Pope Pumpers

[Tri-Countycat]

Pope gets credit for last year but let’s not forget. He somehow got lucky to get the oldest team in college basketball history. We finished mid pack in the league, didn’t make the SEC tourney final and snoozed by two lower seeded teams in the NCAA. The second half of the season after teams figured Pope out he couldn’t sniff a top 25 win. No coach I can remember has been ran off the court more than Pope in a year and a half. Pope is a good guy I guess but there are plenty of coaches that make him look silly.

 

[TFCat11]

I guarantee we don't have a 22 million dollars roster either.

UK doesn’t, not even close! That number was put out by Mitch to distract BBN from the impending recruiting “hit piece” by KSR, and as a passive aggressive dig at all of the player’s agents who laughed at Mitch and Pope for not knowing how the NIL game is played, and coming off as entitled chumps for not engaging in “bidding wars”!

Funny thing is, that whole charade is blowing up right back into their faces, and rightfully so!

 

[Anon1679859502]

Pope has another bizarre interview with Leach after the game. Sounded monotone and almost like someone severely depressed. Certainly did not answer Tom's questions and give any hope to the BBN that he has answers to turn this season around.

Sounds like it’s time for a mental health appointment. His family has to be feeling it too. I know people will say money is the cure all but not in all cases

 

[KyCPA2000]

A third year only extends our misery and pisses off everyone even more in the process, especially with no recruits coming in next year. We’re literally forgoing the inevitable for the sake of “fairness”, aka Pope needs to make more money out of us while driving our program even deeper into the abyss.

You are allowed to feel how you feel. I am not happy right now. A third year is in the cards though. No amount of message boards posting will change that.

 

[Argonaut]

You are allowed to feel how you feel. I am not happy right now. A third year is in the cards though. No amount of message boards posting will change that.

Boosters decide. Not you, not me and not Mitch Barnhart. He wanted to bring back Stoops before boosters stepped in.

 

[RunninRichie]

Boosters decide. Not you, not me and not Mitch Barnhart. He wanted to bring back Stoops before boosters stepped in.

Bingo. In the NIL era. The money men call the shots.

 

[KyCPA2000]

Boosters decide. Not you, not me and not Mitch Barnhart. He wanted to bring back Stoops before boosters stepped in.

Exactly. A third year will happen. UK doesn't move fast unless the coach is damaging the institution or fans stop attending. Neither is happening. You can wish for that to happen I guess, but I don’t know what kind of fan you would be to wish for that.

 

[rivercatinfl]

If we miss the tourney, I think its fair to call for a change...after the season. I can't get behind firing a guy for one bad year, but if others do, thats fine. But no one knows what this season holds. This club may have good health the rest of the way, make the tourney and win a couple of games. It doesn't look like it today, but I have seen worse teams have bigger turnarounds. And if they do, then all this whining is a big waste of time

I like your post. We don't know what's going to happen if MP decides to make some positive changes. (If that's possible).
We are 1 maybe 2 guys with high skill sets away from a heck of a lot better team. If either Lewis or the kid who went to UNC was here, I think it's a different story.

Pope keeps saying he's got a couple of high level guys for next year. I'm willing to see how this plays out this year and see if he does what he says he's going to do next year.

Flub that up and I think we make a change at that point.

 

[L.O.D.]

I really wanted to like Pope ... I really did. Great guy, great energy, and his UK passion is off charts . He recruited like Huggins to play like Few n he refuses to alter it. He keeps pounding a circle into a square. It hasn't bugged n hes worn out several hammers to nub - he grabs another an hammers away. This msn is a Rhodes Scholar n doing this .

Throw a Brinks truck at Oats , May, Golden and hire whoever says yes - I want May but think Oats wants it and says yes .

 

[UKCowboys]

I like your post. We don't know what's going to happen if MP decides to make some positive changes. (If that's possible).
We are 1 maybe 2 guys with high skill sets away from a heck of a lot better team. If either Lewis or the kid who went to UNC was here, I think it's a different story.

Pope keeps saying he's got a couple of high level guys for next year. I'm willing to see how this plays out this year and see if he does what he says he's going to do next year.

Flub that up and I think we make a change at that point.

