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Mark Pope
Posted on 4/12/24 at 9:00 am
Posted on 4/12/24 at 9:00 am
Imma put this here where maybe some level-headed people will read it.
Mitch hiring Mark Pope might be premature (we could have got him at the last hour). It might be a risk. But here's why I think it's the perfect hiring decision from Mitch's perspective.
Mitch will be retiring soon or moving on most likely. This may be the last coaching hire he makes. He swung for the fences with Hurley, who simply isn't interested. He went to a dear friend in Drew, who doesn't want to uproot 20+ years of friends and connections in TX.
In the end, he left the program in the hands of a guy who will put UK first. He hired the polar opposite of Cal. Cal is all about Cal and his players. Mark Pope will be all about the University of Kentucky. Mark Pope may not be a lot of things, but he will be a UK guy through and through. If he's successful, he'll stay for the long haul. If he isn't, it won't be because he doesn't love UK.
If Mitch couldn't get the best in the business, why not put the program in the hands of a guy who will always want the best for the University? Getting Mark Pope frees up about 4mil (easy) for NIL. If he doesn't work out, the next AD won't have to replace a "legend".
Is it the best hire? No.
Is it risky? Yes.
Will Pope be a UK legend? Remains to be seen. I'm willing to let it ride, and I'll be supportive of him and the team.
I think whatever Pope lacks in recruiting will be bolstered by the UK name brand and one of the best athletic departments in the country.
I do think he'll be a better bench coach than Cal, but that was a pretty low bar TBH.
GO CATS!!
Mitch hiring Mark Pope might be premature (we could have got him at the last hour). It might be a risk. But here's why I think it's the perfect hiring decision from Mitch's perspective.
Mitch will be retiring soon or moving on most likely. This may be the last coaching hire he makes. He swung for the fences with Hurley, who simply isn't interested. He went to a dear friend in Drew, who doesn't want to uproot 20+ years of friends and connections in TX.
In the end, he left the program in the hands of a guy who will put UK first. He hired the polar opposite of Cal. Cal is all about Cal and his players. Mark Pope will be all about the University of Kentucky. Mark Pope may not be a lot of things, but he will be a UK guy through and through. If he's successful, he'll stay for the long haul. If he isn't, it won't be because he doesn't love UK.
If Mitch couldn't get the best in the business, why not put the program in the hands of a guy who will always want the best for the University? Getting Mark Pope frees up about 4mil (easy) for NIL. If he doesn't work out, the next AD won't have to replace a "legend".
Is it the best hire? No.
Is it risky? Yes.
Will Pope be a UK legend? Remains to be seen. I'm willing to let it ride, and I'll be supportive of him and the team.
I think whatever Pope lacks in recruiting will be bolstered by the UK name brand and one of the best athletic departments in the country.
I do think he'll be a better bench coach than Cal, but that was a pretty low bar TBH.
GO CATS!!
3
Posted on 4/14/24 at 6:08 pm to The Architect
100% agree.
I think Pope will be a better game coach, and I think his recruiting will be fine. Kentucky fans are exhausted with one and dones. Bring us some 2-4 year guys like the other teams that are winning in March.
Press conference was amazing. I wish he had made some more comments embracing the guys from the last 15 years and let them know they are always welcome. Would be great to see those guys around from time to time, and not just watching Arkansas practice.
I think Pope will be a better game coach, and I think his recruiting will be fine. Kentucky fans are exhausted with one and dones. Bring us some 2-4 year guys like the other teams that are winning in March.
Press conference was amazing. I wish he had made some more comments embracing the guys from the last 15 years and let them know they are always welcome. Would be great to see those guys around from time to time, and not just watching Arkansas practice.
Posted on 4/14/24 at 7:43 pm to kywildcatfanone
The guys that played for Kentucky know who they are. The ones that were rented for a year know who they are too.
Some of the guys are loyal to Cal just as Pope is to Pitino. That is natural. But you can also be loyal to UK and one that has recently shot off his mouth obviously isn’t. His dumb arse is unaware that Kentucky won championships before Cal got here and will win again after he leaves.
Some of the guys are loyal to Cal just as Pope is to Pitino. That is natural. But you can also be loyal to UK and one that has recently shot off his mouth obviously isn’t. His dumb arse is unaware that Kentucky won championships before Cal got here and will win again after he leaves.
Posted on 4/15/24 at 4:51 pm to Lynxrufus2012
The only other thing I wish had happened was somehow have Pope invite Kenny Brooks onstage for some applause. He might be our new Cal in a good way.
Posted on 3/7/26 at 9:32 pm to The Architect
Pope had a better team last year than this one. Regression is not a good sign. With Oweh going next season could be bleak. We can’t get the studs and quite frankly we haven’t gotten better through the season this year.
Posted on 3/23/26 at 9:31 am to Lynxrufus2012
Was listening to KSR and they were not hopeful that we would get very many players to come back.
Is that good news or bad news? Can we get better in the portal?
I’d like to see Moreno, MoD, Chandler, Kam and Lowe back.
They weren’t too positive on that happening.
They were most positive (negative) that Johnson was gone.
