With all of the injuries, the depleted roster, and the conference being a fist fight night in and night out he has to get an A. Very solid first year under tough circumstances. Next year’s grading will not be on a curve though. That being said, I fully expect him to succeed in a big way. He has the right outlook as far as the team being the state’s team.
What is your grade for Mark Pope in Year 1
- Thread starter chasingwildcat
- Start date
A and maybe an A+. His 2nd half adjustments and offensive planning were and to none. Some things to nitpick such as a slight preference to some players and some odd remarks on injury timelines. But again, nit picking... he was damn near flawless to me.
The team on the other hand? C. At best.
And that's what's so important to me. Pope took a mid major roster and got them to a 3-seed in the SEC and a sweet16. That's why coaching matters, because quite frankly, this roster left a lot to be desired.
The team on the other hand? C. At best.
And that's what's so important to me. Pope took a mid major roster and got them to a 3-seed in the SEC and a sweet16. That's why coaching matters, because quite frankly, this roster left a lot to be desired.
Because we got blown out in both tournaments I’ll say A-. But him reaching the sweet 16 was the goal from day one for me. And he did it with an injury filled roster
B this year
Let’s grade him after he recruits some big time athletes
Let’s grade him after he recruits some big time athletes
A - The fact he was hired on April 12th, 2024, and only had 1 recruit Travis Perry that did not leave from Cal's team. Think about that. Today is March 28 and the Cats have 3 high school recruits and their 1st portal player already in the fold. Last year they were still 15 days away from hiring a coach. With all that going against him he still built a quality roster and hired his entire coaching staff.
The when the season started this team brought the excitement back to the program. The last season it was really fun watching the Cats was 2019 Maxie, Quickly, Hagans team that did not get to finish their season. This team beat Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, Florida, Tennessee twice. besides other nice wins.
The season was not perfect The Ohio State lose was ugly. The Arkansas lose was disappointing. 6th place finish in the SEC, loss on Friday night of the SEC tournament, and tonight's S16 loss to Tennessee. But the injuries that this team had to overcome contributed to some of those disappointments.
This team did pick up 3 games in the all-time wins list against the preseason #1 Kansas Jayhawks.
The when the season started this team brought the excitement back to the program. The last season it was really fun watching the Cats was 2019 Maxie, Quickly, Hagans team that did not get to finish their season. This team beat Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, Florida, Tennessee twice. besides other nice wins.
The season was not perfect The Ohio State lose was ugly. The Arkansas lose was disappointing. 6th place finish in the SEC, loss on Friday night of the SEC tournament, and tonight's S16 loss to Tennessee. But the injuries that this team had to overcome contributed to some of those disappointments.
This team did pick up 3 games in the all-time wins list against the preseason #1 Kansas Jayhawks.
Depends on the scale.
If we're going off of the Cal scale, solid A+, compared to last few years not even sniffing a C- and a solid F in there at least once.
If we're going off of our history, solid B.
If we're considering the late start, Cal leaving the cupboard nearly bare and in a lurch late in recruiting (understatement of the year), injuries, strength of SEC, and our history, ........
I'm giving it an A- to a solid B+ for the year.
We beat teams we shouldn't have, and lost to teams we shouldn't have, and that's on the coaching staff in both cases. Didn't defend our home court well, which was disappointing. Didn't make the EE. Still an impressive season and really a great bunch of guys playing their hearts out all season.
Definitely won't forget this team. Gave us both great hope and some concern for the future
If we're going off of the Cal scale, solid A+, compared to last few years not even sniffing a C- and a solid F in there at least once.
If we're going off of our history, solid B.
If we're considering the late start, Cal leaving the cupboard nearly bare and in a lurch late in recruiting (understatement of the year), injuries, strength of SEC, and our history, ........
I'm giving it an A- to a solid B+ for the year.
We beat teams we shouldn't have, and lost to teams we shouldn't have, and that's on the coaching staff in both cases. Didn't defend our home court well, which was disappointing. Didn't make the EE. Still an impressive season and really a great bunch of guys playing their hearts out all season.
