Question for a few posters

Mar 10, 2003
5,877
11,198
93
I love UK sports, basketball more than anything, but we have a lot of people who somehow make it their identity. Not sure if it’s some kind of inadequacy syndrome or what but their life happiness seems to depend on how a bunch of 18-23 year olds play a sport and who is coaching it. I get into games and get frustrated at times but when it’s over, I turn off my tv and sleep fine.
 

gojvc

All-American
Feb 5, 2005
28,744
7,273
0
I love UK sports, basketball more than anything, but we have a lot of people who somehow make it their identity. Not sure if it’s some kind of inadequacy syndrome or what but their life happiness seems to depend on how a bunch of 18-23 year olds play a sport and who is coaching it. I get into games and get frustrated at times but when it’s over, I turn off my tv and sleep fine.
At almost 57 that’s how I approach it now. I wasn’t very good at that when I was younger.
 

W1LDCAT22

All-Conference
Jan 10, 2013
1,101
1,339
113
What if our previous coach at Arkansas and our new coach's old team (BYU) both reach the Sweet 16 but we fail to do the same? That would be crazy if this is how it plays out, and would be ironic. Hopefully this doesn't happen and we win tomorrow.
 
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ToniTonyToneDelkDelkDelk

All-Conference
Feb 20, 2007
2,229
1,816
113
I love Kentucky Men's Basketball.

I root for the professional and personal success of everybody who has helped Kentucky Men's Basketball put W's in the win column since I've become a fan in 1992 with the exception of maybe 2 people (BCG and Michael Porter).

The only time I do not root for their success is if it comes at the expense of Kentucky Men's Basketball getting a W.
 
Mar 10, 2003
5,877
11,198
93
What if our previous coach at Arkansas and our new coach's old team (BYU) both reach the Sweet 16 but we fail to do the same? That would be crazy if this is how it plays out, and would be ironic. Hopefully this doesn't happen and we win tomorrow.
What if they do? I expected them to before the season. Both returned key players. Cal took Wagner, Thiero, & Z. Combined them with two top portal players in Aidoo & Davis. Throw in Brazile, Fland, & other freshmen and they should have had a great team. They just underperformed in conference play. I’m sure BYU returned several guys to go with their star freshmen. We built a roster from scratch and are derailed by injuries. Too many people worried about the instant gratification instead of the long game.
 

MegaBlue05

Heisman
Mar 8, 2014
10,306
19,626
66
Some of us are too consumed by what Cal does.

It would suck if Arkansas goes further than us, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. Arkansas fans can rub our noses in it until they're eliminated. That's absolute worst case for our egos outside of Arkansas winning the national title.

Bottom line is the UK/Cal relationship had run its course and both parties needed a fresh start. I am happy with the new direction of our program and Cal can do Cal in Fayetteville.
 

BigBlueFanGA

Heisman
Jun 14, 2005
26,435
23,455
0
Are you John Calipari fans, Mitch Barnhart haters, Pope haters, or is John Calipari and what he does live rent free in your head?????

He did outstanding for a long time, then he didn't for quite a while. He left. HE LEFT...not fired. The players left...their schooling weren't taken.

Pope is the coach. Next 3 to 5 years will show if he stays the coach.
The choices aren't mutually exclusive. I can't stand Cal for the way he treated BBN and our program in general. I enjoy it when he loses. However, I rarely even look to see what Arkansas has done. The tournament is different. Results are plastered everywhere so you can't avoid it.

As for fandom, I grew up in Kentucky. I've loved UK since before Cal ever heard of UK. I attended UK as did my wife. To be honest, I dont appreciate the way you're subtly trying to question and devalue everyone's fandom.
 
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know1

Heisman
Dec 8, 2002
12,855
14,923
0
I despise Calipari for what he intentionally did to our program. I genuinely wish he hadn't been hired in the first place. And I did like him originally. Eventually, he did more harm than good and left the program worse than when he started. It shocks me that people can't see that.
 
