How many years should we give Pope for fair evaluation, and what least performance expectations should we have during this period?

[ncaaky]

Time frames should be way shorter now for new coaches in both B-ball and Fball. There is really no such thing as a long rebuild anymore.

Pope getting hired mid April with zero players on the roster gets a first year pass. After this year he is at the biggest blue blood in the country with equal footing to every other coach in the country. No excuses after this season.

 

[billoliver40]

And just to add insult if you want to take it: a lot of us stated very vocally we were worn out with being an NBA feeder program. Some of these posts are calling to not only go back to that, but as an accelerated version.

You can't have it both ways.

This coach was given a five year contract. That's reasonably enough time to show where this program is going. This year is a wash...we have a competitive team from NOTHING. A full year of bringing in players and a base of returning guys
Should show us where we are.

Those wishing the never ending cycle of sign play and leave after a year I would urge to either be more patient or follow another program.

I happily anticipate the ignore button. I have certainly found it beneficial this year, even though it has been a wonderful season of troll and jackass hunting...the fields are full.

 

[Bluegrass79]

Finish it strong, win the SEC tournament, and get us back the final four and I say he's got good 6 straight years no matter what

 

[EliteBlue]

I’m willing to give Pope 4 years to get our program back to the FF. After that I expect an FF appearance every 5 years, and a title every 10, which is our program’s historical standard.

I guarantee you Coach Pope expects the same of himself and his players.

This is realistic and accurate.

If not a F4 in the first 5 seasons then it needs to be enough E8s to be on pace to have an E8 average over 10 years when rounding up. So if the S16 is game 3 then you have a 3.5 or higher average of rounds you make it to. Thats our historical average tournament finish

 

[chasingwildcat]

It's his first year and he literally threw a team together in a month, and now 3 of his top 8 are out with injuries. Yet we still have more top 25 wins then we've had in a season maybe ever

Calm down.

Basically OP is telling us he would've fired Dan Hurley before he got two championships
-no Postseason
-no Postseason
-1st rd
-1st rd

That time I believe transfer would have to redshirt for one year and there was no nil

 

[JonathanW]

4 years.

Obviously in year 1 upon arrival he had all 3 (just 1 "eh" recruit, no returning players, AND a late start in the portal). Plus he needed this year to show future recruits and portal pieces, just how he plans to play at UK, and that he can win here. So year 1 shouldn't even count. That would leave 3 years of "show me...".

 

[TankedCat]

I just think its sad that people are talking about mediocrity and all this other nonsense 20 games into Pope's first season inheriting a program with zero players.

I don't remember Gillispie getting that treatment and that guy had issues.

Pope bleeds blue, loves the program and will put everything he has into , every day of his coaching career here.

This isn't a Tubby Smith situation where he just isn't putting in the effort. I can't help but believe he will be successful at UK, and I really don't understand anyone not thinking the future is bright with him.

Piss on Calipari for going to a competing team in the SEC, bringing his players with him and then coming into Rupp all full of faux humility and teary eyes talking about how emotional he is. And while Pope could have done some things better, I'm not not putting that on him.

 

[Wildcats1st]

It is more likely we face St Johns in second round than S16 based on potential seeding

St Johns is a tough matchup for us

Yeah I was trying to be positive

 

[Wildcats1st]

4 years.

Obviously in year 1 upon arrival he had all 3 (just 1 "eh" recruit, no returning players, AND a late start in the portal). Plus he needed this year to show future recruits and portal pieces, just how he plans to play at UK, and that he can win here. So year 1 shouldn't even count. That would leave 3 years of "show me...".

None of that matters. Does he win tournament games this year? Next? If 1 or 0 he will probably quit on his own because he knows what’s coming. I mean next year better produce a year 3 team preseason top 5. It’s not one year of “show me” it’s the body of work over 3. I mean you make an 8 this year a ff next year and year 3 an early out. Building is far different than it ever has been. Ask UNCheat.

 

[ukfan1622]

I think you know if you've got the right coach by the middle of the first year or early in the 2nd year. That's how long it took for me to know that BCG and Joker and Curry were all going to fail. I don't have that feeling about Pope. The day Pope was announced as coach there are very few of us that expected a top 15 team this year.

 

[jeffky]

5 years for me mark has to create a brand and on hands experience to this job . Kentucky basketball is more than just basketball it's a lifestyle and cultural esthetic icon that engulfs the entire state . Takes time for a coach to settle into this job .