BB: Kentucky Basketball Pro Day

Wildcat_in_DC

All-Conference
Nov 25, 2025
1,185
1,991
113
I think the Eors and trolls are out early. Already mailing in the season after a practice.
I think perhaps they are getting nervous about the season being fun and successful.
Let it play out.
I saw a bunch of good stuff. And I think everybody on that floor had bball iq and multiple skills. Haven’t had a complete team like that in awhile. Plenty of depth at each spot when the 3 get back.
winning is fun. losing isnt fun. another 9, 10, 11 losses isnt a fun season. unless we are now a participation trophy type of program.
 

ScWildcat3

All-Conference
Sep 27, 2005
1,194
1,780
113
for the low IQ person thats is one simple and incorrect way of breaking it down. sure
You said exhibitions show who you are. So after we smoked purdue we would’ve been considered a top 10ish team. Then when the gtown game came we wouldn’t. I say exhibitions don’t mean much. You usually don’t run much stuff and just play with rotations. You seem lost. I’m assuming you never actually played or coached ball.
 

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
16,617
17,311
113
You said exhibitions show who you are. So after we smoked purdue we would’ve been considered a top 10ish team. Then when the gtown game came we wouldn’t. I say exhibitions don’t mean much. You usually don’t run much stuff and just play with rotations. You seem lost. I’m assuming you never actually played or coached ball.
Exhibition games give fans a decent first look at their new team each year. Just a preliminary look at personnel ... not much more.
 

Wildcat_in_DC

All-Conference
Nov 25, 2025
1,185
1,991
113
You said exhibitions show who you are. So after we smoked purdue we would’ve been considered a top 10ish team. Then when the gtown game came we wouldn’t. I say exhibitions don’t mean much. You usually don’t run much stuff and just play with rotations. You seem lost. I’m assuming you never actually played or coached ball.
the outcome of the game does matter. shot 31% from three. sub 70% from the line. blah from the PF/C spot. jasper our best player with oweh coming back from injury. no show from chandler.

guess what happened in the gtown game.....23% from three, 65% from the line, more blah from the PF/C spot. no jasper beer muscles. no show from chandler

sounds like 80% of the games last season.
 

Catastic5

Junior
Sep 12, 2026
128
333
63
winning is fun. losing isnt fun. another 9, 10, 11 losses isnt a fun season. unless we are now a participation trophy type of program.
A lot of people have lowered their personal standards for Kentucky basketball recently, I’ve noticed. Why? I don’t understand, especially not for Mark f*cking Pope of all people. Does the rest of the country making fun of him catalyze some sort of parental instinct within these people or what? Are they a bunch of contrarians desperately trying to prove all the “haters” wrong?

All it takes it seems like to ruin Kentucky basketball is a bunch of fans with a fetish for being made fun of by opposing fans it seems like. “It’s okway my pwecious baby boy, Popey-kins! I’ll make them like you!”

These same people were laughing at Indiana when Crean was being an absolute goober. How the tables have turned.
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

All-American
Dec 19, 2003
4,823
6,365
82
So one guy gets a pass but not another. Such a wild statement. So since Kam hit 8 3’a against bellarmine last year that means he’s an elite shooter and we can expect that this year from him correct? Alex will be gone after this year to the nba. He’s that good.
Wait…wut? Mom (if that’s who you’re talking about) gets a pass, if that’s what you want to call it, because he’s coming off a finger injury AND he was one of the best shooters in CBB last season AND did it against P4/5 opponents all season.

The game Kam had means nothing. I still don’t think he’s a very good shooter. Just okayish. His misses are BAD. And he’s never done it with any consistency against good teams.

Id be willing to bet you whatever you want Wilkins won’t be an NBA draft pick after this year. He averaged like 17 at freaking Furman or wherever. Had a number of stinker games against really bad teams too. Sure, he had 20-something against UConn. One game. Can he do it on a regular basis come Jan/Feb in one of the best leagues in the country? Time will tell.
 

Eagles_Ball_69

All-American
Dec 19, 2003
4,823
6,365
82
I think the Eors and trolls are out early. Already mailing in the season after a practice.
I think perhaps they are getting nervous about the season being fun and successful.
Let it play out.
I saw a bunch of good stuff. And I think everybody on that floor had bball iq and multiple skills. Haven’t had a complete team like that in awhile. Plenty of depth at each spot when the 3 get back.
Lol. Bball IQ and multiple skills? You’d damned well better have that at this level.

