Hoping for better in year 2

[darkshadesofblue]

I know I’m bringing up the same points that’s been posted repeatedly. This year was an exception considering the short amount of time Pope had to assemble a roster, but it’s now one calendar year on the job. By the end of year 2, we need to be back in the top echelon of the sport. Getting blown habitually against the top of the top teams in the conference won’t cut it. Still a fun and memorable season nonetheless, really appreciative of the work our guys put in and playing through injury. Hope our coaches hit the portal hard and convince a core or players to return to build around

 

[TriCountyCat]

My biggest concern with Pope still hasn’t been answered. Can he get players, simple as that? How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

My biggest concern with Pope still hasn’t been answered. Can he get players, simple as that? How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

Too early for this though. We’re Auburn, Alabama or Florida running out first year coaches? We had the best season out of anyone in their first year id say. Only gets better from here

 

[cat tat2]

Expectations undoubtedly will be higher next year and rightfully so.

 

[catben]

I know I’m bringing up the same points that’s been posted repeatedly. This year was an exception considering the short amount of time Pope had to assemble a roster, but it’s now one calendar year on the job. By the end of year 2, we need to be back in the top echelon of the sport. Getting blown habitually against the top of the top teams in the conference won’t cut it. Still a fun and memorable season nonetheless, really appreciative of the work our guys put in and playing through injury. Hope our coaches hit the portal hard and convince a core or players to return to build around

Coach Pope has said as much from the time he took this job.

WHY is that so hard for some of our fans to ACKNOWLEDGE!!

He KNOWS UK needs to win at the very TOP LEVEL!!!! He will go out and get the players needed to do just that. And if he doesn't get the results HE HIMSELF KNOWS he has to at UK, he KNOWS he will be replaced!!!

Coach Pope is a VERY intelligent dude!!! He is also EXTREMELY competitive and wants to WIN above ALL ELSE!!

This off-season will be IMMENSELY more PRODUCTIVE than last year when he ONLY had 4 weeks to put this team together!!!

 

[ukcatz12]

How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

They were basically all able to get their guards a few years ago and keep them in the program so they were great seniors. Every single player on our team is new this year. If Oweh sticks around he'll turn into what those teams have now, but there are no shortcuts to getting players like that. You need time for guys to develop within your program.

 

[catlogic15]

My biggest concern with Pope still hasn’t been answered. Can he get players, simple as that? How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

I said some time ago I’m withholding judgement of Pope until I see next year’s roster. Already lost our top pg choice.
He’s going to have to walk the walk now. The talk we’ve heard for a year now.

 

[catben]

My biggest concern with Pope still hasn’t been answered. Can he get players, simple as that? How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

MAYBE because he ONLY had 4 weeks to find players!!!

Comparing our roster to ANY of the teams you mentioned is EXTREMELY unfair to Coach Pope.

Now, next season is a different story and he KNOWS that!!!

 

[Supafuzz75]

My biggest concern with Pope still hasn’t been answered. Can he get players, simple as that? How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

One reason is they had more than 5 weeks to get said guards.. 🤷🏻‍♂

 

[Sejonesy]

My biggest concern with Pope still hasn’t been answered. Can he get players, simple as that? How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

Hmmmm, maybe because Pope had a month to assemble a roster? And Auburn Bama and Florida coaches have been there for some years. Geez, some of these posts are just ridiculous

 

[CatPatrick13]

My biggest concern with Pope still hasn’t been answered. Can he get players, simple as that? How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

Come on guys. Pope comes in with his team built at BYU, with zero relationship with any of the portal guys. All the other coaches had a huge head start. Like the new Tulane dude says, good idea to get in before the rush. Watch Pope work the system.

 

[Blue wood]

Hmmmm, maybe because Pope had a month to assemble a roster? And Auburn Bama and Florida coaches have been there for some years. Geez, some of these posts are just ridiculous

These people must be too damn stupid to understand this. We have some ignorant fans

 

[CatPatrick13]

One reason is they had more than 5 weeks to get said guards.. 🤷🏻‍♂

100% correct

 

[TriCountyCat]

Hmmmm, maybe because Pope had a month to assemble a roster? And Auburn Bama and Florida coaches have been there for some years. Geez, some of these posts are just ridiculous

I’m not saying we should have had them this year. He had no time. But Pope still hasn’t shown he can get them. When he does I’ll be satisfied.

 

[billoliver40]

So being in the last 16 teams in the nation playing is not upper echelon?

 

[cornbreadnmilk]

Come on guys. Pope comes in with his team built at BYU, with zero relationship with any of the portal guys. All the other coaches had a huge head start. Like the new Tulane dude says, good idea to get in before the rush. Watch Pope work the system.

He already lost on Dent. I'm not so sure the studs will flock in.

