The latest intel on No. 1 overall recruit Tyran Stokes

[kyjeff1]

Pope wasn't allowed to bring players with him? He wasn't allowed to flip recruits?

Oh...wait... he could!!!
I would have to go back and look them all up, but I'll be happy to. However, off the top of my head,
Duke had Scion James leave the game injured and their 2 best freshman get cramps. Who was leading game then those things happened?

Lol, wasn't Fland out injured for Arky almost all year? Guess that's not an excuse? Yet they still pounded us.

For every good win we had a bad loss. And many of our good wins were the product of other teams situations. Sorry the truth stings, bud.

You're making excuses for other teams, but not applying that same logic to UK. You're weak minded.

Here's something you might not understand, Arkansas got better the second Boogie Fland got injured and if you now look at Florida, who has Fland as it’s starting pg, they already have 4 losses. Who's the common denominator? Cal had 10 times the talent and had a worse season, you can't deny that.

Where did I say Pope "wasn’t allowed to bring recruits with him"??? I never said that. He brought 1 and until the wrist injury, Robinson was one of our best 5 players.

 

[kyjeff1]

I was about to say the same thing. He has Cal as coach of the year with 14 losses, but wants Mark out of here with 12 lol. I think this fella has the same Arkansas outfit Reed was sporting...

Yeah, I'm trying to figure out how 14 losses and an 11 seed is a great accomplishment and somehow 12 losses and a 3 seed, with 15 top 25 wins and a sweet 16, is somehow awful at the same time.

I really like Pope as a person, but unfortunately, I don't think he is the right guy for this job. However, what he did last year, was amazing.

Again, this isn’t a video game.

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

Pope is the worst UK recruiter of all time.

I can totally understand elite ball dominant guards not wanting to play for him and said as much when he was hired. Why would they want to play in a system where they don't initiate the offense?

I just assumed that would get offset by having a line of elite bigs wanting to play for him. Bigs want to be on the perimeter and show those skills, and no offense does that better. Amari literally played pg a chunk of the season.

The fact he couldn't get those bigs last cycle was a giant red flag. Now hes changing his offense to better recruit and we're just going to get nobody and it doesn't look good for the future.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

I can totally understand elite ball dominant guards not wanting to play for him and said as much when he was hired. Why would they want to play in a system where they don't initiate the offense?

I just assumed that would get offset by having a line of elite bigs wanting to play for him. Bigs want to be on the perimeter and show those skills, and no offense does that better. Amari literally played pg a chunk of the season.

The fact he couldn't get those bigs last cycle was a giant red flag. Now hes changing his offense to better recruit and we're just going to get nobody and it doesn't look good for the future.

Same. I’m wondering if Pope missing on so many targets has gotten into his head. Maybe that also has something to do with this teams lack of focus. Maybe Pope is going crazy a little? Maybe the jobs to big for him?

As bad as I want him to be our guy I’m afraid he isn’t. This isn’t a program that allows coaches to learn on the fly. So confusing even from the first day we hired him. We all knew. But we were forced to give him a chance.

IMO the chance should be over after this year. I don’t see this season getting turned around. JQ isn’t gonna close that 35 point gap difference we had against Gonzaga.

 

[Anony Moose]

Arkansas got better when Fland got injured.
That team lost 14 games, one of them was to an awful South Carolina team by 30. They were an 11 seed, we were a 3. Who had the better season?

It's funny, you're bragging about Arkansas having 14 losses, but totally crapping on UK, who had 12 with a tougher SOS. They finished 9th, we finished 6th. Why was UK a 3 seed and Arkansas an 11?

Compare BYU's schedule to the one we played last year. Then they lost to Alabama by 25 and they had a full roster.

Again, I know Pope is not the right guy for this job, he's in over hus head, but you look foolish trying to brag about Arkansas and BYU, who didn’t do as well as UK, while trying to make it seem like UK was awful.

