...poor Eddie. He said he would "crawl" to Lexington for the chance to coach UK. Maybe he crawled most of the time because he couldn't stand, much less walk.
Will Pope win a Title at UK in his 5 year contract?
- Thread starter Farsight Clone
- Start date
It is crazy that two of the worst coaches we've had, had issues with the devil's nectar.
I certainly hope he does. So many things have to go your way. Right mix of players, good coaching, no major injuries or distractions, good matchups in the NCAAT.
Rupp hasn't won a title since 58?!?! Time to rename the arena.
Depends upon how long it takes for him to make the Billy Donovan transformation. Once Billy figured out that the reason Tubby kept kicking his *** was because Tubby's teams had toughness. Around 2004 Donovan flipped his staff, developed and edge, and recruited tough minded players. Never looked back after that.
I think it may have all been siginificantly different for Rupp and the program, if Wes Unseld signed and played for UK. UCLA's run may not have happened.
I agree. He doesn’t have the personality/temperament to put everything together (recruiting, motivating, etc). His job at BYU probably would have been his ceiling had Mitch not hired him. I would still rather have him than Cal.
I'm going to say no.
And it's not because I don't think he's a good coach or that he can't win a title here in the future.
It's just that...........5 years. This isn't the 70s. College basketball has changed. Winning titles is hard. We already had one year we didn't come close. So in the next four will he win a title? I mean I hope but odds are against that.
And it's not because I don't think he's a good coach or that he can't win a title here in the future.
It's just that...........5 years. This isn't the 70s. College basketball has changed. Winning titles is hard. We already had one year we didn't come close. So in the next four will he win a title? I mean I hope but odds are against that.
It doesn’t matter what we the fans or even Mitch Barnhart thinks, it’s about what the boosters think. They have a lot of money on the line this year…over $20 million to be exact…and they’re rightfully going to be asking where the results of their money is if Pope doesn’t at least win the SEC or go on a deep tournament run.
He’ll get a third year barring some Gillespie-esque collapse, but a lot of the boosters’ hopes in Pope will shatter if he doesn’t at least show something to be positive about the future this year with the kind of money they’re throwing towards the team.
The money talks a lot more now than it ever has.
He’ll get a third year barring some Gillespie-esque collapse, but a lot of the boosters’ hopes in Pope will shatter if he doesn’t at least show something to be positive about the future this year with the kind of money they’re throwing towards the team.
The money talks a lot more now than it ever has.
I got a bridge to sell you if you think Mitch would have even sniffed out Nate Oates for the job. The man cared more about the piousness of the coach more than he did their past results. No, it was Scott Drew or bust and when that fell through he jumped on the boy scout he could find. Pope being a former player was just the frosting on the cake.
Some of ya’ll can’t accept that Mitch Barnhart put more effort in the women’s basketball search than he did the men’s. It’s as plain as day.
Suggesting Jax sat out because he didn't want to have to play some PG is plenty enough to earn you a spot on my ignore list.
Cool 2 dumbassess in a bromanceGreat post by an open minded, rational fan
Here is my take on Pope. I compare Pope to Jeff Brohm in Football. I think in a big game Pope can get his team ready and pull some upsets. I think last year he proved that over and over with his record against ranked teams. He even proved it again this year in the exhibition season against Purdue. However, I think he also can lose games he is not suppose to. Last year, the Ohio State, Georgia, and Arkansas (I will give a pass on Clemson, because Clemson got hot) games come to mind. This year, i think of Georgetown in exhibition season and poor performance at Louisville. Brohm does the same. Miami game on the road this year and Cal game at home. If you look at Brohm's career, he does it every year. They get your hopes up and have you believing this is the year and then lay an egg. I hope I am wrong because I liked Pope as a player and a person. I am not sure yet as a coach.
Oats would have done great things here with his style of offense and the ability to recruit top talent
It wouldn’t shock me that if Pope doesn’t get things straightened out by next year (anyone thinking the people throwing the money around is going to accept no SEC titles or deep runs in the tournament are going to wait the 5 year contract are crazy), boosters will go over Mitch and try to hire Nate Oats like what happened in 2009 when Calipari was hired.
Dude will get offered a ridiculous amount of money.
I mean if he kicks our *** three times again this year then the next I’m all for it. But think Pope gets him this year.
