Mark Pope - The winning ticket

[SacramentoKat]

Pitino - too old,

Hurley - just flipped us off after he won the tourney

Scott Drew - bleh, boring offense.

Bruce Pearl - Scandals, so much hate for KY over the years, best years behind him.

Nate Oats - Just flipped us off on social media.

Donovan - He already passed on us once. He’d end up just taking a check. His best years are over.

Mark Pope truly loves Kentucky and he has proven he can coach. No he hasn’t got a NC in his belt, but neither did Pitino, or Cal, or Tubby or many coaches for that matter. That just means he has the fire to get it done. He would bring the passion back to the bluegrass, and wouldn’t have to go to $10M and could use funds for other means.

 

[ZagsVisitor]

Pitino - too old,

Hurley - just flipped us off after he won the tourney

Scott Drew - bleh, boring offense.

Bruce Pearl - Scandals, so much hate for KY over the years, best years behind him.

Nate Oats - Just flipped us off on social media.

Donovan - He already passed on us once. He’d end up just taking a check. His best years are over.

Mark Pope truly loves Kentucky and he has proven he can coach. No he hasn’t got a NC in his belt, but neither did Pitino, or Cal, or Tubby or many coaches for that matter. That just means he has the fire to get it done. He would bring the passion back to the bluegrass, and wouldn’t have to go to $10M and could use funds for other means.

Not only has he not won a title, he hasn’t won a single tournament game, and he’s the only name on that list who hasn’t. Not my team, but seems like a major black hole on his resume for a program like UK, unless it was a hire from your own staff, like Jon Scheyer, which this is not.

 

[Jmeeks54thebest]

Pitino - too old,

Hurley - just flipped us off after he won the tourney

Scott Drew - bleh, boring offense.

Bruce Pearl - Scandals, so much hate for KY over the years, best years behind him.

Nate Oats - Just flipped us off on social media.

Donovan - He already passed on us once. He’d end up just taking a check. His best years are over.

Mark Pope truly loves Kentucky and he has proven he can coach. No he hasn’t got a NC in his belt, but neither did Pitino, or Cal, or Tubby or many coaches for that matter. That just means he has the fire to get it done. He would bring the passion back to the bluegrass, and wouldn’t have to go to $10M and could use funds for other means.

Neither Oates or Hurley flipped us off. Get out of your emotions. Bruce Pearl has had scandals, and while he’s not my first pick, he’s only had good things to say about our program and has only ever shown our program respect.

I agree with you about Donovan. Pitino’s age is a near the bottom of my list of why I’d stop watching if UK lowered the dignity of the head coaching position by hiring him. But yes, he is too old, and his best days are wayyyyyy behind him.

 

[kennyskywalker34]

Pitino - too old,

Hurley - just flipped us off after he won the tourney

Scott Drew - bleh, boring offense.

Bruce Pearl - Scandals, so much hate for KY over the years, best years behind him.

Nate Oats - Just flipped us off on social media.

Donovan - He already passed on us once. He’d end up just taking a check. His best years are over.

Mark Pope truly loves Kentucky and he has proven he can coach. No he hasn’t got a NC in his belt, but neither did Pitino, or Cal, or Tubby or many coaches for that matter. That just means he has the fire to get it done. He would bring the passion back to the bluegrass, and wouldn’t have to go to $10M and could use funds for other means.

Why don't you go LARGE on Mark Pope. 🤡

 

[Fox2monk]

Pitino - too old,

Hurley - just flipped us off after he won the tourney

Scott Drew - bleh, boring offense.

Bruce Pearl - Scandals, so much hate for KY over the years, best years behind him.

Nate Oats - Just flipped us off on social media.

Donovan - He already passed on us once. He’d end up just taking a check. His best years are over.

Mark Pope truly loves Kentucky and he has proven he can coach. No he hasn’t got a NC in his belt, but neither did Pitino, or Cal, or Tubby or many coaches for that matter. That just means he has the fire to get it done. He would bring the passion back to the bluegrass, and wouldn’t have to go to $10M and could use funds for other means.

