Coach Mark Pope

[Pharmboy007]

For those on here that still hate Pope, take a look at a couple of the other guys we were looking at, and many wanted to hire. How have Hurley and Drew done this year? With returning players and a full roster that they recruited, not the last minute one that Pope was able to throw together.

GO CATS

 

[4849515878969812...]

If anyone blames anything that's gone wrong during this season on Coach Pope, then they really need to educate themselves on the sport of basketball. Coach has done in outstanding job!

 

[cat tat2]

I believe Coach Pope is going to have a legendary career at UK. A couple of years from now, things will be much better.

 

[chevyman 50]

Being beat by Bama 3 times this year is hard to take, and being blown out last night, Ky was not even competitive, Pope got to take responsibility.

 

[Dallas-Wild]

Being beat by Bama 3 times this year is hard to take, and being blown out last night, Ky was not even competitive, Pope got to take responsibility.

Yeah if only he had pushed that button to make Perry, Noah and Chandler better athletes playing against Bama.

Oats has built this team over years now, not in a month

 

[mcnicKY91]

If anyone blames anything that's gone wrong during this season on Coach Pope, then they really need to educate themselves on the sport of basketball. Coach has done in outstanding job!

Well that is a little short sighted, in my opinion.

Pope has done a great job considering the circumstances of his first year, but there are still plenty of areas that Pope can improve upon, namely on the defensive end and his substitution patterns.

The fact that Pope has done a great job yet has still done some head scratching things can both be true.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

IMO it’s hard to build a vastly superior team through the portal. There’s an abundance of good but not great players that disperse across the country during portal season. Think to be great, this season has shown you have to have stars return or get freshmen stars(which there aren’t usually many).

That’s another reason the importance of Oweh returning can’t be understated. Having an ALL-SEC level player returning is huge. The top 4 elite SEC teams all had one this year. Ziegler, Clayton, Sears, and Broome were all conference returners

 

[megablue]

IMO it’s hard to build a vastly superior team through the portal. There’s an abundance of good but not great players that disperse across the country during portal season. Think to be great, this season has shown you have to have stars return or get freshmen stars(which there aren’t usually many).

That’s another reason the importance of Oweh returning can’t be understated. Having an ALL-SEC level player returning is huge. The top 4 elite SEC teams all had one this year. Ziegler, Clayton, Sears, and Broome were all conference returners

I agree ... the talent in college has dispersed and the overall landscape has marbleized.
The amount of NIL funding and the ability to utilize the portal are now more vital than actual coaching.
Portal talent and roster continuity are paramount foundationally, as freshmen talent is simply gravy now, for the most part.
Program management and roster construction exceed in-game coaching, it seems to me. There are exceptions, but few.

 

[MonsterMash79]

For those on here that still hate Pope, take a look at a couple of the other guys we were looking at, and many wanted to hire. How have Hurley and Drew done this year? With returning players and a full roster that they recruited, not the last minute one that Pope was able to throw together.

GO CATS

Anybody on here that hates Pope, isn’t a fan.. I get frustrated at the players IQ sometimes but never the coach. Might as well be UT fans with that constant delusion👍

 

[NavyCat88]

Bottom line: injuries + Bad matchups = lopsided loss.

Injuries have caught up to us. Missing 1st-thru-3rd string PGs and subbing in slower footed freshmen against a team with multiple players who can take good defenders off the dribble is a tough out.

Refs had some poorly missed calls early and often…especially with our man OO now sporting a lip full of stitches after fouling the Bama forward's elbow with his face.

Pope has done a fine job going from “doing more with less” across the board in the early season - to - “doing something with almost nothing” over the past few weeks in the inexperienced PG category. No slight to the freshmen….they're just freshmen.

Best we can hope for is to heal up, get Butler back, and get placed as far away from Bama as possible in the bracket.

GBB!

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

For those on here that still hate Pope, take a look at a couple of the other guys we were looking at, and many wanted to hire. How have Hurley and Drew done this year? With returning players and a full roster that they recruited, not the last minute one that Pope was able to throw together.

