What's One Thing You're Thankful From Each UK Coach

[jedwar]

What is something that you're grateful or thankful for from our coaches beside a championship. Make it a postive one even though it may be hard for one.

Rupp-making UK the basketball empire it became
Hall-becoming a great ambassador for UK. Kind of like the papaw everyone wanted
Sutton-coining the phrase "little brother"
Pitino-restoring the UK basketball machine from a dark time and being just ate up with obsession of winning
Tubby-being a great leader of young men
BCG-this one is hard but maybe being so grateful and appreciative of the opportunity but just wasn't ready
Cal-bringing the passion and energy when it was really needed when he got here. I think he got us then.
Pope-truly understanding the assignment as he says. He gets it. Will be relentless in this pursuit.

 

[BlueSince92]

Rupp—Kentucky basketball as we know it. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Pitino—Everything he did while here plus talking up the Pope hire to us bigtime.
Tubby—Every single inbounds play that man ever drew up in his life. Basket.
Billy Clyde—PPat. Miller. Liggins. Harrellson.
Cal—That rat bastard finally left. Thank you.
Pope—Everything.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Rupp - setting the standard
Hall - 1978
Sutton - coined Little Brother for Louisville
Pitino - resurrection
Smith - 1998
BCG - he left
Cal - 2012
Pope - returning the program to the people

 

[Bkocats]

Rupp… set the standard
Joe B…Not the best coach, 1978 notwithstanding, but he was a most excellent ambassador for the program
Sutton…I’m having a hard time with him, so I’ll just go with him coining Little Brother
Pitino..resurrected and redeemed our program
Tubby- probably the nicest coach we’ve had up until now.
BCG…I try not to remember those years but he DID bring us some all time favorites in Miller, Liggins, Patterson, Harrelson
Calipari…all the players. He did bring us back to prominence for a few years
Mark Pope…he’s the embodiment of what UK basketball is

 

[BlueBomb]

BCG: This ain’t the University of Jody Meeks!

 

[UKWildcats1987]

What is something that you're grateful or thankful for from our coaches beside a championship. Make it a postive one even though it may be hard for one.

Rupp-making UK the basketball empire it became
Hall-becoming a great ambassador for UK. Kind of like the papaw everyone wanted
Sutton-coining the phrase "little brother"
Pitino-restoring the UK basketball machine from a dark time and being just ate up with obsession of winning
Tubby-being a great leader of young men
BCG-this one is hard but maybe being so grateful and appreciative of the opportunity but just wasn't ready
Cal-bringing the passion and energy when it was really needed when he got here. I think he got us then.
Pope-truly understanding the assignment as he says. He gets it. Will be relentless in this pursuit.

Rupp: made the program.
Hall: kept it going and beat IU in 75.
Sutton: drunk that made 1 elite 8. Damn lsu.
Pitino: put UK back on the map and the 1997 title game run without DA. Impressive.
Tubby: 2003 team was an amazing coaching job. Stupid injuries and s wade.
Bcg: 12 and 4 sec run first season to make ncaa.
Cal: 4 final four appearances and 5 elite 8 appearances in first 6 seasons. That will be hard for anyone to duplicate for that short period of time. Then idk what happened.
Pope: he gets UK basketball and back to winning top 25 games consistently so far. Cal had a drop off there as we know.

 

[blue cincy]

RUPP - Agree with above posts (making UK the basketball empire) (4 ships).
Hall - Getting some great players and winning a ship in 78 with a couple of local products.
Sutton - Thankful he took his drunk butt out of here.
Pitino - Rupp 2.0 (making us one of the most relevant teams of the 90's and starting empire strikes back. Ship
Tubby - For his ship and leaving when he did.
BCG - Not thankful but was glad he took his drunk butt out of here as well.
Cal - He brought us players and with all those players he got us 1 ship. Then glad he left. So so happy he is gone.
Pope - Thankful he loves KENTUCKY BASKETBALL AS MUCH AS US UK FANS!!

 

[anonymous_2011]

Rupp: The foundation amd tradition
Hall: Keeping the tradition alive
Sutton: eh?
Pitino: The first title of my life time
Smith: 98 title
BCG: The most exciting time following UK basketball in my life.
Cal: 2012 and John Wall and AD
Pope: TBD

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Rupp - establishing the program

Hall - perfect steward

Sutton - being so bad so quickly so we could get Pitino

Pitino - taking us from probation to #1 in the nation in two years

Smith - kept the program above water

Gillispie - failing quickly so the fallout was brief

Calipari - stockpiling one of the only areas that UK didn't dominate the other bluebloods: the NBA

Pope - everything so far

 

[TucsonCat]

Rupp started it.
Hall showed it was more than one coach.
Sutton said it was the best job. Also 86
Pitino rebuilt it, but also made it the best again.
Tubby early 2000s was great.
Billy G showed it wasn't for just anybody.
Cal for making us the greatest again. And flirting with greatest in 2015.
Pope for putting emphasis on fans.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Rupp: Implementing fast break offense, building a branded dominance that has lasted generations

Hall: Being an excellent ambassador for the school. Improving the reputation of UK with minorities. Continuing to support for many years, including sage advice to future coaches

Sutton: Bringing highly touted recruiting classes and a promise of renewed dominance

Pitino: Embracing the three point line, revolutionizing college basketball, assembling the greatest collection of talent to work cohesively as a selfless unit, returning Kentucky back to its place as the premier program in college basketball

Smith: Bringing toughness, character and defensive acumen while having a kind heart. Took the sport by storm with an unlikely championship in 98 that had a relentless will to win.