Did you go large on Pope? Has anyone heard Pope say a word about UK since he’s been a coach?

 

[WhiskeyCityCat]

Pitino - too old,

Hurley - just flipped us off after he won the tourney

Scott Drew - bleh, boring offense.

Bruce Pearl - Scandals, so much hate for KY over the years, best years behind him.

Nate Oats - Just flipped us off on social media.

Donovan - He already passed on us once. He’d end up just taking a check. His best years are over.

Mark Pope truly loves Kentucky and he has proven he can coach. No he hasn’t got a NC in his belt, but neither did Pitino, or Cal, or Tubby or many coaches for that matter. That just means he has the fire to get it done. He would bring the passion back to the bluegrass, and wouldn’t have to go to $10M and could use funds for other means.

To dismiss Drew so easily and bang the drum for Mark freaking Pope is insanely comical. What an absolute moronic idea.

 

[chroix]

Pretty sure this post just locked in Scott Drew.

 

[MbergCat]

LOL, no.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Pope seems like a good dude and a solid coach, but we need a HOME RUN HIRE.

 

[Jakerz]

Sometimes free speech isn’t a good thing lol

 

[MrHotDice]

Your not gonna get a HR hire with Barney as AD. He has a history of fu#king this up.

 

[rick64]

If Pope never played ball at UK, would he even be remotely considered? I don't think so.

 

[jeffky]

Pitino - too old,

Hurley - just flipped us off after he won the tourney

Scott Drew - bleh, boring offense.

Bruce Pearl - Scandals, so much hate for KY over the years, best years behind him.

Nate Oats - Just flipped us off on social media.

Donovan - He already passed on us once. He’d end up just taking a check. His best years are over.

Mark Pope truly loves Kentucky and he has proven he can coach. No he hasn’t got a NC in his belt, but neither did Pitino, or Cal, or Tubby or many coaches for that matter. That just means he has the fire to get it done. He would bring the passion back to the bluegrass, and wouldn’t have to go to $10M and could use funds for other means.

 

[gregbookout]

I doubt it. Honestly he’s a guy that might be ready in 5 years…I think you could consider offering Pitino to come back as a bridge and make a new hire in 5 years, but that’s a lot of what ifs

 

[JFCats22]

🙄

“Pope loves UK”…you have no freaking clue if he does or does not love UK. When was the last time he was here or did anything for UK?

 

[blubo]

you think mitch would hire a mormon pope?
🙄

 

[SacramentoKat]

Mark Pope is a winner guys. Yes, he doesn’t have the resume, but he has it. He’s like a scheyer hire or Hubert Davis. They are succeeding just fine.



Last week, Pope was in Arizona for the Final Four and participated in a live interview with Rob Dauster from The Field of 68 Media Network. Pope was asked how he balances his love for Kentucky from his playing days and his love of BYU as a coach.

RELATED STORIES​

• 
  

  Rick Pitino Gives Mark Pope Praise After BYU Defeats Baylor​

“Oh, I love Kentucky. You don’t understand; I love Kentucky. Like, in my soul, I love Coach P (Pitino) and I love Kentucky,” said Mark Pope to the Field of 68 on April 4. “And I’m trying to get a game with St. John’s so we can beat him. I would love to play Kentucky because I want to beat them. That doesn’t mean I don’t love them. I love them like crazy. I love them in my soul. But right now, BYU’s trying to win, man. We’re trying to win. So there’s no conflict for me at all.”

 

[Zissou87]

FYI, Pope is only two years younger than Drew.

 

[Dirt Court King]

Pitino - too old,

Hurley - just flipped us off after he won the tourney

Scott Drew - bleh, boring offense.

Bruce Pearl - Scandals, so much hate for KY over the years, best years behind him.

Nate Oats - Just flipped us off on social media.

