Popebros........

BookofMormon

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2026
1,215
1,575
113
Then this one, where Pope apparently thought he had him, tried to close him just after and Uvwo responded asking for 7 million and saying he needed to take the rest of his visits.

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yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
30,601
43,815
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
7,840
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
43,815
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 .
 

Ash Williams

Heisman
Aug 3, 2022
8,667
27,264
113
I see some good individual pieces of the puzzle. Pope needs to get to work putting the puzzle together. He has his hands full, but it can be done.
Wait wait wait. Your argument is that we need to rely on Pope's COACHING ABILITY to get it done? ROFLMAO
 

UK4Life#9

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
821
1,596
93
Mark Pope is awful, so if you're proud of him, you may be the U6 fan.

GIF by Giphy QA
 

Madhuvan

Senior
Aug 11, 2024
197
428
63
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.
We have a real AD now. We can land a big fish.
 
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JAC71

All-American
Jun 28, 2015
5,049
9,507
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
 
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bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
48,818
73,054
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
222
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
48,818
73,054
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
222
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
6,564
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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