For those fans too young to remember

[cathouse]

What you witnessed last night was a glimpse of UK basketball under Rick Pitino. Mark Pope has that DNA in his coaching blood.
How many times did we play teams with superior talent under Pitino, and run, run, run, press, trap, foul, body them up, and harass them until you watch their legs give out the last 5 minutes of the game, and then we blow by them and finish strong to win the game.

THAT basketball is what most of us old timers have been clamoring for since the day Pitino left for Boston. Now, it appears that Pope will give it to us once again. I only wish I was 45 again instead of 75. Going to be some fun years for you younger fans if you will hang in there with Mark Pope.
He lives and breathes UK basketball just like the passionate UK fans. Why? Because Mark Pope is a UK fan. And Mark Pope loves UK and BBN more than he loves himself.

Now how refreshing is that?

 

[Catman100]

I agree with all of that except the superior talent part.

We have a very talented team. Our best player scored 1 point. If Flagg scores 1 point Duke doesn’t win that game.

We are more talented than we all initially thought.

 

[know1]

I love this post, but honestly it ALSO reminds of many of Tubby's teams and maybe even some of BCG's. Maybe the style was different, but the difference was there was a coach actually COACHING them and motivating them.

It's just been the past 10 years or so that we had the more talented team, but the coach just threw them out there to fend for themselves for the most part. And they were all protecting their draft stock, etc. We haven't seen real team basketball from UK with an actual coach for a long time until now.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Man, it’s so amazing to see! Soooooo happy the fraud that is Calipari is gone! Love having an actual COACH that can make adjustments on the fly! Coach Pope is a brilliant man and coach! AND, he’s one of US! GBB!

 

[BlueBomb]

We have a very talented team. Our best player scored 1 point. If Flagg scores 1 point Duke doesn’t win that game.

Hell, Flagg scored 26 and Duke STILL couldn't win the game.

 

[cathouse]

I agree with all of that except the superior talent part.

We have a very talented team. Our best player scored 1 point. If Flagg scores 1 point Duke doesn’t win that game.

We are more talented than we all initially thought.

Cooper Flagg was the most talented player on the floor.
Knoepple, K-Nipple or whatever his name is, THOUGHT HE was the best player on the floor.

We don't win that game if K-Nipple doesn't throw up 20 shots and MISS 15 of them.

That's what freshman NBA wannabes do. So glad we are passed that phase.

Our MEN whipped Duke's BOYS. The tables have finally turned, and I'm loving it.

 

[crestcat]

We may not have NBA talent but we have very good college talent. They haven’t played together, they are going to get better every game.

 

[kywildcat41035]

What you witnessed last night was a glimpse of UK basketball under Rick Pitino. Mark Pope has that DNA in his coaching blood.
How many times did we play teams with superior talent under Pitino, and run, run, run, press, trap, foul, body them up, and harass them until you watch their legs give out the last 5 minutes of the game, and then we blow by them and finish strong to win the game.

THAT basketball is what most of us old timers have been clamoring for since the day Pitino left for Boston. Now, it appears that Pope will give it to us once again. I only wish I was 45 again instead of 75. Going to be some fun years for you younger fans if you will hang in there with Mark Pope.
He lives and breathes UK basketball just like the passionate UK fans. Why? Because Mark Pope is a UK fan. And Mark Pope loves UK and BBN more than he loves himself.

Now how refreshing is that?

This is exactly what I've been telling people on here. I was in my teenage years since I'm 45 now and those were the best basketball years of my life and Pope is bringing those years back. POPE IS UK BASKETBALL!!!!!

 

[cathouse]

I love this post, but honestly it ALSO reminds of many of Tubby's teams and maybe even some of BCG's. Maybe the style was different, but the difference was there was a coach actually COACHING them and motivating them.

It's just been the past 10 years or so that we had the more talented team, but the coach just threw them out there to fend for themselves for the most part. And they were all protecting their draft stock, etc. We haven't seen real team basketball from UK with an actual coach for a long time until now.

For me, it is not just the ability to coach them up and make in game adjustments. It is also about style of play.

I loved Tubby Smith. I thought he was a great bench coach. BUT, for whatever reason ( coaching philosophy) Tubby refused to embrace the fast paced offense, shooting the three, full court pressure that Pitino built the UK dynasty around.

