This is way fans are easily disappointed

[Tim0808]

Pope leading the fans to believe that we are going to be a great shooting team. That is crap. This team will never be a consistent shooting team. They might get hot one game, but they will never have a string of good shooting nights. This is a mistake by Pope. Stop talking about what we are going to do and just go do it.
Then we win one game against an average team at best and the UK media acts like it is a win over a top 10 team.

 

[UKbrassowTipIn93]

Fans are also gullible to think you have to bomb threes to be good. Early 90s pitino ruined this fanbase bc of it and funny enough all of Rick's later career teams have been terrible at shooting.

Anyway, if they can actually run sets with purpose, get some stops, and control the glass you dont have to be bombs away.

He probably does need to quit saying it, but I guess its ome padt of the game that fams obsess over.

 

[TheAssignment9]

I can hope! I didn't think that 2014 would ever become a decent shooting team but sure enough, late in the year, we started making shots!

But you're right, I don't see it happening with this team unfortunately. We need Kam Williams to totally flip and be a super reliable, knock-down shooter and I'm not seeing it so far.

 

[Kyhoward1]

Fans are also gullible to think you have to bomb threes to be good. Early 90s pitino ruined this fanbase bc of it and funny enough all of Rick's later career teams have been terrible at shooting.

Anyway, if they can actually run sets with purpose, get some stops, and control the glass you dont have to be bombs away.

He probably does need to quit saying it, but I guess it’s ome padt of the game that fams obsess over.

“Run sets with purpose” is a great choice of words. - cut hard with a purpose, set picks with a purpose, pass and dribble with a purpose. The purpose is to score!

 

[revcort]

Well, some of the 3pt shooting is just Pope's style of play. He used it at BYU because he really didn't have much of a choice in the matter. His athletes usually couldn't compete physically with high major teams. Last year, he found out that picking a bunch of shooters leaves you vulnerable on the defensive end. You have to outscore people because you can't stop ANYONE.

So, he went out and recruited some better athletes who could defend with some strength and toughness. Problem is, they can't shoot consistently. And they're kind of fragile mentally, so when shots aren't falling, they can't make anything.

So, Pope's problem this early season is that he wants to play his 5 out offense but he doesn't have the personnel. His personnel fits more of Tubby's ball line defense teams that played low scoring affairs mostly. But Pope is no expert at coaching a defensive style. Now, he's got a couple assistants who have played a more defensive style. Mark Fox's teams played that way.

So, this current UK team's must be defense first every time out there. Start every game like they played in that 2nd half of Indiana. Max effort, after every rebound, getting turnovers, assuming every shot is a miss and offensive rebound, play like you're down 10 from the tip. Take care of the ball, shoot fewer threes- under 20, crash the boards on both ends. Hustle, scrap, scratch, fight, be physical, block shots, drive the lane, dish, kick out to open threes only, finish inside. Can Pope coach this way?

Bottom line for me: this team can't play Pope's preferred style. Gotta adjust, gotta play to their strengths. It's gonna be tough, especially against high scoring teams. Gonna get some lumps, no doubt.

 

[gbl97]

“Run sets with purpose” is a great choice of words. - cut hard with a purpose, set picks with a purpose, pass and dribble with a purpose. The purpose is to score!

I get it if they miss shots, but where is the Pope offense that generates all those good looks and backdoor layups? We even saw it in the Purdue game, then it vanished.

 

[UKCowboys]

Pope leading the fans to believe that we are going to be a great shooting team. That is crap. This team will never be a consistent shooting team. They might get hot one game, but they will never have a string of good shooting nights. This is a mistake by Pope. Stop talking about what we are going to do and just go do it.
Then we win one game against an average team at best and the UK media acts like it is a win over a top 10 team.

