Cal had his full compliment of players last year. He had 2 lottery pick point guards coming off the bench and tge SEC wasn't nearly as strong last year.
Let's compare Arkansas to UK this year, to.me, that’s a much.more accurate comparison.
Kentucky Resume...
- Thread starter AuHoosier420
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Let's compare Arkansas to UK this year, to.me, that’s a much.more accurate comparison.
Don't forget those skanky Hookers. Nothing but the best for Louisville players.
Pope might ultimately be a good hire, but a year ago today, Kentucky had the same record and the fanbase was more excited about the team than they are right now. The results were similar (all offense/no defense) but with better athletes.
A year ago at this time, Kentucky blew out Alabama and followed it up with several wins in a row including @ Tennessee.
Yeah, but just this week, Kansas got deep dicked by BYU to the tune of 34 points.
Give Pope the UK roster from last year, they are in the Elite 8, worst case.
Give Calipari this year's UK roster that Pope had to throw together in two weeks, plus all the injuries, and UK is lucky to make the NIT.
You cannot compare these two teams, in the slightest. One was loaded with NBA talent, the other was slapped together in two weeks.
Also, where are you getting your information that the UK fanbase was more excited about last year's team then this year's? If UK gets a relatively healthy Butler and Robinson, they can no doubt compete for FF. Even if they don't return, beyond excited with what Pope has accomplished his first year, as it has far exceeded all expectations from the fanbase.
Perspective on the situations is important, though. Cal had years to put that roster together. He was also coming off one tournament win in the last four seasons. There was also zero notable injuries.
You may be right that UK fans were just as excited down the stretch of last season, but we know how that ended. And Pope has been a breath of fresh air in so many ways. If we get Robinson and Butler healthy by tournament time, there’s very few teams I don’t like our chances against.
Calipari started from scratch with this year's Arkansas roster too, and is relying more on freshmen. That didn't stop people from screaming "told ya so!" after every loss.
Not the same thing. More than half their starting lineup played for him last year. The one guy that played for Pope last year isn’t on the court right now. You’re smart enough to know this. Doesn’t fit in the troll book though.
How could UK fans NOT be excited last year at this time? Calipari FINALLY played the most potent lineup in the country together and they smacked the absolute shit out of Alabama.
But, Calipari had promises to keep and NBA draft stock took priority, so he never played that lineup again.
Also, another reason we were excited last year, was the fact we had two lottery picks coming off the bench.
What coach could possibly lose 10 games with that going on?
What coach could possibly go 0-1 in the SECT with that roster?
What coach could possibly lose to a 14 seed in the first round, who's best player was studying to be an accountant, with a roster full of NBA talent?
Answer: Not Mark Pope
But hey, at least we didn't lose to BYU by 34 points.
But, Calipari had promises to keep and NBA draft stock took priority, so he never played that lineup again.
Also, another reason we were excited last year, was the fact we had two lottery picks coming off the bench.
What coach could possibly lose 10 games with that going on?
What coach could possibly go 0-1 in the SECT with that roster?
What coach could possibly lose to a 14 seed in the first round, who's best player was studying to be an accountant, with a roster full of NBA talent?
Answer: Not Mark Pope
But hey, at least we didn't lose to BYU by 34 points.
Calipari got the players he wanted. He got most of the recruits he had at UK, plus 3 returning players from UK. He had a top 10 roster at the start of the season and he stripped UK of all its players. WTF are you talking about? He didn’t even have to work for that roster.
Heck, not only that, but he ended up getting Davis, Aidoo and Brazille. He has a better roster right now, then he was going to have at UK this year.
You should be more worried about KU's coach and roster, because it's looking pretty bleak.
The main reason Kentucky lost to Oakland is the freshmen choked, missing shots they'd made all year. Didn't have much to do with coaching.
Pope is 0-2 in the first round; both losses to 11 seeds. He has a lot to prove before we start penciling him into the Elite 8 at worst.
Calipari might need more talent to succeed, but he's also likely to recruit more talent. It's always been obvious that he had to out-talent opponents. Which worked until the last few years.
A lot of you have dramatically changed your tunes. Until this year, all we heard was that experienced/high floor teams had a big edge on Kentucky. Now it's a big advantage to have the inexperienced/high ceiling team?
Don't worry about me, big guy. I'm good with my sports teams. In the last decade alone, they've brought me 5 championships, three more championship appearances, another final four, and the best team in the Covid year. How 'bout you?
Yet pre-season #1 Kansas and unranked (and not even in the "others receiving votes" category) BYU had equal conference and overall records last year, with BYU winning @ Kansas. Guess that means Bill Self is trash if he can't dominate lowly Pope, especially with far superior talent.
