I expected competent offense and for the team to play smart and hard 100% of the time. That has been hit or miss. Like pope but being honest when I say his team’s preparation and intensity seem to lack at times.
I Dont Know What Most Of You Expected From This Season
- Thread starter KyCatFan
- Start date
That's exactly it. Pitino's first team here was a wild success. Not because of the record. They went 14-14. Got killed at Kansas by 50. But there was a never a minute that that team didn't play hard. There was never an instance where that team's conditioning was in question.
That is not too much to ask.
Yep. I like Pope, but Brooks might be the better coach.
I actually think once tournament play starts it could ignite a new passion for the season. We have what we have at this point. I don’t people understand just how tough the SEC is this year. Butler is still rough right now. UK can regroup and make a run in March. I remember in 2014 people were saying the wheels had completely fallen off at the end of the season. It did appear that way. Getting out of this atrocious SEC officiating will help as well.
My prediction was 23 and 9 close wish we could pull that thread up
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Considering I think Pope did more than I expected, he beat Duke, the Zags, UT twice, the Gators, has a good resume for a possible 3 seed, but you must also consider this site has a lot of trolls on it and they only show up when UK loses, you will never find them on here outside of a loss.
Disappointed, but not with Pope, he’s done an amazing job with the hand dealt. Disappointed with the injuries, I think this team could’ve made some noise when fully healthy
I mean honestly this is the University of Kentucky basketball team we are talking about here. The most wins in Division 1 …. I mean what should our expectations be for the season … I just can’t believe some of the stuff I’m reading that people think we are right where they thought we would be 19-10 (8-8) man some of you have lowered your standards of our program and it’s quite embarrassing!!!
BAH GAWD WE SHOULD BE 40-0 AND RANKED NUMBER ONE FOR ALL OF ETERNITY EVEN IF 11 MONTHS AGO WE HAD NO COACH AND ZERO PLAYERS.
I disagree. You consider he had to start over from the portal, then you look at the talent and come to the conclusion that this isn't a elite team! So I took the approach that I'm going to let them show me!
Next year expectations will be different! He had a year to recruit and target HS talent and then portal talent after this season . He should know where/how he needs to improve his roster.
Also getting guys back would be a huge benefit.
You look at FL,AU,AL,TN,aTm, ect. They all had key returns to build on. Makes a huge difference.
So I think it's important to keep Garrison,Oweh,Chandler Noah perry on the roster to speedup the new pieces in adapting to his system.
There are 2 reason I'm so optimistic about Pope.
#1. His ability to get 12 guys who aren't elite talent who never played a game together before, to play at a high enough level to win games over duke FL TN ....ect..
#2. He did a very good job constructing a roster without elite talent available who complimented each other.
Individually they were not top talent, but as a unit before injuries they were very tough to beat!
Now the thing I want to see him do is raise the talent level. Identifying the defensive/rebounding weakness and shoring that end of the game, while maintaining his offense!
I'm willing to give him that opportunity.
In comparison cal took over ARK. Started with no players as well.
He took 3 players with him who played together in his system, 2 of them were starters. Took 3 recruits who he had committed here, and added several portal pieces. He has a lot more talent.
Just didnt expect to be plagued by injury.
Who knows what this team would’ve accomplished if no injury problems arose. They were killing it. Still, season ISN’T over. Just enjoy watching Pope and our young guys get better. I don’t know what you expected either, and really don’t care.
Who knows what this team would’ve accomplished if no injury problems arose. They were killing it. Still, season ISN’T over. Just enjoy watching Pope and our young guys get better. I don’t know what you expected either, and really don’t care.
Beat Duke, Louisville, and swept TN. Also have a Coach I’m excited about. I’m happy so far. Get to the second weekend of the tourny and win a game or two in the sec and I’m good this year.
OP is dead wrong. This was a title contender (top 8-12) team.
Injuries derailed us once again like 3 years ago. Not an excuse, just a fact. Everything has a reason, doesn’t make it an excuse.