What is he supposed to say man? Seriously? "Yep, we suck at shooting threes and we are going to put a red light on several guys". Yeah, that will help things SMH.
Maybe he doesn't give a crap what the fans think...maybe he is talking to his team. Maybe he wants them to believe in themselves

 

[Jtf2217]

Regardless of anything else Kam being a like 10% shooter is absolutely killing us. Somewhere the law of averages has to flip and he has to start hitting everything. (Provided his 40%+ wasn't just a fluke that got him paid)
I think Kams struggles are in his form more than anything he shoots from his side of his face and naturally misses wide sometimes really wide that isn't a recipe to be a terrific shooter usually. I hope for our and Kams sake that he finds it.

 

[Anon1679859502]

This is a Calipari roster, athletic players that can’t make shots… they are missing layups just like a Calipari team

 

[TNCatfanforever]

“Run sets with purpose” is a great choice of words. - cut hard with a purpose, set picks with a purpose, pass and dribble with a purpose. The purpose is to score!

“Violent cuts”

 

[kfwa]

you would have thought against Purdue they were going to be lights out.

well...we did think that, even knowing that Purdue's coach didn't care if his team won or not.

I really belive UK's bad shooting is a combination of this team having no shot discipline and resorting to hero ball.

the latter is easier to fix than the first because you never want to tell a shooter not to take the shot, but they do have to understand the game enough to realize the probabilities.

UK *could* be a 7-21 type 3 point shooting team, but its going to take them working to be that team - and its not about working on your shot after practice at the gym, its about trusting your teammates and doing the work necessary off ball.

Against Gonzaga they didn't trust the other teammates would make a good ball decision, and it showed.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

Well, some of the 3pt shooting is just Pope's style of play. He used it at BYU because he really didn't have much of a choice in the matter. His athletes usually couldn't compete physically with high major teams. Last year, he found out that picking a bunch of shooters leaves you vulnerable on the defensive end. You have to outscore people because you can't stop ANYONE.

So, he went out and recruited some better athletes who could defend with some strength and toughness. Problem is, they can't shoot consistently. And they're kind of fragile mentally, so when shots aren't falling, they can't make anything.

So, Pope's problem this early season is that he wants to play his 5 out offense but he doesn't have the personnel. His personnel fits more of Tubby's ball line defense teams that played low scoring affairs mostly. But Pope is no expert at coaching a defensive style. Now, he's got a couple assistants who have played a more defensive style. Mark Fox's teams played that way.

So, this current UK team's must be defense first every time out there. Start every game like they played in that 2nd half of Indiana. Max effort, after every rebound, getting turnovers, assuming every shot is a miss and offensive rebound, play like you're down 10 from the tip. Take care of the ball, shoot fewer threes- under 20, crash the boards on both ends. Hustle, scrap, scratch, fight, be physical, block shots, drive the lane, dish, kick out to open threes only, finish inside. Can Pope coach this way?

Bottom line for me: this team can't play Pope's preferred style. Gotta adjust, gotta play to their strengths. It's gonna be tough, especially against high scoring teams. Gonna get some lumps, no doubt.

Great post. You pretty much summed it up

 

[AllBall]

“Violent cuts”

Guard your yard

 

[megablue]

CMP is still naively learning and adjusting to being the hunted, rather than the hunter.

 

[wildcat111]

Pope leading the fans to believe that we are going to be a great shooting team. That is crap. This team will never be a consistent shooting team. They might get hot one game, but they will never have a string of good shooting nights. This is a mistake by Pope. Stop talking about what we are going to do and just go do it.
Then we win one game against an average team at best and the UK media acts like it is a win over a top 10 team.

I was worried about shooting before the season even started. However, Pope kept telling the fans he had all of the pieces to make a run for the championship. But what really pisses me off is the lack of intensity and defense. For the first time all season, the team showed that it could defend and play inspired ball in the second half of the Indiana game. That is what won the game, not shooting. Did it take benching Garrison to get the players attention? Why didn't Pope do something earlier, like after the first loss, to get the team inspired and focused on defense? Is Pope playing like Mr, Nice Guy costing us more wins?

