What will it take?

[ChicagoCat1990]

What will it take to convince everyone that Pope is the right guy for the job. I see a group of people abandoning ship before we even finish our first season with him as the coach. Does he need to win an SECT, a FF, or a Championship in x amount of time? Is it stats? Does he need to field a top 20 offense and defense to convince people? Our fans expectations seem to be all over the place. BGC got two seasons and was out here getting spanked by Gardner Webb and VMI and recruiting 5 year olds. I think Pope deserves the fans support and hopefully we can end this seasons with some positive momentum to launch us into next season.

Me personally, I think he's the right guy for the job and will be patient with him to see what he can do on the developmental side of things with young talented recruits.

 

[NociHTTP]

What will it take to convince everyone that Pope is the right guy for the job. I see a group of people abandoning ship before we even finish our first season with him as the coach. Does he need to win an SECT, a FF, or a Championship in x amount of time? Is it stats? Does he need to field a top 20 offense and defense to convince people? Our fans expectations seem to be all over the place. BGC got two seasons and was out here getting spanked by Gardner Webb and VMI and recruiting 5 year olds. I think Pope deserves the fans support and hopefully we can end this seasons with some positive momentum to launch us into next season.

Me personally, I think he's the right guy for the job and will be patient with him to see what he can do on the developmental side of things with young talented recruits.

You're not saying anything that hasn't been said a thousand times on this topic. I don't know why some are so worried about someone else's opinion of a coach. Many of us are Pope fans, and he isn't infallible.

 

[chroix]

Just don’t worry about what dumb people think and life is a lot better.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

You're not saying anything that hasn't been said a thousand times on this topic. I don't know why some are so worried about someone else's opinion of a coach. Many of us are Pope fans, and he isn't infallible.

I think the smartass answer is just win, and have Kentucky in contention to make final fours.

 

[ChicagoCat1990]

You're not saying anything that hasn't been said a thousand times on this topic. I don't know why some are so worried about someone else's opinion of a coach. Many of us are Pope fans, and he isn't infallible.

It's more so curiosity and not worry of what other fans expectations are. It's a message board and Pope is the hot topic of discussion. I'll root the way I want to no matter what any one else does.

 

[UKAlum84]

Pope raced to get his first 10 wins of the season.

It's been up and down since.

IMO Coach Pope is a breath of fresh air for this program, I think its a good pick.

Coach Cal paved the way to the nba, whether we liked it or not.

 

[cathouse]

I'm gonna say this about Mark Pope because I truly believe he is a man of high character and I know he loves UK and BBN. No fan is suffering more over these lost games than CMP.

And because of those things, I truly believe CMP will be the first coach to step down on his own accord if he is unable to win at the level expected at UK if given a reasonable amount of time to rebuild the program that the last carpet bagger razed on his way out of Lexington.

 

[docholiday51]

I think most are reacting to what we see on the floor not Pope.

Consistent effort by everyone on the court is not what we are
seeing on the defensive end. Pope put a pretty good roster
together in about a week. The real measure of Pope will be what
kind of roster can he put together in a year or in year three.

His coaching style should be attractive to highly skilled players
(especially 4's and 5's)

Losing games isn't fun, getting down double digits then making
a comeback that falls short doesn't do much for most fans

 

[YardCat]

I’m going to say that if he won it all this year, that would get him about a month before he gets slammed for not having all 5 stars and the best transfers. And the next season he will be blasted for his first game regardless of victory amount. People need drama regardless if they win or not.

 

[UKAlum84]

I think the drama is something created by all the competing schools........and yet UK fans went hard at Hall for not winning more after winning a NC. It's like, as a coach, you win one, you must know from now on the magic formula to win more....which is not right.

 

[NociHTTP]

It's more so curiosity and not worry of what other fans expectations are. It's a message board and Pope is the hot topic of discussion. I'll root the way I want to no matter what any one else does.

Most of your post was about your opinion of other people's opinions of Pope, and you finished your post by essentially saying the same thing every other poster here in support of Pope has said. Sometimes we don't sound the way to others that we think we do. But, yes, do your thing as a UK fan. We all share one thing in common as Cat fans. We want the program to win games and titles. That won't change regardless of the circumstances.

 

[docholiday51]

I think the drama is something created by all the competing schools........and yet UK fans went hard at Hall for not winning more after winning a NC. It's like, as a coach, you win one, you must know from now on the magic formula to win more....which is not right.

Cal had the formula, he just kept blowing it up in the lab

 

[kywildcat41035]

Like Pope himself said it’s about hanging banners at the University of Kentucky. So I guess his expectations line up with my expectations.

