Pope described himself as an offensive minded coach who cares deeply about defense. Especially when you consider the players he's signed I'd expect to see better defensive teams as well as better coaching on offense.
Middle finger to Tubby or good coaching and motivation that paid off and lit a fire under Rondo? Seems like the later.
I think I have to agree with you on this one. But Tubby did really restrict Rondo on offense and that's coming from Rondo.
I bet that 96-98 run would have looked a LOT different if the portal was around back then.
I've often wondered. How awesome would Rondo have been if he was here on those up tempo teams of the 1990s when Pitino was here
UK had many "mega" recruiting classes before Rondo, e.g.:
I don't think he had the patience to deal with different personalities.
Respectfully, my young friend ... and my reason for use of the word "young" will be obvious ... I suggest that the 1980 recruiting class of Sam Bowie, Dirk Minnifield, Derrick Hord, and Charles Hurt was a "mega class." They would have gone to the Final Four, but for Sam Bowie missing the 1982 season with the leg injury. Likewise (going back in time), the 1975 "mega class" of Jack Givens, Rick Robey, Mike Phillips, and James Lee did in fact win the NCAA National Championship in 1978. Similarly, the 1972 "mega class" of Kevin Grevey, Jimmy Dan Conner, Bob Guyette, and Mike Flynn went to the National Championship final game, and would have won it all but for the refs bending over for John Wooden in his last game as coach at UCLA. Then there was the 1967 class (which for the time was certainly a "mega class") of Dan Issel, Mike Casey, and Mike Pratt. Then there were Louie Dampier and Pat Riley headlining the 1964 class, and Larry Conley and Tommy Kron in '63 ... and perhaps the "granddaddy of all college basketball recruiting classes" - the 1946 "mega class" of Ralph Beard, Wallace ("Wah Wah") Jones, Alex Groza, and Cliff Barker ... you may better recall them as "The Fabulous Five" that won back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 1948 and 1949.
no doubt
Didn't he state every year that we were going to push the tempo, and then outpaced the world's slowest turtle?
It also works both ways, how many other guys end up at UK to replace them that we wouldn't have known.
JBH said Bird was too slow coming out of H.S.
After his sophomore year at Indiana State he was averaging 33 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block a game.
Love post like this ty sir. Your Kentucky basketball knowledge is off the charts
And Tubby was still a better coach than Cal,
with Bird's personality do you really think even if he was offered he would have said yes
I think he would have liked the spotlight Kentucky would have given him.
Always thought tubby was the most over rated coach in America, then we met Cal!!!!
I was thinking about what you said about Rondo wasn't allowed the freedom to get to the rim every time. It amazes me and I really don't understand a coach who has a player that is that good with something, not allowing them to use their gift. Why would a coach who has a player like that, hold him back? Why not score if he can? That drives me nuts!! I always thought the object of the game was to score MORE points than the other team and win the game!!🤣🤣
He couldn't handle Bloomington. I doubt he could do Lexington.
Excellent point but I still am not a fan of the portal and NIL. Just makes college sports that much closer to being pros rather than college kids playing for their school.
Well, lazycat ... thanks for your kind words, but I must admit that I'm pretty lazy myself !
Actually, I knew the names of the players in the various classes off the top of my head ... but I used Jon Scott's superb website to make sure I got the dates right, etc. Bird did not spend “1 year” at IU. He didn’t even last one month. He dropped out and went home before practice even began.