Yeah, but KU sucks right now, UK is trending up, y'all are falling backwards.
Heck, Houston left a mid major conference and now owns the BIG12. Sucks for you.
Preseason rankings miss the mark practically every year.
Losing an AA candidate may have had something to do with how that year turned out.
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Crazy how much of a Cal apologist you have turned into. Look at all these excuses you are trying to give Cal, that you never afforded him while he was at UK. Pretty funny, to be honest.
Maybe Cal should actually learn how to win with upperclassmen instead of relying on freshmen who are prone to inconsistent play, especially in the pressure packed NCAA Tournament. Oh wait, he did have a pretty experienced team in 2022, and lost to St. Peter's anyways.
Also, I haven't changed my tune on anything. If you are referring to other posters, take it up with them instead of generalizing what UK posters think based upon what one or two other UK posters say.
Isn't it amazing how the troll has flipped his opinions on Calipari now that Cal is not at UK? He’s such a troll.
KU is fully healthy, UK is missing 2 of it's best players on a lineup that was patched together after the portal had already been picked through.
Bill Self has the roster he developed for years and he has his full complement of players.
Also, KU doesn’t have the SOS UK has and UK didn’t lose by 34 to a bubble team.
KU would be raping and pillaging college basketball if they had him.
Maybe they can bring back Silvio De Sousa to teach the rest of the roster how to defend with a chair over their heads.
No (although he was a pretty big loss too). I’m sure you can figure out who I’m referring to.
McCullar? The same guy that averaged 33 minutes in 7 losses? Yes, I am sure his presence would've changed the outcome of the 21 point drubbing by Gonzaga. Morris was a big loss for sure. Dude is crushing it in JUCO this year.
#11 SOS vs #5. Yuge difference!
No, Kentucky didn’t lose to a bubble team by 30. They just lost to a worse team by 20 on a neutral court. 😆
What have I said that contradicts anything I said in the past?
Unlike some, my tune hasn’t changed at all.
Interesting, why is KU about to he unranked and staring at a 6 or 7 seed and UK looking at a 3 seed?
Also, why are you trying to act like it was only 30 points? it was 34 and in fact, BYU let off the gas when the lead ballooned to 38.
Yeah, UK lost a neutral site game to Ohio State in Nov, this is February and KU is embarrassing themselves. Yet here you are trying to talk smack.
lol this might be the dumbest thing I’ve read all day. That is saying something currently. 😂
"Analysis
Conclusion
- Why so poor?: Louisville’s current roster isn’t built for SEC competition. They lack the depth, defense, and road resilience to handle Kentucky’s schedule. Their real-world ACC struggles (e.g., no road wins) amplify this.
- Bright spots: They might upset a middling SEC team at home and hold their own in some non-conference games, especially the "Louisville vs. Louisville" anomaly.
- Comparison: Kentucky is likely 20-5 or better with this schedule as of now, highlighting the gap.
If Louisville MBB played Kentucky’s 2024-25 schedule in the SEC, they’d likely finish with a record around 8-23. They’d struggle mightily against elite teams, lose most road games, and only pick up a handful of wins against weaker opponents at home. This aligns with posts on X suggesting a 9-17 record in a similar simulation—close enough to validate the ballpark estimate. Louisville’s rebuilding phase simply doesn’t match the SEC’s intensity or Kentucky’s current caliber."
Complete breakdown.
x.com
x.com
McCullar? The same guy that averaged 33 minutes in 7 losses? Yes, I am sure his presence would've changed the outcome of the 21 point drubbing by Gonzaga. Morris was a big loss for sure. Dude is crushing it in JUCO this year.
McCullar was a legit first team AA candidate before getting injured. Easily the best player on the team and made a huge impact on both ends.
Obviously no Lamont “Jordan” Butler though. Lol
I didn’t say he wasn’t a good player. I said they lost 7 games with him in the lineup. Also never said anything about Butler and definitely never called him Jordan. Weird flex.
This tournament is going to be telling with all the media hype suckage this year conference honking.
Before his injury, they had 2 losses and had beaten several top teams. He wasn’t the same afterward.
I guess you’re right. You haven’t mentioned Butler….today.
So what's the excuse this year? 🤔Before his injury, they had 2 losses and had beaten several top teams. He wasn’t the same afterward.
I guess you’re right. You haven’t mentioned Butler….today.
Alabama plays too out of control to win a championship. They can get on a run and then get too careless often.
What do I need an excuse for? Did I rank them #1?
I was always in favor of recruiting over Harris and Adams.
Season’s not over though. They’ve been shit in true road games but pretty good at home and neutral.
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