Randy Parker

The Quaintance visit is no longer happening. 

7 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

3 players.

Perry, Chandler and just got a big out of the portal from Drexel. Another BYU player perhaps is next, Richie Sanders?

Is that the sixth man from BYU?

2 hours ago, MaddenCurse44 said:

How does the roster look so far?

Non-existent 

13 hours ago, TheDeuce said:

I haven’t seen anything about that yet. 

I wondered because big men and knee injuries...often a bad combination.

31 minutes ago, Jumper_Dad said:

Another thing to consider, he would have had unrealistic expectations placed on him by fans next year. He probably would have felt the weight of the state on his back every game.

While I love him as a player and a Kentucky kid, I completely understand his decision and wish him well.

No doubt about it.  Expectations would have been unbelievable.  And probably unfair. 

11 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

 

It’s my understanding he was hurt most of last year and plans to have knee surgery. Hence the redshirt. 

Any idea what kind of surgery?

40 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Redshirting a year - now that is interesting. I don't recall seeing that path from the transfer portal.

I thought that was bizarre.  And it's also a bad look for Mark Pope, no matter how good or bad of a player the kid is.

1 hour ago, futurecoach said:

Now the big question is does this mean he cared more about the NBA, than the name Kentucky across the chest?

Excellent question.  I'm sure many will give Sheppard the benefit of the doubt that they did not give to others.

Just now, mcpapa said:

Anyone who didn’t see this coming (my better half, for example) is wearing blue blinders. 
 

And if this news turns out to be a hoax, I’ll eat my crow served with a slab of @Randy Parker meatloaf. 

Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double beatloaf.

Pretty astounding that he's reached this milestone, considering that most of us doubted he'd make it this far.  Really happy for him.  Easy kid to root for.

QR codes are showing back up on Raw & Smackdown, hinting at the return of Bo Dallas as Uncle Howdy.  This was also teased in the Bray Wyatt documentary. 

13 minutes ago, I gotta go to work said:

Oh I don't know. 

I thought they did, but I can't say for sure.

38 minutes ago, I gotta go to work said:

Pope mentioned Maui. The field is set for 24, Could UK be back in it in 25? Does he try to renew the Indiana game?

I thought Indiana was already renewed.

2 hours ago, futurecoach said:

That’s what makes this hiring so hard to know how to feel. Just no way of knowing how it would work out. When Calipari was hired, I think everyone knew things were going to get better in a hurry. Just no way of knowing on this. The one thing we do know, is he should bring a style that in terms of how they play similar to what it was like when Pitino was here. Which is a style everyone said they loved. Offensively they should be fun to watch, defensively should be aggressive some pressing, zone, and man. So the play style should be a style people like, since similar to what Pitino did while here. Now the question is can he produce the results. 

This is sort of what I keep hearing, and I hope this goes well.  I just have a lot of reservations. 

1 hour ago, Voice of Reason said:

I am sold on Pope to the extent that he will be solid. I am interested in seeing his offense as it rates high on the analytics. He will get better talent at UK. The big question, and perhaps what you aren't sold on, is can he win a title? I am not sold on that either. But I feel confident he will win 20-22 games a year. What we all want is that next level and that we won't know till we see it.

You're one of the more reasoned voices here, hence your username, so your assessment gives me hope.  

1 hour ago, Voice of Reason said:

As I've got a chance to study Pope's resume and what next year looked like at UK with Cal, I am genuinely happy with the move. Next year was going to be ugly. Cal was still stuck in his one and done ststem. He would have played a bunch of freshmen. That would have equalled ten losses or more and the fans would have been in full revolt on every loss. Plus this season's offensive guru John Welch was not coming back. It would have been a complete downer of a season and UK would have been looking for a coach next year while paying Cal his $30M.

I agree on Cal needing to be gone because next year would likely show no improvement from this year.  I am just not sold on Pope. 

Not knowing anything about our roster, I will say 16-20.  Might change my mind once the roster is formed and the schedule completed.

I like the guy a lot and will be rooting for the Cats no matter what.  But I don't think it's a good hire at all.  Will love to be wrong.

Just now, DragonFire said:

It’s A way to go, but it’s risky. If this goes poorly, Barnhart is most assuredly out. 
 

Also RE: Hurley, he wasn’t an alum at UConn, so clearly something else got him the job. Does anyone believe Pope sniffs this job if he’s not a UK alum? I mean ANYONE?

In defense of Mitch, he went hard after two legitimate candidates.  One is the best in the nation.  Offered him more than anyone has ever been paid to coach in college basketball.  Both turned us down.

I don't know if he reached out to any others, but he swung for the fences.  Two high-profile rejections and I don't think Mitch can be blamed for those.  I really think those are on a large group of fans who are incredibly fickle and difficult to please.

Still, there most certainly had to be a better candidate than Pope.

6 minutes ago, ChuckT said:

Wow!!! I just hope that one of Mark Popes wives says no!!  

This made me laugh pretty hard. 

Just now, DragonFire said:

Reeks of panic. Not to mention, this is a guy you can get in a week, two weeks, month from now. I get you’re worried about players and the portal but holy cow. 
 

I’m sticking with the belief that the change was needed but man…. this is a potential faceplant. I immediately thought of Doherty at North Carolina. That’s not a good thing. 

100% this.

Never won his conference.  Never won his conference tournament.  Never won an NCAA Tournament game.

This is only because he went to UK.  Only that.

I hate this hire.  And I hate that because I like Mark Pope.  He is a good man.

Goodness gracious. 

Mark Pope is a good man.  But no.

2 minutes ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

If Hurley is out, I would seriously wait until this time next week and make a hard run at Donovan. He can't say anything now as the NBA season is winding down. This time next week they will be eliminated from the playoffs and they see what he has to say.

I don't see Donovan coming.  But if Mitch waits that long, I have to think that Mitch thinks he can land him.