Pope on Perry's departure
- Thread starter chasingwildcat
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In other words he saw that with the many good players coming here he just couldn't compete. Best for both sides IMO.
Mark transferred from Washington so he understands what is involved in these decisions.
Sure it wasn’t easy for Travis and I bet the door is always open at UK.
Sure it wasn’t easy for Travis and I bet the door is always open at UK.
"I desperately wanted him to stay. He was not feeling super confident about the path here at Kentucky. I couldn't have disagreed more with him on that but he's going to go to Ole Miss and have a great career there. I just know being a Kentucky Basketball player is so much bigger than being a basketball player. It's my job to help our guys see that and understand that and feel that. Being older, it's easier to see that than being a young person."
I just can’t believe he didn’t take the time to make a post about leaving. It seems pretty weak to me. Obviously it doesn’t really matter, but almost everyone who leaves for the NBA or transfers usually does one. I figured him being home grown and a lifetime fan he would want to do that.
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Sounds about right.
He didn't feel he could compete and is honestly probably right. Pope with NIL and his coaching style is gonna attract deep talented rosters every season.
He didn't feel he could compete and is honestly probably right. Pope with NIL and his coaching style is gonna attract deep talented rosters every season.
Maybe me, but kind of reads he had people in his ear saying to leave and he wouldn’t play at UK; even with the coach saying that’s not true. Just part of the portal era.
That's what really disappointed me too, as well as many other UK fans. Perry was shown a lot of love by UK fans last year and to leave with no words was not a good look for him.
It sure comes across to the fans and in regards to the coaching staff that he is leaving with a bit of resentment or feeling unappreciated. I hope that’s not the case, but it is extremely odd that he didn’t make a public statement.
Yeah, I agree seems kinda weak for sure. Kinda makes me feel it was more important him being from Kentucky to the BBN than it did to him.
While I'm disappointed too, I can understand why he wouldn't make a post. He was thrown to the wolves before he was ready and the fans and trolls online ripped him a new ass.
"Thank you, BBN. I appreciate the time spent here. I've decided to enter the transfer portal, but I'll always be a Cat fan at heart."
Something like that, while providing closure for good fans, would be swamped with comments like...
"Go to D2. You nt good enuff to play at this level."
"Make sure you hit the portal unlike open threes."
"Hope you learn to play defense."
"Too slow to play at Kentucky."
And Lord knows what else. And for anyone saying that our fans aren't that bad... horses**t. I have eyes and social media. Yeah, he'd have a ton of positive comments, but to feel the betrayal of your fellow Kentuckians in the tons and tons of crappy comments would suck. For a kid, it'd reinforce every negative heard during the season and that they, themself, had learned to believe.
Pope says Perry didn't see a path for him on this team. BULL. I remember reading that Perry told Cal that he would become good enough that Coach'd have no choice but to play him. Whether there's three McD AAs in front of you or five transfers from random schools, the path to playing time is studded with bumps and digging oneself out of the depths of the roster. I just don't see how a mindset pivots so much.
Maybe fan noise had nothing to do with it, but I honestly can't see that being the case. It certainly wouldn't be the end-all-be-all, but still. I feel like not posting anything is testament to the impact of the digital space.
"Thrown to the wolves before he was ready"
Did he not want to play? Is he upset that he played "before he was ready?" Most basketball players are ecstatic to get minutes, especially at a place like Kentucky. But you feel Perry was treated unfairly by...playing?
So, he was going to prove to everyone how he deserves to play. And there's no way his mindset changed. But...he's a victim of being thrown to the wolves by playing before he was ready.
Seems...logical.
I mean, if you want to misrepresent that I said and be reductive, sure.
The plan was never for Perry to play last year in anything more than mop up minutes. He played out of necessity, and even then, we tried using every other avenue available to us at PG. Butler, Kerr, Robinson — gone or playing injured for much of the year. Hell, we had Chandler bringing the ball up.
Perry could've been a solid piece for us by his junior year.
Idk how he could feel that way, fans were all behind him all year and he played way more than he should have in all honesty because of injuries.
If he didn’t think he could cut it here I don’t know why he stayed in the SEC outside Beard promising him a larger role or the money which is fair.
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I can see that but honestly he received way more love. I seen a lot of critiques that mentioned his lack of height or ceiling but that’s fair game as he’s a paid athlete now. Anyone who didn’t show class to him leaving in a message is either a troll or they have deeper issues that BBN can’t help honestly. I do understand where you are coming from and can sadly see some of that happening.