Exactly. He could return 9-10 guys next season. And contrary to what many on this board think, thats a very good thing. We have role players and next season they will be more experienced role players. He needs a couple of dudes. A scorer and a shooter. Those don't have to be HS SRs, that can come from the portal, reclassifications, overseas...You can find a damn shooter in Euro ball. Get a legit D1 college scorer, and this team gets really good really fast

 

[Woodrow24]

They’re are several here that come out after every loss no matter who the coach is. They are looking to bathe in anger. Its who they are so don’t bother to fight with them as you’d move to the other side of the bar if they moped in beside you.

This sites so terrible that you get banned 1000 times and won’t leave…. Gosh it’s just awful isn’t it.

 

[Woodrow24]

Oh no, there is actually some UK fans that think a coach should get fired before he has even completed his 2nd season. We actually have bat **** crazy fans that want any coach that doesn't get to a FF in their first year fired.

You gotta be fair about what you’re saying. If you’re being honest, you have to admit there has been some red flags with Pope. I don’t have to mention all of the statistics out there that prove there are red flags. College sports have changed with NIL. Boosters aren’t going to keep handing over money to a coach that can’t build a good roster with 22 million dollars.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Exactly. He could return 9-10 guys next season. And contrary to what many on this board think, thats a very good thing. We have role players and next season they will be more experienced role players. He needs a couple of dudes. A scorer and a shooter. Those don't have to be HS SRs, that can come from the portal, reclassifications, overseas...You can find a damn shooter in Euro ball. Get a legit D1 college scorer, and this team gets really good really fast

I don’t want 9-10 guys back. This team we have aren’t UK level. Idc about pre season accolades. Honestly just bring in a whole new team like you did year one. These guys are soft AF

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Exactly. He could return 9-10 guys next season. And contrary to what many on this board think, thats a very good thing. We have role players and next season they will be more experienced role players. He needs a couple of dudes. A scorer and a shooter. Those don't have to be HS SRs, that can come from the portal, reclassifications, overseas...You can find a damn shooter in Euro ball. Get a legit D1 college scorer, and this team gets really good really fast

I’m the resident continuity guy so I’d agree if we were at least building with these guys, but come on UKCowboys, let’s be honest — this is going really bad. I told everyone on the board to wait until we got healthy and so did you — we are healthy as we are going to get, we get 11 days to prepare and we look like we got Alabama film mixed up with Texas A&M film. We have a coach who hasn’t had a single top 25 defense and worse than that — admits players aren’t even running the plays he called. Even if you love Pope more than your own mother, can’t you at least acknowledge he’s stinking up the joint?

 

[Monday Nitro]

This sites so terrible that you get banned 1000 times and won’t leave…. Gosh it’s just awful isn’t it.

I find it funny (and sad) that out of one side of your mouth you say threads started that are baiting people to fight are a no-no and out the other side of your mouth you roll around in this one like a pig in mud as it's the very definition of a baiting attack by the thread title alone. (but it alligns with your view so you look the other way) I can't WAIT to show ON3 what you've been up to. Just give me a reason and it's done.

 

[Woodrow24]

I find it funny (and sad) that out of one side of your mouth you say threads started that are baiting people to fight are a no-no and out the other side of your mouth you waller in this one like a pig in mud as it's the very definition of an attack by the thread title alone. I can't WAIT to show ON3 what you've been up to. Just give me a reason and it's done.

You’ve been banned 1000 times and I haven’t once. I know that kills your soul because you’re childish. Do you think we don’t have some of the same mods that know who you are? Which one of your last usernames you want me to name drop. You and the 5-6 crazies on here have ran off a lot of good people. If they want to listen to you I’ll gladly leave.

Hey mods, read his post history and look at all the arguments and posts he makes making fun of UK fans.

 

[mdluk1]

All we heard from talking heads when Pope was hired was no one wanted to play against his offense. They said it was the most difficult to defend. What the hell happened to it? Smh

 

[UKCowboys]

I’m the resident continuity guy so I’d agree if we were at least building with these guys, but come on UKCowboys, let’s be honest — this is going really bad. I told everyone on the board to wait until we got healthy and so did you — we are healthy as we are going to get, we get 11 days to prepare and we look like we got Alabama film mixed up with Texas A&M film. We have a coach who hasn’t had a single top 25 defense and worse than that — admits players aren’t even running the plays he called. Even if you love Pope more than your own mother, can’t you at least acknowledge he’s stinking up the joint?

