Pope did a horrible Job tonight
- Thread starter kygent2
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Well, we're only 2 games ahead of them and we have a lot more losses coming. They might actually build off last night's game.
Being an idiot? How am I an idiot? What did I say that was false?
Agree with all of this...was surprised that his +/- for the game was 0 when everyone else, outside of Williams, was in the -. Williams only guy who looked like he gave a damn was +4
I figured Thiero would dominate. Anyone with a semi-athletic 4-type has given us fits all year. Flagg, Nelson, Milisic, etc.
Not having Butler allowed Wagner to have his best game of the season.
Big Z was the X-factor. The back-breaking 3 when it was 76-70 was the biggest shot of the game in my opinion.
Frustrating loss but hardly season-derailing. Bounce back against Ole Miss and South Carolina and we’re all feeling much better a week from now.
Not having Butler allowed Wagner to have his best game of the season.
Big Z was the X-factor. The back-breaking 3 when it was 76-70 was the biggest shot of the game in my opinion.
Frustrating loss but hardly season-derailing. Bounce back against Ole Miss and South Carolina and we’re all feeling much better a week from now.
You do not know the future.
I bet they lose their next games. They’ll look terrible against Texas, and bama will score 1000 on them and then they will be 13-10 and this loss will look even worse
I agree he has to show he can land top recruits. We are top 4 in NIL funds and don't have a top 20 recruit more than 30 minutes from Lexington.
Well at least we all agree Pope doesn't have the horses this year.
A MUCH BIGGER TRAGEDY is the Talent that Cal has had the LAST DECADE and we would finish the season as we did.
Pope is to be determined... there are A LOT of things I like. Some things I don't understand. I will say this I am looking forward to a March game without Calipari on our sidelines.
It COULD be the same result, but no way it's worse.
Dr RB
A MUCH BIGGER TRAGEDY is the Talent that Cal has had the LAST DECADE and we would finish the season as we did.
Pope is to be determined... there are A LOT of things I like. Some things I don't understand. I will say this I am looking forward to a March game without Calipari on our sidelines.
It COULD be the same result, but no way it's worse.
Dr RB
Pope needs 2 top transfers! He can't miss in the portal this year. Need a top Guard prefer "point". Combo would work as well!
And one of the best PF.
And one of the best PF.
Cal spent more NIL money than any other school and he’s still underperforming . No matter this outcome. How many games are they gonna shoot like that ? Cal wanted it more than any game in his career and so did the players. Wagner is not going to make the NBA and as you seen last night Z can’t handle physically the league. If they shoot their normal percentage then it’s a different game.
Pope crapped the bed. Any college basketball enthusiast knows Cal's teams struggle against a zone and haven't shot well from the perimeter.
Why not occasionally switch to the 1-3-1 we implemented against Duke and Gonzaga?
Rather, without our best defensive player, we play strictly man to man and give up penetration all night.
Why not occasionally switch to the 1-3-1 we implemented against Duke and Gonzaga?
Rather, without our best defensive player, we play strictly man to man and give up penetration all night.
Have some faith, friend. This team has answered the bell all season. As recently as Tuesday night. Even if they lose—there’s enough runway left to bounce back, especially if Butler returns. And if he doesn’t? Can you really be that upset? Pope has gotten the absolute max out of this roster. Even if they fizzle out, lose in the first round—has this season not been more enjoyable than the last 5 years?
It bashing … love Pope but team was not ready for the moment, and that my friend, is coaching.
Yes of course. But our awful defense and lack of talent had a lot to do with their success
Based on THAT post, that was not a "Pope bashing". Every coach has weaknesses, one of Pope's is that his teams routinely are not ready to play games. And the game should have been won. You don't have that many UK fans in the stands rooting for you, and your team play as flat as it did pretty much the entire game.
Agree with most of what you said, except for claiming that Pope has gotten the absolute max out of this roster. If that were the case, we run them off the court last night. The team is very fundamentally unsound. The announcers talk about it every damn game. He rarely changes up his defense, rarely changes up the offense and instead puts in super weird player combinations that must have some deep, philosophical meaning to him.
Them hitting shots stretched the floor and made it easier for them to score inside. We have won and lost based on how we shot the ball and Arky did it last night..to us. Any team that can stretch the floor with 13 of 25 three point shooting will be tough to guard but especially one with their athletes. It just is what it is. Yes, we could've done things better, like free throws and taking care of the ball. As limited as we are even without critical injuries, especially on d, we were never gonna win that game if they shot as well as they did.
It's one game. Lets move on and get better. Better get ready for Ole Miss. They looked fantastic even in a loss to Auburn...which looked like an NBA playoff team yesterday. Wow!
Well, we’ll make the tournament. But you’re probably safe to go ahead and make other plans for Final Four weekend.
it doesn't help that UT shot 45 3's and couldn't hit the side of a barn
then Arkansas shoots 25 and hits 50%
The UT game, from a psychological standpoint probably had UK players feeling a little overconfident.
Remember Pope saying we let people shoot that we wanted to shoot for UT?
Well, other than Z, I suspect he followed a similar pattern and this time it didn't work out.
then Arkansas shoots 25 and hits 50%
The UT game, from a psychological standpoint probably had UK players feeling a little overconfident.
Remember Pope saying we let people shoot that we wanted to shoot for UT?
Well, other than Z, I suspect he followed a similar pattern and this time it didn't work out.
Cal couldn’t motivate anyone. Pitino was the best motivator to coach here. What the hell are some of you watching or thinking?
Bad take. They’re actually better without Fland. More of a well-rounded attack.
Brea was bad last night and that was a big factor against a way more athletic and tough defensive team
So you don’t think he’s good at X/Os or what then? You think the bring in 3 preplanned guys at the X minute mark no matter how good the guys on the floor are playing is good? Did you even watch when we brought in Perry, Garrison, & Carr at the 4 min mark up 18-12 and see all the momentum get sucked out of the game?
Yes but...Pitino was 14-14 his first year at UK with not a ton of difference in what they had to work with from now. And the sec wasn't even close to now. We're in good hands and we're not done winning games but we have to grow fast, due to key injuries. We have maybe a world class coaching staff with Pope and the rest of his staff. When we started this year, a lot of people would've been ok with a first year .500 record but we have sustained top 10ish status for most of the season, after moving up a lot with huge wins over teams that most people thought were certain losses. It's easy to forget from where we came prior to hiring a coach for this season. It sure looked grim then. Dare I say...a lot worse than reality. Who gets credit for that??
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So e things never change
We've got done dumbass fans that jump off a bridge every loss. It was that way with cal and is with pope. If you expectrd more out of pope this year, it's a you problem
We've got done dumbass fans that jump off a bridge every loss. It was that way with cal and is with pope. If you expectrd more out of pope this year, it's a you problem
Subjectively, let's just say you're right. So when/if do you sub your starters out, and with who, given our current unhealthy roster? How long do you ride them, only to seem them tire out?
I was watching the game with one of my friends who has coached for years and we both looked at each other and said “Why?”
You don’t sub 3 out at a time for minimal offense that early in the game while the others are rolling.
Possibly right but I trust Pope to do what he thinks more than I do a keyboard coach. No offense intended but send your resume to Mitch if you could do better.
Sorry, I’m just a basketball Benny I guess. I’ll just give him an attaboy next time he throws Perry, Chandler, & Garrison together at the same time in a tight game yo replace Robinson, Brea, & Williams. 😂
