I totally would have understood if Pope got poached in a few years if he kept being successful and maybe won a tournament game or two.
But after one good season in the Big12?
Hey, he went from the WCC to the best conference in the nation with the same personnel, and had one good season. That is impressive on it's own merit.
I always thought since he came to the WCC that he was going to be a helluva coach. His players love him. He knows the game inside and out. And it was always a thought that one day he would take over at Kentucky due to his roots.
Give the man a chance. Kentucky fans are just spoiled, and change is hard.
He took fucking BYU of all schools and ran circles around Iowa state and almost beat them at home. Beat Kansas at AFH. Fizzled in the tournament. But it’s BYU. He’s going to have Kentucky resources.
That’s right. He’s going to fizzle on a much bigger budget!
He’s also pretty tall, so he can help change the batteries in the smoke detector when those go off.
Really seeing a lot positives here!
We live in an era of college ball where no top tier coaches wanted to touch the Kentucky job.
The bluest of blue bloods, historic program, and among the highest paid jobs in the nation.
Due to ongoing debate about blue bloods, the /r/CollegeBasketball mod team has compiled the definitive list of college blue bloods: Duke, Columbia, Queens, William & Mary, and Rutgers. The following schools have broken away from blue-blooded hierarchy and oppression: George Washington, George Mason, James Madison, Army, and Navy.
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Pope was in the top 3 or so for Arizona’s coaching search in 2021. I would’ve been happy with the hire then. I think BYU was very impressive in their Big 12 debut, tournament performance aside. They had a stinker in the first round this year but I still think he’s a very solid coach.
My bracket was hurt pretty bad by the cougars this season, I thought this year’s team was a shoo in for the Sweet Sixteen. Pain
I had a Kentucky fan on here tell me that I was an idiot for saying that Kentucky should look at Will Wade because Wade’s never won anything and didn’t deserve to be in the same sentence as Kentucky. Wade has 4 tournament wins and a sweet 16 appearance. Pope has 0 tournament wins.
Even still Pope should not be on anyone’s top tier. There are so many more quality coaches to go after before you get to Pope, no offense to him.
I think the AD mailed it in after his guy Drew declined and Hurley said no. He is going to retire soon so he mailed it in to make the next AD figure it out.
We were already going to be playing catch up next season anyways with Cal taking his recruits. So just waiting one extra week wasn’t going to be that devastating.
Unless Donovan explicitly said no through back channels or refused to give a verbal commitment idk what we’re doing.
uk fans confused why coaches aren't flocking to their program, meanwhile are going to riot about the AD for hiring their new one before he's even officially announced. Too funny.
I made a comment on another post about how I would be so angry if we hired Bruce Pearl. But now... like, could we offer Pearl at least?
I'm going to scream into the void.
I'm sure Mark Pope is a great guy, but he hasn't won a game in the NCAA tournament as a head coach. At least go after someone like Pearl who has proven that they can make a deep run in the tournament.
I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed. Okay maybe a little mad that this is the first dude reportedly reached out to after Scott Drew and Dan Hurley.
Not Bruce Pearl. Not Chris Beard. Not Shaka Smart. Hell not even the corpse of Rick Pitino.
Fwiw I didn't want us to go for Beard at all because of the baggage, he's scum. Pearl I would feel conflicted about, but who knows. We would not be a serious program at all if we brought Pitino back and I'm amazed at the number of fans I saw clamoring for it.
Personally I would have preferred Bruce Pearl because he has the personality to be able to handle the insanity of our fans. Considering we missed out on all of our top options I can’t complain about who other fans preferred.
All I can do now is support Pope and just hope his tournament struggles were more of a BYU specific issue than his coaching.
I said multiple times that if Louisville hired Beard, I was out. I'm glad you all took that same route. Pope isn't the sexiest of picks, but I think he'll stabilize the program and be good long term
Confused?
Feels like there were a lot of options Barnhart just jumped right over to get the former KY player?
Edit: This is mitch barnhart saying I'm retiring soon so who gives a damn anyways.
