TheDeuce

27 minutes ago, Jumper_Dad said:

You know that's not what he's saying. I'm not even going to explain it, because you know the point he's making. 😄

And the point that I’m making is you can’t pretend to be happy about an unproven coach with zero post season success while having complained about a guy who won more at UK, regular and post season, than Mark Pope ever will. 

1 hour ago, FrankNicodemus said:

I guess Coaching success is only going to happen when you have prior Coaching success, says TheDeuce.

Take a peak at what Coach K looked like when Duke hired him in 1980. I’m done with the “what did Pope do prior to being hired”. Let’s move on, and let the proof be in the future not forecasted by the past.

Go Big Blue!!

So now Pope is Coach K. Got it.

5 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

We are only talking about the past 3-6 years.

I agree a tall order to expect anyone to equal what Cal accomplished in his entire tenure at UK.

I'm talking about the most recent years. 

Nothing in Pope's past would indicate he would perform better in the post season than Cal did the last six years. 

8 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

But it is close to being better than Cal over the past 6 seasons, and that is the question at hand in this discussion. 

Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades. 

Saying Pope will have more post season success than Cal is based on nothing other than hopes and dreams. 

4 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

For what it's worth, Pope won 68% of his regular season games and was 7-8 in post season games at BYU. 

This goes without saying, but we obviously agree that won't get it done at UK. 

1 minute ago, Voice of Reason said:

And that is why Pope will beat those numbers. Five stud freshmen will not win postseason games in this NIL/transfer portal era. Multiple teams are building experienced all star rosters today. Cal wasn't. He was still relying too much on freshmen.

That's a pretty bold assumption.

How has Pope constructed his rosters in the past? Why hasn't he had any post season success to this point?

3 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

YES! He will be close on the regular season and definitely better in the postseason.

Based on what? His post-season success to date?

1 minute ago, DanvilleFan said:

Valid points, although I think JCPS' defense will be that these schools are optional to attend if they are magnet (correct?) so as a result it is not on the hook to provide transportation to them if it elects not to do so.  Not sure if that would hold up legally but I can see them using that argument.

To me it's no different than a private school. Most private schools do not provide transportation. If you want your kid to go there, you have to get them there. 

1 minute ago, futurecoach said:

People always seem to get that Cal was winning at a great clip and having post season success long before he ever came to UK and had rosters full of one and done. So he must be a lot better of a coach than some on here want to give him credit for, since it was successful long before he even came to UK. It is a reason why he along with Pitino are the only two coaches to take three teams to a final four. 

Completely agree. 

It's much easier to win with a starting five full of seniors than it is with freshman, regardless of how many stars they had coming out of high school. Cal doesn't get enough credit for that. 

46 minutes ago, gchs_uk9 said:

To me, 75% is a reasonable expectation for Kentucky. That's 23 or 24 regular season wins. Rupp and Pitino were way above that, Calipari was just above, and Tubby was right on the number. Hall was actually under 75%. Will Pope hit that number? Who knows. If he doesn't, he'll likely meet a fate a similar to Sutton and Gillespie.

I'll still say its all about postseason success. Had Calipari went deeper in the SEC or NCAA tournaments over the last four years he'd still be in Lexington. He didn't, and now he's in Fayetteville. I have no idea if Pope will advance deeper, but if he has the same postseason results as Cal over the last four years, he'll probably be gone.

44 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

Time will tell....What I can tell you is there is a new found energy level that I haven't felt in 10 years around the program.  But like everything in Sports, you have to win.....  I think Pope knows that more than anyone that would have walked in to the door being the Head Coach.

36 minutes ago, Oldercoach said:

Maybe or maybe not, but after going to great expense to travel and support the team, BBN rightly expected more than token preparation for the SEC tourney and to not be so obviously out-coached in the NCAAs.  Cal has shown an undeniable ability to recruit top-flight talent and coach them to disappointing year end results.  Probably finally sealed his credibility this year after his  “this team is built for March” comments that were followed by a  1st round loss in SEC tourney and a 1st round loss in NCAA tourney.  Remembering the definition of insanity, it was time to take Cal’s hard headedness elsewhere.

I understand that Cal "under achieved" the last handful of years, but I just think that the people that pushed him out are going to look silly when Pope is no better, if not worse. 

Pope is not going to get the quality of players Cal did, he's just not. That being the case, you'd have to argue that he's a better coach than Cal. Can you really do that? What about his resume says that's the case? Pope has zero hardware in his trophy case. 

This feels like a serious case of "be careful what you wish for." Pope feels good to some, for now, but how long will that last? 

Looks like an awesome facility. 

Where is it in relation to the school?

Do people think Mark Pope is going to win more than that?

17 minutes ago, nikeman49 said:

Should speak volumes about Cal’s real relationships with players!!

I think what would speak more to that is asking players that actually played for him... 

8 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Yes and no. Speaks to more help needed, but we all know that.

It's never enough for LeBron. 

Whoever is running that league shouldn't be... That's one of the more embarrassing things I've read in a while. 

32 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

LeBron led the NBA in baskets made in the 4th quarter in both the regular season and the playoffs to date.

A pretty meaningless stat considering their overall record and quick exit. 

7 minutes ago, DanvilleFan said:

I can't see the NBA Players Association being happy with a player of LeBron's caliber taking the league minimum.  That hurts their whole collective bargaining position, even if LeBron is getting older and his production isn't what it was.

LeBron isn't going to take any minimum. 

24 minutes ago, bugatti said:

I believe LeBron is motivated to be recognized as the GOAT and needs another ring to bolster his case. But with the injury risk of him and Davis with an unreliable roster, is he in a position to earn one in LA? (Not to mention other teams have elevated.) Probably not. And all he has on the GOAT front are longevity achievements. I am NOT dismissing those, btw... his career has been remarkable. But repeating "I'm the GOAT" messages, reposting memes, and building one's narrative can convince people of anything.

LeBron won't get another ring unless he takes significantly less money to join a team that's already a title contender. 

Absolutely no shot the Lakers sign Bronny, so if that's what LeBron wants, he's likely done in LA. 

A couple of those wedges are straight out of a movie. Just unreal storms. 

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. 😂

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. 

2 hours ago, Tranquility Base said:

Kelsey has head coaching experience at 2 stops before Louisville, so he knows this part of the job.   Was Payne in WAY over his head or just a little lazy on this aspect of the job?  Living on the "I'm a great recruiter" tag he got while working for Cal?

He was in over his head, lazy AND can’t coach. 

2 hours ago, Jumper_Dad said:

Who have they picked up so far? 

Nevermind, I found a list.

Sorry I was going to get a list together (still may) when I have some time this weekend. 

Man, what a difference a month makes. 

PK is absolutely killing it in the portal, and is on the verge of landing a big fish out of high school. 

Dude has been relentless since he took over.