TAR HEELS TONIGHT

[Pete Hogwallop]

Social Media has not been kind to Mark Pope today

Social media is a cesspool and should have zero credibility.

That being said, I haven't been super kind to him either. I just do it more diplomatically.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Social Media has not been kind to Mark Pope today

Brought it on himself to be honest, no one to blame but himself. It's Kentucky, he knows the deal, he can't hide...

Coworker of mine in Greensboro asked me about the game last night. Huge long time passionate NC fan. Didn't rub it or talk smack but when I told him we paid 22 million for our team, i think he dropped the phone and fell out of his chair, could not believe it...

[Pete Hogwallop]

Brought it on himself to be honest, no one to blame but himself. It's Kentucky, he knows the deal, he can't hide...

Coworker of mine in Greensboro asked me about the game last night. Huge long time passionate NC fan. Didn't rub it or talk smack but when I told him we paid 22 million for our team, i think he dropped the phone and fell out of his chair, could not believe it...

Nobody knows if that's what "we" paid for our team, though. That's just a number thrown out there to WOW people by individuals who make their living by getting clicks, likes and views.

[EKYCat]

Brought it on himself to be honest, no one to blame but himself. It's Kentucky, he knows the deal, he can't hide...

He told us all himself that he "understands the assignment."

[TrueblueCATfan]

Social media is a cesspool and should have zero credibility.

That being said, I haven't been super kind to him either. I just do it more diplomatically.

And I agree...I would never do that...Im frustrated as anyone but Ive learned to walk away

[SportsFan]

Pope is 8 games into year #2. I'm not ready to go knee jerk reaction crazy and start throwing the baby out with the bath water

That said, Pope needs to show that he is capable of making changes and adjusting. This is what separates the top tier coaches from the rest of the bunch.

For the record...I understood the angle that Pope was going for and his approach, and I liked it and agreed with it. I honestly believe that he felt the focus on the University of Kentucky men's basketball program had become too much of one and done freshman talent. Too much turnover. Too much focus on the NBA and NBA draft night. Too much emphasis on individual players rather than the program as a hole.

And I agree with all of that. I was ready for a return to having guys with more than high school experience leading the team. I was ready for some maturity and having guys who weren't using Kentucky as a one year stepping stone on their way to a big NBA pay day.

The problem is...I think Pope wanted a TEAM so badly...that he almost seems to be going out of his way not to bring in any "elite" talent! He's bringing in good, nice players....guys that can play well in Division 1, SEC basketball. But not "NBA draft lottery" type talent. And there are upperclassmen that fit that bill....Yaxel Lendeborg being one example. And even though he's off to a slow start this year, Donovan Dent would be another. It just seems that every time I want a Silas Demary...Pope gets a Jaland Lowe. Or when I want a Lamar Wilkerson, Pope gets a Denzel Aberdeen (who has played well so far this year, no complaints). And for freshman, I wanted Caleb Wilson... and we saw last night why that was the case.

I don't know. It just seems like Pope is getting the "second tier" guys rather than the type necessary to bring a title. He should know the importance of having elite talent.... while it was nice to have hard working, overachieving Kentucky loyalists like John Pelphrey, Richie Farmer, Deron Feldhaus, etc., Kentucky didn't win a title until Pitino brought in first round talent like Antoine Walker, Derek Anderson, Ron Mercer, etc.

[EKYCat]

Pope is 8 games into year #2. I'm not ready to go knee jerk reaction crazy and start throwing the baby out with the bath water

That said, Pope needs to show that he is capable of making changes and adjusting. This is what separates the top tier coaches from the rest of the bunch.

For the record...I understood the angle that Pope was going for and his approach, and I liked it and agreed with it. I honestly believe that he felt the focus on the University of Kentucky men's basketball program had become too much of one and done freshman talent. Too much turnover. Too much focus on the NBA and NBA draft night. Too much emphasis on individual players rather than the program as a hole.

And I agree with all of that. I was ready for a return to having guys with more than high school experience leading the team. I was ready for some maturity and having guys who weren't using Kentucky as a one year stepping stone on their way to a big NBA pay day.

