55 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

He is not wrong in the fact that him graduating and playing at UK is the only reason why he even got considered for the job. If he never played at UK, he would not have even gotten a look. It doesn't mean he can't do a great job, but him having played at UK is the only reason he got a look. Without having played at UK, his coaching resume wouldn't have gotten him a look at all. 

OK, I will concede that being a UK alum and the Captain of the 1996 team definitely got his foot in the door, but based on what his peers in the College coaching industry have stated since the hire, he was probably real close to getting plucked to a more of an "elite" basketball program (no disrespect to BYU) but Coach Pope putting them on the map in the Top 20 was his doing, not BYU's (in my humble opinion). 

I mean we didn't go hire Travis Ford, John Pelphrey or Sean Woods who played at UK for some really good teams and are college coaches.  We hired Mark Pope who did an extremely great job at Utah Valley before running the BYU program into a Top 20 program for the last handful of years.  I agree that he hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game but I am willing to "buy" into Pope like a stock that is about to go thru the roof with the right Administration behind him, the right facilities behind him, the BEST staff supporting him.  I have great confidence that this was a BEAUTIFUL hire.....but as we fans know, its all about "Hanging Banners", can he do it? I mean he beat Iowa St, Baylor, Kansas & NC State.  I don't understand the "narrative" that Mark Pope isn't a great coach that will do great things with the backing of Kentucky intangibles.....

Like other people have said "I have Hope with Pope"!!!

16 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

OK, I will concede that being a UK alum and the Captain of the 1996 team definitely got his foot in the door, but based on what his peers in the College coaching industry have stated since the hire, he was probably real close to getting plucked to a more of an "elite" basketball program (no disrespect to BYU) but Coach Pope putting them on the map in the Top 20 was his doing, not BYU's (in my humble opinion). 

I mean we didn't go hire Travis Ford, John Pelphrey or Sean Woods who played at UK for some really good teams and are college coaches.  We hired Mark Pope who did an extremely great job at Utah Valley before running the BYU program into a Top 20 program for the last handful of years.  I agree that he hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game but I am willing to "buy" into Pope like a stock that is about to go thru the roof with the right Administration behind him, the right facilities behind him, the BEST staff supporting him.  I have great confidence that this was a BEAUTIFUL hire.....but as we fans know, its all about "Hanging Banners", can he do it? I mean he beat Iowa St, Baylor, Kansas & NC State.  I don't understand the "narrative" that Mark Pope isn't a great coach that will do great things with the backing of Kentucky intangibles.....

Like other people have said "I have Hope with Pope"!!!

I don't believe anyone thinks Pope is a bum and peers are always gassing up other peers. I and many others aren't drinking the Kool-Aid (yet) given the lack of a proven track record beyond some solid improvements with the two Utah teams he's coached. I'm optimistic, but traditionally coaches that have had his level of success move on to a lower-tier Power 5 school. Not the elite of the elite. I think much of that is the college basketball environment we live in today where coaching college basketball is not as prestigious as it once was.

More Kool-Aid for me then, I'll save some for everyone later I promise.

Go Big Blue!!!

I listened to a Podcast with Lee Anne Pope that she had done last year...they are a unique family and I didn't realize Pope studied for LSAT MCAT and GRE while playing in the NBA as a journeyman player for 10 years and only had 1 guaranteed contract in 10 years.  

His story is quite appealing and when he hangs mulitple banners in Rupp, it will only get better!

 

9 hours ago, sportsfan41 said:

Fixed it for you. 

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.

4 hours ago, futurecoach said:

He is not wrong in the fact that him graduating and playing at UK is the only reason why he even got considered for the job. If he never played at UK, he would not have even gotten a look. It doesn't mean he can't do a great job, but him having played at UK is the only reason he got a look. Without having played at UK, his coaching resume wouldn't have gotten him a look at all. 

100%

5 hours ago, sportsfan41 said:

BYU was also preseason top 15, roll the dice already. 

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.

4 minutes ago, Randy Parker said:

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.

The majority of the excitement is from the older generations who really remember the 96 team. Hiring Pope takes them back to that time. They can pretend that his resume excites them, but it's not true. They will disregard his resume because of who he is and what he did while he played at UK. 

