People saying Pope is TOO nice

[Cats192]

If Pope was doing more screaming and we got the same results--would we feel better that he's doing the screaming and shouting and at least not such a nice guy?

Or are you just so convinced that it's going to work?

Or are you even more convinced he can't succeed if the results are the same with all of the yelling?

 

[kfwa]

Pope needs to be Norman Dale and quit being the White Shadow (Lots of Gen X references there)

 

[Anony Moose]

If Pope was doing more screaming and we got the same results--would we feel better that he's doing the screaming and shouting and at least not such a nice guy?

Or are you just so convinced that it's going to work?

Or are you even more convinced he can't succeed if the results are the same with all of the yelling?

I would feel like he was at least putting forth passion and trying something besides standing there, arms folded, looking perplexed. If he, Mr. UK himself according to Pope, isn't going to be passionate, why should the players? He has to do something to get their attention and respect.

Love or hate Calipari, but you cannot deny he wasn't intimidated to call his players out on national TV during the game. He berated Terrence Jones as a selfish MF in front of the world, tore into Julius Randle, and so on. Yet, his players loved and respected him and usually always got better as a result with rare exceptions.

Pope doesn't convey any of that.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I would feel like he was at least putting forth passion and trying something besides standing there, arms folded, looking perplexed. If he, Mr. UK himself according to Pope, isn't going to be passionate, why should the players? He has to do something to get their attention and respect.

Love or hate Calipari, but you cannot deny he wasn't intimidated to call his players out on national TV during the game. He berated Terrence Jones as a selfish MF in front of the world, tore into Julius Randle, and so on. Yet, his players loved and respected him and usually always got better as a result with rare exceptions.

Pope doesn't convey any of that.

Cal for all his later deficiencies always had the respect of his players.

 

[kyjeff1]

If Pope was doing more screaming and we got the same results--would we feel better that he's doing the screaming and shouting and at least not such a nice guy?

Or are you just so convinced that it's going to work?

Or are you even more convinced he can't succeed if the results are the same with all of the yelling?

The term "too nice", or "soft" has nothing to do with his antics during a game.

Just watch Tom Izzo during a game and in his press conferences. He’s not going bonkers, he's simply telling it like it is and he’s holding his players accountable.

Pope is looked at as "soft", because he is. Listen to his press conferences, he would rather blame himself than the players and everything is "in a beautiful space" and the "players are wonderful kids that are trying hard". That's soft. He’s afraid of calling his players out and getting in their faces.

Also, a tough nosed coach would put Oweh and Garrison on the bench, but nope, he keeps rolling them out there, because he's soft. Oweh and his bs attitide had no business being on that court Friday night.

 

[megablue]

When you do not show emotion on the sideline, especially when your team is struggling, it sends the message that you think their not good enough to play any better and you accept what they are giving you. If you never demand more from your team, it tells them you think they're not capable of more.

 

[ComebackCats98]

I don’t understand how a guy who gets it and is so upset after games in press conferences can just stand there crossed arm while we go down 19-4 as the fans boo. His assistant has to do the chewing and he just looks up at the Jumbotron arms crossed. That’s where people get upset. Nobody is asking him to be Bob Knight, but he shows no passion. None

 

[Tray1971]

It’s not working and it’s never going to work! Pope is way too soft! I think they should fire him immediately.

 

[theBlues]

There all kinds of coach personalities that seem to work. I don't care if he's the friendliest guy in the world or the sourest guy. The results are how you judge success.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I never really cared that Cal (or other coaches) would spend most of the game yelling. Id much rather have that than a guy thats too nice and wont get on his players.

 

[berniecarbo]

I really like Mark Pope and hope he straightens things out. I don't mind him being nice. I think positive reinforcement is a good thing. However at some point, Mark is going to have to get their attention. In a day where the players are all making a lot of money, can he do that? I don't know, but I hope so.

 

[SBKY]

There was a point that Pope took out Brandon Garrison who was playing awful at the time and gave him five and said "Good job, good job" just like I would say to the players on the 2nd grade team I coached years ago when I took them out of the game.

 

[Kantucke_rivals]

Could care less, can he coach or recruit? That's all that matters to me

 

[K_TIME]

Yelling or not...his team even last year doesn't play tougher most games.....his lack of calling things out is glaringly a problem

 

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

I don't care if he bakes them fresh baked cookies after every practice, I just don't want our season to feel hopeless before Thanksgiving

 

[Kyfan27]

I just don't get why he thinks this way of coaching is the ONLY way. It has its place and probably 70% of the time with today's players might be the best way, but I'm sure Pitino's style got Pope himself to play hard. When last year's team was getting drilled by Ole Miss he supposedly broke some furniture or punched a hole in a locker and we came out playing much better and won the second half by nine. I'm sure he has that dog in him somewhere he just needs to let it out. I want to see a Sean Woods type of ***-chewing when he was at Morehead State from him. Maybe not quite that level, but something lol.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Has nothing to do with it.

