Going forward what are realistic expectations that are very possible

[champs-r-us]

1. Stay in the top 16 in the polls
2. Win your home SEC games
3. Win 2 Big SEC road games TN, Ole M, A&M etc...
4. 4 Seed in East Coast or South
5. Deep run in SEC tourney and Big Dance is very possible with all the game experience this team has.

 

[backinky2018]

I think the field is open enough this year such that a deep run is POSSIBLE but so is a second round exit. I think sweet 16 or better would mean that expectations were met.

With regard to regular season, I think we should win most of our home games and hope to steal a few on the road.

 

[Cawood86]

Gotta win SEC home games and steal a few on the road. If the SEC eats them up, it will turn quick with some fans unfortunately

 

[kats23]

My expectations since the summer is get to the tournament and win a game. Anything beyond that is gravy. Those expectations have remained the same and probably will remain the same

 

[Drcatfan]

This is Pope’s first year and he had to throw together a team. I think he is a great X/O’s coach. Need to give him more than one short notice chance to assemble a team.

I am worried he will be the exact opposite of Cal. We will have great execution teams with average talent

 

[cathouse]

Finishing 10-8 in the SEC will be a huge accomplishment for this team. That would mean a 21-10 record going into SEC tournament and should be good for a 4-5 seed.

I think 9-9 is more likely. That is about the ceiling for this team unless Kerr Krissa brings something that is really missing with this team right now.........leadership and energy.

 

[megablue]

My expectations since the summer is get to the tournament and win a game. Anything beyond that is gravy. Those expectations have remained the same and probably will remain the same

These are my expectations, as well.
The biggest key, going forward, is who returns and how well-fitted are the crucial portal transfers. They will need to mesh well with highly-rated Freshmen.

 

[Smashcat]

Gotta win SEC home games and steal a few on the road.

This is a reasonable goal.

 

[blackcat714]

Its gonna get ugly after the Mark Stoops schedule is over and SEC play begins.

 

[chevyman 50]

I was feeling pretty good about Ky chances in the SEC but now it hard to know what they will do, I still have optimism.

 

[warrior-cat]

This is Pope’s first year and he had to throw together a team. I think he is a great X/O’s coach. Need to give him more than one short notice chance to assemble a team.

I am worried he will be the exact opposite of Cal. We will have great execution teams with average talent

I believe the talent improves in the next couple of years with incoming freshman and portal talent. This year is an anomaly with the fact that there was nothing on the table to build on. Plus, there are almost always days/games like this over the years even for our better teams. We will still get better. A week and a half to work on it before the next game.

 

[yoshukai]

1. Stay in the top 16 in the polls
2. Win your home SEC games
3. Win 2 Big SEC road games TN, Ole M, A&M etc...
4. 4 Seed in East Coast or South
5. Deep run in SEC tourney and Big Dance is very possible with all the game experience this team has.

I said last spring after the roster was complete that I expected about 10 losses and at least 1 ncaa tournament win . I’ll stick with that but ….. I really underestimated how good the SEC was going to be.

 

[maysvilleky]

20+ wins 4seed in NCAAT

 

[BIG BLUE GURU]

We aren't going to win every home game. We just don't have the talent thi

My expectations since the summer is get to the tournament and win a game. Anything beyond that is gravy. Those expectations have remained the same and probably will remain the same

I agree. Just get to the tournament and win a game or two. 9-9 in the SEC should do it. That would be a success for this year and the talent we have.

 

[chroix]

2-4 seed realistically. Back to sweet sixteen/elite eight ceiling.

 

[NociHTTP]

This is Pope’s first year and he had to throw together a team. I think he is a great X/O’s coach. Need to give him more than one short notice chance to assemble a team.

I am worried he will be the exact opposite of Cal. We will have great execution teams with average talent

He's really INTO the X/O's, the deep science (or whatever you call it) of basketball, but it's one of his guys who teaches the X/O's, IIRC.

 

[NociHTTP]

I believe the talent improves in the next couple of years with incoming freshman and portal talent. This year is an anomaly with the fact that there was nothing on the table to build on. Plus, there are almost always days/games like this over the years even for our better teams. We will still get better. A week and a half to work on it before the next game.

They play in 9 days, but close enough

 

[warrior-cat]

2-4 seed realistically. Back to sweet sixteen/elite eight ceiling.

Anything past the first round is an improvement from the last couple or so years. Go past that and it is gravy and a successful year imo.

 

[Mash 2.4]

I don’t really have any expectations. Just enjoying watching the Cats this year, for the most part, for the first time in years. I had gotten to the point with Cal where i didn’t even know when they were playing. He held the program hostage. We have it back. I do think this is a veteran bunch of fighters who can play with anyone in the country when playing well. It’s time for some adjustments as teams are seeing our film. Unlike with Cal, I have confidence Pope will make those adjustments.

 

[cathouse]

Its gonna get ugly after the Mark Stoops schedule is over and SEC play begins.

Lol. When has Mark Stoops EVER played two teams the caliber of Duke and Gonzaga in his OOC games??

 

[xtra12]

Bottom line is Cal tried to screw us and Coach Pope put together a better team in such a short amount of a time than anyone else could have.
He doesn't have a star, that'll hurt, but he will when he actually has the time to recruit.
He's already done better than I ever imagined. I'd rather have a rough season this year and a bright future than where we were.
By Cal leaving when he did, he showed, once again, how little he cares for the school and only for himself.