 

[chasingwildcat]

My biggest concern with Pope still hasn’t been answered. Can he get players, simple as that? How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

Their coaches all have multiple years in the team before..

Todd Golden missed tournament in year 1, made 7 seed and upsetted by 10 seed in year 2...

We should have better clue of Mark Pope in year 2 and year 3

At least, we are on the correct direction

 

[BCD]

Perhaps I grade on a curve, but year three is where I expect much more.

 

[chasingwildcat]

He already lost on Dent. I'm not so sure the studs will flock in.

Do not judge in pre-season, no one thought guards in Florida would be this good. Florida guards were not that highly ranked offeseaon....

 

[CatPatrick13]

He already lost on Dent. I'm not so sure the studs will flock in.

Dent is an LA guy. Reportedly he was paid top dollar. We may lose one or 2. Dent is not the be all end all. If we work half as hard as last year to build a roster this year it will be a very good portal season. I bet there are 5 guys at PG better than dent who haven’t even entered the portal yet. I think you are an intelligent poster and suspect this already.

 

[MrHotDice]

My biggest concern with Pope still hasn’t been answered. Can he get players, simple as that? How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

some on here are brain dead. This time last year we didnt have a team, players or coaching staff. Anyone who complains about this year have no reason to be a sports fan.

 

[BBNinSC]

He already lost on Dent. I'm not so sure the studs will flock in.

I don’t think you understand how the portal works. Mark Pope or any other coach is not recruiting players from the portal. They are offering. Many players commit without even visiting the school. It’s all about the NIL offer.

 

[fatguy87]

My biggest concern with Pope still hasn’t been answered. Can he get players, simple as that? How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

They had rosters with very good players returning.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

MAYBE because he ONLY had 4 weeks to find players!!!

Comparing our roster to ANY of the teams you mentioned is EXTREMELY unfair to Coach Pope.

Now, next season is a different story and he KNOWS that!!!

These people have 0 interest in being fair. They didn't want Pope hired in the first place and are going to nitpick and whine about him at every opportunity so they can hopefully say they were right all along. If you guys Johnson's are as big as your egos I feel sorry for your wives.

 

[TheWyldKat]

Good question I hope they can get some guys that can play defense. Horrific performance today. Embarrassed to have a blowout loss in the sweet 16.

 

[rykr]

My biggest concern with Pope still hasn’t been answered. Can he get players, simple as that? How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

Lamont Butler would like to have a word...

 

[USARMYWILDCAT]

With Mark Pope as the coach, I don’t worry about scoring. We need a veteran point guard from the portal. The most important thing that we need coming in the next season is athletic big man. We need a four and a five that can move their feet on defense and rebound out of their area. No offense to Andrew Carr. He had some good moments this year. I generally did love watching him play. He was not a good rebounder at all. He was way too slow for the level of athlete iIt takes to compete at that position. If you’re going to play your five out on the perimeter as a facilitator. You must have a four that can go get offensive rebounds. I believe the staff knows this. I believe we have a much improved front court next year to go along with all the cards we have. I expect we will be a top 10 team all year next year and be playing good ball come March.

 

[ChicagoCat1990]

My biggest concern with Pope still hasn’t been answered. Can he get players, simple as that? How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

This! We need guys that can force our style of play on the opponents. In every loss we got stuck playing the other teams style and our guys couldn't do anything about it.

 

[kybloo92]

Avoid the injury bug, stay healthy and I believe they will definitely have a better season in year two.

 

[JonathanW]

I know I’m bringing up the same points that’s been posted repeatedly. This year was an exception considering the short amount of time Pope had to assemble a roster, but it’s now one calendar year on the job. By the end of year 2, we need to be back in the top echelon of the sport. Getting blown habitually against the top of the top teams in the conference won’t cut it. Still a fun and memorable season nonetheless, really appreciative of the work our guys put in and playing through injury. Hope our coaches hit the portal hard and convince a core or players to return to build around

I think if not for the injuries we were back in top echelon of college basketball this year.

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

Just get better each year
That’s all anyone can ask

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

I think if not for the injuries we were back in top echelon of college basketball this year.

Agree 100%

 

[kywildcat41035]

My biggest concern with Pope still hasn’t been answered. Can he get players, simple as that? How can Auburn, Alabama and Florida all have 3-4 guards better than any of ours.

Bingo!!! It’s got to happen or he won’t be coaching the Wildcats very long! Sweet 16’s aren’t going to cut it and coming out and playing like that during a sweet 16 isn’t either! Man that was an embarrassment going to that game and watching the product we put on the court!

 

[NociHTTP]

This! We need guys that can force our style of play on the opponents. In every loss we got stuck playing the other teams style and our guys couldn't do anything about it.

It's the staff's job to change things up.