Whats gonna get you guys up next year

[Anon1759768907]

If pope is our coach next year it means two thing

1. we very likely wont have any 5 or 4 or maybe even ANY incoming freshman next year, so we most likely will have to buy a new team, even if a couple stay

2. We will likely have another portal heavy team, which has proven to not work so far

 

[Snarks]

I would say last year the portal team worked.

Year 1 - decent
Year 2 - awful
Year 3- will decide his fate

 

[Anon1759768907]

I would say last year the portal team worked.

Year 1 - decent
Year 2 - awful
Year 3- will decide his fate

i mean worked as in won 2 games in march madness

its not like we sat the world on fire last year lol we had 12 losses and a ton of blowouts

 

[wildcatsincebirth]

If we miss the tourney and don’t have any elite recruits (we won’t) there’s not really any reason to have any hope in next year, sad to say. He just failed in too many ways. Many of us would lose our jobs if we failed as completely as he has this year.

last year was fun at times but we lost 12 games. Cal had hurt us in the tourney so many times that we were happy just to finally make the sweet 16 but in my opinion pope doesn’t get grace to be this bad based on last year. He would have had to make a final four for that.

he currently has a worse record than Billy G did at this point in their respective second seasons. Beyond that his handling of the media and the players attitudes and effort being questionable, it’s all just too much to excuse.

so I think we are in for a very long 15 months because Mitch is NOT going to fire him no matter how bad this gets this year.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

I was gonna simply say Bruce Pearl until you said Pope would be the coach.

 

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

Not gonna watch or pay attention if Pope is the coach next year. He has zapped the fun out of UK basketball.

 

[MegaBlue05]

If we miss the tourney and don’t have any elite recruits (we won’t) there’s not really any reason to have any hope in next year, sad to say. He just failed in too many ways. Many of us would lose our jobs if we failed as completely as he has this year.

last year was fun at times but we lost 12 games. Cal had hurt us in the tourney so many times that we were happy just to finally make the sweet 16 but in my opinion pope doesn’t get grace to be this bad based on last year. He would have had to make a final four for that.

he currently has a worse record than Billy G did at this point in their respective second seasons. Beyond that his handling of the media and the players attitudes and effort being questionable, it’s all just too much to excuse.

so I think we are in for a very long 15 months because Mitch is NOT going to fire him no matter how bad this gets this year.

Exactly this.

Hoping for improvement is about all we have until next offseason, and hope is an awful plan.

 

[Anon470511]

Football

 

[Blue Jesus]

If pope is our coach next year it means two thing

1. we very likely wont have any 5 or 4 or maybe even ANY incoming freshman next year, so we most likely will have to buy a new team, even if a couple stay

2. We will likely have another portal heavy team, which has proven to not work so far

The worst and best thing Pope has going for him is this team is clearly not well suited for him. That's the worst because obviously this season sucks so far. But it's really the best case for optimism next year--go back to a style of play you know how to coach, get shooters, and try to save your job.

 

[Anon1759768907]

The worst and best thing Pope has going for him is this team is clearly not well suited for him. That's the worst because obviously this season sucks so far. But it's really the best case for optimism next year--go back to a style of play you know how to coach, get shooters, and try to save your job.

well i think the next year part of it is the worst part bc of how bad the recruiting is

 

[CoffeeCat]

Raunchy Porn

 

[Artlaibesghost]

Football

That's not going to be any good either. Stein will need at least 2 years to rebuild plus schedule is a MONSTER next year for football

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

Anybody besides Barnhart as AD and anyone besides Pope as coach.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

If pope is our coach next year it means two thing

1. we very likely wont have any 5 or 4 or maybe even ANY incoming freshman next year, so we most likely will have to buy a new team, even if a couple stay

2. We will likely have another portal heavy team, which has proven to not work so far

Nothing honestly, this staff sucks at player evaluation or they can’t get a single player they actually want to run a system. Even if they do can they coach them or get them to work as a team? I don’t think so.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

If we miss the tourney and don’t have any elite recruits (we won’t) there’s not really any reason to have any hope in next year, sad to say. He just failed in too many ways. Many of us would lose our jobs if we failed as completely as he has this year.

last year was fun at times but we lost 12 games. Cal had hurt us in the tourney so many times that we were happy just to finally make the sweet 16 but in my opinion pope doesn’t get grace to be this bad based on last year. He would have had to make a final four for that.

he currently has a worse record than Billy G did at this point in their respective second seasons. Beyond that his handling of the media and the players attitudes and effort being questionable, it’s all just too much to excuse.

so I think we are in for a very long 15 months because Mitch is NOT going to fire him no matter how bad this gets this year.