Go back to when Cal was hired and look at my posts bud. I wanted Bruce Pearl. Once we hired Pope, I am giving the man a fair chance. I think his roster has been banged up and poorly constructed, I don't know that the man can't coach. If you go back two years, there were MANY nitwits on this board who genuinely thought they knew more about basketball than Cal. Cal will never be confused with Pitino or Izzo for an in game coach, but for some of these yokels to say that and actually mean it is comical. Pope did have a good(not great) first year. He is having a very poor year two. I am willing to give him another year, but if its not markedly better, Ill call for his head. But if you fire a guy because of a rough year two, you lose out on a HOF coach. Pope has a little better record at UK than Hurley had in the same number of games at UCONN. I doubt that is going to be MP, but he deserves a fair shot

 

[UKCowboys]

I don’t want 9-10 guys back. This team we have aren’t UK level. Idc about pre season accolades. Honestly just bring in a whole new team like you did year one. These guys are soft AF

Ridiculous

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Go back to when Cal was hired and look at my posts bud. I wanted Bruce Pearl. Once we hired Pope, I am giving the man a fair chance. I think his roster has been banged up and poorly constructed, I don't know that the man can't coach. If you go back two years, there were MANY nitwits on this board who genuinely thought they knew more about basketball than Cal. Cal will never be confused with Pitino or Izzo for an in game coach, but for some of these yokels to say that and actually mean it is comical. Pope did have a good(not great) first year. He is having a very poor year two. I am willing to give him another year, but if its not markedly better, Ill call for his head. But if you fire a guy because of a rough year two, you lose out on a HOF coach. Pope has a little better record at UK than Hurley had in the same number of games at UCONN. I doubt that is going to be MP, but he deserves a fair shot

You don’t agree that Pope’s gameplan was bad against Alabama? I would say you don’t need to be a coach to know that

 

[W1LDCAT22]

Sounds like it’s time for a mental health appointment. His family has to be feeling it too. I know people will say money is the cure all but not in all cases

Not everyone can coach here and is up for the job. Unfortunately, Pope is one of those. The pressure to perform here and up to our standard seems too much for him. I like Pope and he is a fantastic human being, but it very well seems like the doubts of many on this board were warranted and he's just not cut out for the job.

 

[UKCowboys]

You don’t agree that Pope’s gameplan was bad against Alabama? I would say you don’t need to be a coach to know that

He had a poor game. And as I said, he wasn't my top choice, even top 20 to be honest, but it doesn't change the fact that if he is fired, MB is going to hire someone else that I don't want and we will still suck. Change for the program means getting a GM who understands what the standards for the program are, and goes out and hires coaches who can get the job done. If you want change, get rid of MB. Otherwise, we might as well roll with Pope

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Ridiculous

You like these players? There’s a couple that would be great to keep. I don’t want 9-10 back.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

He had a poor game. And as I said, he wasn't my top choice, even top 20 to be honest, but it doesn't change the fact that if he is fired, MB is going to hire someone else that I don't want and we will still suck. Change for the program means getting a GM who understands what the standards for the program are, and goes out and hires coaches who can get the job done. If you want change, get rid of MB. Otherwise, we might as well roll with Pope

I’m not going to NOT support the coach even if I think he’s doing a bad job. I want to win every game, even now. I’m just saying I’m disappointed in how he’s performing at this job. I expected more and I’m not nearly as difficult to appease as a lot of others. I know that an AVERAGE Kentucky basketball season is a 3 seed and a Sweet 16 —- I’m not one of these demanding a Final Four or “you’re fired” fans. But I do want to be a title CONTENDER. Year 1 isn’t his fault but we were not a contender…now it’s Year 2 and we are further from being a contender. Year 3 feels DOA to me.

 

[Phil_The_Music2]

I find it funny (and sad) that out of one side of your mouth you say threads started that are baiting people to fight are a no-no and out the other side of your mouth you roll around in this one like a pig in mud as it's the very definition of a baiting attack by the thread title alone. (but it alligns with your view so you look the other way) I can't WAIT to show ON3 what you've been up to. Just give me a reason and it's done.

