Pope’s recruitment woes

Jan 3, 2026
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Breaking news from January!

This screams like an attempt to be negative just to be negative. This isn’t new information had has been discussed thoroughly.
Wow another you must be a pope defender as well 😀

didnt your mother ever teach you to keep that garbage can shut if you don’t have anything nice to say?
 
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Jan 3, 2026
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And mega blue weenie, if you can take any sort of positive vibes from this effing trainwreck do enlighten us would you ?
 
Jan 3, 2026
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So Mark tells the truth...I can't knock it. People here *****ed for years under Cal that the best players cared more about draft night than the name on the front of their Jersey. Now, a lot of the same folks are pining for Cal. As the wind blows
No one in this household is pining for Calipari
Matter of fact if the university would have told cal that the university isn’t worried about draft night, just nattys and Sec titles maybe that ******** would have been stopped
 

CRZ4UK

All-American
Jun 6, 2008
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Hurley didn’t build UCONN overnight. Golden didn’t build Florida thru Star Freshman or Portal turnover. They had a plan and built a contender.
Neither were overnight. Pope this year will have some guys that contribute to come back. Besides Oweh he didn’t have that year one. Golden or Hurley didn’t have Cal take every single player on the roster and recruit when they arrived. Pope literally had NO ROSTER. ZERO. Pope was put in a big hole.
Everyone wanted guys that wanted to play for Kentucky. Not draft night. Now that Pope is looking for them. Fans turn on that notion. Pope truly has a tough job because I believe he works for the worst AD in college ball. I still support CMP. I hope he doesn’t bring back everyone just for the sake of retention and loyalty. Garrison needs to go. He had his shot and didn’t produce. Mo is a good dirty guy but simply can’t finish and score. I’m guessing he scores 10% on his isolation. That’s terrible and unsustainable. Lowe is not a final four point. Not even close. He can’t shoot and doesn’t finish at the rim. Yelivich will need to accept less money to return . Go get Stokes. Hit the portal hard for 3 difference makers. Try to keep Moreno, Chandler, Jelly and Hawthorn.
 
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UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
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No one in this household is pining for Calipari
Matter of fact if the university would have told cal that the university isn’t worried about draft night, just nattys and Sec titles maybe that ******** would have been stopped
LMAO. Truly
 

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
3,351
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Hurley didn’t build UCONN overnight. Golden didn’t build Florida thru Star Freshman or Portal turnover. They had a plan and built a contender.
Neither were overnight. Pope this year will have some guys that contribute to come back. Besides Oweh he didn’t have that year one. Golden or Hurley didn’t have Cal take every single player on the roster and recruit when they arrived. Pope literally had NO ROSTER. ZERO. Pope was put in a big hole.
Everyone wanted guys that wanted to play for Kentucky. Not draft night. Now that Pope is looking for them. Fans turn on that notion. Pope truly has a tough job because I believe he works for the worst AD in college ball. I still support CMP. I hope he doesn’t bring back everyone just for the sake of retention and loyalty. Garrison needs to go. He had his shot and didn’t produce. Mo is a good dirty guy but simply can’t finish and score. I’m guessing he scores 10% on his isolation. That’s terrible and unsustainable. Lowe is not a final four point. Not even close. He can’t shoot and doesn’t finish at the rim. Yelivich will need to accept less money to return . Go get Stokes. Hit the portal hard for 3 difference makers. Try to keep Moreno, Chandler, Jelly and Hawthorn.
100% on point
 

jedwar

Heisman
Moderator
Dec 30, 2002
19,589
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A Stokes announcement would do wonders right now for the fanbase and Pope's rep. I get not wanting to overpay but offer what it takes within reason. By what I've read we have offered the most and Stokes wants KU. Would really like to close this one and asap.
 

Yardeth

Heisman
Jan 2, 2007
13,417
17,612
67
A Stokes announcement would do wonders right now for the fanbase and Pope's rep. I get not wanting to overpay but offer what it takes within reason. By what I've read we have offered the most and Stokes wants KU. Would really like to close this one and asap.
I’m with you on just locking up one of the top kids would do wonders. But, if the kid doesn’t want to come to UK would you still want him on the team? Would he play team ball or would he just sit on the bench with a mysterious injury? He is only on campus for 9 months before the NBA draft.
 

jedwar

Heisman
Moderator
Dec 30, 2002
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I’m with you on just locking up one of the top kids would do wonders. But, if the kid doesn’t want to come to UK would you still want him on the team? Would he play team ball or would he just sit on the bench with a mysterious injury? He is only on campus for 9 months before the NBA draft.
Yes I'd still want him even if we are the 2nd or 3rd choice. This is a chance I'd definitely take unlike a known injured player.
 

HogCoyote

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Jan 20, 2013
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I’m with you on just locking up one of the top kids would do wonders. But, if the kid doesn’t want to come to UK would you still want him on the team? Would he play team ball or would he just sit on the bench with a mysterious injury? He is only on campus for 9 months before the NBA draft.
I say since he is using us as leverage give him an offer with an expiration date and make it known. He either takes it or loses all his leverage with Kansas.
 

SkyPrince

Senior
Jul 7, 2025
548
916
93
A Stokes announcement would do wonders right now for the fanbase and Pope's rep. I get not wanting to overpay but offer what it takes within reason. By what I've read we have offered the most and Stokes wants KU. Would really like to close this one and asap.
Stokes maybe the end of Self lol.
You could tell from that last interview he hasn't enjoyed coaching Peterson.
He actually said he doesn't feel like he's coached him at all.
 