 

[MegaBlue05]

I think most UK fans are willing to give Coach Pope 2-3 years to see if he’s the guy.

I said from the beginning this year he got a free pass as long as he didn’t pull a Kenny Payne. I expect to be better next year and in legit one seed contention in year 3. I don’t expect titles and final fours annually. I expect to compete for final fours and titles annually.

We average 1 title every 14 years in our history. Since 1958, we have had gaps of 20 years, 18 years, 14 years and currently 13 years between titles. We average a final four every 7.5 years, but usually go to them in clusters with big gaps in between. We’re in the midst of a 10 year drought now. Prior to Cal in 2011, we were on a 13 year dry streak. Even Rupp only went to 1 from 1959-72.

We unfortunately do have a certain very small subset of fans who expect to win every game by 30 and win the national title every year despite who is on the roster, what the situation was prior to the season, who got hurt, etc. These fans take UK basketball very personally and it dents their ego and if the team has a bad year.

I have learned over the years those people are never happy and to just ignore them figuratively or literally.

 

[ncaaky]

I'm gonna say this about Mark Pope because I truly believe he is a man of high character and I know he loves UK and BBN. No fan is suffering more over these lost games than CMP.

And because of those things, I truly believe CMP will be the first coach to step down on his own accord if he is unable to win at the level expected at UK if given a reasonable amount of time to rebuild the program that the last carpet bagger razed on his way out of Lexington.

I’m definitely not a Cal fan, but he did not raze the program. We were a 2 seed, 6 seed, and 3 seed the last three years of his tenure and we were getting the number 1 or 2 recruiting classes every year. It was still at the top of the list of every 5 star player.

 

[bthaunert]

It’s a good question. I was one of the ones who didn’t like the hire initially, but warmed up pretty quick.

My biggest hesitation on Pope has always been lack of post season success. I’m always of the firm belief that you don’t jump a bunch of qualified people to go to a guy just because he played here. It’s bit a lot of schools in the ass.

I believe he can get over that hump here and win big here based on what I’ve seen so far. This season is, and always has been, a wash. For me, if we aren’t contending for a
Final Four by year 3, then you sit down and decide if he’s the answer.

 

[cathouse]

I’m definitely not a Cal fan, but he did not raze the program. We were a 2 seed, 6 seed, and 3 seed the last three years of his tenure and we were getting the number 1 or 2 recruiting classes every year. It was still at the top of the list of every 5 star player.

Stop it. What kind of shape did he leave the program in???
Zero players on the roster. Zero. And totally built his current team with UK players and signees. How much lower can you burn a program down than to leave the next coach with ZERO players in the middle of April??

RAZE: to destroy to the ground : demolish

 

[jwphelps]

What will it take to convince everyone that Pope is the right guy for the job. I see a group of people abandoning ship before we even finish our first season with him as the coach. Does he need to win an SECT, a FF, or a Championship in x amount of time? Is it stats? Does he need to field a top 20 offense and defense to convince people? Our fans expectations seem to be all over the place. BGC got two seasons and was out here getting spanked by Gardner Webb and VMI and recruiting 5 year olds. I think Pope deserves the fans support and hopefully we can end this seasons with some positive momentum to launch us into next season.

Me personally, I think he's the right guy for the job and will be patient with him to see what he can do on the developmental side of things with young talented recruits.

Considering everything I think Pope has done a fine job, and please take the criticism of Pope with a grain of salt since there are so many trolls out there you don't know who are real fans or just bored rivals trying to start something.

 

[ukcatz12]

Stop it. What kind of shape did he leave the program in???
Zero players on the roster. Zero. And totally built his current team with UK players and signees. How much lower can you burn a program down than to leave the next coach with ZERO players in the middle of April??

RAZE: to destroy to the ground : demolish

That's just how college basketball now. It has nothing to do with Cal. Brooks took three transfers and three recruits with him from VT on the women's side. Do people here have an issue with that?

Cal didn't take the entire team with him. Bradshaw went to Ohio St. Quaintence went to ASU. Cyril went to UGA. Thiero was already in the transfer portal before Cal left. Cal took two guys who were currently on our team with him to Arkansas. Wagner, who has known Cal since he was a kid, and Z who has previously said he views Cal like a father figure. I honestly see zero issue with how Cal handled his departure.

 

[king of cali]

Lots of hyperbole here. I’ve seen very few say that they’re out on Pope. I have seen people question the consistent lack of effort and the non existent defense. Those are very fair questions, and it doesn’t mean people don’t want Pope to succeed.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Final four by year 3 or at least make elite 8 with a chance at the final four n last 5 mins.