Every pre-season Tubby would promise that he was going more up tempo on offense and press on defense. Never happened. Tubby loved to control the offense and grind in the half court. Just not in his DNA to speed up the game.

Mark Pope embraces all of those Pitino principles, PLUS, he is very intelligent at making in game adjustments.

I think he will be a great coach at UK for years to come.

 

[bbncal02]

Still want to see more full court press. But yes, we did see a sliver of Pitino Ball last night. Our offense was just putrid at times, and that's credit to the Duke defense that really shut down our perimeter game. What I was truly impressed with was the adjustments made, and Pope erased doubts that we couldn't take it inside. Granted, that was when their 7'2" dude was out, but dem's the breaks. We won't see another team that talented until we play Bama and EweTee.

Pope found a way to win, and exploited it. It's what all great UK coaches have done, even Cal in his early years here. It's good to see we have another real coach that is willing to make adjustments. And unlike our previous coach, I don't think it will be a "blue moon" thing either.

 

[bbncal02]

For me, it is not just the ability to coach them up and make in game adjustments. It is also about style of play.

I loved Tubby Smith. I thought he was a great bench coach. BUT, for whatever reason ( coaching philosophy) Tubby refused to embrace the fast paced offense, shooting the three, full court pressure that Pitino built the UK dynasty around.

Every pre-season Tubby would promise that he was going more up tempo on offense and press on defense. Never happened. Tubby loved to control the offense and grind in the half court. Just not in his DNA to speed up the game.

Mark Pope embraces all of those Pitino principles, PLUS, he is very intelligent at making in game adjustments.

I think he will be a great coach at UK for years to come.

Agreed. Tubby just had a differnent philosophy and it worked for a long time; but the game was changing, and just like Cal, he didn't want to really change with it. And that's ok, every coach gets to that point. BUT....you gotta know when to step aside or go to a smaller program where you don't have to be as innovative to be competitive.

Best college jobs in the world have got to be like the WKUs or Minnesota's of the world where winning is good, but as long as you're competitive and make a good tourney shot here and there, you will be accepted and content.

UK IS the best college job around, but it does come with a lot of responsibility and performance goals. I think Pope just took a good solid first step into saying he can do this job and do it for the long term.

 

[jwphelps]

What you witnessed last night was a glimpse of UK basketball under Rick Pitino. Mark Pope has that DNA in his coaching blood.
How many times did we play teams with superior talent under Pitino, and run, run, run, press, trap, foul, body them up, and harass them until you watch their legs give out the last 5 minutes of the game, and then we blow by them and finish strong to win the game.

THAT basketball is what most of us old timers have been clamoring for since the day Pitino left for Boston. Now, it appears that Pope will give it to us once again. I only wish I was 45 again instead of 75. Going to be some fun years for you younger fans if you will hang in there with Mark Pope.
He lives and breathes UK basketball just like the passionate UK fans. Why? Because Mark Pope is a UK fan. And Mark Pope loves UK and BBN more than he loves himself.

Now how refreshing is that?

Rick is a really good coach, and he eats and sleeps basketball, Pope is cut from the same cloth and learned from the master.

 

[bbncal02]

Rick is a really good coach, and he eats and sleeps basketball, Pope is cut from the same cloth and learned from the master.

It's like we got a clean and moral Rick Pitino. Hard not to like that.

 

[ACT ONE]

No lead was too big for Pitino coached team to overcome. Never any panic very business like approach. Saw some of that last night which was very refreshing. I am excited for the future of this program.

 

[_ukcat]

This team has more talent but this might be The Unforgettables 2.O. EFFORT!

 

[bbncal02]

No lead was too big for Pitino coached team to overcome. Never any panic very business like approach. Saw some of that last night which was very refreshing. I am excited for the future of this program.

Yeah, I was a bit worried at half because while we had the players, I was wondering where are points were gonna come from. Duke did a damn good job of shutting down our perimeter game. Pope showed we can have an inside game too.

 

[blue cincy]

Man it was fun when Ark (had Nolan coaching and 40 min of Hell) and Pitino and UK 40 minutes of all out balls out basketball.

