I sympathize with Pope

[yabbadabbadoo]

I love Pope.
I think he’s a great coach and person.
I think he understands the job and will get it done.
I do hate the circumstances he’s having to deal with.
Injuries have killed this team.
We’ve won some games I thought weren’t possible to win under the circumstances.
Officials have literally raped us this season. I mean low down scum raped us.
Multiple teams have played games against us that they could only dream of.
I mean how many banked 30 footers can our opponents actually make?
Hell, 2 or 3 in a row at times.
I hate losing and get frustrated as hell, then I come to my senses and use my brain as to why.
These things are out of Pope’s control and it isn’t fair for people to keep slamming and bitching.
He put together a good group of guys in literally no time and we were heading in a good direction.
I know today stunk for 1000 reasons, but there is the best part of the season left.
Let’s see how we can finish out.
You never know what could happen.

I stand with Pope.
Give him time and support and I think we’ll all be happy!!!!!!!!

 

[mg0721]

He needs to learn how to teach defense!

 

[wildcat_nation28]

I love Pope.
I think he’s a great coach and person.
I think he understands the job and will get it done.
I do hate the circumstances he’s having to deal with.
Injuries have killed this team.
We’ve won some games I thought weren’t possible to win under the circumstances.
Officials have literally raped us this season. I mean low down scum raped us.
Multiple teams have played games against us that they could only dream of.
I mean how many banked 30 footers can our opponents actually make?
Hell, 2 or 3 in a row at times.
I hate losing and get frustrated as hell, then I come to my senses and use my brain as to why.
These things are out of Pope’s control and it isn’t fair for people to keep slamming and bitching.
He put together a good group of guys in literally no time and we were heading in a good direction.
I know today stunk for 1000 reasons, but there is the best part of the season left.
Let’s see how we can finish out.
You never know what could happen.

I stand with Pope.
Give him time and support and I think we’ll all be happy!!!!!!!!

I agree with a lot of what u said except for its out of Pope's control he is the head coach and has to make necessary adjustments and the right substitution

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

Some have already made their mind up on Pope. It’s laughable to do so already so their opinion gets thrown out as its ridiculously unreasonable.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Major injuries and the refs scewing UK over have been going on for decades here. Nothing new.

I stand with Pope too but it is what it is. Some seasons things just go south and you have to adapt.

 

[bbncal02]

Major injuries and the refs scewing UK over have been going on for decades here. Nothing new.

I stand with Pope too but it is what it is. Some seasons things just go south and you have to adapt.

This. And I think a lot of folks on here think some of us are pissed at Pope and the team.

No. Just pissed at the situation. It sucks.

 

[UKfanINcoach]

“IF” he can recruit and get quality players from the portal UK will be contending every year. Pope is the best Xs and Os UK coach since Pitino. Look what he has done with less than desirable athletic and skilled players. Cal couldn’t have won a single sec game with this team.

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

Major injuries and the refs scewing UK over have been going on for decades here. Nothing new.

I stand with Pope too but it is what it is. Some seasons things just go south and you have to adapt.

And maybe he does adapt now that it’s known that Robinson is finished. Hard knowing how to coach for the long haul when a player’s availability is uncertain. Some changes may be made now to adjust for different guys strengths and weaknesses. Uncertainty is a killer from a coaches game planning and theories on how to approach different teams from game to game.

 

[MonsterMash79]

Pope’s a good coach with X’s and O’s, but his defensive coaching is suspect so far. He’ll have better talent next year and perhaps it’ll pay off 👍

 

[jace2012]

If by chance he doesn’t make it to year for or five then it will be less pressure to follow for the next coach

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

If by chance he doesn’t make it to year for or five then it will be less pressure to follow for the next coach

I guess that’s an opinion, however bizarre.

 

[catlogic15]

I’m leaving all judgement aside until I see next year’s final roster. Pope had nothing and cobbled together a competitive team.
But will his “Moneyball” approach result in a championship level roster? Remains to be seen.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

I guess that’s an opinion, however bizarre.

He’s the biggest Calipari fan this side of the Mississippi.

 

[CRZ4UK]

I don’t know if any team in college ball has been hit harder with injuries than us. It’s truly tragic if you write it down.
Season starters.
Butler Pg. ( Playing with separated shoulder )
Robinson. Sg. ( Out for season )
Carr. Pf. ( Injured back playing hurt)
Williams. Healthy
Oweh Sf. Healthy.
First off bench
Krisa. ( out for season )
Two of five healthy with first off the bench out.
Damn.
Arkansas had been on a monster run. Thiero didn’t play today and they got destroyed by SC.
Just one is killer.

