Media is blistering Kentucky for hiring Pope, who had head coach experience. But, thought it a good hire when Duke hires scheyer at Duke, who had no head coaching experience

@mgers75

2 ай бұрын

I havent seen any media BLASTING the hire. Some have concerns but nobody's saying they think this cant work

@pgemperl

2 ай бұрын

There are only a few, very loud and obnoxious, fans who don’t support the hire! But they are the only fans that the media highlight! There is plenty of support, it’s just that nobody hears us!

@jdmurse88

2 ай бұрын

@@pgemperl they hear us but ignore us because it is not sensational

The massive overreaction lasted about 12 hours and after we all did some reflections, sleep, getting over the fact that the splashy big names arent interested and the school and ex players and Pitino did an amazing job selling the hire....bbn is bought in and see the vision.

@Pete391

2 ай бұрын

You are 100% correct......When I* first heard I couldnt believe...But after reading and listening and researching Im more than willing to give the man a chance...I am excited to have the University of Kentucky back...Tired of the University of Cal....

@Ryan_Rants

2 ай бұрын

Yes. For me it was not a "never Pope" situation. I just felt like really?! This early?! What about Beard, Miller, Wade, or Pearl? But all those guys had baggage and Mitch said that isn't something he wanted. The more I thought about it, watching BYU play, seeing his teammates talk about him, I am all in. It is the change we needed. Kentucky first. I really wanted Rick Pitino, but his endorsement was enough to get me fired up.

@hdnw7537

2 ай бұрын

This is fair. I don't think we couldn't get a big splash hire, we left a lot of names on the table, but I think, after reflection like most of us, this is what we have been wanting

@hdnw7537

2 ай бұрын

​@@Ryan_Rants exactly. I like Pope. He was my favorite player on the 96 team. But I wanted Beard. He was my top pick. But I think Pope is the right hire for what we have been wanting and could be a longterm coach. I'm here for it

Look, Dan Hurley had to get a start somewhere and uconn took a chance on him. Look how that turned out. Pope has a damn good IQ for basketball. Mix that up with the right players and we may be looking at the next pitino, or donovan, or even hurley. He runs an extremely fun offense. If reed stays, and he builds a team around him...look out. We might compete right out of the gate

I like Popes position...Young Hungry energy. He's a Caged Wildcat hungry for banners. The UK BRAND will do the recruiting for for Him.

@popcornjoe3752

2 ай бұрын

The UK brand didn't get a top tier coach

@daa_97

2 ай бұрын

Uk brand this not the 90s coaches get recruits not programs

@Freerider93

2 ай бұрын

Being Mormon is going to hurt him in recruiting.

@brandon2107

2 ай бұрын

@@daa_97 NIL gets recruits. UK has that.

@wadesmith3663

2 ай бұрын

Not that young

people are warming up to it after the initial shock, none of us really thought Hurley was realistic, but wanted Barnhart to at least go for it

In the season that just ended, John Calipari and Mark Pope each had an opportunity to beat the snot out of Kansas. One of them did it.

@ShawnD-tp3id

2 ай бұрын

Best comment I've seen so far on this topic!

@SomebodyBanThatGuy

2 ай бұрын

Mark pope won a title at kentucky in 2 years as a player. It took Cal 15 years.

@popcornjoe3752

2 ай бұрын

Kansas didn't lose to Oakland I'm pretty sure

@daa_97

2 ай бұрын

Mccullar was hurt

@jbrewer8941

2 ай бұрын

I've commented all day... I hope Coach is keeping all these receipts 🧾

A minority of UK fans rejected the idea of Mark Pope. A large majority of UK fans are supportive and extremely excited. Also, to correct you on your take about Rick Patino, most fans wanted Rock over. Bruce, that was 100% Mitch Barnhart. So much for being plugged in.

