Going to be a long season

Ash Williams

Heisman
Aug 3, 2022
8,669
27,270
113
It's the PRE-SEASON ffs. Let's see how they are doing when SEC play rolls around and heading into March tourney time. That's when it matters. These guys are nearly ALL playing together for the first time/season. It's rare that any "new" team gels instantly. Reset your expectations to something from the world of reasonable and then grade them lol. Or just keep spewing blabber, no one cares...
"March is what matters" - DRINK
After we flame out in March, it'll be "Yeah but look who we beat in the reg season"
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
39,779
62,753
113
I cant say I'm upset that I havent watched a minute of UK basketball, yet. Needing a buzzer beater to force OT against UCF? Yikes.
 

UKGrad24

All-American
Apr 2, 2024
3,160
7,983
100
"March is what matters" - DRINK
After we flame out in March, it'll be "Yeah but look who we beat in the reg season"
They just run in circles defending whoever the coach is. If everyone just took an objective view at Pope, his history, and what he’s done at Uk, then everyone would agree he is not fit for UK and never was. They can’t do that so they look for a glimmer somewhere, promote it, push it, and lower our bar. Same guys did this in football, the one you’re talking to said UK has a ceiling and Stoops is it. Now they’re doing it in basketball, little ole Kentucky, a poors program that Mark is having to hold up from caving in.

I would love to meet some of these pinheads in person. No doubt it would all makes sense.
 

bleedsblue5

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
572
1,235
93
Hopefully Pope gets his healthy roster to prove who he is as a coach (good or bad) and we can move on either way.

It's an exhibition and we seemed to be trying different lineups, so no need to read 2 much in to it, that said we seem to be out of position on defense regularly and that has always seemed to be an issue with Pope.

I just don't see a team that will ever be intense under Pope, but there will be games where we are making 3s and no one could beat us.

I didn't see Wilkins get injured? Can someone elaborate?
 
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KentuckyCats1984

All-American
Dec 18, 2025
2,717
8,701
113
Team feels like it is somewhat better pieces than last year, but still doesn't feel great. Without overtime we failed to scored 80 points in any of the three exhibition games, hell one game we scored under 70. This team was suppose to be killer on the offensive side. We already see that Diallo has no business in a Pope offense. He is zero scoring threat and bogs down the offense.
 
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ScWildcat3

All-Conference
Sep 27, 2005
1,679
2,489
113
Hopefully Pope gets his healthy roster to prove who he is as a coach (good or bad) and we can move on either way.

It's an exhibition and we seemed to be trying different lineups, so no need to read 2 much in to it, that said we seem to be out of position on defense regularly and that has always seemed to be an issue with Pope.

I just don't see a team that will ever be intense under Pope, but there will be games where we are making 3s and no one could beat us.

I didn't see Wilkins get injured? Can someone elaborate?
Wilkins went over a screen and the screener kicked his leg out right into Wilkins ankle. He will be fine I’m sure.
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

All-American
Dec 19, 2003
5,115
6,873
82
I still can’t understand having Moreno be at the top of the key 75% of the time & he’s the one reading the defense on cuts, handoffs or back doors. I get he’s a good player but he’s our center and why can’t he set a screen on the block then post up?? Our best offense tonight was posting Milan up but he’s not always going to be bigger than the man guarding him. I just hoped to see some quickness and movement with a purpose on offense vs passing it around for 25 secs 30ft from the goal then spray and pray it goes in or a foul called.
He doesn't need to be bigger. He's super crafty around the bucket. Got that 40 yr old Y ball game in him. And he's a top tier facilitator with his back to the basket. I'd like to see more of that action from the offense. Moreno can play screener/dunker/lurker on the other side of the floor. I think we will see more of that as we get into the season.
 

Eagles_Ball_69

All-American
Dec 19, 2003
5,115
6,873
82
You don't need a friggin group of all stars to put together a winning team. Everyone is clamoring for high level talent.