I’m nervous for sure. Nervous we will finish middle of the pack in the league, not get to the weekend in the SECT and not make it past the S16…again.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,609
72,749
113
Will a successful season cause a mental health crisis among our fans? Will they spin out if we get to the FF and we have to (gasps) keep Pope.
Fainting couches will be in danger of damge and pearls will be crushed.
It'll be a fun watch.
GBB.
All it took was one bad season to bring all the negative nancy's to the surface. The outrage doesn’t fit the situation.
All the sudden, the 24/25 season never happened, all they talk about is the losses and now we have dudes trying to say BCG was better, because "he went to a sweet 16 when he was at Texas a&m". The reaching is crazy.
If Pope made a FF this year, it wouldn't be good enough, they will still point to everything that happened in 25/26.
I get being concerned and there definitely should be some anger toward Barnhart, but I don't understand why so many are so upset at Pope that they feel the need to sling hate daily on here. The guy is giving everything he has to win, nobody can deny that.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,609
72,749
113
i think pope is going to deeply regret not landing rob wright and nikola kusturica.
We were mad at Pope for overpaying for players last year, now we're mad at Pope for not overpaying for Rob Wright, who hasn't won sh*t anywhere he's been?
UK offered him the same deal BYU offered him, which is the going rate for a pg with his skills. Wright wanted a massive bag and that's what it would have taken for him to leave BYU. He wanted to be overpaid and I'm glad Pope didn’t do that.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,609
72,749
113
Jesus, reading these posts in this thread after one pro day scrimmage is sobering. My gawd people, give it a rest. It’s October and dudes are already throwing in the towel and claiming the season a failure. Unreal.
 
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RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
29,444
71,010
113
This post sums up the cancerous, toxic segment of this board perfectly: It is early October and it states that a Kentucky Final Four WOULD BE A BAD THING because it would make the head coach who, after all, did better in his first two years despite a lot of adversity than his Hall of Fame predecessor did in his last five, look good.

The day I find myself saying it'd be better for Kentucky NOT to reach the Final Four, no matter the alleged justification, I'll leave this board and the fan base and spare all of you my rotten negativity.
You're putting words in my mouth. It would be a fluke. Just like Tom Crean, Kevin Keatts, etc etc. It wouldn't lead to lasting success.
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
29,444
71,010
113
A lot of people have lowered their personal standards for Kentucky basketball recently, I’ve noticed. Why? I don’t understand, especially not for Mark f*cking Pope of all people. Does the rest of the country making fun of him catalyze some sort of parental instinct within these people or what? Are they a bunch of contrarians desperately trying to prove all the “haters” wrong?

All it takes it seems like to ruin Kentucky basketball is a bunch of fans with a fetish for being made fun of by opposing fans it seems like. “It’s okway my pwecious baby boy, Popey-kins! I’ll make them like you!”

These same people were laughing at Indiana when Crean was being an absolute goober. How the tables have turned.
Nostalgia and boomers. That's all it is. If Pope was from Ohio and played for some random program. He'd be fired last year. They're gonna kill the program, trying to emulate Indiana. It is what it is. Dudes doing mental gymnastics to defend an awful coach. Because he won a title here and signs some autographs after the game. Meanwhile, when Calipari was losing, he got demolished by the same guys in this thread, (me included, Calipari was awful his last 5 years here). When Pope loses, they start the excuses and mental gymnastics "Dan Hurley sucked too" "Injuries" "The SEC is hard", etc etc. Why? Because Pope played here and won a title. Boomer fans will never hold him accountable. Go to facebook, the JP hire just bought him lifetime contract status for the 50+ crowd. He's our Mike Woodson.
 
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Catastic5

Junior
Sep 12, 2026
128
333
63
Nostalgia and boomers. That's all it is. If Pope was from Ohio and played for some random program. He'd be fired last year. They're gonna kill the program, trying to emulate Indiana. It is what it is. Dudes doing mental gymnastics to defend an awful coach. Because he won a title here and signs some autographs after the game. Meanwhile, when Calipari was losing, he got demolished by the same guys in this thread, (me included, Calipari was awful his last 5 years here). When Pope loses, they start the excuses and mental gymnastics "Dan Hurley sucked too" "Injuries" "The SEC is hard", etc etc. Why? Because Pope played here and won a title. Boomer fans will never hold him accountable. Go to facebook, the JP hire just bought him lifetime contract status for the 50+ crowd. He's our Mike Woodson.
I seriously hope our boosters and new AD won’t settle for this BS or Kentucky is done. And based on his stupid comments from the end of last comparing his seasons favorably to Cal’s last few seasons, I fear Pope is not so gracious enough to give up the title. I worry he will resource guard this program like an emaciated pit bull, Kentucky prestige be damed. I hope I’m wrong.