Definitely won't forget this team. Gave us both great hope and some concern for the future
You should NEVER be called crazy for ever being in championship or bust mode. What are we really doing here?
I'll give a A- ...he had limited time and we successfully navigated year 1 regardless of today's outcome. Now the real job begins he's had a recruiting class, and now going to have a whole portal period you can flip a whole basketball team from nothing to title contender in a off-season.
A Plus! Zero points returning from last year. Brought hope and enthusiasm back to Kentucky basketball.
B-
He gave us some excitement. Built a team in a short time. Won a few big games and got to the 2nd week of the tourney.
He needs to land some better recruits, teach his teams grit and not lose to lesser teams.
He had one year to nostalgia bomb us because we like the old days.
Now it's time to really get to work and set the tone for what his tenure as UK head coach will be.
He gave us some excitement. Built a team in a short time. Won a few big games and got to the 2nd week of the tourney.
He needs to land some better recruits, teach his teams grit and not lose to lesser teams.
He had one year to nostalgia bomb us because we like the old days.
Now it's time to really get to work and set the tone for what his tenure as UK head coach will be.
Better than:
Hurley
Drew
Calipari
What he did this season after having such a short time to assemble a team, and then dealing with the injuries, was outstanding.
Go Cats! Go Big Blue!
Hurley
Drew
Calipari
What he did this season after having such a short time to assemble a team, and then dealing with the injuries, was outstanding.
Go Cats! Go Big Blue!
A
Exceeded my expectations (make tournament, win a game), brought the excitement back with some big time wins. We played an entertaining brand of basketball for the most part. Injuries impacted us and derailed where we could've gone.
My only complaints were when we lost, we usually lost ugly.
This was my free pass year and I am more than happy with Coach Pope's first year even with the shitty ending. Next year, I would like to finish with less than 10 losses.
Exceeded my expectations (make tournament, win a game), brought the excitement back with some big time wins. We played an entertaining brand of basketball for the most part. Injuries impacted us and derailed where we could've gone.
My only complaints were when we lost, we usually lost ugly.
This was my free pass year and I am more than happy with Coach Pope's first year even with the shitty ending. Next year, I would like to finish with less than 10 losses.
B minus, would be possibly a A if we could stop the ball drive, but rarely did all season.
A solid B. We had some great wins but did have about 5-6 bad games. Especially against Bama and tonight. Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia, and Arkansas. Texas a maybe.
People saying anything approaching C are absolutely clueless.
Seriously, go back to 9 months ago and ask what your expectations would be for this roster. Would you have called this a sweet 16 team, especially after losing Robinson and Kriisa?
There were some bumps along the way and a crappy last game, and for that I bump my grade down to an A- But anything below a B is just downright ludicrous.
Seriously, go back to 9 months ago and ask what your expectations would be for this roster. Would you have called this a sweet 16 team, especially after losing Robinson and Kriisa?
There were some bumps along the way and a crappy last game, and for that I bump my grade down to an A- But anything below a B is just downright ludicrous.
A for sure.
When you factor strength of schedule, series of injuries (this team wasn't whole since December)...it is 100% an A.
Noah, Perry in particular weren't even supposed to play this year...they did, a lot.
To make the Swt 16 with a damaged starting PG and PF, while being totally without their backup PG effectively all year and their best guy at creating his own shot for final 1/3 of season...it is a no brainer.
Quite impressive.
Most teams cannot survive one major injury, much less 3.
When you factor strength of schedule, series of injuries (this team wasn't whole since December)...it is 100% an A.
Noah, Perry in particular weren't even supposed to play this year...they did, a lot.
To make the Swt 16 with a damaged starting PG and PF, while being totally without their backup PG effectively all year and their best guy at creating his own shot for final 1/3 of season...it is a no brainer.
Quite impressive.
Most teams cannot survive one major injury, much less 3.
A. The program is back. The goal of winning for KENTUCKY and SEC and NCAA championships is Back.
A+. If injuries hadn't decimated the same position we'd have won about five more games. When the brackets came out I thought Tennessee was our brick wall. Was hoping they'd lose to UCLA.
