With the roster set now, what's the minimum expectation?

[Jaxcat]

Certainly 10+ losses won't be tolerated. But, is it FF or bust? E8? S16 seems too low, imo. And, Momcilovic MUST equal or close to equal his production previously or I'm guessing the fans will be unmerciful. Curious to see what others think the minimum expectation should be for Pope to keep his job and the season to be deemed a success.

[bucsrule8872]

Should be a NCAA tournament team at the very least.

To keep Pope employed for 27-28, need at least a Sweet Sixteen run, IMHO.

The seat gets very hot, very quickly if this team struggles.

[Pete Hogwallop]

Hey - we still have one more open spot, though :-)

I'm optimistic for more than 25 wins - 28 or so - finishing in the top 3 of the conference and getting to at least the Elite 8.

[KentuckyWild2020]

For Pope, don't get fired!!!!!!!

[Jaxcat]

If the team struggles and gets blown out a couple of times like last year, it may take an E8 run to save Pope. If they win 25+ games, make the semis or better in the SECT and S16 in the NCAA, I think that will satisfy most reasonable fans (an oxymoron, of course).

[WeWant9]

I am hesitant to put a hard cap on single elimination tournaments. But my min. expectations of UK bball really don't change year to year:
- above .500 for big ooc games, this year we have ul, iu, unc, ku, acc/sec challenge
- be one of the top 4 SEC teams (no reason to not have double bye), we never need to be playing on a Wed morning for the SECT
- stay ranked throughout the season
- enter the NCAAT seeded somewhere 1-4

Those are usually my bare minimum for UK. I would like to see us playing late into the SECT and easily in the second weekend of the NCAAT.

[EKYCat]

We can't be "just good enough." It is put up or shut up time. With the new addition to the roster, my expectation is the same as it is every year. Be in the conversation. No reasonable fan expects a Final Four or a Title every year. However, Kentucky should be a threat to make it to the final weekend of the season year in and year out. Win the games you're supposed to win. Be competitive and win (not all of but a lot of) the marquee games. No 35 point losses, no blowouts to mid-level P4 teams like Ohio State in year 1. I'd love to see this team not start out in a hole against seemingly every decent team it plays. Be the aggressor. Take it to the opponent. Not the other way around. Doesn't seem like a huge ask to me.

[bthaunert]

Expectations that have to be met imo:

Top 4 seed in SEC tournament (that's worked out to 13-5 or better in the SEC recently)
Make the weekend of the SEC tournament
A legit final four contender going into the NCAA Tournament
Elite eight or better

[UKHoops01]

Expectations that have to be met imo:

Top 4 seed in SEC tournament (that's worked out to 13-5 or better in the SEC recently)
Make the second weekend of the SEC tournament
A legit final four contender going into the NCAA Tournament
Elite eight or better

Fixed it for you.

[EKYCat]

Fixed it for you.

The SEC Tournament runs from Wednesday through Sunday. Related, but a double bye to start the SEC tournament should be an expectation.

[bthaunert]

Fixed it for you.

SEC tournament, not NCAA tournament,...make the weekend.

[NCCat]

Minimum always a title! (joking but...)

Expectations and what will happen are tricky with a new AD coming in.

In normal years, a S16 and just generally not being strange off the court with comments (just be Year 1 Pope, please) probably gets another year. I don't like that but seems realistic. New AD may have other ideas.

[Tomcats1990]

25-7 elite 8 final 4

[Cawood86]

Top 4 seed SEC Tourney.....play in title game

Top 4 seed NCAA Tourney....S16 minimum/E8

Been way too long that this has happened.....Coach Pope has 2 yeqrs behind him to learn. Time to be a legit contender

[Bluehausen]

We can't be "just good enough." It is put up or shut up time. With the new addition to the roster, my expectation is the same as it is every year. Be in the conversation. No reasonable fan expects a Final Four or a Title every year. However, Kentucky should be a threat to make it to the final weekend of the season year in and year out. Win the games you're supposed to win. Be competitive and win (not all of but a lot of) the marquee games. No 35 point losses, no blowouts to mid-level P4 teams like Ohio State in year 1. I'd love to see this team not start out in a hole against seemingly every decent team it plays. Be the aggressor. Take it to the opponent. Not the other way around. Doesn't seem like a huge ask to me.

I would agree with this 100%. I too think it is unreasonable to expect a Title/Final 4 every year, but being in contention matters and the will to compete to get there matters. I don't think I could add anything to the above.