GO CATS

There's a lot of "see I was right" online fans that took a stance against him from day 1 and would rather their avatar be correct than Pope succeed. Petulant, yes, but true. WHEN he succeeds, they'll just leave or change names, lol.

It will never end and I'm having fun and won't let them ruin it. Have sent countless of them to the Ignore button abyss.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Hurley just won 2 straight national titles. The expectation that he isnt allowed a down year is comical. He's a megalomaniac ahole though and some of our sensitive fans couldn't have handled that. He would have won big here though.

There are also a couple of guys that should have got a call that didn't that are having great seasons.

Pope will win big here too. I also don't think any real fan would hate him. Let's not act like he's the only guy that would have been a good hire though.

 

[UKaveman]

I’m more optimistic about our future than I’ve been in over 5 years. This rag tag hastily constructed roster could play with ANYONE in the country when they were healthy ( not to mention none of these guys are lotto picks). Accomplishing what they did while injuries plagued them for more than 2/3 of the season proved Coach Pope will bring us back to prominence. He has convinced me that he’s the absolute right man for the job!!

 

[sefleming]

Here is the season in a nutshell
Kerr. Foot injury out
Robinson wrist out
Carr back
Oweh bloody mouth
Chandlers cut on head

 

[megablue]

I don't think or feel that anybody "hates" Pope, but I do think there has been lavish praise pitted against unreasonable expectations. He will clearly have the opportunity to show what he can do in the next several years in a job that has become increasingly tougher. I think nobody knows that better than Mark Pope himself. His ability to quickly assimilate into the job's demands and expectations will be what determines his success here. This is not BYU ... and he surely knows this. He is young and ambitious enough to embrace the challenge, just like he did when he stepped up and accepted the BYU job.
GOOD LUCK to POPE and the CATS !!!

 

[dynastydreamuk]

For those on here that still hate Pope, take a look at a couple of the other guys we were looking at, and many wanted to hire. How have Hurley and Drew done this year? With returning players and a full roster that they recruited, not the last minute one that Pope was able to throw together.

GO CATS

You mean the other guys MITCH was looking at. Scott drew should have been way lower on the coach search list. A lot of people here and fans I talked to didn't want Scott drew anyway, with his 3 elite 8s in 25 years or whatever it is. I'm all for Pope, he's here, embrace him and hope it works out. But it was a big risk and still is a big risk and unknown with pope because of his lack of resume. In reality if we had a smarter athletic director who put winning and competing first, Pope would have been way lower on the contact list below Bruce Pearl, Nate Oats, Chris Beard, heck probably even Florida's Young Coach. Instead Mitch hired an alumni he shared moral high ground with.

Now OP do you want to take a look at the coaches I mentioned that should have been on the coach hire search list ahead of Pope? Auburn, Bama, Florida pretty damn good.

Anyway, like I've said, Pope is here, hope he does awesome, I'm pretty confident, I'll be a true believer if he can get a team next year of players that play good defense which he has never really had in his career.

 

[JohnnyGreen1975]

For those on here that still hate Pope, take a look at a couple of the other guys we were looking at, and many wanted to hire. How have Hurley and Drew done this year? With returning players and a full roster that they recruited, not the last minute one that Pope was able to throw together.

GO CATS

Whoever hates Pope right now is just a bandwagon fan. There is no other coach that I would want leading our team right now.

 

[HeismaNole]

I wouldn’t conflate criticism with “hate.” Until Pope proves himself in the postseason, criticism will hang over him like a cloud.

He wants to be here and for that reason, I’m happy to ride with him. I don’t know if we are ever winning a national title but I think he’s capable of getting to the last weekend.

 

[Supafuzz75]

Being beat by Bama 3 times this year is hard to take, and being blown out last night, Ky was not even competitive, Pope got to take responsibility.

Bama got a bunch athletes,, Pope doesn't.. They're a nightmare matchup this year vs what Pope has.. If after next season its still like this you can continue sucking your thumb and crying..

