Temper Your Expectations

[BucN1Cat]

While things on paper look great and Pope's enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air the reality is we don't know how this will translate on the court. It would be awesome for this to be a dream season, but if it's not, please don't go trashing Pope. I personally think our shooting will carry us to at least 20 wins and I'd be super happy with a sweet sixteen. There is a possibility of an early exit again and I don't want to see this board turn on Pope. He needs at least 3 years to get a judgement on him. Should be an exciting season nonetheless and I can't wait for it to start. Go CATS!!!!!

 

[LmdCat]

While things on paper look great and Pope's enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air the reality is we don't know how this will translate on the court. It would be awesome for this to be a dream season, but if it's not, please don't go trashing Pope. I personally think our shooting will carry us to at least 20 wins and I'd be super happy with a sweet sixteen. There is a possibility of an early exit again and I don't want to see this board turn on Pope. He needs at least 3 years to get a judgement on him. Should be an exciting season nonetheless and I can't wait for it to start. Go CATS!!!!!

He will certainly do better than 9-16.

 

[WeWant9]

The majority of people’s expectations seem fairly reasonable, considering how crazy we can all get as UK fans. I guess we’ll see how long that lasts once the season tips off lol

 

[bbncal02]

Anyone thinking “title or bust” this season is crazy.

I do expect us to be competitive and not get blown out in any game. I just think Pope is too good for that.

I expect 20 wins at minimum though. There’s too much experience in this team not to at least get to that waterline.

 

[BucN1Cat]

Anyone thinking “title or bust” this season is crazy.

I do expect us to be competitive and not get blown out in any game. I just think Pope is too good for that.

I expect 20 wins at minimum though. There’s too much experience in this team not to at least get to that waterline.

Where do we fall in the SEC IYO?

 

[mrschwump]

I expect the women to finish higher than the men. Just not sure how good the men's defense will be but it'll be key.

 

[IL Wildcat]

While things on paper look great and Pope's enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air the reality is we don't know how this will translate on the court. It would be awesome for this to be a dream season, but if it's not, please don't go trashing Pope. I personally think our shooting will carry us to at least 20 wins and I'd be super happy with a sweet sixteen. There is a possibility of an early exit again and I don't want to see this board turn on Pope. He needs at least 3 years to get a judgement on him. Should be an exciting season nonetheless and I can't wait for it to start. Go CATS!!!!!

Yeah, I agree with this. I'm sure we're all gonna have our usual ups and downs this season. We're gonna be upset with Pope and we're gonna love him at other points. That's just life as a UK fan. Even when we SAY we don't expect perfection, we still want to win every game. The good news is, I don't expect to hear a bunch of excuses out of Pope. I expect a lot of "this is what happened, this is what we need to do better." And then I expect to see the team get better and I'll be fine. 👍

 

[TucsonCat]

I've really not seen anything that warrants this post. Very little criticism of Pope. Reasonable expectations. Everybody pretty much worrying about everyone else.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

He will certainly do better than 9-16.

Why do you people keep having such a low bar?

Anyone can do better than Cal the last 4 seasons. Can he do better than Cals first 11 seasons? That's the far more interesting question.

1 title, 4 final fours and 7 elite 8s.

 

[Bill - Shy Cat]

I believe the basketball team’s winning % will stomp a mudhole in the football team’s ass. In 3 years, Pope will have UK back to a top 5 regular.

 

[CELTICAT]

Don’t tell me what to do.

 

[cat tat2]

No worries, Coach Pope is going to do great things at UK!

 

[anonymous_2011]

40-0 or we riot.

 

[bbncal02]

Where do we fall in the SEC IYO?

I think we can be a Top 5 team in the conference, but Bama and Texas A&M can be tough. Texas and UT will also be decent. Florida also looked tough at the end of last season and they didn't lose a lot.

 

[CGblue]

I expect to not lose to Oakland, St Peter's, Evansville...

 

[KentuckyDad]

Just beat Puke

 

[Skyguyb27]

I have high expectations for this year but I don’t have consequences on standby if he comes up short. On paper this team is top 10 at end of year and deep run, but if it doesn’t happen I’m not gonna riot.

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

I believe the basketball team’s winning % will stomp a mudhole in the football team’s ass. In 3 years, Pope will have UK back to a top 5 regular.

Why drag the football team into this?