Dude if Pope hasn’t made a final four in 3 years then his seat will be hot. The one and only thing that might save him is who he is. Most of BBN’s patience was shot before Mark even got here.
He has a fairly decent first year but it’s plagued with injuries and losses that should have never happened. Year two already seems as cursed as last year if not more. 5 of our top 7 players have already missed time due to injury. Won’t get JQ until the last half of the year. May not ever get Lowe back and even if we do it’s likely to be a lingering issue. To top it off, Oweh really isn’t close to being Oweh from last year. You aren’t winning crap when your 3 best players are out/under performing/injured.
All I can say is that Pope better not miss on his top recruiting targets for next year like he did for his first 2 teams here. Stokes is not a must. I’m not holding my breath though. I have next to no confidence in Pope’s staff recruiting elite high school players. I just hope Brainfart is fired or retired in the next year or two so he’s not the one picking the next coach.
He gets three years. That much is certain. Anyone thinking if Pope performs about as well as last year with a $20 million dollar roster and proceeds to do the same next year that boosters won’t be asking questions just haven’t been watching where the college game has been headed. Boosters have more power than ever. They’re not going to accept average results, by Kentucky standards, for $20 million dollars a year.
If anything if Pope has a subpar season this year that there will be expectations of staff changes to be made. It’s happening all over college sports in the NIL era when coaches aren’t living up to where they should.
But Mitch won’t get another chance to choose a coach if Pope doesn’t work out. It’ll be 2009 all over again.
Bama looks to be great again this year even after losing what they lost. I don’t know what you’ve seen that makes you think we would beat them when we couldnt even beat UL who is probably a poor mans version of Bama.
Honestly was just trying to not be negative lol
Marks never really done anything to put him in FF or NC conversation. Love what he stands for but just don’t see him accomplishing these goals. JMO
lol what does this mean man? Isn’t that every coach in history until they did?
Yea unfortunately the base is starving and Pope stepped into this at a time that’s really tough. And he’s going to be given time and plenty of opportunity even given that. Pope is not going to be fired for not making a final four immediately or not winning a title in this contract. This is a situation that we’re going to ride this out and make sure he doesn’t catch it coming up.
And it’s weird to me. I get the base and we need to win. I’d never accept anything else. But Pope hasn’t shown anything to suggest he can’t be one of the greats. He’s been here a little over a year lol.
If Pope doesn’t work out, which there is exactly 0 evidence to suggest he’s failing, then Mitch Barnhart’s *** will absolutely not make that next hire. I’m sick and tired of that fudd roaming around boomering his *** all over the place because he doesn’t want to take his *** home and fish.
I absolutely cannot stand that sanctimonious bastard. This doesn’t work and he should be finished after the crap show he’s displayed. And if Mark doesn’t work which again, I have to see him with some time and a full roster of healthy guys, their asses better go out and make that grand slam hire.
I still don’t think Kentucky is spending much more if any than anyone else. When I look around at rosters it doesn’t make sense to me. But we’ve got to give some time - I think Pope is a very important piece for this program into the future. With the Pitino era guys, they are the gatekeepers upcoming. We need those Kentucky guys as a check on this retched and horrible president / academic brass and the AD’s office who’s job is to peddle in average, not make waves, and keep the money rolling in.
What I cannot help but wonder ...
1) Based on what Pope did at Utah Valley, would he have gotten the BYU job if he wasn't a Mormon ??
2) Based on what he did at BYU, would he have gotten the job at UK if he hadn't been an alum and captain of the '96 team ??
He wasn't a front-runner for the job, after all, but I believe he was far more qualified than Billy Gillispie.
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
1) Based on what Pope did at Utah Valley, would he have gotten the BYU job if he wasn't a Mormon ??
2) Based on what he did at BYU, would he have gotten the job at UK if he hadn't been an alum and captain of the '96 team ??
He wasn't a front-runner for the job, after all, but I believe he was far more qualified than Billy Gillispie.
Mark Pope - Wikipedia
Billy Gillispie - Wikipedia
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It's more than just blasphemy it is totally wrong. Rupp won the SEC every year his last 5 seasons while going 114-25. He likely would have gotten another NCAA title in '70 if not for Mike Casey being injured in a car accident.
What I cannot help but wonder ...
1) Based on what Pope did at Utah Valley, would he have gotten the BYU job if he wasn't a Mormon ??
