Kentucky Hires Mark Pope

[Randy Parker]

1 hour ago, Voice of Reason said:

As I've got a chance to study Pope's resume and what next year looked like at UK with Cal, I am genuinely happy with the move. Next year was going to be ugly. Cal was still stuck in his one and done ststem. He would have played a bunch of freshmen. That would have equalled ten losses or more and the fans would have been in full revolt on every loss. Plus this season's offensive guru John Welch was not coming back. It would have been a complete downer of a season and UK would have been looking for a coach next year while paying Cal his $30M.

I agree on Cal needing to be gone because next year would likely show no improvement from this year.  I am just not sold on Pope. 

[futurecoach]

1 hour ago, Randy Parker said:

I agree on Cal needing to be gone because next year would likely show no improvement from this year.  I am just not sold on Pope. 

That’s what makes this hiring so hard to know how to feel. Just no way of knowing how it would work out. When Calipari was hired, I think everyone knew things were going to get better in a hurry. Just no way of knowing on this. The one thing we do know, is he should bring a style that in terms of how they play similar to what it was like when Pitino was here. Which is a style everyone said they loved. Offensively they should be fun to watch, defensively should be aggressive some pressing, zone, and man. So the play style should be a style people like, since similar to what Pitino did while here. Now the question is can he produce the results. 

[Voice of Reason]

1 hour ago, Randy Parker said:

I agree on Cal needing to be gone because next year would likely show no improvement from this year.  I am just not sold on Pope. 

I am sold on Pope to the extent that he will be solid. I am interested in seeing his offense as it rates high on the analytics. He will get better talent at UK. The big question, and perhaps what you aren't sold on, is can he win a title? I am not sold on that either. But I feel confident he will win 20-22 games a year. What we all want is that next level and that we won't know till we see it.

[Randy Parker]

1 hour ago, Voice of Reason said:

I am sold on Pope to the extent that he will be solid. I am interested in seeing his offense as it rates high on the analytics. He will get better talent at UK. The big question, and perhaps what you aren't sold on, is can he win a title? I am not sold on that either. But I feel confident he will win 20-22 games a year. What we all want is that next level and that we won't know till we see it.

You're one of the more reasoned voices here, hence your username, so your assessment gives me hope.  

[Randy Parker]

2 hours ago, futurecoach said:

That’s what makes this hiring so hard to know how to feel. Just no way of knowing how it would work out. When Calipari was hired, I think everyone knew things were going to get better in a hurry. Just no way of knowing on this. The one thing we do know, is he should bring a style that in terms of how they play similar to what it was like when Pitino was here. Which is a style everyone said they loved. Offensively they should be fun to watch, defensively should be aggressive some pressing, zone, and man. So the play style should be a style people like, since similar to what Pitino did while here. Now the question is can he produce the results. 

This is sort of what I keep hearing, and I hope this goes well.  I just have a lot of reservations. 

[sweet16]

On 4/12/2024 at 9:20 AM, FrankNicodemus said:

I think another dose of reality with the Pope hire we have to deal with some grace this first year or maybe even 2.  Let him get his feet wet utilizing the UK Brand on his chest, he didn't get a chance to go recruit this upcoming Freshmen class with the UK emblem on his shirts.  This upcoming season will be a bunch of kids that will have fire but maybe not have the "skill" on paper or the amount of "Stars" on their resume that will come in the next few years.  I just hope people can temper their expectations out of the gate.  Let the process happen, not going to have a Top 10 or possibly Top 20 team out of the gate.....  I am young, Pope is young, let's see where this goes, I can have patients.

It might surprise you that Pope is not that young. 

[FrankNicodemus]

13 minutes ago, sweet16 said:

It might surprise you that Pope is not that young. 

50 is the new 30!!!!

[FrankNicodemus]

Got my phone call from Coach Pope…

Cal never called me!

Love this guy!

[nikeman49]

Wow, fan base sure is glad to see Cal gone!!!

[MaddenCurse44]

56 minutes ago, nikeman49 said:

Wow, fan base sure is glad to see Cal gone!!!

No we are super glad he is gone!

[16thBBall Fan]

Kentucky is going all out and Rupp is packed and wild. This will kill Cal and his ego. It is live on WLEX now.

[16thBBall Fan]

I really love these two quotes from Coach Pope’s speech. 

“Players are not doing the jerseys a favor by letting them clothe them. Our guys will know quickly that it will be one of the great honors of their life to wear that jersey.”

“The difference between Kentucky and every other program is that this isn’t my team…it’s OUR TEAM (points to the crowd)”

 

 

[nikeman49]

Fantastic job by Pope being “true” not just fake.

[9068]

19 hours ago, FrankNicodemus said:

Got my phone call from Coach Pope…

Cal never called me!

Love this guy!

That was The Pope....not Mark Pope lol.

[DragonFire]

Well it would have been a bad sign for him to not "win" the press conference - but that was an awesome press conference.