Pope and Tom Leach post game

One2Three

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2025
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We had no one else. Even mid tier guys like Scott Drew said "thanks but no thanks".
That is troublesome. For such a storied program, we sure dont seem to have people lining up to coach here .
Hiring a coach is like recruiting a high school or portal coach. The coaches have to want to like the ADs to want to coach for them.

No, it’s likely that Mitch went after Scott Drew, appeased boosters with Huxley and then settled with Pope after spending most of his time finding a great women’s basketball coach.

Either possibly makes Barnhart look awful by the way. Remember when no one wanted the job in 2007 and we ended up with BCG? Remember when Mitch wasn’t involved with the Calipari hire in 2009? What does that say about Mitch Barnhart?
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,302
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That’s not true. Drew and Hurley were the only two that turned the job down. This is Kentucky, Mitch could have hired a coach with a better resume.

Scott Drew turning down UK is enough of a slap in the face to make me believe thay this just isnt the desirable job some of you think it is.

You dont think we at least put feelers out on guys like Oats, Jay Wright? Come on.
 
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Cats4321

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Nov 18, 2025
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We had no one else. Even mid tier guys like Scott Drew said "thanks but no thanks".
That is troublesome. For such a storied program, we sure dont seem to have people lining up to coach here .
To clarify, I was talking about the extension. Don't see any reason to give an extra year after one season if there was no chance of losing him. Maybe after a few years of success. I'm still not giving up hope that he can turn it around. Just very concerned.
 
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Bluegrass7914

Senior
Dec 3, 2015
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I knew when we were making him the coach that I didn't want it because one reason:

I didn't want to see the fan base turn on a great player who helped us win a championship.

Now look. I knew this would happen.




To me he looks like he might be an offensive mastermind coach like a Mike D'antoni.
And you can't win in college with a coach like that but you can in the NBA.

He's probably a better NBA coach quite honestly.

You have to have some defensive principles to you or the guards will eat you up and you'll get 70 80 and 90 scored on you every game in college.
 
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LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,302
59,922
113
Hiring a coach is like recruiting a high school or portal coach. The coaches have to want to like the ADs to want to coach for them.

No, it’s likely that Mitch went after Scott Drew, appeased boosters with Huxley and then settled with Pope after spending most of his time finding a great women’s basketball coach.

Either possibly makes Barnhart look awful by the way. Remember when no one wanted the job in 2007 and we ended up with BCG? Remember when Mitch wasn’t involved with the Calipari hire in 2009? What does that say about Mitch Barnhart?

The only way out of this, is similar to my NY Jets.. you have to go to the top. And for this, its Mitch. 20 years. 1 title. And our only success was because of what Cal did with an insanely effective recruiting strategy.

I know I stick up for Cal a little more than some like.. but hes the only good thing about Mitches tenure, and id make the argument that he won in spite of Mitch.
 

Woodrow24

Heisman
Dec 21, 2015
5,857
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Scott Drew turning down UK is enough of a slap in the face to make me believe thay this just isnt the desirable job some of you think it is.

You dont think we at least put feelers out on guys like Oats, Jay Wright? Come on.
Scott Drew’s family didn’t want to move or he would have most likely taken the job. Mitch could have hired someone with a good resume. This is a premier job in college basketball.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,302
59,922
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To clarify, I was talking about the extension. Don't see any reason to give an extra year after one season if there was no chance of losing him. Maybe after a few years of success. I'm still not giving up hope that he can turn it around. Just very concerned.

Gotcha yeah. Well, hes certainly not getting an extension at this rate . And you know what, mitch got bailed out of having to pay Cals buyout.. so we can stomach this if we absolutely had to after this season or next .
 

One2Three

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Nov 15, 2025
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The only way out of this, is similar to my NY Jets.. you have to go to the top. And for this, its Mitch. 20 years. 1 title. And our only success was because of what Cal did with an insanely effective recruiting strategy.

I know I stick up for Cal a little more than some like.. but hes the only good thing about Mitches tenure, and id make the argument that he won in spite of Mitch.
Mike Pratt had move involvement in Calipari’s hire than Mitch. Without Pratt we wouldn’t have that 2012 title.
 
Jul 30, 2024
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Honestly, you can't do that five games until second season after taking a team to the 16/ first time in five years
Sure you can. Unless you see something that makes you think it can change. I made a quote before the year saying to look for the Michigan State game, not the Louisville game. I said by the Mich St game we will know what kind of defense we have and what kind of team we have. We have both answers and they ******* stink.
 

One2Three

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Nov 15, 2025
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Scott Drew turning down UK is enough of a slap in the face to make me believe thay this just isnt the desirable job some of you think it is.

You dont think we at least put feelers out on guys like Oats, Jay Wright? Come on.
You’re just coping by Mitch’s incapacity to hire a good basketball coach. Remember before Pope his only other hire was BCG. He gets no credit for the Calipari hire when boosters went out and recruited him under his nose.
 