We are still 4-3 vs the top 6 teams in the country. No one else not in those top 6 can say they have a winning record vs those 6 (w/ more than 1 game played against them).
Injuries derailed us once again like 3 years ago. Not an excuse, just a fact. Everything has a reason, doesn’t make it an excuse.
We are still 4-3 vs the top 6 teams in the country. No one else not in those top 6 can say they have a winning record vs those 6 (w/ more than 1 game played against them).
I agree. When you go back and watch earlier games, as much as kerr drove me crazy, he brought energy and pushed the tempo. Teams were fatigue just from our our offensive tempo! I would've loved to see how it played out being healthy. I really think we would be right there with AL/FL. AU Im not sure. They might be on another level! But if we would get hot we imo could've took en down them as well!
I knew Auburn had a better team than us but we didn’t play with any urgency at all today.
2 things happened:
1. A fast start to the season, including huge wins on neutral courts against top 10 teams, caused fans to adjust their impression of the team. Consensus on the board was like 20th. Many thought preseason rankings in the AP were quite fair.
2. A historically great SEC conference. A top 20-25 team in previous seasons would be top 4, maybe even in the running for second in some seasons in the last 15 years. This year, there are 4 1 seed caliber teams in the conference (Bama, UT, Florida, and AU).
These in conjunction made thinking about how we should play in conference difficult. It's an unprecedent scenario.
1. A fast start to the season, including huge wins on neutral courts against top 10 teams, caused fans to adjust their impression of the team. Consensus on the board was like 20th. Many thought preseason rankings in the AP were quite fair.
2. A historically great SEC conference. A top 20-25 team in previous seasons would be top 4, maybe even in the running for second in some seasons in the last 15 years. This year, there are 4 1 seed caliber teams in the conference (Bama, UT, Florida, and AU).
These in conjunction made thinking about how we should play in conference difficult. It's an unprecedent scenario.
You are spot on. And the future teams will only be better. Can't wait to see what Pope can do when he actually has the horses to run the Derby.. this year he can only run the Oaks.
We have some of the most entitled fans around. Must have just got old enough to watch basketball during Cal’s first couple years and the height of 1 and done.
It’s kinda funny to read so many being happy with being in 8th place in the SEC. But you pull up threads before the season and those some posters were up in arms with people predicting UK to finish around 8th. Now they’re satisfied with it. Go figure…
I knew we needed another strong pg before season started. Kerr was soso comin in and Butler was always questionable shooting. 2 only have 2 with Kerr as one i thought was bonkers.
A good 3 poing shooting pg would open this team up a lot more.
A good 3 poing shooting pg would open this team up a lot more.
He also brought a first team All-American PG that can DOMINATE games with him. Coach Pope brought Jaxon Robinson, who was a decent player who also got HURT!!!
NO comparison!!!
With injuries to 3 starters that has kept them from performing up to their FULL abilities for the last 6 weeks???!!!!
Judging a coach that had to put a team together in 6 weeks and while healthy beat the #2 team in the country and a bunch of other ranked teams( some without 2 of those starters), is BEYOND RIDICULOUS, IMHO!!!!
The "lowered standards" was just the REALITY of the situation Coach Pope was put in this season.
I'll give him a little GRACE this season. The " expectations" will be raised IMMENSELY starting next season!!!
I really think that almost everyone, realistically HOPED at the time Pope was hired, we would be lucky to have 19-20 wins. And that was without losing multiple players for part of the season ( even when we have had Carr and Butler back, they have had to play injured) Krissa (your only TRUE back-up point guard) since early December, and now your shooting guard for 5-6 games before totally losing him for the rest of the year.
I truly don't believe that there is another coach (or team) today that could survive the players we have lost and have the record we have. Surely not the coaches at Arkansas, Kansas (rated number one at one time) or anyone else. Other teams are crying when they lost one starter, not several like we have. Additionally playing in the best, most equal SEC in history.