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Cleatortoises

Heisman
Dec 24, 2018
2,977
10,468
113
How do we know he crushed it? Pope is a total unproven and I saw two teams with pitino and Cals who played harder than this team has all year. I want who ever our coach is to be extremely successful. We have hired one unknown and it was awful. So Barney decided to try it again but this time hire a former player and force fans to give him 3 years as you say. We don’t know what the standard is for pope to continue on after 3 years. 3 wins in the ncaa would probably be fine with Barney. Meanwhile I’m losing family left and right. My health hasn’t been great and I’d like to share a title with my son. I know we’ve lost posters and all kinds of fans who shouldn’t have to endure a total reboot with a 5 year plan if that’s what it is.
Pitinos team looked like ***.
So they played harder yesterday, in your opinion, than we did all year?
Vs. Fla, Duke, TN?
All year.
I hope a title is forthcoming, and best with your health, BUT...
This is foolishness
 

Ash Williams

Heisman
Aug 3, 2022
7,759
25,566
113
How do we know he crushed it? Pope is a total unproven and I saw two teams with pitino and Cals who played harder than this team has all year. I want who ever our coach is to be extremely successful. We have hired one unknown and it was awful. So Barney decided to try it again but this time hire a former player and force fans to give him 3 years as you say. We don’t know what the standard is for pope to continue on after 3 years. 3 wins in the ncaa would probably be fine with Barney. Meanwhile I’m losing family left and right. My health hasn’t been great and I’d like to share a title with my son. I know we’ve lost posters and all kinds of fans who shouldn’t have to endure a total reboot with a 5 year plan if that’s what it is.
Amber Heard: Leaves a turd in the bed

Wildcats1st: HOLD MY BEER
 

Fadhi

All-Conference
Jan 11, 2013
907
1,293
0
I despise Calipari for what he intentionally did to our program. I genuinely wish he hadn't been hired in the first place. And I did like him originally. Eventually, he did more harm than good and left the program worse than when he started. It shocks me that people can't see that.
It's crazy to say he intentionally tried to hurt the program. No coach does that let one a Hall of Fame one.
The guy won a Championship here.
 

Randy Bob

All-Conference
Jun 14, 2009
7,232
3,968
113
I am a Cat fan and Coach Pope fan, I could give a flip what Ark. or their coach does.
 

KYFOSSIL

All-American
Jan 13, 2005
7,453
9,694
62
How do we know he crushed it? Pope is a total unproven and I saw two teams with pitino and Cals who played harder than this team has all year. I want who ever our coach is to be extremely successful. We have hired one unknown and it was awful. So Barney decided to try it again but this time hire a former player and force fans to give him 3 years as you say. We don’t know what the standard is for pope to continue on after 3 years. 3 wins in the ncaa would probably be fine with Barney. Meanwhile I’m losing family left and right. My health hasn’t been great and I’d like to share a title with my son. I know we’ve lost posters and all kinds of fans who shouldn’t have to endure a total reboot with a 5 year plan if that’s what it is.
Yeah right they played harder than we did when beating all of those top 15 teams including Duke, Gonzaga, Florida and UT . Your head is so far up Cals *** if he farted you would be lobotomized
 
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Youngcats

Junior
Nov 17, 2015
224
396
35
Both Pitino and Calapari had a good runs at Kentucky . Won championships with exciting style of play and kept UK near the the top of college basketball. Hoping Coach Pope has a similar run.
 

DelkBowl

Heisman
Oct 4, 2015
10,566
11,542
101
I’m and SEC guy after UK. I pull for them all. I’ll sit down and watch a great LSU vs Bama and enjoy it. In short I hope it’s an all SEC final four.
 

Old Blue Fart

All-Conference
Mar 23, 2014
1,568
4,041
76
Calapari is like your ex-wife.
You met here, feel in love, got married but somewhere along the way she wanted more; you were no longer good enough, so she starts flirting around thinking her stuff doesn't stink.
Instead of getting up each day putting on makeup and looking good for her husband when he came home, she was just lazy, got fat and didn't care.
Like many situations such as that, people just exist together with no real love or feelings, just not sure what to do.

