futurecoach

I definitely think he would have fit better on Pope’s offense compared to Cal’s. However, Cal fighting for him last year and that relationship they formed definitely was the deciding factor.

Big Z just announced he is going to Arkansas.

Big Z announced he is going to Arkansas.

When he first enrolled at UK he was not even suppose to be eligible for the NBA draft that year. So there wasn’t nothing to find out. Then his handlers were able to find a loop hole in regards to the draft as long as his graduation date was changed to a certain date. Which remember it was contested about if he really graduated when he did. So UK and just every school going for him, no one thought he was eligible for that years draft. So it’s not like other schools opted out, other schools went for him as well. Him and his handlers found a loop hole, and then continued to lie saying it didn’t matter, he was going to be at UK still that next year. At the end of the day it didn’t take someone’s spot, didn’t use some other players resources. It was a player and his handlers just completely going against what they had told everyone.

I mean that was expected in regards to many of the current players and recruits Cal had coming in. Like it or not, unless it is a kid that grows up in Ky. Most players are committing to the coach not the program for basically all schools. The name Kentucky gets people to answer their phones and open their doors. It is the coach in most cases though that players are committing to and going to that school for. When that coach leaves, most players will follow. Especially in todays world where there is no year of having to sit out when you transfer.

I guess we didn’t listen to the same press conference if you didn’t hear him talk about the NBA. He even had a whole section of him talking about NBA players and what they talked about. Then even mentioned how we will will get a mix of some burger boys who are one and done, to go along with players who will be here and stay and develop. Completely agree on the jersey thing though.

Exactly! I guarantee Cal was just upset and probably even more than us fans about the whole situation and how he basically got lied to and played by Sharpe’s handlers.

Once again even during all that time Sharpe was promising to still be back for the next season. The whole reason why he enrolled in January was suppose to be only to get ready for the next college season, not to play that season. That is the whole reason why he was even allowed to enroll early and join the team. Sharpe and his people were promising he would be around for the next year. If Cal knew he wouldn’t stay, I guarantee he would have never been allowed to join the team. Cal is not going to come out in the public and put down the player and his people for lying to him. However, zero chance Cal allows him to join the team if he thought Sharpe wouldn’t be around the next year.

Remember his camp also kept telling Cal that he was not going to the NBA and only enrolled early in January so he could get use to college, and would be getting ready for the next season to help the Cats. I guarantee you that Cal wouldn’t have ever brought him in, if he knew Sharpe and his camp was basically going to use him and UK like that.

Cal is not the one that decided for Sharpe not to play. Sharpe is the one who chose not to play.

I don’t think Wagner has mentioned the portal or anything yet. If Pope could get Wagner, Thiero, Burks, and big Z to stay that would be a great start. Then if somehow Sheppard came back, that would be amazing. Fill in the rest with a freshman or two and transfers. Out of the recruits that were committed. The biggest one I hope Pope can get to stay is Somto Cyril. Have someone like him to rotate in with big Z would be huge IMO.

That was awesome! So far he is doing and saying everything right. However, now just comes down to getting it done on the court. Which is really the only question in regards to the hire. Other than that it is a home run so day.

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.

If Sheppard does choose to go to the NBA this year. Should we blame Calipari for recruiting a kid that cared more about going to the NBA than the name Kentucky across his jersey? If Sheppard cares more about the name across the jersey, then he will be back. At least that is what people like to say. Which btw I 100% hope he is back, but I wouldn’t blame him one bit for leaving with him looking to be a lottery pick.

Agreed it was! Definitely a far way from when he was flipping off UK fans when he was the UL coach.

I would assume most of the roster will end up being transfers, and a few players that maybe decide to stay. Which is the one good thing about how things are today. He can still build a very good roster, since you don’t have to rely on recruiting high schoolers anymore.

He is going to have a fun style of play to watch. He is a Ky guy, so people will know that he cares (even though Cal did too). He is going to mix things up on defense including zone, which we know people wanted. So as far as things people wanted, Pope brings that. Now just comes down to can he win at the level that people expect from a UK coach. Which is what makes this hire so hard to know how to feel. With Cal I think we all knew he was going to knock it out of the park. Mark Pope might as well, but just know way of truly knowing until he goes out and does it.

I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he did add a former wildcat to his staff. I don’t it would be Sheppard though, I could see Scott Padgett who has been coaching. I also hope he can keep Tyler Ullis. I think Ullis is a very good up and coming coach. Then fill out the rest of the staff with people good at recruiting, and or good at whatever he views his weakness is as a coach.

Agreed with mostly everything in this post. Only thing I disagree with and this is just not you, but everyone that acts like Cal didn’t care about winning championships. Way to many people took what Cal to serious when he talked about getting players to the NBA and draft night. He is a salesman, and knew saying that is what players and parents wanted to hear. How he is going to do what is best for them to be successful in life and achieve their dreams. Cal has a huge ego and so I guarantee there is nothing more he wanted than to have had gone 40 and 0 and hung as many banners as possible and be ahead of UCLA. Which he believe the best way to do that was getting the best talent, and to do that was to say things like he did about the NBA. Which that philosophy worked great his first 9 years. Just unfortunately that all changed when covid came and the game got older very quickly.

I’ll give my prediction after I see what type of roster he puts together. I do think he will get at least 20 wins though.

It is time for us all to jump on the Pope bandwagon. No reason to be mad at him, if this doesn’t work out it is all on Mitch. Pope deserves our full support and hopefully Mitch found the next coaching legend.

A few years ago there were many people saying they would want Kenny Payne to be the next coach, even though Payne had never been a head coach before. So if people back then were fine with Payne getting it with no head coaching experience back then. Then those same people should be happy about this, because Pope has least been a head coach and been sort of successful at places that not the easiest to be successful at. So I am glad Pope has head coach experience, even though this will be a very big jump for him.

I have not read about him being one of the better in game coaches. However, he definitely is known for having a very fun innovated offense. Defense has never been great, but I know some of you all will be pleased since he will play some zone lol. I have no idea if it will work, but as I mentioned in a previous post. His style of play should be fun to watch. His style of play honestly should be perfect for a Big Z. So hopefully he can get him to stay.

Another article about how is as a coach. https://www.deseret.com/2022/10/19/23410889/byu-basketball-coach-mark-pope-talks-new-season/

Hopefully he turns into being our version of Dan Hurley, or Nate Oats. Both didn’t do to much before getting their shots at UConn and Bama, and now became two of the best ones in the game. Hopefully that is what we get with Pope, who as I just mentioned should bring a fun style Of play at least.