How would you build the 26-27 UK roster?
- Thread starter BigBlueBubba
- Start date
I think retaining those players is fine but none of them are not elite starter level imo. Way too much inconsistency. I'd recruit like crazy to get the best I could at every postition. Target 2 absolute studs and pay them accordingly and also pay everyone else accordingly. If anyone doesn't like it or doesn't want to compete, then ok. Find those that will.
Fire Pope, Barnhart, Capilouto and axe the JMI deal.
Then we go after real players
Then we go after real players
Players that fit the zoom action offense. Most importantly a legit point forward/center
I would start by going after either Tanner or Hubbard and then build the team around them.
I would also say a mobile stretch four is a must.
PG: Portal (or Euro) PG1, Retain Lowe as PG2, get a high 3 or low 4 star PG3 with multiple years of eligibility to learn and progress and break in case of emergency
SG: Portal (or Euro) SG1, Retain Chandler as SG2, Portal a tall 3 and D guy who can play SG or SF as a backup
SF: (Assuming we don't get Stokes here) Williams SF1, Hawthorne SF2 (and can play the 4 when needed)
PF: Portal (or Euro) PF1, Retain one of Jellavich and Mo only if one's willing to take a bench role
C: Moreno C1, Portal (or Euro) C2, Potter C3
Let the following walk unless they are willing to take an NIL cut or much smaller role and still try and recruit over:
Johnson, Noah, Garrison
No name speculation, just positional needs. I think you attempt to grab a portal player BETTER than everyone currently on the roster at each position with only Moreno and Williams I think having the potential to be solid starters. Lowe is an unknown commodity to me at this point post surgery, so if I'm on UK's staff, I try and keep him but I tell him no promises and we have to go get a guy because we lose point guards like Jasper loses the ball against pressure defense around here...
SG: Portal (or Euro) SG1, Retain Chandler as SG2, Portal a tall 3 and D guy who can play SG or SF as a backup
SF: (Assuming we don't get Stokes here) Williams SF1, Hawthorne SF2 (and can play the 4 when needed)
PF: Portal (or Euro) PF1, Retain one of Jellavich and Mo only if one's willing to take a bench role
C: Moreno C1, Portal (or Euro) C2, Potter C3
Let the following walk unless they are willing to take an NIL cut or much smaller role and still try and recruit over:
Johnson, Noah, Garrison
No name speculation, just positional needs. I think you attempt to grab a portal player BETTER than everyone currently on the roster at each position with only Moreno and Williams I think having the potential to be solid starters. Lowe is an unknown commodity to me at this point post surgery, so if I'm on UK's staff, I try and keep him but I tell him no promises and we have to go get a guy because we lose point guards like Jasper loses the ball against pressure defense around here...
I'm also iffy on Chandler as the starting 2 guard. Pros with Chandler is he's athletic and a good shooter. The Cons are his inability to get down hill and drive the ball.
Not enough scoring or shooting. Need more guys that can attack the basket off the dribble.
That roster even with a stud pg wouldn't finish better than 8th in the SEC.
I like Williams but he needs provide more around the rim.
Agreed. He just can't handle the ball well enough. Struggles against pressure and shooting off the bounce.
Tanner would be an incredible get. Silky smooth, legit shooter from anywhere. Superb ball-handler.
Tanner would be awesome, however, he grew up 15 minutes from Vanderbilt's campus and loves Byington. If he changes teams, it's because Byington got the UNC job (which I don't think will happen, but ya never know) and he'd be wearing blue, except the powder blue kind unfortunately.
Garrison has no place on any team. cannot defend, makes strange decisions, terrible motor and pouty attitude when **** goes wrong.
Agree, I believe he will concentrate on these weaknesses during the offseason. With his jumping ability and high free throw percentage, he could develop into a true offensive threat.
Fire Pope, hire a real coach and let him build the roster. Literally all that needs to be done...but won't be.
Yeah, that’s a worse team than this year. I wasn’t a fan of building a team around Oweh, but I think he and Aberdeen aren’t easily replaced. Two of the wings in that rotation wouldn’t start for any top tier SEC team.
