Expectations if we land Momcilovic?

[Padsfs07]

I'm locked in at .500 in the SEC. I hope I get proved wrong in a positive way. On paper, the SEC looks better this year and Kentucky is about the same or worse. I predict a repeat of last year.

Without Momcilovic, we are no worse than 6th in the SEC. With him, we are right there with #s 2-4.

The SEC is not better this year than last. There are 4 teams that are really good (roster-wise), but then a big drop off to mostly 7-8 seeds to bubble teams, then another big drop off to under .500 teams.

(4) Top 10: Texas, UF, Tenn, and Arkansas

(5) Below .500: UGA, MSU, Okla, Ole Miss, USC, Vandy too w/o Tanner

Wild cards in the middle range are A&M (Haggerty & G-Lg Warren guy), Mizzou (are Crowe/Bryant stars?), and LSU (obviously)

 

[entropy13]

Realistic with Momcilovic: 25-12
Realistic without Momcilovic 19-18

FYP.

(Barring any other changes.)

 

[Anon267536]

FYP.

(Barring any other changes.)

So I assume you think the players we had last year are better than this year?

youd take Denzel Aberdeen over Alex Wilkins?
lemme hit whatever your puffing

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

Expectations are for UK to be a top 10 type team. To compete for SEC regular season and tournament championships. To always be a threat in the NCAA tournament. Cal did not get that done his last 4 to 5 years and so far, Pope has fallen short. Mostly due to injury but his record is his record and if he cannot meet those expectations then UK needs to look elsewhere. I think a 3rd season is fair but results matter and this is a telling season.

I am excited about the guard on next year's team. I think this is the best set of starting guards since the 2019 season. If Moreno comes back and they can add a shooter like Mom this team on paper has the ability to reach the level of expectation at UK. Now the team and the Coach of that team has to achieve that level.

Even with all the injuries in 24-25 Kentucky did still finish the season #12 in the AP poll.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

He gave his opinion yet you’re the one going on a tangent, crying about crying. You’re the one sounding entitled. Especially since you suck off anyone who bashes Pope or even questions him. What a loser.

Telling spoiled children to stop whining does not equal whining. Your wording is rude but makes no sense. No surprise from the troll with the most childish name on the forum.

 

[mr peein in your pants is the coolest]

Offensively the team would have a chance to be elite. Assuming Moreno comes back and also he takes a decent step forward.

 

[CrimsonCats_rivals]

So I assume you think the players we had last year are better than this year?

youd take Denzel Aberdeen over Alex Wilkins?
lemme hit whatever your puffing

Personally, I’d say the jury is still out on that. I don’t think Aberdeen is a star, and we probably overextended him a bit hoping for him to be a #1 or #2 option this past year. He has been a steady contributor in the SEC for the past couple of years though.

Wilkins has enough physical tools that his best case scenario may have a higher ceiling, but we don’t actually know what he can do night in and night out in a power conference yet. The tournament performance against UConn was good, but he also had several stinkers against SoCon competition throughout the year. I’m not penciling him in as a difference maker at this level just yet.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

Even with all the injuries in 24-25 Kentucky did still finish the season #12 in the AP poll.

I really hate that people do not give proper context about that 2025 team. There are many posters such as TriCountyCat who will go to their grave defending lies about that team just to push an agenda.

That was a good team. Yes, they had a few blowout losses. But they also performed well enough that most of BBN was ready to jump down the throats of national media members for underrating us in the preseason the following offseason. There was a reason for that and it wasn’t just the roster — it was that year one exceeded expectations.

 

[entropy13]

So I assume you think the players we had last year are better than this year?

youd take Denzel Aberdeen over Alex Wilkins?
lemme hit whatever your puffing

Next year's roster is built on hope.

Aberdeen is a proven Power 4 guard who performed at a high level playing most of the season not in his most comfortable role. Alex Wilkins is an interesting mid major guard. Potential is there, but we'll see how he does against a full season of very high level competition.

That's just one position, though. Top to bottom, rhe rest of the roster is comparable or a bit lower than last year. At the same time, our competition has gotten better. So, that equates to a worse overall record.

