Kam was finding his rhythm right before he broke his foot and the team had looked the best during that stretch. Wilkins dropped 21 on UCONN in a big stage.
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Dude..."finding his rhythm"? That's the month of January up until his injury. I don't get the narratives we try to spread on here. I don't think Kam is necessarily "bad"...but to say these six games make him not a question mark to be a VERY KEY piece on what needs to be a good team. How do those games make him NOT a question mark?
It was one game. One. He has at least a half dozen games against REALLY FREAKING BAD teams...like KenPom 250+ bad teams...where he was horrible in his conference. That doesn't mean he will be horrible, but surely you can see where one damned game doesn't erase a question mark? For a dude that's supposed to be a starter and a leading scorer? I know if you're from SWMO you know hoops better than that.
Yeah, they don't wanna work under this chicken**** administration. Got nothing to.do with the fans.
Dude, we have started copium season. Some have entered Hunter McClintock mode. It is like the stages of grief.
Cool. If that happens, we will likely will suck and Pope will be fired.
That’s why I’m not losing my mind on April 22. Outcome is fine either way.
If we’re bad, new coach. If we’re not, we’re not.
Is this where I am supposed to kick and scream and throw a tantrum over something I have no control over?
Kam is a 3&D guy…you expecting him to be the leading scorer then yeah you need lower expectations and he’s a question mark but you can’t deny that’s when the team actually started to look like a team right before he got injured ..it’s more to the game than just scoring.
What Wilkins did did vs UConn & Hurley in a big setting tells me he’s not scared of the big stage and tells me enough that he can produce against SEC comp considering Hurley more than likely had Wilkins as the #1 threat on scouting report. You can have him as a question mark but I really like Wilkins …6’5 and plays at his pace he will be more than ready to produce.
A 3&D guy who can only make 3's against bad teams and plays merely average defense. He's ok but UK should have higher standards than expecting Kam Williams to be a big contributor. Good grief.
I'm not losing my mind or throwing a tantrum. What I am doing is pointing out the BS narrative some try to spin on some of this garbage. There's a big ole delta in between those two head spaces people can exist.
But I'm with you, if this is where it is we will suck and he will likely get canned.
What I can't be okay with is some iteration of what happened the first two years. That is, and always has been, my ultimate worry with Pope. That he will be a slightly suckier last five yrs of Tubby. If it's gonna be bad, I need it to be BAD. That way the money people step in and make the decisions. I don't need freaking Shep, Mitch or any other other front row Baptist involved in this hiring a "good guy". Let the money folks circle the wagons and go get a stone cold killer and lets roll again. And I'm afraid it's going to have to get really, really bad for that to occur.
once again was finding his rhythm looked his best before breaking his foot….whats your definition of a big contributor cuz 3&D guys aren’t that bud
Christ almighty. Calm the eff down. I literally said in the post “BUT THAT IS BARKLEY”. I’m not comparing the kid to Charles Barkley. I’m saying that just because he’s slightly undersized does not mean that he can’t be good.
He really wasn't finding any rhythm.
He looked his best while playing Loyola and Bellarmine.
The rest of the season he spent mostly standing around thinking about what color he wants to paint his nails.
Yeah aight bub…tells me you didn’t watch games
This needs to stop. Pope is nowhere near as bad as BCG.
I know you are freaking out and need to take out your frustrations by using hyperbolic statements, but both coaches coached 2 seasons, BCG's best season, ended as a 9 seed and he had patterson, Crawford and Bradly. He went to the NIT with Meeks and Patterson on the squad. He was also a drunk that was trying to get with a players girlfriend.
He was also recruiting Vinny freaking Zollo and Dakota Euton. So just stop.
Also, this whole idea that we are in worst shape than we have ever been, again, stop. Kentucky Shame is 10 times worse than a sweet 16 and a 2nd round loss on the NCAAT. If you were a UK fan during those dsys, you know what I'm talking about. Obviously, you weren't a fan back then.
Y'all need to grow up and act like this isn't your first time dealing with adversity.
McBride averaged 5.6 boards in the Sun Belt conference...not trying to be a jerk but what on Earth makes you believe he'll average 7 for us in the SEC?
set Bellarmine on fire besides that under performed before the injury.
