Rank Coach Mark Pope’s 1st year vs our other coaches 1st years (the seasons you experienced)

[Jamal Sunburn]

Mark Pope’s first year was pretty good overall and really promising. But where do you have him vs our other 1st years?

I go
Tubby > Calipari > Pope > Gillespie

I know all chalk. And I didn’t experience 1st year Pitino.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Mark Pope’s first year was pretty good overall and really promising. But where do you have him vs our other 1st years?

I go
Tubby > Calipari > Pope > Gillespie

I know all chalk. And I didn’t experience 1st year Pitino.

I think you got it right

 

[MegaBlue05]

Tubby > Cal/Sutton > Pope > Pitino (record sucked but culture was built) > Drunk Clyde

I should note I was only 6 for Sutton’s first year but we had a great record and lost in the Elite 8 similar to 2010. I have clearer memories of 2010 obviously.

 

[BleedBlue13]

Have to go with Cal and Pope, Tubby inherited a lot. Cal brought in an amazing freshmen class but Pope had Perry and that’s it no time to recruit freshmen and a lot of the portal was gone. At least would have to say he did the most with the least in the toughest SEC season maybe ever

 

[DraftCat]

Tubby, Pope, Cal, BCG

Cal already had lots of talented players coming into the job with Patrick Patterson, Liggins, and Miller. Pope had to do a full rebuild so even though he went 1 round sooner in the tournament I give him the nod.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

That I've seen.

1. Tubby
2. Cal
3. Pope
4. G

 

[Louis_Skunt]

Not sure Tubby deserves the credit, considering he was given returning players coming off back to back title games.

Pope and Cal’s were the most impressive. Taking a program from ground zero and putting them back in the top 10 literally overnight. Pitino did well, too.

 

[NociHTTP]

Mark Pope’s first year was pretty good overall and really promising. But where do you have him vs our other 1st years?

I go
Tubby > Calipari > Pope > Gillespie

I know all chalk. And I didn’t experience 1st year Pitino.

What the heck does "chalk" mean?

 

[BleedBlue13]

Also Tubby and Cal didn’t exactly face a lethal SEC starting with no talent. Hard to compare generations apart and if you only look at the end result and not how they got there it’s easy to understate just how good of a job everyone did this year.

 

[Juvellino]

What the heck does "chalk" mean?

It means picking all the favorites or obvious picks. Like if you picked the final four correct this year it was all number 1 seeds.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

What the heck does "chalk" mean?

Common knowledge prediction or selecting the obvious

 

[NociHTTP]

It means picking all the favorites or obvious picks. Like if you picked the final four correct this year it was all number 1 seeds.

Okay. I hadn't even heard the term until about a week ago, lol. And I'm in my 50's.

 

[BleedBlue13]

Yeah pretty much if you filled out a bracket and went with every lower seed that would be chalk. With the transfer portal how it is that may be a permanent thing. I think men’s and women’s have 1 3 seed left and rest are 1’s and 2’s. If you have any success as a small school it’s likely coach and best players will all be gone.

 

[true blue1]

1. Tubby, though he didn't have to put together a roster he did a great job coaching that team.
2. Cal, put together a solid roster and should've won it all that year.
3. Pitino, I don't know how he won a game with the roster he inherited.
4. Pope, I was pleasantly surprised he was able to put together a competitive roster in the short time he had.
5. Sutton, should've gone to the final four his first year with the team he inherited.

 

[KY Long Rifle]

1) Tubby
2) Cal
3) Pope
4) BCG
5) Pitino

I was around for the first Sutton season, but I don’t really remember it.

 

[billoliver40]

Joe Hall had a rough first year in a ton of ways. Sutton had an exciting team. Pitino took the guys that didn't bolt and molded them into the unforgettable but year one was a struggle. Tubby Smith took someone else's players and won it all. Gillespie in hindsight was overwhelmed from day one but he DID win SEC COY his first year. Cal brought a group of frosh in unlike any of us had ever seen and a style that was electric and exciting...he unfortunately ended the season with the greatest day in Kentucky history speech. Pope had a total rebuild with a who's that guy lineup...and we can go through the whole disaster scenario of injuries they went through.

For me going only by first year it would go
Smith
Calipari
Sutton
Pope
Gillespie
Pitino
Hall

Pretty obvious the first season is just step one. We had guys that went on to excellent...even Hall of Fame careers. Others dropped off...either slowly or like a rock.

The final four run John Calipari had is remarkable. The game changed though...and his style didnt.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Joe Hall had a rough first year in a ton of ways. Sutton had an exciting team. Pitino took the guys that didn't bolt and molded them into the unforgettable but year one was a struggle. Tubby Smith took someone else's players and won it all. Gillespie in hindsight was overwhelmed from day one but he DID win SEC COY his first year. Cal brought a group of frosh in unlike any of us had ever seen and a style that was electric and exciting...he unfortunately ended the season with the greatest day in Kentucky history speech. Pope had a total rebuild with a who's that guy lineup...and we can go through the whole disaster scenario of injuries they went through.

