As Duke fans, we’ve had to deal with Kentucky fans since at least 1992, when Christian Laettner ripped the still-beating heart out of BBN’s collective chest and stomped it flat in the Spectrum. We wouldn’t give that game back for anything, but we wouldn’t wish the joy of Kentucky fans on anyone either.
And we realized something this season that is surprising: Mark Pope is the only Kentucky coach we’ve ever liked. Think about it and see if you agree:
Adolph Rupp? No.
Joe B. Hall? No,.
Eddie Sutton? No.
Rick Pitino? Not really.
Tubby Smith? Didn’t hate him, didn’t like him.
Billy Gillispie? Frankly, we thought was a bit of a sociopath. Just our opinion! But we wouldn’t wish that guy on anyone.
John Calipari? In a way. Didn’t hate him but didn’t really like him. We do like his kids, so we softened on Cal a bit after realizing that. They seem like good people and obviously he had something to do with that.
Mark Pope? We kind of do like him. We admire how much he tapped into the spirit of the program. His introductory presser – no one has ever won a press conference like that. Not at any level. It was an amazing thing to see.
And now…things are kind of falling apart and we honestly feel bad for the guy. We really do.
The general consensus is that Pope spent a ton on his roster and it hasn’t worked out very well. He’s been missing three players although Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe played tonight. https://www.youtube.com/embed/94Ql6V6YShY?si=yU4NSQI0RR7NBYeh
Kentucky and Gonzaga met in Nashville and the Zags just nuked the Cats from start to finish. Kentucky missed its first 10 shots and lost 94-59. UK shot just 21% from behind the line and 27% overall. It continues a pattern of bad performances.
For Pope, who seems like a genuinely good guy, this is awful. Kentucky has now lost badly to Louisville (the final margin was 8 but it was a demolition job until late), to Michigan State by 17, to UNC at home by 3 and now to Gonzaga by 35.
His fans, who celebrated his return (Pope played for Pitino and helped UK win the 1996 national championship), are turning on him in droves.
We have no insights into what’s going on with his team, but he does seem like a good man. With the way things are going though, it’s hard to imagine Kentucky fans tolerating much more of this. And this time, they’re doing it to one of their own.
It’s really a shame.
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