Donovan - He already passed on us once. He’d end up just taking a check. His best years are over.

Mark Pope truly loves Kentucky and he has proven he can coach. No he hasn’t got a NC in his belt, but neither did Pitino, or Cal, or Tubby or many coaches for that matter. That just means he has the fire to get it done. He would bring the passion back to the bluegrass, and wouldn’t have to go to $10M and could use funds for other means.

Yes, he’s one of us, but can he recruit?

 

[drcats2013]

Boooooooo this man!

 

[R.O.T.Muckinfush]

I like this pick better than drew

 

[drcats2013]

Ain’t this the gambler poster that always has a “sure bet” and loses? He just wants to bet all the unders!

 

[bigbluedon]

New name to consider. Bill Self. Will he get a call? He is a pretty good coach. Will he excite you guys? Let’s wait and see.

 

[bigbluedon]

Mark Pope is a winner guys. Yes, he doesn’t have the resume, but he has it. He’s like a scheyer hire or Hubert Davis. They are succeeding just fine.



Last week, Pope was in Arizona for the Final Four and participated in a live interview with Rob Dauster from The Field of 68 Media Network. Pope was asked how he balances his love for Kentucky from his playing days and his love of BYU as a coach.

RELATED STORIES​

• 
  

  Rick Pitino Gives Mark Pope Praise After BYU Defeats Baylor​

“Oh, I love Kentucky. You don’t understand; I love Kentucky. Like, in my soul, I love Coach P (Pitino) and I love Kentucky,” said Mark Pope to the Field of 68 on April 4. “And I’m trying to get a game with St. John’s so we can beat him. I would love to play Kentucky because I want to beat them. That doesn’t mean I don’t love them. I love them like crazy. I love them in my soul. But right now, BYU’s trying to win, man. We’re trying to win. So there’s no conflict for me at all.”

I would love to have him. He would recruit better and loves UK. Runs great stuff. Very smart guy.

 

[dl51344]

Not only has he not won a title, he hasn’t won a single tournament game, and he’s the only name on that list who hasn’t. Not my team, but seems like a major black hole on his resume for a program like UK, unless it was a hire from your own staff, like Jon Scheyer, which this is not.

None of our previous coaches had won a title. Where has that requirement come from. Neither Duke or NC had that as a requirement and they seem to be doing alright. I think winning your probably one in a coach's career title before getting here in not good. Makes me feel like they have been used up.

 

[TheDude73]

Pitino - too old,

Hurley - just flipped us off after he won the tourney

Scott Drew - bleh, boring offense.

Bruce Pearl - Scandals, so much hate for KY over the years, best years behind him.

Nate Oats - Just flipped us off on social media.

Donovan - He already passed on us once. He’d end up just taking a check. His best years are over.

Mark Pope truly loves Kentucky and he has proven he can coach. No he hasn’t got a NC in his belt, but neither did Pitino, or Cal, or Tubby or many coaches for that matter. That just means he has the fire to get it done. He would bring the passion back to the bluegrass, and wouldn’t have to go to $10M and could use funds for other means.

Cal already had major tournament success with Memphis and UMASS.

Pope is interesting, but down the road perhaps. Heck, he does have BYU ranked in preseason polls for next year (I thought I saw #12, with Drew's Baylor at #10).

 

[SacramentoKat]

I would love to have him. He would recruit better and loves UK. Runs great stuff. Very smart guy.

Mark Pope would end up recruiting guys that want to win. We’ve had teams full of McDonald’s all Americans… it doesn’t work if they are just here for ride to the NBA. I’m not saying Mark Pope can’t get 5 stars, but I want the right 5 stars.

Mark Pope gets us back to KY basketball and not the NBA D-league. We could save an extra 3-4M on this hire to help lure recruits?