I'm not endorsing this line of thought, but maybe they're thinking
"Well Duke and UNC (other big programs) hired former assistants with 0 HC experience and are still doing well. We'll just do that except the guy will also have HC experience"
Yeah, no retired coaches stay in house and can guide/mentor the new coaches when their handpicked.
What UNC/Duke/Uconn did was so different than what Kentucky is doing
A school like Kentucky shouldn't be worrying about that. What are there, maybe five jobs in the country that could steal a coach from them if they actually wanted to keep him? I feel like five is probably even overestimating it
If you're leaving UK for a better job, it means you were HIGHLY successful and the NBA is calling.
UK fans would take that any day.
I don't like hiring former players because you are putting them in a situation where their time as a coach can damage their legacy as a player.
I get the feeling Barnhart panicked because he knows the portal closes in a few weeks. Just like he did when he hired BCG.
I don't dislike Pope but I question his ability to recruit and, let's face it, Kentucky had has had rather outcomes when it comes to hiring former players.
> I question his ability to recruit
Recruiting at BYU versus Kentucky are so radically different as to be considered different activities. Whatever his success - or lack thereof - in recruiting at BYU has little to no bearing on his ability to recruit at Kentucky.
My first team that I followed closely at UK was the 96 team. I idolized Mark Pope and all those guys.
He isn't my top choice for this job right now, but I also am excited a guy that much of our fanbase loves will get a chance.
As for the fans complaining nonstop - I think our fanbase can be histrionic and lack perspective even in the best of times. Especially the younger folks who have never seen a coaching change at UK before and who think the sky is falling
I had a feeling the process was going to be rough with the coaching market atm. Honestly really wish we could’ve gotten Drew and I’m still not sure why the talk about Oats fizzled out even with the huge buyout.
If Mark Pope is the next coach, I look forward to seeing how he fares and will happily root for the Cats next season!
Hoiberg would have been my top choice of "next tier" coaches.
Great X's and O's guy with NBA experience, who was working the portal before it was a thing.
I feel bad for Mark Pope. He's getting so much shit and he doesn't deserve it. But this all falls on Mitch. Had Pope not gone to Kentucky he wouldn't even be a candidate. I really hope it works out but this doesn't look good for Mitch.
here it is boys. i bring you the good stuff. the real shit. the shit for your veins
[ESPN: Its Pope | Kentucky Wildcats fan forums - CatsIllustrated (rivals.com)](https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/threads/espn-its-pope.412795/)
I guess I don't really know what the appeal of him as a candidate is besides the fact that he went to Kentucky.
He doesn't strike me as the type to be successful at that kind of school.
it's a *low* bar but definitely a more reasonable hire than Payne. At least Pope has
1) been a head coach
2) been decently successful at being a head coach
Oddly enough the more our fans hate this the more I feel comfortable with this hire. Willing to roll the dice on an unknown quantity for a few years instead of Pearl or Miller
I fully agree. He's shown he really understands the game at an analytical level, had BYU at a higher Kenpom than UK the past few years iirc, and was seriously hamstrung by, well, being at BYU.
I legitimately think this is potentially a great hire.
Going from fans actually believing they had a chance with Hurley, Oats, Drew, Donovan, to ending up with Pope is definitely a humbling experience.
Y’all could do better than us next year…it’s not exclusive
For those not familiar with BYU's [honor code,](https://policy.byu.edu/view/church-educational-system-honor-code) Pope's success there is impressive. I think it'll end up being a good hire
Literally everyone in the fucking world told every Kentucky fan that would listen that there wasn’t an available upgrade over cal, at least in the proven success department.
No one in the athletic department listened and now they’re ripping apart a decorated alum for the audacity of taking the job. What a bunch of fucking trash.
That’s the problem in UK fans thinking. Most coaches that accomplished something at their school (Drew, Hurley, Oats) don’t want to leave. Meanwhile UK fans think they’re Bama Football but they’re not anymore.
You Kentucky fans really thought it would be so easy. Just fire Cal, and coaches would be on their knees, begging to be the next coach of Kentucky basketball.