 

[Tim0808]

What is he supposed to say man? Seriously? "Yep, we suck at shooting threes and we are going to put a red light on several guys". Yeah, that will help things SMH.
Maybe he doesn't give a crap what the fans think...maybe he is talking to his team. Maybe he wants them to believe in themselves

Maybe that is true. However, this fan base is already unrealistic enough as it is and if Pope keeps pumping out more garbage, his time will definitely be short lived here. Just like Dickie V said, It is nice to talk a good game, but at some point you have to play a good game. This team consistently shoots more airballs than any team I have ever watched wearing the Kentucky jersey. It is not just one player either. They all shoot them because of multiple reasons. JQ might be the only one on this team that has not shot one in a game this year.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

This is a Calipari roster, athletic players that can’t make shots… they are missing layups just like a Calipari team

Calipari went to 4 final fours n 5 seasons and had 2 38 win seasons. Thus myth that Cals teams all sucked is nauseating

 

[Kentucky15]

What is he supposed to say man? Seriously? "Yep, we suck at shooting threes and we are going to put a red light on several guys". Yeah, that will help things SMH.
Maybe he doesn't give a crap what the fans think...maybe he is talking to his team. Maybe he wants them to believe in themselves

Pope is spending the majority of the time talking to his team but he’s been consistently saying things to the fans too. My college baseball coach would always talk to us through his radio show, we’d listen and know when it was happening. They’re listening.

I think those years doing that amped me to hear it. Pope spoke to the fans last post game about Oweh. He said “and Oweh, well” and cut it on purpose. He’s been trying to tell us there’s a problem.

But most of the time he’s talking to his players. I don’t have an issue with that, but he’s gaslighting fans so I just stopped listening. Hearing him try and convince everyone that Mitch is wonderful, I’ll just let him have it and maybe it’ll help the team over time.

 

[akaukswoosh]

I can hope! I didn't think that 2014 would ever become a decent shooting team but sure enough, late in the year, we started making shots!

But you're right, I don't see it happening with this team unfortunately. We need Kam Williams to totally flip and be a super reliable, knock-down shooter and I'm not seeing it so far.

There's room for improvement on this team. Mo right now is hitting an amazingly awful 9 percent of his 3s. He shot exceedingly better last year. I expect him to shoot better here this season.
I will say it wouldn't bother me one bit if Lowe doesn't jack up another 3. He does not have a shooter's touch.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

This is a poorly coached team. It does nothing with purpose.

offense or defense.

No individual instruction that’s evident.

And no motivation to just outwork the opponent

 

[theKybluedude]

Calipari went to 4 final fours n 5 seasons and had 2 38 win seasons. Thus myth that Cals teams all sucked is nauseating

Even with those seasons I think most fans felt Cal underachieved over his time at UK

 

[UKCowboys]

Maybe that is true. However, this fan base is already unrealistic enough as it is and if Pope keeps pumping out more garbage, his time will definitely be short lived here. Just like Dickie V said, It is nice to talk a good game, but at some point you have to play a good game. This team consistently shoots more airballs than any team I have ever watched wearing the Kentucky jersey. It is not just one player either. They all shoot them because of multiple reasons. JQ might be the only one on this team that has not shot one in a game this year.

You may be right...but maybe its the toxic side of the fanbase that should look in the mirror...I kind of doubt that we have ever lost out on a Donovan or Wright or Hurley because they didn't think we would pay them the most. And I don't think some recruits choose to pass on UK when we invest the money we do because Pope can't recruit. Maybe, other coaches look at what Cal did here and the horrible way not only Cal, but his family were ripped here, despite all the good the man did in the community and on the court. Maybe other coaches look at Pope taking over an empty roster, going to a sweet 16 year one, then being without 3 starters most of the season, has half the base calling for his head. Pope, a UK guy who LOVES UK, who is everything all the Cal haters said they wanted in a coach, and he gets 4 losses before they turn on him? Maybe players see JQ trying to rehab to get back on the court and being accused of faking injury, or see Lowe miss a few games and being called a coward or ***** for not playing against NC Central. Maybe a lot of coaches and players just say why the Hell would I coach or play there now

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I do think our looks will be better as the team plays more. Space will open up, the right players will get minutes. Will we ever be a great 3pt shooting team, probably not. But I think we can be a good deal better once we get healthy and start to figure things out. JQ coming back might very well do that as teams will have to focus on him.

