State of the Program

[Anon200440]

LOL, check your "facts", Rondo didn’t play for BCG and from what I know of RR, he wouldn't put up with BCG for 2 minutes.

As far as PP, who cares if BCG ultimately landed him, he didn't win a damn thing with him, which really hurts your argument.

You guys are obsessed with receuiting, because you think it fits your weak takes, but if you land good recruits and still can't win, you suck.

BCG had Ramel, Crawford, Meeks and Patterson, played a weak *** schedule (68th and 66th), lost 13 games in year one and 14 games in year 2 with an NIT appearance. He won a total of ZERO NCAAT games and 1 whole SECT game. WTF am I missing here?

BCG lost to Gardner Webb, VMI, UAB, San Diego and Vanderbilt by 41. If Mark Pope lost to any of these teams, you p*ssies would be going bananas daily.

Truth is, Pope has 10 better wins than any BCG had and BCG has 10 worst losses than any of Pope's, yet the only thing you can come up with to prop up your ridiculous take, is that BCG landed Patrick Patterson and Rajon Rondo played for UK before BCG took the job??? That's it, that's your proof?

Do you see why I can't take you seriously?

Who cares about the wins if it amounts to nothing besides lausy on court performances and lackluster talent

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

We had a top 15 to 20 team before Mitchell. That's not good enough. Pope didn't add enough quality pieces and forced us to where we had to pursue Mitchell.

He had Mitchell committed. If Stankey hadn't stopped it all of your whining about the rest of it is irrelevant.

 

[Anon200440]

He had Mitchell committed. If Stankey had stopped it all of your whining about the rest of it is irrelevant.

"If"

just like if we got chaz lanier year one instead of kriisa we wouldve been elite

just like if we woukdve got yaxel or caleb wilson last year

just like if we got stokes or holt this year

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

When you look back at Cal - the reality is he went from an Elite 8 to 2 COVID years which you have to give a full pass on. Then three early exits (1st, 2nd, 1st). He was pushed out for those three years.

Take a look at a guy like Jim Calhoun, who's considered a top 5 coach in the sport. In the 6 years between his titles, he missed the tourney twice, lost to George Mason in the Elite 8 and got knocked out in the 1st and 2nd round two years. Sometimes you have to be patient.

This fanbase has zero. Why I question any established comfortable coach coming.

I was never one that was trying to push Cal out of town but saying he should get a full pass on the Covid seasons is absurd.

 

[Catastic5]

He had Mitchell committed. If Stankey hadn't stopped it all of your whining about the rest of it is irrelevant.

Always hypotheticals when it comes to Mark Pope.

“We woulda been good if we just got so-and-so.”

That’s loser talk. I don’t know why you can’t see that. This is how we talk about the football team, not freaking basketball.

 

[BookofMormon]

I was never one that was trying to push Cal out of town but saying he should get a full pass on the Covid seasons is absurd.

You serious? One season was cancelled, the other was shortened and he couldn't recruit like he normally does the prior year. I give him a full pass.

He had three stinkers on the back end. The Oscar team was actually very good too.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

You serious? One season was cancelled, the other was shortened and he couldn't recruit like he normally does the prior year. I give him a full pass.

He had three stinkers on the back end. The Oscar team was actually very good too.

He was playing under the same rules and conditions as everyone else so he deserves no pass. I am obviously not blaming him for the outrageous cancelling of the tournament and that was a good season anyway so need for a pass on that one but posting the worst season in school history is not excusable though I still never came close to calling for his dismissal due to what he had done previously. You really should have just tried to excuse him for one year not two as that was all that really needed it in relation to Covid. I thought it was the St Peters loss you were trying to excuse originally.

 

[kyjeff1]

Who cares about the wins if it amounts to nothing besides lausy on court performances and lackluster talent

LOL, who cares about wins? Every freaking fan out there. Nobody (but you) cares how you win the damn game, just freaking win it.

I don't care if Doug Edirt is our starting pg, if we win a title, I don't give a damn about what talent we had.

So, does this mean you hate the '97/98 title team?