So yes, if you hit what I'm puffing (Nitrogen, Oxygen, and a dash of Argon), you'd do yourself a favor.

 

[Anon267536]

Next year's roster is built on hope.

Aberdeen is a proven Power 4 guard who performed at a high level playing most of the season not in his most comfortable role. Alex Wilkins is an interesting mid major guard. Potential is there, but we'll see how he does against a full season of very high level competition.

That's just one position, though. Top to bottom, rhe rest of the roster is comparable or a bit lower than last year. At the same time, our competition has gotten better. So, that equates to a worse overall record.

So yes, if you hit what I'm puffing (Nitrogen, Oxygen, and a dash of Argon), you'd do yourself a favor.

I guess we disagree because I think Alex Wilkins has more potential, swagger and production in one year than Denzel Aberdeen has done in 4 years. Freshman Denzel couldn’t get more than 5 minutes on a NIT losing Florida team that I know Wilkins would’ve been starting for if he was there.

Zoom is better than Lowe imo, stronger build, more consistent, more competent.

Justin McBride is ten times more agile and comfortable with the game that Jelavic and has produced far more while still having a frame to rival Mo Dioubate.

N’diaye is from a far better euro league than Jelavic and has a good three and is apretty good offensive rebounders.

Franck Kepnang is what Brandon Garrison was supposed to be but never could. More responsible on defense, more drive, More experience.

So in my opinion, bar production from chandler and most importantly Oweh we have improved all of our positions.

 

[Anon334081]

I guess we disagree because I think Alex Wilkins has more potential, swagger and production in one year than Denzel Aberdeen has done in 4 years. Freshman Denzel couldn’t get more than 5 minutes on a NIT losing Florida team that I know Wilkins would’ve been starting for if he was there.

Zoom is better than Lowe imo, stronger build, more consistent, more competent.

Justin McBride is ten times more agile and comfortable with the game that Jelavic and has produced far more while still having a frame to rival Mo Dioubate.

N’diaye is from a far better euro league than Jelavic and has a good three and is apretty good offensive rebounders.

Franck Kepnang is what Brandon Garrison was supposed to be but never could. More responsible on defense, more drive, More experience.

So in my opinion, bar production from chandler and most importantly Oweh we have improved all of our positions.

Exactly. Won't lose more than 2-3 games and a legit shot at 40-0. Bringing out my old tee shirt

 

[Padsfs07]

N’diaye is from a far better euro league than Jelavic and has a good three and is apretty good offensive rebounders.

I hope this matters. I usually track all the Euro players, but didn't put much emphasis on the leagues. I am tracking the leagues this year so it will be interesting. There are a lot of players coming from the *lower* Adriatic, Serbian, and Lithuanian leagues this year.

The main Italian League 'transfers' are N'Diaye, Niang (LSU), Assui (FSU), and Ellis (St Johns).

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

I really hate that people do not give proper context about that 2025 team. There are many posters such as TriCountyCat who will go to their grave defending lies about that team just to push an agenda.

That was a good team. Yes, they had a few blowout losses. But they also performed well enough that most of BBN was ready to jump down the throats of national media members for underrating us in the preseason the following offseason. There was a reason for that and it wasn’t just the roster — it was that year one exceeded expectations.

The problem is that, after watching Year 2, in hindsight a lot of those Year 1 losses fit the same pattern. It's a problem Pope has in regards to preparation, regardless of who is on his team.

Go watch the Bama SEC tourney game and tell me that isn't the same crap we saw in the 25-26 season.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

The problem is that, after watching Year 2, in hindsight a lot of those Year 1 losses fit the same pattern. It's a problem Pope has in regards to preparation, regardless of who is on his team.

Go watch the Bama SEC tourney game and tell me that isn't the same crap we saw in the 25-26 season.

Well, I definitely do not disagree about the Alabama, Ole Miss and Tennessee games. That was acknowledged already in my post. It doesn't negate the full body of work for that season. I'm not saying it was a "great" year as that is reserved for higher performance than the 2025 team, but it was certainly good. Anyone arguing otherwise -- I consider them to have an axe to grind. You'd have to cherry pick things like specific disappointing performances, SEC conference record without context or pure W/L record rather than putting everything in the bowl. That's my view on it.