Coaching Carousel

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Thu Apr 11, 2024 1:48 pm

The panic in the comments is hilarious

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Thu Apr 11, 2024 2:31 pm

A Mormon who has double digit losses most years and never won a conference championship?

Can't imagine that will win the presser.

AzCatFan2 · Post by **AzCatFan2** » Thu Apr 11, 2024 2:58 pm

Pope's also never won a game in the NCAA Tournament. Five years at BYU, one COVID year, 1 no bid, 1 NIT bid, and 2 first round losses. Can't see Kentucky fans too happy about this record. Sean Miller might not win the press conference either, but he has taken two teams to the Sweet 16 and has 3 Elite 8 trips. Only Pope has over Miller is being an alum, and being 4 years younger.

wyo-cat · Post by **wyo-cat** » Thu Apr 11, 2024 3:52 pm

Merkin wrote: Thu Apr 11, 2024 2:31 pm A Mormon who has double digit losses most years and never won a conference championship?

Can't imagine that will win the presser.

That would be a shit sandwich of a presser.

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Thu Apr 11, 2024 4:15 pm

Just can't even imagine having BYU code of conduct athletes then trying to deal with elite athletes who are normal college aged students doing normal college aged student things. Kind of reminds me of Ben Lindsey who won two NAIA championships, then had to deal with scholarship athletes at Arizona.

Recall one BYU athlete a few years back had premarital sex and was kicked off the team.

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Thu Apr 11, 2024 6:54 pm

It's happening

CatsbyAZ · Post by **CatsbyAZ** » Thu Apr 11, 2024 7:24 pm

Kentucky set to hire Pope feels a lot like Kentucky hiring Billy Gillispie from Texas A&M back in 2007. Except with less excitement and less potential upside. Lexington will chew Pope up and spit him out. A placeholder, like Gillispie, until the "right" guy becomes available. Then, like Gillispie, preemptively run out of the building.

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Thu Apr 11, 2024 8:16 pm

Panic hiring always works out well.

Maybe next time spend a week or two on the search before settling on the guy you could have gotten at literally any time.

TheCat · Post by **TheCat** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 6:51 am

AD should be fired. Everyone knew Cal was on the clock. He should have gauged coaches for interest 6 months ago then make a move.

Djcat · Post by **Djcat** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 7:54 am

He caved to boosters and rabid fans unrealistic expectations and demands. He got the wrong signal too. Thought his crush Scott Drew will come running or Hurley will fall for the big bag of cash. Pretty sure he didn’t think he will have to fall back on Plan C

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 8:12 am

Pope should have been Plan F.

Djcat · Post by **Djcat** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 8:23 am

Chicat wrote: Fri Apr 12, 2024 8:12 am Pope should have been Plan F.

Agree but the AD had him at C. Livengod level buffoonery

We almost got Tim Floyd…..

FreeSpiritCat · Post by **FreeSpiritCat** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 9:12 am

This is mind-boggling. I think the fanbase thinks any coach UK wants will come crawling to coach for them. Very unrealistic expectations. There are a lot of reasons not to coach at UK, the rabid fanbase being one of them, creating a pressure cooker. Often coaches like where they coach and are settled in. Why would they want to uproot a good situation, even if the money is good. There are a lot of delusional fanbases, and UK is one of the blue bloods on this list.

TheCatInTheHat · Post by **TheCatInTheHat** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 9:32 am

Naturally, the Lexington newspaper is spinning it as a good thing:

https://www.kentucky.com/sports/

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 9:41 am

AD getting roasted, but not ratioed so I guess that's a good thing.

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 9:56 am

My oh my how the mighty have fallen.

This isn't just losing the press conference. It's hiring Kevin for David Wallace's job.

I guess the ucla situation from a few years back wasn't an isolated incident. Programs with unrealistic expectations are no longer able to poach whoever they want, whenever they want. I remember when the UNC job opened up in 2003, it was seemingly preordained that Williams would leave Kansas for UNC, given his history with that program. UNC was able to get a guy who'd already been to four FFs, and I don't even think they had to sweat it out.

It's also crazy how fantastic hiring Lloyd looks in hindsight. Think of it: we could've had Mark Pope.

Fishclamps · Post by **Fishclamps** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:02 am

Here's the thing though, this could work out great for Kentucky. Now that so many schools are having to take flyers on unproven coaches, you just never know.

AzCatFan2 · Post by **AzCatFan2** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:06 am

If Pope matches or exceeds Cal's level, then this is a homerun hire. Kentucky fans will give Pope a little more rope, because he's an alumni. If Pope fails, and doesn't last his first full contract, then expectations will be lower, and the next guy can come in and reach Cal's level and fans will be happy just to be back there.

The latter is much more likely to happen than the former with Pope. Let's be honest, would any blue blood even mention Pope as a candidate unless he was an alum? No. And alumni hires that other schools in the conference wouldn't hire rarely work out.