Cal left on his own and when he did, he did it in a BS way in my opinion. He took Kentucky backwards and along the way he turned on the fanbase.
Cal got to the point where he thought his **** didn't;t stink; no matter how many 1st round games in the NCAA we lost to a 14 seed, he didn't have to answer for this or be accountable for his millions in salary.

When he was involved in the Sharpe situation, that was the last straw. He failed as a coach. That showed he was only out to flame his ego.
The way he handled that was totally wrong. The Sharpe kid should have been shown the door the first time he didn't go into a game.

Then the way Cal called out Stoops, whether or not he was right, it was wrong.
Again, my stuff don't stink and I will do what I want.

I watched yesterdays game against St. Johns and the difference in the way both coaches dress shows us old fans enough.
Cal is where he needs to be, with pigs.
 

Broker

All-Conference
Aug 29, 2012
1,501
1,489
113
He violated the terms of his contract.
Twice.
Not a Cal fan and glad he saved us millions by leaving. He did us a great favor. The kids that left came to KY to play for Cal, not for UK. Kids chose a coach, not a school most of the time. I would love to know how he violated his contract. Interviewing for another job is NOT a violation. The buyout is there to protect the school because you can't legally prevent any employee from trying to better themselves. What were the two violations?
 

Broker

All-Conference
Aug 29, 2012
1,501
1,489
113
Well, there’s something to be said for being self aware.
ftp000, do you think BYU fans hate Pope for leaving and pissed that he took Chandler with him? Do you think BYU fans hope Pope loses every game he coaches? You know damn well they don't, because they have a good coach and they only worry about their team.
Hey, we have a good coach so why is it so important to worry about who was our coach? You are acting like Cal is your ex wife.
 
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Cleatortoises

Heisman
Dec 24, 2018
2,977
10,468
113
Oh contraire.
The act of speaking to another team without the permission of his boss was in the contract. This has been stated .
So the negotiations with both ark and Ohio st absolutely violated it.
He didn't walk away from 30 odd million without as much as a settlement.
No favors granted, a blunder to say the least.
 

HagginHall1999

Heisman
Oct 19, 2018
15,884
28,294
113
What Cal did is similar to what Tubby did....except that it seems Cal had a change of heart at the last second.

I think he knew it was time to move on but just didn't want to let go, probably how most divorces go as well.

I wanted Pitino to win yesterday. I think Cal was gracious when Arkansas beat us back in February. No ill will from me.

The situation has played out right and in the immediate and long term it was best for both parties to split. It was a no win situation if Cal stayed at UK for this year and long term I think he was coaching scared at UK.
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
0
Pitinos team looked like ***.
So they played harder yesterday, in your opinion, than we did all year?
Vs. Fla, Duke, TN?
All year.
I hope a title is forthcoming, and best with your health, BUT...
This is foolishness
Pitinos team missed shots they were up in ark face the entire game. They didn’t lose due to toughness.
 

ImTheVillageIdiot

All-American
May 18, 2024
3,396
9,017
0
The situation has played out right and in the immediate and long term it was best for both parties to split. It was a no win situation if Cal stayed at UK for this year and long term I think he was coaching scared at UK.
I wish our fanbase really believed this. I hate that we have fans that aren’t behind our current coach because of another coach who isn’t here anymore. It also pains me that so many of our fans denigrate and mar our 2010-2024 teams and players. We should have every reason to be happy and hopeful as of today.
 

yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
28,351
39,382
102
Are you John Calipari fans, Mitch Barnhart haters, Pope haters, or is John Calipari and what he does live rent free in your head?????

He did outstanding for a long time, then he didn't for quite a while. He left. HE LEFT...not fired. The players left...their schooling weren't taken.

Pope is the coach. Next 3 to 5 years will show if he stays the coach.
There is a saying. “Comparison is the thief of joy”. Never has it been more fitting. There are LOTS of fans than are allowing Arkansas’s late season turnaround to detract from the enjoyment of our season. I struggle with it myself.
 

