It's not analysis or a game, but this little Mark Pope hype video is *chef's kiss*.
Are You Bought in Now?
- Thread starter JPFisher
- Start date
It's not analysis or a game, but this little Mark Pope hype video is *chef's kiss*.
I was bought in back in Summer.
And you guys know it
And you guys know it
I was “bought in” from the get go . Anybody but Cal .
Was bought in from the press conference.
He's quickly answering the questions I had, much faster than I expected.
I had questions about this teams defense due to some inabilities by certain players that were gonna be getting a lot of playing time. Carr, Kerr, Almanor, Brea. But the 2nd half of duke showed me they have potential to make this work and be a good enough defensive squad to get it done.
I was bought in during the press conference. Needed a break though so didn’t keep up through the summer. Really enjoying this season so far. I trust in Pope
Are we going to spend half the season asking fellow fans if they're still against Pope? Nothing against you, OP, it just feels like a barrage of threads either letting the world know that he's still on the hot seat in the eyes of some UK fans, or someone saying they'd just discovered UK is a great program again.
With as much experience as this team has, there was no question in my mind that we'd be a pretty good team.
The outcome against Duke was not that big a surprise to me. I wasn't sure we'd win, but certainly felt like we could.
To my view, with this much experience, if we could not expect to play well enough to beat such a young Duke team, we should worry. The most exciting thing I saw was the TREMENDOUS and RELENTLESS EFFORT that this team will provide each game. That EFFORT will keep us in every game we play, regardless of opponent, and especially on inevitable cold shooting nights. It is simply enjoyable for me to watch a team that plays so hard !!
Heart = Desire + Courage ... and this team certainly has HEART !!
GO CATS !!
The outcome against Duke was not that big a surprise to me. I wasn't sure we'd win, but certainly felt like we could.
To my view, with this much experience, if we could not expect to play well enough to beat such a young Duke team, we should worry. The most exciting thing I saw was the TREMENDOUS and RELENTLESS EFFORT that this team will provide each game. That EFFORT will keep us in every game we play, regardless of opponent, and especially on inevitable cold shooting nights. It is simply enjoyable for me to watch a team that plays so hard !!
Heart = Desire + Courage ... and this team certainly has HEART !!
GO CATS !!
Can you spale? Anyone who wasn't "bought in" the moment it was announced he was coach, had some sort of buyer's remorse or was attached to Cal at the nipple. Of course we know this is Kentucky. Now back to your pom pom's.
I needed 14 hours. I got blindsided and was a panicking dumbass for 14 hours, I freely admit.
But even in those 14 hours I was very clear that Pope was still a massive upgrade over Cal.
Was sold on this being the best possible hire by Hour 15.
And ever since the roster was set I’ve been very vocal that “understand the assignment” means “understand the assignment” You can check my posts. There is no guarantee, but there is no glass ceiling either. Pope can win the title this year. I didn’t need Duke to teach me that and I was VERY high on us beating Duke in advance, with technical explanations.
But even in those 14 hours I was very clear that Pope was still a massive upgrade over Cal.
Was sold on this being the best possible hire by Hour 15.
And ever since the roster was set I’ve been very vocal that “understand the assignment” means “understand the assignment” You can check my posts. There is no guarantee, but there is no glass ceiling either. Pope can win the title this year. I didn’t need Duke to teach me that and I was VERY high on us beating Duke in advance, with technical explanations.
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I was bought in before we had interviewed him.
Same. I feel like a lot of fans and pundits were bearish on Pope's first team, but having watched BYU film from last year, I knew Pope could do more with less.
Not to belabor a point that's been made repeatedly this year, but BYU last year was far less talented than this Kentucky team. Robinson was the best player last year for the Cougs by a mile, and that's not the case for us on any given night.
On top of that, Pope earned a six seed last year while coaching in what was arguably the toughest basketball conference. This Kentucky team's talent, experience, and heart could be SPECIAL. That's becoming more readily apparent.
I was tired and hated the hire at first when news broke that night. Went to bed pissed and sick to my stomach. Oddly enough, as though Pope's philosophy and coaching history had been diffused into my brain via neuralink in my sleep, I woke up happy and even excited that we had Pope. It was the weirdest thing.
Completely reasonable. It was those “I want Cal back” idiots that made me puke.
I was bought in on Pope when Fraudapari was still coaching here.
It was something. Maybe I dreamt about Pope's ragtag group of Utah Valley guys whipping Cal's ass for a whole half of basketball or Pope's well-known love of UKMBB. Idk. It's honestly inexplicable even today. I've wracked my brain about it.