The problem is...I think Pope wanted a TEAM so badly...that he almost seems to be going out of his way not to bring in any "elite" talent! He's bringing in good, nice players....guys that can play well in Division 1, SEC basketball. But not "NBA draft lottery" type talent. And there are upperclassmen that fit that bill....Yaxel Lendeborg being one example. And even though he's off to a slow start this year, Donovan Dent would be another. It just seems that every time I want a Silas Demary...Pope gets a Jaland Lowe. Or when I want a Lamar Wilkerson, Pope gets a Denzel Aberdeen (who has played well so far this year, no complaints). And for freshman, I wanted Caleb Wilson... and we saw last night why that was the case.

I don't know. It just seems like Pope is getting the "second tier" guys rather than the type necessary to bring a title. He should know the importance of having elite talent.... while it was nice to have hard working, overachieving Kentucky loyalists like John Pelphrey, Richie Farmer, Deron Feldhaus, etc., Kentucky didn't win a title until Pitino brought in first round talent like Antoine Walker, Derek Anderson, Ron Mercer, etc.

You're right. The Unforgettables were phenomenal. But, they weren't where they were without Mashburn.

In Pope's defense, he has a projected top 5-10 draft pick on the bench hurt right now.

[SportsFan]

In Pope's defense, he has a projected top 5-10 draft pick on the bench hurt right now.

I really hate to say this.....but I think a lot of Kentucky fans are going to be a little disappointed once they witness that "top 5-10 draft pick" in action.

If you're in to the Ben Wallace types and think they transform teams into contenders, then you may be pleasantly surprised and pleased. If, on the other hand, you're hoping for more of a Hakeem Olajuwon type presence.....(cue the disappointment).

Don't get me wrong, Jayden Quaintence is a good player to have. He is a bit of a freaky athlete. He has good size, a ridiculous wing span, and crazy athleticism, but he's far from a skilled and polished offensive player. That the side of the bal...where we need the most help with ....won't really be impacted by his return. Sure, he'll definitely help with rebounding and interior defense/rim protection....but he's not going to add a lot on the offensive side of the ball other than some nice dunks every now and then.

[KentuckyWild2020]

He told us all himself that he "understands the assignment."

He did. I also watched a clip of him from last year talking about the everyday pressure as a player and coach.

Had me thinking this in regards to Calipari. Did Calipari master tge art of taking pressure off the players and all the UK fan expectations by having his players more focused on something else post Kentucky?

Kind of makes sense having players focused on improving for next level stuff instead of working to please the everyday fan and expectation.

Calipari would always take heat for his players and paint the picture that he could care less about winning but in reality, Calipari hates to lose and really is a sore salty loser,it's a ego thing for him.

Anyways, Pope is making Calipari look like a saint in regards to player ego and management. Cal always had his mind made up who's playing who's not for better or worse...

Pick 5-8 and roll with it,this isn't 96 Kentucky, not even close..

[BJD]

I think the pre-judgement of this team without three of its starters is ridiculous. I just hope by the start of the SEC schedule that we have full roster. What would a team look like without Patterson, Cousins, and Wall look like? What would a team look like without Issel, Pratt, and Casey look like? And on and on, etc. The team we have without today’s three starters, including a lottery pick is but a shadow of the team we have when healthy. If we are still losing games to the big boys when we are 100% healthy, then all the criticism is warrented.

It would look like they are playing their asses off while being undermanned. And people would love them.

If they walked out there like they had never seen a basketball before like this team then people would be saying the same about them.

I’ve only been a UK basketball fan for over 60 years.

Maybe there were teams that played lost, no energy and no emotion before. I just never saw one before Pope became our coach.

As bad as Tubby was even he never had a team just throw in the towel.

[Clevenger32]

It would look like they are playing their asses off while being undermanned. And people would love them.

If they walked out there like they had never seen a basketball before like this team then people would be saying the same about them.

I’ve only been a UK basketball fan for over 60 years.

Maybe there were teams that played lost, no energy and no emotion before. I just never saw one before Pope became our coach.

As bad as Tubby was even he never had a team just throw in the towel.

Been with them 65 years, I can name some under every coach except Pitino. I am frustrated as you are but let’s see how the season unfolds when we get all the pieces on the floor hopefullly. Playing the game with out a true point guard effects every position on the floor.

[blueheretic]

Injuries are part of the game.

Unfortunately, under Pope, it seems to be a big part of the game.

The TEAM needs others to step and help the TEAM.