What happened to the Mark Pope

[Catfan in Tn.]

What happened to the Mark Pope we saw introduced at Rupp on 4/14/24?
Remember the one that after hearing him speak people were willing to run through a wall for? That fired up Mark Pope.

 

[UKortho]

He got everyone to drink the kool aid. He was excited- no doubt. We were tired of being a junior team for the G league. He was the anti Calapari. The one who promised he knew the assignment. The one who said we should be in the hunt for banners every year. He said what we all wanted because he wanted it also. When the rubber meets the road, however, this job isn’t for everyone. Actually , only a small percentage of college coach’s could make it work here. I don’t feel bad for him. He knew the risk and he was rewarded more than he should have been.

I brought this up last year and (mostly) was told I was wrong. I’ll say it again though- what tough-junkyard dog/ alpha prospect (Wall, Big Cuz) is going to be impressed by going to freaking Keenland?

 

[Anony Moose]

What happened to the Mark Pope we saw introduced at Rupp on 4/14/24?
Remember the one that after hearing him speak people were willing to run through a wall for? That fired up Mark Pope.

He actually had to start doing the job after that. And, come to find out, his resume was pretty accurate when it suggested he sucked as a coach.

UK can give you resources, but it can't magically give you coaching skills.

 

[chattanogawildcat]

Went from a B+ season to an F.

 

[Monday Nitro]

It has to be bad behind the scenes. He made all kinds of in-game and halftime adjustments last year and itsn't even trying this year. It reminds me of Cal letting them fall on their faces until they "needed him" but this is far worse. Whatever it is, I think he knows it can't be fixed by him. Oweh is a big part of it. He was supposed to be rock solid AND a leader. He's the exact opposite. Pope has to be thinking about his family and knowing they are miserable has beaten him down. He changed all their lives and is probably going to have to do it again. That's alot, almost too much for a man to take.

 

[UKortho]

It has to be bad behind the scenes. He made all kinds of in-game and halftime adjustments last year and itsn't even trying this year. It reminds me of Cal letting them fall on their faces until they "needed him" but this is far worse. Whatever it is, I think he knows it can't be fixed by him. Oweh is a big part of it. He was supposed to be rock solid AND a leader. He's the exact opposite. Pope has to be thinking about his family and knowing they are miserable has beaten him down. He changed all their lives and is probably going to have to do it again. That's alot, almost too much for a man to take.

$5MM makes it a little easier.

 

[philstat]

He’s set for life regardless of outcome and there in lies the issue with today’s sports world…

 

[buc puppet]

That PC was a mass public brainwashing

 

[UKortho]

He’s set for life regardless of outcome and there in lies the issue with today’s sports world…

Yep. Set for life- with very little effort required.

 

[Cats192]

He’s set for life regardless of outcome and there in lies the issue with today’s sports world…

Yeah, bur most CBB coaches are set for life

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

He got everyone to drink the kool aid. He was excited- no doubt. We were tired of being a junior team for the G league. He was the anti Calapari. The one who promised he knew the assignment. The one who said we should be in the hunt for banners every year. He said what we all wanted because he wanted it also. When the rubber meets the road, however, this job isn’t for everyone. Actually , only a small percentage of college coach’s could make it work here. I don’t feel bad for him. He knew the risk and he was rewarded more than he should have been.

I brought this up last year and (mostly) was told I was wrong. I’ll say it again though- what tough-junkyard dog/ alpha prospect (Wall, Big Cuz) is going to be impressed by going to freaking Keenelsnd?

Agree with the anti cal sentiment and that easy to manage company man persona is why mitch went straight to him after drew.

We swung the pendulum too far imo. Now we're not attractive destination because our system and approach doesn't focus on the next level at all. That still matters.

I disagree with your keeneland take. Keeneland is the sole unique aspect to Lexington life that other campuses won't have. Plus its a target rich environment for stud (pun intended) athletes. Especially considering these guys now all are rich, its a great stop on a recruiting visit.

 

[UKJenning]

He loves KY basketball and wants the players to play for the name on the front of the jersey like he did. Us fans want that as well. But those days are over. No matter who coaches KY, the players will never play for the name on the front of the jersey. He thought he was getting that with this group but instead we have a bunch of role players playing for themselves.

With today’s game you need to try to win the bidding war and get the most talented players out there. Two studs and 6 role players will beat a roster of 12 role players all day long.

 

[BlueVoodoux]

This is a Mark Fox team.

 

[Cats4321]

I hate to say it, but Pope acts like a guy who knows he is not cut out for this job. I can't blame him for taking the job, almost anyone would take it. He just doesn't have the resume for this type of job. I would love to be wrong though!

 

[Smeegs]

He loves KY basketball and wants the players to play for the name on the front of the jersey like he did. Us fans want that as well. But those days are over. No matter who coaches KY, the players will never play for the name on the front of the jersey. He thought he was getting that with this group but instead we have a bunch of role players playing for themselves.

With today’s game you need to try to win the bidding war and get the most talented players out there. Two studs and 6 role players will beat a roster of 12 role players all day long.

This is sadly true. And it began well before NIL. Even during the Calipari one and done era it became quite apparent that recruits were choosing us not for UK itself, but instead only because they saw it as the fastest route to NBA money.

Most of today’s players might as well just have dollar signs on the front of their jersey. That’s the team they’re truly playing for.

 

[Catlogic1552]

He’s recently looked and sounded like a broken man. There will be no coming back from this. And players aren‘t exactly lined up to play for him next year.