That's the essence of the problem between Pope and fans (or bench players for that matter).

By definition, fans are the opposite. They're passionate and dedicated to their team. They identify with certain players and root for their success, despite difficult backgrounds. Fans are emotionally invested in the entire system. They care, often deeply. To realize that they were nothing more than a stepping stone to either a player or coach doesn't sit well with passionate fans. They want to see a matching of their investment.

Bench players often said (whispered to friends, who whispered to their friends, who told season ticket holders Dad and Mom) that Pope treated them poorly. The starters were royalty, the bench players were tolerated as a necessary evil, often on the receiving end of Coach's verbal frustration.

Bench players got in the way of Pope's goals. I think he viewed them as holding him back. He wanted to move upwards faster, and scrubs lack of upper echelon skills annoyed him... and he treated them accordingly.

Once Kentucky came calling, he dropped all of them like a hot potato. Recruits were no longer his concern. No need to return their calls.

Efficiency aside, it's a bad look for a person to treat others as mere tools, a cheap means to an end. That's what bugs people.