Mark Pope

#26
#26
It's not usually a good idea. Peyton Manning is not stupid and it shows.
Who said he was stupid? I'm not sure what you mean. Him not being stupid doesn't mean he'd be a good coach. Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't. Sooner or later, things happen with any coach and they get heat. Stupid or not. Very few coaches end on a good note, no matter who they are. Having it be a beloved former player makes it even harder for everyone.
 
#27
#27
I think he gets a pass this year due to building a team on the fly and the injuries they've dealt with, but if his trend of having bad defensive teams like he had at BYU continues here, he's not going to be around a long time.

Winning 20+ games and not making it out of the first weekend might fly at BYU, but it will have you on the chopping block in a hurry in Lexington.
 
#28
#28
For the record, I think the jury is still out on Pope. I never expected him to come in and light the world on fire immediately the way Calipari did, but he does encapsulate the culture and program pride that Kentucky fans finally longed for the longer the transient Calipari model wore thin on them. He's going to get a few years to prove himself and build the program his way, but his ultimate fate will be decided in the NCAAT, where he has never won a game, yet, in his coaching career spanning 9 years.

That being said, Saturday afternoon (prior to the UK-Ark game), I had a friend of mine who is a big UK fan approach me with the idea that he didn't understand how Pope wasn't the obvious frontrunner for COY given the circumstances he took over. 96 hours later, and that take has not aged well. Of course, I disagreed even before the consecutive losses, but also because rebuilding is so much easier, now. This person tried to argue that he had to replace the whole team...yada yada yada. I said why not Mark Byington, then? He replaced all 13 players at Vandy and beat UK and has a better record. I said why not Dennis Gates? He went 0-18 in the SEC last year, and is currently 17-4, 6-2 and ranked 15th in the nation. Then the goalposts shifted to the amount of pressure there is to win at UK compared to other places. Of course, I refuted by noting that pressure to win exists everywhere and isn't a factor taken into consideration in COY voting.
 
#29
#29
To me, he's very similar to Deboer for Bama football. Successful in a weaker conference, but not ready for the big leagues.
 
#32
#32
Who said he was stupid? I'm not sure what you mean. Him not being stupid doesn't mean he'd be a good coach. Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't. Sooner or later, things happen with any coach and they get heat. Stupid or not. Very few coaches end on a good note, no matter who they are. Having it be a beloved former player makes it even harder for everyone.

He’s smart enough to not tarnish the Manning brand by taking a head coaching position and eventually flaming out.
 
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#35
#35
He is doing an alright job with the roster he has. The problem is that Kentucky expects to be the best competing for championships.

To me though, Pope is a guy that can make a subpar program pretty good, but never actually take them to a championship. His style can beat anyone, but also lose to anyone. Too many unathletic shooters. They have one way to beat you, but that's it.
 
#37
#37
For the record, I think the jury is still out on Pope. I never expected him to come in and light the world on fire immediately the way Calipari did, but he does encapsulate the culture and program pride that Kentucky fans finally longed for the longer the transient Calipari model wore thin on them. He's going to get a few years to prove himself and build the program his way, but his ultimate fate will be decided in the NCAAT, where he has never won a game, yet, in his coaching career spanning 9 years.

That being said, Saturday afternoon (prior to the UK-Ark game), I had a friend of mine who is a big UK fan approach me with the idea that he didn't understand how Pope wasn't the obvious frontrunner for COY given the circumstances he took over. 96 hours later, and that take has not aged well. Of course, I disagreed even before the consecutive losses, but also because rebuilding is so much easier, now. This person tried to argue that he had to replace the whole team...yada yada yada. I said why not Mark Byington, then? He replaced all 13 players at Vandy and beat UK and has a better record. I said why not Dennis Gates? He went 0-18 in the SEC last year, and is currently 17-4, 6-2 and ranked 15th in the nation. Then the goalposts shifted to the amount of pressure there is to win at UK compared to other places. Of course, I refuted by noting that pressure to win exists everywhere and isn't a factor taken into consideration in COY voting.
Another coach did that right down the road from Pope. Pat Kelsey.
 
#38
#38
For the record, I think the jury is still out on Pope. I never expected him to come in and light the world on fire immediately the way Calipari did, but he does encapsulate the culture and program pride that Kentucky fans finally longed for the longer the transient Calipari model wore thin on them. He's going to get a few years to prove himself and build the program his way, but his ultimate fate will be decided in the NCAAT, where he has never won a game, yet, in his coaching career spanning 9 years.

That being said, Saturday afternoon (prior to the UK-Ark game), I had a friend of mine who is a big UK fan approach me with the idea that he didn't understand how Pope wasn't the obvious frontrunner for COY given the circumstances he took over. 96 hours later, and that take has not aged well. Of course, I disagreed even before the consecutive losses, but also because rebuilding is so much easier, now. This person tried to argue that he had to replace the whole team...yada yada yada. I said why not Mark Byington, then? He replaced all 13 players at Vandy and beat UK and has a better record. I said why not Dennis Gates? He went 0-18 in the SEC last year, and is currently 17-4, 6-2 and ranked 15th in the nation. Then the goalposts shifted to the amount of pressure there is to win at UK compared to other places. Of course, I refuted by noting that pressure to win exists everywhere and isn't a factor taken into consideration in COY voting.
At the halfway point of the conference, I don’t think anyone has did a better job than Gates. I agree with your assessment.
 
#39
#39
I think he gets a pass this year due to building a team on the fly and the injuries they've dealt with, but if his trend of having bad defensive teams like he had at BYU continues here, he's not going to be around a long time.

Winning 20+ games and not making it out of the first weekend might fly at BYU, but it will have you on the chopping block in a hurry in Lexington.
The fan base will turn on him in year 3 unless he shows that he gets help as a defensive coach. He is already being doubted. He has never won an NCAA tournament game. If they free fall the back half, the rumblings will begin. He’s dealing with a fan base that thinks they should win every game and national championships should come easily. Kansas and Duke fans cannot compare to their delusional fans. It’s unreal.
 

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