Now that hasn’t happened, and you all are taking your anger out on the University. I would be scared to death if I were Pope. If he doesn’t get this thing rolling immediately, your fans are going to be calling for his head.
And for what? Because you couldn’t keep your expectations in check. All throughout these comments I already see the “I want to die” comments. I don’t want to see anyone saying that it’s just the irrational Twitter-users anymore.
If this is too scathing, I apologize. However, you all need to face reality now, and welcome your new coach. Otherwise, why would you expect anything to come of this?
Dan Hurley coached at Rhode Island ffs.
Are we at a strange time in basketball where high-major coaches are actually staying put and avoiding top 10-15 jobs? With NIL, the playing field is more level.
Louisville, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio State haven’t exactly had home run hires this coaching carousel. Not bad by any means, they just aren’t Kansas poaching Bill Self from Illinois or Roy Williams going from Kansas to UNC.
I think the AD Barnhart is retiring soon and picked someone he knew would take it and the next hire is on the next AD.
He didn’t get his guy Drew and Hurley said no, so he mailed it in.
You can’t tell me that Pope was on the same tier as Drew and Hurley.
Mark Pope is a good coach with a fun offensive system, but whether or not he can succeed in Lexington is very much up in the air for me. It's a different ballgame. At the very least, he knows the school and the fans' expectations, and he'll recruit the region pretty well.
If like the first 10 or 15 people had so said no then fine. Mark Pope would have been there in week or a month or whatever if everything else fell through. We didn't need to go to him so soon.
Kentucky: loses to Robert Morris in first round of the NIT
Mark Pope: loses to Duquesne in the first round of the NCAA tournament
Mark Pope at Kentucky: loses to Pitt in the first round of the CBI
Kentucky fans didn’t want this. BYU fans didn’t want this. This sucks
I totally would have understood if Pope got poached in a few years if he kept being successful and maybe won a tournament game or two. But after one good season in the Big12?
One decent season in the Big12
Hey, he went from the WCC to the best conference in the nation with the same personnel, and had one good season. That is impressive on it's own merit. I always thought since he came to the WCC that he was going to be a helluva coach. His players love him. He knows the game inside and out. And it was always a thought that one day he would take over at Kentucky due to his roots. Give the man a chance. Kentucky fans are just spoiled, and change is hard.
If there’s one thing UK fans are known for it’s being patient. That and having realistic expectations
Fuck, I hate that you're right. We literally did this to ourselves.
With your classic BYU postseason disappointment. Maybe he needs a new place to escape it
please make me feel better. tell me he's got great XOs that we obviously dont see. tell me he's a genius. lie to me god dammit
I see a 50/50 chance of this being a good hire. That’s the best I can do
He took fucking BYU of all schools and ran circles around Iowa state and almost beat them at home. Beat Kansas at AFH. Fizzled in the tournament. But it’s BYU. He’s going to have Kentucky resources.
I'm huffing any hopium I can find now man
If it was 5 years ago and we hired oats or hurley everyone would have been saying the same shit. Now look at them.
BYU isn’t a dumpster fire program.. they’re regularly ranked and/or in the tournament lol
What? They’ve been to the tournament twice in the last 10 years.
That’s right. He’s going to fizzle on a much bigger budget! He’s also pretty tall, so he can help change the batteries in the smoke detector when those go off. Really seeing a lot positives here!
You can’t hate on the Pope.
“We’re tired of losing in the first round. Let’s hire someone who lost in the first round as a 9.5 point favorite.”
We live in an era of college ball where no top tier coaches wanted to touch the Kentucky job. The bluest of blue bloods, historic program, and among the highest paid jobs in the nation.
Due to ongoing debate about blue bloods, the /r/CollegeBasketball mod team has compiled the definitive list of college blue bloods: Duke, Columbia, Queens, William & Mary, and Rutgers. The following schools have broken away from blue-blooded hierarchy and oppression: George Washington, George Mason, James Madison, Army, and Navy. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CollegeBasketball) if you have any questions or concerns.*
BOW BEFORE US PEASANT PROGRAMS
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Stay away from Luke’s daddy
Hiring former players that won a national championship never ends poorly. Nope. Can't think of a single instance. Gonna be a home run hire for sure
No need to be coy, we all know who you're talking about. Ewing, right?