What did Golden win a title with? He scrapped together 3 unknown big and a transfer out of Iona and coached them up. A lot of this is about coaching. What is your system? Are your kids getting bigger and stronger? Are they in top flight conditioning programs? Are you defining their roles, inspiring them? Wilkins is a really talented kid, but a string bean.

Pope is never going to Cal his way to victories, he has to coach.
I do silently (I guess not so silently since I'm typing it out) wonder about the S&C with Pope's staff. The guys that return sure don't look much different than they ever did.
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

All-American
Dec 19, 2003
5,115
6,873
82
Central Florida was better than this board is giving them credit for.
I’ll take them as an 11 seed in March.
Ky is a deep team with at least 10 players getting 12 minutes a game.
i like Hawthorne at the 2.
Jesus man...No way 10 players get 12 mins/game. That's well over half the minutes available. Once Kam returns 7 dudes will get 180 of the possible 200 mins.

Hawthorne at the 2? Lol
 

Eagles_Ball_69

All-American
Dec 19, 2003
5,115
6,873
82
Facebook is the worst. Seriously like 50 Pope is the best posts on anything. That being said though they are definitely not as positive as they were last year (which was nearly unbearable) and more critical posters are starting to show up.
Facebook is for the olds and kooks. And the olds and kooks sure love them some Pope.
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

All-American
Dec 19, 2003
5,115
6,873
82
I guess Kam is this years JQ, " Just wait until Kam gets back".
Man, I hope not...but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about that very thing. Kam is a huge piece of this whole thing. He's the obvious backup to both Milan and N'Diaye and considerably better than the other options.
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

All-American
Dec 19, 2003
5,115
6,873
82
I've said all offseason this feels like another middle of the pack, mediocre, some highs and some lows, kind of roster.

I haven't seen anything in 3 exhibitions to make me feel any differently.
Seems pretty accurate. I'd say if this team migrates to their median that's probably what we've got. If the stars align, maybe a top 10ish team. If the stars all burn out...hell, I don't really want to think about that.
 

BookofMormon

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2026
1,225
1,605
113
I do silently (I guess not so silently since I'm typing it out) wonder about the S&C with Pope's staff. The guys that return sure don't look much different than they ever did.
I'm with you - I haven't noticed much either. Go look at top programs and how their players look like different human beings once in their program for a year or two. The top two come to mind. Look at Pat Ngongba this year. Look at Tarris Reed at UConn from when he joined to left. Dame Sarr looks like an NBA player this year, UConn's kids look like they would win a brawl against anyone. Moreno looks kind of soft.
 
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Catman100

Heisman
Jan 3, 2003
7,109
10,623
96
Let's start off by saying things can change, and the season just started.

But so far I don't see this team as an offensive team, nor do I see them as a defensive one.
They too slow to fast break. Not a shot blocking team. Not a free throw shooting team. Jury still out on if they are a 3 point shooting team.
And they don't seem to be very exciting to watch, Rupp was a morgue most of the night last night.
I also think they don't seem very excited to be playing for UK.

First instinct says it will be tough to win games on the SEC road and they will probably lose a couple in Rupp.
Oh and Pope looks like he has stressed and aged tremendously since taking the job.

18-13 type season unless something dramatic changes.
 

KYFOSSIL

Heisman
Jan 13, 2005
8,803
12,230
62
They just run in circles defending whoever the coach is. If everyone just took an objective view at Pope, his history, and what he’s done at Uk, then everyone would agree he is not fit for UK and never was. They can’t do that so they look for a glimmer somewhere, promote it, push it, and lower our bar. Same guys did this in football, the one you’re talking to said UK has a ceiling and Stoops is it. Now they’re doing it in basketball, little ole Kentucky, a poors program that Mark is having to hold up from caving in.

I would love to meet some of these pinheads in person. No doubt it would all makes sense.
Morg, you try so hard to be relevant and I know it's hard for you since the morgettes don't seem to be around anymore. It's a simple choice of whether somebody wants to be pessimistic and already decide how the outcome is gonna be for the year or optimistic based on a lot of Hope and looking for the best to come out of the team..
 