I wish people would not go to games. Eat the cost and get this staff out of here please. It will be terrible watching this for 15 more months. Kansas is going to have a 20 game lead after 2 years.

 

[DrGlock]

Raunchy Porn

Hello, fellow man of culture

 

[UKBB4Ever]

The worst and best thing Pope has going for him is this team is clearly not well suited for him. That's the worst because obviously this season sucks so far. But it's really the best case for optimism next year--go back to a style of play you know how to coach, get shooters, and try to save your job.

This is his style. No preparation. No individual instruction. No motivation.

Next season will have no high level recruits, freshmen or portal, and who from this team would stay?

The situation is as bad as it gets. We’re terrible now and no hope to improve.

He’s already embarrassed UK basketball on a national stage.

Travis Perry leaving his dream school should have been a sign.

 

[KyCPA2000]

If pope is our coach next year it means two thing

1. we very likely wont have any 5 or 4 or maybe even ANY incoming freshman next year, so we most likely will have to buy a new team, even if a couple stay

2. We will likely have another portal heavy team, which has proven to not work so far

Number 1, the portal workes last year.

Number 2, what can change how I feel about next year is getting a couple of great shooters in the portal. That simple. Doesn't take long to fix problems anymore.

 

[KyCPA2000]

I would say last year the portal team worked.

Year 1 - decent
Year 2 - awful
Year 3- will decide his fate

This 100%

 

[Damage_inc]

remember when we used to fight daily about Cal and one would always ask "if you fire Cal then who you gonna get?" The answer was always "anybody"

Well, Pope is anybody. Turns out we were talking reckless in those days.

 

[BlueBloodKyFan73]

Nothing honestly, this staff sucks at player evaluation or they can’t get a single player they actually want to run a system. Even if they do can they coach them or get them to work as a team? I don’t think so.

Case in point Hart couldn't get Crowe Jr to commit even though they are family friends

 

[[email protected]]

People keep saying that they’re not worried about high school recruiting because of the transfer portal, but if Pope doesn’t turn this season around , what makes you think top players in the transfer portal will want to play for Pope after this disastrous season. The kind of players that we need to be successful, we will be up against other top schools and the coaches at those schools will negatively use this season as an example of why to not play for Pope.

 

[Doc4UK!]

Can he get the 20 million again from Joe Craft. Or is Craft being called on to invest more in the football program? Not sure we have a lot of donors willing to fund this mess. Mitch needs to step down and a new AD needs to bring in Bruce Pearl to rebuild a program that has been down since the COVID years. Pope is lost.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

Nothing
This team is depressing to watch. Just a bummer.
Mitch has always wanted all sports at Uk to be at the same level. He never liked that the basketball team got the lions share of attention. He doesn’t get it. He’s a football guy at heart.
And this season feels like the culmination of Barney’s years-long project. You did it, Mitch. People are officially more excited about football than basketball here. Anyone saying they’d be excited in any way for year 3 Pope is a f*ckin liar

 

[Argonaut]

If pope is our coach next year it means two thing

1. we very likely wont have any 5 or 4 or maybe even ANY incoming freshman next year, so we most likely will have to buy a new team, even if a couple stay

2. We will likely have another portal heavy team, which has proven to not work so far

I won’t be following the program if Pope returns. And I won’t follow the ensuing coaching search either. I simply won’t follow Kentucky until they’re back being Kentucky. And if that doesn’t happen, I guess I won’t be a UK fan anymore.

 

[KentuckyWildcats74]

i mean worked as in won 2 games in march madness

its not like we sat the world on fire last year lol we had 12 losses and a ton of blowouts

Well for year 1 with no team that was a pretty impressive job. i mean good lord you guys expect him to win a natty with no players on the rosters and basically late to the portal.

 

[rick64]

Pope absolutely MUST construct a really good roster for next season or he's done. He's going to have to somehow some way nail some big time recruits and transfers.

He cannot go through another season like he's going through this season.

 

[Farsight Clone]

Anybody besides Barnhart as AD and anyone besides Pope as coach.

His assistant AD's can't take over either. We need to clean house.

 

[Broker]

Can he get the 20 million again from Joe Craft. Or is Craft being called on to invest more in the football program? Not sure we have a lot of donors willing to fund this mess. Mitch needs to step down and a new AD needs to bring in Bruce Pearl to rebuild a program that has been down since the COVID years. Pope is lost.