Right. And I'm not saying it's the only factor, but I feel like Perry leaving without a goodbye is a bit of evidence that it was a factor. Regardless, I wish Perry was still here.
He kind of handed Pope a raw deal if you ask me.
Presumably he will show better numbers at Ole Miss than 29% from 2; 32% from deep. Just because he'll probably play his position there instead of pg. And that will make Pope look a little bad, which is sh*t.
Because what was Mark Pope gonna do? Play him over Koby Brea?
Perry was brought in here to be given frankly more minutes than he earned as a freshman, any way we could play him, and then transition into being used more at his natural position as he matured and the team evolved and Pope had more opportunity to build a team that allowed that.
Pope delivered on his half of that deal.
Perry, not so much.
Presumably he will show better numbers at Ole Miss than 29% from 2; 32% from deep. Just because he'll probably play his position there instead of pg. And that will make Pope look a little bad, which is sh*t.
Because what was Mark Pope gonna do? Play him over Koby Brea?
Perry was brought in here to be given frankly more minutes than he earned as a freshman, any way we could play him, and then transition into being used more at his natural position as he matured and the team evolved and Pope had more opportunity to build a team that allowed that.
Pope delivered on his half of that deal.
Perry, not so much.
As I said in the other Perry thread:
He gets paid six figures to play basketball poorly. We're allowed to critique him. He struggled to bring the ball up regularly. He stank up the place. He never showed the growth that Noah displayed last season, and judging by the way he left, he may be delusional about his own talent.
He gets paid six figures to play basketball poorly. We're allowed to critique him. He struggled to bring the ball up regularly. He stank up the place. He never showed the growth that Noah displayed last season, and judging by the way he left, he may be delusional about his own talent.
Grown men upset cause a kid didn't send a "farewell" TWEET, is really something.
Very "classy" post from a first class coach and person! I am a huge Travis Perry and Coach Pope fan and was very disappointed that he transferred because I believe under Pope's tutelage coupled with Travis's work ethic and intelligence he would have developed into an outstanding college player. The reasons for his transfer are unknown to me. However, I have stated my opinion in a previous post on the factors I believe that contributed to this decision. My hope and expectations are that he will be completely successful at Ole Miss.
Many boardmembers have expressed concern that Travis's transfer from UK will minimize his potential work related or professional contacts and may adversely affect his livlihood in the future if he elects to settle in Ky. In my opinion these are unfounded concerns because he is blessed with high intelligence(honor student} and a strong work ethic which apparently he inherited from his parents. It should be noted that his father who is the Lyon Co head basketball coach is also the pharmicist for the Lyon county hospital and his mother is a beloved family practice physician in Eddyville. Obviously you don't earn a PharmD and an MD from UK without being very smart and posessing a great work ethic. In short, Travis is a winner and overacheiver who comes from a family of winners. He will be successful in whatever professional endeavor he chooses to pursue. I wish him great success and hope he scores 30 points a game to include the Uk ole Miss game!
Many boardmembers have expressed concern that Travis's transfer from UK will minimize his potential work related or professional contacts and may adversely affect his livlihood in the future if he elects to settle in Ky. In my opinion these are unfounded concerns because he is blessed with high intelligence(honor student} and a strong work ethic which apparently he inherited from his parents. It should be noted that his father who is the Lyon Co head basketball coach is also the pharmicist for the Lyon county hospital and his mother is a beloved family practice physician in Eddyville. Obviously you don't earn a PharmD and an MD from UK without being very smart and posessing a great work ethic. In short, Travis is a winner and overacheiver who comes from a family of winners. He will be successful in whatever professional endeavor he chooses to pursue. I wish him great success and hope he scores 30 points a game to include the Uk ole Miss game!
Travis wanted more minutes, I'm sure that was it. I'm not sure he will get them at Ole Miss unless his defense really improves. He played more minutes than he ever thought he would last year, and he helped the team. I'm not sure he will ever start for any team in the SEC, that's why I thought he might stay after a lot of thought went into it. There is no school more prominent than Kentucky in college basketball, you have to know what you are getting in to when you sign with the cats. There have been a lot of players leave after getting here and probably some that stayed but never got the playing time they wanted, but that one of the sacrifice's you make if you play for Kentucky. Kentucky isn't for everybody, even some Kentucky boys, he's not the first one to leave and won't be the last one.
Yeah, never watched or read one of this farewell messages over the years so couldn't care less about Perry not doing one.
All I need is the headline stating they are gone. I don't want to read the excuses on why or listen to them. You left UK, good luck and goodbye is my motto.
Truth is without injuries. The kid wouldn’t have seen enough minutes to break a sweat this year.
