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What is wrong with Kentucky Basketball
Posted on 3/22/26 at 5:49 pm
Posted on 3/22/26 at 5:49 pm
Hate to start a topic, but got to get this off my chest. Watching the post-game Kentucky Sports Radio take ... and this is part of the problem.
Tyler Thompson. When Jack Pilgrim calls out that "this group of players just don't seem to care". She, of course, charges right in that "of course they care".
And that's the problem, right there. That's how a program goes from a Blue Blood to 9th in a 16 team conference. That level of self-denial. That level of self bullshitting.
Don't feel compelled to reply - unless you just want to pile on. Because honestly ? We're talking about a bottom half of the SEC basketball program right now.
Tyler Thompson. When Jack Pilgrim calls out that "this group of players just don't seem to care". She, of course, charges right in that "of course they care".
And that's the problem, right there. That's how a program goes from a Blue Blood to 9th in a 16 team conference. That level of self-denial. That level of self bullshitting.
Don't feel compelled to reply - unless you just want to pile on. Because honestly ? We're talking about a bottom half of the SEC basketball program right now.
15
Posted on 3/22/26 at 5:50 pm to TheScogg
Looks like you guys don't even run an offense. Your PG today was pretty bad.
Posted on 3/22/26 at 5:52 pm to Night Vision
quote:
Looks like you guys don't even run an offense. Your PG today was pretty bad.
Because the flaky frick that is our coach has it in his head that offense needs to be initiated by a big at the top of the key.
Because hey - there's one of those just hanging on every street corner in America.
Posted on 3/22/26 at 5:52 pm to TheScogg
I won't pile on, but I will provide an exit strategy in the form of a new coach.
I hear the Arkansas coach is doing well. Maybe, if the price is right, UK can pull an Eddie Sutton 2.0.
I hear the Arkansas coach is doing well. Maybe, if the price is right, UK can pull an Eddie Sutton 2.0.
Posted on 3/22/26 at 5:52 pm to TheScogg
this is who Kentucky basketball is at this point Posted on 3/22/26 at 5:54 pm to TriStateAreaFootball
quote:
Maybe, if the price is right, UK can pull an Eddie Sutton 2.0.
I liked Eddie Sutton. His drinking stories are famous around Lexington ... that cat was a serious alcoholic. Great coach, though.
Posted on 3/22/26 at 5:57 pm to TheScogg
She is.......not good at her job.........I'll just leave it at that.
Posted on 3/22/26 at 6:03 pm to TheScogg
You just need a better coach.
UK will spend what it takes to get one.
UK will spend what it takes to get one.
Posted on 3/22/26 at 6:04 pm to TheScogg
One thing is that Pope got players that didn’t fit his offensive style. His passing and screening game turned into a bad dribble drive.
He structured this team to be more physical and the guy he was counting on never recovered from an ACL tear. The other problem is a lack of lateral quickness on defense.
Then for the second consecutive year is point guard is injured and he has no backup.
Pope was clueless at times.How many games did he insert Jasper Johnson and everything went south? The kid isn’t a point guard. He isn’t much of a two either.
The preparation is disappointing too. Has he ever told his bigs to not dribble in traffic? Taught his guards to not pick up the ball until they pass? Told them not to dribble in traffic? Has he told Chandler it is OK to drive and pull up?
Then Jelavic. Why in the hell doesn’t he play near the basket? 6’11” and slow should not be on the perimeter other than in a pick and pop.
This crap never got better all season long.
He structured this team to be more physical and the guy he was counting on never recovered from an ACL tear. The other problem is a lack of lateral quickness on defense.
Then for the second consecutive year is point guard is injured and he has no backup.
Pope was clueless at times.How many games did he insert Jasper Johnson and everything went south? The kid isn’t a point guard. He isn’t much of a two either.
The preparation is disappointing too. Has he ever told his bigs to not dribble in traffic? Taught his guards to not pick up the ball until they pass? Told them not to dribble in traffic? Has he told Chandler it is OK to drive and pull up?
Then Jelavic. Why in the hell doesn’t he play near the basket? 6’11” and slow should not be on the perimeter other than in a pick and pop.
This crap never got better all season long.
Posted on 3/22/26 at 6:13 pm to TheScogg
quote:
What is wrong with Kentucky Basketball
WildcatMike
Posted on 3/22/26 at 6:16 pm to TheScogg
It's a bad overall team. Injuries, yes, but Pope needs help with roster construction, and he seems to be refusing it.
Posted on 3/22/26 at 6:16 pm to TheScogg
Cool melt. 
Posted on 3/22/26 at 6:19 pm to Lynxrufus2012
quote:
Pope was clueless at times.
Most of the season
Posted on 3/22/26 at 6:20 pm to HOG92
quote:
Cool melt.
Just honesty, man. Calling it like it is.
Posted on 3/22/26 at 6:20 pm to TheScogg
Karma for the refs ignoring Herb Sendek trying to call s timeout before UK inbounded the ball?
Posted on 3/22/26 at 6:24 pm to kywildcatfanone
Pope is an almost Rhodes Scholar, he don’t need no stinking help.
His two best players are out of eligibility.
We don’t know who is coming back.
Have no clue who we can get in the portal.
Don’t have a single recruit.
Why would he need help?
His two best players are out of eligibility.
We don’t know who is coming back.
Have no clue who we can get in the portal.
Don’t have a single recruit.
Why would he need help?
Posted on 3/22/26 at 6:25 pm to lsu711
Hiring a coach with zero proven success is the first "wrong" thing. Secondly, the entire athletic department is a complete disaster. Handing over NIL to an outside company could not be going any worse. 0 recruits signed for next year?
Pope is in over his head but the entire university is going in the wrong direction.
Pope is in over his head but the entire university is going in the wrong direction.
This post was edited on 3/22/26 at 6:30 pm
Posted on 3/22/26 at 6:27 pm to Lynxrufus2012
quote:
Pope is an almost Rhodes Scholar, he don’t need no stinking help.
Yep. He is an arrogant prick. All that glad-handing he used to do after games ? He reminds me of Harold Hill.
Posted on 3/22/26 at 6:30 pm to Lynxrufus2012
quote:
Pope is an almost Rhodes Scholar, he don’t need no stinking help.
His two best players are out of eligibility.
We don’t know who is coming back.
Have no clue who we can get in the portal.
Don’t have a single recruit.
Why would he need help?
Well when you put it that way...
Posted on 3/22/26 at 6:31 pm to TheScogg
Kentucky has rich history as a blueblood and nothing will change that. They have one of the top jobs in the game and just need a great head coach. That could still be Pope, but it's not simply a matter of how much you can pay. Florida and Indiana are contrasting examples of this.
The current problems are just things everyone goes through. Kentucky isn't the exception it may think when it comes to finding great coaching. It's a struggle in Lexington like everywhere else, but it's easier there with Kentucky's tradition and history.
I've witnessed 4 different head coaches win national championships at Kentucky and I suspect that I'll witness 1 or 2 more before I'm gone.
The current problems are just things everyone goes through. Kentucky isn't the exception it may think when it comes to finding great coaching. It's a struggle in Lexington like everywhere else, but it's easier there with Kentucky's tradition and history.
I've witnessed 4 different head coaches win national championships at Kentucky and I suspect that I'll witness 1 or 2 more before I'm gone.
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