Something Mark Pope has shown me that does not get talked about...

[Uncle Adolph]

As a coach, you do not have to be a screaming, cussing lunatic, acting a fool on the sidelines.
Even when we got down by nine, he kept his composure and just kept coaching, adjusting , teaching etc.
I am all in.
We will lose sometimes but I don't see us getting out coached.

 

[YardCat]

I agree, and some nights we might get out coached, there are some really good coaches out there. Now, I think Coach Pope will learn and get better and he is one of those guys that remembers but he is such a breath of fresh air and so much better bench coach.

 

[UKAlum84]

The harder we work, the luckier we should get as well.

You don't trail Duke at the half and give up. These guys showed great focus.

At the same time, a simple free throw made all the difference.

And Duke's defense was the best we've seen in 3 games so far, I just hope conference play won't be this competitive.

Take solace in knowing we just beat a potential 1 or 2 seed in the tourney with the prospective #1 draft pick.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

Coach Pope is a smart man and will be a Great Coach The inbounds play when Butler went long last night was a play from the 78 CATS - Duke game.

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

Yeah, But Dan Hurley disagrees about being a maniac

 

[jwphelps]

As a coach, you do not have to be a screaming, cussing lunatic, acting a fool on the sidelines.
Even when we got down by nine, he kept his composure and just kept coaching, adjusting , teaching etc.
I am all in.
We will lose sometimes but I don't see us getting out coached.

This is true, just like too much screaming at the ref's. I don't think it will help by trying to up stage the ref's on the college stage.

 

[katwest]

Pope learned from the best and always uses logic when discussing or arguing a call, along with keeping his composure. You don't have to be a blooming idiot on the sidelines to get results, he's proof of that. If I'm an official, it would be hard not to like Pope.

 

[UKNothinButNet]

Coach Pope is a smart man and will be a Great Coach The inbounds play when Butler went long last night was a play from the 78 CATS - Duke game.

He already is a great coach!

 

[FltDoc]

The harder we work, the luckier we should get as well.



And Duke's defense was the best we've seen in 3 games so far, I just hope conference play won't be this competitive.

Unfortunately, Conference play will give us competitive games where average players will get hot from 3 against us... so I expect 5-6 losses. However, that still may be enough in this hyper-competitive conference to still be on top at the end..!

 

[HerrosHeroes]

40-0

 

[WallMashKyBall]

I do like that Pope treats and respects his players like men, doesn't get in their grills, Shyler struck me as a challenge his team to be mean-ass dogs kind of coach and he was getting his players to play very aggressive. Hurley's that way too.

hmmmmm. but after Cal PTSD, I'm cool with chill

 

[ukfan1622]

The harder we work, the luckier we should get as well.

You don't trail Duke at the half and give up. These guys showed great focus.

At the same time, a simple free throw made all the difference.

And Duke's defense was the best we've seen in 3 games so far, I just hope conference play won't be this competitive.

Take solace in knowing we just beat a potential 1 or 2 seed in the tourney with the prospective #1 draft pick.

I think we just beat the favorite to win it all this year. For a team starting an all freshman front line they're already very good on defense and Flagg is every bit as good as advertised. Unless it's Alabama we won't play a more talented team this year.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

Im good with a coach that yells . But the mf'er better be yelling something other than GOOOOOO or the nonsense Cal yelled. Maybe have actual plays Cal that way you can scream out what they should be doing for real instead of go go go or what are you doing. If you cant tell them what they should be doing then how is the player supposed to know by the word GO? lol

 

[littlecreek]

The harder we work, the luckier we should get as well.

You don't trail Duke at the half and give up. These guys showed great focus.

At the same time, a simple free throw made all the difference.

And Duke's defense was the best we've seen in 3 games so far, I just hope conference play won't be this competitive.

Take solace in knowing we just beat a potential 1 or 2 seed in the tourney with the prospective #1 draft pick.