I think we need to forget about getting Pearl, he is retired and we really don't need or want a 65 year old that at best would be here a very short time. First get an AD that is forward thinking and go get a young proven energetic coach that can and will be here long enough to re-establish UK as a BLUE BLOOD program. Bruce would have been a perfect hire two years ago but that time has passed.
Take the top 5 coaches in basketball today and write a check to make one of them our new savior. Everyone has a price. Do we want to be back on top or do we float along like an average basketball program is the question that MB can not address.

 

[Argonaut]

I think we need to forget about getting Pearl, he is retired and we really don't need or want a 65 year old that at best would be here a very short time. First get an AD that is forward thinking and go get a young proven energetic coach that can and will be here long enough to re-establish UK as a BLUE BLOOD program. Bruce would have been a perfect hire two years ago but that time has passed.
Take the top 5 coaches in basketball today and write a check to make one of them our new savior. Everyone has a price. Do we want to be back on top or do we float along like an average basketball program is the question that MB can not address.

Kyle Whittingham is the same age as Pearl and took the job at Michigan. If he thought he could come to Kentucky for 6-8 years and win a title, he very well could feel motivated to return to coaching.

Might solve the 10 years expiration date we seem to have on coaches. And we need a sure thing. Pearl is as much of a sure thing as you can get, especially with a large NIL check.

 

[Drcatfan]

Recruits have to see how Cal put a multitude of players in the NBA. Then, look what playing for Pope has done for the draft status of OO, JQ, JJ, and KW. In hindsight, JQ camp has to be thinking he never should have played another college game. His draft stock has to be plummeting.

 

[Farsight Clone]

Mitch Retired. Get an AD with a sack of balls, and fires Pope

 

[Drcatfan]

90% chance Pope is still the coach. You would think he learns from this season and if he gets another 22 million to send use it on quality rather than quantity. Give me 4 studs for $5 million each then just fill in some role players.

 

[TyCatPrice14]

remember when we used to fight daily about Cal and one would always ask "if you fire Cal then who you gonna get?" The answer was always "anybody"

Well, Pope is anybody. Turns out we were talking reckless in those days.

The thing is though, we shouldnt of settled for "anybody" after getting turned down by two people. AD settled with a panic hire. If he flopped on say 10 guys in a row, he still could of gotten Pope and this would be more valid.

 

[TyCatPrice14]

I think we need to forget about getting Pearl, he is retired and we really don't need or want a 65 year old that at best would be here a very short time. First get an AD that is forward thinking and go get a young proven energetic coach that can and will be here long enough to re-establish UK as a BLUE BLOOD program. Bruce would have been a perfect hire two years ago but that time has passed.
Take the top 5 coaches in basketball today and write a check to make one of them our new savior. Everyone has a price. Do we want to be back on top or do we float along like an average basketball program is the question that MB can not address.

This doesn't make sense. "go get a young proven energetic coach that can and will be here long enough to re-establish UK as a BLUE BLOOD program." then you say "Take the top 5 coaches in basketball today and write a check to make one of them our new savior." that is not the same thing. UK should not have to look for an up and coming coach, they need to find someone in their prime and offer them. UK should not be taking risks on unproven coaches, If they have their eye on someone, let them coach somewhere else and see if they can prove they can coach at that level and then offer them when possible.

 

[rivercatinfl]

The worst and best thing Pope has going for him is this team is clearly not well suited for him. That's the worst because obviously this season sucks so far. But it's really the best case for optimism next year--go back to a style of play you know how to coach, get shooters, and try to save your job.

That's the problem in my mind. Pope thought he had shooters and guys that were strong inside. This team is proving they are not very good, in fact they are really bad. I really thought they would snap out of it but I think they are just who they are at this point.
I think we salvage who and what we can this year and get better players who WANT to be here.
Pope has 1 more year to prove he belongs.

 

[DrGlock]

Drugs

 

[will1976]

I would say last year the portal team worked.

Year 1 - decent
Year 2 - awful
Year 3- will decide his fate

Yeah this

 

[wkycatfan7]

We need some addition by subtraction, and some shooters.

 

[Argonaut]

90% chance Pope is still the coach. You would think he learns from this season and if he gets another 22 million to send use it on quality rather than quantity. Give me 4 studs for $5 million each then just fill in some role players.

Pope will be lucky to get a couple million to work with next year. If boosters can’t get Pope out before next year, they sure as heck aren’t going to fund next year’s roster. He’ll get the Cal treatment.