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The Dust Has Settled: Stokes or Momcilovic?

Stokes or Momcilovic?

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    191
JimboBBN

JimboBBN

Heisman
Jan 26, 2016
15,053
29,987
113
Did we land the better player to help next year's Kentucky basketball team? I think so. Stokes will be the better pro but I will give credit to a lot of posters here who said from the beginning they'd rather have MM. For what Mark Pope wants to do, and needs, we couldn't have landed a better player.

So, which player would you rather have gotten for next season?
 
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T

TheResistance

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
2,779
5,946
113
This is really to be determined. Kansas having Peterson last year, gives us a comparison with Stokes, but we do not know how Stokes will approach college and coaching. He will be a banger and scorer but will he play defense, rebound, or disappear occasionally. Stokes has a much higher upside, but Momo really fits Pope's system better. So I think, after everything, UK MAY be better off. Only time will tell.
 
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U

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
4,351
7,850
113
Stokes may be better in the NBA, but for this season, this team, Momcilovic is better. We have a big in Moreno, a couple of guards who can get to the rim in Zoom and Wilkins, and now a guy who completely opens the floor and gives you a go to guy in Momcilovic. We have other shooters in Kam and McBride and rebound/shot blockers in N'Diaye and Kepnang. We will have a great, fun offense and our defense and rebounding should improve because this team is LONG
 
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B

berniecarbo

Heisman
Apr 29, 2020
5,122
29,141
113
TheResistance said:
This is really to be determined. Kansas having Peterson last year, gives us a comparison with Stokes, but we do not know how Stokes will approach college and coaching. He will be a banger and scorer but will he play defense, rebound, or disappear occasionally. Stokes has a much higher upside, but Momo really fits Pope's system better. So I think, after everything, UK MAY be better off. Only time will tell.
Click to expand...
only time will tell reminds me of Little Feat.

Well they say time loves a hero
but only time will tell
If he's real, he's a legend from heaven
If he ain't he was sent here from hell
 
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MdWIldcat55

MdWIldcat55

Heisman
Dec 9, 2007
21,450
86,042
113
I'd much rather roll the dice with a guy who has proven it against Big 12 competition, who has established himself as a hard working, well-regarded teammate, and who PROVIDES THE ONE SKILL key to success, especially in Pope's system.

Kansas had the #1 high school recruit in the country last year in Darryn Peterson, and honestly that was a much, much stronger class, and Peterson appeared to be far more emotionally mature than narcissist Stokes. And what did it get them, despite also having the guy ranked #1 in the portal in Bidunga? The round of 32.

This truly is not the era to try to ride a freshman to great success. When Kentucky had AD and MKG, other teams also were counting on freshmen in key roles. Today, those freshmen are playing against teams with hand-selected 22-year old veterans of the wars in elite conferences.
 
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Dr.LutherSan

Dr.LutherSan

All-American
Sep 6, 2019
4,396
8,889
113
Given the current roster and coaching staff, I think MM is a better fit. Our lead guards are ball-dominant and the coaching staff has never had a player like Stokes. Demarcus Cousins was a great player, but also had the potential to be a team cancer. However, UK had the right coaching staff to understand how to coach him and maximize his talent. I don't think the current staff has that ability.
 
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The Ganner

The Ganner

Senior
Nov 21, 2009
326
882
93
I said from the beginning that I wanted Momcilovic more (but would have ABSOLUTELY taken Stokes rather than wait on Milan). I wasn't sure how Stokes would fit on a team with 2 ball dominant guards who are ok shooters. Momcilovic is exactly what we need on the team we already have assembled. Stokes may end up the better player this year, but that's no given - we've seen "elite" freshmen have their ups and down.
 
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M

Mdnerd

All-American
Apr 20, 2022
1,950
5,914
113
Myself and many others thought Milan was the better fit on day 1. He felt more like a pipe dream though and we thought we had a legit shot at Stokes. Would have taken Stokes in a heartbeat.

For this coach and this system, Milan is light years better.
 