 

[FitchandMurray29]

I’ll add, I don’t feel like any pass is needed to be given to Pope with his roster. I don’t think he was dealt a bad hand. A clean slate, an insanely good portal due to all the COVID year guys, and a huge NIL budget meant he wasn’t at quite the disadvantage fans want to act like. But he also built a much better roster than national media folks gave him credit for.

The injuries are what he deserves a pass for. Without Butler, Jax, and Kerr this just isn’t a serious roster you can throw out against great teams.

 

[SBKY]

Being beat by Bama 3 times this year is hard to take, and being blown out last night, Ky was not even competitive, Pope got to take responsibility.

You're an idiot and make the fanbase look bad. Pope should take responsibility of 2 of our best players not playing in the game, our main backup PG hurt for entire season, 1 with a hurt back, 1 with stitches over his eye and 1 with a busted lip. F'ing dumbass.

 

[9timeChampion]

After every loss, we got the cal supporters who should just go watch arkansas play. Any team with 2 starters and main back up pg would be lucky to win 8 games this year. Next year hopefully we have returners and 13 to 14 players, and some no injury luck. Last year of all these 5 year seniors college basketball will be different next year.

 

[megablue]

I’ll add, I don’t feel like any pass is needed to be given to Pope with his roster. I don’t think he was dealt a bad hand. A clean slate, an insanely good portal due to all the COVID year guys, and a huge NIL budget meant he wasn’t at quite the disadvantage fans want to act like. But he also built a much better roster than national media folks gave him credit for.

The injuries are what he deserves a pass for. Without Butler, Jax, and Kerr this just isn’t a serious roster you can throw out against great teams.

This is a good summation ... a fair and well-stated post, I think ... ^^^

 

[WallMashKyBall]

Pope deserves three years to get to the top of the SEC. So I'm not panicking and he has won some significant games.

However, here's a Pope thing Id like him to correct: , Perry missed a shot and turned the ball over for no reason around the 4 minute break and I see that chandler is off the bench and about to come in for first sub of game. But because Pope is a nice guy he didn't want Perry to think he'd been yanked for bad play, so he pulled Oweh instead, even after Oweh had just executed a monster dunk. When we were still neck and neck with Bama, early on, why pull Oweh to have less offense on the floor? And go with a backcourt of two freshman who score very little. Compare that to Oats, one of his players made a foolish turnover and Nate yanked the offender so fast . The player didn't complain, just trotted to the bench as punishment.

 

[jace2012]

My only concern is, will Pope get the skilled, athletic players that can compete in the SEC and does Kentucky have the NIL to get the players with the high price tag. The bench players try but that area needs improvement also

 

[jace2012]

I’ll add, I don’t feel like any pass is needed to be given to Pope with his roster. I don’t think he was dealt a bad hand. A clean slate, an insanely good portal due to all the COVID year guys, and a huge NIL budget meant he wasn’t at quite the disadvantage fans want to act like. But he also built a much better roster than national media folks gave him credit for.

The injuries are what he deserves a pass for. Without Butler, Jax, and Kerr this just isn’t a serious roster you can throw out against great teams.

This roster would have been dominating the conference if it was a BYU roster even with the injuries but what we have is a middle of the pack SEC roster. Even when at full strength, I still believe this team would have only finished with one or two more conference wins

 

[FitchandMurray29]

This roster would have been dominating the conference if it was a BYU roster even with the injuries but what we have is a middle of the pack SEC roster. Even when at full strength, I still believe this team would have only finished with one or two more conference wins

Winning at Texas and at Vandy would’ve made them 24-9 with 13 Q1 wins, a probable 2 seed, and would’ve been an obviously successful season.

Instead they’re 22-11, flirting between a 3/4 seed, and have very little upside/hope for a tourney run as things currently stand.

 

[Smashcat]

 

[TriCountyCat]

I don’t think Pope will fail. He is smart enough to know what needs to be fixed. We need players and possibly a defensive coach or philosophy. Having better players may fix the defense. I hope he has the NIL to go get what he needs.