Is that good news or bad news? Can we get better in the portal?
I’d like to see Moreno, MoD, Chandler, Kam and Lowe back.
They weren’t too positive on that happening.
They were most positive (negative) that Johnson was gone.
Posted on 3/25/26 at 4:23 pm to Lynxrufus2012
I could pass on Lowe, unless he's PG2.
I'm 50/50 on BG. If we could get good BG all the time, then yes, hope he stays. I'm about the same on Jelavic.
I definitely want M. Diobate, C. Chandler, K. Williams, and M. Moreno back.
I'd like to see him actually recruit 2-3 HS kids, not just hired guns from the portal.
I felt like Pope went away from getting guys that could play in his system and tried to "buy" the best players.... didn't work.
Pope needs to find a way to get defensive consistency, too. A team should always be able to play good defense with effort and good communication.
I'm 50/50 on BG. If we could get good BG all the time, then yes, hope he stays. I'm about the same on Jelavic.
I definitely want M. Diobate, C. Chandler, K. Williams, and M. Moreno back.
I'd like to see him actually recruit 2-3 HS kids, not just hired guns from the portal.
I felt like Pope went away from getting guys that could play in his system and tried to "buy" the best players.... didn't work.
Pope needs to find a way to get defensive consistency, too. A team should always be able to play good defense with effort and good communication.
Posted on 3/30/26 at 11:53 am to The Architect
My lifespan goes Rupp to Pope
3 great US companies have since failed in the post 1980 election. Kids went to college before this to become varied professionals and after that date they all wanted to be JD's and MBA's. The point is in the modern world, what is the value of the "off balance sheet" assets.
AT&T (the original, not the SWB baby bell who has AT&T name now). Not on the balance sheet wast the value of what was in the minds of the AT&T people. They were the largest patent holder in the world and #2 was not even close. Modern management got rid of those minds because they cost more in salary and benefits than some kid out of college with no experience. In a year to two they fell from maybe 60 dollars a share to maybe 3 dollars a share before being acquired by a French company.
Boeing Not on the balance sheet was 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation machinist. The MBA's sent the work outside the country to save money in the short term but killed the quality long term. If you are a passenger in a jet, do you want an expert making the bolts or a cheaper, but less experienced, worker in China?
General Electric Not on the balance sheet was the value of the lifers at GE that made it possibly the greatest diversified industrial company in the world. The MBA's in the 80's and 90's turned them into a finance company (like the old finance company under the Kentucky Central of Garvice Kincaid). GE management did early retirement for most of their employees and took the company right down the drain for short term profits and executive compensation.
How this relates to Kentucky is a university and president all about the Benjamins and not about the long term success. A big part of that is the historic nature of the fans and kids that play all 4 years. Even the "Unforgetables" was a throwback to earlier UK ball (a priemer player surrounded 4 local boys who just wanted to play for UK). Granted, Ricky got the team from sanctions, but it forced him to go back to the old way.
Pope should get this, so I am not ready to throw him under the bus yet. The key is what he brings that changes the playing field. Joe Hall had the misfortune to follow Rupp, but he did bring home a title. Less known is Hall brought a modern aspect (training and conditioning) to the game at the time. Rick brought the 3 point shot. My question is what will Pope bring? I do not have the answer, but perhaps one of you see what I can not.
3 great US companies have since failed in the post 1980 election. Kids went to college before this to become varied professionals and after that date they all wanted to be JD's and MBA's. The point is in the modern world, what is the value of the "off balance sheet" assets.
AT&T (the original, not the SWB baby bell who has AT&T name now). Not on the balance sheet wast the value of what was in the minds of the AT&T people. They were the largest patent holder in the world and #2 was not even close. Modern management got rid of those minds because they cost more in salary and benefits than some kid out of college with no experience. In a year to two they fell from maybe 60 dollars a share to maybe 3 dollars a share before being acquired by a French company.
Boeing Not on the balance sheet was 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation machinist. The MBA's sent the work outside the country to save money in the short term but killed the quality long term. If you are a passenger in a jet, do you want an expert making the bolts or a cheaper, but less experienced, worker in China?
General Electric Not on the balance sheet was the value of the lifers at GE that made it possibly the greatest diversified industrial company in the world. The MBA's in the 80's and 90's turned them into a finance company (like the old finance company under the Kentucky Central of Garvice Kincaid). GE management did early retirement for most of their employees and took the company right down the drain for short term profits and executive compensation.
How this relates to Kentucky is a university and president all about the Benjamins and not about the long term success. A big part of that is the historic nature of the fans and kids that play all 4 years. Even the "Unforgetables" was a throwback to earlier UK ball (a priemer player surrounded 4 local boys who just wanted to play for UK). Granted, Ricky got the team from sanctions, but it forced him to go back to the old way.
Pope should get this, so I am not ready to throw him under the bus yet. The key is what he brings that changes the playing field. Joe Hall had the misfortune to follow Rupp, but he did bring home a title. Less known is Hall brought a modern aspect (training and conditioning) to the game at the time. Rick brought the 3 point shot. My question is what will Pope bring? I do not have the answer, but perhaps one of you see what I can not.
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