1 hour ago, Voice of Reason said:

If UK, Duke, North Carolina, Kansas call you about their job, you listen and you take it if offered. It's as simple as that.

Why? There's only one of those teams left in this year's field. Times are changing in the buy a team era.

8 minutes ago, 9068 said:

You honestly believe that a guy with 20+ years experience as an SEC athletic director panicked? I'd say he could cast a pretty wide net if he chose to do so. Bottom line.....the guys on this roster were not great players.

Is it really that much of a stretch to believe that vs he botched the hire in an obvious way?

1 hour ago, futurecoach said:

Simply put Mitch panicked after the first few top guys said no. Those top guys already won titles at their current schools, which makes sense why they said no. After they said no, he panicked and went with an alum with no track record of really ever doing that well. 

100% this.

But a lot of UK fans who were giddy for Cal to leave were even more elated to usher in the Pope era.  So yes, Mitch made the hire and is ultimately responsible, but a large segment of BBN was thrilled with his decision. 

All said, UK basketball has not been fun since the year Covid canceled the tournament.  And there's no indication that Pope is going to turn things around next year.

2 hours ago, 9068 said:

You honestly believe that a guy with 20+ years experience as an SEC athletic director panicked? I'd say he could cast a pretty wide net if he chose to do so. Bottom line.....the guys on this roster were not great players.

Ok maybe panicked was the wrong word to use. Possibly settled is a better word, and took the easy route. As essentially he wanted to make sure he got the exact opposite of Cal. A good guy who wouldn’t really push back on things. As mentioned Pope has never even won a contender as a coach. He is only here because he was a former player, and Mitch wanted the opposite of Cal. 

2 hours ago, 9068 said:

Why? There's only one of those teams left in this year's field. Times are changing in the buy a team era.

Same reason why Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss to go to LSU. At the end of the day coaches work to get to the highest level, and is a dream for most of them. So even if you have a good set up, it’s hard to say no when one of the top blue blood types of schools come calling. It may not be a smart decision to leave where you have it made it, but the majority of times coaches still will leave to get that chance at that big program.  

1 hour ago, Randy Parker said:

100% this.

But a lot of UK fans who were giddy for Cal to leave were even more elated to usher in the Pope era.  So yes, Mitch made the hire and is ultimately responsible, but a large segment of BBN was thrilled with his decision. 

All said, UK basketball has not been fun since the year Covid canceled the tournament.  And there's no indication that Pope is going to turn things around next year.

I honestly really enjoyed watching the two teams that ultimately lost in the first round. Those teams were fun and could possibly have made a run. However, UK finally fell victim to the first round upset that everyone has had. Even coach K in 2012 and 2014 lost in the first round to a 14 and 15 seed like Cal. Unfortunately Cal also had the horrible Covid year to right before it, so it was like the perfect storm to bring the Cal era to an end here. 
 

I believe once Mitch struck out on a couple of the higher guys. He decided to settle and wanted a yes sir guy, who was complete opposite of Cal. Which is how we got Pope, even though he had done nothing to show he should get the job. 

2 hours ago, 9068 said:

Why? There's only one of those teams left in this year's field. Times are changing in the buy a team era.

I agree. UNC , UK, and Kansas are miles and miles away from what they once were. Duke is still as big, if not bigger. UConn has been well above UK and UNC. I know many don’t want to think or hear it, but the B1G is taking over as an overall conference for sports, at least in my opinion. And the same could be argued for the Big XII in basketball. Another hot team in terms of a big job is Houston. I do believe it’s Kelvin Sampson’s son’s job when he decides to hang it up. 

 

10 hours ago, hrcarrier said:

I agree. UNC , UK, and Kansas are miles and miles away from what they once were. Duke is still as big, if not bigger. UConn has been well above UK and UNC. I know many don’t want to think or hear it, but the B1G is taking over as an overall conference for sports, at least in my opinion. And the same could be argued for the Big XII in basketball. Another hot team in terms of a big job is Houston. I do believe it’s Kelvin Sampson’s son’s job when he decides to hang it up. 

 

If we are talking ONLY football and basketball, then that is fine if you want to make that case.

And I'm fine entertaining that conference X is on top, but let's not be prisoners of the moment. This time last year, the SEC sent 14 teams to the NCAA tournament, which, by most metrics, was the most challenging conference in college basketball history, had two teams in the Final Four, and an eventual national champion, Florida. Even this year a quarter of the Sweet 16 are SEC teams (6 are from the B1G). I believe these things will continue to ebb and flow, with the power residing in these select few conferences. 

Iowa St just got another alley oop dunk off a staggered screen.  

I am reading the comments here...is Iowa St a bought team?  They talked a lot about their "culture" in the broadcast and how hard they work.

IMO UK was the worst coached team I watched play this weekend (I fell asleep during Texas Tech game).  There was little to no 1/2 court execution on either side of the ball.  We have 0 clue how to defend pick and roll (obviously we have no philosophy) and we lack intensity.

When Pope was hired my first reaction was "who" and why.  Then I put my blue blinders on, drank some blue kool aid and took my family to Rupp for the his intro.  

I believe my gut first reaction was correct, and I hate it.  Pope seems like a great dude.  He has a great family and in many ways has been a breath of fresh air from the Cal rhetoric that exhausted a fan base.  He gets one more year, but if it's another year like this year, he has to go! 

The sad part about yesterday is that the final score should have been MUCH worse. Had Iowa State somewhat been on their game out of the gates and UK wasn't making some junk shots, this could have easily been a 35+ point beatdown.

1 hour ago, okie1 said:

Iowa St just got another alley oop dunk off a staggered screen.  

I am reading the comments here...is Iowa St a bought team?  They talked a lot about their "culture" in the broadcast and how hard they work.

IMO UK was the worst coached team I watched play this weekend (I fell asleep during Texas Tech game).  There was little to no 1/2 court execution on either side of the ball.  We have 0 clue how to defend pick and roll (obviously we have no philosophy) and we lack intensity.

When Pope was hired my first reaction was "who" and why.  Then I put my blue blinders on, drank some blue kool aid and took my family to Rupp for the his intro.  

I believe my gut first reaction was correct, and I hate it.  Pope seems like a great dude.  He has a great family and in many ways has been a breath of fresh air from the Cal rhetoric that exhausted a fan base.  He gets one more year, but if it's another year like this year, he has to go! 

The bolded part here is the biggest worry for me. It also probably explains why Pope has never even won a regular season or conference tournament title anywere, and why he has had double digit losses every year of his coaching career besides two. 

A true PG would have tremendously helped matters this season. We can debate the merits of bringing in Lowe, but if he was who Pope and others thought he would/could be, then this is a different team. Not a contender, but maybe in that tier below. 

13 minutes ago, bugatti said:

A true PG would have tremendously helped matters this season. We can debate the merits of bringing in Lowe, but if he was who Pope and others thought he would/could be, then this is a different team. Not a contender, but maybe in that tier below. 

No doubt losing Lowe really hurt, as I do believe Pope was right in brining him on. As I think Lowe would be really good.  My biggest issue and question, and once again gets down to roster construction. Is why did Pope go into this year, with only having one true PG on the roster. With the transfer portal and all that out there these days, there was no reason to go into this season without Lowe being your only true PG. 

Can't blame Pope for 20 turnovers. He is a good coach. Thry will be fine next year!

1 hour ago, MaddenCurse44 said:

Can't blame Pope for 20 turnovers. He is a good coach. Thry will be fine next year!

You are kidding?