I forgot who I was chatting with, you seriously thought BCG recruited… .and landed Rajon Rondo.

 

[kyjeff1]

He was playing under the same rules and conditions as everyone else so he deserves no pass. I am obviously not blaming him for the outrageous cancelling of the tournament and that was a good season anyway so need for a pass on that one but posting the worst season in school history is not excusable though I still never came close to calling for his dismissal due to what he had done previously. You really should have just tried to excuse him for one year not two as that was all that really needed it in relation to Covid. I thought it was the St Peters loss you were trying to excuse originally.

Cal also had 3 NBA talents on that 20/21 roster. He went 9-16. Ewe.

 

[BookofMormon]

He was playing under the same rules and conditions as everyone else so he deserves no pass. I am obviously not blaming him for the outrageous cancelling of the tournament and that was a good season anyway so need for a pass on that one but posting the worst season in school history is not excusable though I still never came close to calling for his dismissal due to what he had done previously. You really should have just tried to excuse him for one year not two as that was all that really needed it in relation to Covid. I thought it was the St Peters loss you were trying to excuse originally.

Take a look at the COVID tourney and tell me if anything turned out normal that year. Baylor won a title for Christmas Sake. Duke missed the tournament. That was the first season K missed the tournament since.........1983. If you don't think it was weird and quirky year, especially for coaches that thrive on the recruiting trail, you're not being fair.

I'm not excusing the last three. St Peter's went on an outrageous heater that year during the Oscar year. They made it to the Elite 8.

Oakland was a gaff, but that 23 HS class was abysmal.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

As a relatively pro-Cal guy compared to most of this site, let me say — some of you need to move on. Cal isnt coming back. Pope era hasn’t been up to UK standards just yet, but there have been signs of hope and there have been some uncontrollable circumstances. Hope for the best and quit punishing Pope because you feel the fanbase ran off Cal. That’s not how to do things. There are genuine concerns and if it doesn’t work with Pope, everyone will be glad to start a new chapter. Until then, please understand — CAL IS NOT COMING BACK! So quit being a nuisance to your fellow fans.

Ive got a family member this was directed to more than anyone lol but still — it has relevance here.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

Take a look at the COVID tourney and tell me if anything turned out normal that year. Baylor won a title for Christmas Sake. Duke missed the tournament. That was the first season K missed the tournament since.........1983. If you don't think it was weird and quirky year, especially for coaches that thrive on the recruiting trail, you're not being fair.

I'm not excusing the last three. St Peter's went on an outrageous heater that year during the Oscar year. They made it to the Elite 8.

Oakland was a gaff, but that 23 HS class was abysmal.

Weird and quirky year doesn’t excuse it. Every other team played by the same rules and most of them didn’t go 9-16. Worst record since pre-Adolph Rupp with the number one recruiting class and multiple NBA players.

 

[Anon200440]

LOL, who cares about wins? Every freaking fan out there. Nobody (but you) cares how you win the damn game, just freaking win it.

I don't care if Doug Edirt is our starting pg, if we win a title, I don't give a damn about what talent we had.

So, does this mean you hate the '97/98 title team?

I forgot who I was chatting with, you seriously thought BCG recruited… .and landed Rajon Rondo.

I do care about wins, im just saying when those good winning seasons stop coming there needs to be SOMETHING to sink my teeth into (recruiting, or on court entertainment/playstyle)

when u have none of that u end up in popes situation

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

Take a look at the COVID tourney and tell me if anything turned out normal that year. Baylor won a title for Christmas Sake. Duke missed the tournament. That was the first season K missed the tournament since.........1983. If you don't think it was weird and quirky year, especially for coaches that thrive on the recruiting trail, you're not being fair.

I'm not excusing the last three. St Peter's went on an outrageous heater that year during the Oscar year. They made it to the Elite 8.

Oakland was a gaff, but that 23 HS class was abysmal.

