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IMO, people are looking at Pope the wrong way

You can see the players efforts. Coaching is an unseen part. Pretty simple.
Okay so on that note, I’m not allowed to say positive things about coaches either right? Because I can’t see it - I don’t know if it’s good or bad, I can only comment on players?

Guess I can’t praise Pope for doing a good job :/
 
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This is an excellent post. I'm not quitting on Pope. At this point I still feel he is a good hire at UK. He has done a great job with less talent so far this season and amazing given the time he had to put an entire roster and staff together. We still may not have all the pieces next year yet either but I think we will get closer to what Pope is trying to build. We just need to be patient and give him a little time. Hope that Ohwe, Garrison and some others come back next season as I feel they coukd make huge gains in their game. Is there anyway Almonor can come back for another season??? I feel he woukd be huge with one more year under Pope.
No doubt that he had a TON on his plate to begin with, but I find it concerning that this team, even without the kind of talent we've become accustomed to over the years, doesn't hustle both halves in a game. At times it doesn't seem they're teachable, which is a distinct possibility considering most played elsewhere before hitting the portal and they weren't at programs without the kind of history and expectations that we have. Color me concerned about the foundation he is laying. Early on in the season it appeared to me that most everyone was busting their butts out there. Nowadays we're seeing a lot less of that. Even if you don't make the shot or grab the rebound, you can STILL HUSTLE and that doesn't require any sort of talent.
 
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What's being said is today wasn't his best coaching performance.
This team wasn't mentally prepared and his lineup combos in the first half were pretty bad and IMO, that is fair and if you asked him, he would agree with those takes I bet.

Lost on the road in the SEC by a couple of possessions. Regardless of how the 1st half went, the game could have gone either way at the end. Pretty much like nearly every SEC game we've played or going to play rest of the year.

UT lost there as well.
 
Sure as soon as you tell me how Pope messed up today and what he could have done to win? Seeing as how that is what we are talking about.
I have no intention of doing that - this all started because I said I personally felt it was fine for OTHER people to express their grievances about a coach. Not once did I do what you’re mentioning.

Your entire point is that no one who isn’t a coach can talk about a coach. So I guess Pope doesn’t deserve any praise from the fans for any of the things he’s done well this year? Well actually, I guess by your logic, we don’t actually know if he’s done anything well because all we see is the players. Guess not then!
 
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I have no intention of doing that - this all started because I said I personally felt it was fine for OTHER people to express their grievances about a coach. Not once did I do what you’re mentioning.

Your entire point is that no one who isn’t a coach can talk about a coach. So I guess Pope doesn’t deserve any praise from the fans for any of the things he’s done well this year? Well actually, I guess by your logic, we don’t actually know if he’s done anything well because all we see is the players. Guess not then!
I have no intention of reading past that first sentence then. keep typing it up though!
 
Maybe. I remember watching Popes #5 seed BYU team get handled easily by #11 Cornell in the first round last year.

Well BYU was a six seed that year and lost to Duquesne. And they weren't handled easily. They lost by 2 possessions and 5 points.

The last tournament game Cornell played in was in 2010. And that was a very fun one :)
 
I have no intention of reading past that first sentence then. keep typing it up though!
Keep moving the needle my guy. Not surprised you can’t read given the gist of your argument undermines a billion dollar industry of sports media, where coaches are discussed extensively. Guess you’re the only one who’s right!
 
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Lost on the road in the SEC by a couple of possessions. Regardless of how the 1st half went, the game could have gone either way at the end. Pretty much like nearly every SEC game we've played or going to play rest of the year.

UT lost there as well.
The team played lethargic, lazy and disinterested in the first half, Amari still plays with his hands down and got outrebounded by Trent Noah and the substitution patterns were pretty awful in the first half.

Some of these things were corrected at halftime. UK won the 2nd half by 9. With a week to prepare, we lost the first half by 14.

You didn't see Pope.put Noah, Perry and Chandler in together in the 2nd half, that was a mistake he made in the first half that never should have been made.

It's okay to say today wasnt one of Pope's better coaching performances.
 
Hasn’t helped either that Butler is in a confidence slump. We have to have him an Oweh lead us and ever since he got hurt he’s really struggled and worse than that looked inside of himself out there.