Lol, arky lost 10 games from the time Boogie went out. They literally lost the game he was injured and the next two. Did they eventually figure it out? You could argue that, but then they also did make a run to the sw16 i the tournament when he came back, with a legit shot at an E8.

Where did I brag about Arkansas having 14 losses? It was awful! However, the point was it wasn't that far off from UKs total and they finished at the same spot in both tournaments. Although, arky had a much better shot at an e8 and was nesting higher seeded teams. We didn't.

But BYU hired their coach after we did. So he had less time, still played a solid schedule and finished 3rd in likely the 2nd/3rd best conference. Still made the sw 16 right? That negates that ******** excuse about Pope.

Lol, you look foolish for thinking I am bragging about either of them. I am literally using them to point out major flaws in your logic and arguments.

 

[Anon1679859502]

Pope has lost the fan base for the most part. Recruits know his days are numbered here unfortunately so he can’t fix this

 

[Anony Moose]

You're making excuses for other teams, but not applying that same logic to UK. You're weak minded.

Here's something you might not understand, Arkansas got better the second Boogie Fland got injured and if you now look at Florida, who has Fland as it’s starting pg, they already have 4 losses. Who's the common denominator? Cal had 10 times the talent and had a worse season, you can't deny that.

Where did I say Pope "wasn’t allowed to bring recruits with him"??? I never said that. He brought 1 and until the wrist injury, Robinson was one of our best 5 players.

I'm applying your logic, so if it's making excuses when I do it...

If they got better the 2nd he got hurt, how did they lose that game and the next 2, plus 7 more times?

You think UF might have regressed after losing several players from a NC team? Lulz

So that's on Pope. Why did so many former players and recruits not want to follow him?

 

[Anon1679859502]

You guys realize Rutgers had two lottery picks on their team last season, and missed the tournament. Calipari had five 5 star recruits on the 20-21 roster, and went 9-16.

Pope just over estimated this particularly roster. Hopefully he learns from it.

I do agree you need one dominant player every year, but, weren’t we all thinking that Oweh was that guy? And if JQ got healthy, he would be another dominant type of player?

Coaching matters as well. If you can’t coach it doesn’t matter who is on your roster

 

[UKCowboys]

Yeah, I'm trying to figure out how 14 losses and an 11 seed is a great accomplishment and somehow 12 losses and a 3 seed, with 15 top 25 wins and a sweet 16, is somehow awful at the same time.

I really like Pope as a person, but unfortunately, I don't think he is the right guy for this job. However, what he did last year, was amazing.

Again, this isn’t a video game.

I think he is the right guy and you don't, I totally respect it. But the guys on here calling for his head and even worse, the several that are trying to act like he did a poor job year one, when reality is that he had a great year all things considered, are the folks I have beef with

 

[Anony Moose]

I think he is the right guy and you don't, I totally respect it. But the guys on here calling for his head and even worse, the several that are trying to act like he did a poor job year one, when reality is that he had a great year all things considered, are the folks I have beef with

Your satire is good stuff!

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

Same. I’m wondering if Pope missing on so many targets has gotten into his head. Maybe that also has something to do with this teams lack of focus. Maybe Pope is going crazy a little? Maybe the jobs to big for him?

As bad as I want him to be our guy I’m afraid he isn’t. This isn’t a program that allows coaches to learn on the fly. So confusing even from the first day we hired him. We all knew. But we were forced to give him a chance.

IMO the chance should be over after this year. I don’t see this season getting turned around. JQ isn’t gonna close that 35 point gap difference we had against Gonzaga.

He might be pressing. Not sure. Jmo its the mid major perception of his offense. Talented prospects dont want to pass and cut because it doesn't display their nba readiness. That's jmo.

 

[Bill_the_cat]

I felt that Tipton quietly told us UK has backed of of Stokes since the recent incidents. It wasn’t explicitly said so you can go back to his thread and review it.