For me going only by first year it would go
Smith
Calipari
Sutton
Pope
Gillespie
Pitino
Hall

Pretty obvious the first season is just step one. We had guys that went on to excellent...even Hall of Fame careers. Others dropped off...either slowly or like a rock.

The final four run John Calipari had is remarkable. The game changed though...and his style didnt.

Hall went to EE. He had a rough second year.

 

[kyboy1998]

Have to go with Cal and Pope, Tubby inherited a lot. Cal brought in an amazing freshmen class but Pope had Perry and that’s it no time to recruit freshmen and a lot of the portal was gone. At least would have to say he did the most with the least in the toughest SEC season maybe ever

Tubby inherited a bench and no recruiting class to speak of for that year and the upcoming. Pitino is a good business man and knows when to leave.

Nevermind. He did have Ryan Hogan committed.

 

[billoliver40]

Hall went to EE. He had a rough second year.

Thanks. I remember Hall had been the JV coach and that crew was team of the year in JV. It didn't immediately transfer to finals when they got older and the 'Hall must Fall' chants started. Following Rupp who was less than gracious stepping down (forced) was more pressure.

 

[saxonburgcat]

How in the world can anyone who was around put Pitino anywhere but #1? The NCAA gutted UK and left us with a bunch of Kentucky boys who had heart but were not that talented. NO other coach in the world could have finished as well as he did under the circumstances. At the time, fans knew that this was the start of something unbelievably special. Keep in mind with a FAR superior roster the year before Sutton had a losing record.

 

[Jamal Sunburn]

Have to go with Cal and Pope, Tubby inherited a lot. Cal brought in an amazing freshmen class but Pope had Perry and that’s it no time to recruit freshmen and a lot of the portal was gone. At least would have to say he did the most with the least in the toughest SEC season maybe ever

That team wasn’t that great. They became a good team eventually. But I remember early vs Zona and we didn’t look too hot.

 

[Jamal Sunburn]

Tubby, Pope, Cal, BCG

Cal already had lots of talented players coming into the job with Patrick Patterson, Liggins, and Miller. Pope had to do a full rebuild so even though he went 1 round sooner in the tournament I give him the nod.

Miller or Liggins weren’t getting mins for us.

 

[DraftCat]

Miller or Liggins weren’t getting mins for us.

Miller - 21 min per game
Liggins - 15 Min per game.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Joe Hall had a rough first year in a ton of ways. Sutton had an exciting team. Pitino took the guys that didn't bolt and molded them into the unforgettable but year one was a struggle. Tubby Smith took someone else's players and won it all. Gillespie in hindsight was overwhelmed from day one but he DID win SEC COY his first year. Cal brought a group of frosh in unlike any of us had ever seen and a style that was electric and exciting...he unfortunately ended the season with the greatest day in Kentucky history speech. Pope had a total rebuild with a who's that guy lineup...and we can go through the whole disaster scenario of injuries they went through.

For me going only by first year it would go
Smith
Calipari
Sutton
Pope
Gillespie
Pitino
Hall

Pretty obvious the first season is just step one. We had guys that went on to excellent...even Hall of Fame careers. Others dropped off...either slowly or like a rock.

The final four run John Calipari had is remarkable. The game changed though...and his style didnt.

BCG inherited a 12 loss team that lost the top 6 scorers.

He brought in PP, Liggins, Harrelson, etc. Damn near beat UT at UT at the end of the season without PP.

The injury to PP killed any post season hopes.

Sutton took over a regular season 16-12 team and only lost 3 games.

Having to beat LSU 4 times kept us from the FF.

Tubby was handed a ready made championship team that coached itself after the Valentine’s massacre in Rupp.

Hall had a tough first year following a legend that was forced out kicking and screaming. He gets a pass.

Pitino came in to a bare cupboard and a losing team. The record wasn’t good but hope was restored.

Cal came into an empty cupboard too. Immediately put us back on top.

Pope started with nothing. Not even a coaching staff. And no time. To do what he did his first year is miraculous.

The only first year UK coach in my lifetime that didn’t have to do anything but show up is Tubby.

 

[Jamal Sunburn]

Miller - 21 min per game
Liggins - 15 Min per game.

I stand corrected.

 

[Jamal Sunburn]

BCG inherited a 12 loss team that lost the top 6 scorers.

He brought in PP, Liggins, Harrelson, etc. Damn near beat UT at UT at the end of the season without PP.

The injury to PP killed any post season hopes.

Sutton took over a regular season 16-12 team and only lost 3 games.

Having to beat LSU 4 times kept us from the FF.

Tubby was handed a ready made championship team that coached itself after the Valentine’s massacre in Rupp.

Hall had a tough first year following a legend that was forced out kicking and screaming. He gets a pass.

