In-game coaching/strategy for 2024-2025

[UKSanders]

Just curious, does anyone remember a game (or games) regardless of it ending as a win or a loss that the opposing coach made adjustments in-game that Pope just never adjusted to?

Seems like there may have been a game or two, but I cannot recall. It seemed like most of the losses this past season were due to effort or talent...either lack of athleticism (in either the starting lineup or in the depth pieces once injuries started piling up), but there weren't many times I recall that coaching/strategy was THE main culprit for either the loss or a win being closer than it should've been.

With the influx of athleticism/depth for 2025-2026, I don't see any positions where the opposition will be overwhelmingly dominant from an athleticism standpoint. Will some opponents have a position or two with more athleticism? Sure, but I don't it will be a huge discrepancy.

I know some fanbases can OCCASIONALLY have unrealistic expectations...not UK fans of course, but some of those OTHER people...

However, with the combo of influx of talent/athleticism and Pope's in-game coaching, it just really reinforces the expectation that next year's team really should be a major contender IF they commit like the 2024-2025 team to sacrificing and playing FOR one another.

So, am I forgetting significant coaching blunders or lack of adjustments by Pope?

 

[ukjenning44]

What a stupid post!!!

 

[MegaBlue05]

No coach is flawless and many coaches are made to look good by their players.

That said, the only real thing I saw were some questionable lineups after the injuries started piling up where the starters would have it rolling early and the bench would come in and stagnate/cough up the early lead.

We also were prone to finishing the first half poorly.

 

[trueblujr2]

I think the overall age and experience of the team was a factor in how well they were able to understand and execute a halftime adjustment. Having a half dozen 5th year guys on the roster helps, because those guys understand how to execute Popes instructions based on years of experience playing at a higher level beyond High School. Yeah, we threw some clunkers and weren't able to overcome some teams, especially when the injuries mounted in late January, early February, but experience helped us overcome Duke, Gonzaga, Florida, UT and the like.

 

[UKSanders]

No coach is flawless and many coaches are made to look good by their players.

That said, the only real thing I saw were some questionable lineups after the injuries started piling up where the starters would have it rolling early and the bench would come in and stagnate/cough up the early lead.

We also were prone to finishing the first half poorly.

yeah, that's fair. I was really just trying to think of times when another coach changed a defense, etc, and Pope didn't make a pretty good adjustment.

I know he and the other coaches run circles around both my knowledge of the game as well as their knowledge of their players the see in practice all the time, and I know they dive heavily into analytics, but I agree there were times it felt the sub patterns were quirky and put some ineffective lineups on the floor.

 

[UKSanders]

What a stupid post!!!

awesome - thanks for your contribution to the conversation.


This is a message board to discuss the team... there are crazy, unrealistic expectations by posters all the time. So, when looking at the potential roster for next season, the overall expectation the team should be a legit title contender seems realistic (for a change compared to many other expectations posted on here).

I think Pope did a great job with his in-game coaching this past season, but I was just curious if others may have seen some flaws that I missed, which was the reason for my post.

So...what part of that post was stupid?

 

[know1]

If he did a great job, why are you looking for flaws? This thread and the original post don't make much sense.

 

[JPFisher]

I don't think Pope was perfect last year, but he damn sure got an A from me. Also not sure why some posters here have a stick up 'em, but it seems you've pissed in some Cheerios.

I said it last year that Pope did more with less at BYU. The 2024-25 team was going to be way better than anything he had at BYU. This year, with the talent and skill (Wilkerson decision pending), I think we're a title contender, and I think Pope will learn from any missteps he had last year.

He had a meeting with his staff dissecting the season, he understands that we needed physicality, he understands that we needed athleticism. I think he's done splendidly this off-season, and I'd happily give him an A+. He's learning, like everyone does, and I don't know that there's anyone out there as passionate for the job as him.

 

[UKSanders]

If he did a great job, why are you looking for flaws? This thread and the original post don't make much sense.

I didn't (don't) think it was that hard to understand... not trying to find a reason to bash Pope.

In thinking about expectations for next season, I was reflecting on this past season. Again, to clarify, I did NOT see any significant flaws. However, because I am willing to admit that I don't see or know everything, I was just curious if anyone else had noticed anything that maybe I didn't. If everyone saw it the way I did, great. If they noticed something I didn't, it would possibly change my expectations for next season...or at least open my eyes to watch for the thing I may have missed.

Either way, nothing earth shattering, but just a crazy thought that it may start some discussion from fans on a message board...

 

[Bluegrassking]

I seldom to never see what value the expression "not perfect" ever brings to a conversation about people.

I am always left with pretty much "Yes, I know we are not discussing God".

Do some use the term for being as close as one can expect to be to unblemished?

The tendency seems to run closer to describing woefully far from ideal but favored anyway in too many cases to be in an effort to be painting a picture of being near the best possible but it seems to depend way more on the individual stating it than it does what is being discussed.

 

[littlecreek]

I know one thing, I was 1000% more satisfied the coaching job this past season than any other for a good while.

 

[UKSanders]

I seldom to never see what value the expression "not perfect" ever brings to a conversation about people.

I am always left with pretty much "Yes, I know we are not discussing God".

Do some use the term for being as close as one can expect to be to unblemished?

The tendency seems to run closer to describing woefully far from ideal but favored anyway in too many cases to be in an effort to be painting a picture of being near the best possible but it seems to depend way more on the individual stating it than it does what is being discussed.

That's fair and is a miscommunication on my part. I wasn't trying to ask for any small blemish as a sign of imperfection, but I realize my initial post may have sounded like that.

Perhaps a better wording on my initial post would've been... did anyone see any significant repetitive errors/issues.

I am sure Pope would agree that there are areas where he and the coaching staff could improve, so while I didn't notice anything crazy, I was just asking out of curiosity if others may have noticed something I had not.