He’s been shaky with the ball and tentative and lost his DOG mentality. He’ll drive and instead of trying to finish through contact he’s stopping all the time and pivoting to try to get rid of it.

Don’t think he’s still hurt but he has to get back to being our alpha male
 
Keep moving the needle my guy. Not surprised you can’t read given the gist of your argument undermines a billion dollar industry of sports media, where coaches are discussed extensively. Guess you’re the only one who’s right!
Well you definitely aren't right and only one of us is trying to armchair coach...

I do think its funny you think those talking heads are that smart though! Any other time those talking heads would be just that. But you want to try to prove a point. They became that billionaire organization by being fans and showing other fans the sports.
 
Well you definitely aren't right and only one of us is trying to armchair coach...

I do think its funny you think those talking heads are that smart though! Any other time those talking heads would be just that. But you want to try to prove a point. They became that billionaire organization by being fans and showing other fans the sports.
Also took me 2 minutes to find a post of you critiquing a coach. So you just lost all credibility!

Here it is for shits and giggles:

“I don't know. I'm all for a coach that doesn't care to call you a idiot if need be. You have to be a little tough and push them or you won't get the most. I had coaches like that and it does help build you up, IF it is done right. Its like tough love. But if you are just constantly berating without any or little positive actions then it's just a guy being a jerk.

You can't tell me his coaching staff and team aren't silently judging him for pretty much sealing their fates yesterday. I would actual gain some respect for the guy if he would come out and take responsibility. A simple "I got caught up in the emotion and I need to do better" is fine. Just show me that you are capable of taking responsibility. But nope just more finger pointing.“
 
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I get the roster is last minute….but what is next year gonna be significantly better?

1. Does Jasper Lewis and Moreno really going to make up that much talent gap?

- Moreno is a backup C most likely
- Lewis is talented…but he’s a light frame kid…I don’t see him as main PG for 30 minutes

- We lose Butler, Carr, and Brea who all fill very good roles on this team. Not impossible to fill but they are producing and wont be easy to replace

Unless we expect a higher caliber portal kid…I see an incremental improvement in roster but not incredible improvement to next year
 
I get the roster is last minute….but what is next year gonna be significantly better?

1. Does Jasper Lewis and Moreno really going to make up that much talent gap?

- Moreno is a backup C most likely
- Lewis is talented…but he’s a light frame kid…I don’t see him as main PG for 30 minutes

- We lose Butler, Carr, and Brea who all fill very good roles on this team. Not impossible to fill but they are producing and wont be easy to replace

Unless we expect a higher caliber portal kid…I see an incremental improvement in roster but not incredible improvement to next year
You’re bumming me out man, dang
 
I am in no way disappointed in our coaching staff or players. The SEC is probably the best it has been historically. No gimmes on the schedule. This season will long be remembered for bringing UK basketball back. I am still optimistic that we can get back on track, but it won’t be easy.
 
losing the game doesnt upset me, the actual UK fans melting down and insinuating Pope sucks is upsetting. Pope now knows the physicality you need in the SEC, if he doesnt address that in the off season with the portal then games lost will make me more upset. With what Pope has accomplished this season , anything else in the next 2 months is icing on the cake . We have 2 of our starters injured/banged up with one being out, and a key backup out for the past month and a half.

the actual real UK fans, not those cal fans trolling or rival fans pretending to be UK fans, the actual fans melting down , WTF were you expecting for this season? We were put together in a month.
 
No doubt that he had a TON on his plate to begin with, but I find it concerning that this team, even without the kind of talent we've become accustomed to over the years, doesn't hustle both halves in a game. At times it doesn't seem they're teachable, which is a distinct possibility considering most played elsewhere before hitting the portal and they weren't at programs without the kind of history and expectations that we have. Color me concerned about the foundation he is laying. Early on in the season it appeared to me that most everyone was busting their butts out there. Nowadays we're seeing a lot less of that. Even if you don't make the shot or grab the rebound, you can STILL HUSTLE and that doesn't require any sort of talent.
I also would add that these guys never played at a level where they are now. The SEC is the toughest conference in the nation and most of these guys came from far lower levels of competition. They may be just learning that playing harder and busting their butts is what they need to do. Most didn't have to do that at the lower levels they came from, one of the downsides of getting a lot of last minute portal players. Just a thought, if you can follow what I'm suggesting.
 
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