 

[Jkwo]

No he hasn’t got a NC in his belt

Or a tournament win, for that matter

 

[JFCats22]

Pope isn’t on the list unless the list is about 25 guys

It’s an absolutely ridiculous idea

 

[ukpence]

If we're taking flyers on a coach, then I'm on the Todd Golden wagon. This is just my opinion, but to want Pope over Drew is crazy. If Pope didn't have the Kentucky connection, this wouldn't even be a conversation.

 

[JFCats22]

We could save an extra 3-4M on this hire to help lure recruits?

Um no….it doesn’t work like that.

 

[bigbluedon]

Pope isn’t on the list unless the list is about 25 guys

It’s an absolutely ridiculous idea

He might not be but he should be.

 

[JFCats22]

He might not be but he should be.

No, in no way should he be. Why should he? What has he done that even remotely qualifies him to be the UK coach?

 

[bigbluedon]

If we're taking flyers on a coach, then I'm on the Todd Golden wagon. This is just my opinion, but to want Pope over Drew is crazy. If Pope didn't have the Kentucky connection, this wouldn't even be a conversation.

What do you think about Hubert davis at NC? He had no record of anything. Not doing too bad.

 

[ukpence]

What do you think about Hubert davis at NC? He had no record of anything. Not doing too bad.

I'm not the biggest fan of Davis, but his results speak for themselves. That's why I'm a Todd Golden fan. Is he ready for the big stage yet? Probably not, but his future is bright. I've said this before, Kentucky can make a good coach great and a great coach a superstar. As a fellow fan, I think we need to remember that. There are only two guys who didn't win a title here. That says more than you think.

 

[king of cali]

Some hate the idea of Drew possibly coming to UK, it would be all in on Pope lol…

 

[Smashcat]

Pitino - too old,

Hurley - just flipped us off after he won the tourney

Scott Drew - bleh, boring offense.

Bruce Pearl - Scandals, so much hate for KY over the years, best years behind him.

Nate Oats - Just flipped us off on social media.

Donovan - He already passed on us once. He’d end up just taking a check. His best years are over.

Mark Pope truly loves Kentucky and he has proven he can coach. No he hasn’t got a NC in his belt, but neither did Pitino, or Cal, or Tubby or many coaches for that matter. That just means he has the fire to get it done. He would bring the passion back to the bluegrass, and wouldn’t have to go to $10M and could use funds for other means.

 

[bigbluedon]

The fact is there are no great coaches out there any more besides Pitino and he is not getting a call. You are taking a chance with anyone you hire. Everyone on this board bitches at every name that is brought up and there are no sure fire names out there, besides Hurley. It’s a crap shoot. Hell I am 70 years old and know enough about our history and the game itself having been a coach and ref, that I am willing to take a chance on a guy like Pope. Anyone we hire, we are taking a chance on. Standards are ridiculously high on this board and the coaches that meet them are gone. Anyway, whoever Mitch hires I am all in. Not sure how many years I got left but I want to be excited again. Peace.

 

[UNIVKY]

Pitino - too old,

Hurley - just flipped us off after he won the tourney

Scott Drew - bleh, boring offense.

Bruce Pearl - Scandals, so much hate for KY over the years, best years behind him.

Nate Oats - Just flipped us off on social media.

Donovan - He already passed on us once. He’d end up just taking a check. His best years are over.

Mark Pope truly loves Kentucky and he has proven he can coach. No he hasn’t got a NC in his belt, but neither did Pitino, or Cal, or Tubby or many coaches for that matter. That just means he has the fire to get it done. He would bring the passion back to the bluegrass, and wouldn’t have to go to $10M and could use funds for other means.

You're as bad at this as you are gambling

 

[kywildcat41086]

Jon Scheyer = Duke Head Coach with no previous head coaching experience done decent so far . Duke Alum

Hubert Davis= North Carolina Head Coach with bo previous Head Coaching experience done well so far. North Carolina Alum

Mark Pope 9 years head coach has done decent where he’s been. UK Alum.

Why wouldn’t he do good here given all the resources that KY has to offer and he loves the University…. I like this better than the options past Donovan and Hurley…