I would rank the OOC schedule as an A, the SEC schedule as a B, so overall I went with B+
Regular Season Ends On High Note. Grade Mark Pope's Performance Regular Season.
- Thread starter bbncal02
- Start date
I love Pitino (not the person off the court), but there are some personalities on this team that IMO would not have responded well to his approach.
Solid A, considering everything, putting a completely new team together, all the injuries etc, can't complain overall.
This. He threw his St. John's dudes under the bus early this year and everyone was like "Hope that works..." It did. But you just never know how a team will respond to that. Sometimes that will light a fire. Other times that would cause dudes to say, "Huh. Ok....peace"
And it just depends on relationships, the job (in this case season) and the environment.
He gambled and won.
To add to what you said, there were times we could have spiraled downward and that did not happen.
There were some assignments we didn't turn in but aced most of the big tests. If you grade on a curve and consider injuries/SOS/Year #1 then yeah it's an A. I think all the votes make sense.
Would love to hear from the "B's" what could of been different. Must be some perfectionists.
Bottom line Pope recruited all of these dudes in 3 months. Team got crushed with injuries all year. Yes they had some bad losses but so did a lot of teams. Anything less than a B+ is criminal.
Bottom line Pope recruited all of these dudes in 3 months. Team got crushed with injuries all year. Yes they had some bad losses but so did a lot of teams. Anything less than a B+ is criminal.
A+ for me. Fun season, great coaching and huge wins with a team thrown together in a month. If this team was healthy all season, easily top 10 and likely top 5. Great start to a hopefully great coaching career at UK. First time in many years I have enjoyed watching the games.
I'd say B but take away the bad losses to osu,ark,and texas and it's an A.
I gave him a B+, only because of the losses to subpar teams, but could have easily made it an A. For the way we have played without a PG for a tough stretch and had 3 starters injured and the main backup PG, coach Pope deserves to be considered as the coach of the year!!
He has done an AMAZING JOB!!
This team the last 2 games has really played so hard!!
He has done an AMAZING JOB!!
This team the last 2 games has really played so hard!!
93 Indiana elite 8.
79 Duke lost n first game but had a bye. Idk what round that was. Old timers tell me.
Didn't someone say 1998 UK also had 8 wins over top 15? We know how that ended.
I guess using ncaa tourney will stack those at the back end though.
B+ for me. If we can reach the 2nd weekend then definitely an A-, A.
i’d say an A. new coach, new players, in the toughest conference we’ve seen, with a ton of injuries. gonna finish top 15 and get a high tourney seed. that’s pretty darn good.
4-5 in the SEC on the road was great considering all 9 games were quad 1
The only bad part of the year is losing 3 games at home I hate losing at home especially that Arkansas game.
The only bad part of the year is losing 3 games at home I hate losing at home especially that Arkansas game.
Thanks for the history lesson even though it’s irrelevant to this post since we are talking regular season grade
I was weighing between B+ and A before today. Today's win sealed the deal with an A.
8 wins vs Top 15 teams. Tied for most ever in NCAA!
Beat Duke, UL, and swept TN. All with dealing with major injures.
Pope did an amazing job.
Beat Duke, UL, and swept TN. All with dealing with major injures.
Pope did an amazing job.
You welcome. I gave him an A for the regular season.
But I can post whatever i want buddy. Some might care to see where these teams that beat all these teams ended up.
Yes but most coaches still have a core group of returning players then go out and fill a need, Pope has to construct and entire roster this year.
This is exactly how I see it. Great season !
I gave him a B+. I'm very happy with the season but just could not give an A because of the home loss to Ark and a couple of the other losses where our team just did not show up.
WildcatfaninOhio
All-American
I give him an A+
He threw together a coaching staff in a matter of weeks. With no returning scholarship players he threw together a roster on a matter of months. He’s dealt with multiple injuries, the worst of them to PGs Kerr Kriisa and Lamont Butler, and now the right wrist of Jaxson Robinson. In spite of all that he just finished 10-8 in the toughest conference in the history of the game.
Every team has head-scratching losses. It’s the nature of sport. The number of quad 1 wins is reMARKable. I’m thoroughly impressed. I think he’s got to be in line for COTY.
He threw together a coaching staff in a matter of weeks. With no returning scholarship players he threw together a roster on a matter of months. He’s dealt with multiple injuries, the worst of them to PGs Kerr Kriisa and Lamont Butler, and now the right wrist of Jaxson Robinson. In spite of all that he just finished 10-8 in the toughest conference in the history of the game.
Every team has head-scratching losses. It’s the nature of sport. The number of quad 1 wins is reMARKable. I’m thoroughly impressed. I think he’s got to be in line for COTY.
I gotta go with a B. There were some puzzling losses with a healthy roster like Ohio state and I think we were healthy for Georgia. Maybe one or two more I’m missing. Point is, there were a few games we had no business losing. Overall I’m pretty happy but hope to see more dominant teams in the near future.
Some folks dropping A’s that were crying Pope was too nice, couldn’t figure out lineups when his starting backcourt was out, and other nonsense.
Funny what a couple wins does to adjust some attitudes
Funny what a couple wins does to adjust some attitudes
Some frequent posters after losses haven't voted lol. They only show up to stir misery after losses. Must suck to bitch and moan all the time.
Exactly where I'm at. Been really fun at times, and incredibly frustrating a few times too
I think many
with 1 or 2 returning players that can make a difference
Great year with all new coaches and players in the toughest SEC in my 55 years of being a a fan. Fun brand of BB. Extremely knowledgeable and likable head coach, unlike Ellen’s roommate. The style will attract high level freshmen and portal players. Important to keep our 5 underclassmen. CMP’s offense is intricate and multi-year players are crucial to future success. I believe that current college players looking to transfer will be knocking on the door. Coach/staff’s biggest task will be picking talented players that can fit with each other. The future is bright!
Funny how winning cures all ills. Is this really a shock?
"Dude, I feel better now that I'm not sick"
"Dang, getting more sleep makes me feel less tired"
"Huh, when we win....it's more....fun."
What next, water freezes at 0°C?
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