It still doesn't come close to excusing 9-16 imo.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

I do care about wins, im just saying when those good winning seasons stop coming there needs to be SOMETHING to sink my teeth into (recruiting, or on court entertainment/playstyle)

when u have none of that u end up in popes situation

Pope’s playstyle is an exciting one to me. You prefer isolation plays and floppy action with 4 out 1 in over a 5 out continuous read-based system? Play style is an odd critique imo. If you think Pope’s recruiting deserves critique, sure —- compared to Cal, that makes perfect sense but play style?

 

[Anon200440]

Pope’s playstyle is an exciting one to me. You prefer isolation plays and floppy action with 4 out 1 in over a 5 out continuous read-based system? Play style is an odd critique imo. If you think Pope’s recruiting deserves critique, sure —- compared to Cal, that makes perfect sense but play style?

Yes I prefer that playstyle, at least stylistically to me its a better viewing experience

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

Yes I prefer that playstyle, at least stylistically to me its a better viewing experience

Just rewatch old games then. You’re probadly not going to be seeing THAT playstyle at Kentucky in the foreseeable future regardless of who is next to be coach. Teams don’t run as much floppy to get shooters open and offenses are much more complex now. That‘s one reason you’re starting to see the mad scientists take over CBB. 2023 Hurley. 2024 Hurley. 2025 Golden. 2026 May. Analytics driven coaches are taking over and I don’t think that’s going to slow down anytime soon. Maybe in a few years it’s 2029 Oats?

 

[BookofMormon]

Pope’s playstyle is an exciting one to me. You prefer isolation plays and floppy action with 4 out 1 in over a 5 out continuous read-based system? Play style is an odd critique imo. If you think Pope’s recruiting deserves critique, sure —- compared to Cal, that makes perfect sense but play style?

It's similar to Bama, innately flawed. It's live by the 3, die by the 3. It often has no ability to go to plan B if things aren't falling, especially in tight games.

It's prone to giving up turnovers/transition points, tends to be "soft" in nature. It can be hard to teach to kids only there for one year.

Cal has no choice but to run with simplified iso ball as his entire system is built on showcasing for the NBA and only being there for a year.

Hurley system is the best in the country, but it can be neutralized with highly switchable defenses. Also very difficult for anyone there only a year to understand. It's also highly dependent on having a really good 5 that can set screens, pass well and high hedge on defense.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

It's similar to Bama, innately flawed. It's live by the 3, die by the 3. It often has no ability to go to plan B if things aren't falling, especially in tight games.

It's prone to giving up transition points, tends to be "soft" in nature. It can be hard to teach to kids only there for one year.

Cal has no choice but to run with simplified iso ball as his entire system is built on showcasing for the NBA and only being there for a year.

Hurley system is the best in the country, but it can be neutralized with highly switchable defenses.

I’m going to disagree with you there. “Live and die by the three”?

In 2026, Kentucky attempted 859 3PA. The national champions, Michigan, attempted 998.

In 2025, Kentucky attempted 910 3PA. The national champions, Florida, attempted 1,097.

It seems to me that you’re right our offense needs to be better, but not because we are doing too much living and dying by the three. It’s pretty clear to me that we need to be doing a whole lot shooting from 3 than we have been. If you can’t get that kind of volume, you simply are not going to keep pace with these juggernaut offenses.

 

[Anon200440]

Just rewatch old games then. You’re probadly not going to be seeing THAT playstyle at Kentucky in the foreseeable future regardless of who is next to be coach. Teams don’t run as much floppy to get shooters open and offenses are much more complex now. That‘s one reason you’re starting to see the mad scientists take over CBB. 2023 Hurley. 2024 Hurley. 2025 Golden. 2026 May. Analytics driven coaches are taking over and I don’t think that’s going to slow down anytime soon. Maybe in a few years it’s 2029 Oats?

Notice anything about those coaches, they arent at blue bloods, because that style isnt sustainable for winning, which is why all those teams u mentioned had just avedage win loss totals for the szn

 

[BookofMormon]

I’m going to disagree with you there. “Live and die by the three”?

In 2026, Kentucky attempted 859 3PA. The national champions, Michigan, attempted 998.

In 2025, Kentucky attempted 910 3PA. The national champions, Florida, attempted 1,097.