To all that are stating keep Lowe. That will cause a problem in the offense. He is left handed so if the other PG is right handed then the whole team will be dysfunctional from the switch.
At least that’s what Pope wants us all to believe.
At least that’s what Pope wants us all to believe.
God he’s such an excuse maker.Pope needs a point forward/center, a rim protector, a point guard who can drive and shoot threes (need at least 2 point guards), three more guys who are efficient three point shooters, and at least two guys who can create their own shot. Some of these could be the same people.
Some guys from this season might need their NIL decreased.
Also need a new assistant coach to take over defense. Less analytics. More toughness.
Some guys from this season might need their NIL decreased.
Also need a new assistant coach to take over defense. Less analytics. More toughness.
The roster doesn’t matter as long as Pope is coach.
Pope has to have self motivated players that are at the top of their game and already coached but know they are not NBA bound.
That’s a tough combination to find.
UK should never be in a position to have to get players to cover for the lack of coaching and player development. But here we are.
Pope has to have self motivated players that are at the top of their game and already coached but know they are not NBA bound.
That’s a tough combination to find.
UK should never be in a position to have to get players to cover for the lack of coaching and player development. But here we are.
He's got to have 4 players on the floor at all times who are 3pt shooting threats. That's when Pope's offense seems to be most effective.
Has to be better defensively and on the glass. Too many times players standing around waiting for the rebound to come to them. Go get it!!!
Must be tougher physically and mentally. Pope played for Pitino, so you'd think he'd understand that and that would be part of his coaching DNA but it seems it isn't most of the time.
Has to be better defensively and on the glass. Too many times players standing around waiting for the rebound to come to them. Go get it!!!
Must be tougher physically and mentally. Pope played for Pitino, so you'd think he'd understand that and that would be part of his coaching DNA but it seems it isn't most of the time.
This is a blatant lie. I said Pope wants to build with continuity, which is the correct roster building formula big picture. I have enough incorrect takes that you don’t have to make things up. Pope doesn’t have continuity yet — I’d bet we have some of the worst roster continuity/minutes continuity of anyone who was an at-large bid in 2026. More of the “this guy doesn’t say we want him to” so let’s ridicule him nonsense. I’ve always mentioned you as one of the posters I like most that I don’t agree with. Calling me out to embarrass me unprovoked is some serious BS especially when it’s false.
Retain Chandler, Jelavic, Kam, Hawthorne, Potter, Noah, and Moreno.
MoD, love his energy, but he might not fit in here as well as a stretch big. His retention is his prerogative.
Jasper staying would be his prerogative. Again, not sure he fits Pope's style, but he could if he switched to a pure SG.
I don't think Garrison will work out here another year. Lots of potential, but takes a lot of plays off, it seems.
Lowe might be a glass cannon, but he knows the offense. Keep him or not, he could provide solid depth. That said, I do not want us relying on him at all next year.
We need two true PGs if we keep Lowe. We need a stud from the portal and I'd love to have Mason Williams on the team to develop and play a Perry role (more successfully). If Lowe leaves, we need three PGs or two PGs and a CG who can legitimately play PG if necessary.
We need two true stretch bigs. Jelavic can be that guy. Moreno could work on an outside shot. But, we need someone like Carr and Almonor who can strain opposing defenses.
What I'm more concerned with, though, is fit. It's pretty clear the staff didn't get guys who fit the system this year. That, combined with losing the only true PG on the team, royally f-d us.
I think getting the best athletes that fit our style in the portal will get us more success than just getting a dawg, or an energy athlete, or whatever. With as much time to work the portal as anyone else this time, I'd love to see what Pope and his staff can do.
So,
PG: stud transfer, Lowe or transfer PG/CG, Williams
SG: Chandler, Kam, Johnson or transfer CG
SF: Kam, Hawthorne, Noah
PF: Jelavic, potentially MoD or a stretch 4 transfer
C: Moreno, stretch 5 or passing transfer, Potter
Gives us an 8-9 man rotation with plenty of depth if someone goes down. I loved some of what Jelavic showed this year and I hope to see him back next season as a sophomore. I want to see Pope cinch down his lineups, though. A 9-man rotation should be our max.
