Does mark Pope have it?

[Wildcats1st]

Instead of making a statement. Like “he doesn’t have it” I want to see what you guys think. Simple question is does mark pope have the ability as a coach to get us back to the top of the SEC? Can he bring us a title? He was hired with a shaky resume so he’s gonna have to be evaluated on the job. It’s unfortunate but he doesn’t have a blue blood resume nor track record of success. unlike any other UK coach in my lifetime pope was unproven before he was brought in. I see people say “give him 4 years”. Boys and girls you don’t do that unless the man has a track record. I think it’s completely fair to question popes ceiling as a college coach. Life is short. What do you say? Does the man have it or are we just wasting time like we did with cal?

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Instead of making a statement. Like “he doesn’t have it” I want to see what you guys think. Simple question is does mark pope have the ability as a coach to get us back to the top of the SEC? Can he bring us a title? He was hired with a shaky resume so he’s gonna have to be evaluated on the job. It’s unfortunate but he doesn’t have a blue blood resume nor track record of success. unlike any other UK coach in my lifetime pope was unproven before he was brought in. I see people say “give him 4 years”. Boys and girls you don’t do that unless the man has a track record. I think it’s completely fair to question popes ceiling as a college coach. Life is short. What do you say? Does the man have it or are we just wasting time like we did with cal?

I wish you would take your agenda driven punk ass out of here.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Needs to be a 3rd option of- it’s to damn early to tell, and asking this when he hasn’t been here a year is silly.

 

[LmdCat]

The vultures are out after one abbreviated recruiting period and a partial season. Wow! Don't even have the decency to wait until after the season.

I can say with certainty that you don't have it.

 

[SophiesDad]

Who the hell knows? Why are we asking if he has it? These were off season conversations due to the hire itself. He’s been here 11 months and has coached just 29 games at Kentucky in a historically good conference. Only time will tell. It’s obvious at this point he is a high level in game coach. Outside of the Arkansas game, he has exceeded my expectations this year considering the circumstances.

 

[Cole World]

 

[qwesley]

I will only say that in 6-8 weeks watching what they do in the portal will be very interesting and impactful for him.

 

[jpbky2]

He put a team together from 0 to full roster in less than a month. Second, Mark is very, very smart and well self evaluate what worked and fix it. He is also a student of the game and will learn from other people as well. He will not be out worked and that is who I want as my coach. Give him his full roster all year and I like our team, injuries happen and he is still competing. Lastly, when the fans turn on one of their own not even through year one, who the hell would want to sign up to take the job? I trust Coach Pope will battle the rest of this year and do an evaluation from top to bottom and come back even better next year.

 

[North Carolina Blue Wildcat]

He is still young in his coaching career and has learned more than several prior years combined. His intellect and personality are great and given time and grace, he will grow the program in ways we will be really proud of. I cannot think of another coach that could do what he has with the roster and injuries. Anyone that thinks he isn’t an elite coach is just fishing for reasons to be negative.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Too early to tell.

Team has done some impressive things. Team has been unimpressive. Two years
from now we will know. Have to be patient.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

I still feel confident that he was the right hire.

He had a short timeline to build a team and staff.

Then got hit with injuries to key players.

I get frustrated with what looks like lack of effort.

But maybe these guys are giving max effort and this is all they have?


There’s really just no way to know until Pope builds a team the way he wants.

I can understand people having doubts. One can have doubt or have faith.

Although the opposite of faith is not doubt, it’s certainty.

I have faith that Pope was the right hire at the right time.

If these discussions are going on this time next year then it’s a concern.

Time will tell

 

[jedwar]

Ask again in a year. I think we will know a lot more then.

 

[kats23]

This fan base is exhausting.

 

[chroix]

It’s a legit question but there’s only one correct answer and that is a resounding yes.

 

[Farsight]

I know fans are emotional because they we haven't had a good season in 5+ years. This year EVERYONE knew the expectation. It was in a way a throwaway year. At the beginning of the year, there was unexpected hope that this team might surprise a lot of people.

I think it was that hope is what made everyone excited and increase their expectations. So therefore posts like this occur.

Like I said in other posts. This year, its okay to be critical on how Pope coaches. But the results this year is what most thought would happen.

A post like this so definitive lacks perspective, I encourage people to look at the bigger picture.

After year 2, is when conversations like this can occur.

In year 3, if we are seeing the exact same things like this year, then its fair to question. He only has 5 year contract.

 

[PopesReignOverCardinals]

How dare Pope lose with a banged-up makeshift team to the #1 team and National Championship betting favorite!