Gillispie: Embraced the job and brought rejuvenation with him and an expectation for a rise to prominence. Provided some of the most memorable, albeit bizarre, stories in Wildcat history.

Calipari: Made the Kentucky brand a power in recruiting the likes of which hadn’t been seen at the school since the 1950s. Did a wonderful job getting one and done players to take less flashy roles to coordinate toward a common goal. Brought a swagger that we embraced for an excellent decade run, that nearly led to the first perfect season since 1976.

Pope: Bringing focus back to the value of a historic program. Perfect marriage of old and new, respecting history and implementing certain things coined by Pitino, while using a modern style that was popularized in the NBA to maximize performance.

 

[BigBlue1992]

Rupp: The house that Rupp built. The closest thing to “Kentucky basketball” you can get and it would’ve been a honor to have shaken his hand. LEGEND!

Hall: Not only the head coach but also quite possibly the biggest UK fan and proved that a legendary program was here to stay.

Sutton: Probably a what if situation. Likely would’ve been successful had he stayed clean and sober.

Pitino: Revived the program and made us the team of the 90’s, with Tubby finishing it off. Will always wonder what if he had stayed.

Smith: Total class act who could was a good coach but had a hard time being a big time recruiter.

Gillespie: The man bit off more than he could chew. That’s all.

Calipari: Very similar to Pitino just did it in a different way. Revived a program that was left for dead. Had a heck of a run and also like Pitino, made us the team of an entire decade, 2010’s.

Pope: Glad he’s here and so far so good and very excited.

 

[berniecarbo]

Rupp: all the things that were said plus he was one of if not first to take a team national. Before him basketball was a regional sport. The hot beds were in the upper Midwest and north east. Imo that is one reason the NCAA had it in for Rupp. Officiating had also been a regional thing and as it became a national game, they had to address that problem.

 

[Someguywhodoesntlikeyou]

I don’t know why I need to be thankful for someone doing a job. Especially men well compensated for it.

They’re basketball coaches. They’re not curing cancer or protecting our country.

 

[cat tat2]

Rupp: for starting this basketball tradition.
Hall: for loving Kentucky and maintaining the tradition.
Sutton: for trying even though it was too much for him.
Pitino: for living and breathing basketball, like we do, his drive to win!
Tubby: for being a good coach and great man.
BCG: for only being here 2 seasons.
Calipari: for coming when he did and leaving the way he did.
Pope: for having many of the same traits as his predecessors. Loving Kentucky, living and breathing basketball, his desire to win, knowing the challenges and taking the job anyway, outstanding coach/representative for UK. The perfect man to lead this program.

 

[jedwar]

I don’t know why I need to be thankful for someone doing a job. Especially men well compensated for it.

They’re basketball coaches. They’re not curing cancer or protecting our country.

You don’t.

 

[Bkocats]

I don’t know why I need to be thankful for someone doing a job. Especially men well compensated for it.

They’re basketball coaches. They’re not curing cancer or protecting our country.

Maybe not thankful. How about recognizing what each coach brought to the table instead? That’s kind of how I looked at it

 

[Someguywhodoesntlikeyou]

Maybe not thankful. How about recognizing what each coach brought to the table instead? That’s kind of how I looked at it

The only thing I need from a coach is to do the job they’re paid to do and do it with respect and good character.

 

[Bkocats]

The only thing I need from a coach is to do the job they’re paid to do and do it with respect and good character.

That’s fair

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Rupp- everything. He made this the flagship of college basketball. He built the foundation on granite.

Hall- carried on the tradition. Invented power basketball.

Sutton-maybe the best basketball mind other than Rupp.

Pitino- simply brought the program back to prominence.

Smith- leaving

BCG-brought hope back after the hopeless years before him.

Cal-re established the program. Bringing in the exciting players. 4 FF’s and a title.

Pope-just a breath of fresh air and putting the program over anything.

His story is still being written.

 

[Cawood86]

Rupp-Creator of the Empire

Hall- Maintained the program status. Key in integrating black players. Innovator of physical conditioning

Sutton- Underrated recruiter

Pitino- Program reviver. Innovative with press and 3's

Tubby- Good X and O coach

Gillespie- Nothing really

Cal- 6 year run that was epic. Unreal recruiter

Pope- Actual love of UK program. Restorer of sanity. No Diva

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

The one that really sticks out to me is thank Rick Pitino for giving us Mark Pope.