Keep an eye on Rupp Arena Sunday afternoon. You’ll see support from the so called crazy fans! 100% behind Coach Pope! Go Cats

Mark pope runs a really clever, and fine tuned offense. His teams are tough to defend, and he is smart in how he builds his rosters. Alot of people may be salty about the fact we probably won't be getting a roster full of 5 star freshman, but my goodness the man can coach. If there are any really good 3 point shooters out there, they have an opportunity to go play at UK in the biggest spotlight in one of the most impressive systems in the country. You can say his offense is kind of like uconn in a sense, they are constantly running DHO, pin downs, curl motions, guys are scoring the ball. If he can recruit some talented guys that fit that system he will win .

A core memory of my childhood was watching the unforgettables play, so i am ecstatic that we brought one home to coach the team. Pope is exactly what kentucky needs right now. If given the leash he needs to build a program, he is capable of doing amazing things here. Hes brilliant both on and off the court and bleeds blue. I cant think of a better hire.

@user-en1sc3gt6w

2 ай бұрын

The 1996 UK CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM were "THE UNTOUCHABLES"

Hilarious how media speaks for the fan base and have no idea the actual pulse of the true fan base….we are excited for Mark Pope

Ive been a diehard Kentucky fan since 90’ and I’m here for it!! I’ll be rooting for him to succeed, I don’t like when people say “Kentucky” fans are crazy. You can’t group the whole fanbase opinion over what idiots say online when there are a ton of bbn fans.

@user-tt1hx2nm4p

2 ай бұрын

White people group all minority people together, wtf are you talking about?

@b.j.reuter7215

2 ай бұрын

Ya we got more idiots than some have fans🤣 good hire Go Cats💙✌️

Kentucky fans are not the villain here

@joelspaulding5964

2 ай бұрын

Ehh, a few of them are. Said as a 30 year UK fan and grad.

@johnny_cakes

2 ай бұрын

bbn is crazy too crazy for some

SEE YOU GET IT DOUG. As a Kentucky fan, thank you for opinion on our hiring of Mark Pope. Our fan base is going to rally around coach Pope, and give him a fair chance.

This blue blooded Kentuckian is all for Pope! Awesome hire! GO BIG BLUE!

I'm thrilled Coach Pope's coming home! A loud minority shouldn't be taken as the opinion of the entire fanbase. We're pumped and can't wait to fill Rupp tomorrow for the press conference! Cats by 90!!!!!

GREAT PICK 👍🏻 and not a media pick outside KY WE ON 🏆💙

Mark Pope will do fantastic here… I can’t wait for him to hush all the haters. He was a great hire for Kentucky, it will be proven soon.

That’s the thing about Pope he’s a crazy BBN fan too and gets us. Everyone took a minute to freak out, but then reflected and can see the vision and are now all in. Wait till you see the crowd for that introductory press conference at Rupp tomorrow 💪🏼🔵⚪️

No need to dis Kentucky fans some are nuts yes but some are just enthusiastic

@jdmurse88

2 ай бұрын

The ones that are nuts are the most vocal. The cooler heads need to be louder. We don’t want Mark pope to think he made a mistake before he gets on campus. I was a student during the Mashburn and Pope eras…I’m excited about this and the video of him with his team uniform on sold me on it.

@Ryan_Rants

2 ай бұрын

@@jdmurse88 This is the most reasonable comment on the subject. Many of us are just passionate. A very few are toxic, but they are by far the loudest.

@RunCMD99

2 ай бұрын

@@jdmurse88 Pope knows exactly what he signed up for and knows how crazy Kentucky fans are and he loves Kentucky. You think a bunch of loud obnoxious fans are gonna rattle him? He knows what comes with this job and he will be smart enough to tune them out and knows if he wins, they will come.

The players he will recruit will sign on because it's Kentucky not because of this coach!

