Regular Season Ends On High Note. Grade Mark Pope's Performance Regular Season.

[bbncal02]

Just as it says.

You get to grade MP on his first regular season at UK. You can take any and all facets into account for better or for worse.

Let's run the poll until Wednesday to avoid post season influence.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I said A. Injuries probably cost is a couple of wins. The schedule was brutal so 21 and 10 is way more impressive than it would be most seasons.

 

[GoNoles111]

I dont know how you don't go A with 10 quad 1 wins as injured as we were.

 

[kydmb99]

B+ or A-

Incredible wins but some puzzling losses

If we get past first weekend it goes to A or A+

 

[maysvilleky]

Considering the injuries, basically UK had a makeshift lineup for 2/3 of the season.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Same grade it has been all year - A

 

[NociHTTP]

I went with "A" because I'm not sure there's another coach who could have pushed these guys through as much adversity as they've face, and come out with this kind of success.

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

Only thing keeping it from A+ is a few kinda questionable losses. All in all, great!!

 

[onearmedjesus]

Anyone who says less than a B is a founding member of the LOD.

 

[TM2013]

A+ all things considered imo

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

I went with "A" because I'm not sure there's another coach who could have pushed these guys through as much adversity as they've face, and come out with this kind of success.

Anyone paying attention to post history knows why this is objectively hilarious

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Anyone who says less than a B is a founding member of the LOD.

Haha funny thing is they got moving a few weeks ago. Quiet all of a sudden lol

 

[king of cali]

B+

 

[WildmanWilson]

I say B+ because he’s done more than anyone really expected. If he makes a run in post season his grade will only go up.

 

[Titpwhami2014]

A, and I will gladly eat my crow today. I gave up in the first six minutes of this game.

Team drives me crazy at times but they have undeniable heart. And it starts at the top!

 

[DraftCat]

A only because of some questionable losses. Fun season no doubt and I'm glad Pope is our HC.

 

[ukcatz12]

It's gotta be an A. Didn't they say during the broadcast that this was our first game with the same starting lineup as the previous game in two months? Though all the injuries we're at least a top 4 seed in the tournament, have 8 top 15 wins, and have improved the defense without key players tremendously over the last month or so.

Give Pope a healthy team for a for conference play and we're a 2 seed and possibly a 1. Tremendous job in year 1.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I'm not sure how you can give him anything less than an A when his entire backcourt was pillaged by injuries, while playing in the strongest conference in the history of the sport.

Winning at Missouri was huge. Sweeping Tennessee was huge. Finally getting the best of Gonzaga and Duke in the early part of the season was huge. Taking down a potential number one seed in Florida was huge.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I went with "A" because I'm not sure there's another coach who could have pushed these guys through as much adversity as they've face, and come out with this kind of success.

Not even Pitino as the executive head coach? Lol

 

[bbncal02]

B+ or A-

Incredible wins but some puzzling losses

If we get past first weekend it goes to A or A+

We'll revisit that when the time comes.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Solid A.

The only thing that would’ve brought it to an A+ is to be top 5 and fighting for a 1 seed/league title.

Culture change ✅
Coach embracing the fans ✅
Fun style of play that should be attractive to high school/portal recruits ✅
Ability to compete against other top teams ✅
Roster built in a month with no sure fire NBA players ✅
Overcame devastating injuries and still picked up some big wins along the way. ✅
Finished above .500 in the most brutal SEC of my lifetime despite zero returning points/rebounds from the previous season ✅

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

A, got big wins, overcame injuries, and got this fanbase energized again.

 

[bbncal02]

Haha funny thing is they got moving a few weeks ago. Quiet all of a sudden lol

Tbf, a few weeks ago I was at B-. We had some awful lineup changes and just head scratching play. Don't know what he did (besides tighten the lineup a bit) but it's gotten SOOOO much better minus the AU game.

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

8 top 15 wins

A team that was put together in a month

In not just the best conference in the country, the best conference in history

Rational ppl had an expectation of just making the tournament. We have beyond exceeded any expectation.

