Norlander Predicting UK for Milan

FitchandMurray29

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I think with Momcilovic the Cats are a top 5 SEC school with Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas. A top 5 SEC school should be a top 15 team and a threat to make a run in March. In today's NIL era that is where a team needs to be on paper. A threat to make a run. Now they have to prove it on the court. Last year's team was preseason #9 and did not prove it on the court. Get Mom and prove it.
This is a great post imo

To be fair to the number 9 ranking last year, we wouldn’t have been anywhere near that if it was known Lowe and JQ would be non contributors. Probably would’ve been closer to 25 where we ended up.

The disaster PR this spring and disappointment from last year is clouding reason for many folks in analyzing this roster with Milan added.
 
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HipTer

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Watching Morton, I am confident he is better than last year’s JJ. Now, JJ has skills that make him a potential first rounder some day, but he ain’t there now. Morton may have hit is ceiling, but that is better than JJ was last year. Dominque Hawkins is who I would compare him to.

Time will tell with Mason. He has a college ready body, the deficiency that contributed to JJ’s woes. So, maybe he can give us solid minutes.
I was very surprised by how bad Jasper Johnson's PG skills and know-how were. He was listed as a PG by some of the recruiting services; and while I know that's future projection stuff that is generally irrelevant to freshman year ability/production, I assumed that Johnson could at least play the position on a somewhat neutral basis and not kill the team. I was wrong.
 

Noledynasty2490

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Yeah sorry, even with Mom I don't see TOP 10. Top ten means you're in the mix for a 2 seed come tourney time. A record like 25-6. I just don't see that. If God forbid one of our guards get injured then we're in trouble.
 

Noledynasty2490

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CB3UK

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HipTer

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I just don’t believe Momcilovic makes that great of a difference. We definitely have a better rotation with him, but I can’t see any team elevated to a contender that wasn’t before adding him.
Next season rests squarely on Diallo and Wilkins. If they can play together the way I hope they can, Milan will be one of the biggest benefactors.
I agree with the opinion that Momcilovic will likely not be as big a difference maker FOR UK as many here seem to think. But that’s because I think UK is already in pretty good shape at the SF position and I worry about Momcilovic’s rebounding and defense at the PF spot. So, I think Momcilovic's positive impact for UK’s roster is more incremental than transformational. I think, for example, Arizona has a much bigger need for Momcilovic and so his impact on them would be bigger than his impact at UK.

However, I disagree that Momcilovic isn’t impactful enough to push some teams to contender status. He would be huge for some rosters – the most impactful player that could be added in some cases (including Stokes or any other available player).

But don’t misunderstand. I’m just talking in relative terms here. The way Momcilovic shoots – and not just accuracy, but also his ability to get the shot off, a la’ Koby Brea – would move the needle a bunch for any team. I just have more confidence in the play and shooting of K. Williams and B. Hawthorne at the SF spot than some others here.
 

Im The Village Idiot

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I feel like a person who is being rational can see that Pope has done some good things and has also had some failures. He's also dealt with an unprecedented amount of injuries. My take is we really don't know the true Mark Pope yet. I'd rather see him get a fair shake with the roster he wants that stays healthy, and see where he stands. If year 3 is as bad or worse than year 2, then we move on. But people have already bet the farm he won't have a good third year so now they have to double down and hope he fails. And no matter what he does, they have to find the negative because it makes them feel better about themselves.
Bump. I feel like this is the only honest assessment. Anything more is gum-flappin' and chest beating. Pope is a big fat TBD.
 

Phil_The_Music2

Heisman
Nov 29, 2010
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If we're going to hand out this type of NIL money, I think we deserve to demand a little bit better of a coach. If this money truly is infinite every year. $20mil per season, than its fine. But I dont think it is.

Our roster as is isnt even really neat a Final4. If were putting together close to a top10 team and we want to spend big on a final piece? Then absolutely, go for it. But this roster really isnt close to that level.
Another post by you that makes zero sense. Not sure what has gotten in to you. We don't know how good Pope is or isn't. He had a good first year, not so good second year. You think any coach worth his salt will replace him if they know we decide to just not give them the money they need so we can fire them for not winning because....they don't have the money they need? Come on man. You're smarter than this. You always give an employee the resources they need to do the job. If you don't, then you are the one failing. If you give them the resources and they still fail, then it's on them and you move on. Use some common sense brother.
 

LineSkiCat14

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Another post by you that makes zero sense. Not sure shat has gotten in to you. We don't know how good Pope is or isn't. He had a good first year, not so good second year. You think any coach worth his salt will replace him if they know we decide to just not give them the money they need so we can fire them for not winning because....they don't have the money they need? Come on man. You're smarter than this. You always give an employee the resources they need to do the job. If you don't, then you are the one failing. If you give them the resources and they still fail, then it's on them and you move on. Use some common sense brother.

We dont know how good he is or isnt? Im pretty confident we have seen enough from him at UK and before to say thay hes not of the caliber this program deserves. I dont know how much more time you think he needs. Im willing to give this ONE more year, but thats generous.

And give him resources? Was he not handing out million dollar NIL deals last year? Using the same Kentucky "brand" and facilities that Cal used to turn us into a force in the 2010s?
 

BlueSince92

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Most analysts have said with him we are in the 10-15 range. Literally every talking head has said that, so I’d say if you don’t believe it then you are the one in the small crowd. You can’t possibly look at our lineup with Milan and think we are worse than 15th 🤷🏻‍♂️
With only Milan in our lineup we are worse than 15. Hopefully you won’t get a chance to find out the hard way.
 
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LineSkiCat14

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congrats on being the sacramento kings for the rest of your life with that approach.

Not what im saying, at all.

I am still firmly "out" on Pope until I see some serious turnaround this year on MULTIPLE fronts. Coaching, communication, accountability, recruiting. Do you not remember how bad we looked early in the season? If he answers the majority of these questions and we get an elite8 or beyond? OK, then you might have convinced me to finance him. And if you think he deserves that now? Thats certainly one way to see it. But I think the rest of us fans have a right to look towards the future and save this money for the next coach (or just get rid of Pope now).
 
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*Fox2Monk*

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Has he checked with Rainman?
Rainman is going to hurt you if he does come!
I just don’t believe Momcilovic makes that great of a difference. We definitely have a better rotation with him, but I can’t see any team elevated to a contender that wasn’t before adding him.
Next season rests squarely on Diallo and Wilkins. If they can play together the way I hope they can, Milan will be one of the biggest benefactors.
He’s like a top 3 transfer in every ranking. I’m pretty sure being the best shooter in basketball is a big get for our season. He’s legit.