8 or 9 man rotation is fine. But you have to have more both for practice, and in case of injuries (that one should be obvious after the past 2 years).
Retain:
Moreno - I think he could be 2nd-team all-SEC next year
Chandler - very nice complementary player/shooter, who doesn't have a bad handled, plays the passing lanes well, and if he could develop that Reeves floater would be really good
Williams - his shot is "long" but he does get into it quickly, plays good versatile defense, but he needs to rebound better
Hawthorne - we don't know what we have, word is he is skilled and athletic, so that just leaves that he needed/needs to be stronger (that is the easiest of those 3 to improve), I think will battle Williams for the starting SF spot
Potter - 7'+ guy who has played meaningful D1 minutes as 10th-12th man, sure
Noah - again, you need those 10th-12th guys. But he has a nice stroke, rebounds well, defense is good off the ball, passes it well. He's a guy who if there's an injury you are ok with playing
Maybe but doubtful:
Dioubate - if he is willing to accept to be the energy guy off the bench 10-15mpg
Lowe - if he is willing to be the backup PG off the bench, 10-15mpg
Garrison - if Moreno was to leave AND he is ok coming off the bench 10-15mpg as a SR
Quaintance - I'd take him back, but he's not returning (<5% chance)
Johnson - I'd take him back, but he's not returning (<5% chance), I do think he can become a good player
Add:
Stokes to start - we need him, we need a dude (or 3) that you can say we need a basket and he goes and gets one
portal C - probably more of a defense guy since I think Moreno will be more for offense (2 if we lost both MM & BG)
portal PF -
portal SG to start - a really good one, who can make 40%+ of his 3's
portal PG to start, portal G backup - I know some want size, no, I want quick (size is just a bonus), give me Ulis over Harrison every day
4* FR G or another portal G
So lineup would look like:
C- Moreno, defensive-minded portal C, Potter
PF- Stokes, portal PF
SF- Williams, Hawthorne, Noah
SG- portal shooter, Chandler, 4* FR or portal guy
PG- portal guy, portal guy
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Don’t think it would matter, I don’t think pope is able to teach a good enough defense
I don't think CC is that athletic outside of jumping ability. He's slow afoot and lacks lateral quickness. He's king of the opposite of Tshiebwe who was quick, but couldn't jump especially well.
Let's not forget this : Following Kentucky's 2026 NCAA tournament second-round loss to Iowa State, Mark Pope emphasized the need for a roster shift in the offseason, specifically targeting players who excel at breaking down defenses and creating offense through penetration.
This is a very good realization from Pope but it looks like a lot of the roster builds in this thread ignore what he said.
This is a very good realization from Pope but it looks like a lot of the roster builds in this thread ignore what he said.
That's a slow unathletic team.
You need a three level scorer to start at the 3 and that's not Kam.
Chandler starting only increases the need for an athletic wing as he has no game off the bounce.
You also can't have two non athletic players like MM and Jelly starting down low.
Gotta bring in an athletic rim runner/ protector at one of those spots.
Kam was literally our second best player on the court and was a sophomore learning a new system. He can learn a floater and he's athletic as hell.
Chandler is one of the most athletic players we have and can get that blow by ability back that he showcased before leaving on a mission for two years. Dude is a poster risk, a bucket, and knows the system. That puts him above just about any transfer we could get.
MM has issues, granted. I don't know that S&C will speed him up, but he's a solid center and can be the passer at the 5 we want.
Jelly is more athletic than he seems. I think he was legitimately confused most of the year and that slowed him down.
I tried to put the players we know first. It's not like this is gospel. I fully expect some transfers to shake things up when all is said and done. Depends on who stays, who leaves, and who Keegan Brown helps us get.
Also, we seem to be laboring under the Calipari assumptions. Having the most athletic team in the country led to one championship. I'm cool with sacrificing some athleticism for fit and skill. Gotta be a good balance, though.
I've been saying for over a year, that Pope needs to hire a Defensive specialty coach. Maybe he will do that this summer.