I think a lot of teams began reevaluating his worth, thus the Vandy option. Kansas appears to be the only team remaining from the recruiting cycle.

 

[Bill_the_cat]

Stokes is over. Tipton all but said it. He’s not going to be definitive. Not how this works. But stokes is over. We can say it’s all about his negative side but that side has always been there. Mark is in a bad spot. Next year would have been better for this to happen. This is just about the worst time to have this kind of fallout. I don’t totally blame him, it’s a culmination of 3 issues taking place all at the same time. But it’s his show.

The Un-Perfect Storm

 

[20MRoster]

Nobody predicted the SEC to he as strong as it was. The predictions are nothing more than a guess and not one single person thought the SEC was going to be the best conference of all time. Coming in 6th with the injuries, after starting with no roster and no recruits, in that conference, is a heck of an accomplishment.

I get everyone being down on Pope, but you're just weak minded if you can't even give the guy credit for what he did last year. Y'all act like this is a video game, it's not

We are giving Pope credit. A 6th place SEC and S16 usually gets you an F at UK. WE're giving him a B because of the big wins and considering the hand he was dealt. Probably giving him more credit than he deserves, TBH, as it looks more and more like the comebacks and hot streaks in 2024 were more from Brea + Jax getting hot and being elite shooters and not from anything Pope did.

 

[mdluk1]

I still support Pope but he needs to make a statement explaining the nil mess. He needs to tell us why we are missing on so many targets.

When he first came, he said he wanted to be held accountable if we weren’t meeting expectations. Well Mark, it’s time to face the fans and tell us what is happening.

 

[BarefootBeach]

Pope has lost the fan base for the most part. Recruits know his days are numbered here unfortunately so he can’t fix this

You are truly a

 

[Joe Tipton]

Thanks for all the good work you do!

appreciate it! love what I do

 

[Joe Tipton]

USC and Duke are the assumed leaders.

BYU very deep in there also. Louisville trying as well

 

[Joe Tipton]

It's probably a stupid question, but are Collins and Stokes waiting to see if this JMI crap gets ironed? The optimistic side of me thinks they may just be waiting to see if UK does anything to straighten this out. Or most likely we are just going to whiff on them both regardless.

don't think they're waiting on Kentucky to fix it tbh

 

[Joe Tipton]

Are we trending with anyone?

not currently, to my knowledge

 

[Tprinceuk]

not currently, to my knowledge

So basically we're out on Collins and Stokes.

 

[Anon1759768907]

not currently, to my knowledge

does the fact that we might not have anyone in the 26' class signal anything about popes future

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

don't think they're waiting on Kentucky to fix it tbh

Joe, do you think we are basically tanked for the next 15 years if everything stays exactly the way it is now with JMI and their contract? Even assuming we change coaches. This is what it sounds like to me.

 

[ConnorR]

not currently, to my knowledge

lmao but Pope thinks Kentucky is in such a great spot right now.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

lmao but Pope thinks Kentucky is in such a great spot right now.

Imagine Pope went in the press conference and took a dump on the NIL situation —- that would make it even harder to get guys. He’s a coach and he’s gotta be smarter than that —- no idea why anyone would expect to say anything other than what he did.

 

[ukfan042]

not currently, to my knowledge

So where does UK go from here and do you see it getting any better?

 

[OleTiredBum]

So where does UK go from here and do you see it getting any better?

 

[Beatle Bum]

As bad as UK has played in big games, Perry would not be a factor for this team. Heck, is not much of a factor for Ole Miss. Maybe he becomes serviceable, but if he thought he deserved more time from Pope, he is delusional. I suspect he knows he was a bench fan favorite guy for his career at UK and left for more money and a chance to be something more.