CUJO_1970

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
420
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Dumb thread with old information. You already started another thread on recruiting. Consolidate your crap, one useless thread is enough.

In between bong hits maybe maybe learn how to use the internet and get yourself an actual user name. It will make you easier to ignore. Thanks!
 

Dead Cat Bounce

All-Conference
Jan 8, 2003
2,748
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A Stokes announcement would do wonders right now for the fanbase and Pope's rep. I get not wanting to overpay but offer what it takes within reason. By what I've read we have offered the most and Stokes wants KU. Would really like to close this one and asap.
I’m torn, maybe inclined against. Can you imagine the ****show if UK pays 5 million for Stokes and he busts, for any reason at all? Injury, over-hype, prima donna, shuts it down? Game over for the fanbase. Seems like two 2.5 million forwards would be a smarter investment for every reason other than just to prove Pope can get it done.
 
Jan 3, 2026
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63
Dumb thread with old information. You already started another thread on recruiting. Consolidate your crap, one useless thread is enough.

In between bong hits maybe maybe learn how to use the internet and get yourself an actual user name. It will make you easier to ignore.
Ouch that almost hurt 😢 🤣🤣🤣
 

theKybluedude

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
635
1,458
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We could have around 9 returnees. Maybe getting 4 or so experienced portal guys is the way to go.
CMP needs to get players that relate to his message and vice versa. Chip on the shoulder guys.
Follow Cignetti’s lead. Proven guys at their schools. Needs some shooters and scorers plus some strength and bulk. Strong pg.
Not sure a one and done 6 7 forward is worth 1/3 of your budget.
 
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Loucatfan30

Senior
Apr 11, 2024
808
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So Mark tells the truth...I can't knock it. People here *****ed for years under Cal that the best players cared more about draft night than the name on the front of their Jersey. Now, a lot of the same folks are pining for Cal. As the wind blows
None of these guys we got out of the portal are here because the front of the jersey. They are here mostly because they got more then they were getting at the other schools bidding on them and in some cases it wasn't close.
 
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Loucatfan30

Senior
Apr 11, 2024
808
941
87
Hurley didn’t build UCONN overnight. Golden didn’t build Florida thru Star Freshman or Portal turnover. They had a plan and built a contender.
Neither were overnight. Pope this year will have some guys that contribute to come back. Besides Oweh he didn’t have that year one. Golden or Hurley didn’t have Cal take every single player on the roster and recruit when they arrived. Pope literally had NO ROSTER. ZERO. Pope was put in a big hole.
Everyone wanted guys that wanted to play for Kentucky. Not draft night. Now that Pope is looking for them. Fans turn on that notion. Pope truly has a tough job because I believe he works for the worst AD in college ball. I still support CMP. I hope he doesn’t bring back everyone just for the sake of retention and loyalty. Garrison needs to go. He had his shot and didn’t produce. Mo is a good dirty guy but simply can’t finish and score. I’m guessing he scores 10% on his isolation. That’s terrible and unsustainable. Lowe is not a final four point. Not even close. He can’t shoot and doesn’t finish at the rim. Yelivich will need to accept less money to return . Go get Stokes. Hit the portal hard for 3 difference makers. Try to keep Moreno, Chandler, Jelly and Hawthorn.
Hurley and Golden develop talent. The players that play for them don't usually leave (unless paid way more than market value). Probably not a good idea to make comparison to Pope. It won't age well.
 

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
3,351
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None of these guys we got out of the portal are here because the front of the jersey. They are here mostly because they got more then they were getting at the other schools bidding on them and in some cases it wasn't close.
Ridiculous
You can't have it both ways. A guy just posted that Pope misses out on recruits because he wants kids that care about playing for Kentucky. You can't turn around and pretend he didn't say the same things to the kids that did choose to come here
 

Johnnie Africa

All-Conference
Feb 27, 2003
805
2,562
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Hurley and Golden develop talent. The players that play for them don't usually leave (unless paid way more than market value). Probably not a good idea to make comparison to Pope. It won't age well.

I mean we returned pretty much everyone that could from last years team and Chandler is 100% better than last year so not sure if you’re quite hitting the target here.
 

SkyPrince

Senior
Jul 7, 2025
548
916
93
We could have around 9 returnees. Maybe getting 4 or so experienced portal guys is the way to go.
CMP needs to get players that relate to his message and vice versa. Chip on the shoulder guys.
Follow Cignetti’s lead. Proven guys at their schools. Needs some shooters and scorers plus some strength and bulk. Strong pg.
Not sure a one and done 6 7 forward is worth 1/3 of your budget.
Less is more.
We don't have PT for four portal guys who are actually good and it's takes away from the team trying to make it work with that many guys in the mix
We need a primary 8 man rotation with a few other guys( Noah, Potter, Hawthorne) getting spot minutes.
 

CRZ4UK

All-American
Jun 6, 2008
4,942
9,901
103
Hurley and Golden develop talent. The players that play for them don't usually leave (unless paid way more than market value). Probably not a good idea to make comparison to Pope. It won't age well.
lol. Amari developed massively in season. Got drafted.
Brea developed massively in season. Got drafted.
neither were on anyone’s draft board.
Pope started with Zero players. Took a lot of seniors his first year to fill a roster. Had one starter come back. Oweh. How can you develop players that don’t come back???
Garrison and Noah are the only players not to improve. Chandler was unplayable to starter.
Garrison is lazy and immature. I don’t think he would have developed under anyone. Noah, Is confidence I believe.
Pope is developing fine. JMO.