2) Based on what he did at BYU, would he have gotten the job at UK if he hadn't been an alum and captain of the '96 team ??
He wasn't a front-runner for the job, after all, but I believe he was far more qualified than Billy Gillispie.
Mark Pope - Wikipedia
Billy Gillispie - Wikipedia
Pope was not in the BIG12 long and BYU wasn’t what it is now pre NIL era. He did great there and they did not want him to go. I was on their sites when news broke. Then he goes into the BIG12 with lowly BYU and beats Kansas at Kansas, and does really well.
Pope wasn’t going to be at BYU long. He was on the short list of prospects for the Arkansas job. We just noticed him because we know who he is. As of right now it was the perfect hire because of our imsge was that of a farm system, thanks to Calipari, and not a program and family.
Mark wasn’t some who’s that guy. Now would we have offered if he hadn’t played here? Maybe not, probably not. But that doesn’t really mean much when it comes to this. Everyone was about to know him nation wide because big jobs were already taking notice. We just got him before that happened because he played here.
Not unless he improves three things
Recruiting
Defense
Toughness culture
Recruiting
Defense
Toughness culture
The SEC wasn’t as strong at that point. Nowhere near as strong as it would become in just the next decade, thanks to ascension of teams like Alabama and Tennessee. Now, you’re absolutely right about that 1970 team, one of the very best teams in school history, although regrettably a disappointment Elite Eight loss derailed what was clearly the most talented team in the nation even sans Casey. I don’t pretend to have been around then
, but it’s pretty well documented that Rupp’s fan support had dropped by that point. The 1970 team was more the exception than the rule by the year. For every 1964 and 1970, you’d have mediocre or bad teams or underperform. And I say none of that to undermine the great Adolph Rupp who I hold in very high regards. The man built the house we live in.
Was just saying his track record so far doesn’t have me convinced he can win a championship, nor make a FF that’s all..
Maybe Pope needs to call Rick to lit a fire under his ***
Cal's 2nd year had a chance at a title run, but Uconn stole it. 2015 team should of had a title, but the Rooferie stole it and Duke took it. Then in 2014, with randle's team uconn stole that one too. Then the Quickley/Maxxy team had a chance but eff you covid.
Did you know Rick wanted to come back in the 2005 season or something? Or maybe it was before that.
The Coaching Cycle at UK is this.
Great = Rupp
Good = Hall
Drunk = Sutton
Great = Pitino
Good = Tubby
Drunk = Gillespie
Great = Cal (deduct his last 5 years)
Good = Should be Pope
So every Good and Great coach has at least one title.
It would be beneficial for Pope to win a by his 5 year contract.
I know all of BBN wants it, and really wants Pope to have one because of who he is as a person, he was on 96 team and he truly bleeds blue.
God help us all during the next UK coachship.
What are the current drunks right now coaching? Maybe Wade Wilson? lol idk
Next, we gotta sign BCG to a 1-day contract that way we can speed run the cycle and get the next great one. Don’t want to depend 2 years on a drunk next time lol
Who knows what might happen. What the Pope LOD really wants to know is if he doesn’t will they renew his contract. In that regard, his winning an NC has nothing to to do with his contract. The University will be concerned that he represents the program well, stays within the rules and says reasonably competitive. This he has done with flying colors by any objective assessment. Winning the tournament is gravy. On his current trajectory, Pope has an extension if he wants it.
You have to remember boosters are largely business people and some academics, not zealots.
You have to remember boosters are largely business people and some academics, not zealots.
Well I think last season is a glimpse into it. Making a sweet 16 and beating Duke (FF), Florida (NC), arguably Tennessee’s best team in history twice, and a slate of other top teams home and road, shows he’s able to handle this for sure. And I think the only reason he didn’t even land a FF in year 1 is due to having to play that Tennessee team THREE times before the elite 8. Too tall of a task to hammer it 100%. He got screwed.
Had that not happened, and Bulter didn’t go down, he put together a likely final four team in year 1 on the fly.
This year he’s got injuries he’s dealing with yet again and doesn’t have full roster. Louisville was an early game on the road without his best player and 2 guys not 100%. They played like dog sht and still had a shot to win.
I’m seeing a lot that tells me this guy can make FF’s and win titles. This is all about this Louisville game nobody thought this stuff until then. I get it but it’s far too much over 1 early game year 2.
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I think so. However, winning 6 straight involves a little luck along the way.