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 .

 

[Skyguyb27]

Duke's coach has E8 in year 2 and Hubert Davis has one runner-up and one S16 in two of his first three years.

We are UK, and we should have highest standard.

Pope needs to have a least S16 in first 3 years otherwise he will be fired

Oh yeah? You gonna pay his buyout or fire him yourself with your Harry Potter replica magic wand?

 

[Warf2012]

The number of people saying this year is a wash or shouldn’t count is ridiculous. This isn’t UK football. There’s no free passes. ESPECIALLY considering they’ve clearly shown they can beat anyone. That just makes these losses even more inexcusable. Dropping 1 of 2 games you shouldn’t is understandable but they’re basically doing it every game they’re heavily favored.

There’s zero free passes on this season.

 

[TankedCat]

The number of people saying this year is a wash or shouldn’t count is ridiculous. This isn’t UK football. There’s no free passes. ESPECIALLY considering they’ve clearly shown they can beat anyone. That just makes these losses even more inexcusable. Dropping 1 of 2 games you shouldn’t is understandable but they’re basically doing it every game they’re heavily favored.

There’s zero free passes on this season.

you'd be ok if they were .500 as long as they were consistent?

 

[jeffky]

The number of people saying this year is a wash or shouldn’t count is ridiculous. This isn’t UK football. There’s no free passes. ESPECIALLY considering they’ve clearly shown they can beat anyone. That just makes these losses even more inexcusable. Dropping 1 of 2 games you shouldn’t is understandable but they’re basically doing it every game they’re heavily favored.

There’s zero free passes on this season.

You sound like a troll 🧌 troll alert troll alert ⚠️

 

[rnfoster]

Mine is he should be given a three-year-span and at least should have one s16 appreance during this span

if he can not reach this, he should be fired

Thoughts?

 

[rnfoster]

I’m gonna say three years and at least an NCAA tournament bid the first year, sweet 16 the second year, and the final four for the third year.

 

[rnfoster]

Here is the big problem with big blue nation, which I am a part of and have been for 50+ years. We want a championship Popes first year.

 

[TFCats11]

Most of y’all are approaching this like it’s 2017 still or something! Listen, this “give Pope 3 years, or 5 years, or whatever years, is missing the point!

We just watched a next to no name (in MCBB) guy, waltz right in behind Pope and reel in the #1 player in America without ANY previous March Madness resume at BYU… Why?

NIL💯✅💯

If we are still talking about Pope making it or not in the next 5 years, it’s because UK won’t/ can’t compete in the cutthroat NIL/ Portal market, and will have nothing to do with Pope’s coaching!

And if that’s the case, how can you justify firing him? What, fire him, and bring in the next guy who will be handcuffed by the same NIL/ Portal conundrum?

Now, if he has the NIL to succeed, and then it becomes a coaching issue, which I don’t see happening in the slightest! We’ll know where UK stands on NIL 4 short months from now, we won’t have to wait 3-5 years.

 

[Cobb4uk]

A lot of fans posted how embarrassing and unacceptable the loss. I totally agree it was embarrassing and unacceptable how the FANS reacted with their post and comments after the loss. UK finally gets a coach that puts program winning before the players getting to the NBA, wins big games, who has class, intelligence, and wants to win for BBN - not for himself! Now when he loses it's all because of how terrible a coach he is?? If these fans really know the game you would understand this isn't a very athletic or deep team and will be almost impossible to win many games in the SEC without a point guard.

Do some of you fans know you are the reason outside of BBN that UK is hated? Some of you feel entitled the UK must be the best team or the coach or officials are to blame. Did you notice coaches weren't beating down the door to get the UK coaching job? Why do you think that was? In my opinion it's because how unrealistic some fans are - just ask John Higgins. Everyone is entitled to opinions and these are mine. But to be bashing Mark Pope with what he has done in a few months with a less than desirable team that has lost 3 key players is asinine. Why would anyone want to coach here? Pope does because he loves BBN. You will know in a few years if Pope can hang some banners but at the moment some of you are a disgrace.

Go ahead and bash me and tell me how wrong I am also. I won't read them so I won't respond but for now I'm backing Pope.

To be totally honest, your exactly correct. IMO, since consoladations there are far fewer that truly understand the game now.