“in game” coaching is one of the dumbest things ever to whine about.

You teach your players how you want them to play in practice. You prepare your team to play the upcoming opponent in practice.

Only thing to do coaching wise during the game is encourage the players to trust their training.

That’s exactly what the best coaches do.

Game management is something else. The coach is entirely in control of playing time and timely subbing.

And using timeouts strategically.

I suppose switching players onto different players could be called in game coaching?

If a coach has to scheme during a game then he hasn’t prepared the team.

 

[Catzman]

I will sum it up for everyone in a few brief words. Pope has ALL the passion, but NO fire. A great coach needs both!

 

[UKCowboys]

I am 100% a Pope guy. That said, if Mark decided to bench, suspend, or cut a player who he deems to not be giving a real effort...I think he needs to realize that is a move no one would give him heat for, no matter who the player is

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

The term "too nice", or "soft" has nothing to do with his antics during a game.

Just watch Tom Izzo during a game and in his press conferences. He’s not going bonkers, he's simply telling it like it is and he’s holding his players accountable.

Pope is looked at as "soft", because he is. Listen to his press conferences, he would rather blame himself than the players and everything is "in a beautiful space" and the "players are wonderful kids that are trying hard". That's soft. He’s afraid of calling his players out and getting in their faces.

Also, a tough nosed coach would put Oweh and Garrison on the bench, but nope, he keeps rolling them out there, because he's soft. Oweh and his bs attitide had no business being on that court Friday night.

Exactly this, everything is on him, but it’s basic stuff like it starts with me. He hasn’t said one thing about Oweh jogging in game or taking fake shots when he doesn’t get a pass. Any real coach would have benched guys for 4-5 games already for that lack of effort.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I really like Mark Pope and hope he straightens things out. I don't mind him being nice. I think positive reinforcement is a good thing. However at some point, Mark is going to have to get their attention. In a day where the players are all making a lot of money, can he do that? I don't know, but I hope so.

Just like a screaming coach, there is a line you have to stay behind or jump across when needed. Some players respond to rah rah! Some need a kick in the ***. Him standing there cross armed always clapping while they stand around isn’t doing anything.

 

[BigBluefoot]

Liking a coach doesn't mean they are willing to play hard for him.
Respecting a coach does.

 

[Ash Williams]

If Pope was doing more screaming and we got the same results--would we feel better that he's doing the screaming and shouting and at least not such a nice guy?

Or are you just so convinced that it's going to work?

Or are you even more convinced he can't succeed if the results are the same with all of the yelling?

I tried to say this early last season and, per usual on this board, got shouted down.

 

[Vek96]

I would feel like he was at least putting forth passion and trying something besides standing there, arms folded, looking perplexed. If he, Mr. UK himself according to Pope, isn't going to be passionate, why should the players? He has to do something to get their attention and respect.

Love or hate Calipari, but you cannot deny he wasn't intimidated to call his players out on national TV during the game. He berated Terrence Jones as a selfish MF in front of the world, tore into Julius Randle, and so on. Yet, his players loved and respected him and usually always got better as a result with rare exceptions.

Pope doesn't convey any of that.

Don‘t even try and glamorize this dude.

 

[NociHTTP]

Yelling or not...his team even last year doesn't play tougher most games.....his lack of calling things out is glaringly a problem

I just hope that when he's fired for not demonstrating that he understands the assignment, that he's not sitting there with his arms folded and looking puzzled. He's apparently very smart, so it shouldn't come as a surprise.

 

[wildcat111]

If Pope was doing more screaming and we got the same results--would we feel better that he's doing the screaming and shouting and at least not such a nice guy?

Or are you just so convinced that it's going to work?

Or are you even more convinced he can't succeed if the results are the same with all of the yelling?

Whatever the problem is, Pope is being paid a lot of $$$ to fix it and he has only made it worse.

 

[Catlogic1552]

I think Pope is so confused he doesn’t know what he should be yelling about.

 

[dnorman0301]

I think Pope would gain support if he just sat 0weh, Garrison, or any other player that is giving zero effort. Take a stand if truly believe the sacred cloth means so much. If they don’t play like they care, sit them. These guys could care less about playing for Kentucky, do don’t let them.

 

[philstat]

I think Pope would gain support if he just sat 0weh, Garrison, or any other player that is giving zero effort. Take a stand if truly believe the sacred cloth means so much. If they don’t play like they care, sit them. These guys could care less about playing for Kentucky, do don’t let them.

Agree though Oweh and Garrison should be completely removed, thrown off the team, that would help the program the most at this point.