As a Kentucky fan let me say, g*ddammit Gottlieb is right. Although I have noticed it’s only our internet voices that are negative. All of the local call in shows have had nothing but positive callers. Everyone I’ve talked to in person supports the hire. It’s been an eye opening experience to witness one reaction in the real world yet when I get online I see the exact opposite reaction from the same community. It’s just a smaller example of what we’ve been experiencing within our communities since the invention of social media. That’s not an excuse, you’re right our (BBN) online voices are extremely annoying.

I'm a huge UK fan. I'm super excited about Coach Pope. Lets get it rolling coach P. I will be there Sunday to usher in the Pope Era. And btw. Noone wanted Bruce Pearl instead of Pope. Not sure who yall are talking about. Go Cats! I mean we just didnt really know a lot about Coach Pope. We knew player Pope. Come on Doug. Those few hours were a roller coaster of emotion. You of all people should understand that. Love Coach Pope!

You had a knee jerk reaction to the KY fans just like they had a knee jerk reaction to Pope. They have fixed their response and are now all in on Pope. Are you going to walk back your knee jerk judgement too?

Mr. Gottlieb makes a good point. We are at the beginning of a new style of play, with NIL. We need a coach who can handle that system well.

As a UK FAN i think youre overstating the pushback on the hire. After the last 6 years we are pretty fed up with being ignored especially when we were right. The initial complaining was more related to not being listened to by the admin... id say most fans. Were very optimistic by 4 o'clock today I think pope bringing fun back will win over the few hold outs. Lets face it... Cal hasnt won at a hight level on years. The reason he left is because he wants to prove he wasnt the reason he couldn't get out of the first weekend.

@L_RANTA

2 ай бұрын

100% agree with everything you said! I was at UK from 2009-2015 so I get it.

Blue blood/entitlement/uk has to be working hard innovating with social emotional stuff for cohesion.

WAY OFF!!! Ky residents are happy with Pope. Fair day's that claim to be fans which they aren't are mad They like to say they are KY fans bc they like NBA players. KY fans that count are KY residents not just dorks on the internet. You missed the mark with this take

Not all ky fans don't like it. I love it, bringing in one of our own, who understands all sides. Player side, coach side, Kentucky the jersey side, and bbn side. He knows what it takes, and will have every opportunity at his call. I trust his coaching, why???? Cause he is a good coach!!!! And most of us do understand, bbn is our own wrost enemy. That's part reason cal left, smoke on him has been heavy ladt 3 years, and he knew till season started , it was going be 5× wrost. He knew all his players, and the freshman coming in, besides Travis perry going to the hogg Penn with him, so he went. Good, he's gone, now we won't get beat by Oakland or st. Peter's for a long long time!!!!!!!

It was a surprise for sure, but after I thought about it, I’m all in! He was so restricted in recruiting at BYU, as you said, it’s tricky. They still beat Kansas, WVa and Texas this year. His former teammates, Sheppard, Delk and Mills are all commited to helping to supporting him, on the recruiting trail and with the fans. He’s obviously a great Xs and Os guy (likely better than Cal, who relied on talent of players rather than strategy). I’m all in!

Solid solid dude and will now gotta get plkayers

Mark Pope should have been the #1 candidate for the job. Cats are gonna be competing for championships immediately. If he can win in the Big 12 at BYU, he will win at Kentucky.

I’m a Kentucky fan and live in Ky. We did overreact and most of us will admit that. We are crazy, basketball is life in this state. We’re a bit picky about who the boss is. We’ve already got over it and are excited about the future because we know we’ll will another title regardless. We were winning titles in the 1940’s, and we’ll be winning them in my great grandchildren’s lifetime. I’d bet my good ear on that.

I have to say, the BBN is perceived this way partly because the press only gives the noisy negative fans a voice. There are many more of us who are embracing this hire. We’re just not constantly on social media criticizing the coach! Some of us (myself included) have had to use snail mail to the athletic department, coaches and players to get our message of support to them because our posts and voices are never noticed by anyone with a mic! On Sunday, look at how many of us will be in Rupp to welcome Mark back home! Some of us are traveling across several states to be there in person! Please, if you want to hear the support, just see us and hear us!

