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Reality is setting in...

lordvoldemort123

lordvoldemort123

Sophomore
Apr 2, 2010
1,127
187
63
Pope completely miscalculated with this year’s roster. The program overspent across the board for talent that hasn’t lived up to expectations, and the recruiting strategy clearly missed the mark for what Kentucky needs. The coaching has been extremely disappointing so far, and paying JQ only to have him sit for half the season feels like a costly setback especially since, at the rate things are going, his return may not change the trajectory of the season.

This is an all-systems failure by Pope. The season already feels lost, and the bigger concern now is how this performance will affect recruiting and the transfer portal going forward. If Pope struggled to bring in the right players after last year, next season could be even more challenging. I hate to say it, but Mitch Barnhart hired the wrong guy for the job.
 
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true-blue1

true-blue1

All-American
May 15, 2007
11,580
8,987
93
In reality it sucks right now. I hope Pope can turn it around because I think he's a genuinely good person. I think he knows he messed up recruiting a few players he was told not too but you can learn from that. In today's world several players fake injuries according to Kelvin Sampson and he was blunt about it. I hope that isn't happening with some of our players.
 
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AllBall

AllBall

All-Conference
May 5, 2015
3,822
4,617
93
true-blue1 said:
In reality it sucks right now. I hope Pope can turn it around because I think he's a genuinely good person. I think he knows he messed up recruiting a few players he was told not too but you can learn from that. In today's world several players fake injuries according to Kelvon Sampson and he was blunt about it. I hope that isn't happening with some of our players.
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Kelvin don't care to "call" you out. See what I did there?
 
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true-blue1

true-blue1

All-American
May 15, 2007
11,580
8,987
93
AllBall said:
Kelvin don't care to "call" you out. See what I did there?
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Check it out on youtube; College coaches unfiltered. Nate Oats, Kelvon Sampson and Notre Dame's Coach is on the show. It's hosted by Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. It's pretty interesting.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
42,823
76,088
113
true-blue1 said:
In reality it sucks right now. I hope Pope can turn it around because I think he's a genuinely good person. I think he knows he messed up recruiting a few players he was told not too but you can learn from that. In today's world several players fake injuries according to Kelvon Sampson and he was blunt about it. I hope that isn't happening with some of our players.
Click to expand...
Sure feels like it with the amount of time our guys miss. That said Butler and Carr were warriors who gave their all. Also you could tell Jaxson’s wrist was no bueno. They gave it a go though. Lowe appears to just be weak. No telling what Mo D is doing, he is supposed to be tough, but ankle injuries are hard sometimes. Seriously bad luck I guess.
 
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W

wccat

All-American
Apr 8, 2009
4,444
6,734
66
I believe Pope tried to overcorrect for the lack of defense/toughness last year at the expense of offense. Unfortunately the defense/toughness hasn’t lived up to the expectations in addition to whatever team turmoil may be going on. With all of that being said, he had better turn it around. We are not patient fans but then again what fanbase is these days.
 
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F

FurdTurgason

All-Conference
Jan 9, 2009
1,801
3,248
113
I'm still with Pope. Yes, this season sucks but I believe he can turn it around. I'm not comparing him to these guys, but Wooden lost his first six NCAA games, Duke almost ran K out of town early on, and Bama hung Bear Bryant in effigy. Point being, a coach should be allowed to fail early on. If you have the right guy, it will pay off handsomely.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
42,823
76,088
113
CRZ4UK said:
Doug Shows giving Calipari all kinds of good calls at Arkansas. It wasn’t Cal.
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They can’t guard their athletes. They will foul all game. I knew they would jack Louisville up. All the teams we have lost to are good, but all beatable. We just are that bad.
 
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One2Three

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2025
785
1,841
93
lordvoldemort123 said:
Pope completely miscalculated with this year’s roster. The program overspent across the board for talent that hasn’t lived up to expectations, and the recruiting strategy clearly missed the mark for what Kentucky needs. The coaching has been extremely disappointing so far, and paying JQ only to have him sit for half the season feels like a costly setback especially since, at the rate things are going, his return may not change the trajectory of the season.

This is an all-systems failure by Pope. The season already feels lost, and the bigger concern now is how this performance will affect recruiting and the transfer portal going forward. If Pope struggled to bring in the right players after last year, next season could be even more challenging. I hate to say it, but Mitch Barnhart hired the wrong guy for the job.
Click to expand...
We might have $20 million in NIL this year, but we won’t next year if boosters are frustrated by Pope’s poor performance.
 
