If you are actually surprised, enraged, etc, just consider the following

[silentsaregolden2.0]

We got a very young coach who hasn't proven himself yet. He had to assemble an entire team with ZERO returning players, and ZERO star freshmen. And he had to do it in just a few weeks. Nobody but Aaron Torres even had us in the Top 40, let alone Top 25. And we got off to a 10-1 start with wins over legit Top 10 teams. If you expected more than that, you were being unrealistic.

 

[Cawood86]

We got a very young coach who hasn't proven himself yet. He had to assemble an entire team with ZERO returning players, and ZERO star freshmen. And he had to do it in just a few weeks. Nobody but Aaron Torres even had us in the Top 40, let alone Top 25. And we got off to a 10-1 start with wins over legit Top 10 teams. If you expected more than that, you were being unrealistic.

Exactly my point in other threads. Excellent post.

 

[Digger-Cat]

Kinda tough, because we all felt like MP overcame the roster thing and we were on some crazy ride, so I think it’s fair for the BBN to be disappointed here.
We are definitely much better than what we showed today. Yeah, we're down on talent, but the talent was good enough to beat duke and Gonzaga, so losing hy 20 to a bad OSU team is a real cold shower

 

[silentsaregolden2.0]

Kinda tough, because we all felt like MP overcame the roster thing and we were on some crazy ride, so I think it’s fair for the BBN to be disappointed here.
We are definitely much better than what we showed today. Yeah, we're down on talent, but the talent was good enough to beat duke and Gonzaga, so losing hy 20 to a bad OSU team is a real cold shower

Agreed. I'm as down about it as anyone. Everytime I let myself start to think maybe we can make a title run, I get hit with reality. I don't think our defense can get there, and our frontcourt is nowhere near strong enough. We have enough to overperform in a normal season, but with the SEC being so strong, I suspect we will finish in the middle of the field.

 

[CatOfDaVille]

We got a very young coach who hasn't proven himself yet. He had to assemble an entire team with ZERO returning players, and ZERO star freshmen. And he had to do it in just a few weeks. Nobody but Aaron Torres even had us in the Top 40, let alone Top 25. And we got off to a 10-1 start with wins over legit Top 10 teams. If you expected more than that, you were being unrealistic.

Agree with everything except the young coach part. Pope is in his 50s.

 

[ukfan1622]

There is some good news...everybody is going to get eaten alive on the road in the SEC.

 

[The_Answer1313]

I think the thing is this.

Going in with all the transfers, you didn't know what to expect. The expectations were reasonable at that time.

Then wins happen over Duke and Gonzaga. 10-1. 4th in the country. 1 seed discussion. All of a sudden the expectations rise.

I think if you asked people at the beginning of the season would they take this, everyone would be on board.

But now there's some bit of disappointment because this team just might not be what people were expecting at 10-1, top 5 in the country.

 

[silentsaregolden2.0]

Agree with everything except the young coach part. Pope is in his 50s.

This is his 10th season as a head coach. Not exactly seasoned yet.

 

[Terrapin_Station]

I think everyone except HerrosHeroes realizes this is a flawed team. With that said, wins over Duke and Gonzaga (that probably should not have been wins) and a top 5 ranking had the fan base excited. Those comeback wins gave us hope that Pope could be the anti-Cal and do more with less rather than less with more.

I, for one, don’t think the sky is falling. But I do question Pope’s running the same lineup out there game after game. If he insists on Williams starting at the 5, my long term hope for the Cats will be diminished. Pope doesn’t have the best pieces, but I take issue with him not using the pieces he does have in the best way.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

Your never as bad as your blowout loss looked but your never as good either. This team when clicking can beat anyone anywhere anytime. They can also lose to anyone.

 

[CatFanInIlliniLand]

This is his 10th season as a head coach. Not exactly seasoned yet.

Plus, even veteran guys might be shell shocked as UK coach at first. Look what the job did to Eddie Sutton & BCG. It’s different here.

 

[Kybluedude]

I was hoping, after the roster was assembled, of a 500 season. Very similar to Pitino’s first season. Just get UK back on track. Get a defined system in place and recruit for the future. Make it fun again.
10-2 as a start is better than I projected. Never thought of wins over Duke and Gonzaga. Either of those wins cancels out last night to me.
Disappointed last night but not deterred. Team looked tired to me from the start. Just didn’t have it. Cut it to 6 and fumbled a pass for a layup with all the momentum and gave up a score. We had been making that play this year. Got embroiled in a slow down late shot clock high screen and drive game we couldn’t guard.

Going to have to develop and play more zones. Develop the bench. Better screening and movement. Defensive positioning. Lots to work on. Got served a big dose of humble pie which can be a good thing.
Too much love recently. Spoiled. Not the #4 team. Get back to work.

 

[TFCats11]

OP is correct on all points, but after watching this team compete with Duke and the Zags, not a single one of us thought this team had a 20 point blowout loss in them! Not to Auburn not to Tennessee, and DEFINITELY not this OSU team!

If these guys approach conference play the way they did this contest last night, not only will they have a losing conference record, they might not win 4-5 home games!

No, I’m not a chicken little, or a negative nancy, quite the contrary, but again, if they give last night’s effort and performance, they are donezo!

 

[Eagles_Ball]

This is his 10th season as a head coach. Not exactly seasoned yet.

9 yrs experience isn’t seasoned? People were and are right to question the hire. Pope and staff have done an AMAZING job initially, and benefited from some major luck and fortune with wins against Gonzaga and dUKe. I think those two wins at least showed what the team is capable of. Unfortunately so did Clemson, Ga St, and tOSU.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

We got a very young coach who hasn't proven himself yet. He had to assemble an entire team with ZERO returning players, and ZERO star freshmen. And he had to do it in just a few weeks. Nobody but Aaron Torres even had us in the Top 40, let alone Top 25. And we got off to a 10-1 start with wins over legit Top 10 teams. If you expected more than that, you were being unrealistic.

Agreed on every point, except Pope ain’t young. He’s been a head coach for 10 yrs. He’s 50 yrs old. He’s not some green newbie. I still think he and his staff have done a good job given the situation.