I think stealing Lohner sealed LK’s fate, so you are literally correct.
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I think so, but only in the sense that a dirty player at the local gym is a tough adversary: Not much can be done about him; he has a gang that backs him up no matter what he does; he’s a poor sport; and although we’d all rather have nothing to do with him, we can’t avoid him entirely.
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It’s doubly galling that he played for Kentucky in the 1998 title game. But Majerus recruited him and always praised him.
I think it’s best if we just give the devil his due and beat him. I’m tired of pettiness and excuses. Has Pope committed an NCAA violation or broke the law?
The only way you overcome a coach like Pope is to have a coach equally disciplined and with the same mania about this job.
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I’m beginning to get concerned about your squishiness toward our rival. You had an excuse for awhile, but now…
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He still has that excuse if he wants it. He still has two nephews playing there although his sibling appears to be graduating to becoming the Lavar Ball of the NFL. (good natured tic)
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My nephews playing for BYU football doesn’t make me conflicted about BYU basketball. I’ve seen Pope-like coaches many times. I know he’s to be reckoned with. You can’t beat your adversary unless you understand him and are realistic about hiss strengths. I’m optimistic Utah took a step in the right direction hiring Smith. Before it was close to hopeless.
CBS Sports’ ranking of the top 10 remaining uncommitted hoops transfers. I believe the Utes are in the mix for at least one of these (Bryson Williams)
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A couple of those forward would be real nice!
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Covid also helped Pope/hurt the Utes, ( no in person visits). The Utes BB facility is incredible–but you need to see it in person. And if you are a recruit & walk around BYU/Provo & no one looks like you, it might give you reason to look elsewhere.
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Look, Pope is an effective coach. No one is saying he is not. I am not, anyway. He is still subject to criticism for his needlessly arrogant style, his ethics, his lack of sportsmanship.
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Also, doesn’t help his wife is Lynn Archibald’s daughter who went to that other school. Didn’t her Dad end up at the other school at the end of his career?
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Nobody cares. It never even comes up. Lynn Archibald is remembered as a good man who failed as a head coach. He ended up an assistant at BYU before he died of cancer. There’s no ill will (for a change!).
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Interesting. Rare that a coach gets fired and goes to the rival with no ill will. That’s good to hear.
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…so the perfect match for that fanbase.
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Is it football season yet?
This has been the longest ‘tain’t zone time I think we’ve ever had.
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I had some interactions with Archibald. A super nice and genuine person. A good man. He also had a winning percentage at Utah substantially higher than Krystowiak, and won one WAC title with his one NCAA tournament in six years, though still not up to our legitimate expectations. Ill will should be directed at Ferrin who hired him after running off Pimm. Not a promising hire from the start. Archibald’s only prior head coach job had ended with his being fired from Idaho State.
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Here’s to our hope that Smith turns out to be just as pitilessly, single mindedly, and effectively competitive.
Archibald was indeed a questionable hire who predictably didn’t work out. And your loyalty to Pimm is understandable and laudable. However, what you say about Ferrin running him off is not true.
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And that he can win and lose with class, which does matter.
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