1. In what word do we want Garrison back?.....he was worse this year than last? I dont' think if he was just taking a scholly with zero NIL I'd wnat to him back. I argue we just do with Moreno as starter and go get a legit stretch 5 (even if its a PF posing as a C)...he could spot Moreno 15 min a game, we'd run the 5 out offense fully, we'd be poor defensively/rebounder but we could speed up the game for stretches.
2. I think Kam Williams is best suited as a stretch PF...defensive specialist. So play him 30 minute (15 at SF and 15 at PF). I'd not spend on stud PF but let Mo and Kam handle the PF minutes between them
3. We need a ton more ball handling/play making. Kam and Chandler are not top level ball handlers....so I'd argue we badly need a stud SG and PG more than stud PF. The Iowa st game was eye opening....we have to have multiple ball handlers on the floor at the PG, SG and SF....and even at the PF (I think Kam playing PF will be a good use if his skills)
In the end....Pope has to get back to havign a top notch offense and he has to improve the teams defensive/rebounding chops.
First, attack hiring AD and GM like we all want them to for HC, go after top personel, not hunting buddies.
Second, fire Pope and the entire staff today.
Third. I don't believe Hurley, Golden or Donovan want to be here, so I dont waste time on them. I go hard after one of either Oats, May, Otzelberger, Byington and McCasland. One of those five should be our next coach. If all five say no, I pivot to Bruce Pearl, who would walk here to coach Kentucky, and would do a Hell of a Job for 3-4 years.
If I were constructing the roster. I would bring back any serviceable player on an NIL which reflects their play last season, take it or leave it. At this point, we should make our best offer to Stokes with a great coach in place, which i think lands him. With Stokes as our only HS commit hard, I am going after the TOP kids in the portal and Europe, not fooling around with developmental types.
After Stokes, my #1 have to sign kid is PF Mikka Muurinen. If we don't get him, I go all in on PF Paulius Murauskas. Have to have one of those two.
I would also attack getting the best PG in the portal. There will be better PGs than Jackson Sheland or Colby Garland, but they would work.
The last big money target is Stefan Vaaks. Great shooter, great player.
Its a big ask, but with our money and the right coach in place, I think a class highlighted by Stokes, Muurinen, Sheland and Vaaks is entirely doable, with a couple of more role players
PG Sheland, Lowe, Garland
SG Vaaks, Chandler, Tyler Lundblade
SF Stokes, Kam, Hawthorne
PF Muurinen, Mo, Jelly
C Moreno, BG, Potter
Second, fire Pope and the entire staff today.
Third. I don't believe Hurley, Golden or Donovan want to be here, so I dont waste time on them. I go hard after one of either Oats, May, Otzelberger, Byington and McCasland. One of those five should be our next coach. If all five say no, I pivot to Bruce Pearl, who would walk here to coach Kentucky, and would do a Hell of a Job for 3-4 years.
If I were constructing the roster. I would bring back any serviceable player on an NIL which reflects their play last season, take it or leave it. At this point, we should make our best offer to Stokes with a great coach in place, which i think lands him. With Stokes as our only HS commit hard, I am going after the TOP kids in the portal and Europe, not fooling around with developmental types.
After Stokes, my #1 have to sign kid is PF Mikka Muurinen. If we don't get him, I go all in on PF Paulius Murauskas. Have to have one of those two.
I would also attack getting the best PG in the portal. There will be better PGs than Jackson Sheland or Colby Garland, but they would work.
The last big money target is Stefan Vaaks. Great shooter, great player.
Its a big ask, but with our money and the right coach in place, I think a class highlighted by Stokes, Muurinen, Sheland and Vaaks is entirely doable, with a couple of more role players
PG Sheland, Lowe, Garland
SG Vaaks, Chandler, Tyler Lundblade
SF Stokes, Kam, Hawthorne
PF Muurinen, Mo, Jelly
C Moreno, BG, Potter
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Totally undoable from a money perspectives and from a player perspective.
No one who can play a lick is going to be 3rd string.
Why would they?
You have 15 players and one basketball.
You would have to cut about 5 guys off that team for it to be even remotely realistic.
IMO Garrison is great as a backup center. I thought he progressed nicely this year. He was a much better player at the end of the year than the beginning. You're unlikely to get a better backup in the portal.