The difference in enthusiasm

JwUKFan11

Heisman
Nov 11, 2011
7,695
16,010
113
You're right, but the hard reality is that while the football team looks pretty good, they still probably won't make the playoffs, and then the Basketball team is just in complete disarray because we have a coach who is completely out of his element. Soon, we are going to have to invest a good amount of money in a new basketball coach.
 

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
20,693
36,967
113
You're right, but the hard reality is that while the football team looks pretty good, they still probably won't make the playoffs, and then the Basketball team is just in complete disarray because we have a coach who is completely out of his element. Soon, we are going to have to invest a good amount of money in a new basketball coach.

UK basketball wouldnt make the playoffs either if it was 12 teams.
 

MidseasonTweak

Heisman
Mar 1, 2020
11,175
19,976
113
The thing with Pope is that I fear he will not get on his guys and push them. The whole Garrison situation last year when Pope got on him good was almost certainly because Pope read a few threads or posts on RR about his coaching style - it wasn't a sincere coaching moment(s).
 

Snarks

All-American
Jan 31, 2005
8,695
7,414
93
You're right, but the hard reality is that while the football team looks pretty good, they still probably won't make the playoffs, and then the Basketball team is just in complete disarray because we have a coach who is completely out of his element. Soon, we are going to have to invest a good amount of money in a new basketball coach.
Of course UK football won’t make the playoffs. But, the fact people are even having that conversation is amazing in Steins first season.
 

Rainmaker

All-American
May 13, 2015
1,696
5,175
113
Between football and basketball is the furthest apart it’s ever been in favor of football. Stein is building a winner and Pope is going to struggle again this season.
It’s only a difference in expectations. Football being ranked at all is considered good. Basketball being outside the top 10 and anything less than final four is considered failure. Different expectations is the only difference there is and we as fans cause that.
 

bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
48,386
72,215
113
It’s only a difference in expectations. Football being ranked at all is considered good. Basketball being outside the top 10 and anything less than final four is considered failure. Different expectations is the only difference there is and we as fans cause that.
No our history caused that. Success is a two edged sword.

Bama fans wanted DeBoer gone last year. Now he’s got Bama kicking ***.
This is a huge year for Pope. It’s out up or shut up time.

He of ALL peoples knew what he was signing up for.
 

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
20,693
36,967
113
No our history caused that. Success is a two edged sword.

Bama fans wanted DeBoer gone last year. Now he’s got Bama kicking ***.
This is a huge year for Pope. It’s out up or shut up time.

He of ALL peoples knew what he was signing up for.

DeBoer is way more qualified to coach Bama football than pope is to coach uk basketball. Deboer took Washington to a national title game. Pope had a decade of losing and doing nothing but mitch thought that qualified him for the uk gig.
 

Catastic5

Senior
Sep 12, 2026
249
618
93
No our history caused that. Success is a two edged sword.

Bama fans wanted DeBoer gone last year. Now he’s got Bama kicking ***.
This is a huge year for Pope. It’s out up or shut up time.

He of ALL peoples knew what he was signing up for.
Deboer went to the SEC title game and was in the playoffs last season. Pope can’t even sniff the top half of the SEC.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
39,747
62,697
113
You're right, but the hard reality is that while the football team looks pretty good, they still probably won't make the playoffs, and then the Basketball team is just in complete disarray because we have a coach who is completely out of his element. Soon, we are going to have to invest a good amount of money in a new basketball coach.

Ill tell yah, if you can pay both coaches top dollar, perfect. But if not? And we cant get an absolute AAA-tier coach like Hurley, etc? I'd go with a young coach for cheaper (as opposed to someone like Scott Drew for $10mil) and pay Stein to make him stay.

I know its a basketball state, but I have to believe if Kentucky can make the college playoff and be somewhat of a threat, thats going to make similar money to the basketball team being in the top10. Could be wrong.
 

JwUKFan11

Heisman
Nov 11, 2011
7,695
16,010
113
Of course UK football won’t make the playoffs. But, the fact people are even having that conversation is amazing in Steins first season.
Sure, it's cool. But this is a basketball state and always will be, and these teams Pope are putting out there just aren't good enough. That needs to change. Excitement for football is fun, but we still need to be competing for championships in bball.
 
