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46 minutes ago, IUCrazy2 said:

Second, I hope they have our past 20 years staring them in the face.

Not even remotely possible.  If he doesn't work out they'll move on and swing again. It's not like they've never made a bad hire before.  Also,  Pope could turn out to be really good.  

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Reading several threads on RR and it's both amusing and depressing.

Amusing in how all week there was an air of how, being UK they could just offer megabucks and multiple accomplished coaches would come running.  Also, it was almost unanymous that Pope wasn't worthy of consideration - but now they're beginning to coalesce in support (sounds familiar).

Depressing that the criticisms are similar to us (hired only because he was an ex-player, never won on the big stage, etc.) with Woodson, yet Pope is markedly more qualified than Woodson was (is).  What will the landscape be if/when we look to make a change?

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9 hours ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

Man if UK can’t land a top coach, who the heck are we going to land next year? 

Why do you think they didn't land a top coach? I'm not sure, but Pope shows the signs of someone who could be a top coach. 

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4 minutes ago, pumpfake said:

Reading several threads on RR and it's both amusing and depressing.

Amusing in how all week there was an air of how, being UK they could just offer megabucks and multiple accomplished coaches would come running.  Also, it was almost unanymous that Pope wasn't worthy of consideration - but now they're beginning to coalesce in support (sounds familiar).

Depressing that the criticisms are similar to us (hired only because he was an ex-player, never won on the big stage, etc.) with Woodson, yet Pope is markedly more qualified than Woodson was (is).  What will the landscape be if/when we look to make a change?

The same landscape as it is now.  People were crapping on the idea of hiring Dusty May but that is the pool you will be picking from.  The "big" names aren't leaving their jobs anymore because the "big" names are often already established at places where they make good money and have job security.

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28 minutes ago, Hoosier Roots said:

Does anyone know if UK even went after Oats or Beard? 

Very doubtful:

  • Maybe they called Oats. Oats was flat out not available.
  • Beard has a fairly recent domestic abuse episode (though not criminally convicted) and also has the reputation of being someone that drinks way too much.

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26 minutes ago, Hoosier Roots said:

Does anyone know if UK even went after Oats or Beard? 

Based on coaches who made statements and official reports, they went after Hurley, Oats, and Drew.

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7 minutes ago, IUCrazy2 said:

The "big" names aren't leaving their jobs anymore 

When did they ever? 

I can't think of a guy that won a title and was hired away from the school he won at. I'm sure it has happened but it's always been the exception.  

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10 minutes ago, JSHoosier said:

They won't. If he shows he can't meet expectations he'll be gone, they won't give a crap about optics.

^^^^^ This! I hate to quote Calipari but, "Coaches win basketball games, administrations win National Championships."

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1 hour ago, Hoosier Roots said:

Does anyone know if UK even went after Oats or Beard? 

Oats was the first coach they targeted. They did not go after Beard. 

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58 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Why do you think they didn't land a top coach? I'm not sure, but Pope shows the signs of someone who could be a top coach. 

He’s been a D1 head coach for 9 seasons. 0 tournament wins. 0 conference championships and 0 conference tournament championships. Nothing about his resume says top coach. It’s not as bad of a hire as Mike Woodson was, but it’s also not a hire you push John Calipari out to make. 

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17 minutes ago, AH1971 said:

Oats was the first coach they targeted. They did not go after Beard. 

I do not think so.

Ben Roberts is the UK beat writer for the Lexington Herald Leader. He just stated that UK AD Mitch Barnhardt had only two candidates on his list:

  1. Scott Drew
  2. Mark Pope

That makes a lot more sense than the unattainable wish list candidates that some short-sighted fans think are the only acceptable options.

Here is what is far more likely:

  • Barnhardt first went after the highly successful candidate that he had a personal relationship with, and who he thought would bring stability to the program.
  • When that was 'close-but no', he went to his second choice; the fairly successful candidate with UK ties that he had a personal relationship with, and who he thought would bring stability to the program.

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1 minute ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

He’s been a D1 head coach for 9 seasons. 0 tournament wins. 0 conference championships and 0 conference tournament championships. Nothing about his resume says top coach. It’s not as bad of a hire as Mike Woodson was, but it’s also not a hire you push John Calipari out to make. 

Those are accurate statistical citations that are devoid of context.

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24 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

I do not think so.

Ben Roberts is the UK beat writer for the Lexington Herald Leader. He just stated that UK AD Mitch Barnhardt had only two candidates on his list:

  1. Scott Drew
  2. Mark Pope

That makes a lot more sense than the unattainable wish list candidates that some short-sighted fans think are the only acceptable options.

Here is what is far more likely:

  • Barnhardt first went after the highly successful candidate that he had a personal relationship with, and who he thought would bring stability to the program.
  • When that was 'close-but no', he went to his second choice; the fairly successful candidate with UK ties that he had a personal relationship with, and who he thought would bring stability to the program.

I think Drew was the first coach they made a formal offer, but Oats was the first coach they actually reached out too. He put out a lengthy sentiment saying he was staying put at Alabama shortly after the UK job opened. 

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