 

[Joe Tipton]

So basically we're out on Collins and Stokes.

don't think they're fully out on Collins and Stokes, but they're definitely not trending for them anymore. at least not currently

 

[Woodrow24]

don't think they're fully out on Collins and Stokes, but they're definitely not trending for them anymore. at least not currently

I hope that changes. Thanks for the info

 

[Bill_the_cat]

does the fact that we might not have anyone in the 26' class signal anything about popes future

No, it signals a shift in recruiting methodology.
In the past a coach was willing to take chance a player ranked in the 70s, 80s,… Now coaches know they can get an equal or better player by taking that Junior/Senior transfer.
There is no more idea of getting a young player and expecting them to grow with the program andwait their turn.

 

[Anon1759768907]

No, it signals a shift in recruiting methodology.
In the past a coach was willing to take chance a player ranked in the 70s, 80s,… Now coaches know they can get an equal or better player by taking that Junior/Senior transfer.
There is no more idea of getting a young player and expecting them to grow with the program andwait their turn.

so we just arent going to BUILD a program anymore???

 

[Jonnyuk]

don't think they're fully out on Collins and Stokes, but they're definitely not trending for them anymore. at least not currently

Really killing the vibes lately Joe. Not that they were good to begin with.

 

[Bill_the_cat]

so we just arent going to BUILD a program anymore???

For starters we have not built a program since Tubby left. We were a OAD school.
But no I do not think any is building anymore. It is 1 or 2 years of mercenary hires.

 

[Anon1759768907]

For starters we have not built a program since Tubby left. We were a OAD school.
But no I do not think any is building anymore. It is 1 or 2 years of mercenary hires.

well its different if you are getting studs who leave to go into the nba, im not saying reload with a bunch oc those guys 99% of programs build with a mix of freshman returnees and transfer guys, without one of those three you are doing something wrong, a team with no returnees isnt good, a team with no freshman isnt good, and a team with no transfer guys isnt good

 

[Anon1751561414]

don't think they're fully out on Collins and Stokes, but they're definitely not trending for them anymore. at least not currently

Yes or no...Will UK get one of Collins and Stokes

 

[Supafuzz75]

Last year was last year.. He has exactly 1.5 years to get to a final 4.. And if going into next year has a sh!tty looking recruiting class,, I'd be ok cutting ties between end of this year and start of next..

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Yes or no...Will UK get one of Collins and Stokes

No

 

[kyjeff1]

Lol, arky lost 10 games from the time Boogie went out. They literally lost the game he was injured and the next two. Did they eventually figure it out? You could argue that, but then they also did make a run to the sw16 i the tournament when he came back, with a legit shot at an E8.

Where did I brag about Arkansas having 14 losses? It was awful! However, the point was it wasn't that far off from UKs total and they finished at the same spot in both tournaments. Although, arky had a much better shot at an e8 and was nesting higher seeded teams. We didn't.

But BYU hired their coach after we did. So he had less time, still played a solid schedule and finished 3rd in likely the 2nd/3rd best conference. Still made the sw 16 right? That negates that ******** excuse about Pope.

Lol, you look foolish for thinking I am bragging about either of them. I am literally using them to point out major flaws in your logic and arguments.

Again, UK had the much tougher schedule and Pope started with nothing.

Cal brought several players from UK, highly rated players and he also brought most of his highly rated recruiting class and Pope had, by far, the better season.

Go back through your posts, you're trying to tell us Arkansas, with 14 losses, did better than Pope did.

I get it, you don't like Pope as UK's coach, but you are weak minded if you can't even give him credit for what he did last year. It also tells me you have no clue hiw hard it is to do what he did.

 

[kyjeff1]

I'm applying your logic, so if it's making excuses when I do it...

If they got better the 2nd he got hurt, how did they lose that game and the next 2, plus 7 more times?

You think UF might have regressed after losing several players from a NC team? Lulz

So that's on Pope. Why did so many former players and recruits not want to follow him?

Arkansas was a mess when Boogie was playing. He got hurt, they immediately started improving. He was/is a streetballer, which is why Florida is struggling right now.

But it's funny how you find the silver lining for Arkansas, but everything Pope did last year was garbage in your world.