UK at Bama game thread

[KentuckyWild2020]

I was so sick and tired of Cal, but my honest hope was that he would've said last year was it (sill at UK) and announced his retirement tour. He would retire at UK and that would've given a year to gauge interest from others. Still might've ended up with Pope, but the process would've felt a little different. UK kind of went from one extreme to another.

Man was great across the state during his time here.

My real hope was he retire here, stay on GM and help bring in recruits for the next coach, best of both worlds..

[Clevenger32]

I was so sick and tired of Cal, but my honest hope was that he would've said last year was it (sill at UK) and announced his retirement tour. He would retire at UK and that would've given a year to gauge interest from others. Still might've ended up with Pope, but the process would've felt a little different. UK kind of went from one extreme to another.

He should have retired at the trophy ceremony in 2012 right after he said that he had accomplished a championship now he could focus 100% of his time getting kids in the NBA. I greatly appreciate the fundraiser that he conducted for the tornado victims in western Kentucky and the flood victims in eastern Kentucky. But, let’s not kid ourselves. He didn’t care about the university of Kentucky and so many of Kentucky’s basketball fans today who have never known anybody but him as the head basketball coach were not offended by his comments. If they had all been around for coach Rupp, and Hall maybe they’d understand.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Nope, nope, nope.

I would bet my bottom dollar that Mitch had that discussion with him (the "Hey, with NIL and the NCAA allowing 5th year seniors because of COVID and the college basketball landscape changing with older players staying longer....do you think..."

Only to have Cal interrupt and say "No, no, no. It's MY program, and I'm not going to change a damn thing")

The ONLY reason Cal has changed at Arkansas is because HIS (John Calipari's) legacy and reputation is now in doubt and has been tarnished. Everyone knows, regardless of how it was played out in the media, that John Calipari was essentially shown the door by the University of Kentucky. Everybody and their brother knows this. Doesn't matter that "he announced he was leaving first"....the wheels were in motion and huge sums of millions of dollars were being assembled to buy him out of his contract. And everyone knows this.

So...he was put in the position of being let go by UK, a place that had just given him a LIFETIME CONTRACT a few years earlier.

I'm sure he had an opportunity to change....but he refused. Because nobody, especially not Mitch Barnhardt, was going to tell him how to run HIS program!

The only reason he's doing it the right way now in Arkansas is because he's no longer at Kentucky!!! He was embarrassed and so now he's out to prove something. For the first time, probably since he was fired by the Nets in 1998, he was humbled and felt like he had to PROVE something! He isn't keeping guys around for their sophomore and junior years because it's good for business and his reputation of "getting guys to realize their hopes and dreams as a teenager".... he's doing it because for the first time in a long time, he has to prove something! If he was still at Kentucky, he wouldn't have that attitude.... he'd have a lifetime contract!

He is definitely motivated now.Have a feeling he will try and take Pope's head soon in Arkansas.

His keep it stupid simple philosophy with great players on a year to year with NIL may actually work now provided he continues to get great players. Every team is on a one and done basis it seems. Cal can still sell follow me i will get you to the league better than anyone.

I worry and question whether Pope's system is too complicated to learn in a year, i don'tknow?

Last year seemed to work well minus injuries but it's clear he didn't recruit this years team for his own system.

Does Pope deserve another year?

Maybe, feels like he gambled this year and lost. I am sure he realizes this, just hope he doesn't run out of time before it's too late with the fanbase myself included.

Needless to say, very frustrating as a fan. This was supposed to be a YEAR. Maybe it still can be but it's going to take a miracle..

[KentuckyWild2020]

The great Louisville Cardinals basketball team is about to be 11-4


Kentucky is 9-5.

Realistic fair question, am I being to hard our team and Mark Pope?

Is the sky really falling?

All that pre season hype and 96 expectation talk probably screwed my head this season lol lol. .

Can we make the tournament?

Honestly, i don't mind being the under dog team. Some of the greatest UK teams i ever liked was actually the underdog.

If Pope can get this team to buy into all the negativity and become a "us against the world " mentality typeof team, who knows?

Hate to reference Arkansas last year but that team was trash, ended up being a pretty decent team..

[SportsFan]

Last year seemed to work well minus injuries but it's clear he didn't recruit this years team for his own system.

Does Pope deserve another year?

Maybe, feels like he gambled this year and lost. I am sure he realizes this, just hope he doesn't run out of time before it's too late with the fanbase myself included.

I really, truly, honestly wish I knew how much of this year's team was Mark Pope's call.

Last year, he had half the team assembled before he even had half of his coaching staff assembled! So you know that his staff had VERY LITTLE (if anything) to do with assembling last year's group.

I can't help but think that there are several guys on this year's team that are the results of Brooks, Hart and others input and recruiting. I may be wrong, every player might have been hand picked by Mark Pope and nobody was even approached without the Mark Pope consent of approval....but I really don't think so. Too much deviation from last year. Different kind of players altogether.

We'll likely never know....and I hate to say it, but Pope is turning out to be as much of a bullshitter as Cal was...but I really can't help but think that this isn't the type of team that Mark Pope would prefer to have suiting up this year.