We can’t afford to extend the Pope tenure another year if he ends up 6th-8th in the SEC again. I’m not as worried about the tournament because three straight years of being a middle-of-the-road SEC team is a historical embarrassment (and he won’t do anything in the tourney anyway). It’s inexcusable and something that should’ve never been allowed to happeb.
 
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ScWildcat3

All-Conference
Sep 27, 2005
1,194
1,780
113
Wait…wut? Mom (if that’s who you’re talking about) gets a pass, if that’s what you want to call it, because he’s coming off a finger injury AND he was one of the best shooters in CBB last season AND did it against P4/5 opponents all season.

The game Kam had means nothing. I still don’t think he’s a very good shooter. Just okayish. His misses are BAD. And he’s never done it with any consistency against good teams.

Id be willing to bet you whatever you want Wilkins won’t be an NBA draft pick after this year. He averaged like 17 at freaking Furman or wherever. Had a number of stinker games against really bad teams too. Sure, he had 20-something against UConn. One game. Can he do it on a regular basis come Jan/Feb in one of the best leagues in the country? Time will tell.
So meaningless exhibition games show you who you are. But a full season shooting 40% like Kam did freshman season doesn’t mean anything. You and the other guy can’t actually believe the stuff yall post.

Alex is the most talented played on our roster. He has everything you want in a guard. He’s shifty, quick, plays at multiple speeds, can shoot it with ease, has high basketball iq and the list goes on. He was a late bloomer but has all the tools. Also has the size and ability to play the 1 or 2. There is a reason Nate oats the guy y’all are obsessed with wanted him so bad.
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
29,444
71,010
113
So meaningless exhibition games show you who you are. But a full season shooting 40% like Kam did freshman season doesn’t mean anything. You and the other guy can’t actually believe the stuff yall post.

Alex is the most talented played on our roster. He has everything you want in a guard. He’s shifty, quick, plays at multiple speeds, can shoot it with ease, has high basketball iq and the list goes on. He was a late bloomer but has all the tools. Also has the size and ability to play the 1 or 2. There is a reason Nate oats the guy y’all are obsessed with wanted him so bad.
Nate Oats would kill it at UK. I've been saying that for like 3 years. Give him our NIL budget, a good staff budget, and watch the fireworks.
 

ScWildcat3

All-Conference
Sep 27, 2005
1,194
1,780
113
Nate Oats would kill it at UK. I've been saying that for like 3 years. Give him our NIL budget, a good staff budget, and watch the fireworks.
He possibly could. I doubt he ever leaves bama though. Got it made there. Plenty of resources, they hired his new wife and he can get away with anything he wants. Also zero pressure. His style even at Kentucky to ever win a title is going to have to be adjusted eventually. The one year they made it to final four the defense played good in the tourney finally. Other than that he tries to out score everyone. I just don’t think he would want to come to Kentucky and know he has to win or he’s on the hot seat. With nil coaches don’t seem to feel the need to take on that pressure anymore. I mean we got nuts on this board saying we suck because of a practice
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
29,444
71,010
113
He possibly could. I doubt he ever leaves bama though. Got it made there. Plenty of resources, they hired his new wife and he can get away with anything he wants. Also zero pressure. His style even at Kentucky to ever win a title is going to have to be adjusted eventually. The one year they made it to final four the defense played good in the tourney finally. Other than that he tries to out score everyone. I just don’t think he would want to come to Kentucky and know he has to win or he’s on the hot seat. With nil coaches don’t seem to feel the need to take on that pressure anymore. I mean we got nuts on this board saying we suck because of a practice
Coaches at high level CBB aren't wired like me and you. If they were, they'd never leave for better jobs. The "zero pressure" is overblown.
 

Rick Honcho

All-Conference
Apr 19, 2011
1,561
1,586
103
When I was a kid, the UKIT was the biggest waste of time that I tried to believe was somehow meaningful. I suppose Pro Day is the modern equivalent…
 

ScWildcat3

All-Conference
Sep 27, 2005
1,194
1,780
113
Coaches at high level CBB aren't wired like me and you. If they were, they'd never leave for better jobs. The "zero pressure" is overblown.
I’m not wired for zero pressure. I’m a coach myself and love the pressure. But look at Unc job. They had to go nba and got turned down by everyone. If you can man similar money without the expectations and build your proves how you want why wouldn’t you? Also don’t discount the ego and being the best ever at somewhere like bama oppose to Just another guy at Kentucky.
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
29,444
71,010
113
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