Another Pope mistake is looming!

[Pobilly]

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-w...-for-kentucky/

Now that all teams can do summer trips, Pope thinks we will not do one this year. A year where you are bringing in tons of guys and it is proven these trips help build chemistry. I do not care if you have the whole team or 2/3 of a team. You take that trip, take your lumps if need be. But work your guys you have and see if they take to your coaching or not. If they do not you have months to get them on board. I do not believe you get the practice or run time if you do not book a trip. Crazy.

[bucsrule8872]

Yep. Big mistake. Just don’t understand it. Great chance to bond. Oh, well.

[UKHoops01]

I lean towards agreeing with both of you (Pobilly and bucsrule)....

That said, I'd just like to know if every previous coach at Kentucky did this, and how many other coaches around the country do this.

I'm sure he's trying to save money, and maybe he's gotten the word that if he wants to add Momcilovic to the roster (and because of the cost of Moreno returning) it's a sacrifice that financially had to be made.

[Pobilly]

I lean towards agreeing with both of you (Pobilly and bucsrule)....

That said, I'd just like to know if every previous coach at Kentucky did this, and how many other coaches around the country do this.

I'm sure he's trying to save money, and maybe he's gotten the word that if he wants to add Momcilovic to the roster (and because of the cost of Moreno returning) it's a sacrifice that financially had to be made.

The thing to me is Pope was wanting a vacation. He said he wanted to go there and had stuff planned. Israel was already in conflict with Iran proxies. So not sure he made the best plan anyway. He should have been looking at Australia, Japan, Europe but probably not the middle east.

Maybe an large donor will convince him he needs a trip to (anywhere now). just for the practice and team building. If not I expect most of the SEC and major power players to have trips this year. Might be why he is having issues booking a spot.

[WeWant9]

Did I just dream all the European trip talk from not too long ago?

[EKYCat]

Michigan is going to Europe, ND is going to Rome, and Purdue is heading to Canada. Hey, Russell High School has games scheduled this summer. I wonder if we can get Pope on the docket!

[Majoga]

He's holding out for the moon base so we can play in a crater.

[South jones]

I would hope there is a very good reason behind this decision, if not then it's just poor management. Im not sure what justifyal argument they would have. The team would certainly benefit from summer games imo.

[EKYCat]

I would hope there is a very good reason behind this decision, if not then it's just poor management. Im not sure what justifyal argument they would have. The team would certainly benefit from summer games imo.

I think the justifiable argument is where they were going to play the games. Wasn't it Israel? But, why would you schedule that to begin with?

[South jones]

It was Israel, but summer games could be scheduled in a lot of other places, Australia, Bahamas etc. Perhaps it's a financial issue, but why make the announcement, then cancel it without a explaining

[EKYCat]

It was Israel, but summer games could be scheduled in a lot of other places, Australia, Bahamas etc. Perhaps it's a financial issue, but why make the announcement, then cancel it without a explaining

Oh yeah, I’m with you. Seems like scheduling a trip to a war torn area in the Middle East probably lends itself to cancellation!

[Pete Hogwallop]

I'm going to guess that a different destination will be announced soon. But even if not, is it really that big of a deal? Those trips are more about bonding and tourism distraction than actually improving basketball. Heck, remember that one Bahama trip where Cal just sat in the stands and the team looked like the Harlem Globetrotters out there beating up on the Washington Generals? And then the season started and the team was a shell of what we seemed to see on the trip.

Wouldn't it be a better idea - if allowed - to stay home and have other teams come here to play against us? It eliminates a lot of the distraction and allows more time to focus on practicing and improving than visiting local hospitals, riding on rollercoasters and laying around on the beach.

[EKYCat]

I'm going to guess that a different destination will be announced soon. But even if not, is it really that big of a deal? Those trips are more about bonding and tourism distraction than actually improving basketball. Heck, remember that one Bahama trip where Cal just sat in the stands and the team looked like the Harlem Globetrotters out there beating up on the Washington Generals? And then the season started and the team was a shell of what we seemed to see on the trip.

Wouldn't it be a better idea - if allowed - to stay home and have other teams come here to play against us? It eliminates a lot of the distraction and allows more time to focus on practicing and improving than visiting local hospitals, riding on rollercoasters and laying around on the beach.

The more time a team can spend together the better. Plus it allows them to play actual teams and develop some chemistry and puts them in game situations. It’s OK to be bothered by things that are going on with the program. We have some positives for sure but not everything is hunky dory. It’s not all gloom and doom, I get it. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows either.

[Tomcats1990]

I mean schedule some summer league games at RUPP it’s not that difficult.

[Pete Hogwallop]

I mean schedule some summer league games at RUPP it’s not that difficult.

This is what I'm saying. I think that's a more effective way to improve than going and lying all day on a beach and then playing a glorified pick-up game at night in some other country. The mistake won't be because a trip didn't happen. The mistake would be if the improvement doesn't happen.