UK can be very good this year, if they continue to just keep doing what Pope tells them. Keeps believing in each other and just playing physical / hard / heady / rugged basketball. I love the adjustments that were made. Pope seemed to put the right guys in at the right time in the 2nd half and especially late in the game.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Still want to see more full court press. But yes, we did see a sliver of Pitino Ball last night. Our offense was just putrid at times, and that's credit to the Duke defense that really shut down our perimeter game. What I was truly impressed with was the adjustments made, and Pope erased doubts that we couldn't take it inside. Granted, that was when their 7'2" dude was out, but dem's the breaks. We won't see another team that talented until we play Bama and EweTee.

Pope found a way to win, and exploited it. It's what all great UK coaches have done, even Cal in his early years here. It's good to see we have another real coach that is willing to make adjustments. And unlike our previous coach, I don't think it will be a "blue moon" thing either.

Has Pope pressed in the past with any of his teams? Like, on a consistent basis? Have been wondering if and when he has the personnel to do so, will he?

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

Half the reason we watch sports is to enjoy the game. Cal’s brand of basketball was really hard to watch. I could only watch so many perimeter pass-pass-drive plays. Which meant the highlights were usually our boys showing some kind of freak athleticism, not some beautifully executed play.

 

[bbncal02]

Has Pope pressed in the past with any of his teams? Like, on a consistent basis? Have been wondering if and when he has the personnel to do so, will he?

I didn't see the first two games, but I think some said he did for a bit in those.

 

[BassProCat]

Wish my dad was here to witness last night …he raised me up to be a UK fan on those Pitino teams.
He would’ve been soo damn happy to see Pope pop his big game cherry on Puke!!

Miss ya dad …we got a great one in Pope …now I to get raise my son up on Pope and the cats.

Life can be beautiful!!

 

[JHannibalSmith]

Wish my dad was here to witness last night …he raised me up to be a UK fan on those Pitino teams.
He would’ve been soo damn happy to see Pope pop his big game cherry on Puke!!

Miss ya dad …we got a great one in Pope …now I to get raise my son up on Pope and the cats.

Life can be beautiful!!

Same. I lost my dad in February & it kills me that he wasn’t able to enjoy the last few years of UK basketball. He made me a fan in 78 at 5 years old & also taught me to hate UNC as much as I love UK. He shared my disdain for what Calipari did to the program, too. Makes it worse knowing that he had to suffer thru all the recent bs & passed right before the good stuff happened. I badly wish the pos in Fayetteville would’ve read the room & left at least a season or 2 before he did. 🤬😢

 

[littlecreek]

Wish my dad was here to witness last night …he raised me up to be a UK fan on those Pitino teams.
He would’ve been soo damn happy to see Pope pop his big game cherry on Puke!!

Miss ya dad …we got a great one in Pope …now I to get raise my son up on Pope and the cats.

Life can be beautiful!!

I'm with you here. I wish my dad was still around to witness a KENTUCKY WIN FIRST coach. He passed away in 2019 so he thankfully didn't see Kentucky's massive decline.

 

[BassProCat]

Same. I lost my dad in February & it kills me that he wasn’t able to enjoy the last few years of UK basketball. He made me a fan in 78 at 5 years old & also taught me to hate UNC as much as I love UK. He shared my disdain for what Calipari did to the program, too. Makes it worse knowing that he had to suffer thru all the recent bs & passed right before the good stuff happened. I badly wish the pos in Fayetteville would’ve read the room & left at least a season or 2 before he did. 🤬😢

Yup had the same heart ache with my dad over the past couple seasons…wanted desperately for my dad to enjoy one great season of UK before he passed. Shit hurt my soul that my dad had to watch that shit product Cal would produce.

 

[BassProCat]

I'm with you here. I wish my dad was still around to witness a KENTUCKY WIN FIRST coach. He passed away in 2019 so he thankfully didn't see Kentucky's massive decline.

Yeah last night was a slight tear jerker for me. Happy tears mostly…last night was special.

 

[cardkilla]

What you witnessed last night was a glimpse of UK basketball under Rick Pitino. Mark Pope has that DNA in his coaching blood.
How many times did we play teams with superior talent under Pitino, and run, run, run, press, trap, foul, body them up, and harass them until you watch their legs give out the last 5 minutes of the game, and then we blow by them and finish strong to win the game.

THAT basketball is what most of us old timers have been clamoring for since the day Pitino left for Boston. Now, it appears that Pope will give it to us once again. I only wish I was 45 again instead of 75. Going to be some fun years for you younger fans if you will hang in there with Mark Pope.
He lives and breathes UK basketball just like the passionate UK fans. Why? Because Mark Pope is a UK fan. And Mark Pope loves UK and BBN more than he loves himself.