It seems to me that you’re right our offense needs to be better, but not because we are doing too much living and dying by the three. It’s pretty clear to me that we need to be doing a whole lot shooting from 3 than we have been. If you can’t get that kind of volume, you simply are not going to keep pace with these juggernaut offenses.

Ultimately the 5 out read should be run in a way where all shots are at the rim or at the 3 point line, if done right. Oats happens to run an offense highly dependent on pace and a runner driving into the paint and kicking out, or shooting near the rim.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

Ultimately the 5 out read should be run in a way where all shots are at the rim or at the 3 point line, if done right. Oats happens to run an offense highly dependent on pace and a runner driving into the paint and kicking out, or shooting near the rim.

And I think you’ve found a point that irritates me about Pope….far too much mid range. Coaches like Oats will chew you out over taking them because the math is clear —- unless you are an ELITE mid range shooter, it’s a bad shot. Oats is far more committed to the efficiency formula of offensive analytics than Pope. I appreciate that you noticed that —- many don’t.

 

[RunninRichie]

Did Pope already fail in year 3?

Nothing inspires me, that year 3 will be a success. And no, a sweet 16 and 4th in the SEC is not a "success".,

 

[BookofMormon]

And I think you’ve found a point that irritates me about Pope….far too much mid range. Coaches like Oats will chew you out over taking them because the math is clear —- unless you are an ELITE mid range shooter, it’s a bad shot. Oats is far more committed to the efficiency formula of offensive analytics than Pope. I appreciate that you noticed that —- many don’t.

It's why when you flashed me those numbers, I was almost appalled because I knew the discrepancy wasn't because of more shots at the rim.

There are very few elite mid range shooters in the college game.

The one position you'll notice Oats puts all his eggs in in an elite pentrator/driver that can also shoot, like Philon, Sears,

 

[BookofMormon]

Just rewatch old games then. You’re probadly not going to be seeing THAT playstyle at Kentucky in the foreseeable future regardless of who is next to be coach. Teams don’t run as much floppy to get shooters open and offenses are much more complex now. That‘s one reason you’re starting to see the mad scientists take over CBB. 2023 Hurley. 2024 Hurley. 2025 Golden. 2026 May. Analytics driven coaches are taking over and I don’t think that’s going to slow down anytime soon. Maybe in a few years it’s 2029 Oats?

This is the one area that is preventing Scheyer from dominating. He's still running K's fluid 5 out that's about improvisation. There is nothing fancy about it, and generally archaic. His problem may also be that with the type of recruit he attracts, he's selling them on this and he also knows he'll only have so many for more than a year.

Versus a Hurley, who runs a militant symphony of actions dialed into the second. Players don't have to think as much, simply follow the script, make reads and expect an open shot by someone at the end. Meanwhile they are gassing the defense.

It's generally why Scheyer sucks at end game situations, because all he knows to do is hand the ball to his best player. Versus Hurley who runs a bunch of actions to manufacture a shot for someone.

Hurley's challenge is that it takes a couple years to learn his complicated offense, so it's not well aligned with the tip top talent of the sport that's only going to stick around for a year. His bread and butter is a multi year kid that can spend an offseason or two figuring it out. He also needs a certain level of IQ.

Hurley is essentially running a Nick Saban equivalent, Scheyer more Lincoln Riley.

 

[Catastic5]

As a relatively pro-Cal guy compared to most of this site, let me say — some of you need to move on. Cal isnt coming back. Pope era hasn’t been up to UK standards just yet, but there have been signs of hope and there have been some uncontrollable circumstances. Hope for the best and quit punishing Pope because you feel the fanbase ran off Cal. That’s not how to do things. There are genuine concerns and if it doesn’t work with Pope, everyone will be glad to start a new chapter. Until then, please understand — CAL IS NOT COMING BACK! So quit being a nuisance to your fellow fans.

Ive got a family member this was directed to more than anyone lol but still — it has relevance here.

Cal doing relatively well at Arkansas while we flounder is more of a twist of the knife than a desire of wanting him back. Cal winning the SEC tournament last year while we can’t even get to the weekend of the conference tournament was frustrating to say the least.