The guy straight up made threats in another thread. He's not mentally sound.

 

[Woodrow24]

The guy straight up made threats in another thread. He's not mentally sound.

What are you talking about? I know you’re not very bright but you’re having a conversation with a man that’s been banned 1000 times lmao

 

[Anon1739778738]

Jmi contract,nil management,GM,Top dollar,playing time and scheme= Recruiting. ALL THESE HAVE TO BE CHANGED TO SUCCEED IN OBTAINING TOP TALENT.

 

[Skyguyb27]

Before all the injuries I thought UK was a FF team. If you didn't, then you were just a Pope hater from the start and refused to have an objective view.

I thought that might be true as well until we played a few athletic teams that brought me back down to earth. Last year the team was fun and easy to like but they were never going to the FF with how much they lacked being able to compete against athletes.

 

[Skyguyb27]

Well tell us then Kreskin who is the right guy?

The good news for us is it won’t be hard to improve on what we have now.

 

[UKCowboys]

You like these players? There’s a couple that would be great to keep. I don’t want 9-10 back.

Provided we get a couple of studs....Lowe, Mo, Chandler, Moreno, Kam and Jasper are all kids I would LOVE to have back

 

[UKortho]

I find it funny (and sad) that out of one side of your mouth you say threads started that are baiting people to fight are a no-no and out the other side of your mouth you roll around in this one like a pig in mud as it's the very definition of a baiting attack by the thread title alone. (but it alligns with your view so you look the other way) I can't WAIT to show ON3 what you've been up to. Just give me a reason and it's done.

Don’t be a Rat now.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Provided we get a couple of studs....Lowe, Mo, Chandler, Moreno, Kam and Jasper are all kids I would LOVE to have back

Yea I would love to have them back as role players. They don’t need to be starters here.

 

[Goingfor9]

Good grief it's sad to look at the state of Kentucky Basketball at this point. Pope was clearly not the correct hire from the beginning. He didnt even really accomplish anything at BYU, and now look at BYU since he left. It's funny how BYU can suddenly recruit now. Arkansas is now in a much better position than we are, with no hope in sight for us to return to the glory days. Pope is clearly out of his league. It says a lot when fans don't even care to tune in to watch the games. Of course it's not all on Pope, as Barnhart is the one that panicked on the hire and completely fumbled the assignment. There were so many other options we could have pursued, but he went the homer route. What now? Where do we go from here? I think it starts with cleaning house, from the top down.

Nah. Can’t be. Pope was captain of the 1996 team. Who was captain in 98? That dude should get the next crack. Don’t you remember the letter jacket and the big rally at Rupp. Pope was the captain of the 96 team. That’s his biggest accomplishment.

 

[Goingfor9]

I have never been a Pope pumper, but the guy has not even been here 2 years. This year he missed badly on the players he picked. There is no way a coach can do what Pope did in his 1st year with all the injuries and then just forget how to coach. Now if year 3 is this bad, then time to move on.

That’s an awful take because it overlooks how rough last season was. How Robinson basically shut it down instead of playing pg. Kerr did whatever. we were gifted a 3 seed bc the sec was so deep. Without that we are a 1st weekend out. Tennessee smashed us to prove we never had a prayer we just had good matchups. We had a nightmare sect too.

I’m gonna tell the 3 year guys. When it’s evident you don’t wait until year 3. Mark can’t land a recruit for next year and I wouldn’t count on any player returning. The guy can’t manage the program. He is what’s called in over his head. You don’t wait on a guy like that unless you have a replacement that you wait for. That isn’t the case here.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

That’s an awful take because it overlooks how rough last season was. How Robinson basically shut it down instead of playing pg. Kerr did whatever. we were gifted a 3 seed bc the sec was so deep. Without that we are a 1st weekend out. Tennessee smashed us to prove we never had a prayer we just had good matchups. We had a nightmare sect too.

I’m gonna tell the 3 year guys. When it’s evident you don’t wait until year 3. Mark can’t land a recruit for next year and I wouldn’t count on any player returning. The guy can’t manage the program. He is what’s called in over his head. You don’t wait on a guy like that unless you have a replacement that you wait for. That isn’t the case here.