 

[BucN1Cat]

I've really not seen anything that warrants this post. Very little criticism of Pope. Reasonable expectations. Everybody pretty much worrying about everyone else.

That's my point. Everything is roses as of now because we haven't played a single game. Just trying to prepare for the possibility of things going wrong and the bashing Pope begins. Hopefully it all works out great though.

 

[bucsrule8872]

It would be nice to win the games we are suppose to win, and maybe pull an upset or two.

I expect to win around 20. Any more than that is a plus.

 

[JPFisher]

That's my point. Everything is roses as of now because we haven't played a single game. Just trying to prepare for the possibility of things going wrong and the bashing Pope begins. Hopefully it all works out great though.

I think it would take a great deal to get fans to turn on Pope in his first season. Like, uncharacteristic levels of poor preparation and other stuff that we haven't heard about at BYU coming to surface here. I just don't see it, personally.

 

[Tprinceuk]

I expect us to be good, but I'm totally fine if we don't live up to my expectations this year, I'm just ready for the long overdue new direction of the program.

 

[Codeartist]

I think my expectations are fairly reasonable, to be better than last year. As long as we don't decline Pope will have my support which means we only need to make the NCAA tournament. If we don't make the NCAA tournament though Pope will have lost the support of at least this fan.

 

[fredmanthecatfan]

I expected a national championship the years we were on probation and banned from the tournament. I’ll expect one this year too.

 

[Edgarman]

I have high expectations for this year but I don’t have consequences on standby if he comes up short. On paper this team is top 10 at end of year and deep run, but if it doesn’t happen I’m not gonna riot.

There you go. This team on paper does not look like a top 10. You are putting expectations out that simply are not doable. Quotes like yours is so unfair for Pope. We have no better chance to be top 10 than to win a national championship this year. We don't have the players that have years of playing together. UConn wins with two to three players with several years playing together. This is the exact reason Cal ran off the track. He never had kids multiple years playing together. If the USA Olympic team had been the Celtics, they would have won the GOLD easier than the teams of All stars. Our kids are going to have a scant few months together. I think they will and can be competitive but not elite this season.

 

[billoliver40]

No expectations. Just wanting to see the start of what we have.

 

[AJG-15]

I was disappointed when AD B. didnt really tried to hire Billy Donovan.

With Pope we have to be patient if we want him to succeed. First two years are to rebuild, implement his system and recruit, third year and fourth year we should see some success.

This year , will be tough to make the NCAA tournament. There are so many good teams in SeC , plus the games against Duke, Gonzaga, @Clemson, against Ohio State and UL. We could easily lose 10 plus games…

The key is not turn against the team and Coach Pope and give him time to rebuild the program.

 

[BBNinSC]

There you go. This team on paper does not look like a top 10. You are putting expectations out that simply are not doable. Quotes like yours is so unfair for Pope. We have no better chance to be top 10 than to win a national championship this year. We don't have the players that have years of playing together. UConn wins with two to three players with several years playing together. This is the exact reason Cal ran off the track. He never had kids multiple years playing together. If the USA Olympic team had been the Celtics, they would have won the GOLD easier than the teams of All stars. Our kids are going to have a scant few months together. I think they will and can be competitive but not elite this season.

Can you name one team that will have a better bench than Kentucky?
Butler and Oweh best defensive backcourt in the country?
Carr is an all-SEC forward?
Garrison is a top 15 NBA draft pick talent?
Kriisa, Brea, Robinson and Perry all shoot 40% from 3?

 

[3Eye]

We loved Pitino’s first team…their hustle, and pride overcame not a great record. 14-14

 

[Skyguyb27]

There you go. This team on paper does not look like a top 10. You are putting expectations out that simply are not doable. Quotes like yours is so unfair for Pope. We have no better chance to be top 10 than to win a national championship this year. We don't have the players that have years of playing together. UConn wins with two to three players with several years playing together. This is the exact reason Cal ran off the track. He never had kids multiple years playing together. If the USA Olympic team had been the Celtics, they would have won the GOLD easier than the teams of All stars. Our kids are going to have a scant few months together. I think they will and can be competitive but not elite this season.

I think you’re wrong. I think they are a top 10 by the end of the year. We will see how it goes, but stop crying. Even Pope made it clear he knows what the mission is. I clearly said I wouldn’t be mad if we don’t. Cal ran off the track because he was a narcissist and thought he was bigger than the program. You seem to only handle things if people agree.

