BG AND JJ TO THE PORTAL

[EKYCat]

And people wonder why we struggle to find someone to coach here.

I don't think UK has historically struggled to find people to coach here. We've had guys like Pitino, Cal, Tubby come here to coach. What we struggle to do is go down the list of likely candidates after the first guy turns us down and settle for Mark Pope.

[EKYCat]

I do wonder about the “goober” factor with him, particularly the rumors that he didn’t present well at the closing table, I.e., put off potential signees with his personality and UK boosterism.

I think the "goober" factor is real! I also like this phrase to describe Pope! He's just a strange guy.

[UKHoops01]

I don't think UK has historically struggled to find people to coach here. We've had guys like Pitino, Cal, Tubby come here to coach. What we struggle to do is go down the list of likely candidates after the first guy turns us down and settle for Mark Pope.

I think that's a "Mitch Barnhardt and his pride" thing. When Mitch got turned down by Billy Donovan, he settled on Billy Gillespie... probably because he didn't want the process drawn out and have to deal with multiple rejections. Same for Pope after being turned down by Drew and Hurley. I don't think that was the case when C.M. Newton was AD and he was being turned down by P.J. Carlesimo and Lute Olson and still ended up with Rick Pitino. Thankfully we'll soon have a new Athletics Director and hopefully won't have to worry about bad coaching hires and bad contracts as much (or preferably, at all).

[Pobilly]

MO D in the portal now. I expected this one more than any other. He was not a fit for this offense. Hope he gets himself to the right program. He is (as of today) not an NBA prospect and will likely play overseas after college.

[Phil_the_Music]

I don't think UK has historically struggled to find people to coach here. We've had guys like Pitino, Cal, Tubby come here to coach. What we struggle to do is go down the list of likely candidates after the first guy turns us down and settle for Mark Pope.

There were two names above Pope we know for a fact turned us down. And we really don't know if there were more or not. Cal left Memphis because he was getting into trouble. Tubby was an average coach at best and never did anything of note anywhere else. Pitino was a great hire but he wasn't exactly tearing it up before he came here, plus that was a lifetime ago.

[Catsrock]

There were two names above Pope we know for a fact turned us down. And we really don't know if there were more or not. Cal left Memphis because he was getting into trouble. Tubby was an average coach at best and never did anything of note anywhere else. Pitino was a great hire but he wasn't exactly tearing it up before he came here, plus that was a lifetime ago.

Come on now—taking Providence to the final 4 got him the Knicks job where he went to the playoffs both years, finishing first in the division the year he left them for UK. He was a pretty big up and comer.

[UKHoops01]

MO D in the portal now. I expected this one more than any other. He was not a fit for this offense. Hope he gets himself to the right program. He is (as of today) not an NBA prospect and will likely play overseas after college.

I remember when it was announced that he was coming to Kentucky and fans in forums were acting like we'd just added an All-American first round NBA talent that was going to bring toughness, physicality and intangibles and make the Cats world beaters. i didn't see it. I was hoping maybe they were right and I was missing something, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. I agree that he wasn't a fit here, but I do wish him well. Hopefully he goes to a Big Ten or ACC school and we don't have to play against him next year.

[EKYCat]

There were two names above Pope we know for a fact turned us down. And we really don't know if there were more or not. Cal left Memphis because he was getting into trouble. Tubby was an average coach at best and never did anything of note anywhere else. Pitino was a great hire but he wasn't exactly tearing it up before he came here, plus that was a lifetime ago.

Tubby took Tulsa to two Sweet Sixteen appearances and then took Georgia to a Sweet Sixteen. He also won a National Title here. Pretty average.

Cal left Memphis to come to UK, period. Not like they were ready to fire him. And as mentioned Pitino took Providence to a final four. It’s not like he’s faded into oblivion either.

This notion that nobody wants to coach at UK is ludicrous to me.

[rick64]

Add Aberdeen now too.

[Sean]

I personally hate what is happening in college basketball. If you are going to allow free agency then the NCAA needs to man up and set actual rules around it. Transferring every year to the highest bidder is disruptive and costly. My question is, will UK be able to field a team next season, or has JMI's deal really hindered us that much?

[Sean]

Tubby took Tulsa to two Sweet Sixteen appearances and then took Georgia to a Sweet Sixteen. He also won a National Title here. Pretty average.

Cal left Memphis to come to UK, period. Not like they were ready to fire him. And as mentioned Pitino took Providence to a final four. It’s not like he’s faded into oblivion either.

This notion that nobody wants to coach at UK is ludicrous to me.

It's not as lofty as it once was though, heck didn't Dan Hurley say he wouldn't coach here because of the fan base?

[WeWant9]

I don’t recall Hurley saying anything about UK or BBN.

[Sean]

I don’t recall Hurley saying anything about UK or BBN.

I could be wrong, it has happened a time or two as my wife loves to remind me haha!

[EKYCat]

It's not as lofty as it once was though, heck didn't Dan Hurley say he wouldn't coach here because of the fan base?

I don't know that he said that. Hurley is one of those deals where he's already at a blueblood type program.

[UKHoops01]

I don't disagree that those were advantages, but it's not look he knocked it out of the park in that portal season from a ranking perspective. He signed the 20th (BG), 31st (Robinson), 33rd (Oweh), 44th (Butler), 67th (Carr, 84th (Williams), 87th (Brea), 122nd (Kerr) and 316th (Almanor) guy out of the portal. It has, and will always be about fit into Pope's system. Look, I'm down on Pope, but if he can get CC, Moreno and Kam back, and add in a class that fits the system he wants to run, it can be a decent team.

I don't go that much by the "rankings" these days. They're missing on guys a lot.... having some guys ranked too high (i.e. Jayden Quaintence) and some guys too low (i.e. Koby Brea). They tend to rank more on athleticism and what they project their ceiling to be (i.e. best case scenario) more so than their actual current ability and production.