Is it Time to Panic Over Discombobulated Cats?

38 Responses

1. I'm not in panic mold yet, but last night performance was one if not the worst I've seen cats play in 55 plus years I've been following them. The blame starts at top starting with Pope and the staff all the way down to each player on the roster. Our fanbase deserves better than that.

2. It's time for Pope to take charge of this team. Stop being everyone's buddy and start being the coach. He is going to have to bench some starters and go back to square one. Forget about winning No. 9; they need to commit to never embarrassing the University of Kentucky and BBN like they have this year ever again. This does look like a Calipari team with everyone trying to improve their NBA draft stock. First, every player needs to commit to playing team ball or be dismissed from the team. The ones who don't follow through stay on the bench until we don't have 5 to put on the floor. Pope needs to look back on how Pitino coached the team. If you didn't get it right, you sat on the bench even if you were an All American.

   First, they need to start working on free throws. If they can make 80% of an unguarded 15 foot shot, then they don't deserve to wear the Kentucky uniform. How can they make a guarded shot if they can't make an unguarded one?

   Second, they need to play a 2-3 match up zone and work on playing man to man in practice. We don't stay with our man. When he receives a pass, we come running from 10 feet away and go sailing by leaving an open shot or an open drive to the basket. Everyone goes to the board. You can't have a fast break until you have the rebound. Take it to the basket if it is a break away or kick it out to an open 3. If you pass up a layup like Noah did, you go to the bench.

   On offense, they hold the ball too long and dribble too much while everyone else stands in one place waiting for a pass so they can hold it and dribble too long. The four who don't have the ball need to be screening for each other creating openings for a pass. The ball needs to keep moving. Anyone who holds the ball or dribbles for more than 5 seconds goes to the bench.

   Keep passing for an open shot, but anyone who doesn't take a wide open shot goes to the bench. If you aren't making at least 40% of your threes in practice, you don't take any 3s in a game, you move in for a midrange shot or drive to the basket.

   Make crisp passes to an open man, not impossible passes to guarded men. If you make 2 turnovers, you go to the bench to get your head right.

   It's ridiculous that I even have to make a post like this…this is basketball 101. It is not a hard game if you practice like a team and play like a team. It blows up when kids start playing hero ball. Why is it that every coach that comes to Kentucky forgets how to coach or just refuses to do so? Kentucky basketball is an institution. If Pope can't handle the heat that comes with the job, find someone who can. I am done with getting embarrassed by the better teams.

3. Of course it is Panic Time. This team drawing all the hype that it was a Top 4 team nationally only to put 2 "laughing stock" performances on display back-to-back. It is bad enough to have 2 losses but 2 embarrassments has to fall at the feet of coach and staff. Pope is not Prime Time. Has anyone ever seen him mad or upset? Pope is 8-8 against ranked teams since his arrival but has only won 2 of last 7. You could read his body language the whole game and not a lot of change but a lot of cheerleading and folded arms and apparently really not a clue to correct anything. Most all of these ranked teams have coaches with fire and high emotion and the players feed off that. Highest paid ($22M) team in the country and this is what we have to show for it?

4. Last night Kentucky $22 million roster looked like $2. Worst performance I have seen since Gillispie left.

5. With the NIL and Portal, the players are in charge, and the coach is nothing more than window dressing.

   UK has the most NIL money and must be accountable for failing to provide a team that is competitive for national championships.

   Pope has been a MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!!

6. Larry, I never in a million years dreamed that we would be having these conversations, but here we are! What is going on with Pope and this team?

7. Folks the reality is they are not getting along. That's the main problem in my opinion.

8. I am with Little Baron and others. I would prefer a program based on recruiting the finest basketball players who want to play for the Big Blue Wildcats. Take the names off the uniforms forever. Require a 4-year academic grant in aid that carries penalties for either the program or the player for violating the agreement early. That penalty can decrease some after either 2 and 3 years of service for the players, and should increase for the program as the player matriculates through the program.

   I am sick and tired of the non-stop revolving door of players who each have personal agendas that are not consistent with the team-first attitude that has always been essential to team sports.

   1. Thanks, Professor. Even the most of the peewee teams use the productive, team-oriented players the most. Others have to earn their minutes.

      UK is now handing out jerseys to some who could care less about the University of Kentucky. It’s just one more stop on the portal jumping street ballers journey.

      Discombobulated is a kind word for the DISCONNECTED GROUP – not even close to a “team” – who embarrassed the legendary UK BB program against UK & Mich St.

      Well, imagine how bad the defense would be if UK had not gotten rid of those who can’t play D and added the great defensive players this season. Remember, this is a GROUP of solid defensive players. Who needs a good shooter with this jello defense! UK really burned up the nets in MSG from 3 and also inside the arc / to the tune of about 30%! Wow! Is this supposed to makes us appreciate not having sharp shooters on the team!