Yep, while at the same time our supposedly best player, Robinson, only had 1 point. How many other teams will be able to do that? Pope did some great coaching in that game. A lot of potential recruits were watching.

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

Don't think the team will be outcoached at any point. They may not execute or make shots in some games, but it won't be due to a lack of coaching or adjustments being made.

Pope's comfortable in his own skin. That's one aspect I don't know of regarding Scheyer for instance. He's seemed to want to be more "Hurley like" this offseason and the Duke Media Mafia is selling some stuff.....Hurley is who he is and that works. Doesn't matter if you yell or are calm-as long as it's natural. One aspect that I do think helps guys who have played the game at a high level like 3 I mentioned--you understand runs by other teams and more importantly why they are happening. Contrast that with a guy like Cal who like a fastball pitcher who has nothing else. It's great when you are in your prime and throwing 100+ but after a while, everyone sees it and knows that's all you have.

It was enjoyable to watch a coach run a huddle and talk basketball. It was enjoyable to see players not wilt at the first sign of adversity because their Coach was making sure entire audience saw it was their fault and not his.

But one thing is key with any great coach-they are comfortable enough to want the best staff they can get and don't have an ego that is challenged by guys who know some things they don't. Full credit to him for that.

 

[Skyguyb27]

Pope is more of a positive coach or nurturing sort of speak. He likes to build up confidence and prepare his guys for the moment through positivity. Cal was more of do what you know you should or I’ll call you out on your bs type. Or negative training. Personally I think positivity is the better choice and most training manuals reflect that as well. Pope is an extremely smart guy.

 

[crxohio]

This staff is what I keep telling the naysayers. They are well crafted, and has the potential to be the most elite in the country. I feel they are as we speak.

 

[Mike-McD]

Pope is smarter than I even thought he was. He picked his moment last night. Kept his powder dry all game, didn't get into the officials...until the moment he asked for a replay on a key out of bounds possession. And he got what he asked for.

 

[trueblujr2]

The harder we work, the luckier we should get as well.

You don't trail Duke at the half and give up. These guys showed great focus.

At the same time, a simple free throw made all the difference.

And Duke's defense was the best we've seen in 3 games so far, I just hope conference play won't be this competitive.

Take solace in knowing we just beat a potential 1 or 2 seed in the tourney with the prospective #1 draft pick.

What the team showed was that they can take those halftime adjustments and actually execute them. That may have a lot to do with the experience level of the players on this team.

 

[trueblujr2]

Unfortunately, Conference play will give us competitive games where average players will get hot from 3 against us... so I expect 5-6 losses. However, that still may be enough in this hyper-competitive conference to still be on top at the end..!

If we make it through the SEC gauntlet this year with 5-6 losses, and go into the tourney with no more that 6-7 losses, that will likely be good enough for a 2-3 seed.

 

[BBNinSC]

This staff is what I keep telling the naysayers. They are well crafted, and has the potential to be the most elite in the country. I feel they are as we speak.

I don’t think there is a better group of assistant coaches in the country. I have a feeling Pope
will need to replace a couple in the offseason

 

[FltDoc]

If we make it through the SEC gauntlet this year with 5-6 losses, and go into the tourney with no more that 6-7 losses, that will likely be good enough for a 2-3 seed.

I'll take it!

 

[FltDoc]

I don’t think there is a better group of assistant coaches in the country. I have a feeling Pope
will need to replace a couple in the offseason

agreed but hope not....

 

[CRZ4UK]

The harder we work, the luckier we should get as well.

You don't trail Duke at the half and give up. These guys showed great focus.

At the same time, a simple free throw made all the difference.

And Duke's defense was the best we've seen in 3 games so far, I just hope conference play won't be this competitive.

Take solace in knowing we just beat a potential 1 or 2 seed in the tourney with the prospective #1 draft pick.

People will hate to hear this but Arkansas is playing some pretty good defense. It seems like Kenny coming back has paid defensive dividends. They can’t shoot a lick but they are all up in that grill.