And its been fun as hell

 

[wildcatwelder]

A.

Pope has done a remarkable job putting together the team in so little time

He's PROVEN he can coach at this level, IMHO.

Injuries, particularly at PG, COULD HAVE derailed this team, but they fought on in spite of the injuries.

The only head scratcher is some losses that we just gave away, but honestly, every team has those.

I think we're in good hands with Coach Pope.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

I went with a B+. Won some incredible games that we had no business winning, but offset by some really surprising losses.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Tbf, a few weeks ago I was at B-. We had some awful lineup changes and just head scratching play. Don't know what he did (besides tighten the lineup a bit) but it's gotten SOOOO much better minus the AU game.

At least you saw the light

 

[pauled]

We’ve had some disappointing losses! But we’ve also had some huge wins! I think we win 3-4 more games with a healthy team! Beating Duke was icing on the cake! I think Mark deserves an A for the job he’s done!

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I think perhaps one of the most impressive things is this team winning 4 sec road games despite all the injuries.

 

[Bkocats]

A for the season and what CMP has had to deal with and what he’s accomplished
Made it an A+ because of how he’s brought a large portion of the fan base back together. But mostly because CMP has made me truly care again; I finally feel like UK Basketball is back and it’s only going to get better.
I love my team
I love my coach
I love Kentucky basketball
Go Big Blue

 

[bbncal02]

At least you saw the light

What light? We were playing like dog crap in parts of February. I've been pretty happy with Pope most of this year, but his all or nothing lineup changes were driving me up a wall.

 

[Rideordiewildcat]

Hard to not give him an A with all the injuries, only 7 games with everyone. Plus the toughest league in history and we might end up 5, 6 or 7th and so close to that 4 spot.

Exciting big wins. Class act with a team returning zero he had to throw together in Spring. So many injuries and playing top 25 teams dam near every night provided some tough stretches but he never blinked and we never loss more than 2 in a row. Lot of good teams did.

We have more than double wins vs top 15 or just ranked opponents than the entire ACC. 18 teams.

A win 1-2 in the SECT and get to at least the 2nd weekend in the dance and I'm a happy camper.

We're starving as a fanbase after Cal had us on a diet and left the cupboard bear. I'm starting to hear my stomach rumbles cease. Still hungry, but nolonger starving to death.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

What light? We were playing like dog crap in parts of February. I've been pretty happy with Pope most of this year, but his all or nothing lineup changes were driving me up a wall.

That’s on you imo

 

[bbncal02]

I think perhaps one of the most impressive things is this team winning 4 sec road games despite all the injuries.

This. Road games are hard no matter what conference (except maybe ACC and WCC) but this year that's been taken up a notch.

 

[JimboBBN]

I said B+ only because we lost some really winnable games at the end of them. But anyone saying A I can totally get behind.

 

[bbncal02]

That’s on you imo

Ok, it's called being objective. But way to come in and stir the pot. Guess positive isn't enough and you want cultism?

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Ok, it's called being objective. But way to come in and stir the pot. Guess positive isn't enough and you want cultism?

Nope not telling you want to think. Do you

 

[Edgarman]

I dont know how you don't go A with 10 quad 1 wins as injured as we were.

The reason I voted B+ was because his defense coaching was a D. Can't get an A if you average a D & A. Actually would be a C but he exceeded in so many other areas. I'm not sure any coach can get an A with a defense that for most of the year could not guard a planted fence post.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

I gave an A+. Can't stress how difficult it was to put together a staff and an Entire team in a2 month window. No coach in UK history has had to start with 0 players yet he beat a UK record number of ranked teams during season. Throw in the injuries and you have to marvel how well he adjusted.

 

[bbncal02]

The reason I voted B+ was because his defense coaching was a D. Can't get an A if you average a D & A. Actually would be a C but he exceeded in so many other areas. I'm not sure any coach can get an A with a defense that for most of the year could not guard a planted fence post.

Part of that, frustrating as it was, was injuries to Butler, Jax and Carr. AND the defense has vastly improved.