No, but currently Kam is the starting 3 or 4 and I don't think he creates very well, which gives me serious concerns at the 3 (Chandler). I don't think he can defend (mainly rebound) with most SEC 4s. Again, that's a question mark. Why? Because he hasn't shown he's capable of it on a consistent basis. The way this roster is shaping he's going to play 30 plus minutes. I honestly like his game, but he can't be one of your best players and you be very good.
Question marks are question marks because we've never seen them produce the way we need them to produce. If you "think" they'll be one thing, that's fine. Doesn't make them not question marks. One game doesn't erase any of that, especially a guard. Shooters get their first one to go down and the game is easy. Sometimes it's that simple for a guard. Just look at Chandler. Some games he looked like a stud, others he was useless. Wilkins could score 15+ per game in the SEC. He could also be overwhelmed by the consistent level of athleticism and strength and be just another 10/5/3 guy. Which, btw, would be COMPLETELY fine if the roster was worth a crap. There's a huge difference between doing it once and having to do it every single game out.
Previous coaches would go out to eat and be given a free meal and welcomed with salutations. Pope is charged extra or told the kitchen is closed.
Yeah, these guys can't figure out wtf they want.
They want Pope fired, but then they get mad when he doesn't land every top player in the portal.
They obviously don't understand what happens if Pope has a great roster and he wins just enough games next year. Nobody is firing a coach that goes to 2 sweet 16's in 3 years.
These seesaw fans need to figure out what it is they actually want.
You said it correctly, if he doesn't get good players and fails to hit the standard next year, he's out. I don't see the issue. Just relax and let it play out.
I mean, you're trying to use Barkley as a reason for why this chump can be a player...why even mention Barkley then? If not at least using it as a reason, comparison, or analogy? I get it, we're all looking for SOMETHING...but that ain't it.
man i wish i hadn't. "bub".
what a miserable season it was
He ain't wrong. Of the games I listed, he had one game where you could nod your head and say he was anything other than a dude that could defend a little. That was against the worst team in the league, that IIRC, played zone.
I’m looking for the RHYTHM
Kam Williams 2025-26 Stats per Game - NCAAM - ESPN
The 2025-26 NCAAM season stats per game for Kam Williams of the Kentucky Wildcats on ESPN. Includes full stats, per opponent, for regular and postseason.
www.espn.com
bc his recruiting failings are embarrassing the program on a national level right now. it's bigger than Pope.
The worst positions to be bad at are pg and the 2 bigs
We are going to get killed on rebounding and paint scoring
We are going to get killed on rebounding and paint scoring
he had a a good game late against Mississippi State. But again that's a bad teamI’m looking for the RHYTHM
Kam Williams 2025-26 Stats per Game - NCAAM - ESPN
The 2025-26 NCAAM season stats per game for Kam Williams of the Kentucky Wildcats on ESPN. Includes full stats, per opponent, for regular and postseason.
Trust me you didn’t cuz I can tell from your response. Immediately went to talking about his nails and responding with zero basketball talk. Take care buddy
They only look at numbers. They watched the games and know exactly what you're talking about, but they are in their miserable bubble and when they're in that bubble, they refuse to admit anything positive ever happened.
If they watched the games and didn't see how good Kam was getting before he broke his foot, you can't help them, they don't want to he helped. Let them be miserable.
I can agree with this.
I didn’t like the hire from the beginning but bought in because that was the only choice.
One good thing, if we can call it that, is Pope doesn’t have near the runway Tubby did. Tubby winning the title year one extended his runway by a lot. (I should add that 3 of Tubby’s last five years (03-05) were his three best record wise but fell short in March. The last two were dreadful. Last year reminded me of his last two teams - some good wins, some blowout losses and it being obvious other top teams were way more talented.)
Assuming Pope fails and is replaced, I never want to hire an alum again unless that alum is a guaranteed Pat Riley in his prime type.
I also agree with you that I’d rather have a prick who wins than Ned Flanders with a whistle who is only OK. The AD hire needs to come from outside.
Because Barkley was absolutely amazing and was undersized for his position. Not saying the kid IS good. I’m saying there is precedent for not writing him off.
Might wanna educate yourself on the latest signing and the two "players" visiting Friday.
He looks like a freaking savior at this point.