I think I could hear Adolph saying "My Gauwd, what do you want from me"
GO CATS
I truly don't believe that there is another coach (or team) today that could survive the players we have lost and have the record we have. Surely not the coaches at Arkansas, Kansas (rated number one at one time) or anyone else. Other teams are crying when they lost one starter, not several like we have. Additionally playing in the best, most equal SEC in history.
I think I could hear Adolph saying "My Gauwd, what do you want from me"
GO CATS
I expected an Elite 8 at the beginning of the season. Still think it is achievable.
I said before the season started that 20 wins should be seen as a good first season. Here we are knocking on the 20 win door.
Before SEC play started, I said 9-9 in the SEC was likely with 8-10 being the worst case scenario and 10-8 being our ceiling.
Now with 2 games left, we are right where I thought we would be.
I think it’s been a good first season and the future looks bright.
Before SEC play started, I said 9-9 in the SEC was likely with 8-10 being the worst case scenario and 10-8 being our ceiling.
Now with 2 games left, we are right where I thought we would be.
I think it’s been a good first season and the future looks bright.
Pope said our goal is to win the championship. He’s set the bar, if you want to lower it that’s called enabling. Let’s see what he does in the ncaa. At the end of the day it’s no bs excuses this season will be measured by tournament success.
In the preseason, I had no expectations per se for this team. Instead, I had two scenarios.
* Worst case - We have a roster comprised of players from mostly low major, mid major and mid tier P4 programs. While experienced and having different skill sets, these guys have never even played together let alone for the same coach, and certainly not in a fishbowl program like UK where the spotlight is never off. How will they adjust to that, as well as the athleticism and talent of the SEC? If things go south, will they be able to block out the inevitable social media bullshit? This team will struggle to break .500 and make the NIT, let alone the NCAAT.
* Best case - We have a roster comprised of physically/emotionally/mentally mature players with varying skill sets that play with a chip on their shoulder, and who play for each other, the name on the front of their jersey and the coach who gave them the opportunity to play in this historic program. The team gels as the season progresses, and they go on to win 20 games, get a 5-6 seed and are a team that no one wants to see in their bracket.
* Summary - I thought we'd be somewhere in between these two scenarios. For most of the year, we have played at a level above my best scenario outlook. If someone had told me that we'd win 20 games and be a 4-5 seed, I would have taken that in a heartbeat. If someone had told me that we'd do that while having 4 key players missing extended periods of time with injuries, I'd have told them that they were shit nuts. For me, it's been a great season watching them take down Dook, Gonzaga, UT 2X, University Six and other ranked teams.
* Worst case - We have a roster comprised of players from mostly low major, mid major and mid tier P4 programs. While experienced and having different skill sets, these guys have never even played together let alone for the same coach, and certainly not in a fishbowl program like UK where the spotlight is never off. How will they adjust to that, as well as the athleticism and talent of the SEC? If things go south, will they be able to block out the inevitable social media bullshit? This team will struggle to break .500 and make the NIT, let alone the NCAAT.
* Best case - We have a roster comprised of physically/emotionally/mentally mature players with varying skill sets that play with a chip on their shoulder, and who play for each other, the name on the front of their jersey and the coach who gave them the opportunity to play in this historic program. The team gels as the season progresses, and they go on to win 20 games, get a 5-6 seed and are a team that no one wants to see in their bracket.
* Summary - I thought we'd be somewhere in between these two scenarios. For most of the year, we have played at a level above my best scenario outlook. If someone had told me that we'd win 20 games and be a 4-5 seed, I would have taken that in a heartbeat. If someone had told me that we'd do that while having 4 key players missing extended periods of time with injuries, I'd have told them that they were shit nuts. For me, it's been a great season watching them take down Dook, Gonzaga, UT 2X, University Six and other ranked teams.
Before the season I expected a 12-15 loss year and bottom half of the SEC.
Then we started out being one of the best teams in the country unexpectedly and i eventually let myself believe we were great. Now the bottom has fallen out. Part of that is injury but we’ve also lost 3-5 games we had zero business losing even with the team we put on the floor. The great start is major reason im so pissed for how this year has turned out. I know what they could and should be even with the injuries and it just hasn’t happened.