9. I'll say this. You'll be exposed playing an Izzo team. If you have a weakness or weaknesses his coached team will find it. His teams don't quit . You go there to be coached and not coddled. They are always gritty and tough. UK is not. Defense is definitely not a strong attribute at UK and I have second hand knowledge from another major college coach that told my son UK cant cover anyone.

10. Didn't get to watch much of the game but this is 2 games where teams would and could run with UK and it was UK that couldn't keep up.
    I think Pope is going to need to change their style of play. This team can run in practice because their is no defense. This team needs to play a pound it in the middle, rough, physical style ball. I know Pope doesn't like that style, but the team on the floor determines how they can play and this team is not a run and gun team because they can't play defense, not good passers, can't make free throws. That doesn't leave a lot of options.

11. It’s all over but the shouting – unless the players continue to shout at each other. That’s the street ballers expression of team chemistry.

12. You're not going to get control of the NIL unless you can install and enforce performance and playing time controls like the pro's. Shelling out money for showing up is not going to get what your aiming for. Alternately, recruit players that want to play for UK instead of who is paying the most.

13. Can you imagine how these last 2 performances have affected the recruiting targets?

    1. The Cats are down to 3 main targets. Stokes is a bad apple. He was suspended so much for altercations that he just transferred to another school. If Ky gets any recruits for next year they will be second rate.

       1. Is Pope still you man for the job?

          1. Well… Mike I didn't feel all that great about the hire. Loved Pope as a player, but didn't think he had proven enough to be the coach at Ky. Of course most people on here knows I was a Cal defender. That being said, I think we have to ride it out. Atleast this year. Maybe he will find the the right buttons to push and the Cats will take off. Injuries have hurt the team the last couple years, but Ky has had multiple injuries for the last 6-7 years. I said after the Louisville game that Ky would be 7-6 at Christmas. If this year is a bust and he has no TOP recruits in the fold, there will be a hard decision to make. It sounds like Barnhart may not be around to make the next hire.

    2. could make them eager to be here Mike and help the team

14. 22 million for this roster and I'm not overwhelmingly convinced we have an bonified NBA player

    1. The Cats have One and he hasn't played a second yet. I think Johnson will be in the league at some point. Chandler could, but it's iffy.

15. At this time Ky has no "dogs" except JQ sitting on the bench. A team full of average to below average. Calipari use to always say "if the team eats, everyone gets to bite". His moto was sacrifice for the team and everyone would get to where they wanted to go. NIL has changed everything. Do you know what players demand big NIL money? Average Joe's. The ones who know they will never see a NBA floor. Top players that know they are good enough to play in the league just wants a good coach to help them get there. They like money too, but it's not the most important thing. It's the NBA. Pope has one 5* recruit (Johnson) and one former 5* transfer in Quaintence. That won't get it done. I bleed blue as much as anyone, however I have a different view on recruiting. Kids aren't made the same way today as they were back in the day. The type players you have to have to win doesn't care what's across their chest. They don't need Kentucky across their chest to get where they want to go. They don't need Ky, but Ky needs them. Telling players they should play for Ky because it's a honor and a privilege isn't going to get it done. Saying you don't want players that dont don't feel that way is just saying you don't want any good players. Everyone sees what that philosophy has gotten Ky basketball so far. Recruiting looks dark at the moment. I hope Pope can figure out how to work the problem, because knowing the assignment is just the beginning.

16. Announced today that the #1 center, Diane, just picked Houston over the Cats and a few others. Now there is a COACH for you. Pope even had a family connection as his brother-in-law is Diane coach in high school. We also lost Cenac to Houston last year and he was one of, if not, top centers last year.

17. For now, Pope is the biggest wildcard in how this season will play out. The team has rightfully earned the new nickname…Pussycats. That may be in part because of the way Pope handles the team…too much buddy buddy shit, too much coddling, too much making excuses for poor play. Playing time has to be tied to performance period. It's time to start giving Quaintance limited minutes, hoping his effort will inspire the rest of the team to step up. His defense and rebounding should be plug and play, his offense will take longer. This team sorely needs a boost; Quaintance could be that boost. Let him play against Loyola and Tech to shake the rust off and see how his body and his mind respond. If all goes well, he should get 20 minutes of PT against North Carolina and Gonzaga, even if it has to come in 5 minute intervals. Ball movement will still be key…no holding it for 5 seconds and dribbling it for another 10. The other 4 on the floor need to be screening for each other and be in constant motion. A man standing still can be guarded by the waterboy. Motion plus quick, crisp passes will find open shots. STOP STANDING AROUND WAITING FOR YOUR TURN TO BE THE HERO!

