenty to do it and it not even make a dent. But I see no indication Kentucky is interested in winning big. So doubt it. Our administration doesn’t give a damn about winning and being dominant. They just want you to keep paying. when you’ve got a large portion of the base that thinks Barnhart with his 0 final fours and 0 titles during his tenure (by his own decisions) is a great AD, and an old washed president who loves him and keeps him in, we have no interests in winning.
 
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wccat

All-American
Apr 8, 2009
4,444
6,731
66

Wait...weren't we soft inside last year which led to spending 22 mill to get tougher AND more athletic. To be honest, when I look at this team I don't see athleticism. I don't see shooting. In reality, I don't know what I see with this 'team'. No wonder they don't have an identity. Poorly constructed team. Makes you wonder who signed off on these players...Pope? Were his assistants onboard?
 
Jan 10, 2015
18,339
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Wait...weren't we soft inside last year which led to spending 22 mill to get tougher AND more athletic. To be honest, when I look at this team I don't see athleticism. I don't see shooting. In reality, I don't know what I see with this 'team'. No wonder they don't have an identity. Poorly constructed team. Makes you wonder who signed off on these players...Pope? Were his assistants onboard?
This is why we need a true GM in today's time. With Mark being so green he needed to surround himself with really experienced coaches and getting a really good GM to handle all the NIL stuff would've been great.
 
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Artlaibesghost

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2022
635
1,213
93
I think Oates is the right hire but I could get behind sweaty as long as he can put a team together.
Oates ISNT COMING he turned us down, he doesn't want to be here. What people don't accept is UK is no longer( if it ever was) the best job in basketball. All the guys you folks obsessively talk about weren't interested. Dont bore people with " they were never offered crap either" Oats and Drew and Hurley WERE. Bruce Pearl is too old, and of questionable character AND most importantly after decades of coaching he hasn't won a title either.
 
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SBKY

Junior
Jan 20, 2011
201
309
63
The difference is we are getting destroyed by the better teams. If we were just competitive in these games, it wouldn't be as bad.
 
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UKbrassowTipIn93

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
1,055
5,818
113
I wish they give him a chance
He was at auburn 11 years, had 5 stars on ever roster by year 4 there, and while he had two final fours in that span, the other 9 he either lost in the 2nd rd or didnt nane the tournament. And had a 50 some % win percentage in the SEC.

You'd fire him
 
Aug 4, 2025
312
404
63
Let’s talk about his last 4 years here. With better talent than what Pope has.

Folks, this is what change is.

If you want NBA studs, Cal is your guy.

The Cal way has a lot of great things lots of flaws too.

This is a new era. Where Arkansas can be as good at basketball as UK. IU and Vandy can be as good as Bama and OSU in football.

So all you thick blue heads out there better accept the fact that times have changed.

Y’all are starting to sound act like Bama fans.

KU and UNC both struggled last year.
 

Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
15,684
2,327
113
Oates ISNT COMING he turned us down, he doesn't want to be here. What people don't accept is UK is no longer( if it ever was) the best job in basketball. All the guys you folks obsessively talk about weren't interested. Dont bore people with " they were never offered crap either" Oats and Drew and Hurley WERE. Bruce Pearl is too old, and of questionable character AND most importantly after decades of coaching he hasn't won a title either.
Lie 1 Oates was never offered the job nor contacted to be offered. Lie 2 he won’t come because UK isn’t the best job in basketball. I’d say Rick pitino and John calipari who never wanted to leave those guys would disagree with you. LSU wouldn’t have pulled lane kiffin if your hate for our program were true. It is the best job. Nate Oates will end up at a blue blood. He isn’t winning a title at bama. And if we don’t go after oates and he ends up at UNC it will be folks with a terrible opinion like yours that made that happen. We’re too ugly to pull a hot chick. Lmao. This take is propaganda started by Barney to cover his *** because folks don’t want to work for him. It’s all BS that we can’t pull a top flight coach. I remember when you said “we ll never get cal he doesn’t want to be here.” Or. “Cal is so dirty we would never hire him”. These enablers of losing need to find a seat in the back of the room and keep their mouth closed: only thing that will ruin it for us are low expectations and Barney.
 