Now how refreshing is that?

yup, exactly! When I started seeing Duke missing more and more open shots late in 1st half I knew we had them. This UK team has balls of steel. What's crazy is we didn't even play that great. Maybe for 15 minutes or so. Don't get me wrong, we looked amazing compared to any Cal team past 5 years but we've got a lot left in the tank to give.

Good god what a brilliant hire. What I love most is seeing Pope talking to these guys when they mess up and not full boar screaming at them.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

I agree with all of that except the superior talent part.

We have a very talented team. Our best player scored 1 point. If Flagg scores 1 point Duke doesn’t win that game.

We are more talented than we all initially thought.

Except me. Right? except me!
Say it Catman!
Im j/k.
We are 9 deep with upperclass badasses.
Its a receipt for success.
And we just cooked Duke’s ass last night.

 

[bbncal02]

Yup had the same heart ache with my dad over the past couple seasons…wanted desperately for my dad to enjoy one great season of UK before he passed. Shit hurt my soul that my dad had to watch that shit product Cal would produce.

Same for my Mom. The year we lost to Auburn in the E8 was the last year she got to see, and she didn't make it to the tourney. Her last game she remembered was us getting pummeled by Zion. She was in an out of the hospital until she passed the follow January.

She would've LOVED Oscar and seeing Reed.

 

[ORCAT10]

What you witnessed last night was a glimpse of UK basketball under Rick Pitino. Mark Pope has that DNA in his coaching blood.
How many times did we play teams with superior talent under Pitino, and run, run, run, press, trap, foul, body them up, and harass them until you watch their legs give out the last 5 minutes of the game, and then we blow by them and finish strong to win the game.

THAT basketball is what most of us old timers have been clamoring for since the day Pitino left for Boston. Now, it appears that Pope will give it to us once again. I only wish I was 45 again instead of 75. Going to be some fun years for you younger fans if you will hang in there with Mark Pope.
He lives and breathes UK basketball just like the passionate UK fans. Why? Because Mark Pope is a UK fan. And Mark Pope loves UK and BBN more than he loves himself.

Now how refreshing is that?

62 here but I can relate. So many games under Pitino were not will we win but rather by how much. There were over by halftime.

Thanks to Coach Pope, my stress level has greatly decreased.

 

[BassProCat]

Same for my Mom. The year we lost to Auburn in the E8 was the last year she got to see, and she didn't make it to the tourney. Her last game she remembered was us getting pummeled by Zion. She was in an out of the hospital until she passed the follow January.

She would've LOVED Oscar and seeing Reed.

They all smiling a lil bigger today….thats for sure.

 

[kywildcat41035]

I'm with you here. I wish my dad was still around to witness a KENTUCKY WIN FIRST coach. He passed away in 2019 so he thankfully didn't see Kentucky's massive decline.

Same here my dad passed in 2016 so he definitely passed before Cal started taken the program into the shitter. He really loved Pitino and that style of basketball just like we all did. He would’ve definitely loved Pope and what Pope is doing for the program!

 

[Bluesbrother]

What you witnessed last night was a glimpse of UK basketball under Rick Pitino. Mark Pope has that DNA in his coaching blood.
How many times did we play teams with superior talent under Pitino, and run, run, run, press, trap, foul, body them up, and harass them until you watch their legs give out the last 5 minutes of the game, and then we blow by them and finish strong to win the game.

THAT basketball is what most of us old timers have been clamoring for since the day Pitino left for Boston. Now, it appears that Pope will give it to us once again. I only wish I was 45 again instead of 75. Going to be some fun years for you younger fans if you will hang in there with Mark Pope.
He lives and breathes UK basketball just like the passionate UK fans. Why? Because Mark Pope is a UK fan. And Mark Pope loves UK and BBN more than he loves himself.

Now how refreshing is that?

Well said ... agreed but I also suspect we may have a better version of Pitino. I also read something Scheyer said about Pope's in-game adjustments making a difference in winning that game. I think he also said the "college basketball is at its best when Kentucky is good". He also raved about Pope. I just want to savor this moment and soak it in.

 

[bbncal02]

They all smiling a lil bigger today….thats for sure.

That made me tear up a bit. Life has been.....hard here lately. I'm going through a lot of personal crap, and just the thought of them being happy made me tear up. People can say it's just basketball....and in a way it is, but it's also so much more.