We have a coach now that bleeds blue. I'm loving this season because of it and can't wait for all the future ones!

 

[john4uk]

SEC play will be determined by which UK team shows up to play. Wtll it be the team that shoots horribly and forgets how to rebound and defend or the team that shoots with confidence, makes an effort to play some semblance of defense and can withstand the pressure other teams are going to bring. It's up to Pope to get them ready and the players to respond. If this team plays like they did Saturday against O State the remainder of the season in SEC play could be a disaster.
Big question, can this team meet the challenge they will face in SEC play?

 

[BC_Wader]

1. Stay in the top 16 in the polls
2. Win your home SEC games
3. Win 2 Big SEC road games TN, Ole M, A&M etc...
4. 4 Seed in East Coast or South
5. Deep run in SEC tourney and Big Dance is very possible with all the game experience this team has.

That's a realistic expectation and would be a good season. A Sweet 16 is all I expected before the season. We're better than I thought we'd be but we have a lot to work on.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Final 4 of SEC Tournament.

S16 or better finish.

Top 4 in SEC standings.

25 wins minimum

 

[true blue1]

I’m going to wait til the madness wears off before I make a prediction.

 

[Edgarman]

I was feeling pretty good about Ky chances in the SEC but now it hard to know what they will do, I still have optimism.

If we go 9 and 9 in SEC we will be out performing our talent level. I read we would win all our SEC games at home. I hope we win 5 of our 9 home SEC games. Beating Auburn even without Broome would still be a pipe dream. We just do not have the talent this year to compete for SEC title. Pope will need a couple of years to build his roster. I think he will but to expect him to compete with a roster tied together with baling twine in a very very short time is just unfair to Coach Pope. If this was year three then expectations would be warranted. It will be year three before Coach Pope can or should be judged. He is a good man, a good coach but not a miracle worker.

 

[Emarc]

Anything past the first round is an improvement from the last couple or so years. Go past that and it is gravy and a successful year imo.

Agree. Afterall, 8 months ago we had no players or coach.

 

[bucsrule8872]

9-9 in the SEC would be a realistic possibility.

 

[catfan220]

1. Stay in the top 16 in the polls
2. Win your home SEC games
3. Win 2 Big SEC road games TN, Ole M, A&M etc...
4. 4 Seed in East Coast or South
5. Deep run in SEC tourney and Big Dance is very possible with all the game experience this team has.

I'm prepared for the possibility of going .500 in conference, which may still be good enough for a 6 or 7 seed. I would love to make the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. I can't express how much I miss those 5 days between the 2nd round win and the Sweet Sixteen.

 

[CB3UK]

It's ONE game people. I'm not saying we don't have issues that need addressing, but the overreaction.....well he'll, why am I acting surprised. Now if yesterday's effort becomes the norm, yeah, I'll join ya.

I want to see us make at least the Sweet 16 with this group. I don't think that's unreasonable all things considered.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

Its gonna get ugly after the Mark Stoops schedule is over and SEC play begins.

I would hardly call playing Duke,Gonzaga,2 ACC teams and big 10 team in the first 12 games a " Stoops" level non conference schedule,you are an ASS and your agenda is obvious.

 

[Cleatortoises]

Worst 10-2 team ever.

 

[champs-r-us]

It's ONE game people. I'm not saying we don't have issues that need addressing, but the overreaction.....well he'll, why am I acting surprised. Now if yesterday's effort becomes the norm, yeah, I'll join ya.

I want to see us make at least the Sweet 16 with this group. I don't think that's unreasonable all things considered.

Actually it wasn't 1 game, the team had been trending this way going back to the Duke game. Yes they won both the Gonzaga and Duke game, but the scouting report over last 6-7 games is Kentucky has been playing mediocre and it's easy to see.

 

[know1]

My expectations haven't changed one bit since Pope was hired. I expect this year to be better than the last several under Cal. More wins total, better seed, farther in the tournaments.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

6-seed and a 1st weekend exit is my thoughts until I see differently. OSU really wasn't a one-off for those of us paying attention. If it was I could totally excuse an off-night. But this was brewing for a while, and if not for Pope and some other teams having their own hurdles (injuries, players fouling out), we'd be at 4 losses, maybe more.

 

[CB3UK]

Actually it wasn't 1 game, the team had been trending this way going back to the Duke game. Yes they won both the Gonzaga and Duke game, but the scouting report over last 6-7 games is Kentucky has been playing mediocre and it's easy to see.

They're still learning and growing. Im not gonna get down on them because of one game. That's shortsighted at best. Any one who paid attention this offseason knew these games were coming. Then some of you act surprised when it does.

 

[Hoskins91]

They're still learning and growing. Im not gonna get down on them because of one game. That's shortsighted at best. Any one who paid attention this offseason knew these games were coming. Then some of you act surprised when it does.

It’s not been just one game. It’s just most of the teams we’ve played are bad enough it didn’t matter.

 

[Hoskins91]

He gets a pass this yea, short of something unlikely like the team completely tanking all of a sudden. I disagree we have to wait two or three more years to really judge him though. If he can legitimately recruit and develop talent, he should be able to put a real team together before then.