Whats annoying though is just how slow we are to actually get going. This should have been figured out months ago. But whatever.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

You may be right...but maybe its the toxic side of the fanbase that should look in the mirror...I kind of doubt that we have ever lost out on a Donovan or Wright or Hurley because they didn't think we would pay them the most. And I don't think some recruits choose to pass on UK when we invest the money we do because Pope can't recruit. Maybe, other coaches look at what Cal did here and the horrible way not only Cal, but his family were ripped here, despite all the good the man did in the community and on the court. Maybe other coaches look at Pope taking over an empty roster, going to a sweet 16 year one, then being without 3 starters most of the season, has half the base calling for his head. Pope, a UK guy who LOVES UK, who is everything all the Cal haters said they wanted in a coach, and he gets 4 losses before they turn on him? Maybe players see JQ trying to rehab to get back on the court and being accused of faking injury, or see Lowe miss a few games and being called a coward or ***** for not playing against NC Central. Maybe a lot of coaches and players just say why the Hell would I coach or play there now

Him loving UK has NOTHING to do with him being able to coach here. My neighbor Mort is the biggest fan you'll find and no one's asking him to coach.

 

[UKCowboys]

Him loving UK has NOTHING to do with him being able to coach here. My neighbor Mort is the biggest fan you'll find and no one's asking him to coach.

MP is a little more qualified than Mort as well bud...

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

MP is a little more qualified than Mort as well bud...

Debatable. You don't know Mort.

Based on these injuries, we need a new medical staff as well. May I recommend my physician, Dr. Vinnie Boombatz?

 

[HogCoyote]

I get it if they miss shots, but where is the Pope offense that generates all those good looks and backdoor layups? We even saw it in the Purdue game, then it vanished.

If you're going through the motions and whiffing on every screen and not playing connected on offense those things can't come.

 

[UKCowboys]

Debatable. You don't know Mort.

Based on these injuries, we need a new medical staff as well. May I recommend my physician, Dr. Vinnie Boombatz?

Ha, the sad part is, I can only be half certain you are kidding...some here are stupid enough to believe that

 

[Tim0808]

You may be right...but maybe its the toxic side of the fanbase that should look in the mirror...I kind of doubt that we have ever lost out on a Donovan or Wright or Hurley because they didn't think we would pay them the most. And I don't think some recruits choose to pass on UK when we invest the money we do because Pope can't recruit. Maybe, other coaches look at what Cal did here and the horrible way not only Cal, but his family were ripped here, despite all the good the man did in the community and on the court. Maybe other coaches look at Pope taking over an empty roster, going to a sweet 16 year one, then being without 3 starters most of the season, has half the base calling for his head. Pope, a UK guy who LOVES UK, who is everything all the Cal haters said they wanted in a coach, and he gets 4 losses before they turn on him? Maybe players see JQ trying to rehab to get back on the court and being accused of faking injury, or see Lowe miss a few games and being called a coward or ***** for not playing against NC Central. Maybe a lot of coaches and players just say why the Hell would I coach or play there now

I agree that some coaches do not come here because of the pressure of the fans, I agree that some recruits do not come here because of the pressure, and I agree we have unrealistic fans. However, that does not excuse the mistake of comparing this team to the 1996 team, saying this team is going to be a great shooting team and continure to talk about how this team is good to be really good and is going to make this fan base proud, when they can not compete with top 25 teams. My point is stop all the talking and go wins some ball games. Talk about what you did after the season, not what you are going to do during the season.
And yes he cares about what the fans think, or he would not be sucking up to them every chance he gets. Bill Curry was a great guy too, but not the right football coach for this program. A high level confident, competitive coach will take this job. Examples are Rupp, Hall, Sutton, Pitino, Smith, Cal.