[Matt Dillon]

He should have retired at the trophy ceremony in 2012 right after he said that he had accomplished a championship now he could focus 100% of his time getting kids in the NBA. I greatly appreciate the fundraiser that he conducted for the tornado victims in western Kentucky and the flood victims in eastern Kentucky. But, let’s not kid ourselves. He didn’t care about the university of Kentucky and so many of Kentucky’s basketball fans today who have never known anybody but him as the head basketball coach were not offended by his comments. If they had all been around for coach Rupp, and Hall maybe they’d understand.

Great post, I agree 100%. Cal lost me after he said having all those players drafted was the greatest moment in UK bb history. That told me all I needed to know about him and his loyalties. I wanted him gone after that.

[Matt Dillon]

He is definitely motivated now.Have a feeling he will try and take Pope's head soon in Arkansas.

His keep it stupid simple philosophy with great players on a year to year with NIL may actually work now provided he continues to get great players. Every team is on a one and done basis it seems. Cal can still sell follow me i will get you to the league better than anyone.

I worry and question whether Pope's system is too complicated to learn in a year, i don'tknow?

Last year seemed to work well minus injuries but it's clear he didn't recruit this years team for his own system.

Does Pope deserve another year?

Maybe, feels like he gambled this year and lost. I am sure he realizes this, just hope he doesn't run out of time before it's too late with the fanbase myself included.

Needless to say, very frustrating as a fan. This was supposed to be a YEAR. Maybe it still can be but it's going to take a miracle..

Whether or not anyone feels coach Pope deserves another year and, for the record, I say yes, he does he'll definitely be our coach next season and perhaps beyond. Assuming he doesn't get the ship righted this season he will have been here for two seasons one of which exceeded most fans expectations. No AD is going to fire a coach in a situation like that.

[EKYCat]

Whether or not anyone feels coach Pope deserves another year and, for the record, I say yes, he does he'll definitely be our coach next season and perhaps beyond. Assuming he doesn't get the ship righted this season he will have been here for two seasons one of which exceeded most fans expectations. No AD is going to fire a coach in a situation like that.

The problem is he obviously isn't playing his best players. It's been discussed, but the 5 of Kam, Oweh, JQ, Lowe, and Mo was the most successful lineup we've seen this year and they played ONE minute together against Alabama. Heck, Kam hit 8 threes the other night and barely played in Tuscaloosa. The things we complained and wanted Cal run off for (and rightly so) are rearing their ugly heads again. Dillingham/Sheppard = Lowe/JQ. Start and play your best players. My kid's JV coach knows that. His answers to any questions are word salad, at best. Don't give us the psychobabble gobbledygook schtick in interviews. The biggest issue to me, though, is effort. He preaches and preaches about playing for the name on the front of the jersey. How many times have we seen guys seemingly take defensive possessions off? That's a clear sign of a coach that isn't connecting with his guys. Can he right the ship? Maybe, but I don't think so just because I've only seen one game this season that gave me an inkling of hope (St. John's has also been disappointing this year so I'm not sure how great a win that even was). And quite honestly, if he can't, and they miss the tournament it's time to cut losses.

If we're honest with ourselves we have to realize that we hired a coach that had a career 68% winning percentage that had made the NCAA Tournament twice and hadn't been out of the first round. That whole thing got masked and hidden under the guise of nostalgia and getting back to the glory days. I believed it too. I hate it for Pope because he is one of us. And I'll never blame him for coming here and taking his dream job. Every single one of us would have done the same.

[EKYCat]

I really, truly, honestly wish I knew how much of this year's team was Mark Pope's call.

He's the head man. It's all his call.

[bthaunert]

What I hate about all this the most is now I have to be the A hole lobbying sick and tired wanting Pope out of here already. I have seen all I need to see and my decision is made. His feel for the game is not great on the sidelines and obviously he does not know how to control and get the respect out of his players, they ain't playing hard for him and why should they, he's never accomplished anything on the big stage as a basketball coach, just a transfer role player on a stacked 96 team...

I know I know, you can't get rid of a coach two years in, nobody will ever want to come here again blah blah blah .Blah blah blah, blah blah blah and blah blah blah some more, who cares??

This is Kentucky, not only do we deserve to have one of the top coaches in the entire game but in my opinion, hell we are ENTITLED to that, sorry not sorry.

If the AD is the problem, he has to go too. He just doesn't get to roll the dice on the KENTUCKY BASKETBALL program.

Mark Pope may go on at Kentucky and win everything and become a HALL of FAME coach and if so, great for him, he's a great person, i will root for him.

Still, with all due respect to UK athletics, could care less about football, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer, golf, putt putt, throwing darts playing dominos, who cares?

Without Kentucky basketball none of this crap would have existed.

It is the BRAND PERIOD!!!!!!!!!

It's not that you can't get rid of a coach in 2 years (we did it with BCG), but we know that Mitch is retiring soon. I want the next AD to make that decision and hire.

