What an outstanding job.
Wouldn’t trade him for anyone.
Wouldn’t trade him for anyone.
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Our coach.
- Thread starter ORCAT10
- Start date
This guy is out here performing miracles with what will probably be his least talented team at UK.
Amazing
Amazing
Everybody has to come to terms with the fact that there's gonna be bad games and that 6 game streak at the end of the year isn't easy to win but these guys are good enough to beat any team and that's all we can ask for. That title is up for grabs this year and it's not crazy to say we could be the team to do it. All in a bonus year because Pope shouldn't have us as good as we are this quick.
In Coach Mark Pope*, I trust.
*NCAA Men's College Basketball National Coach of the Year 2024 - 2025
Go Big Blue !
*NCAA Men's College Basketball National Coach of the Year 2024 - 2025
Go Big Blue !
Mark Pope is the commonwealths coach. It feels good to have one of us here in the seat again. I love this man and I hope he achieves everything he Possibly can in his time here. I’d love to see about a 15-20 year stint. 3 titles and about 6 final fours.
Our entire schedule from here on out is full of landmines, I believe we will make it thru as well as anyone and have a great seed come March. We will lose games for sure. It’s too difficult not to especially on the road. Everyone should enjoy this team because they play hard and they play for the jersey and for BBN.
His press conferences after games are so much fun to watch.
They are very refreshing for his attitude and he actually talks about relevant stuff. Cal got to the point where you could guess what he would say after a win or loss.
I’m not sure least talented. Depends on how you define talent. Athleticism, yeah I can see more in the future but this team has some attributes that Cal’s diaper dandy’s never had. These guys, while they have looked off and on, I dont recall them being rattled or quitting. They are solid at end of games, best shooter in the country and Butler is a great PG for this team. Carr, man for his size he’s better or more productive than some of the talented guys I have seen come through here.
I can see how future teams may not resemble this one, but this team has some really good parts we will wish every team going forward had for sure.
One of the things that used to drive me crazy the last few years was how in the last 4 minutes of a close game UK often tightened up. We would have bad shots,rushed shots and numerous shot clock violations.It often seemed we had no plan, and often appeared that nobody wanted to take the big shot when it mattered. I think this was a direct reflection on the coach. Pope is calm and always seems to have a plan of attack late. Our players are responding to this as we have put 3 top 10 teams away . Pope has definitely proved he belongs in a top tier program. The future is bright.
Yeah because we had no plan, no adjustments, and Cal couldn’t draw a good play up to save his life. If he happened too he didn’t coach the guys on how to execute it.
Nice to see Kentucky playing for that name on the front of their jersey and not the green room. WOW !what a positive culture change MARK POPE has brought here again at K-E-N-T-U-C-K-Y . So proud of our team,and coach . "LONG LIVE THE POPE"
Agree with everything
Let me add:
Coach Pope is learning, too.
He's new to the pressure of elite expectations etc.
He's smart...and growing.
Let me add:
Coach Pope is learning, too.
He's new to the pressure of elite expectations etc.
He's smart...and growing.
Yeah athletically is the only thing these guys lack from upper tier prospects but they are more mentally tough, overall skilled, and work as a team better.
The thing I love about him is that he knows what the pressure feels like being a part of one of the best squads in our history and getting the job done. He knows what BBN expects and what he needs to do as a coach. He realizes we don’t expect a title yearly but it is a goal. He knows we just expect basketball played in a way we expect with talented players and good coaching.
I’m amazed by his execution. His analysis is excellent but his ability to execute and deliver what is required is off the charts.
No doubt, if you listen to him talk and watch him coach you know why though. He is amazing getting across the plan or points he is emphasizing to the team. He is just a born teacher.
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Not criticizing…just an observation.
Coach almost never calls TO when the other team is on a run.
Other great coaches have done/do it.
Pope I am certain has his reasons.
Coach almost never calls TO when the other team is on a run.
Other great coaches have done/do it.
Pope I am certain has his reasons.
Good points. Hes not that new to pressures and expectations here. He was a player, team Captain and a Champion.
This right here
Our coach is growing and adapting
He can’t help but be successful long term
Pope does not make halftime adjustments, he makes in-game adjustments in real time. Kentucky will lose some games but they will not be outclassed
Yup but he seems to really know exactly what to communicate to the team at halftime to get them to a Win for sure. I love seeing his halftime speech. He’s not overly emotional, just lays out what we did wrong. The best part is our players can answer the questions he asks of them. It shows how prepared we are and how much belief he has in them to correct things on the fly.
Depending on the post season.... Could very well be National Coach of the Year.
He is a better than god! Now listen to me. If you could bring a dead loved one back, or have UK win a basketball game, then you aren't a true fan?
His pre game preparations and team pre game preparations go far beyond the x's and o's as well. I like the mental, positive aspect, the cerebral aspect of where he goes with the "ten thousand feet high" stratospheric coach speak. It's refreshing to have a coach that recognizes the positives and negatives and relates that to us basketball bennies that would like a little more information and understanding so as to better understand our team. He's doing what Calipari got away from, if he EVER was as forthright and honest, I don't think I ever heard him the way CMP is.
I'm more than satisfied with his coaching performance this year.
National coach of the year all the way
I'm more than satisfied with his coaching performance this year.
National coach of the year all the way
And we actually run out of bounds plays to score- even the TV announcers stated, during the Fla game that our inbounds plays have several options to which we try to score
Don't know his reasoning but I'd put his I.Q. against any coach out there.
I’m completely lost with the question here. If you are joking, this may not have been the one to hit “send” on. Blasphemous jokes are not met with with laughter on each our days of judgment. Taking the question as I understand it from a more serious approach, frankly there are loved ones I’d love to bring back just to watch some UK games with again. I’d gladly bring them back even if it meant going 0-33 in a heartbeat without question
I wondered about this as well. I know Pope has talked about growing pains and turning frustration into fruit. I wonder if he is giving guys more of a leash to learn how to deal with the pressure.
That’s what I’m thinking as well. Or he could be saving them for real need. His time outs are usually well used
I love the way Pope is and the way he coaches, he doesn’t get rattled or throw a fit on the sidelines, yet still gets results. His priorities are right, he loves the program and his players and does care about our fans and their expectations for the program. The players we have are focused on winning and the moment, not the green room and NBA. He’s like he is because he played here, his passion for the program reflects in everything he says or does. We are fortunate that things turned out the way they did with him as our coach.
Cal could never finish a thought and never said anything worth listening to. Therefore, I quit listening to Cal about 6 years ago. Now I listen to Pope often.
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