Pope understood the assignment and got it done. Still trying to figure out how we beat Duke
Pope understood the assignment and got it done. Still trying to figure out how we beat Duke
Nothing short of an A+ is appropriate.
He took a broken-down roster filled with injured Israeli-League players, took them to the Sweet Sixteen, beat 8 top 15 teams, and won 24 games.
It was one of the best coaching jobs in the history of our program.
That being said, he needs to prove he can beat elite programs for out-of-state portal and high school players. He hasn't done that yet.
He promised BBN "superstars" this portal cycle. Nothing less than that will do.
He took a broken-down roster filled with injured Israeli-League players, took them to the Sweet Sixteen, beat 8 top 15 teams, and won 24 games.
It was one of the best coaching jobs in the history of our program.
That being said, he needs to prove he can beat elite programs for out-of-state portal and high school players. He hasn't done that yet.
He promised BBN "superstars" this portal cycle. Nothing less than that will do.
B+
Thought he did a lot of great things and showed a lot of promise for a strong future.
Only thing preventing the A grade for me is the predetermined substitution NBA approach when a CBB game is 8 minutes shorter, and Half the season length. Nitpicky? Sure. But in evaluating a coach in the season that's the lone area I found frustrating to watch, especially when a player was going well.
Looking forward to seeing him build next year's team ASAP and excited to watch what they do. Brought back the fun to watch the team play that's for certain. Was nice to watch and just enjoy the game and see the fans have fun again too. On the right track!
Thought he did a lot of great things and showed a lot of promise for a strong future.
Only thing preventing the A grade for me is the predetermined substitution NBA approach when a CBB game is 8 minutes shorter, and Half the season length. Nitpicky? Sure. But in evaluating a coach in the season that's the lone area I found frustrating to watch, especially when a player was going well.
Looking forward to seeing him build next year's team ASAP and excited to watch what they do. Brought back the fun to watch the team play that's for certain. Was nice to watch and just enjoy the game and see the fans have fun again too. On the right track!
A. Given the time frames he had to recruit a staff and a late start in portal recruiting I think he did a masteful job.Once the season started he took a team he had never coached and players that had never played together and put together some of the biggest wins in recent memory. More than anything injuries derailed what might have been a very special season. Pope's juggling makeshift lineups the last month of season was also masterful.We made the Sweet 16 for the first time in years. The biggest criticisms I heard of Pope were nonsensical. " He doesn't scream at the officials enough" being the most prevalent. People also complained about his defensive coaching, despite his best defender being hurt most of season as well as the fact that the guys he got in the portal weren't quick enough to be elite defenders regardless of coaching. The old saw 90% of defense is " want to" might be applicable in the high school game but at the elite level of D1 ball it is absurd. All the " want to" in b the world won't allow Brea to guard a Corey Sears or a Fears. Job well done Coach Pope. He got the absolute most out of what he had to work with.
A+ and I’ll admit I didn’t like the hire but he won me over. Still need to see how recruiting goes but his basketball philosophy I love
A for sure
I think most all of us thought preseason that if we could just make the tourney this year it would be a success. I don't think a lot of people realize how little time and even selection of players that he had to choose from to put this team together. Then on top of that a best ever conference, huge amount of injuries to key players and to still pull off the amount of wins that he did is amazing. Then to add to an an already great year to be able to finish that off with a a sweet 16 run with this team taped together was nothing short of a A to me. Throw in with that wins over Florida, Duke and twice over Tenn all of which are in the final 8.
I think most all of us thought preseason that if we could just make the tourney this year it would be a success. I don't think a lot of people realize how little time and even selection of players that he had to choose from to put this team together. Then on top of that a best ever conference, huge amount of injuries to key players and to still pull off the amount of wins that he did is amazing. Then to add to an an already great year to be able to finish that off with a a sweet 16 run with this team taped together was nothing short of a A to me. Throw in with that wins over Florida, Duke and twice over Tenn all of which are in the final 8.
Thats my score. Had some massive wins but way too many games where we just got inexplicably blitzed and looked completely lost.
Even worse, two of those games were in the sec and ncaa tournament.
Im sold on his coaching. Now we have to get better personnel. Unfortunately we're a long way from competing with bama and Auburn.
