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.

 

[katkraze]

Cal left no top talent - it will take millions plus 2 more years to an elite roster

 

[The_Answer1313]

More than 1 year...........

probably not much more tho lol.

You know how it is here. The expectation is always through the roof. You have to get results and you have to get them quickly.

 

[Jeff Sykes]

Probably 4 years unless something bad happens. You have to remember he is not just taking over he is having to also build the culture at the same time. That takes time and committed players to do.

 

[fatguy87]

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...".

Barring hitting the lottery on a high school recruit or a portal player, I think we are a couple seasons away from being elite. Pope needs to establish a culture and some continuity. All it takes is a few solid players sticking around here for a few years to pass on expectations to an incoming crop. We then can fill in the gaps with newcomers.

Cal came in like a bolt of lightening, but we would not have been as good as we were in 2010 if guys like Patterson and a lesser extent Miller weren't on the roster. It turned out that the roster that Billy G left was 2 great players away from being elite. Now Patterson. Miller, and some of the other role players Cal inherited weren't carrying Cal's culture, but they ranged from mildly competent to star, forming a semblance of a backbone. Miller and Jorts went on to be integral parts of a very good teams in subsequent seasons.

Pope came into UK with even less than Cal. He couldn't even just go out and get Wall and Cousins to make a roster a title contender. A supporting cast didn't exist. It was a body without a backbone. Pope needs to establish that to bring some stability and platform to springboard a stars impact into elite team status.

 

[Farsight]

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

If Mitch is still AD he will give him a life time contract lol

If we play St John’s in the tourney this season it won’t go well. Hopefully we don’t get that bullshit draw.

You know its going to happen for "Story lines" and we will get Arkansas in our SEC bracket

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

He needs to recruit. We have a few nice players coming in, but he will have to get some top 10. 3 years minimum.

top 10 players want promises that Pope wont make. Maybe Crowe with a relationship with Hart or if the guy has ties to UK somehow... otherwise dont expect us to get top 10 players . And you shouldnt want Pope making promises. Duke is the only top 25 team with a top 10 hs player.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

some of you are manipulating a reason to call for Pope to be fired this year with sh*t like has to do this or that this season. We have 1 player out the rest of the year, another in Butler who could be and if he comes back might not ever be even 80% the rest of the way plus Carr who is a shell of himself . if those 2 dont get healthy, you cant demand we win games in either tournament because just making the NCAA tournament is a huge feat with the injuries to our guys. we dont have a God dayum PG , Perry is a SG and Robinson a SF both trying to play point and turning the ball over. And our PF who we had relied upon to score and win in big games cant do that with his back injury.

WTF miracle are you demanding? Are you trying to manipulate a situation where we maybe go after the coach you wanted in the first place ?

Pope doesnt deserve this horse sh*T some of you are trying to throw at him... if you want to nail someone to a cross, Barnhart is who deserves hell if Pope cant get things done in these next 3 years.

 

[BlueSince92]

Cal was a carpetbagger with zero prior affiliation to the university who won nothing his final five years here and almost nothing his final nine years here. And he still didn't get fired.

Mark Pope played here for years. Mark Pope played on maybe our most memorable team ever. Won a championship on that team. Was captain of that team. In fact, when you consider Cal's before-and-after results with and without people like William Wesley and John Robic, there's a very strong case to be made that John Calipari was never much of anything but a front man and that Mark Pope was materially more responsible for our sixth title than John Calipari was for our eighth title. And Mark Pope is charging right around half what Cal was charging per year.

If you think we are going to fire Mark Pope after three years even in the unlikely case he doesn't make a Sweet Sixteen in that time, you are comedy.

 

[UKnCincy]

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.

I’d disagree with saying that you can know for certain whether you hired the right guy within the first year or two.

Duke fans were ready to run Coach K out of town after the end of his third season. Lucky for them, Duke’s AD was smart enough to tell the fans and boosters to take a hike and gave Coach K a 5 year extension instead.

Give Pope some time. He got a later start in coaching which means he’s still young in terms of years of head coaching experience.

 

[ukfan1622]

I’d disagree with saying that you can know for certain whether you hired the right guy within the first year or two.

Duke fans were ready to run Coach K out of town after the end of his third season. Lucky for them, Duke’s AD was smart enough to tell the fans and boosters to take a hike and gave Coach K a 5 year extension instead.

Give Pope some time. He got a later start in coaching which means he’s still young in terms of years of head coaching experience.

Oh, I'm giving him time; I'm already sold that he's the right guy. I'm not always right about these things but I've been right most of the time.

 

[megablue]

I think 5 years is reasonable …

 

[chevyman 50]

3 years not a lifetime contract like Cal.