Besides the terrible last 4 seasons, historically bad by UK standards, Cal had pushed the fanbase and boosters away. He started skipping postgame and weekly callin shows. I think that the schtick had worn thin and everyone was just ready to move on.
I am not exctited so much about Pope as I am...
But I do detect the jealous comments of some wishing that UT could fill a gym for a presser. Even Cal didn't get more than 5000 at Arky. Ky fans are crazy and will do everything to support even if it was not the best hire. Time will tell and we will support.
It was simply a nostalgia moment, a callback to a simpler time when UK was utterly dominating for a 3 year span. Pope symbolized that era since he was the captain of that 96 team we UK fans revere. I do hope that he can win but let's not pretend that it wasn't about nostalgia.
2 questions:
How much head coach experience did Jon Scheyer have before taking over at Duke? How about Hubert Davis at UNC? Maybe you knew that Pope has head coaching experience and fared about as well as little BYU could be expected in the Big 12. IDK if Pope is the answer but going Schiano is...
Your credentials don't impress me, friend. The first round losses to high seeds are the majority of the reason. While most Kentucky fans are always happy when we beat Tennessee, we don't really get as excited as you seem to believe.
I know you'd like to believe this, but:
9-14 in 2021.
1 SEC Tourney win in 4 years.
Losses to 14 and 15 seeds in the first round.
All that with a roster in the last 4 years that contains what will eventually be 12 or more NBA players. It's coaching malpractice.