Jul 30, 2024
4,401
7,853
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Lie 1 Oates was never offered the job nor contacted to be offered. Lie 2 he won’t come because UK isn’t the best job in basketball. I’d say Rick pitino and John calipari who never wanted to leave those guys would disagree with you. LSU wouldn’t have pulled lane kiffin if your hate for our program were true. It is the best job. Nate Oates will end up at a blue blood. He isn’t winning a title at bama. And if we don’t go after oates and he ends up at UNC it will be folks with a terrible opinion like yours that made that happen. We’re too ugly to pull a hot chick. Lmao. This take is propaganda started by Barney to cover his *** because folks don’t want to work for him. It’s all BS that we can’t pull a top flight coach. I remember when you said “we ll never get cal he doesn’t want to be here.” Or. “Cal is so dirty we would never hire him”. These enablers of losing need to find a seat in the back of the room and keep their mouth closed: only thing that will ruin it for us are low expectations and Barney.
Why do you think Barnhart was able to hire an accomplished coach, a home run hire for the women’s basketball team and then fail to do so for men’s basketball? Do you outright deny that there may be some aspects of the men’s program that coaches flee from? Whether it’s discussing how bad this season has been or whether it’s discussing some of the unflattering parts of this job, don’t you think it is important to confront the horrors of reality and have a real look?
 

Artlaibesghost

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2022
635
1,213
93
Lie 1 Oates was never offered the job nor contacted to be offered. Lie 2 he won’t come because UK isn’t the best job in basketball. I’d say Rick pitino and John calipari who never wanted to leave those guys would disagree with you. LSU wouldn’t have pulled lane kiffin if your hate for our program were true. It is the best job. Nate Oates will end up at a blue blood. He isn’t winning a title at bama. And if we don’t go after oates and he ends up at UNC it will be folks with a terrible opinion like yours that made that happen. We’re too ugly to pull a hot chick. Lmao. This take is propaganda started by Barney to cover his *** because folks don’t want to work for him. It’s all BS that we can’t pull a top flight coach. I remember when you said “we ll never get cal he doesn’t want to be here.” Or. “Cal is so dirty we would never hire him”. These enablers of losing need to find a seat in the back of the room and keep their mouth closed: only thing that will ruin it for us are low expectations and Barney.
Most of what you wrote is complete bull 💩. I never said I didn't want Cal, EVER, nor did I EVER say he was too dirty to hire here you dont know Diidly about me. I have been a UK fan since probably when you were in diapers. I also NEVER said we can't pull in a top flight coach. I did say the few that you guys always whine for have turned us down in the past. Pope was not who I would have hired but we hired him, and he deserves a fair chance. Thus far I don't think he has been here long enough to meet that standard, blowhards like you are not making it any easier. If he hasn't shown tangible results by next season he will be gone and you can watch your few coaching Titans turn us down again.
 
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Bigbluegoo

Sophomore
Jan 6, 2024
41
103
33
Oates ISNT COMING he turned us down, he doesn't want to be here. What people don't accept is UK is no longer( if it ever was) the best job in basketball. All the guys you folks obsessively talk about weren't interested. Dont bore people with " they were never offered crap either" Oats and Drew and Hurley WERE. Bruce Pearl is too old, and of questionable character AND most importantly after decades of coaching he hasn't won a title either.
Sybau. Kentucky was and is still the best job that ain’t changing anytime soon. Also, we never offered him. Just drew and pope.
 
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Artlaibesghost

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2022
635
1,213
93
Why do you think Barnhart was able to hire an accomplished coach, a home run hire for the women’s basketball team and then fail to do so for men’s basketball? Do you outright deny that there may be some aspects of the men’s program that coaches flee from? Whether it’s discussing how bad this season has been or whether it’s discussing some of the unflattering parts of this job, don’t you think it is important to confront the horrors of reality and have a real look?
He has zero understanding of how the hiring process for bigtime coaches actually works. First you contact their agent to gauge interest, then their agent talks to coach and gets back to you with thier level of interests. Barnhart did this with the usually suspects these infants are screaming for, Hurley, Donavan AND Oates. They all said Nyet so yes he never "offered" them. He COULD have made a more high profile hire but he didn't. We got what we got and the legion of doom around here has been screaming ever since.Honesy Do you think Pope has been here long enough to FAIRLY evaluate his competency?
 
