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Would Pope ever leave?

Basscat1987

Basscat1987

Blue Chip Prospect
Jan 2, 2021
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I think it’s something worth asking. If Pope has the run over the next few years that we all hope he does, could u see him leaving for an NBA job? I could see him being a perfect fit for the NBA and I’m sure there’s some GM’s out there who believe the same thing. Would his love for KY be enough to hang on to him?
 
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He has some goals he's already stated. He wants to win a few titles. I think that he would leave if the program was in decline under his leadership. Outside of that, however, I can see him staying here 10 to 15 years. Maybe even longer. Bill Self has made it multiple decades at Kansas. Roy made it a few decades at Carolina. As long as a coach stays hungry, he can make it at Kentucky for a long time. John Calipari got lazy. I don't see Pope ever doing that.
 
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YardCat said:
I’m going to say that he would leave but only to retire. He has witnessed what his mentor did by going to Boston and then saying he regretted leaving UK. IMO his old coach would tell him to stay.
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Yep this. You know Rick will let him know the grass is browner on the other side of that fence. Doodoo brown most of the time.
 
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He’s a religious and disciplined personality.

In college you have more control of the character you surround yourself with and locker room you build.

The NBA and some of the lifestyles around him probably wouldn’t sit well and he’d have no control over it. Then again he spent a decade around professionals so who knows.

I don’t see him leaving here though, unless we run him off.
 
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Basscat1987 said:
I think it’s something worth asking. If Pope has the run over the next few years that we all hope he does, could u see him leaving for an NBA job? I could see him being a perfect fit for the NBA and I’m sure there’s some GM’s out there who believe the same thing. Would his love for KY be enough to hang on to him?
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Why do you think this is "worth asking"? Especially a few weeks into his first season?
 
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The vibe I get Mark will be here until his coaching days are over after he has hung 3 or 4 then he will go into administration as the ad I hope very witty person
 
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I too think he stays till he is done coaching. But you can never tell what is going to happen. Personal life (illness of family member), (maybe something for a child) or anything like that. Hope he has great success each and every game, week, year he is here.
 
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DraftCat said:
Pope would leave only if he thought the program couldn't get the results under him. He's in the lifer category.

I don't see the NBA being a draw for him.
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The NBA may very well want him soon. His offensive style is coveted in the league. What if the Utah Jazz made a run for him in a couple of years?
Another question is when does Kentucky revise his contract?
 
No.

First of all, he’s older than a lot of folks seem to think he is. At 52, he’s had NBA & other real life experiences. If stays until he is 70 (which would mean health, a successful run, and staying relevant), he only has 18 years. Thats a long time for coaching at UK, but I don’t see him trying to “climb the ladder” or use UK as a springboard for an NBA job at this point.
 
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BBNinSC said:
The NBA may very well want him soon. His offensive style is coveted in the league. What if the Utah Jazz made a run for him in a couple of years?
Another question is when does Kentucky revise his contract?
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I just don't see it happening. I feel like it would go against everything he's told the fanbase since he's been hired.

If Kentucky is all about March/April like we say we are than I'm holding off on making any rash judgments after 7 games. We all like what we see it's a fun style of basketball. Ultimately the results when it matters continues to bring home the bacon.
 
CRZ4UK said:
The college game is 24/7 365 days a year.
We have seen what it does to coaches who stay past their shelf life.
I hope he gives us 10 great years and moves on to a less demanding job.
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The year is 2035. Tyson Foods announces their new head coach, Mark Pope. Prior to calling the hogs, the new Razorback coach begins to discuss a metaphor about swine connective tissue.
 
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know1 said:
Why do you think this is "worth asking"? Especially a few weeks into his first season?
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Because of his basketball mind, the way the handles himself on the sideline. He would be a perfect candidate for the NBA he just never had a premier job to showcase himself. Until now. So that’s why I believe it’s something that could definitely happen
 
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I think Calipari had one thing right (why wouldn't he listen to his own good advice???) - UK basketball coaching in this day is a 10 yr. job. Exuberance in the moment may cloud the ability to project forward, me included, but I think it's generally going to be true if you really think about it. Things change and the job wears on anyone no matter how much you love it; and familiarity breeds contempt in any rabid fanbase.
 
G-PIP said:
I think Calipari had one thing right (why wouldn't he listen to his own good advice???) - UK basketball coaching in this day is a 10 yr. job. Exuberance in the moment may cloud the ability to project forward, me included, but I think it's generally going to be true if you really think about it. Things change and the job wears on anyone no matter how much you love it; and familiarity breeds contempt in any rabid fanbase.
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Calipari was unwilling to adapt to the landscape of CBB. If he had stayed present, there was no reason success can’t continue beyond year 10. It all comes down to Pope and how long he can keep the flame burning — I doubt he’s a guy who allows ego and agenda to taint his ability to meet the needs of the sport.
 
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Basscat1987 said:
Because of his basketball mind, the way the handles himself on the sideline. He would be a perfect candidate for the NBA he just never had a premier job to showcase himself. Until now. So that’s why I believe it’s something that could definitely happen
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Who could we ever get to replace him?
 
know1 said:
Who could we ever get to replace him?
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Ncaa Basketball Sport GIF by NCAA March Madness

😂
 
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B.B.H. said:
Calipari was unwilling to adapt to the landscape of CBB. If he had stayed present, there was no reason success can’t continue beyond year 10. It all comes down to Pope and how long he can keep the flame burning — I doubt he’s a guy who allows ego and agenda to taint his ability to meet the needs of the sport.
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Most anything can happen, but I think human nature (coach and fanbase) makes it a betting underdog. Also, remembering that this is entertainment and just being presented a newer fresher approach is often appealing just for the sake of change (logical or not). Other opinions may differ, of course, but if Pope leaves after 10 years for say an NBA job, I'll be fine with it.
 
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He won't leave for another college program.. that's for sure. He's ours until we want someone else.

He MAY get the itch for the NBA, but who knows if he even wants that, if he'd get the pay that he gets at UK, or even if the NBA product as a whole is something that will be all that enticing. No one seems to be itching to go be a coach in the NBA when the players run the league and you're dealing with load management every night. Never though I'd say this, but the NBA isn't all that better of a coaching gig than college is. Bad teams seem to just shuffle the same 6 or 7 coaches/
 
know1 said:
Why do you think this is "worth asking"? Especially a few weeks into his first season?
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Cause it’s this guy…the same poster who then called 9.3/10.7 Amari Williams an “offensive liability” in a different thread.

Boysssss it’s gonna be a long season…

But no complaining from me. Just stating the obvious. We don’t have SEC talent or athleticism. Slow footed. I don’t worry about the offense, although it could struggle against top tier competition as well, but the defense is where we are gonna struggle. And rebounding. But I’ll take a year or 2...
kentucky.forums.rivals.com kentucky.forums.rivals.com
 
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I don’t even want to think about right now, he’s got so much he wants to accomplish here. He has made it clear what Kentucky means to him, he wants to keep winning and having fun. As long as he can do those things, I’m happy.
 
I think he'd stay. College coaching is more of a year round job than pro, but NBA head coaches have a whole new set of problems that Pope will never have to worry about here
 
People love to say what Joe B. and Cal said about it being a 10 year job, but every person is different. If Pope can be successful at Kentucky that way I expect, I don’t feel I’ll be burned out of winning anytime soon
 
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