CRZ4UK

All-American
Jun 6, 2008
4,563
9,224
103
I love Coach Pope. I’m not sure if he will succeed but with what he had to work with. I think his first season has been impressive. People forget before the injuries, we beat Dook and Gonzaga who looked amazing last night

It was time for Cal to go. He got Lazy here. I do root against Arkansas just because of what their winning does to our reputation. I liked Calipari the man. Ellen was great.

I’ve always liked Rick. Even at Louisville. That hurt. His teams were my best UK memories. I don’t judge people on their mistakes. We all have our demons.

What I do absolutely hate is the SEC and NCAA. I will never be convinced they are not keeping us down. The NCAA is littered with NC and Duke grads. Emmert hated Calipari with a vengeance for stealing Kanter and Jones from Washington while he was AD at Washington.
Sankey I believe hired the Big East commissioner to revive basketball. First step was to knock UK off its perch. It seems games are being controlled by the officials to me in the SEC. I think that’s directed by our league office. It’s all about the money now. Not fair competition.
UK fans outnumbered all other fan bases 90-10 at the tournament. Sankey still has a ways to go to get them engaged. That means we must stay Down.
Kudos to him for getting 14 teams in. I’m sure it made them lots of money. Everyone but our top 4 teams have not looked better than everyone else. Several teams loosing to nobody’s. The SEC is SO tough was a farce. That horrible officiated game against Georgia got them in by beating UK. Our league was littered with criminal officiating allowing weaker teams to win for parity and get them in the tournament.
 
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Butters' Dad

Senior
Jul 23, 2011
543
460
0
There is a saying. “Comparison is the thief of joy”. Never has it been more fitting. There are LOTS of fans than are allowing Arkansas’s late season turnaround to detract from the enjoyment of our season. I struggle with it myself.
It's very true.
 

ImTheVillageIdiot

All-American
May 18, 2024
3,396
9,017
0
There is a saying. “Comparison is the thief of joy”. Never has it been more fitting. There are LOTS of fans than are allowing Arkansas’s late season turnaround to detract from the enjoyment of our season. I struggle with it myself.
You know yoshukai, I find a lot of the things Pope says aren’t just applicable to players and programs but also fans and regular people. He’s always talking about being in the moment. I struggle with worrying about what if this happens or what if we lose that game. As fans, we should be in the moment and enjoying the hell out of this coz three weeks from now we are all going to be sad wishing it was basketball season all over again.
 

TucsonCat

All-Conference
Sep 10, 2022
2,807
3,424
0
Oh contraire.
The act of speaking to another team without the permission of his boss was in the contract. This has been stated .
So the negotiations with both ark and Ohio st absolutely violated it.
He didn't walk away from 30 odd million without as much as a settlement.
No favors granted, a blunder to say the least.
Sort of.
John calipari didn't talk to Ohio State.
His agent did.
Calipari was in the same room with Arkansas admins, that's when things get loose.
 

Cleatortoises

Heisman
Dec 24, 2018
2,977
10,468
113
Sort of.
John calipari didn't talk to Ohio State.
His agent did.
Calipari was in the same room with Arkansas admins, that's when things get loose.
So we can agree there was no chivalrous and noble behavior on behalf of 🐄.
No favors done.
In fact, I believe he thought he was going to be able to use the offer from hoggy as negotiating leverage for a double lifetime contract.
 

Possum

All-American
Apr 28, 2024
1,638
5,106
113
How do we know he crushed it? Pope is a total unproven and I saw two teams with pitino and Cals who played harder than this team has all year. I want who ever our coach is to be extremely successful. We have hired one unknown and it was awful. So Barney decided to try it again but this time hire a former player and force fans to give him 3 years as you say. We don’t know what the standard is for pope to continue on after 3 years. 3 wins in the ncaa would probably be fine with Barney. Meanwhile I’m losing family left and right. My health hasn’t been great and I’d like to share a title with my son. I know we’ve lost posters and all kinds of fans who shouldn’t have to endure a total reboot with a 5 year plan if that’s what it is.
Yeah that was an instant classic yesterday between Cal And Rick. Both teams shot a collective 4-41 from 3. Beautiful basketball. Earth to you, we’re not on your or your family’s timeline.
 