O

One2Three

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2025
785
1,841
93
Monday Nitro said:
No, no he's not. The sweet 16 looks good compared to that idiot's results.
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Guess where Calipari went last year? The same round as Pope. And he had a chance to go to the Elite 8 but choked it away. Meanwhile Kentucky wad blown out by a team we beat twice earlier in the year.
 
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LineSkiCat14

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,302
59,922
113
Mark Popes BYU three recruiting class rankings (247) the three years prior to coming here.

2023: unranked out roughly 130 teams.
2022: 132nd
2021: unranked out of 150 teams

Now I dont know what guys he had returning, or transfers (but transfers didnt get big yet).. but that is putrid and way worse than I expected. I mean Evansville and St. Peter's had higher ranked classes at different points.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
42,823
76,088
113
LineSkiCat14 said:
Mark Popes BYU three recruiting class rankings (247) the three years prior to coming here.

2023: unranked out roughly 130 teams.
2022: 132nd
2021: unranked out of 150 teams

Now I dont know what guys he had returning, or transfers (but transfers didnt get big yet).. but that is putrid and way worse than I expected. I mean Evansville and St. Peter's had higher ranked classes at different points.
Click to expand...
That makes a lot of sense. That is horrid.
 
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RunninRichie

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
27,801
65,696
113
LineSkiCat14 said:
Mark Popes BYU three recruiting class rankings (247) the three years prior to coming here.

2023: unranked out roughly 130 teams.
2022: 132nd
2021: unranked out of 150 teams

Now I dont know what guys he had returning, or transfers (but transfers didnt get big yet).. but that is putrid and way worse than I expected. I mean Evansville and St. Peter's had higher ranked classes at different points.
Click to expand...
Mitch said, how does 3 years, 5 million sound...
 
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Monday Nitro

Monday Nitro

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
2,557
4,788
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One2Three said:
Guess where Calipari went last year? The same round as Pope. And he had a chance to go to the Elite 8 but choked it away. Meanwhile Kentucky wad blown out by a team we beat twice earlier in the year.
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LOL at you and some others mad at Pope for not going and 3 and 0 against UT in year one. You're making a complete fool of yourself and you are NOT a UK fan. Bye.
 
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FLBBNFAN

FLBBNFAN

Senior
Mar 25, 2025
483
967
93
lordvoldemort123 said:
Pope completely miscalculated with this year’s roster. The program overspent across the board for talent that hasn’t lived up to expectations, and the recruiting strategy clearly missed the mark for what Kentucky needs. The coaching has been extremely disappointing so far, and paying JQ only to have him sit for half the season feels like a costly setback especially since, at the rate things are going, his return may not change the trajectory of the season.

This is an all-systems failure by Pope. The season already feels lost, and the bigger concern now is how this performance will affect recruiting and the transfer portal going forward. If Pope struggled to bring in the right players after last year, next season could be even more challenging. I hate to say it, but Mitch Barnhart hired the wrong guy for the job.
Click to expand...
No doubt he miscalculated on the roster building. I could get over that if Pope adjusted our scheme to fit the players we have. Instead he wants to try and force these guys into a system they aren't suited for.

What I can't get over is only having 1 PG on our roster. After last year its inexcusable. Aberdeen and Johnson are irritating with their shot selection but its on Pope for having those guys playing out of position.

I am worried he's going to ruin Johnson. The kids a scorer , was recruited as such and scorers need touches and minutes. Yes Johnson needs to make better decisions and improve defensively but how does he get better playing 6 minutes. He is one of the only players who can create his own shot.

Wish he would go old school Pitino and do the press and use our depth to our advantage plus get some guys open in transition.
 
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O

One2Three

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2025
785
1,841
93
Monday Nitro said:
LOL at you and some others mad at Pope for not going and 3 and 0 against UT in year one. You're making a complete fool of yourself and you are NOT a UK fan. Bye.
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Why do posters like this always act like trolls more-so than even the super negative posters? It’s so weird that people who pretend everything is fine tick me off more than the negative Nancies.

I suppose if everything was great surrounding the program negative Nancies would bother me more.
 
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RoyKent

RoyKent

Heisman
Feb 3, 2015
22,600
32,040
66
It’s fine, all the recruits in 2026 will fix our problems. Oh wait…none are committed to UK
 
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S

sk73

All-Conference
Feb 16, 2013
3,090
3,122
113
ToniTonyToneDelkDelkDelk said:
Getting rid of Cal the way we did at the time we did is the epitome of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
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I agree that it was time for Cal to move on but I also believe he saved us from being what Indiana has been for the last 20 years. His last 4 seasons were not indicative of his past but again, I agree that it was time for him to go. A reminder, his last team had a better record than last years team and until proven wrong I think last years team was superior to the current team.
 
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