 

[MEMEBLUE]

I think it is too early to judge Pope. he had 2 great wins against Gonzaga and Duke, but some really bad losses in the SEC. I guess the SEC has exposed our lack of athleticism and injuries have definitely hurt us, but the team doesn't seem to be executing like they were earlier in the year. At the end of the day recruiting and the portal will decide how well Pope does at Kentucky, you simply need the players.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

I think it is too early to judge Pope. he had 2 great wins against Gonzaga and Duke, but some really bad losses in the SEC. I guess the SEC has exposed our lack of athleticism and injuries have definitely hurt us, but the team doesn't seem to be executing like they were earlier in the year. At the end of the day recruiting and the portal will decide how well Pope does at Kentucky, you simply need the players.

The two wins against UT werent any good? The Florida win? At Miss. St?

 

[king of cali]

Great person? Sure. Great coach? Remains to be seen. Right now this is just an upgraded version of his BYU teams that could score with anyone but were inconsistent at best on defense.

 

[BIG BLUE GURU]

Pope’s a good coach with X’s and O’s, but his defensive coaching is suspect so far. He’ll have better talent next year and perhaps it’ll pay off 👍

Maybe since we saved so much money on Cal leaving we should invest in the best defensive coach possible. Cal did that his last year bringing in an offensive coach. Step up Mitch.

 

[Seth_C]

I agree with a lot of what u said except for its out of Pope's control he is the head coach and has to make necessary adjustments and the right substitution

At this point I don’t think he has the right substitution available on the bench. He is playing guys that were expected to be mop up minutes this year. It is what it is.

 

[wccat2969]

He needs to learn how to teach defense!

And how to work the refs. 'Analyzing and talking to the league office' getting you no where.

 

[crestcat]

Very good season, beat all of my expectations. There were a couple of bumps along the way but considering all the circumstance, so far, so good.

 

[CRZ4UK]

Maybe since we saved so much money on Cal leaving we should invest in the best defensive coach possible. Cal did that his last year bringing in an offensive coach. Step up Mitch.

Mitch already bought the rifle team new uniforms. That moneys gone.

 

[jace2012]

I guess that’s an opinion, however bizarre.

I do want him to succeed just like all of the coaches before him but I’m just saying

 

[jace2012]

He’s the biggest Calipari fan this side of the Mississippi.

You have to stop with the Calipari stuff or just go to the Arkansas board and post. This board is about this years squad and you seem to post more about Calipari than anyone on here.

 

[seccats04]

At this point I don’t think he has the right substitution available on the bench. He is playing guys that were expected to be mop up minutes this year. It is what it is.

That’s true but it doesn’t explain why he’s subbing our starters four minutes into the game every game. We seem to get behind every game and have to play catch-up because of the weird substitution patterns.

 

[BlueInBrooklyn]

Literal raping.

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

I don't think ppl are also taking the obvious into account that his 1st year he came into the best the sec has ever been, and in fact it may be the best any conference has ever been. All but like 3 teams are going to the tournament

All with a team put together in a hurry

 

[jwphelps]

I agree with a lot of what u said except for its out of Pope's control he is the head coach and has to make necessary adjustments and the right substitution

Hard to sub when for most of the season key players have been missing.

 

[jwphelps]

And how to work the refs. 'Analyzing and talking to the league office' getting you no where.

And yelling and cussing at the ref's never got Cal anywhere, don't know why you guys think acting like a lunatic will ever get a ref to change his call or even the next. I coach, and a ref told me he knows when he misses a call and a coach yelling at him usually will not make him do a make up call because it just got personal.

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

Rally behind Pope guys and gals. Gotta become stronger, not fall apart. This is where the weak fall off the wagon. Needs BBN’s support like crazy. This is what’ll float the boat or sink it.

 

[MegaBlue05]

I think it is too early to judge Pope. he had 2 great wins against Gonzaga and Duke, but some really bad losses in the SEC. I guess the SEC has exposed our lack of athleticism and injuries have definitely hurt us, but the team doesn't seem to be executing like they were earlier in the year. At the end of the day recruiting and the portal will decide how well Pope does at Kentucky, you simply need the players.

Define “bad loss.”

We have one - Arkansas, Q2 home loss.

Every single other loss of the season is Q1.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

I as everyone in BBN should be behind Pope 100%. He’s been behind the 8 ball since he took the job. CAL had this program in the dumpster, give the guy next season to get everything rolling.

 

[kybug97]

Needs to get his team to play hard and with emotion like the early Pitino teams did at Kentucky and you won't here many fans complaining.