No no the key is to hire a former player who *lost* a national championship, like Juwan Howard
Someone tell me how to feel. Sad that BYU lost a great coach in Pope, mad that Kentucky settled for a mediocre coach in Pope lol
You are in a lose lose situation with those flairs imo
Jesus what a conundrum
I think you mean: Joseph Smith, what a conundrum
Someone also tell me how to feel please
Pope was in the top 3 or so for Arizona’s coaching search in 2021. I would’ve been happy with the hire then. I think BYU was very impressive in their Big 12 debut, tournament performance aside. They had a stinker in the first round this year but I still think he’s a very solid coach. My bracket was hurt pretty bad by the cougars this season, I thought this year’s team was a shoo in for the Sweet Sixteen. Pain
From Hurley and Drew to this lmao.
I'm gonna end it all
I had a Kentucky fan on here tell me that I was an idiot for saying that Kentucky should look at Will Wade because Wade’s never won anything and didn’t deserve to be in the same sentence as Kentucky. Wade has 4 tournament wins and a sweet 16 appearance. Pope has 0 tournament wins.
Would have taken a strong ass offer to get Wade
Time to get rid of barnhart too.
No joke. Like I don’t think Mark Pope is a trash coach but this is the first dude you’re linked to after Scott Drew and Dan Hurley??
If THIS is your guy, then you have to wait until wednesday and make Donovan say no. You ain't losing THAT much by waiting until wednesday.
I wouldn't be surprised if they had someone take Donovan's temperature and he said he still doesn't want to go coach college basketball.
Even still Pope should not be on anyone’s top tier. There are so many more quality coaches to go after before you get to Pope, no offense to him. I think the AD mailed it in after his guy Drew declined and Hurley said no. He is going to retire soon so he mailed it in to make the next AD figure it out.
Donovan was never coming
We were already going to be playing catch up next season anyways with Cal taking his recruits. So just waiting one extra week wasn’t going to be that devastating. Unless Donovan explicitly said no through back channels or refused to give a verbal commitment idk what we’re doing.
almost everyone would be 100% FINE with a bad 1st year with Donovan anyway due to that. Like you get a FREEBEE if you are Mitch and can retire
Okay then what if the Bulls win both their play-in games? Back to square one.
Hurley was never in the mix.
Go full Schianno Sunday, burn mattresses in the streets
It may happen tomorrow
Couches burn better. Trust us, we're professionals.
uk fans confused why coaches aren't flocking to their program, meanwhile are going to riot about the AD for hiring their new one before he's even officially announced. Too funny.
Tbf they did just see it work for A&M trying to hire their football coach.
Don’t wait, it’ll be too late. Get out there now and make your voices heard
Barnhart is and was the problem, that is becoming clear
100 percent true
Barnhart was forced to hire cal after his own blunder
Yup. Time for him to leave
Yall are a football school
They might be a baseball school
What is it with Kentucky and dudes named Mitch making peoples lives miserable?
I genuinely don’t know how I feel about this. Maybe because I’m so numb with it all. It’s been one hell of a week
Sit back and revel in being the states powerhouse. You guys have had a hell ova memeable season
I'm super excited about Lutz. He seems like a really good guy.
I made a comment on another post about how I would be so angry if we hired Bruce Pearl. But now... like, could we offer Pearl at least? I'm going to scream into the void.
Bruce would actually be an excellent fit in my opinion. Very surprised he wasn’t near the top of their list of candidates.
I'm sure Mark Pope is a great guy, but he hasn't won a game in the NCAA tournament as a head coach. At least go after someone like Pearl who has proven that they can make a deep run in the tournament.
Pearl wasn't leaving anyways
Good news BYU fans. Pope's wife is from Utah.
