Every head coach hire…who was your choice?

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

I didn't really follow the choices in 97 but it wouldn't have been Tubby.

The last three, Billy D, Cal, Billy D.

[George]

BCG = Cal
Cal = Cal
Pope = Oats

I’ve become a big Pope fan, but right now I’d still be more comfortable if Oats were at the helm.

[Clevenger32]

AD Cliff Hagan and AD CM Newton gave Pat Riley the opportunity to say no thanks for what became the Sutton, Pitino, and Smith hires. Timing never seem to worked out..

[KYNomad]

BCG = Cal
Cal = Cal
Pope = Oats

I’ve become a big Pope fan, but right now I’d still be more comfortable if Oats were at the helm.

That takes some fortitude to admit. By and large the fan base wouldn’t want you to say one word of doubt against the man at this point. I have grown to like that the Pope situation has less proof of concept than other hopefuls; it’s a bit of an underdog story that way. Everything he might achieve comes with extra celebration and pride vs a more proven coaching commodity.

Also, I think you’re asking for trouble of the criminal kind with Oats’ teams. Absolutely kills me (pun intended) that there’s been so little rectification for Self over the years with all of the morally askew players he’s recruited and coached; I’d gamble that Oats’ teams will have more examples of dereliction of duty towards policing delinquency over the coming years too.

[George]

That takes some fortitude to admit. By and large the fan base wouldn’t want you to say one word of doubt against the man at this point. I have grown to like that the Pope situation has less proof of concept than other hopefuls; it’s a bit of an underdog story that way. Everything he might achieve comes with extra celebration and pride vs a more proven coaching commodity.

Also, I think you’re asking for trouble of the criminal kind with Oats’ teams. Absolutely kills me (pun intended) that there’s been so little rectification for Self over the years with all of the morally askew players he’s recruited and coached; I’d gamble that Oats’ teams will have more examples of dereliction of duty towards policing delinquency over the coming years too.

There’s a reason they call me Downes “Big Balls” Van Zandt around here.

[SportsFan]

Oats has more of a proven and successful track record than Pope right now, and owns him in head-to-head matchups....but long run, I'm more than satisfied with Pope at the moment. Time will tell, but my gut tells me that Pope will be fine. I definitely like his approach, I'll say that much. And while I can't quite put my finger on it, I understand the reservation about Oats being a potential lightning rod for trouble on down the line....

[MegaBlue05]

I was 8 when Pitino was hired, so anything prior to him is moot.

I was OK with Tubby, wanted Donovan over BCG (but that was a pipe dream), and really wanted Cal.

When Cal left, I wasn't sure, tbh. I wasn't enamored with Drew and knew Hurley wasn't happening. Bruce Pearl makes me want to vomit, and I don't think Oats would've been a good fit here personality wise. In hindsight, glad we have Coach Pope.

[UKWildcats1987]

I preferred Cal over bcg n 2007. Cal was the guy n 2009. He was hired n the right era but then once issues happened n recruiting, he couldn't get the best elite players he needed to make final fours and compete for titles. He should have been gone n 2019 (allowed to leave).

I was hoping for a Donovan or hurley type last year. Clearly Pope has done amazing. I think he was hired n the right era as well as the NIL warchest has helped immensely, as well as the transfer era. His resume (purely on court results n 9 seasons) certainly didn't lend itself to being hired per say but kudos to Barney for making a good hire.

[KentuckyFlyer]

Hall had been an apostle of Rupp long enough to deserve the job. I think 8 years, so he knew Rupp's style. I was good with Hall, but in the end, I had buyer's remorse.

Sutton, I was never a fan. Wanted Riley, I did not want PJ glad that never happened.

I was an RP fan from the get-go. I would have taken him back at any time, including the Pope hire.

Hated the Tubby hire. He looked like a deer in the headlights when he spoke to the media that first day. Tongue-tied and incomprehensible. His winning a Natty was as crazy as finding out Trump is an alien. Would have been ok with BD

The Clydes hire proved that Mich was a HARD HARD Acid user, probably Battery Acid user. I wanted BD

Cal was right for the time.. could have been a legend here had he not been in love with Cal. What a waste.

I didn't like any replacement on the table at the time Cal left, none of them. Thought Pope was a really bad hire, but since then, I'm 100% on board with Pope. I'm convinced he will bring home nine and probably 10 and 11. I'll probably die while he's the UK coach.