Then we started out being one of the best teams in the country unexpectedly and i eventually let myself believe we were great. Now the bottom has fallen out. Part of that is injury but we’ve also lost 3-5 games we had zero business losing even with the team we put on the floor. The great start is major reason im so pissed for how this year has turned out. I know what they could and should be even with the injuries and it just hasn’t happened.
Had they not shown they do the same as all the other Pope teams and lose games they shouldn’t then I’d agree with you. But you just can’t trust them game to game. I honestly wouldn’t even put money on them winning in the first round solely because of that. They are capable of going to the E8 even with the injuries but I can’t see it.
This team and possibly even with Pope overall it’s better to just hope for the best but expect the worst. It’s better for your health.
Auburn and Alabama will both be hitting the portal as they are both filled with 5th year guys running out of eligibility.
Arkansas will lose everyone as a Calipari team does. A&M looses Wade Taylor. Tennessee also.
We will also loose almost everyone except the freshmen.
Next year might be a rebuilding year for that SEC. I’m
About a third of the way through our SEC schedule, I wished we could switch places with one of those mid majors we'll probably play in the first round. I knew the grind would hurt us more than help us
Preseason, I thought I was optimistic in predicting 8 regular season losses. It was overly optimistic. I didn't think we would have as many quality wins, but it's overall ABOVE my level of expectation heading into the season. I thought they would win 2 NCAA tournament games. Now, maybe they wont be able to get that far, especially in light of everything that has transpired. But I still think they will get to the second weekend of the tournament and make it a year of redemption.
I love Coach Pope, have been very pleased with his energy and system, coming off CCC, we've done very well.
I've never been part of the title or bust crowd. I do want to see a team constructed that can potentially compete for a title every year. This is UK, that is a bottom line thing. Pope did that, and injuries as the season wore on have taken their toll. Ive been watching UK hoops for 50 years now, and never get greedy at demanding a team play in the Final Four or beyond each year. But my birthday is late in March, and for my birthday wish, traditionally, I have always wished to see them play AFTER my birthday is done. I've had that birthday wish fulfilled plenty of times to keep me happy.
I'm big on perspective and I appreciate everyone here having a good head on their shoulders for the most part, in keeping positive support flowing and tamping down those in BBN here that are continually disgruntled for some reason or another.
.... and to blast the trolls when they pop up their little heads ....
I'm gonna be sad to see this season end. I have really enjoyed it and love the style of basketball Pope employs. It beats everything about CCC being here. Easily. Already.
For senior night, I hope they start AA, Amari, Butler, Brea and Carr.
that for me, will evoke many memories from the past, and it's a shame weve lost Jax for the year. He's an honorary starter in my book.
Enjoying this season has been a refreshing and rejuvenating experience to move forward with.
Go Big Blue !
I love Coach Pope, have been very pleased with his energy and system, coming off CCC, we've done very well.
I've never been part of the title or bust crowd. I do want to see a team constructed that can potentially compete for a title every year. This is UK, that is a bottom line thing. Pope did that, and injuries as the season wore on have taken their toll. Ive been watching UK hoops for 50 years now, and never get greedy at demanding a team play in the Final Four or beyond each year. But my birthday is late in March, and for my birthday wish, traditionally, I have always wished to see them play AFTER my birthday is done. I've had that birthday wish fulfilled plenty of times to keep me happy.
I'm big on perspective and I appreciate everyone here having a good head on their shoulders for the most part, in keeping positive support flowing and tamping down those in BBN here that are continually disgruntled for some reason or another.
.... and to blast the trolls when they pop up their little heads ....
I'm gonna be sad to see this season end. I have really enjoyed it and love the style of basketball Pope employs. It beats everything about CCC being here. Easily. Already.
For senior night, I hope they start AA, Amari, Butler, Brea and Carr.
that for me, will evoke many memories from the past, and it's a shame weve lost Jax for the year. He's an honorary starter in my book.
Enjoying this season has been a refreshing and rejuvenating experience to move forward with.
Go Big Blue !
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