My only issue with Pope, is I personally believe IF he does work out, it'll take 3-5 years before the ball gets rolling in ernest, and people may not be patient. Don't forget, some thought Hurley was on the hotseat after his first 4 years.

I wasn't too excited about Mark Pope at first. I looked into his performance and his coaching style. I've changed my mind. I really think he will be a great coach.

People keep saying the UK brand will get the recruits the UK brand didn't get the top coaches they wanted

@haldriver1378

2 ай бұрын

We didn't get a big name like "Bill Self". We got the guy that beat the snot out of him. In his own house. Let that sink in.

@Bob-te3le

2 ай бұрын

Facts. Kentucky is living in the past. It's not top dog anymore

@jdmurse88

2 ай бұрын

The recruits will come the coach pressure is different.

@Grayswandiir

2 ай бұрын

Even if the name doesn't pull recruits, the huge NIL warchest will. We will have at least 4 mil to play with. The players will come.

@Bob-te3le

2 ай бұрын

@@Grayswandiir Then why are the recruits backing out of their commitments !

Listen, most of bbn has gotten over the initial shock and are getting excited about the possibilities for the future. Shoot, even Rick Pitino has promised to get out his check book and help NIL if need be.

BBN went throught the 5 stages of depression in record time! lol…They jumped from the first stage, denial, to the 5th stage, acceptance, so quickly! BTW, congrats on your new coach, Colonel Sanders University!!

@tystarnes

2 ай бұрын

Enjoy your NBA factory with no titles enjoy the BBNs used Corvette get the warranty tho.

@ccpbux

2 ай бұрын

@@tystarnes Trust me, Cal and the Hogs will be just fine next year! Lol

@tystarnes

2 ай бұрын

Oh I'm sure, unless it's 2012 I'm sure #14, #15 seeds are salvating at the chance of playing Cal already lol.

Pope wasn’t on anyone’s radar , they tried to litterly hire the 2 coaches in the most stable jobs in basketball and when that pipe dream died they said we are gonna back up the brinks trucks to BYU , I like Pope and the fact he won a title at UK but that don’t mean I want him doing a kidney transplant on me or trust him flying me down to Dallas tomorrow, u guys are hilarious, Cal comes in and helps do fundraising for the Ky people after natural disasters and he’s not one of us I’ll bet ur ass ur guy wasn’t down in Mayfied after the tornadoes hit but “he’s one of us “ u guys are a real class act .

@joshmanuel3773

2 ай бұрын

Oddly enough, you mentioned a kidney transplant...Pope went to Columbia's medical school for 3 years before he dropped out to become a coach. Also was in the running to be a Rhodes Scholar once upon a time. Pope might be the coach you'd go under the knife for 😂

Who were the big names hired by UNC and Duke? UCONN? The more I read and hear, the more I like this hire. I started UK pharmacy in 97, so just missed the 96 team. Certainly watched and respected him as a player. His intelligence and ability to adapt, with his passion for KY and the practically unlimited resources at his disposal, gives me great optimism.

Totally agree…I hope he does great. The fans are the reason for UK not being many coaches cup of tea.

@lenpalmerton819

2 ай бұрын

In all fairness as a Kentucky fan most are nothing like the way media portrays us as an overall fanbase

So you and Field of 68 talk about being shocked and don't have Pope in your top 20 choices but Kentucky fans are villains when we agree. Then you come at us like we are spoiled. Maybe Pope is the guy but he would have taken the job today, next week, or next month. Barnhart didn't want to hire Cal and his 2 choices are Billy Clyde and Pope who was a whipping boy as a player at Kentucky.