 

[Wildcats1st]

I love Pope.
I think he’s a great coach and person.
I think he understands the job and will get it done.
I do hate the circumstances he’s having to deal with.
Injuries have killed this team.
We’ve won some games I thought weren’t possible to win under the circumstances.
Officials have literally raped us this season. I mean low down scum raped us.
Multiple teams have played games against us that they could only dream of.
I mean how many banked 30 footers can our opponents actually make?
Hell, 2 or 3 in a row at times.
I hate losing and get frustrated as hell, then I come to my senses and use my brain as to why.
These things are out of Pope’s control and it isn’t fair for people to keep slamming and bitching.
He put together a good group of guys in literally no time and we were heading in a good direction.
I know today stunk for 1000 reasons, but there is the best part of the season left.
Let’s see how we can finish out.
You never know what could happen.

I stand with Pope.
Give him time and support and I think we’ll all be happy!!!!!!!!

He should have never been offered the job. I think the harm Barney has done to uk bb and the crazy time frames people think unproven coaches deserve, has added up to a laid back bb fanbase that has lowered expectations. Nothing has changed. Every season that goes by without tourney success (at least winning some games) is a massive setback for our program. We aren’t getting younger and the young generation is fine with losing. Barney was given a gift and then half heartedly hired a coach. Someone he didn’t have to put much effort into bringing like Bcg. Barney is the scourge of uk bb and to fix it they will need to hire a bb centric AD.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I think he's about the best we could have hoped for. And I think the negative and unrealistic fans need to be very careful on already starting this "push" to replace Pope. Things like asking if he has "it" and starting to think if we should have gotten someone else.

I think theres a real scenario where Pope is the last coach to keep UK relevant. If he bolts early or doesn't work out, I don't know where we go next. I don't think it's going to be pretty.

 

[NociHTTP]

That’s true but it doesn’t explain why he’s subbing our starters four minutes into the game every game. We seem to get behind every game and have to play catch-up because of the weird substitution patterns.

I think he spends valuable time tinkering with the lineup, time that could be spent calling out plays or changing the defense up a bit. He seems to really be into tinkering with the whole human/roster exploration thing, that's what tinkerers do, lol. It's the old David Bell Syndrome.
For whatever reason he can't see things like some guy going off from deep and no one is guarding him, or one of his players has the hot hand.

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

He should have never been offered the job. I think the harm Barney has done to uk bb and the crazy time frames people think unproven coaches deserve, has added up to a laid back bb fanbase that has lowered expectations. Nothing has changed. Every season that goes by without tourney success (at least winning some games) is a massive setback for our program. We aren’t getting younger and the young generation is fine with losing. Barney was given a gift and then half heartedly hired a coach. Someone he didn’t have to put much effort into bringing like Bcg. Barney is the scourge of uk bb and to fix it they will need to hire a bb centric AD.

Boy, you’re 100% wrong
Hope you don’t ever trade stocks
You’re patience is borderline zero if not zero
You might even get surprised before this season is over
What do you consider success this year?

 

[Wildcats1st]

Boy, you’re 100% wrong
Hope you don’t ever trade stocks
You’re patience is borderline zero if not zero
You might even get surprised before this season is over
What do you consider success this year?

getting out of the first weekend this season is success. Two weeks ago though we were talking about a team that can make a run. I mean Robinson couldn’t defend a coat rack so maybe pope can pull a defensive miracle and find a way to win with that. We’ve all been forcefully patient due to Barney’s bs contract with cal. Time to win. When the talking heads say you have been capable of making a run until now wth were your expectations? Make the tourney? We’re not coming off probation

 

[Anthony B]

I think he'd be better served focusing less on analytics and responding more to what's happening on the floor. Subbing too early and with the wrong players.

 

[runt#69]

I love Pope.
I think he’s a great coach and person.
I think he understands the job and will get it done.
I do hate the circumstances he’s having to deal with.
Injuries have killed this team.
We’ve won some games I thought weren’t possible to win under the circumstances.
Officials have literally raped us this season. I mean low down scum raped us.
Multiple teams have played games against us that they could only dream of.
I mean how many banked 30 footers can our opponents actually make?
Hell, 2 or 3 in a row at times.
I hate losing and get frustrated as hell, then I come to my senses and use my brain as to why.
These things are out of Pope’s control and it isn’t fair for people to keep slamming and bitching.
He put together a good group of guys in literally no time and we were heading in a good direction.
I know today stunk for 1000 reasons, but there is the best part of the season left.
Let’s see how we can finish out.
You never know what could happen.

I stand with Pope.
Give him time and support and I think we’ll all be happy!!!!!!!!

Couldn't say it better or more succinctly myself.

Trust in Coach Pope ! Great post !

Go Big Blue !