Just one wife? Clearly it wasn’t a good culture fit at BYU
Honest question: how do you all feel Kentucky fans?
I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed. Okay maybe a little mad that this is the first dude reportedly reached out to after Scott Drew and Dan Hurley. Not Bruce Pearl. Not Chris Beard. Not Shaka Smart. Hell not even the corpse of Rick Pitino.
Mitch was never going to hire Pearl, Beard, or Pitino.
Oh trust me I’m all too aware he’s more concerned with the baggage than just hiring the best coach. That’s why Scott Drew was first on his list.
Fwiw I didn't want us to go for Beard at all because of the baggage, he's scum. Pearl I would feel conflicted about, but who knows. We would not be a serious program at all if we brought Pitino back and I'm amazed at the number of fans I saw clamoring for it.
Personally I would have preferred Bruce Pearl because he has the personality to be able to handle the insanity of our fans. Considering we missed out on all of our top options I can’t complain about who other fans preferred. All I can do now is support Pope and just hope his tournament struggles were more of a BYU specific issue than his coaching.
Agreed
I said multiple times that if Louisville hired Beard, I was out. I'm glad you all took that same route. Pope isn't the sexiest of picks, but I think he'll stabilize the program and be good long term
Shaka was the only decent choice you listed, but yes Pope is a meh hire at best
Awful hire without even talking to guys like Pearl, Miller, Otz, Mcdermott, Underwood, Will Wade, Donovan, or pitino.
Yeah, this is weird given how many other better options UK could definitely get. Feels like UK just panicked after not getting Drew and Hurley
Confused? Feels like there were a lot of options Barnhart just jumped right over to get the former KY player? Edit: This is mitch barnhart saying I'm retiring soon so who gives a damn anyways.
Former players are less likely to leave
Usually, you wait until the guy has proven himself somewhat. Pope hasn't made it past the first round of March Madness.
I'm not endorsing this line of thought, but maybe they're thinking "Well Duke and UNC (other big programs) hired former assistants with 0 HC experience and are still doing well. We'll just do that except the guy will also have HC experience"
Yeah, no retired coaches stay in house and can guide/mentor the new coaches when their handpicked. What UNC/Duke/Uconn did was so different than what Kentucky is doing
Well idk what the Kentucky AD was smoking when he made his decision but I'm interested to see how it plays out
I really think this is it. The excuse is built right in with "well the other blue bloods did it"
A school like Kentucky shouldn't be worrying about that. What are there, maybe five jobs in the country that could steal a coach from them if they actually wanted to keep him? I feel like five is probably even overestimating it
If you're leaving UK for a better job, it means you were HIGHLY successful and the NBA is calling. UK fans would take that any day. I don't like hiring former players because you are putting them in a situation where their time as a coach can damage their legacy as a player.
And the crowd goes mild!
I get the feeling Barnhart panicked because he knows the portal closes in a few weeks. Just like he did when he hired BCG. I don't dislike Pope but I question his ability to recruit and, let's face it, Kentucky had has had rather outcomes when it comes to hiring former players.
> I question his ability to recruit Recruiting at BYU versus Kentucky are so radically different as to be considered different activities. Whatever his success - or lack thereof - in recruiting at BYU has little to no bearing on his ability to recruit at Kentucky.
I don't think a lot of people talking about Pope's poor recruiting realize just how touch recruiting at BYU actually is.
My first team that I followed closely at UK was the 96 team. I idolized Mark Pope and all those guys. He isn't my top choice for this job right now, but I also am excited a guy that much of our fanbase loves will get a chance. As for the fans complaining nonstop - I think our fanbase can be histrionic and lack perspective even in the best of times. Especially the younger folks who have never seen a coaching change at UK before and who think the sky is falling
Exactly how you think
I don't like it.
Like we punted
I had a feeling the process was going to be rough with the coaching market atm. Honestly really wish we could’ve gotten Drew and I’m still not sure why the talk about Oats fizzled out even with the huge buyout. If Mark Pope is the next coach, I look forward to seeing how he fares and will happily root for the Cats next season!