 

[BarefootBeach]

Instead of making a statement. Like “he doesn’t have it” I want to see what you guys think. Simple question is does mark pope have the ability as a coach to get us back to the top of the SEC? Can he bring us a title? He was hired with a shaky resume so he’s gonna have to be evaluated on the job. It’s unfortunate but he doesn’t have a blue blood resume nor track record of success. unlike any other UK coach in my lifetime pope was unproven before he was brought in. I see people say “give him 4 years”. Boys and girls you don’t do that unless the man has a track record. I think it’s completely fair to question popes ceiling as a college coach. Life is short. What do you say? Does the man have it or are we just wasting time like we did with cal?

We can agree you don't have it

 

[Wildcats1st]

The vultures are out after an abbreviated recruiting period and a partial season. Wow! Don't even have the decency to wait until after the season.

I can say with certainty that you don't have it.

Teams kinda falling apart right now after a good start. Regression throughout the season is a massive coaching red flag. And I don’t want to hear excuses.

 

[Wildcats1st]

He put a team together from 0 to full roster in less than a month. Second, Mark is very, very smart and well self evaluate what worked and fix it. He is also a student of the game and will learn from other people as well. He will not be out worked and that is who I want as my coach. Give him his full roster all year and I like our team, injuries happen and he is still competing. Lastly, when the fans turn on one of their own not even through year one, who the hell would want to sign up to take the job? I trust Coach Pope will battle the rest of this year and do an evaluation from top to bottom and come back even better next year.

You realize we could have brought a proven coach whose roster would have followed? Barney did that he hired a guy who he thought the fanbase would give 4 years to pope without question. I hope you’re right that he doesn’t those things but when I see mark fox on the bench I know where the program is headed.

 

[Wildcats1st]

This fan base is exhausting.

You can always go join the duke fanbase.

 

[UKAlum84]

He has exceeded with what he has had time to create.

He quickly won 10 games at the beginning of the season.

It was fools gold to think that we'd whip right through the sec conference.

Other schools have not had coaching changes and have recruited well.

We have a negative in that crucial players are injured.

Don't expect the guard situation to improve this year.

My expectations are to avoid sec teams in the ncaa tourney........though record number of sec schools may be in the tourney this year... Makes for a lop-sided tourney for the sec. It's possible that we see a final four with at least 2 sec schools making it.

 

[ukfan1622]

I voted "yes".

 

[know1]

I wish you would take your agenda driven punk ass out of here.

This x100.

 

[UKAlum84]

It is strange that at the beginning we were avg close to 90 a game.....and then as the season went on.......we took major hits to the roster and player performance. Nothing that coaching could immediately fix.

 

[kats23]

You can always go join the duke fanbase.

I think it’s the other way around dude

 

[LmdCat]

Teams kinda falling apart right now after a good start. Regression throughout the season is a massive coaching red flag. And I don’t want to hear excuses.

I am sure that injuries have nothing to do with the regression. INJURIES AREN'T AN EXCUSE, JUST A FACT!! Agenda driven posters typically label facts as excuses. The huge red flag who left last season isn't likely to make it to the tourney and he has a lot more talented team than Pope. The same Cal loyalists who thought Cal wasn't given enough time to turn things around are crying about Pope's first season. The only real red flag is your posting agenda. Lol

 

[UKAlum84]

If Coach Pope can figure out how to replace lamont or kerr or whoever else.....its not easy...yes we got 2 ky boys who can make 3s, but do they have the drive and focus to defend like lamont? Its just not easy.

 

[UKAlum84]

2 glaring facts stuck out to me: Auburn made a bunch of 3s......we did not.... and UK made many turnovers.........that led to easy points.

 

[Wildcats1st]

He has exceeded with what he has had time to create.

He quickly won 10 games at the beginning of the season.

It was fools gold to think that we'd whip right through the sec conference.

Other schools have not had coaching changes and have recruited well.

We have a negative in that crucial players are injured.

Don't expect the guard situation to improve this year.

My expectations are to avoid sec teams in the ncaa tourney........though record number of sec schools may be in the tourney this year... Makes for a lop-sided tourney for the sec. It's possible that we see a final four with at least 2 sec schools making it.

You realize you can build a title contender now in a day?? This “be patient” crap is a product of how UK has dealt with fb coaches. I mean pope will get another year but similar results will get ugly fast for a former player. I don’t want that to happen do you? Great coaches aren’t adored for being positive. Positivity signal satisfaction to the players.

 

[ftp000]

This fan base is exhausting.

Catfan1st has never been an actual fan of Kentucky. He's always been this.

