The Best Players or the Right Players?

[VC99]

I think the reason we’ve struggled so much this year is because Mark Pope got neither the best players in the country (in terms of talent) nor the right players for his system. So we got caught in this awkward middle ground of mediocrity, all while spending over $20 million.

Going forward, I think it’s crucial that Mark Pope gets at least one of these right—and ideally both. But what do you all think? Should he prioritize talent and rankings (high school or portal), or should he go after very specific players who may not immediately get us excited?

 

[UKBB4Ever]

What is his system?

Can you describe it?

I see zoom offense. And no defense or rebounding.

For 2 seasons. Is that the system?

 

[VC99]

What is his system?

Can you describe it?

I see zoom offense. And no defense or rebounding.

For 2 seasons. Is that the system?

Well the fanbase doesn't seem excited for next year. So I'm really asking what type of players would get you excited? The best shooter in the portal who is from a mid-major and about #30 or the #3 best overall player in the portal (or a recruit like stokes.)

 

[Bigbluegoo]

The best players are the right players.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Well the fanbase doesn't seem excited for next year. So I'm really asking what type of players would get you excited? The best shooter in the portal who is from a mid-major and about #30 or the #3 best overall player in the portal (or a recruit like stokes.)

Nothing will change for me as long as Pope is coach.

You could give him an NBA roster and he would go 20-11

 

[James Arington]

I think the reason we’ve struggled so much this year is because Mark Pope got neither the best players in the country (in terms of talent) nor the right players for his system. So we got caught in this awkward middle ground of mediocrity, all while spending over $20 million.

Going forward, I think it’s crucial that Mark Pope gets at least one of these right—and ideally both. But what do you all think? Should he prioritize talent and rankings (high school or portal), or should he go after very specific players who may not immediately get us excited?

Who really said we paid 22 million. I do not believe it.

 

[Anon1739778738]

The best players go to the best coaches in the game that are consistently successful and competitive.Everyone pays money now .

 

[Ukwazoo3]

Well we are not getting the best players, so we have to hope he gets the right ones...and learns how to coach defense.

 

[JSquad0070]

A good coach matches his system to the players he has, not vice versa. You have to adapt and be willing to change. You can’t force a square peg through a round hole.

 

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

For Pope it seems like he needs experienced players who have a high basketball IQ that can overcome his coaching shortcomings. I believe that's what happened last year.

 

[VC99]

Who really said we paid 22 million. I do not believe it.

It was reported by the people who run this site that the UK staff intentionally leaked it.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Who really said we paid 22 million. I do not believe it.

Everyone on TV keeps saying it. So regardless whether we belive it, Pope hyped it up and it’s now eating him alive.

 

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

Everyone on TV keeps saying it. So regardless whether we belive it, Pope hyped it up and it’s now eating him alive.

Yup. Perception is reality and Mark Pope is perceived as a complete bozo nationally.

"A quote was given about each of these coaches, and the quote about Coach Pope was quite shocking. Here is what one anonymous coach in college basketball had to say about Coach Pope: "Since UK can do things no other school can financially, he would have to be a complete bozo to not win one soon"

No doubt that was Todd Golden lmao

 

[Anon1751335390]

Yup. Perception is reality and Mark Pope is perceived as a complete bozo nationally.

"A quote was given about each of these coaches, and the quote about Coach Pope was quite shocking. Here is what one anonymous coach in college basketball had to say about Coach Pope: "Since UK can do things no other school can financially, he would have to be a complete bozo to not win one soon"

No doubt that was Todd Golden lmao

And yet, we've won just 1 championship in the 2000's.

The right player is the best player. It doesn't make sense to have 5 centers on a team or to have 5 players who can't rebound. In an absolute sense, you could make a team consisting of the 5 best bigs and it won't be very good because it doesn't have ball handling.

To this discussion, here are some of the best players who will be portal eligible and have a decent chance of not entering the draft:

PF Allen Graves
PG Tyler Tanner
PG Jeremy Fears
F Milan Momcilovic
G Pryce Sandfort
PG Ebuka Okorie
G Mason Falslev

 

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

And yet, we've won just 1 championship in the 2000's.

The right player is the best player. It doesn't make sense to have 5 centers on a team or to have 5 players who can't rebound. In an absolute sense, you could make a team consisting of the 5 best bigs and it won't be very good because it doesn't have ball handling.

To this discussion, here are some of the best players who will be portal eligible and have a decent chance of not entering the draft:

PF Allen Graves
PG Tyler Tanner
PG Jeremy Fears
F Milan Momcilovic
G Pryce Sandfort
PG Ebuka Okorie
G Mason Falslev

We have never been able to 'officially" pay players till the NIL era so the previous 24 years or so of this century is a moot point. If we are outspending every other University by millions of dollars assembling teams then we should legit be a number 1 seed and projected favorite every season, with the right coach of course

 

[Artlaibesghost]

Well the fanbase doesn't seem excited for next year. So I'm really asking what type of players would get you excited? The best shooter in the portal who is from a mid-major and about #30 or the #3 best overall player in the portal (or a recruit like stokes.)

It doesn't matter if players are " excited" or not. What matters is if they get paid. The trick ,which Pope bumbled this year is paying the right ones. If he doesn't it again next year he's history.

