FrankNicodemus

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.

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

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"!!!

O OK, that's all it took for him to get the job. RP, don't have doubts....The bus is gassing up and we are about to roll!!!!

WOW! Interesting.... Cooper has a good program, I feel like someone with a decent resume will jump on this....

I think that tells me he wanted to hold a monopoly on the "Big Man" position and with Pope probably doing a really good job grabbing Amari and more than likely getting the Great "guy" out of Utah State, the big man room is too full for JQ to come in and only get partial minutes this coming year. Which is disappointing b/c he could have come in and grew in the program and be the "guy" for the 2025-26 season...... The kids these days have no patience.....All about me, me, me, now, now, now!

Yes

Aren't those rankings just for the incoming Freshman class? If so, just like I am sure you are thinking JD.... Who cares!!! Didn't a #1 or #2 class a few years back go 9-16.... Now, the Transfer Portal is where its at.....let's see how we rank after going shopping to get the TP kids.

Finally got a commitment:

Sometimes you just have to wonder..... Whose his agent? The same agent Daniel Orton had? Just curious.

Pope stated on his radio show that he isn’t going to try to get BBN to stop doing the Ls down symbol, said he’s not stupid and would like to keep his job for awhile and not going to ruffle any BBN feathers regarding this topic. Smart man! For the record I hate that tradition we started with the Ls down…. Maybe it’s bc UL has been irrelevant for awhile now, like kicking a dead horse when it’s been dead for awhile.

Also, note worthy that came out of the Press Conference was Pope alluding to the fact that we might do a series with St. Johns.... at Rupp this coming season and then at the Garden the following season. Coach Pitino, acknowledged that possibility via X, with we are "in"....

Looks like based on their own IG posts, Big Z, Jordan Burks and Adou Thiero all were back on campus yesterday... Reports have stated that Big Z has a meeting with The Pope this morning to discuss next season and if Big Z and Pope come together as a potential good fit for each other. I can only assume meetings will also be had with Adou and Jordan. It be nice to get any combination of these 3 back on the roster for next year.

Got my phone call from Coach Pope… Cal never called me! Love this guy!

50 is the new 30!!!!