3 hours ago, FrankNicodemus said:

OK, I will concede that being a UK alum and the Captain of the 1996 team definitely got his foot in the door, but based on what his peers in the College coaching industry have stated since the hire, he was probably real close to getting plucked to a more of an "elite" basketball program (no disrespect to BYU) but Coach Pope putting them on the map in the Top 20 was his doing, not BYU's (in my humble opinion). 

I mean we didn't go hire Travis Ford, John Pelphrey or Sean Woods who played at UK for some really good teams and are college coaches.  We hired Mark Pope who did an extremely great job at Utah Valley before running the BYU program into a Top 20 program for the last handful of years.  I agree that he hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game but I am willing to "buy" into Pope like a stock that is about to go thru the roof with the right Administration behind him, the right facilities behind him, the BEST staff supporting him.  I have great confidence that this was a BEAUTIFUL hire.....but as we fans know, its all about "Hanging Banners", can he do it? I mean he beat Iowa St, Baylor, Kansas & NC State.  I don't understand the "narrative" that Mark Pope isn't a great coach that will do great things with the backing of Kentucky intangibles.....

Like other people have said "I have Hope with Pope"!!!

Just because I say Pope only even got considered for this job is because he played at UK, doesn’t mean I don’t think he will do well. No really knows how he will do. I’m excited about him.  Right now he has done a great job bringing excitement, has put together a good staff. Now just needs to get the players and results. He could be the next great coach in UK history. 
 

I'm just commenting on how him being a UK guy is 100% the reason why even got an interview. If it was based on resumes, there were a lot of guys that resumes were much better but not UK guys. If based on resume, then could look no further than two of three last coaches that knocked UK out. In Kansas State current coach and Saint Peters (now Sean Hall) coaches who also built programs up like Pope but also had tournament success to go with it. The Pope connection to UK is the only reason why he even got considered for this job over guys with better resumes. 

44 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

The majority of the excitement is from the older generations who really remember the 96 team. Hiring Pope takes them back to that time. They can pretend that his resume excites them, but it's not true. They will disregard his resume because of who he is and what he did while he played at UK. 

Can you rephrase this? I remember that '96 team well (I would have been 13) and I can't accept the fact I may have gone through the "older generation" turnstile.

?

5 minutes ago, bugatti said:

Can you rephrase this? I remember that '96 team well (I would have been 13) and I can't accept the fact I may have gone through the "older generation" turnstile.

?

I mean I remember it too and I'm not old. ?

52 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

Just because I say Pope only even got considered for this job is because he played at UK, doesn’t mean I don’t think he will do well. No really knows how he will do. I’m excited about him.  Right now he has done a great job bringing excitement, has put together a good staff. Now just needs to get the players and results. He could be the next great coach in UK history. 
 

I'm just commenting on how him being a UK guy is 100% the reason why even got an interview. If it was based on resumes, there were a lot of guys that resumes were much better but not UK guys. If based on resume, then could look no further than two of three last coaches that knocked UK out. In Kansas State current coach and Saint Peters (now Sean Hall) coaches who also built programs up like Pope but also had tournament success to go with it. The Pope connection to UK is the only reason why he even got considered for this job over guys with better resumes. 

I totally understand FC!  I love your thoughts. You’re like my straight man to my borderline over the top enthusiasm. I BLEED BLUE! 

I have faith that we will both be very happy come next March/April that UK made a great hire, I just feel it in down to my soul brother.

 

1 hour ago, bugatti said:

Can you rephrase this? I remember that '96 team well (I would have been 13) and I can't accept the fact I may have gone through the "older generation" turnstile.

?

Rookie. 

2 hours ago, TheDeuce said:

The majority of the excitement is from the older generations who really remember the 96 team. Hiring Pope takes them back to that time. They can pretend that his resume excites them, but it's not true. They will disregard his resume because of who he is and what he did while he played at UK. 

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.

2 hours ago, Randy Parker said:

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.

I keep hearing Matt Jones call Pope “Barnhart’s third choice”, as if that is a pretty good thing.   
 

I’m assuming that Mitch at the very least made Hurley and Wright say no, and possibly (but not certainly) Donovan.  Drew was on the short list. What am I missing)