[DA#23]

The Clyde hire proved that Mich was a HARD HARD Acid user, probably Battery Acid user. I wanted BD

Cal was right for the time.. could have been a legend here had he not been in love with Cal. What a waste.

I didn't like any replacement on the table at the time Cal left, none of them. Thought Pope was a really bad hire, but since then, I'm 100% on board with Pope.

I laughed at the comment about ole Top Button, and I agree with you wholeheartedly about Calipari and Pope.

[largebluej]

[QUOTE=KentuckyFlyer;n390308]Hall had been an apostle of Rupp long enough to deserve the job. I think 8 years, so he knew Rupp's style. I was good with Hall, but in the end, I had buyer's remorse…..QUOTE]

I was only a kid when Joe B followed Rupp, but it was pretty well known at the time and discussed since that if Rupp was going to be forced out, he wanted Gale Catlett to follow him. He was also a UK assistant at the time. I think he went on to coach Cincinnati or WVU. Maybe both. Beasman had basically been promised the job a few years prior when he was announced as new HC somewhere else, then almost immediately reversed course and returned to Lexington.

[KCKUKFan]

I think when the smoke clears, Cal will be regarded as a legend here. If he had left in 2019 when he should have, he would have been without a doubt.

His first nine seasons here feature some of the most consistently exhilarating highs we've seen at Kentucky, and certainly since Pitino's heydey.

It ended ugly, and that always blurs opinion in the short term.

[Pobilly]

I think when the smoke clears, Cal will be regarded as a legend here. If he had left in 2019 when he should have, he would have been without a doubt.

His first nine seasons here feature some of the most consistently exhilarating highs we've seen at Kentucky, and certainly since Pitino's heydey.

It ended ugly, and that always blurs opinion in the short term.

I get what you are saying about some of the stuff he did here. I was against the hire from day 1. Did not then and do not now like the guy. He does not care about tradition he does not care about anything basketball related other than himself. He does good stuff for the players and the community but as far as UK basketball, he thinks it is him and no one else. He can say all the right things and folks tend to believe the drummer. I do not.

I told my brother the day he was hired that he would lose the all time wins record. He got lucky and the NCAA gave it back to him. I know I am in the minority but you put the talent he brought in here with other coaches (guys that can actually coach) and we would have 2 or 3 more championships. He is great at getting guys here but he falls short it too many other things.

I do not follow guys once they leave UK. They are at that point another fanbases player (NBA / D League and such). Just because SGA plays in NBA for OK, I am not a fan of OK. I have always been an LA Laker fan in the west and a Detroit piston fan in the east. If a UK guy played for them in the past I watched them a couple of times a year. Since Magic / Bird / Thomas / Jordan / Malone and such have retired the NBA is just not the same product. Cal wanted UK fans to be fans of NBA over UK. He loved to toot his own horn and how much money he made the kids that passed through UK walls in his time.

Just do not like the guy.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Hall Sutton Pitino, no comment.

Tubby Smith. Billy Donavon 2 years in at Marshall

Billy G, John Calipari

Mark Pope, Sean Wright, Billy Donavon

Wrong about Pope, he was the absolute best hire,just didn't see it initially.

[Morgousky]

I have to agree with Joneslab on his reply here. Also, all coaches are using recruiting and ranking services. And Mashburn wasn't some diamond in the rough type of guy like a Josh Allen on the football field. He was NY Mr. Basketball and a 2nd team Parade All American.

I get the Cal hate. I really do. I was ready for him to go a long time ago. But let's quit acting like the guy was completely clueless and a lazy bum his entire tenure here. His first six years are legendary stuff, including a national title.

Without question Pitino. Not close call either. Those that grew up learning UK basketball during that period will easily tell you Pitino. There’s no debate as to who was better between Cal and Pitino. Pitino had UK at the very top of college basketball. I feel Cal had a brief moment there but not to the level of the 90’s. Pitino took the mantle from K, Cal lost the mantle to K. The only similarity to dominance that Pitino discovered would have been during Rupp’s stent. I will always give Pitino half credit for 98, and had be never left it would have been far worse for everyone else. I get very irritated when I see yo in her generations try and make a comparison with Cal and Pitino. The UL pitino they knew was not close to UK Pitino.