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Cliffhanger82

Freshman
Apr 11, 2024
78
96
18
You're right, but the hard reality is that while the football team looks pretty good, they still probably won't make the playoffs, and then the Basketball team is just in complete disarray because we have a coach who is completely out of his element. Soon, we are going to have to invest a good amount of money in a new basketball coach.
Who are some of the folks who may be interested in being the next coach?
 

Skyguyb27

All-American
Feb 12, 2008
5,013
8,378
113
Who are some of the folks who may be interested in being the next coach?
Not saying you, you may have asked sincerely but generally people always cry who will replace the coach. People were scared to push Stoops out and ask who would replace him now in just 6 short games later they wouldn’t take him as a water boy to this coaching staff.

There’s always someone in the distance waiting.
 

Snarks

All-American
Jan 31, 2005
8,695
7,414
93
Not saying you, you may have asked sincerely but generally people always cry who will replace the coach. People were scared to push Stoops out and ask who would replace him now in just 6 short games later they wouldn’t take him as a water boy to this coaching staff.

There’s always someone in the distance waiting.
There were still better candidates than Pope when he was hired. If we were going to roll the dice on an unproven coach, why not get a young up and comer (similar to Stein)? Instead we got an unproven coach with a proven track record whose best accomplishment was he played here.

I would have rather Mitch rolled the dice on Jai Lucas or a mid major coach who had success.

Problem is we rolled the dice once and it failed, we need a sure thing next time. I have faith Batt won’t panic like Mitch did and get a good hire.
 

Doc4UK!

All-Conference
Aug 14, 2003
2,864
1,918
113
That was not Kentucky basketball we witnessed last night. We still do not really have any idea of what we are doing on offense. Way too many turnovers and no screens set for all of these "so called" great shooters (only one I saw was Milan).

Last night, both Diallo and Wilkins look like mid-tier players and those are the two guards who are supposed to carry us this year. Williams Jr will likely be our starting PG before SEC play begins, but he is certainly not a John Wall or a De'Aaron Fox. We are left to wonder what exactly Pope's offense is and is it even effective for today's college game?.
 

UkBluePrint

Redshirt
Mar 13, 2026
57
45
18
Of course UK football won’t make the playoffs. But, the fact people are even having that conversation is amazing in Steins first season.
exactly. the fact that it's even being discussed is refreshing and unexpected. just wait a year or two when he gets the top picks. kids want to play for him which is the direct inverse of this thing known as "Pope"
 

UkBluePrint

Redshirt
Mar 13, 2026
57
45
18
Sure, it's cool. But this is a basketball state and always will be, and these teams Pope are putting out there just aren't good enough. That needs to change. Excitement for football is fun, but we still need to be competing for championships in bball.
oh i think you will be surprised at how fast that is changing. there's not been energy around the basketball program in 10 years. it's sad what has become of this program.
 
Feb 26, 2020
261
228
27
Between football and basketball is the furthest apart it’s ever been in favor of football. Stein is building a winner and Pope is going to struggle again this season.
It’s because football has never had this much enthusiasm. Social media has made it where the shiny object in front of you is the only thing that matters in a positive way. That’s how you get to where during the off-season, all yall do is talk **** about the basketball team because the basketball team is not playing games and winning games every week, so there’s no evidence against what you’re saying(none for it either). Once the season starts and we start winning games, all the **** talkers need to apologize or get off the bandwagon. We don’t want your kind ‘round here.
 

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
43,713
66,525
113
The Nancies had their say about football, as well. The idea that we would wait and see is culturally denounced. Not talking about the trolls but about the impatient self-centered Nancies who will always think the worst until the avalanche of truth smothers their whining and premature groans. The “I will gladly eat crow” cliches who know in their gut only bad is coming and don’t really want to eat crow because their misery is very important to them.

They are confused by those who don’t live in a ditch of despair calling them pollyannish and pumpers when most people are okay with the process. The process that leads to change as well as the process that leads to championships. You are only a spectator to both and all that is between. If the journey is not fun but only the standings after the games or the rankings before any games, you are a fan of image and results, not the Cats.
 