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kybassfan

Heisman
Jul 1, 2005
20,032
16,368
113
No matter how you slice it, it is 100% on Pope and nothing else. I disagree that it’s the roster—-if he knew how to coach it, all the pieces are there. But if you say roster, fine—-that’s still 100% on Pope
It’s 100% on the team. It’s a crap sandwich and everyone has to take a bite
 

theKybluedude

Senior
Jul 2, 2025
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It’s early. 2 of the teams best aren’t playing. No pg is killing this group. Pope’s got some issues that he needs to take a tough stance on. He’s also going through a learning curve. He’s not the first coach to go to a big program struggle and have to change and adjust.
Let’s see what he does and how he handles it. Not ready to quit on UK.
Might have to sit a few guys. Use some zones. We aren’t a good man defensive team.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,302
59,922
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Scott Drew’s family didn’t want to move or he would have most likely taken the job. Mitch could have hired someone with a good resume. This is a premier job in college basketball.

Please, he was going to have his salary doubled. His family didnt want to come here, in part because its not exactly a great state/city (sorry), but they would have if Scott really wanted to be here. They chose Waco Texas and a middling Big12 school. Think about that.

Some of you have to wake up. We hired Tubby, meh. We hired BCG when everyone else said no. We only got Cal because he got in trouble at Memphis.. and now this.

You guys have to realize this is not the amazing job you think it is. Its a ton of pressure and scrutiny, in a state void of real basketball talent, with a bad GM, and not a whole lot of money going around. I dont know what is going to make you realize that.
 

kybassfan

Heisman
Jul 1, 2005
20,032
16,368
113
The team doesn’t pick itself or coach itself. Quit calling 💩 a chandelier
Let's just blame him for everything. Economy, China, immigration, bad movies. Or we can actually talk about what it will take to fix this team. I know blaming someone gives you a warm fuzzy inside. Won't fix anything but whatever gives you giggles.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,302
59,922
113
You’re just coping by Mitch’s incapacity to hire a good basketball coach. Remember before Pope his only other hire was BCG. He gets no credit for the Calipari hire when boosters went out and recruited him under his nose.

I mean sure. But again, I dont think Kentucky just magically becomes THE job when mitch is gone. Even while we both agree Mitch is the problem, there are still external factors at play that limit Kentucky. Imo, at least.
 
Jul 30, 2024
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Let's just blame him for everything. Economy, China, immigration, bad movies. Or we can actually talk about what it will take to fix this team. I know blaming someone gives you a warm fuzzy inside. Won't fix anything but whatever gives you giggles.
You can keep telling yourself what a wonderful job Pope is doing. I won’t stop you. He’s doing great (if you ignore the games)
 

fisherscatfan

All-Conference
Jan 17, 2010
545
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We had no one else. Even mid tier guys like Scott Drew said "thanks but no thanks".
That is troublesome. For such a storied program, we sure dont seem to have people lining up to coach here .
The concerning part is it doesn’t need to be a super established guy. Look at Duke. Look at UConn. The problem is Barnhart has screwed the pooch twice in MBB hires.

There are future HOF coaches out there but Barnhart sucks at finding them when it comes to MBB.
 

Woodrow24

Heisman
Dec 21, 2015
5,857
14,410
78
Please, he was going to have his salary doubled. His family didnt want to come here, in part because its not exactly a great state/city (sorry), but they would have if Scott really wanted to be here. They chose Waco Texas and a middling Big12 school. Think about that.

Some of you have to wake up. We hired Tubby, meh. We hired BCG when everyone else said no. We only got Cal because he got in trouble at Memphis.. and now this.

You guys have to realize this is not the amazing job you think it is. Its a ton of pressure and scrutiny, in a state void of real basketball talent, with a bad GM, and not a whole lot of money going around. I dont know what is going to make you realize that.
You have no idea what you’re talking about. If you think this isn’t a top job in the sport you’re not a fan. On to ignore for you prick
 

Dward13

Senior
Feb 5, 2008
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I mean sure. But again, I dont think Kentucky just magically becomes THE job when mitch is gone. Even while we both agree Mitch is the problem, there are still external factors at play that limit Kentucky. Imo, at least.

Duke hired one of their own with no prior head coaching exoerience. So did UNC. So did IU and when it didn’t work out they went and got a guy from a mid major that had no better offers.

Louisville did the same. Actually whiffed on quite a few targets after Kenny Payne.

This is actually still a really desirable job. It’s towards the top of the list in college. Still. But you’re also right thst it’s not as desirable as some would like to believe. But NO ONE is just taking whoever they want. Guys like Oats, Hurley, Golden and even Drew arent leaving their current situations for another college job period.

Barnhardt actually needs to sit down and analyze what great college coaches have had in common and look for as many of those things as he can in a young up and comer.
He did not do that with Pope. It was pure neglect and laziness and totally inexcuseable.
 

One2Three

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2025
785
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I mean sure. But again, I dont think Kentucky just magically becomes THE job when mitch is gone. Even while we both agree Mitch is the problem, there are still external factors at play that limit Kentucky. Imo, at least.
An AD with a vision will always be able to find good and great coaches. Mitch Barnhart simply wasn’t interested in hiring a men’s basketball coach. More specifically he had his apples in the Scott Drew basket. He was too busy focusing on the women’s team.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,302
59,922
113
You have no idea what you’re talking about. If you think this isn’t a top job in the sport you’re not a fan. On to ignore for you prick

I have actual perspective outside of the state, which you could use.

This is the type of fan kentucky needs to put a helmet on when recruits come to visit. Imagine this guy talking to someone like AJ Dybantsa in passing..