I personally wanted T. J. Otzelberger but was estatic with the Mar Pope hire, but most didn't have a problem with Mark Pope they had a problem with Mitch Barnhart moving from Dan Hurley to Mark Pope in less than 4 hours. But everyone i know got over it by the time they woke up. Alot of People thought Billy Donovan wanted the job so they think we shouldve waited for him, I dont think he wanted it nor do I want a guy 10 years removed from the game.

been a uk fan since like 2013 or1 4 whenever the harrison twins were playing, so i’ve only seen Cal, but im curious to see what Pope will do. Seems like a solid coach, i just feel like we are definitely not getting those big 5 star recruits anymore. optimistic for the szn tho! 🐱

@SauceyJude

2 ай бұрын

just saw he’s alumni that’s cool too

UK got their 3rd or 4th option.

@davidcovington1046

2 ай бұрын

Yeah exactly

@Bob-te3le

2 ай бұрын

Exactly. That's what Kentucky has come to. They get the leftovers. Let them fans tell it its the best job in college basketball. 😂

@barronfinley3062

2 ай бұрын

Pope was on the short list from the beginning

@Ryan_Rants

2 ай бұрын

I think he was number 2 in all honesty. Barnhart wanted Scott Drew, who really considered it and thought about it. This is a man of strong faith and family values. He has been in Waco for 21 years. He has 2 high school kids and another at Baylor. They have spent their whole lives there. His wife is more introverted. Who can blame him for deciding to stay home? But the fact he strongly considered it, prayed about it, had his family visit, says a lot about the allure of Kentucky. We all knew Hurley would be a no, but you have to ask with his recent success. Mitch knew if he didn't then there would be a revolt. To me, from Mitch Barnhart's perspective, it was Scott Drew and then Mark Pope. Kentucky is still relevant. Kentucky always will be. And the haters will rue the day we are back on top. It is coming.

We got Anthony black fair n square. Calipari is ours now wps

A lot of the bandwagon fans will jump off because while it's still kentucky, he's not gonna be bringing in all those 5 stars and one and dones but he will have success in terms of winning.

Brother Doug!!!!! Nice!!!!😂

Pope has to go the opposite way of Cal in development etc. He has to build with 4 and 5 stars (that stay 4 years) and have a champ team within 4 years

Love it.

Exactly right on SOME of the fan base being sore about being rejected by their favorite picks. Seems that is more the issue than the initial lukewarm(at best) reaction from Cats fans.

In my opinion, Mitch Barnhart needs his rear quarters kicked out as head of the athletic department just as the arrogant coach got his due. Watch AK and see how that works out after a year of so. As far as the players at UK if the players want to follow Calipari to AK, let em. Everyone should give this new coach an opportunity to do his job which is make UK a winning program once again instead of recruiting all top high school players then encouraging them to go to the NBA after only one year.

drinking on the job again, doug??

@davidcovington1046

2 ай бұрын

Yeah sounds like it

As a captain of the team how many national championships do you have

He’s a better coach than Calipari.. Reed would average 30 a game in his offense

I know be better the Billy Gillespie

@jesskelley4726

2 ай бұрын

Not really a high bar lol

@miguelhernandez2614

2 ай бұрын

@jesskelley4726 if he don't drink like Gillespie I tink is a plus

@jesskelley4726

2 ай бұрын

@@miguelhernandez2614 i thought Kentucky should have tried to get Bruce Pearl But Pope might do really good

MOST YOUNG KENTUCKY FANS DONT KNOW WHO MARK POPE IS

Rondo would’ve been an epic hire. Maybe when his son is of age

Bruce Pearl is a clown. Tired of hearing about him

@Fool3SufferingFools

2 ай бұрын

A clown and a crook. Never Pearl, with his shady history.

Who???

It won't work

This is so embarrassing!!! Kentucky sucks now!!!!

@questioneverything1646

2 ай бұрын

You suck! Bot!

Diversity hire

We’re getting our team back… 🫵🏼🏀🍿

Mark Pope will do fantastic here… I can’t wait for him to hush all the haters. He was a great hire for Kentucky, it will be proven soon.