Just now, DragonFire said:

Pope probably has one more year to figure it out. Make it count.

This is where the new athletic director hire will be very interesting. If it’s one of Mitch’s boys does anything change?

This went from a super competitive game to blowout city, ugh.

I agree with the last post, lots of credit goes to Iowa State. 

13 minutes ago, DragonFire said:

Kentucky got the fast start they needed and then all the usual problems arose.  

Iowa State is on a 33-11 run currently.  

Pope probably has one more year to figure it out. Make it count.

This! As with a new AD, if Pope doesn’t show next year he is the guy. The new AD is going to want to make his first big hire. 

13 minutes ago, theguru said:

This went from a super competitive game to blowout city, ugh.

I agree with the last post, lots of credit goes to Iowa State. 

Even in the first half when the game was competitive. It was more Iowa State simply missing open shots, and us making a few very tough shots. Besides for the first 5 minutes of the game, Iowa State has dominated. 

In the last 32 minutes of the game the Cats have been outscored 76-45.

82-63 Iowa State. I was as bad as the Cats were today handling the ball as I posted 20+ post on the NCAA Tournament thread. I guess they rubbed off on me lol. You are not going to beat anyone in round 2 of the tournament with 20 turnovers that leads to 25 Iowa State points. An ugly ending to overall an ugly season.

9 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

Even in the first half when the game was competitive. It was more Iowa State simply missing open shots, and us making a few very tough shots. Besides for the first 5 minutes of the game, Iowa State has dominated. 

Correct. The final spread could have been 30 points. 

As we have stated all year, just not a very good basketball team, and our coach continued to substitute when definitely no need, defense was terrible and our offensive sets were brutally unacceptable for a Ky team. One more year to get everything right or an exit for Pope forthcoming.

I haven’t watched many Iowa State games. But man, I am a fan of the Iowa State coach. He has his team playing a fun style of basketball on both sides of the ball. Plus he is known to be a good recruiter too. He is someone I definitely would take a hard look at, if we do have to move on from Pope in a year. 

That second half for UK was rough and Iowa State looked very good.

2 minutes ago, nikeman49 said:

As we have stated all year, just not a very good basketball team, and our coach continued to substitute when definitely no need, defense was terrible and our offensive sets were brutally unacceptable for a Ky team. One more year to get everything right or an exit for Pope forthcoming.

Worst UK team since Gillespie years. Talent lacking. Coaching worse. The worst offensive scheme and execution I can ever recall at UK, and Pope is supposedly some kind of offensive guru.

Not one player committed to next year's team. People are telling me Pope cannot connect with players in recruiting. Recruits don't care about UK. They want to know how Pope and UK will help them get to next level. Pope will get this year to fix it and show something. The new AD will not let it go another year like this.

22 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

Even in the first half when the game was competitive. It was more Iowa State simply missing open shots, and us making a few very tough shots. Besides for the first 5 minutes of the game, Iowa State has dominated. 

I thought we had one more solid run in the first half but other than that I agree.

I'm not certain there was a year more distasteful to watch since the Billy G era than this season.  It was generally excruciating to watch because even the high moments (LSU last second win, both wins over Tennessee, Santa Clara win) were the result of them messing around, falling behind, and then needing heroics, sometimes ridiculous heroics, to win.  Very few games were just go out, play good basketball end to end, win, type of games.  The Vanderbilt win is an example of one of those that went their way.  And that's not even touching on the horrific blowout losses and then games where they lost to teams they had no business losing to (like Missouri or Auburn).  I found myself swearing off watching the games only to feel the pull back and watch, and then I'd start the cycle over again.  I turned today's game off after the goaltending challenge, when the game was (allegedly) still in doubt.  But I knew what was coming and sure enough, they got the doors blown off of them.

I still feel Pope is better than Billy G - that shouldn't even be a question but has been at points from others this year - but this season is exactly what I feared when they hired Pope.  I've said it before, along with many others - he isn't even considered if he isn't an alum.  And look how well hiring alumni has worked for other programs.  It's usually a bad idea and then it turns good memories into bad.  The only thing so far that I'm truly happy about is that Pope helped rehabilitate Pitino to many UK fans - which was long overdue - and even that has the high likelihood of being soured if Pope gets canned.  I felt Pope did a solid job last season, but this year was terrible enough that as I said in this thread, I think he has a year to figure it out.  Kentucky is now at 11 years since a Final Four, and they're seven years since an Elite Eight.  13 years is the longest Final Four drought Kentucky has ever endured, and we're on the doorstep of it.  The current seven year drought of Elite Eight appearances IS the longest for the program.  They can't just let it stay this way much longer.

2 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

I haven’t watched many Iowa State games. But man, I am a fan of the Iowa State coach. He has his team playing a fun style of basketball on both sides of the ball. Plus he is known to be a good recruiter too. He is someone I definitely would take a hard look at, if we do have to move on from Pope in a year. 

I have been telling people Iowa St can win it all. Top 6 defensive team. Best 3 point shooter in the nation and other good shooters as well. Very well coached. They need Jefferson to win it all. If he comes back, they could win the title.

4 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

I have been telling people Iowa St can win it all. Top 6 defensive team. Best 3 point shooter in the nation and other good shooters as well. Very well coached. They need Jefferson to win it all. If he comes back, they could win the title.

No doubt. I know I am a believer now, especially knowing they did this without one of their best players. 
 

I love their offensive sets, and I love their on ball pressure on defense. It is a very fun style to watch, and something we haven’t seen here in awhile. Especially in regards to defense.