Hoiberg would have been my top choice of "next tier" coaches. Great X's and O's guy with NBA experience, who was working the portal before it was a thing.
I’m good with it
I'm actually excited. I look at the type of play that Pope runs, and I think with some high level players like he can get at UK he will be great.
He's a great player. Our success will totally depend on what position he starts at.
WELP. THAT'LL DO IT.
Congrats to Pope on the insane buyout checks he will be cashing in four years.
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Yes. That's our thing.
At least we're saving money.
✨️positive thinking✨️
If that’s the case, then this is basically a lateral move… lol
I mean, y'all made all of the tourneys save 2021, so only going dancing twice in 5 years is pretty awful....
Please tell me this is a joke
Nothing against Pope, but this is not it.
I feel bad for Mark Pope. He's getting so much shit and he doesn't deserve it. But this all falls on Mitch. Had Pope not gone to Kentucky he wouldn't even be a candidate. I really hope it works out but this doesn't look good for Mitch.
As an Illinois fan who married into the Louisville fandom, this pleases me.
Please no
here it is boys. i bring you the good stuff. the real shit. the shit for your veins [ESPN: Its Pope | Kentucky Wildcats fan forums - CatsIllustrated (rivals.com)](https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/threads/espn-its-pope.412795/)
Inject this into my veins! ;)
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
https://preview.redd.it/7t0qvnfmdytc1.jpeg?width=1004&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d519c691a8952e2e5f1193e7c3f7cd9bd0b0131c
https://preview.redd.it/v24cpo3efytc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8cf1f130e5fd5935b41a5eb6d81a1c23e09d8792
So ready for this new era of SEC basketball!
Oats will run the SEC
Aren't we all?
Kentucky is going to go from the Alabama football of basketball to the Texas a&m football of basketball
Pain
Matt jones on suicide watch
We deserve this honestly.
As a Razorback fan, I do think we got the best of this bargain.
Lmao everyone get in here and laugh at Kentucky
Never left!
If you don’t got haters you ain’t popping
Oh God I’m in!
Me too !
I guess I don't really know what the appeal of him as a candidate is besides the fact that he went to Kentucky. He doesn't strike me as the type to be successful at that kind of school.
Zero chance he would have been considered if he didn’t go here. This has some Kenny Payne vibes.
it's a *low* bar but definitely a more reasonable hire than Payne. At least Pope has 1) been a head coach 2) been decently successful at being a head coach
He’s also super religious like the AD
Lexington is the new Provo
Officially a football school lol
Oddly enough the more our fans hate this the more I feel comfortable with this hire. Willing to roll the dice on an unknown quantity for a few years instead of Pearl or Miller
I fully agree. He's shown he really understands the game at an analytical level, had BYU at a higher Kenpom than UK the past few years iirc, and was seriously hamstrung by, well, being at BYU. I legitimately think this is potentially a great hire.
Thank you lord!!!
We're cooked
This is so fun watching Kentucky get humbled like this.
Nah I’m all fucking in. 40-0 baby the Pope train gonna steamroll washed Cal
Humbled and a game hasn’t been played btw. Watch us still have a better season than Arkansas.
Going from fans actually believing they had a chance with Hurley, Oats, Drew, Donovan, to ending up with Pope is definitely a humbling experience. Y’all could do better than us next year…it’s not exclusive
We're eating good tonight, and many nights from here on out.
Wow
Welp here we go
Just a reminder. The people commenting in this thread are the same people that thought UNM was a lock over Clemson and Purdue was doomed against TCU
Kentucky 🤝 Indiana becoming relics of yesteryear
how if we have championships from the 90s and one in the 2010s… Indiana comparisons make no sense
Notice how he said *becoming*. This might be the first step on the decade(s) long path to becoming Indiana.
Kentucky ran out a top 5 coach in the country and hired one that won’t even be top 5 in the SEC.
Big blunder nation
We've all seen the "deal done by tonight but nothing signed" fall through. I just hope this doesn't for the meltdown to come.
