Pope Flying to Israel

Primed49

Redshirt
Jul 12, 2025
17
12
3
I really hope I’m wrong about this but I’m reading this as the staff is worried Moreno will stay in the draft.
Yeah, a good portion of projected first rounders are returning to college so maybe Moreno can go higher than most expect. I'm thinking he might stay in the draft if he's not excited about the team.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Beatle Bum

Dr.LutherSan

All-American
Sep 6, 2019
4,300
8,627
113
That’s fine and all, but we need a starting caliber three way more than another big.

I was really hoping the purpose of this trip was to put the full court press on Joksimovic. THAT’s the international prospect we most need.
That's just another indication of Mark Pope not knowing what he's doing. This is going to be just another hodge podge roster thrown together with no rhyme or reason. I feel like we're going to have to accept the fact that we have to bite the bullet for the upcoming season and pray to God that the new AD does his/her due diligence when hiring the next head coach.
 

UKSanders

Senior
Aug 27, 2007
345
635
93
I know nothing bout Santos. Have not even seen tape of him (will watch some later). A 23 yo 6’8” Center who averaged 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 0.6 blocks during the 2025-26 Winner League Season for Maccabi Tel Aviv does not initially excite me. Did it in the Euroleague though, which is considered by many to be the second best league behind the NBA.

Just a tad odd to pull in a C that is shorter than our 4/3 at times. Maybe he plays bigger than he is?

TBH, this thing is starting to remind me of the movie “The Replacements”.

I really hope I’m wrong about this but I’m reading this as the staff is worried Moreno will stay in the draft.

To me, this guy seems like a potential backup for the 5 (and possibly the 4)... defensively, his height concerns me at only 6'8, but he is listed at 260lbs, and in his highlights, even at that weight, he plays above the rim. Plus, he's a good shooter, and in his highlights, he makes some great passes showing his court vision is solid.

Highlights

Again, doesn't just blow me away, but if he's coming to build depth, he seems like a solid addition.

Pope still needs to land a legit "dude" at either (or both) the 3 or 4.
 

Oboro_3

Freshman
Sep 3, 2024
21
56
13
He rose through Franca, one of Brazil’s top clubs, winning three national championships, the Basketball Champions League Americas, and the Intercontinental Cup. In Brazil, he averaged 13.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 47.9% from three before coming to Europe last summer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TX Wildcat

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,803
20,081
103
Pope is turning into a desperate fool. He is making Kentucky the laughing stock of the college basketball world.
If you’re going down in flames might as well crash hard. This job has completely chewed pope up and spit him out. He’s nothing like he was before he arrived. He had potential when he got here but his inability to recruit has really turned him inside out and the pressure cooker that is his job has him
Discombobulated.
 

Smeegs

All-Conference
Nov 19, 2025
732
2,041
93
Almost 24 and already has entered the draft once.
N’diaye is 22 years old. Get both of those guys and we may have the oldest group of “freshmen” in the country.

Bull that just seems to be the new way of CBB. The sport’s now full of seasoned vets just pretending to be college kids.
 

entropy13

All-American
Apr 27, 2010
3,560
6,784
113
His game is basically Reid Travis 2.0 with a better outside game. Similar size as well, not a huge needle mover but would be a quality piece overall.
Disagree. Don't see him moving the needle next season at all. Barring any significant gets, the roster next season is a big, fat "Meh." Mid-table SEC at best, NCAA tourney bubble team. Although, maybe we can sneak in if the expansion to 76 teams starts next year. 🤮
 

Cole World

All-Conference
May 24, 2011
990
1,582
93
Disagree. Don't see him moving the needle next season at all. Barring any significant gets, the roster next season is a big, fat "Meh." Mid-table SEC at best, NCAA tourney bubble team. Although, maybe we can sneak in if the expansion to 76 teams starts next year. 🤮
You have a generative ai picture of a real life person that exists instead of the person himself as your avatar

Stfu you freak
 

TX Wildcat

All-Conference
Apr 12, 2024
1,093
2,354
113
I'd really like to give a shout out to the Federal Judges who thought it would be in the best interest of America to absolutely destroy amateur college athletics. We're now recruiting 24 year old Israelis instead of American kids.
Technically a 24 yo Brazilian who plays ball in Isreal. I get what you are saying, however. That said, basketball is an international sport. I don't care if we pull a PF from Mt. Olympus or Hades so long as he is a stud who helps us win games (not that Santos is a stud).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wildcat_53

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,858
16,133
113
Yeah, a good portion of projected first rounders are returning to college so maybe Moreno can go higher than most expect. I'm thinking he might stay in the draft if he's not excited about the team.
Damn ... I hadn't thought of that. Surely, he'll be back this year ... let's hope so !!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Primed49

TX Wildcat

All-Conference
Apr 12, 2024
1,093
2,354
113
To me, this guy seems like a potential backup for the 5 (and possibly the 4)... defensively, his height concerns me at only 6'8, but he is listed at 260lbs, and in his highlights, even at that weight, he plays above the rim. Plus, he's a good shooter, and in his highlights, he makes some great passes showing his court vision is solid.

Highlights

Again, doesn't just blow me away, but if he's coming to build depth, he seems like a solid addition.

Pope still needs to land a legit "dude" at either (or both) the 3 or 4.
Thank you for the link to his highlights. He is certainly a 4 at the NCAA level, one who can rotate down and get into the paint as needed. Nice bounce and touch.

Guy looks 30 though, might need to fact check that "birth certificate".
 
  • Haha
Reactions: UKSanders

UKSanders

Senior
Aug 27, 2007
345
635
93
Thank you for the link to his highlights. He is certainly a 4 at the NCAA level, one who can rotate down and get into the paint as needed. Nice bounce and touch.

Guy looks 30 though, might need to fact check that "birth certificate".

Yeah, he uses his size well... I was impressed that he's strong enough to bang, but has plenty of bounce to play above the rim. He is the same size as Carey from TN, but he seems to play above the rim way more than Carey could. Plus, unlike Carey, Santos can shoot more than 3 ft from the goal.

I am just using Carey as a comparison b/c he was a LOAD for most teams to deal with, and Santos appears to be an upgrade compared to him.
 

PapawSwish

All-Conference
Jan 3, 2003
1,148
1,392
113

Marcio Santos International Stats​

Position: Center

6-9, 254lb (206cm, 115kg)

Born: November 2, 2002 (Age: 23-178d)
 

Drcatfan

All-Conference
Apr 14, 2015
1,438
1,647
61
We need 2-3 studs and a supporting cast. We have zero studs and a supporting class. This is arguably worse than last year even after the injuries. We had one player (Oweh) you could argue was a stud in the last third of the season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BMR1987

KOF98

Junior
Apr 10, 2025
150
249
43
Tel Aviv? We're flying into missile and drone attack territory to get 6'8" centers. This is like next-level version of when Coach Cow was the only guy brave enough to go deep into the ghettos to get players.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: kywildcats4life

UKGrad24

All-American
Apr 2, 2024
2,961
7,314
100
Pope is turning into a desperate fool. He is making Kentucky the laughing stock of the college basketball world.

im just sitting back watching people run back and forth having no idea this has been dead for a long time now.

Pope is now the first coach to lose a Nike elite kid to an adidas school. He is the worst coach of all time here and it’s not close.

But after next year he’s going to be coach K.