If you aren't a drunk you win a title here. Pope isn't a drunk so I am expecting a title by 2030 or sooner.

 

[cathouse]

That's just how college basketball now. It has nothing to do with Cal. Brooks took three transfers and three recruits with him from VT on the women's side. Do people here have an issue with that?

Cal didn't take the entire team with him. Bradshaw went to Ohio St. Quaintence went to ASU. Cyril went to UGA. Thiero was already in the transfer portal before Cal left. Cal took two guys who were currently on our team with him to Arkansas. Wagner, who has known Cal since he was a kid, and Z who has previously said he views Cal like a father figure. I honestly see zero issue with how Cal handled his departure.

It doesn't change the fact that CAL left the program in ashes. Just like he left Memphis when he left there and came to UK and just like he will leave Arkansas.

Cal is a program destroyer, not a program builder. Everything he does is for his personal gratification and has nothing to do with sustaining a legitimate program.

Cal left UK in worse shape than BCG left us. How is that for a fact.

 

[Creed Bratton]

That's just how college basketball now. It has nothing to do with Cal. Brooks took three transfers and three recruits with him from VT on the women's side. Do people here have an issue with that?

Cal didn't take the entire team with him. Bradshaw went to Ohio St. Quaintence went to ASU. Cyril went to UGA. Thiero was already in the transfer portal before Cal left. Cal took two guys who were currently on our team with him to Arkansas. Wagner, who has known Cal since he was a kid, and Z who has previously said he views Cal like a father figure. I honestly see zero issue with how Cal handled his departure.

For years most everyone around the program knew when Cal left he wouldn't leave anything in the cupboard with the way he recruited so many one and done guys. People said the new coach would have an uphill climb because they would have to replace the entire roster and it could take 2-3 years to do so but that is just what you get with a guy like Cal and his recruiting philosophy. So I'm not sure why anyone would be shocked or surprised that is exactly what happened.

 

[cathouse]

For years most everyone around the program knew when Cal left he wouldn't leave anything in the cupboard with the way he recruited so many one and done guys. People said the new coach would have an uphill climb because they would have to replace the entire roster and it could take 2-3 years to do so but that is just what you get with a guy like Cal and his recruiting philosophy. So I'm not sure why anyone would be shocked or surprised that is exactly what happened.

They are not shocked or surprised. They are just trying to defend Cal.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Most of your post was about your opinion of other people's opinions of Pope, and you finished your post by essentially saying the same thing every other poster here in support of Pope has said. Sometimes we don't sound the way to others that we think we do. But, yes, do your thing as a UK fan. We all share one thing in common as Cat fans. We want the program to win games and titles. That won't change regardless of the circumstances.

Your post was an opinion post about posters making posts about others’ opinions. Ironically, you do it all the time. You’re constantly telling people what they can and can’t post. I watched you reprimand someone for having one political line in a two paragraph post just two days ago.

I do agree that most all of us want UK to succeed but when Pope himself is acknowledging the players are aware of everything out there maybe we can choose a little tact when we are being critical. I for one, see no problem with pointing out that this team often does not dive for loose balls. I don’t know why, but I see that. When someone goes as far as saying that Pope knows he isn’t good enough and needs to leave the program, it is going to draw expected ire from everyone else.

We can’t brag about being the biggest and best fanbase in the sport, while simultaneously not doing our part to individually be the very best. This team deserves criticism and this team deserves praise. Ultimately, this team deserves SUPPORT. Otherwise, we become part of the problem when most of us prefer to part of the solution.

 

[bluedom44]

I think the effort thing is really bothering folks, and rightfully so. Louisville is a prime example of a team that doesn't have any talent, but they play hard and never take off a play. They hustle and do all the little things. They came close to beating us in Rupp too. So hustling and effort has NOTHING to do with talent all about coaching.

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

It will take proof that he can’t ultimately get the job done.
So far he’s thrown together a great roster given the circumstances, got a basket of wins that no one else can match, and has excitement raging for us fans.
We do have some head scratching losses and I think this is part of Pope growing into this particular job. He gets it.
I do think the injury situation has unfairly caused him to come under a lot of unjustifiable scrutiny by some unrealistic fans. I think he feeds on this type thing though.
I truly believe the Cats are gonna surprise to the upside and ease the fans worry a little in the coming weeks. Nobody could lose 3 key players for a time and do any better than we have.
Watch this man go to work the rest of the season and into building teams for the next couple years. He WILL get it done!!!