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LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,300
59,920
113
Pearl would be a fun hire for a few years. But that's all it can be. a 5-year or so run.. not much in guarantees. We can't be giving buyouts to guys who are 70+.
 
Jul 30, 2024
4,401
7,853
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He has zero understanding of how the hiring process for bigtime coaches actually works. First you contact their agent to gauge interest, then their agent talks to coach and gets back to you with thier level of interests. Barnhart did this with the usually suspects these infants are screaming for, Hurley, Donavan AND Oates. They all said Nyet so yes he never "offered" them. He COULD have made a more high profile hire but he didn't. We got what we got and the legion of doom around here has been screaming ever since.Honesy Do you think Pope has been here long enough to FAIRLY evaluate his competency?
No, I do not. But I also know this fanbase is burning down what’s left of the house, so it won’t matter. We have no capacity as a fanbase to simultaneously hold extremely justifiable anger and exercise patience to allow a vision to unfold naturally.
 

bnewt

Heisman
May 29, 2001
8,851
11,021
113
I think Oates is the right hire but I could get behind sweaty as long as he can put a team together.
very good coach & can recruit
plays an entertaining style and could probably attract some additional boosters
 

bnewt

Heisman
May 29, 2001
8,851
11,021
113
Pearl has so much baggage no blue blood ever even inquired. He’s got a long history behind the scenes of being incredibly shady. You don’t end up at UT and Auburn; the two most corrupt schools in the conference and likely the nation as good as he is, unless you have major issues. Auburn is one of the worst power 5 jobs in the country and he couldn’t do better. And they hired him because they can’t do better. No coach of Pearls stature would even consider Auburn Alabama.

I’ve always said no way Kentucky goes that route but right now yes I’d say hire him. Just keep a tight leash on him.

Only issue is given his political talk of late he’s pissed off a lot of people especially given the situation with Israel and Palestine. I’m not inserting politics, I just know he has disgruntled players and he’s known as a staunch supporter of Israel and I’m not sure it’s not one the reasons he went on out and let his son come in. Maybe it’s not important at all. But I think Bruce mainly is setting up for a political run in some form so doubt the timing is ever right to make it happen. If Kentucky wants Bruce you have to do it now or by the end of the season. No way Mitch is going to do that. He’s more interested in his preferences than winning.

This would be the time for the boosters to withhold all money and force a change but then you have to pay Mark 25 million on top of the 37 million to Stoops. All of this is to say how the hell is Mitch Barnhart still employed? Now that isn’t sht for Kentucky to pay. They’ve got plenty to do it and it not even make a dent. But I see no indication Kentucky is interested in winning big. So doubt it. Our administration doesn’t give a damn about winning and being dominant. They just want you to keep paying. when you’ve got a large portion of the base that thinks Barnhart with his 0 final fours and 0 titles during his tenure (by his own decisions) is a great AD, and an old washed president who loves him and keeps him in, we have no interests in winning.
no such thing as cheating any more.........
everything is now pay for play
 

bnewt

Heisman
May 29, 2001
8,851
11,021
113
This is why we need a true GM in today's time. With Mark being so green he needed to surround himself with really experienced coaches and getting a really good GM to handle all the NIL stuff would've been great.
a GM would be involved with the NIL portion...........wouldn't Pope still be the one choosing the players he wanted?
UK must hire someone that can evaluate talent............this roster is basically devoid of talent
 