Based on game evidence from Perry, he sucks. Plain and simple. 29% from the field and 32% from 3, can't guard a traffic cone. I get it, players improve, but why wait for improvement when the portal always has talent available that's better?
Pope was being kind. He knew the score.
Practice report super star…again. Couldn’t miss, they say. Truth is he is just not ncaa championship level talent and Pope wants / needs to win, more than coddle.
You said he played for his dad so that might be the answer. I've saw plenty of kids that were coached by dad but when they went to the next level they got a rude awakening, whether that was from middle school to high school or high school to college. Dad makes his kid a star by setting him up to shoot most of the time but the next coach is more concerned about the team winning than dad was. May not be how it is but I couldn't help but wonder when news broke that he was transferring. Especially when he played much more than anyone expected.
Just one of those situations where the coach is thinking the player is still another year away from being in the top 7 or 8 of the lineup and the player is thinking he is being recruited over and does not want to be buried on the bench. Perry could go to Ole Miss, still not get much PT and transfer again next year.
Pope was hoping Perry would be #15 on this team. When you really think about the guards we have this coming year, where do you even see a sliver of PT for Perry. I love the kid but the facts are we have a really solid set of guards. Our 11-14 right now are 2 centers and 2 forwards. If Jack Pilgrim is correct and Walker Horn actually comes back then you have a cigar squad,
Horn, Noah, Hawthorne, Moreno and Potter. Not to say Noah, Hawthorne Moreno do not get quality PT during games. Noah could work his way into the top 10 of this team, easily. He is a driven guy. He is taking what Pope is requesting and trying to manifest it into reality.
Pope was hoping Perry would be #15 on this team. When you really think about the guards we have this coming year, where do you even see a sliver of PT for Perry. I love the kid but the facts are we have a really solid set of guards. Our 11-14 right now are 2 centers and 2 forwards. If Jack Pilgrim is correct and Walker Horn actually comes back then you have a cigar squad,
Horn, Noah, Hawthorne, Moreno and Potter. Not to say Noah, Hawthorne Moreno do not get quality PT during games. Noah could work his way into the top 10 of this team, easily. He is a driven guy. He is taking what Pope is requesting and trying to manifest it into reality.
This can’t be emphasized enough. Goodness.
Makes you wonder how many people were in Travis Perrys ear ? At any rate good luck to him.
Just being honest, at the level CMP is recruiting at now, I don't think he would have ever played much here.
Just being honest, at the level CMP is recruiting at now, I don't think he would have ever played much here.
Don't know about all you say there about fans throwing him to the wolves. People on this board seem to do that about most UK players, especially after a loss. Have you not noticed that? I went to all UK home games and there was always a roar from the fans every time Perry went into the game or when he did something good in the game. I witnessed nothing but love for Perry from the fans in Rupp.
No the fans did not throw him to the wolves. It’s all nonsense. Amari, Jaxson and BG all took wayyyyy more crap from the fans last year than Travis
He doesn’t get paid to play to pay basketball. He gets paid because he plays basketball.
I'm not saying Perry didn't get love at UK. He got a ton. Full stop. I'm saying there's likely a reason Perry didn't post anything. I'm also inferring that comments like four or five in this thread alone just taking pot shots and petty jabs at the kid are part of the reason why he left and part of the reason Perry didn't post anything. Not the whole reason. Part.
Perry's gone. No post or whatever is going to change that. I understand that. However, I think we really need to look ourselves in the mirror and wonder why some among us feel the need to sh*t talk a kid who grew up wanting to wear Kentucky blue, got the chance to wear Kentucky blue, and did the best he could in Kentucky blue with the situation he was given.
Hell, I was one of the ones who cheered for him this year. I wanted him to succeed. I just don't understand how some can be so spiteful and cruel to the point where one could have a hard time distinguishing between a troll and a fan. I get the anonymity and separation from reality that comes with the digital world, but it's not an excuse to be an asshole toward a teenager.
Just my 2¢.
I’ll gladly take the Perry for Hawthorne trade anyday. Not close. I knew when Perry didn’t play in the tournament he was gone. Ppl say he had a wrist injury but I also heard Perry say he was ready to ball. He just wasn’t gonna cut it.
Who's "upset"?????
Most of us just think it's odd and are trying to figure out WHY the kid didn't make a statement. I hope the kid and his family doesn't feel like they didn't get a fair shake here. It will be interesting going forward tracking his progress at Ole Miss.
I wish him nothing but the best, except when he plays UK and even then I wouldn't mind him playing great but LOSING. 😁 😁 😁