 

[kyfanrob]

Instead of making a statement. Like “he doesn’t have it” I want to see what you guys think. Simple question is does mark pope have the ability as a coach to get us back to the top of the SEC? Can he bring us a title? He was hired with a shaky resume so he’s gonna have to be evaluated on the job. It’s unfortunate but he doesn’t have a blue blood resume nor track record of success. unlike any other UK coach in my lifetime pope was unproven before he was brought in. I see people say “give him 4 years”. Boys and girls you don’t do that unless the man has a track record. I think it’s completely fair to question popes ceiling as a college coach. Life is short. What do you say? Does the man have it or are we just wasting time like we did with cal?

I bet you thought the same thing with a first year coach that went 14-14 in his first year at UK. How did he end up doing?

 

[UKAlum84]

I think the early rise by Coach Rupp, has made this fan base expect more than what average college coaches are capable of.

 

[LmdCat]

You realize you can build a title contender now in a day?? This “be patient” crap is a product of how UK has dealt with fb coaches. I mean pope will get another year but similar results will get ugly fast for a former player. I don’t want that to happen do you? Great coaches aren’t adored for being positive. Positivity signal satisfaction to the players.

Give the names of title contending teams that were built in a day. I know that in some states smoking weed is legal, but do us a favor and try not to post while smoking.

 

[LmdCat]

I think the early rise by Coach Rupp, has made this fan base expect more than what average college coaches are capable of.

I think it is obvious why we have the most hated fanbase in college sports. The fringe element of this fanbase makes us all look really bad. It makes us look like we operate in extremes.

 

[UKAlum84]

It makes you wonder about UCLA.......man they aren't so relevant but Coach Wooden could get results....a long time ago.

 

[LmdCat]

.

 

[ukfan1622]

I knew the board would melt down as always after a loss but it seems especially weird today.

Auburn is clearly the best team in the country and even though Kentucky clearly didn't play their A game against Auburn with all the turnovers and hitting only 25% from 3 point range and losing by 16...Auburn did not outplay them by 16 points unless you consider hitting back to back accidental 3 point bank shots and being given 4 points by the refs on phantom fouls playing well.

I think those lucky threes and bad officiating caused them to think they had no chance yesterday and they were right.
I think Kentucky will bounce back in big way to close the season.

 

[Wildcats1st]

I am sure that injuries have nothing to do with the regression. NOT AN EXCUSE, JUST A FACT!! Agenda driven posters typically label facts as excuses. The huge red flag who left last season isn't likely to make it to the tourney and he had a lot more talent that Pope. The same Cal loyalists who thought Cal wasn't given enough time to turn things around are crying about Pope's first season. The only real red flag is your posting agenda. Lol

I am an agenda driven poster. I don’t know who invented that term but it’s awful. My agenda is simple. Win. We have fn won in the tournament since 2019 1 win. So after this season if we are an early knock out which people are now setting expectations for. Well that will be 6 years with crappy march results. I think every poster has an agenda. And another march flameout after the start we had plus popes lack of a resume I just want to win. What’s your agenda? To see a good game? To blindly follow the leader? I think pope needs a warm seat. We will be .500 in a conference where the winner has 1 loss. We are so far and the only guys returning are guys we need to recruit over. So yeah to all who let this term “agenda poster” fly yes we all have an agenda. Mine is to win consistently in match. Be able to enjoy the tourney every year. We don’t flame out first weekend. That’s not UK basketball. No defense is not uk basketball. I expect strong defense, not to get blown out so he’ll yeah I have an agenda. I don’t care who the coach is as long as he is winning our program is winning.

 

[UKAlum84]

Another upside to Coach Pope, we are one win away from having a 20 win season. Arguably in one of the most difficult conferences to play in. It's just not been fair to him really, for fans to expect a bunch of wins....first season, a couple of guys followed him to UK....injuries....it's gotta let up sometime. He's tried extremely hard to win games I think.

 

[Wildcats1st]

I knew the board would melt down as always after a loss but it seems especially weird today.

Auburn is clearly the best team in the country and even though Kentucky clearly didn't play their A game against Auburn with all the turnovers and hitting only 25% from 3 point range and losing by 16...Auburn did not outplay them by 16 points unless you consider hitting back to back accidental 3 point bank shots and being given 4 points by the refs on phantom fouls playing well.

I think those lucky threes and bad officiating caused them to think they had no chance yesterday and they were right.
I think Kentucky will bounce back in big way to close the season.

We got smashed because of really poor sub patterns. Our guys at time didn’t know what they were doing. Pope didn’t give us a chance and then the obvious you fail to mention. We didn’t just lose to auburn we also lost our potentially best player for the season. We went from a team people thought would make a healthy run to a team that won’t be healthy a team that has given a lot of games away. Uk fans want to experience March madness again and those chances took a massive hit yesterday.