 

[VC99]

And yet, we've won just 1 championship in the 2000's.

The right player is the best player. It doesn't make sense to have 5 centers on a team or to have 5 players who can't rebound. In an absolute sense, you could make a team consisting of the 5 best bigs and it won't be very good because it doesn't have ball handling.

To this discussion, here are some of the best players who will be portal eligible and have a decent chance of not entering the draft:

PF Allen Graves
PG Tyler Tanner
PG Jeremy Fears
F Milan Momcilovic
G Pryce Sandfort
PG Ebuka Okorie
G Mason Falslev

It's disingenuous to use 2000 as the cut-off. Kentucky went to 3 straight national championship games in the 4 years prior.

 

[VC99]

It doesn't matter if players are " excited" or not. What matters is if they get paid. The trick ,which Pope bumbled this year is paying the right ones. If he doesn't it again next year he's history.

fanbase*

 

[Anon1751335390]

It's disingenuous to use 2000 as the cut-off. Kentucky went to 3 straight national championship games in the 4 years prior.

Ok. Add two more if you want. Why stop at 1998? Why not 1995? Why not 1970?

 

[UKGrad24]

Who really said we paid 22 million. I do not believe it.

The UK staff leaked it is what the word is but the real figure is likely 8-10 million. And it’s my personal opinion that Mitch doesn’t want 20 million going to a roster but it was made to appear we’re going all in and that’s why it was leaked.

Mark is brought in to

1. Do what Mitch tells him to do
2. Give appearance we’re all in on winning
3. Make a lot of money, but do it by tempering what we do and pretending it’s other worldly. It will work on some. Mark will take the hits and say nothing, make 30/40 million before it’s over is likely the situation. Kentuckys administration is not interested in elite basketball, hence, hire yes man Mark Pope who ain’t elite but will do whatever to make the money this program is willing to pay.

 

[UKGrad24]

And yet, we've won just 1 championship in the 2000's.

The right player is the best player. It doesn't make sense to have 5 centers on a team or to have 5 players who can't rebound. In an absolute sense, you could make a team consisting of the 5 best bigs and it won't be very good because it doesn't have ball handling.

To this discussion, here are some of the best players who will be portal eligible and have a decent chance of not entering the draft:

PF Allen Graves
PG Tyler Tanner
PG Jeremy Fears
F Milan Momcilovic
G Pryce Sandfort
PG Ebuka Okorie
G Mason Falslev

Go back a couple. Now we’ve won 3 in nearly the same timeframe. Which is one of the best in the country. Is there something special about Y2K? Cherry picking is a logical fallacy, BTW.

Poor 90’s Kentucky. They were just too long ago. Wish that had happened 36 / 48 months earlier and it would count.

 

[VC99]

Ok. Add two more if you want. Why stop at 1998? Why not 1995? Why not 1970?

Because if you're going to formulate an argument around recent success, it would be logical to include the 3 national championship games that happened right before, and it wouldn't be logical to include 1970.

 

[Anon1751335390]

Go back a couple. Now we’ve won 3 in nearly the same timeframe. Which is one of the best in the country. Is there something special about Y2K? Cherry picking is a logical fallacy, BTW.

Poor 90’s Kentucky. They were just too long ago. Wish that had happened 36 / 48 months earlier and it would count.

Picking 1998 is cherry picking as well. Why not start at 1985?

Our near 30 year run with 1 championship is ok, everyone! We won a title in 1998!

 

[Anon1751335390]

Because if you're going to formulate an argument around recent success, it would be logical to include the 3 national championship games that happened right before, and it wouldn't be logical to include 1970.

Depends on how you define “recent.” Is recent 10, 15, 25, or 30 years? In a recent stretch, we haven’t made a final four in 10 years.

There adults in their 20’s and early 30’s who have little to no memory of the title run from 96-98

 

[UKGrad24]

Picking 1998 is cherry picking as well. Why not start at 1985?

Our near 30 year run with 1 championship is ok, everyone! We won a title in 1998!

Hell yea I’m one that always said we’ve played the game and won the titles all the way back. Why stop at any timeline? If it was so easy back then why was everyone not winning them? It was so easy, Tennessee should have 5 from back then, Kansas. UNC, Duke they should 5-10 titles back then.

Kentucky has 8 (actually more than 8 if we’re being honest) more like 10 or 11. But I was just sticking to your cherry picked dates and expanding them a few months. You’re the one that used a logical fallacy and cherry picked, I was simply saying while you’re picking those cherries, why don’t you grab those other 2 or 3 dangling there in your reach. You wanted it to sound bad to fit an argument and that’s why you cut it. Just admit it. It’s like the Calipari “pope better than 4”. Why4? If you go back 12 more months caliper has an elite 8.

Recency bias (cognitive bias), cherry picking (logical fallacies) all get on my nerves. You’re not the first nor the worst. Winning a title is forever there is no cut off date because it’s been a while. If we win this year just because my grandkids aren’t born doesn’t mean it didn’t happen when they are.

 

[Catlogic1552]

What is his system?

Can you describe it?

I see zoom offense. And no defense or rebounding.

For 2 seasons. Is that the system?

My question exactly. And whatever system it is, it has a rolling 63% success rate which won’t cut it here.