18. A whole bunch of them better save the dough and invest wisely. Especially Garrison

19. Time to not bring the ball rack out at practices and dont eat to much beforehand.

20. Very surprised some of
    you folks aren’t calling for Popes dismissal – and pleading for Joe to pay the departure fee. Hey, I’m disappointed as well but it’s early.
    Please remember Lowe was the straw who stirred the offense since his first step on campus . Practices revolved around him.
    Shame on you for posting things that may discourage the last few high flyers from UK.

    1. Agree Paul. Okay to be disappointed but not time to abandon ship

    2. There were thousands of derogatory posts about Cal and have been thousands about Stoops. No one cared or cares about how those posts affected or affects recruiting. I

       1. That's right. We need more Cashzadas.

          1. You have a lot of sharp comments, WildWest! cashzadas is another winner!

21. Most on this team lack the heart to do whatever is necessary to make this team great and that comes from selfishness. So many want to be in the starting 5, want more minutes, want a bigger role, want more NIL money, want to be featured in games in a way that helps them improve their NBA draft stock and as a result play hero ball. Most on this team are soft. They don't like to play defense much less take pride in doing so and shy away from the physical nature that many teams use to bully them. All of this combined is affecting their confidence that they can win given this team makeup. These are flaws that may never get corrected, much less get corrected in time to save this season. I did not see this in the 4 returning Cats from last year or at least only saw bits and pieces of it. I didn't see it in the portal guys…they all looked solid. The recruits had a few question marks, but most freshmen do. How did all of this go so wrong so fast? Pre-season forecasts and expectations were off the charts and that gave rise to a lot of it. Beating the pre-season No. 1 Purdue Boilermakers so handily supplied the rest. These things also had an effect on how Pope approached the season as well. Now we have a coach, a coaching staff, and 12 kids that need pretty much a total makeover, at least from the neck up. I pray that Pope will find the magic wand that will allow them to go undefeated for the rest of the season. I fear that things will continue to fall apart and have us miss the post season period. This team is in trouble. Will the shock of two embarrassing losses and the return of Lowe, Dioubate, and Quaintance be enough to get us back to our winning ways? It won't take long for us to find out.

22. The first recruiting casualty of our recent struggles is Arafan Diane, the 7'1", 280 pound center who committed to Houston. I will be surprised if ANY high school senior signs with the Cats in 2026. It looks like another run at the transfer portal.

    1. He was a player I never felt good about coming to UK Barry even though he had ties to Pope

    2. We struggle getting guys to commit. Pope is kinda goofy. He has changed so much in the past month. He has no control over this team. They control him. He doesn't have any discipline and it shows. Guys don't pay attention during timeouts. Garrison looked better last year. Oweh looked better last year. Chandler improved Noah improved. Play the guys that pass the ball when they aren't open. I would play Jelavic and Moreno over Garrison. I would play Aberdeen Williams and Johnson over Oweh.

23. We need to run the offense through Chandler. Plain and simple. We need to play Noah more. We need guys who can shoot the ball. We don't play defense so Noah wont hurt us at all with his defense. He actually tries very hard on the defensive end. Also he will pass the ball to the open man if he's not open it's that simple.

24. Oweh always has a look on his face like he smells a fart. Call me pessimistic but I think some of our players are gambling on there stats. All it would take is them to give someone some money and put 5,000$ that they will score under on a certain number of points and rebounds and play good enough to score just under it and they will make a cool 25,000$ on the game. I think this is happening more and more and it will be the end of all sports. You see it in the NBA it's easier for college players to get away with it. Call me what you want but I do believe this is happening alot in sports now. Or players can fake a injury or anything. The NBA is getting exposed now for it.ni guarantee this is happening more than we know it.

25. College BB is now the equivalent of street ball bring played inside a building.

    Mega-Money given to these adolescents is the beginning of ruining most of them. They only know about BB and are clueless in the real world, and unqualified for anything that does not include being a thug pushing, shoving, hacking, holding, tripping someone.

26. Goodness, I do hate to agree with most of these responses. UK is horrible against bona fide "name" schools. And there is definitely something wrong with this "team". And the fact that we have been unable to get one recruit for 2026. And several whom the the so-called experts had said were leaning toward UK. Perhaps they see that "something" that is not evident to someone like me. I, too, believe that the NIL has ruined the college game. There should be a ceiling, as this will never be done away with. I don't have the answer, but I am so sad and, well, frankly "mad" at the way we are playing. And if what some have said that Pope is too soft, well, it seems to me that he just might be wanting to be their friend (like some parents) with no discipline when warranted. I have not given up completely yet, but I could go that way pretty quickly if they don't start winning against the "good" teams and not like Loyola (no offense) this evening. I am 83 years young, and have been watching the cats for over half my life, and I cannot recall a team playing with no fight in them. No caring. Just running up and down the court, stopping at the perimeter and tom-tom the ball up until the clock is about to run out before deciding to pass the ball and the other 4 are just standing around waiting for a pass. I guess all I can say is: GO CATS!

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