Can’t we just say how much this year sucks without repainting the last one? It’s kind of like how the LeBron fans have to come up with ridiculous MJ slander to win an argument. Year 1 was better than expected —- it wasn’t glorious, it wasn’t the goal, it was good. Year 2 stinks like holy hell

 

[Vek96]

Pope Pumpers?

i know what you think it means Sonny. To me, it’s a made up term.

Do I regret being a Pope Pumper? There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t regret it.

Not because you think I should. I remember how stupid I was back then.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Pope Pumpers?

i know what you think it means Sonny. To me, it’s a made up term.

Do I regret being a Pope Pumper? There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t regret it.

Not because you think I should. I remember how stupid I was back then.

Nah. You didn’t do anything wrong and I’m not apologizing to anyone for believing in Pope. He just hasn’t shown enough to keep the morale up — this whole dichotomy of you have to hate the coach and be spilled milk or you have to love the coach and slurp —- they are both silly. There was plenty of reasons to hope in Pope —- there’s enough reminders throughout the season that the hope may be unfounded so over time I just admit I was wrong to be so hopeful. It’s not like you joined a blood cult or paid $5,000 in gift cards, Vek. You’re just a good fan that wanted to believe your coach was going to be better than it turned out to be.

 

[UKCowboys]

Nah. You didn’t do anything wrong and I’m not apologizing to anyone for believing in Pope. He just hasn’t shown enough to keep the morale up — this whole dichotomy of you have to hate the coach and be spilled milk or you have to love the coach and slurp —- they are both silly. There was plenty of reasons to hope in Pope —- there’s enough reminders throughout the season that the hope may be unfounded so over time I just admit I was wrong to be so hopeful. It’s not like you joined a blood cult or paid $5,000 in gift cards, Vek. You’re just a good fan that wanted to believe your coach was going to be better than it turned out to be.

I don't think there is any such thing as a Pope Pumper. There are those that want him out tonight, those that want to give him till the end of the season, and those who think he should have next year instead of firing him for one bad year.
I don't remember one person naming Pope as their #1 choice after Cal was let go. I don't even remember hearing his name until Mitch brought him into the conversation.
IMO, wanting to let Pope finish this year or have one more doesn't make you a "pumper", it makes you rational, but these are the same folks that called people who supported Cal a "cult" and many of the people who were doing the name calling are saying they wish they had Cal back lol. You can't make it up

 

[Tri-Countycat]

Exactly. A third year will happen. UK doesn't move fast unless the coach is damaging the institution or fans stop attending. Neither is happening. You can wish for that to happen I guess, but I don’t know what kind of fan you would be to wish for that.

Finish .500 or worse in the league, miss the tourney and have no top recruits signed and Pope will not get a third year. Period

 

[HappyBlue]

That’s an awful take because it overlooks how rough last season was. How Robinson basically shut it down instead of playing pg. Kerr did whatever. we were gifted a 3 seed bc the sec was so deep. Without that we are a 1st weekend out. Tennessee smashed us to prove we never had a prayer we just had good matchups. We had a nightmare sect too.

I’m gonna tell the 3 year guys. When it’s evident you don’t wait until year 3. Mark can’t land a recruit for next year and I wouldn’t count on any player returning. The guy can’t manage the program. He is what’s called in over his head. You don’t wait on a guy like that unless you have a replacement that you wait for. That isn’t the case here.

Robinson shut it down instead of playing PG??????????

This was his injury: A torn ECU (Extensor Carpi Ulnaris) subsheath is an injury to the fibrous tunnel holding the ECU tendon on the pinky-finger side of the wrist, causing pain, swelling, snapping, and instability with wrist rotation, often from forceful twisting, leading to symptoms like popping or weakness, and requiring immobilization (casting/splinting) or surgical repair/reconstruction for healing, with MRI or ultrasound used for diagnosis.

Pretty easy for a guy who probably sits around eating cheese puffs and scratching his azz to say someone should play through that.

Also you think UK playing in the toughest college basketball conference in history and having a winning conference record, not to mention beating the teams they beat out of conference was gifted a 3 seed? gtfo