JimboBBN

Heisman
Jan 26, 2016
15,351
31,013
113
It’s because football has never had this much enthusiasm. Social media has made it where the shiny object in front of you is the only thing that matters in a positive way. That’s how you get to where during the off-season, all yall do is talk **** about the basketball team because the basketball team is not playing games and winning games every week, so there’s no evidence against what you’re saying(none for it either). Once the season starts and we start winning games, all the **** talkers need to apologize or get off the bandwagon. We don’t want your kind ‘round here.
You’re having a hard time with this and I’m sorry. Maybe cry for a minute and regather yourself.
 

BlueVelvetFog

Heisman
Apr 12, 2016
14,625
20,316
78
Sure, it's cool. But this is a basketball state and always will be, and these teams Pope are putting out there just aren't good enough. That needs to change. Excitement for football is fun, but we still need to be competing for championships in bball.
I'm all for being competitive in basketball--as long as it's not at the expense of football.
 
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JwUKFan11

Heisman
Nov 11, 2011
7,695
16,010
113
I'm all for being competitive in basketball--as long as it's not at the expense of football.
That's life. Look at the history of this school, we should be prioritizing, more than other SEC schools, the resources we are putting into basketball. Will isn't turning this into a football school, no matter how exciting it is or how much the fans want it to happen.
 

JwUKFan11

Heisman
Nov 11, 2011
7,695
16,010
113
oh i think you will be surprised at how fast that is changing. there's not been energy around the basketball program in 10 years. it's sad what has become of this program.
It won't change, people are so caught up in the moment and the excitement of these wins they actually think the tide is turning.
 
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BlueVelvetFog

Heisman
Apr 12, 2016
14,625
20,316
78
That's life. Look at the history of this school, we should be prioritizing, more than other SEC schools, the resources we are putting into basketball. Will isn't turning this into a football school, no matter how exciting it is or how much the fans want it to happen.
Glad you aren't the AD. Keep coping
 

BookofMormon

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2026
1,076
1,414
113
Between football and basketball is the furthest apart it’s ever been in favor of football. Stein is building a winner and Pope is going to struggle again this season.
Leadership matters, in companies, politics, sports. It sets all culture for an organization. Players/fans want leaders. No one believes in Pope.

I've been in big companies that switched CEO's and saw the company go from full engagement to zero overnight.

Mark Pope simply isn't a leader, he's a court jester posing as one. I'm still pulling for him despite his inevitable exit.
 
May 27, 2007
32,055
25,258
113
I dunno I'm kinda in a weird place i guess.

I don't have faith in Pope. And obviously the excitement as a whole has died down.

But then again I found myself driving two and a half hours to Rupp last night. Just like I will do on Oct 28th as well. When I there I still had excitement. Even tho I know this is probably not a title contending team.

I guess to me UK bball is still UK bballl.

And then with UK football it's like yes there's excitement. This has been a dream year so far. But what is going to really flip this thing around there is whether or not this becomes consistent.

So it's like even tho I think Stein is obviously going well and Pope not so much, I'm still not fully on board here. The SEC is tough in football (tho admitingly last few years in bball as well). I guess I'm just in a wait and see mode with both sports at the moment.
 

BookofMormon

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2026
1,076
1,414
113
I dunno I'm kinda in a weird place i guess.

I don't have faith in Pope. And obviously the excitement as a whole has died down.

But then again I found myself driving two and a half hours to Rupp last night. Just like I will do on Oct 28th as well. When I there I still had excitement. Even tho I know this is probably not a title contending team.

I guess to me UK bball is still UK bballl.

And then with UK football it's like yes there's excitement. This has been a dream year so far. But what is going to really flip this thing around there is whether or not this becomes consistent.

So it's like even tho I think Stein is obviously going well and Pope not so much, I'm still not fully on board here. The SEC is tough in football (tho admitingly last few years in bball as well). I guess I'm just in a wait and see mode with both sports at the moment.
Habit and tradition.

All it proves that any program is only as good as it's coach. The more I think about it, the more I think Oats would be the best immediate solution. If it's 2-3 years out, I've already stated my view.
 
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