Popebros........

yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
30,601
43,820
102
It’ll be $19m if he makes the Sweet 16.
I figure 2 more years of this- KY doesn't want to pay Pope 13.5 after this year- unless they know they can land a big fish. I think if Donovan agreed to come then Pope gone after this year. There are not too many coaches out there that can handle the pressure of this job.
Money could absolutely be a factor.

We are on currently the hook for the Stoops buyout.

We would absolutely be on the hook for Popes buyout.

Depending on who they hire and their contract,we may have to pay THEIR buyout.

Along with a substantial amount to lure a top coach here .

And we DAMN WELL BETTER save enough money to keep Will Stein because we’re going to have to fight off the big boys to keep him .

The LAST THING I want is to lose Will Stein because of this basketball mess .
 

Snarks

All-American
Jan 31, 2005
8,824
7,841
93
Money could absolutely be a factor.

We are on currently the hook for the Stoops buyout.

We would absolutely be on the hook for Popes buyout.

Depending on who they hire and their contract,we may have to pay THEIR buyout.

Along with a substantial amount to lure a top coach here .

And we DAMN WELL BETTER save enough money to keep Will Stein because we’re going to have to fight off the big boys to keep him .

The LAST THING I want is to lose Will Stein because of this basketball mess .
This is why I don’t understand the Mitch love. While he had some good hires, he had some flops, but these contracts were unforgivable. It’s almost like Mitch didn’t realize he could negotiate.
 

yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
30,601
43,820
102
This is why I don’t understand the Mitch love. While he had some good hires, he had some flops, but these contracts were unforgivable. It’s almost like Mitch didn’t realize he could negotiate.
I really don’t know anyone that loves Mitch. Thought everyone despised him,lol .
 
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UK4Life#9

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
822
1,599
93
Mark Pope is awful, so if you're proud of him, you may be the U6 fan.

GIF by Giphy QA
 

JAC71

All-American
Jun 28, 2015
5,049
9,509
113
I figure 2 more years of this- KY doesn't want to pay Pope 13.5 after this year- unless they know they can land a big fish. I think if Donovan agreed to come then Pope gone after this year. There are not too many coaches out there that can handle the pressure of this job.
I believe there is a coach out there that can get us back top five in the country, the AD has to put in the time to find him and not just settle like our last AD did.
Another two years of mediocrity and it will be that much harder to climb back up the ladder
 

bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
48,825
73,061
113
We have a real AD now. We can land a big fish.
Just because you say it doesn’t make it true. Look what North Carolina just had to go through when they didn’t exactly land a major huge name. This is a completely different world. People can win championships anywhere. I mean Indiana freaking Indiana did it in football.

We sadly, can’t just go on our history and name alone anymore. For example, why would somebody like Tommy Lloyd or formerly Dusty May want to come here where the pressure is much much higher when they literally can go to the FF at other schools?

This isn’t the same playing field anymore. Sure there’s a couple of big names but they’re established. There might be be a couple of up and comers but they’re aren’t guarantees.

that’s not a defense of keeping Pope. It’s just saying that the next coach isn’t going to be easy to find. We have a very unique and defined culture. I’m sure there’s a guy out there that can do it. But acting like it’s going to be an easy big fish land is delusional.
 

BluWildcatz

Junior
Jun 16, 2026
148
224
43
Just because you say it doesn’t make it true. Look what North Carolina just had to go through when they didn’t exactly land a major huge name. This is a completely different world. People can win championships anywhere. I mean Indiana freaking Indiana did it in football.

We sadly, can’t just go on our history and name alone anymore. For example, why would somebody like Tommy Lloyd or formerly Dusty May want to come here where the pressure is much much higher when they literally can go to the FF at other schools?

This isn’t the same playing field anymore. Sure there’s a couple of big names but they’re established. There might be be a couple of up and comers but they’re aren’t guarantees.

that’s not a defense of keeping Pope. It’s just saying that the next coach isn’t going to be easy to find. We have a very unique and defined culture. I’m sure there’s a guy out there that can do it. But acting like it’s going to be an easy big fish land is delusional.
All that just for me to say: Money.
 

bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
48,825
73,061
113
All that just for me to say: Money.
Apparently that wasn’t enough at one point in the search. And money doesn’t always mean loyalty. May went to the Mavs after two damn good years and making a ton of money at UM.

It’s just a different world. Especially in basketball now.
 

BluWildcatz

Junior
Jun 16, 2026
148
224
43
Apparently that wasn’t enough at one point in the search. And money doesn’t always mean loyalty. May went to the Mavs after two damn good years and making a ton of money at UM.

It’s just a different world. Especially in basketball now.
Perhaps loyalty is not what we are looking for, in that case. I guess we will develop coaches for the NBA the same way we did players once upon a time. Also, Calipari went to Arkansas unexpectedly; it was awkward timing. Back then the transfer portal was even worse than it is now. Kentucky basketball always carries pressure with it, but following in Cal's footsteps during the NIL era added even more pressure than normal. Your comment is lacking the true context. Obviously it's a different world now, but that doesn't mean you are right. And to some extent, that benefits us. We were #1 in NIL last season. You think that doesn't attract good coaches? Whether they admit it or not, everyone is silently watching our program right now. We are not North Carolina.
 
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Bluesbrother

All-American
May 23, 2002
4,622
6,565
113
I figure 2 more years of this- KY doesn't want to pay Pope 13.5 after this year- unless they know they can land a big fish. I think if Donovan agreed to come then Pope gone after this year. There are not too many coaches out there that can handle the pressure of this job.
Pressure exists for those coaches that are unqualified to have the job in the first place.
 
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WallMash

All-Conference
Oct 30, 2009
4,646
3,071
103
The time to piss and moan about Mark Pope was the end of last year (I did some of that) They didn't fire him. The time to piss and moan about Mark Pope if it doesn't come together again, is the end of this year. They're not going to fire him mid season. This is the time of year to cheer your team, Cats, Cats Cats.
 

Catastic5

All-Conference
Sep 12, 2026
563
1,396
93
Money could absolutely be a factor.

We are on currently the hook for the Stoops buyout.

We would absolutely be on the hook for Popes buyout.

Depending on who they hire and their contract,we may have to pay THEIR buyout.

Along with a substantial amount to lure a top coach here .

And we DAMN WELL BETTER save enough money to keep Will Stein because we’re going to have to fight off the big boys to keep him .

The LAST THING I want is to lose Will Stein because of this basketball mess .
Pope isn’t going to demand the whole buyout up front. That would turn the Kentucky fanbase against him for the rest of his life. He’ll agree to a yearly sum and we’ll move along. What’s important is the boosters’ opinion on the matter. If he doesn’t do well this season there’s no way boosters will agree to 2 more years of funding one of the biggest NIL budgets in the country. You think recruiting is bad now, wait until he’s working with half or a third of that.
 

Catastic5

All-Conference
Sep 12, 2026
563
1,396
93
You know, I’m seeing California football fans whining about their first year coach and demanding he be fired while other fanbase are actually in agreement. It’s only his first year and they still want him gone! Poverty-a** Calimony California.

Meanwhile I’m seeing freaking Kentucky fans thinking we’re going to have to keep Pope for 5 years? Five f*cking years!? Have you lost your damned minds!? Have some damned self-respect. Kentucky isn’t poor enough where we have to deal with a mediocre coach for 5 damned seasons. You think any other SEC basketball team would keep a coach who hasn’t gotten higher than 6th in the SEC? Jesus Christ ya’ll got whipped good by Mitch Barnhart. A bunch of grade A b*tches.
 
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