 

[bbncal02]

Rupp- For establishing the tradition and standard for excellence
Joe B- for stepping up to the plate even when it was hard, and being a good shepherd of the program
Sutton- for being a solid x and o guy
Pitino- for bring us back from the brink; for making UK basketball fun and great while I was growing up
Tubby- for being the father figure after Rick; for being gracious to fans and players
BCG- for showing up and trying
Cal- for bring back that excitement and rejuvenating the program
Pope- for healing some wounds and resurrecting the spirit

 

[Kentucky fan 1989]

Rupp: for creating the program.
Hall: For proving it is not the University of Adolph Rupp like Indiana is the University of Bobby Knight
Sutton: I don't know.
Pitino: For resurrection of Kentucky basketball.
Tubby: 1998-2005.
Billy G: Patrick Patterson
Cal:2009-17
Pope: TBD but good start.

 

[Blue_2_the_bone]

Rupp: Implementing fast break offense, building a branded dominance that has lasted generations

Hall: Being an excellent ambassador for the school. Improving the reputation of UK with minorities. Continuing to support for many years, including sage advice to future coaches

Sutton: Bringing highly touted recruiting classes and a promise of renewed dominance

Pitino: Embracing the three point line, revolutionizing college basketball, assembling the greatest collection of talent to work cohesively as a selfless unit, returning Kentucky back to its place as the premier program in college basketball

Smith: Bringing toughness, character and defensive acumen while having a kind heart. Took the sport by storm with an unlikely championship in 98 that had a relentless will to win.

Gillispie: Embraced the job and brought rejuvenation with him and an expectation for a rise to prominence. Provided some of the most memorable, albeit bizarre, stories in Wildcat history.

Calipari: Made the Kentucky brand a power in recruiting the likes of which hadn’t been seen at the school since the 1950s. Did a wonderful job getting one and done players to take less flashy roles to coordinate toward a common goal. Brought a swagger that we embraced for an excellent decade run, that nearly led to the first perfect season since 1976.

Pope: Bringing focus back to the value of a historic program. Perfect marriage of old and new, respecting history and implementing certain things coined by Pitino, while using a modern style that was popularized in the NBA to maximize performance.

The BCG stories are some of the funniest stories I can remember. Would love the old players to go on a podcast to tell them.

 

[Princecal]

I don’t know why I need to be thankful for someone doing a job. Especially men well compensated for it.

They’re basketball coaches. They’re not curing cancer or protecting our country.

I know you have so many dinner party invites, you bring so much joy, but can you pencil in time from your busy schedule up make it to one of mine? People would love the way you kill joy and celebrate nothing.

 

[michaeluk26]

My first conscious memory of a coach is Rick in 1992. Having said that...

Rupp- Synonymous with Kentucky basketball. He built an incredible foundation, winning 4 titles and did it with mostly in state kids. His "racehorse basketball" and pioneer of the fast break style should be played by every coach.

Joe B. Hall - great man and a great ambassador for our program. Won a title, a NIT I believe, and went to 3 final fours in 13 years. If not for a historically bad shooting half he has 2 titles.

Sutton - I've gotta admit I know next to nothing about his time at UK. I know he coached the triplets for Arkansas in the 78 final four. Said he'd crawl to Lexington for the job. I know it all came crashing down on his watch but there's no damn way an Emory package full of money burst open.

Pitino - I'm grateful he took the job as who knows where we'd be if he didn't come here. The insane press he ran, along with grasping the importance of the 3 point shot before his peers turned the program around faster than any thought possible. Won the SEC tournament every year but 1996, and we know how that turned out. It may be nostalgia talking but his teams were by far the most fun to watch.

Tubby - Great human being, great basketball mind, coached two of the most lovable teams in UK history with the Comeback Cats and the 2003 team. Can't beat winning a title your first year and doing it in style. I'm thankful he realized he was in over his head after 2005 and left of his own volition.

Billie G - thankful he was only here two years. Talk about a square peg in a round hole. Especially when the abuse allegations started circulating.

Cal - I've gotta admit the 2010 team was my favorite because we were resigned to mediocrity and Cal turned is around. He made Kentucky the "it" school again. I'm grateful for that, the 4 final fours and the title. Most people say his great run was from 09-15. I say it was 09 to 2019. I'm grateful he left without a bunch of drama. We needed him to leave just as much as he needed too.

Pope - I'm grateful we have a coach who can make adjustments. I won't lie, I hated the hire at first. But after that first press conference I was all in. He just gets it. I'm more than certain he'll win a title here and I love his style of play.

 

[Rondoed]

Rupp - set the standard

Hall - followed a legend, was a good steward, gave us 1975-1978

Sutton - tried (was a logical attempt), coined “little brother”

Ptino - resurrected the program

Smith - 1998

Gillespie - for Meeks and Patterson

Calipari - for coming, for leaving

Pope - for being the Captain, the future, the present, and an anchor to the past