Pitino came in to a bare cupboard and a losing team. The record wasn’t good but hope was restored.

Cal came into an empty cupboard too. Immediately put us back on top.

Pope started with nothing. Not even a coaching staff. And no time. To do what he did his first year is miraculous.

The only first year UK coach in my lifetime that didn’t have to do anything but show up is Tubby.

Yeah.... no. Ask the players on the team if Tubby just showed up. That's a common misconception amongst fans here that try to downplay 1998.

 

[crxohio]

B+, but ended b-. That's with injuries included. If injuries excluded. I grade it c+. Everything regressed

 

[Dalroxas]

Hi guys, new poster here, been a Kentucky fan my entire life (37 years).
That being said, from what I experienced, Tubby, Cal/Pope (both restored a diminished Kentucky program back to life), Billy G.

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

Tubby was handed a ready made championship team that coached itself after the Valentine’s massacre in Rupp.

The only first year UK coach in my lifetime that didn’t have to do anything but show up is Tubby.

Worst take I've read in a very, very long time.

 

[Dore95]

Basically all these coaches were really successful in their first year. Even BCG won SEC coach of the year his first season! Having said that, OBVIOUSLY Tubby has to be number 1 on any list;

Tubby
Pitino
Cal
Pope
BCG
Sutton

 

[actionjaksen]

Mark Pope’s first year was pretty good overall and really promising. But where do you have him vs our other 1st years?

I go
Tubby > Calipari > Pope > Gillespie

I know all chalk. And I didn’t experience 1st year Pitino.

I think this depends on what the definition of 'is' is. Or, put another way, what is the ranking criteria?

Team Success? Tubby, Cal, Pope, Pitino, Clyde

Entertainment Value? Cal, Pitino, Tubby, Pope, Clyde

UK Lore? Pitino, Cal, Tubby, Pope, Clyde

Worst feeling after last game of season? Cal (that one was devastating), Pope, Clyde, Pitino, Tubby

 

[paulcalhoun]

1. Tubby, though he didn't have to put together a roster he did a great job coaching that team.
2. Cal, put together a solid roster and should've won it all that year.
3. Pitino, I don't know how he won a game with the roster he inherited.
4. Pope, I was pleasantly surprised he was able to put together a competitive roster in the short time he had.
5. Sutton, should've gone to the final four his first year with the team he inherited.

Ridiculously unfair to Sutton's great 1986 season.

 

[clevenger32]

Hall - most crucial succession from a legend and transformation of successful integration of program.
Pitino- saved program and brought it back from one of the harshest probation sentences ever handed down by NCAA.
Pope- refocused the program to winning for Kentucky…SEC and National Championships.

 

[Myotis]

Not sure Tubby deserves the credit, considering he was given returning players coming off back to back title games.

Every time I hear this, I always think - Tubby won a title with a weaker team than the one Pitino didn't win with the year before.

 

[OliverSimmonstwinbrother]

Cal -Brought UK back to life
G - very exciting time. Probably my favorite as a UK fan
Pope -Insanely fun season till January
Tubby- We won a title but I don't remember anything about the season except the Duke and Utah games.

 

[65pacecar]

Tubby.
Pitino - Resurrected a truly dead program and brought the excitement back.
Pope- Started from nothing on the roster along with a late start and still had several major wins and brought the excitement back to UK. Also reversed the apathy that Cal left the program in.
Sutton - Drunk but some great coaching.
Cal - Brought in a strong roster but also inherited some great players from BCG. Fun year but poor coaching and preparation blew the WVU game and provided the first sample of the years to follow.
BCG - Guy was a mess, but left some good players. Shame he killed Meeks desire to return to the U-of-JM. .

 

[billoliver40]

How in the world can anyone who was around put Pitino anywhere but #1? The NCAA gutted UK and left us with a bunch of Kentucky boys who had heart but were not that talented. NO other coach in the world could have finished as well as he did under the circumstances. At the time, fans knew that this was the start of something unbelievably special. Keep in mind with a FAR superior roster the year before Sutton had a losing record.

The question was about first year, not total tenure at the school. RP had a struggle year one if for nothing else getting the guys conditioned...as well as being on 2 years probation.

 

[JFCats22]

Tubby
Cal
Sutton
Pope
Rick
BCG

 

[CondorCat]

I wouldn't say Hall had a "rough" first year. That '72-73 team (Jim Andrews, Kevin Grevey, Jimmy Dan Conner, Mike Flynn, Ronnie Lyons, etc) won the SEC and went to the Elite Eight.

Hall followed a legend with some success. Other Blue Bloods did worse: Wooden -> Bartow, Dean Smith -> Guthridge, Bob Knight -> Mike Davis, etc.

 

[Blueaz]

Who did more with less? POPE
Who did less with more? CAL
Who did great with great ? TUBBY
Who did less with less? BCG
Who inherited a shiit show and did ok? RP
Who did as expected? Sutton