 

[FirewithFire]

That made me tear up a bit. Life has been.....hard here lately. I'm going through a lot of personal crap, and just the thought of them being happy made me tear up. People can say it's just basketball....and in a way it is, but it's also so much more.

Basketball isn't just basketball in the state of Kentucky. Not saying that is right or wrong but there are very few things that can piss off or depress an entire state full of people like UK losing a big game. I swear, I thought the entire populace was going to need Prozac after 2015, me included.

The opposite is also true. People seemed to be in a better mood today. I know I feel better looking forward to watching UK play basketball again instead of the dread of watching Calipari jack up another game.

 

[michaeluk26]

That made me tear up a bit. Life has been.....hard here lately. I'm going through a lot of personal crap, and just the thought of them being happy made me tear up. People can say it's just basketball....and in a way it is, but it's also so much more.

Sorry to hear @bbncal02. You've helped me a LOT, more than you'll ever know when the PTSD hit me bad some nights. Your encouragement kept me from doing something stupid. Please keep your head up and I know you got the strength to get through whatever you're battling right now. You're a good man.

 

[bbncal02]

Sorry to hear @bbncal02. You've helped me a LOT, more than you'll ever know when the PTSD hit me bad some nights. Your encouragement kept me from doing something stupid. Please keep your head up and I know you got the strength to get through whatever you're battling right now. You're a good man.

I'm glad you are still here with us. PTSD sucks. As a caregiver for both my parents, I kinda understand. I still have dreams about either my mom or my dad needing help. And I wake up a bit anxious and I have to take a bit and relax.

I appreciate that. This time of year is always hard for me. Fall was the family's time of year. Mom's birthday, Dad's Birthday, My Birthday, shoot my Grandmother's birthday. It was one big celebration from September to Christmas. Four months of f-u-n. Cookouts, chili, going to see Hoptown play every Friday night, feeling that nip in the air, it kept the SAD away. It's just not the same anymore without them. Even the friends I have just don't quite get it. I was lucky enough to have good parents. I miss them.

 

[bbncal02]

Man it was fun when Ark (had Nolan coaching and 40 min of Hell) and Pitino and UK 40 minutes of all out balls out basketball.

UK can be very good this year, if they continue to just keep doing what Pope tells them. Keeps believing in each other and just playing physical / hard / heady / rugged basketball. I love the adjustments that were made. Pope seemed to put the right guys in at the right time in the 2nd half and especially late in the game.

I dunno about fun lol. Dad would pace and yell so loud it was nerve wracking! He couldn't STAND Nolan. Neither could my grandmother. And my grandmother was a saint. She tried to love everyone....she just couldn't with him.

Those UK-Arky games were WARS- just flat out wars.

 

[michaeluk26]

I'm glad you are here with us.
I appreciate that. This time of year is always hard for me. Fall was the family's time of year. Mom's birthday, Dad's Birthday, My Birthday, shoot my Grandmother's birthday. It was one big celebration from September to Christmas. Four months of f-u-n. Cookouts, chili, going to see Hoptown play every Friday night, feeling that nip in the air, it kept the SAD away. It's just not the same anymore without them. Even the friends I have just don't quite get it. I was lucky enough to have good parents. I miss them.

Oh Jesus, I had no idea my friend. That's quite a load you're carrying. You need a support system. I've NEVER heard you this down before and to be honest I'm worried about you. I think you give so much to others that you forego taking care of yourself. Honestly brother, are you gonna be ok?

 

[blue cincy]

I dunno about fun lol. Dad would pace and yell so loud it was nerve wracking! He couldn't STAND Nolan. Neither could my grandmother. And my grandmother was a saint. She tried to love everyone....she just couldn't with him.

Those UK-Arky games were WARS- just flat out wars.

You had the Vader to our Luke, Satan to Jesus, Cain to Able. lol That is what made it great!!!! Remember Billy Superstar Dundee would be with Jerry the King Lawler and then they would be enemies.

 

[bbncal02]

Oh Jesus, I had no idea my friend. That's quite a load you're carrying. You need a support system. I've NEVER heard you this down before and to be honest I'm worried about you. I think you give so much to others that you forego taking care of yourself. Honestly brother, are you gonna be ok?

I'm gonna be ok. Just tired. I'm a tough bird.