I was onboard from the conference, but still need to see the proof. The recrutiing showed me Pope can get guys- and now he's starting to show he can win big time games. Next up is how will he handle the grind of the SEC? I think decently well. This may not be a title team but it should be a decent performing tourney squad.
We arguably had a bad night shooting against duke. Started out on fire and went cold until what felt like the last 8 minutes. But they never faltered. They just hung around and found a way to win. Duke played better than their fans want to admit. The drooling announcers can attest to that. If a blind man listened to the ESPN broadcast he would think Kentucky was getting stomped. Of course they are young and will get better (we know that story) but they didn't play horrible. ESPN hardly anything good to say about us. A comment or two about good defense or good pace and then right back to rimming duke out. They had plenty of highlights for Cooper after the game also. I'm sure it killed them to have to add the two turnovers at the end.
This team is insane. I am biased obviously, but I watch every game of CBB I can. I've not seen a team I'd take over us. I'm not saying they'll go undefeated and win it all. But if they play every game with the heart they did against duke it is a possibility. TO BE CLEAR I DO NOT EXPECT THAT. I do live in reality and understand some nights it just doesn't go our way. I just think its possible with the grit this team plays with. They want it. That is leaps and bounds more than we have had in the last few years.
Been on board from day one I knew this was a great hire and we were finally released from the snake oil salesman but man alot of us took alot of verbal abuse for our stance glad that's over with we are basically going through the same thing on the football board the same people are bashing you because you want stoops gone quite comical very predictable too
Same. People don't realize how hard it is to win at BYU with those restrictions. The man can coach.
I was bought in at the introductory press conference.
Coach totally gets Kentucky basketball.
Intelligent
Plays a fun style
Played for an outstanding coach.
Will not be outworked.
Will win multiple NCAA championships here at Kentucky.
As Cawood said, “Write it down.”
We will see about the multiple championships. No other UK coach post Rupp has done it so maybe Pope can get monkey off the programs back.
I am definitely sold on Pope and think he will win 1 title and get to multiple final fours with a chance to win another.
I was “all in” when I heard his name mentioned. Went to the press conference and was happy to see BBN was “in” also. I have never been to anything like that. The energy in Rupp that day was incredible!
Here’s the thing, Dan Hurley would’ve been a home run hire. Funny though, I immediately started thinking “I want someone who’ll beat Dan Hurley”. I sort of wanted to start from scratch with a new guy who hadn’t won big YET !!!
Pope checked every box then more boxes.
After the hire, the press conference, and exhibitions and the first 3 games (one of which opened the basketball nations eyes), there’s NO DOUBT we got the right guy. So grateful that Pope and his great family wanted to join and in his case rejoin us. A match made in heaven. There’s a reason people like Jay Williams, Jay Bilas, Dick Vitale (love your passion but sorry Dick), and many others are pretty sore. They know our program is now setting up like concrete after having been much too soupy for years.
Pope checked every box then more boxes.
After the hire, the press conference, and exhibitions and the first 3 games (one of which opened the basketball nations eyes), there’s NO DOUBT we got the right guy. So grateful that Pope and his great family wanted to join and in his case rejoin us. A match made in heaven. There’s a reason people like Jay Williams, Jay Bilas, Dick Vitale (love your passion but sorry Dick), and many others are pretty sore. They know our program is now setting up like concrete after having been much too soupy for years.
I’ve wanted Cal gone for years but when I heard we were hiring Pope I was like noooooo. I didn’t think he was qualified enough to be the UK coach. But I saw the press conference and was convinced we made the right hire. So far he’s been perfect in every aspect.
I bought in the first 36 hrs. But I've been locked in ever since his intro at Rupp. That did it for me.
Go Cats!!!!!
Kentucky is always better with a coach who has something to prove.
Hiring someone like Hurley after he just won two titles wouldn't have worked. Just like hiring Donovan after he'd won two.
We now have a coach who hasn't won big yet, but who is seasoned, understands the program, plays the style we want, and has the right coaching pedigree to be extremely successful.
Best possible scenario, best possible choice.
Hiring someone like Hurley after he just won two titles wouldn't have worked. Just like hiring Donovan after he'd won two.
We now have a coach who hasn't won big yet, but who is seasoned, understands the program, plays the style we want, and has the right coaching pedigree to be extremely successful.
Best possible scenario, best possible choice.
You always bought in! Sister Mary Williams from the local convent could coach and you would be 40-0 baby!
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We have dome well with coaches who haven't won a title before for sure. I'd still take Hurley tho. But we don't have to worry cause Mark MF Pope bout to win big here the next 10 years!