 

[tf4fun]

My only concern is, will Pope get the skilled, athletic players that can compete in the SEC and does Kentucky have the NIL to get the players with the high price tag. The bench players try but that area needs improvement also

IMO this is accurate. To be elite defensively and stop SEC guards you have to get a lot more athletic. Longer, quicker, explosive, athletes!

That's my question as well. Will Pope add that to his roster? Does he recognize that he has to add that to the next roster, or is he like some other coaches who refuse to adapt there style to simply win! I think Johnson, Lewis, are more athletic, but that not enough. We need a quick athletic 3! Then we need a beast either at the 4 spot or 5 spot! Iowa freeman is ok, but you have to go get a athletic rim protector/rebounder as well. Everybody was excited about Robinson/Brea coming into this year. But oweh ended up being the best of the 3. The reason "why" is because of his athletic ability. The Brea/Robinson is a great piece as long as they are use as spot up shooters!

This next roster will tell me a lot about Pope!

 

[BluPappi81]

I pity the thumb-sucking adolescents who pop up after every loss to a superior opponent to contend Pope isn’t the guy. The 8 wins against top 15 teams w a roster built and coached up on a painfully short timeline for that success tells me he is absolutely the right guy. Add in his adoration for UK that he speaks of so passionately and I’m all in. 👊🏼

 

[rolaid]

Oats went 16-15 year one at Bama in a much weaker league and the OP can’t see past last night
We got 3 of our top 7 setting over by the Coach
Let’s let Pope build a roster on a level field

 

[Coach Marrow]

Pope will succeed IF he is able to recruit great athletes.

 

[The Snoke]

Being beat by Bama 3 times this year is hard to take, and being blown out last night, Ky was not even competitive, Pope got to take responsibility.

Dude… I’m glad you’re not coaching. You are clueless. I bet you couldn’t coach a Junior Pro team to a win. Keep being you.

 

[megablue]

IMO this is accurate. To be elite defensively and stop SEC guards you have to get a lot more athletic. Longer, quicker, explosive, athletes!

That's my question as well. Will Pope add that to his roster? Does he recognize that he has to add that to the next roster, or is he like some other coaches who refuse to adapt there style to simply win! I think Johnson, Lewis, are more athletic, but that not enough. We need a quick athletic 3! Then we need a beast either at the 4 spot or 5 spot! Iowa freeman is ok, but you have to go get a athletic rim protector/rebounder as well. Everybody was excited about Robinson/Brea coming into this year. But oweh ended up being the best of the 3. The reason "why" is because of his athletic ability. The Brea/Robinson is a great piece as long as they are use as spot up shooters!

This next roster will tell me a lot about Pope!

We need guys that can guard and are also hard-to-guard. They need to be adequate long-range shooters, but if above-average ... much the better, of course !! Pope surely realizes this, hopefully.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

Great season considering what Pope inherited and the short window to build a roster. Let’s see how the next few years go. If things don’t go well time to find his replacement. I think Pope will get it done, he is a smart guy who understands the assignment

 

[sambowieshin]

Being beat by Bama 3 times this year is hard to take, and being blown out last night, Ky was not even competitive, Pope got to take responsibility.

Goofy take. Down 3 of our top 8 players (2 starters) due to injuries and playing 3 freshmen.
Your bball vision needs corrective eyewear.
That opinion 3 years from now will have more validity... But not in year one of Pope's rebuild.

 

[Ripcord65]

IMO it’s hard to build a vastly superior team through the portal. There’s an abundance of good but not great players that disperse across the country during portal season. Think to be great, this season has shown you have to have stars return or get freshmen stars(which there aren’t usually many).

That’s another reason the importance of Oweh returning can’t be understated. Having an ALL-SEC level player returning is huge. The top 4 elite SEC teams all had one this year. Ziegler, Clayton, Sears, and Broome were all conference returners

I think you meant "... can’t be overstated ...", but - I agree, 100%. Perhaps the most important factor for U.K.'s success next season is whether Oweh returns.
Go 'Cats ! ! !