 

[UKCowboys]

I agree that some coaches do not come here because of the pressure of the fans, I agree that some recruits do not come here because of the pressure, and I agree we have unrealistic fans. However, that does not excuse the mistake of comparing this team to the 1996 team, saying this team is going to be a great shooting team and continure to talk about how this team is good to be really good and is going to make this fan base proud, when they can not compete with top 25 teams. My point is stop all the talking and go wins some ball games. Talk about what you did after the season, not what you are going to do during the season.
And yes he cares about what the fans think, or he would not be sucking up to them every chance he gets. Bill Curry was a great guy too, but not the right football coach for this program. A high level confident, competitive coach will take this job. Examples are Rupp, Hall, Sutton, Pitino, Smith, Cal.

Here is the thing...I guarantee you, Mark doesn't want to do the show, like most coaches he would rather be working or spending time with the media. Mark strikes me as an intelligent, positive guy, and pretty much incapable of lying. So he is going to say what he believes the team can be or hopes they can become

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

Mark strikes me as an intelligent, positive guy, and pretty much incapable of lying.

Where are you getting that?

 

[RunninRichie]

Where are you getting that?

He's been totally sold by a coach. That he can't see the forest from the trees. The UK program is Mark Pope, not Mark Pope is coaching the PROGRAM.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

He's been totally sold by a coach. That he can't see the forest from the trees. The UK program is Mark Pope, not Mark Pope is coaching the PROGRAM.

That's such a wild take about a guy who has lied in basically every interview he's given this season

 

[RunninRichie]

That's such a wild take about a guy who has lied in basically every interview he's given this season

Calipari had fans on here, saying it was actually smart to bring your two best guards off the bench for "spark plugs".

It's what happens when you get sold on a personality.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

Calipari had fans on here, saying it was actually smart to bring your two best guards off the bench for "spark plugs".

It's what happens when you get sold on a personality.

He called Rob and Reed our spark plugs, but he treated them more like butt plugs

 

[Possum]

I can hope! I didn't think that 2014 would ever become a decent shooting team but sure enough, late in the year, we started making shots!

But you're right, I don't see it happening with this team unfortunately. We need Kam Williams to totally flip and be a super reliable, knock-down shooter and I'm not seeing it so far.

This

 

[UKCowboys]

Where are you getting that?

Just strikes me as a straight up, honest dude. I think if he has any "weakness" as a recruiter, its that he won't guarantee HS kids starting roles. He gets bashed on here for that, which is really kinda funny, since most of the people criticizing him are the same ones who ripped Cal for promising the DJ Wagners of the world starting jobs and sticking to it

 

[Possum]

Pope leading the fans to believe that we are going to be a great shooting team. That is crap. This team will never be a consistent shooting team. They might get hot one game, but they will never have a string of good shooting nights. This is a mistake by Pope. Stop talking about what we are going to do and just go do it.
Then we win one game against an average team at best and the UK media acts like it is a win over a top 10 team.

When our point guard is back in rhythm and our starting Center can operate, our offense will open up and we’ll be able to shoot the ball under less than stressful situations that we’ve been shooting from thus far. Hopefully that will transform into better shooting percentages. One can hope.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

Just strikes me as a straight up, honest dude. I think if he has any "weakness" as a recruiter, its that he won't guarantee HS kids starting roles. He gets bashed on here for that, which is really kinda funny, since most of the people criticizing him are the same ones who ripped Cal for promising the DJ Wagners of the world starting jobs and sticking to it

He doesn't make promises to star HS players on recruiting visits, but I guarantee he made promises to Chandler. All coaches play favorites to some degree.
Cal just made a miscalculation by hitching his horse to DJ Wagner