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B

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
42,316
64,396
113
Stokes was a mistake. MilMom should have been a prime target from the get go. If getting Stokes meant being out on MilMom, then Pope and BBN had a huge stroke of luck.
 
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GreenCheckRex0807

GreenCheckRex0807

Senior
Jun 22, 2023
176
400
63
I think a potentially huge benefit is simply mindset and their situations

Milan - nagging injury, but still able to play, will likely play. Trying to earn his way into the NBA

Stokes - nagging injury, can play but doesn’t want to jeopardize his future, could potentially sit as we have seen with so many lottery picks/first rounders.

Do want to clarify that the young guys sitting with minor injuries isn’t necessarily the wrong decision. Totally get protecting their near future earnings.

With that said, if I’m an NBA exec, and I see a guy playing through injury, that’s a big positive in my mind.
 
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Pensacola_Cat_Fan

Pensacola_Cat_Fan

Senior
Apr 14, 2019
329
935
83
I agree that we needed both to be top 10 caliber. But if you could only have one, Mom is a better fit for what we need for sure. Stokes with the other guys that we have could’ve been a poor fit. You know what you’re getting with Mom.
 
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DelkBowl

DelkBowl

Heisman
Oct 4, 2015
10,797
11,863
101
What it really comes down to is which player signed with UK and which signed with KU. Polls will always reflect this other worldly phenomenon.
 
M

Mdnerd

All-American
Apr 20, 2022
1,950
5,914
113
Beatle Bum said:
Stokes was a mistake. MilMom should have been a prime target from the get go. If getting Stokes meant being out on MilMom, then Pope and BBN had a huge stroke of luck.
Click to expand...
Had to go after Stokes. Bypassing him without knowing if Milan was even going to be available would have been really dumb.

All worked out the best for everyone in the end, no matter the road to get there.
 
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U

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
4,351
7,850
113
DelkBowl said:
What it really comes down to is which player signed with UK and which signed with KU. Polls will always reflect this other worldly phenomenon.
Click to expand...
Completely untrue. If it were Dybansta vs Trent Noah, it would be a shutout for Dybansta. Momcilovic is a better fit
 
CrimsonCats_rivals

CrimsonCats_rivals

All-Conference
Mar 22, 2022
1,722
3,505
61
It’s hard to account for all the variables. It’s possible some other dominos in recruiting and the portal could have fallen differently if we landed Stokes, and who knows what that would have looked like.

If we’re just talking about swapping them one for one, Momcilovic is by far a better fit for this particular roster though. His elite shooting should pair much better with Diallo and Wilkins than trying to fit a third ball dominant guy into that mix.
 
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D

Dward13

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2008
10,255
1,632
72
Milan is a huge get and I love the pickup. I wanted Stokes but it was out of desperation. There’s a lot of guys i preferred over him. I said back then he wasn’t as good as the freshman from this past season so I didn’t think he was going to ultimately be worth his asking price.

That said I don’t think this is a title roster and think we’re going to struggle to stay ranked. The back court is weak on defense. The front court is weak on defense and rebounding.

We shouldn’t have any problem scoring this year however and on paper it at least LOOKS like an upgrade over last season.
 
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MachineHead

MachineHead

All-Conference
Oct 20, 2009
1,252
2,668
77
For Pope, it’s Momcilovic and it’s not close. Also, just strictly speaking from what I have seen, Stokes seems like a dbag of the highest order. As in, I really didn’t want to have to root for him.
 
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B

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
42,316
64,396
113
Mdnerd said:
Had to go after Stokes. Bypassing him without knowing if Milan was even going to be available would have been really dumb.

All worked out the best for everyone in the end, no matter the road to get there.
Click to expand...
I would have never gone after Stokes if I was Pope. It did not have a good-fit feel. I think Stokes is a stud. I just think he is not a good fit for what Pope does. I know I am not alone with that opinion. I think people in the recruiting world tried to convey that sentiment to Pope but he clearly disagreed. I also wonder if Nike drove that somewhat. I may not have ended up with MilMom, but Stokes would have been a pass for me.
 
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