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:07 am

Fishclamps wrote: Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:02 am Here's the thing though, this could work out great for Kentucky. Now that so many schools are having to take flyers on unproven coaches, you just never know.

If Calipari weren't in the SEC, I'd be more willing to consider this possibility. Cal is going to get better recruiting classes than Pope. Every year.

Fishclamps · Post by **Fishclamps** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:08 am

Any scuttlebutt on who BYU is targeting?

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:09 am

Fishclamps wrote: Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:08 am Any scuttlebutt on who BYU is targeting?

Fishclamps · Post by **Fishclamps** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:14 am

They even got Rick singing his praises!

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:22 am

I can't even get my head around the level of PR desperation emanating from that Pitino video. Since when do we need Xitter letters of rec from former bosses, just to keep Kentucky fans from walking into the ocean this morning?

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:46 am

Those Barnhart tweets have a real Jeb Bush “Please Clap” quality to them.

Alieberman · Post by **Alieberman** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 11:00 am

This is almost as bad as a certain powerhouse in the West having to settle for a no name lifelong assistant coach...

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 11:55 am

I hate when fans rip the hire of a new head coach. Give the guy a chance and be quiet.

Postmaster · Post by **Postmaster** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 1:29 pm

Be thankful BYU won’t be knocking on Tommy’s door.

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 5:35 pm

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 7:31 pm

I knew Dan Monson would land on his feet. Glad it was a lot sooner than I expected.

Postmaster · Post by **Postmaster** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 8:24 pm

He should have held out for BYU

KaibabKat · Post by **KaibabKat** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 9:02 pm

Has deep roots in the area. His dad still lives in Spokane. Probably feels like coming home to him.

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Tue Apr 16, 2024 9:39 am

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Tue Apr 16, 2024 9:55 am

I guess you have to be a Mormon to be a BYU coach. Don't think any other religious schools require the coach to be the same religion as the school sponsor.

Only 2 years coaching in college, all the rest have been in different pro leagues so very limited recruiting experience.

Winger · Post by **Winger** » Tue Apr 23, 2024 8:38 am

Alieberman wrote: Fri Apr 12, 2024 11:00 am This is almost as bad as a certain powerhouse in the West having to settle for a no name lifelong assistant coach...

Worse, Pope was high up on Arizona’s list so be careful throwing stones.

Also, not being able to turn the corner at BYU has zero bearing on what kind of record he will have at Kentucky. Not saying he is a slam dunk hire but he isn’t what Gillespie was either. If he can recruit well enough I wouldn’t be surprised if he is successful.

Maybe not UK-fan-expectation successful but …

TheCat · Post by **TheCat** » Sun Apr 28, 2024 7:05 am

Pope is a good coach and better be because all his players have left.

CatsbyAZ · Post by **CatsbyAZ** » Wed May 15, 2024 4:31 am

Along with coaching Green Bay, hearing Gottlied will also continue to host his Fox Sports radio show.

KaibabKat · Post by **KaibabKat** » Wed May 15, 2024 10:51 am

Everybody at Green Bay better hold on tight to thier credit cards.

Fishclamps · Post by **Fishclamps** » Thu Jun 06, 2024 6:24 am

Now this could be interesting

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Thu Jun 06, 2024 7:17 am

If Hurley leaves, we could possibly see a domino effect like what happened after Saban retired.

Fishclamps · Post by **Fishclamps** » Thu Jun 06, 2024 7:19 am

I feel like it's more of a Michigan situation. They have guys they'd probably rather hire from within that can keep it going, unless he took all of them with him.

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Thu Jun 06, 2024 9:27 am

Hmmm....

UA could really use a true PG.

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Thu Jun 06, 2024 1:07 pm

I think the Michigan comparison is the right one. UConn should be able to keep most of their guys.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 10:43 am

EastCoastCat · Post by **EastCoastCat** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 11:09 am

CalStateTempe · Post by **CalStateTempe** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 11:27 am

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 12:27 pm

Like NCAA and NBA HOFer coach Larry Brown said, the main difference between coaching college and the pros is that in college the players still listen to you.

That must be hard for these college coaches that demand strict adherence to their systems.

Can you imagine Hurley telling LeBron to run a full court press.

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 1:28 pm

imo, this is a great day for college hoops.

Fishclamps · Post by **Fishclamps** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 4:34 pm

Never would have worked with LeBron there. Would have been a nightmare for Hurley.

Beachcat97 · Post by **Beachcat97** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 5:05 pm

Hurley's also an east cost guy. If the Knicks, Celtics or Nets come calling, this could go differently.

SCCats · Post by **SCCats** » Mon Jun 10, 2024 5:44 pm

A college coach turned down $12M a year from the Lakers to stay in Hartford and coach UCONN.

Good on him, but damn.

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