The REAL Problem

[TuesdayBoost]

UCLA's last title was 1995.

I wonder if UCLA claims to be the best program in the nation from all those championships back in the day like UK does.

 

[KYWC36]

The "Real Problem" is this is Kentucky basketball. This is/was a special program with a historical legacy of excellence and top tier recognition in the world of college basketball. Other teams feared to play us and in away games this was the most special game of the season for that opponent on their home court. To beat us was an upset. Not only was the fan following with meaningful impact existing for the State of Kentucky but also nationally. Players at Kentucky were elite and expectations were always to provide an excellence on the court. Kentucky was recognized as a Blue Blood program with the most wins of any college program. Now it is all gone.

I was excited by Pope when he arrived. However, retrospectively, I now understand based upon what I just described above to be an elite team and program takes an elite coach and players. Cal lost his interest and became stubborn more focused on getting his favorites to the NBA than winning games. So, when he left to be elite would have taken a hire of an elite nature. Cal in his last several years definitely hurt the program so there was this opportunity with him gone to recapture what had been lost. It didn't happen. Kentucky winning a game or two in the NCAA tourney is nothing. Kentucky similar to Duke should be the elite program in the SEC attracting the very best of the best. Again that is all lost. That's the real problem. Is there a solution at all? if so, whom?

Kentucky was losing it's mystic long before Pope came along. Cal hadn't made it past the round of 32 in 5 years but you're right in your premise, in this college landscape we aren't what we once were

 

[RunninRichie]

What really would be realistic options if Pope was fired or resigned? If Pearl turned it down, who’s next? Oats had baggage, Golden has baggage. Why would Loyd leave Arizona? Would seem like a lateral move and he seems like more of a west coast guy.
If I was AD and struck out on big names, I would go with an up and coming coach that was a little younger and had fire and intensity.
My top choice in that category right now would be Bucky McMillan at Tex A&M.
He coach’s a style and system very similar to a 90’s Pitino style of play except he’s a southern guy. Very fun and exciting basketball. Rupp Arena would be rocking.
Currently in first place in the SEC in his first year. Won their rivalry game against Texas @ Texas.
Has an impressive early background, probably most remembered for taking Kansas to the wire in NCAA tournament as Samford coach but here is an excerpt from Wikipedia about his High School coaching accomplishments before taking over at Samford.

“He won three 7A basketball championships, two 6A basketball championships for Mountain Brook.[4] He coached the Spartans to two championship runner-ups, seven final four appearances, 10 regional appearances and nine area titles.[1]

in 2018, McMillan was named the national Boys Basketball Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association after the team finished 34-3. He's the first Alabama coach to win the national honor from the NHSCA.[5] McMillan was named the coach of the 2019 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.[3] He was the USA Today's Alabama Coach of the Year in 2019. In 2020, Mountain Brook was ranked 13th in the top 25 public high school basketball programs in the United States over the previous ten years.[2] He finished 333-74 in twelve seasons at Mountain Brook, averaging nearly 28 wins per season.”

Grant McCasland. Iowa State coach.

 

[CutNets]

I think it's all about how the "decision makers" view the injuries that Pope has had to deal with. On the one hand its "well Pope hasn't had a team at full strength all season. For 2 seasons actually". On the other hand its "but should that constitute a 25 point loss at Vandy"? So the real questions is, what should the expectation for the rest of the season be given the current roster? And is Pope meeting that or currently coming up short? What is fair in regards to injuries?


I don't think under any circumstance should we lose to any team by 25, ever. Im not saying that i would cut Pope any slack over injuries, but I think its just the perfect excuse that Mitch would utilize to give Pope another year even if we lose every remaining game on the schedule by double-digits.

 

[Hoskins91_rivals]

The real problem is Mitch. When Cal left, he didn't do a real coaching search. Hurley wasn't coming here for any amount of money. Pearl would have taken the job in a second, and I believe, would have had early Cal level success, but he wasn't even considered. It was Drew, who rejected us, with a fallback of Pope. I think a lot of you don't realize that if Pooe is fired before MB, the odds are very slim that you get the coach you want, and very high you get someone worse than Pope and yes, thats possible

Wow, you finally acknowledge he might not be the guy. Thats real growth.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

I can’t see any scenario where this team makes the NCAA unless they do an actual 180 in the next 4 weeks. Their schedule is brutal for a team that still has no consistency. If they don’t make the tournament after Pope built this team up to be the banner hangers of #9, his seat will be so hot he would be able to catch his breath. Zero players for next year would kill him also. He might get another year but if so it’s just a PR move by Mitch.

 

[UKCowboys]

Wow, you finally acknowledge he might not be the guy. Thats real growth.

I have always acknowledged that if you will go through my posts. I always wanted Pearl. The thing is, we hired the man. He did a great job year one considering when he started, what he had on the roster when he arrived, and the injuries his team had last year. This year he is struggling, but in fairness, they are ravaged with injuries, which means they are going to get thumped by good teams on the road sometimes. That said, half of an injury riddled season is not enough to fire the man for anyone rational

 

[MonsterMash79]

Definitely Mitch’s fault but doesn’t help that Mark can’t recruit for **** .. Marks the coach and coaches get a hold of their team. Mark handpicked these players and created this Jerry Springer esc team And if it’s true that he got these players because “ there weren’t any left “ then it furthermore shows he can’t recruit, because there were hella left, he just can’t close .. That’s just my opinion though, who knows ..

 

[Jaime Chitwood]

I think it's all about how the "decision makers" view the injuries that Pope has had to deal with. On the one hand its "well Pope hasn't had a team at full strength all season. For 2 seasons actually". On the other hand its "but should that constitute a 25 point loss at Vandy"? So the real questions is, what should the expectation for the rest of the season be given the current roster? And is Pope meeting that or currently coming up short? What is fair in regards to injuries?


I don't think under any circumstance should we lose to any team by 25, ever. Im not saying that i would cut Pope any slack over injuries, but I think its just the perfect excuse that Mitch would utilize to give Pope another year even if we lose every remaining game on the schedule by double-digits.

The injuries do not excuse the fact that the entire team has quit on the coach and his staff.