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SemperFiCat

Heisman
Mar 2, 2009
14,566
30,005
0
I do not like Cal. Simply because 1) he didn't prioritze Kentucky winning, 2) he belittled the fanbase 3) he seemed perfectly content with not getting his actual job done, and 4) Kentucky basketball had become too much of a circus, and not about being elite blue blood basketball. I'm not a 'Cal hater' but I do not respect a guy that didn't respect Kentucky basketball, and seemingly tried to remold it to fit his priorities.
 

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
18,778
31,951
113
Mitch: terrible contracts and hit or miss on hiring people. He is lazy and doesn't even try to interview enough quality candidates. I don't think he's a good AD for NIL era.

Cal: Mr. Bipolar at UK. He has amazing stats like two 38 win seasons and 4 final fours in 5 seasons but also has a 9 win season and the abysmal final 4 years here. I am glad he is gone but do not hate him like some do. It's a basketball game so he isn't worth my hate.

Pope: he's done a good job this season and has dealt well with injury situation. Hoping he can use the NIL war chest and get more top tier talent n future seasons. If you aren't a drunk you win a national title at UK so I don't see why Pope wont win one.
 

know1

Heisman
Dec 8, 2002
12,855
14,923
0
I do not like Cal. Simply because 1) he didn't prioritze Kentucky winning, 2) he belittled the fanbase 3) he seemed perfectly content with not getting his actual job done, and 4) Kentucky basketball had become too much of a circus, and not about being elite blue blood basketball. I'm not a 'Cal hater' but I do not respect a guy that didn't respect Kentucky basketball, and seemingly tried to remold it to fit his priorities.
This is me exactly. And said better than I could.
 
May 27, 2007
31,167
24,004
113
Before Cal came to UK, I was indifferent about him. He was just another coach in the sport.

During his era at UK, of course I wanted to see them do as well as possible.

Now that he's gone, I'm back to being indifferent.

While I guess I can understand some of the anger our fanbase has for Cal, I have a hard time understanding why some would let what he is doing or isn't doing at Arkansas affect them.

I don't know. When I think about sports in general, my happiness is completely tied to the team I root for. I'm not particularly all that concerned about other teams.
 
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RalphDaltonFan

Heisman
Apr 3, 2002
60,109
41,372
113
Mitch Barnhart is a tool. In over his head and can't stand it when he speaks. To those who can get past the hatred of Calipari--everything he said about the Basketball Program's needs to be updated, etc.. was 100% correct. What he said about Basketball vs Football was 100% correct. It's played out that way. Cal was gone this year and Stoops outed himself as a petulant child regarding NIL, etc....when fact is on the field he doesn't do anything to warrant some mass wave of investment over the Basketball program. Barnhart sided with him for the wrong reasons and it's time the Basketball program gets priority again.

Enjoying this year a lot under Pope and like what he and staff are doing for the most part. (please quit Analytically subbing, LOL)

Cal had to go. It was past time. Did the University a favor by getting out of that buyout/$ owed and if he stayed..it would've been more of the same. I think he's not changed at all and it would've gotten so ugly around here the team would NOT have turned their season around like they were able to in Fayetteville because we've all seen/heard the nonsense that is taking place there. Really what got him over the hump were tough plays by winning players like Fland (that steal on the entry pass won that game late) and Richmond who is only playing more due to the injury of Fland and some other guys. But imagine Thiero pulling the same BS ACT another year in Lexington and not knowing if/when he'll play? Not embracing the 3pt shot....Brad on staff...etc...it was going to get even uglier and likely would've resulted in some parting after this year-so thankfully things just moved on.