 

[Skyguyb27]

Can you name one team that will have a better bench than Kentucky?
Butler and Oweh best defensive backcourt in the country?
Carr is an all-SEC forward?
Garrison is a top 15 NBA draft pick talent?
Kriisa, Brea, Robinson and Perry all shoot 40% from 3?

This is a top 10 team after they gel. It might be quicker than we think. Ignore the negative Nancy types, some of them are Cal huggers hoping Pope fails.

 

[AJG-15]

From the media appearances of Coach Pope I believe the team is behind compared to what was expected. It’s not hard to understand why, new team, takes time to learn a new offensive system, especially a complex one.It’s going to take even longer to master the defense.
As this team does not have star players , their success or lack of it will be tied to how well they play as a team and do the little things : rebounding, effort, executing sets, staying in front of their player. Etc. that usually takes time….

I wish Coach Pope would have not announced that we are going for number 9 this year. Expectations are so unrealistically set… and will make his job so much more difficult for the years to come. He needs time and patience..

 

[zoid1]

I'm not gonna lie. If we don't beat everyone I think we should which is probably Zags in Seattle, a couple top SEC teams road games, maybe @Clemson, etc. No reason to be UK's coach with all this experience, 6 super seniors another regular senior, this many defensive standouts, this many good 3 point shooter's. Not have his team ready to compete with a game plan and solid adjustments every game. At least not win every game but be competitive in every game. Making 5.5 mil and knowing the assignment from day 1. I'm gonna be pissed.

 

[BelfryKYCatFanatic]

I don't want to see this board turn on Pope.

This board will turn on him after we lose to Duke.

On Wednesday Nov. 13th, I won't be surprised to see a "FARRRRR POPE" thread or a "Bump this thread until Pope is Gone" on the board.

 

[kywildcat41086]

Pope will have us playing fundamental basketball. We won’t be taking no more stupid loses that’s we’ve taken over the last 11 years. I expect for his first season that we will finish in the top half of the SEC and make a strong push in the SEC tournament because it will matter now. Then I expect us to at least make it to the 2nd weekend of the NCAA tournament. Pope will build off all of this going into his 2nd season. Pope will be coaching his @ss off this season to make sure we get as far as we can possibly get I have no doubt about that.

 

[4UK4Life]

I'm not gonna lie. If we don't beat everyone I think we should which is probably Zags in Seattle, a couple top SEC teams road games, maybe @Clemson, etc. No reason to be UK's coach with all this experience, 6 super seniors another regular senior, this many defensive standouts, this many good 3 point shooter's. Not have his team ready to compete with a game plan and solid adjustments every game. At least not win every game but be competitive in every game. Making 5.5 mil and knowing the assignment from day 1. I'm gonna be pissed.

Zags as in top 5 team Gonzaga in their backyard?

 

[bigblueinsanity]

As someone who is usually very objective about everything, i must admit pope is making it hard. I know we dont have stars but it sure feels like we'll be better than predicted. Cant tell if thats my head or my heart talking.

We will lose some games we shouldn't if we are cold. Thats just the breaks when you shoot that many threes. On the flip side, we should win some we shouldn't when we're hot.

I just hope he wins here for uk and for him. He seems like such s good guy and hard worker. My fear is this might be the best team he puts on the floor because its literally perfect for his style. That means if we finish down the list of the sec, it might never get sny better.

 

[cat tat2]

Zags as in top 5 team Gonzaga in their backyard?

I don’t know about that one. That’s one of the toughest games of a very tough schedule. I hope we win of course, we’ll see.

 

[blue cincy]

Cannot temper. Pope tells you not to temper anything. Expect the best. We will be what we are and we will know by the start of the SEC season. One thing we will be is more interesting style of basketball. The rest of the W and L will be what it is. Only way I would say something about Pope is if he made a horrible mistake during a game. Doubt I have to worry much about that.

 

[JimboBBN]

Agreed expectations for year one should be reasonable. However, it’s hard not to get just a little excited looking at our roster.

- Shooting at every position
- DEFENSE. It will be nice to see after last season
- Depth. We could easily play 11 guys on this team
- Leadership/experience

The only thing we might lack is a true playmaker at point. But the way this team looks like they move the ball, it might not even matter.