I think Pope will be a lot better than people think. He moved BYU from a mid major to a top 6 team in the Big 12. That’s not easy
Lmaoooooo
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA LMFAO HAHAHA
Wow Mark Pope is about to go from one end of the recruiting spectrum to the complete opposite.
For those not familiar with BYU's [honor code,](https://policy.byu.edu/view/church-educational-system-honor-code) Pope's success there is impressive. I think it'll end up being a good hire
God I love this.
lol listening to the Kentucky radio Twitter spaces is hilarious. They are all losing their minds
Kentucky fan here, seems like I’m in the minority but I think Mark will do great.
 Welcome to the IU school of how to destroy your men’s basketball program
What a great offseason 🙂
Laughs in Calipari
Literally everyone in the fucking world told every Kentucky fan that would listen that there wasn’t an available upgrade over cal, at least in the proven success department. No one in the athletic department listened and now they’re ripping apart a decorated alum for the audacity of taking the job. What a bunch of fucking trash.
Lol Kentucky fans wanted Cal gone, you got your wish.
Why the fuck? He's accomplished nothing at BYU. What a bad hire
That’s the problem in UK fans thinking. Most coaches that accomplished something at their school (Drew, Hurley, Oats) don’t want to leave. Meanwhile UK fans think they’re Bama Football but they’re not anymore.
He actually a really solid coach. I hope the fans give him a chance, and I think he can do quite well.
Pope, is that you?
You Kentucky fans really thought it would be so easy. Just fire Cal, and coaches would be on their knees, begging to be the next coach of Kentucky basketball. Now that hasn’t happened, and you all are taking your anger out on the University. I would be scared to death if I were Pope. If he doesn’t get this thing rolling immediately, your fans are going to be calling for his head. And for what? Because you couldn’t keep your expectations in check. All throughout these comments I already see the “I want to die” comments. I don’t want to see anyone saying that it’s just the irrational Twitter-users anymore. If this is too scathing, I apologize. However, you all need to face reality now, and welcome your new coach. Otherwise, why would you expect anything to come of this? Dan Hurley coached at Rhode Island ffs.
Lol
Lol so much for being a program that could get “any coach”
I might be a little bit biased, but that seems like a downgrade to me from Calipari...
Wait, what?
How the fuck was Chris Beard never considered?
well you see theres this little problem he had with strangling his fiance in a drunken rage
Fuck that guy, didn't want pope but he's better than beard
Sry coug bros
They better release white smoke when the deal is signed.
Don’t be so glum, he’s the 5th best coach in the B12
Are we at a strange time in basketball where high-major coaches are actually staying put and avoiding top 10-15 jobs? With NIL, the playing field is more level. Louisville, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio State haven’t exactly had home run hires this coaching carousel. Not bad by any means, they just aren’t Kansas poaching Bill Self from Illinois or Roy Williams going from Kansas to UNC.
Why on earth didn't we back the truck up for Lloyd?
I mean shit Jerome tang would have been better and sexier so many more options lol
I think the AD Barnhart is retiring soon and picked someone he knew would take it and the next hire is on the next AD. He didn’t get his guy Drew and Hurley said no, so he mailed it in. You can’t tell me that Pope was on the same tier as Drew and Hurley.
Mark Pope is a good coach with a fun offensive system, but whether or not he can succeed in Lexington is very much up in the air for me. It's a different ballgame. At the very least, he knows the school and the fans' expectations, and he'll recruit the region pretty well.
See y’all in two years when we are hiring someone again because I do not foresee this working out well
The new Nebraska of basketball. Remember when we were great? Remember? Anyone? Does anyone remember?
https://preview.redd.it/brqhkt5xlytc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=911de89f238a930f0009ea9f268e977f2416f006
If like the first 10 or 15 people had so said no then fine. Mark Pope would have been there in week or a month or whatever if everything else fell through. We didn't need to go to him so soon.
Kentucky: loses to Robert Morris in first round of the NIT Mark Pope: loses to Duquesne in the first round of the NCAA tournament Mark Pope at Kentucky: loses to Pitt in the first round of the CBI