I completely disagree about your statement about UK Athletics as a whole, but I'm also much more of a college football than college basketball fan. Being good in football would improve our brand beyond anything...just look at IU the past 2 years.

Anyways, after this year, Pope will have a buyout of about $17 million. Just not sure the school is ready to do that after it just bought out Stoops.

Most importantly, under no circumstance is he being fired after this year, so no real reason to talk about it. The more important question is...what would he have to do next year to keep his job?

[KentuckyWild2020]

We'll likely never know....and I hate to say it, but Pope is turning out to be as much of a bullshitter as Cal was...but I really can't help but think that this isn't the type of team that Mark Pope would prefer to have suiting up this year.

It is funny you say that, I was thinking the same exact thing.

In reality, that is where Pope is really really starting to lose me with his bs, like he's not being real and honest about things..

I don't understand his thinking or his decision being made either.

I may be in the minority the whole Jelavic situation blows my mind.

I know this is a unpopular opinion on this board but many people I know out here who have followed Kentucky basketball in depth some 30 some 50 plus years absolutely can't stand Dioubate, I don't like him either. Yes he has had a few decent games but something about him, just doesn't sit well with me.

[KentuckyWild2020]

The problem is he obviously isn't playing his best players. It's been discussed, but the 5 of Kam, Oweh, JQ, Lowe, and Mo was the most successful lineup we've seen this year and they played ONE minute together against Alabama. Heck, Kam hit 8 threes the other night and barely played in Tuscaloosa. The things we complained and wanted Cal run off for (and rightly so) are rearing their ugly heads again. Dillingham/Sheppard = Lowe/JQ. Start and play your best players. My kid's JV coach knows that. His answers to any questions are word salad, at best. Don't give us the psychobabble gobbledygook schtick in interviews. The biggest issue to me, though, is effort. He preaches and preaches about playing for the name on the front of the jersey. How many times have we seen guys seemingly take defensive possessions off? That's a clear sign of a coach that isn't connecting with his guys. Can he right the ship? Maybe, but I don't think so just because I've only seen one game this season that gave me an inkling of hope (St. John's has also been disappointing this year so I'm not sure how great a win that even was). And quite honestly, if he can't, and they miss the tournament it's time to cut losses.

If we're honest with ourselves we have to realize that we hired a coach that had a career 68% winning percentage that had made the NCAA Tournament twice and hadn't been out of the first round. That whole thing got masked and hidden under the guise of nostalgia and getting back to the glory days. I believed it too. I hate it for Pope because he is one of us. And I'll never blame him for coming here and taking his dream job. Every single one of us would have done the same.

Great post!!!!!!

I disagree with the Dioubate part but great post lol lol lol lol...

[WeWant9]

Realistic fair question, am I being to hard our team and Mark Pope?

Is the sky really falling?

-No

-Unknown at this time

My only silver lining is I do not believe the SEC is close to what it was last year. I am betting Bama ends up winning the SEC, and we have gotten that game out of the way. Our home/homes are with Vandy, Tenn, and FL- all solid teams. Find a way to go 3-3 in those and we at least have 3 good wins on the resume. Ark game might be a bad one, but after that...I do not see anything impossible.

Home games: Mizzou, Miss St, Texas, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Tenn, Georgia, Vandy, Florida
Road games: LSU, Tenn, Vandy, Ark, Florida, Auburn, SC, Texas AM

There will be some rock fights, but that seems to be how this team needs to play to get wins.

[KentuckyWild2020]

-No

-Unknown at this time

My only silver lining is I do not believe the SEC is close to what it was last year. I am betting Bama ends up winning the SEC, and we have gotten that game out of the way. Our home/homes are with Vandy, Tenn, and FL- all solid teams. Find a way to go 3-3 in those and we at least have 3 good wins on the resume. Ark game might be a bad one, but after that...I do not see anything impossible.

Home games: Mizzou, Miss St, Texas, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Tenn, Georgia, Vandy, Florida
Road games: LSU, Tenn, Vandy, Ark, Florida, Auburn, SC, Texas AM

There will be some rock fights, but that seems to be how this team needs to play to get wins.

Agreed about the silver lining.

I guess what bother me is game to game we don't know which UK team we are going to get. Are we going to come and play like a team that knows what it is doing or are we going to come and get down by 20??

This is frustrating to say the least. It hasn't helped when Pope comes out and says " i thought we would be farther along'" lol lol lol...

I will be the fist to admit. I had a whole lot of stock and hype into AJ coming in this year, right now have a egg on my face in regards to that. I still don't know why Pope doesn't play him more. Of course he's not great but neither is anyone else to be honest. You would think that in Pope's scheme of things a big man who can shoot fairly well dribble and pass would fit right in. On defense, no he's not Dennis Rodman but neither is anyone else.. I don't understand Pope's deal with these lineups and rotations, I can't be the only one...

[BJD]

Is this from a reliable source?

He has told several of the big money boosters that he may not retire this June. He even hinted at it in a interview I saw somewhere. Might have local news? But he said nothing was set in stone.