Randy Parker

Correct. And I would add people see Pope as a "front of the jersey" kind of coach that will recruit "front of the jersey" kind of players. That kind of thinking, in my opinion, is archaic and unrealistic. Unless you want all Kentucky kids that likely have no NBA future, you're not going to have that kind of roster. I completely understand, and share, the Calipari frustration. I even felt like it was time for he and the university to part ways. The danger in that, from my vantage point, is who replaces him. I thought a lot of the candidates were unrealistic (namely Jay Wright, Danny Hurley, & to a lesser extent, Billy Donovan). But I also didn't think we'd have to go this far down to get someone. As you said, if you look at his resume--and I mean resume only and no looking at his name or anything else--most UK fans would scoff. Rightly so.

Again, not a single NCAA Tournament win. If the guy's name was Fred Johnson and was a San Diego State alum, no one would be excited. Because Fred Johnson wouldn't have been hired.

100%

Winning a title doesn't hurt, sure. But people at one time were clamoring for Travis Ford, and to a lesser extent, John Pelphrey. Neither of them won titles. My point is, there's nothing he's accomplished as a head coach that earned him this job.

I hope you are right. I really do.

I truly hope he is sensational at UK. It would be a great story. I just have serious doubts. Nine years as a head coach and has as many NCAA Tournament wins as Scut Farkus. He graduated from UK. That's the sole reason he was considered for the job.

A thousand percent, yes.

The Quaintance visit is no longer happening.

Is that the sixth man from BYU?

Non-existent

I wondered because big men and knee injuries...often a bad combination.

No doubt about it. Expectations would have been unbelievable. And probably unfair.

Any idea what kind of surgery?

I thought that was bizarre. And it's also a bad look for Mark Pope, no matter how good or bad of a player the kid is.

Excellent question. I'm sure many will give Sheppard the benefit of the doubt that they did not give to others.