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Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
15,684
2,327
113
Most of what you wrote is complete bull 💩. I never said I didn't want Cal, EVER, nor did I EVER say he was too dirty to hire here you dont know Diidly about me. I have been a UK fan since probably when you were in diapers. I also NEVER said we can't pull in a top flight coach. I did say the few that you guys always whine for have turned us down in the past. Pope was not who I would have hired but we hired him, and he deserves a fair chance. Thus far I don't think he has been here long enough to meet that standard, blowhards like you are not making it any easier. If he hasn't shown tangible results by next season he will be gone and you can watch your few coaching Titans turn us down again.
He’s had a fair chance at least what he deserves with that this resume. He will have the rest of the season albeit each loss makes things worse for him. That’s coaching at UK. It got cal run out. It’s been 10 years since a final four. Uk bb waiting to do the inevitable puts it on par with the fb program. This crap has to be fixed fast. And it means opening the checkbook. I feel like anyone wanting to give pope more time I feel like they are millennial fans or more recent fans who don’t understand how UK has won 8 titles with 5 different coaches. This isn’t the place of patience. This is worse than cal trending worse. If we continue to lose which seems to be the case this season there is no do over. He had his shot he couldn’t evaluate a roster. Next year will be worse and if he gets in next year as a 4 seed and makes a sweet sixteen that’s how you end up IU. You don’t wait. The step up from here for pope is mediocrity and that destroys our expectations which win titles with 5 guys so get over it!
 

bnewt

Heisman
May 29, 2001
8,851
11,021
113
He was at auburn 11 years, had 5 stars on ever roster by year 4 there, and while he had two final fours in that span, the other 9 he either lost in the 2nd rd or didnt nane the tournament. And had a 50 some % win percentage in the SEC.

You'd fire him
he also won a division II title
Pearl is an excellent coach and recruiter
 
Jan 10, 2015
18,339
30,346
62
a GM would be involved with the NIL portion...........wouldn't Pope still be the one choosing the players he wanted?
UK must hire someone that can evaluate talent............this roster is basically devoid of talent
A GM would be there to figure out how to disperse the 22 million, on how many , and the talent. Kind of like a GM does in the professional sports world. Pope will be there to coach them and give his insights to.
 

bnewt

Heisman
May 29, 2001
8,851
11,021
113
No, I do not. But I also know this fanbase is burning down what’s left of the house, so it won’t matter. We have no capacity as a fanbase to simultaneously hold extremely justifiable anger and exercise patience to allow a vision to unfold naturally.
the fans are not to blame for this mess............all summer long the fans have been fed a lie about the talent on this team. There is no talent and there is no team. It is an overpaid group of role players playing as though they are interviewing for a place to play next year............which they should be.
NONE of them deserve to represent UK or the fans after this dismal display, regardless of who is coach.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,300
59,920
113
a GM would be involved with the NIL portion...........wouldn't Pope still be the one choosing the players he wanted?
UK must hire someone that can evaluate talent............this roster is basically devoid of talent

A nice thing with a GM is that he's taking bottom level work off the AD, and top level work off coach. I believe Duke's GM specifically handles the NIL portion of things.. sourcing it, allocation and everything else that comes with that beast. I also think a GM would have more of a business background first, and basketball-second. But that doesn't mean they cant also help with recruiting, establish connections, etc.

It seems to me that Duke took this new NIL era and said "How can we get the most out of it?", and they went and hired a GM. It's not cheap, but maybe it's needed. Meanwhile, Kentucky is overhere with the same old "We can still do things the old fashioned way".. and I think that's narrow-minded.
 
Jul 30, 2024
4,401
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the fans are not to blame for this mess............all summer long the fans have been fed a lie about the talent on this team. There is no talent and there is no team. It is an overpaid group of role players playing as though they are interviewing for a place to play next year............which they should be.
NONE of them deserve to represent UK or the fans after this dismal display, regardless of who is coach.
Well, I agree. And if you read my post fully, you would understand that I see JUSTIFIED anger. That can be true at the same time as saying it’s too early to give up. You don’t have to pick one or the other. As far as lying, I don’t believe that’s the case. This roster has some serious issues but I don’t think anyone, including the coaching staff, could have saw it coming. I can break down exactly what I mean if you want.
 

TFCat11

All-American
Mar 25, 2019
5,110
8,727
108
Anyone else besides me believe, that Pearl saw the handwriting on the wall with the Pope hire, and he left AU in his son’s hands, so he could position himself to be available with no strings attached, when the UK job comes open in the next few months?

Crazy, I know, but crazier things have happened!