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bgoad72

All-Conference
Apr 6, 2009
762
1,718
87
I'm with you - I haven't noticed much either. Go look at top programs and how their players look like different human beings once in their program for a year or two. The top two come to mind. Look at Pat Ngongba this year. Look at Tarris Reed at UConn from when he joined to left. Dame Sarr looks like an NBA player this year, UConn's kids look like they would win a brawl against anyone. Moreno looks kind of soft.
Moreno is soft. He has talent for sure, but he never fights for rebounds or does anything physical enough. Gets bullied around all the time.
 
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Anon161453

Redshirt
Oct 28, 2026
31
24
3
Good thing im not trying to be funny. I want Noah to out him on his butt.
Stop being dumb hoping someone hurts an opposing player. Get some perspective
They just run in circles defending whoever the coach is. If everyone just took an objective view at Pope, his history, and what he’s done at Uk, then everyone would agree he is not fit for UK and never was. They can’t do that so they look for a glimmer somewhere, promote it, push it, and lower our bar. Same guys did this in football, the one you’re talking to said UK has a ceiling and Stoops is it. Now they’re doing it in basketball, little ole Kentucky, a poors program that Mark is having to hold up from caving in.

I would love to meet some of these pinheads in person. No doubt it would all makes sense.
Vintage Freaks GIF by Rogue Artists Ensemble
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
39,779
62,753
113
Yep. UCF beat mighty division 2 Rollins College by 6 whole points so they are scary good.

Isolated OT win over UCF, maybe. We had to beat Miami of Ohio in similar fashion with John Wall. But, that team went to an Elite8 in it's first year. 2nd year Final4. 3rd year, title.

Last night just isn't good enough for a coach who is really on the hot seat. UCF may be a top100 kenpom team (I have no idea, is KP now behind a pay wall?), but you you need to be beating these sub50 teams a little more handedly. Nothing about last years returning players, this off season, or the start of the season leads me to believe we are getting out of the 2nd weekend.
 

Runt#1969

All-American
Dec 13, 2010
21,615
9,610
113
Everybody has opinions. The constant negative drumbeat from fans does nothing, serves no purpose. Conversely, sunshine pumping is a relaly good way to be and stay complacent and then things can snowball badly in a hurry.

I'm not overreacting nor underreating to what I have seen in the exhibition games. I'm taking the games one at atime, not applying VANDY LOGIC that : team A beat team B, who beat team C, therefore, Kentucky will lose because .... wtf ever.

When teams play Kentucky, they get up for it. They're hyped. Because it's still Kentucky. They want to beat us. So they give better effort, play harder, and usually play better as a result.

UCF was plucky, really scrappy. They shouldn't have been doing as well as they did in the second half against Kentucky, however. We didn't match them and execute. We got very lucky and snatched vicotory from the jaws of an otherwise fan-meltdown exhibition game defeat. And fans are ripping the team like we lost the game, and that it really counted.

We have learned a lot about our team. Good bad and otherwise.

Kam and Noah are coming back. I think that makes a positive impact. How much, we can't know that until it happens. Williams development is the greatest bright spot in all of this. We all know Milan is the man and is going to be really good for us. I want to see Moreno as a double double machine every night. Ouzi looks like he could really be good as the season goes along. Hawthorne might develop too, there's potential for poitive development with him.

So the glass is still half full for me. It's cool to wait and see how it goes, nothing wrong with that, that's where I am still , just looking at it thru a slightly more positive lens.

Just improve every day, that's what we need to do.
 
May 27, 2007
32,113
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Isolated OT win over UCF, maybe. We had to beat Miami of Ohio in similar fashion with John Wall. But, that team went to an Elite8 in it's first year. 2nd year Final4. 3rd year, title.

Last night just isn't good enough for a coach who is really on the hot seat. UCF may be a top100 kenpom team (I have no idea, is KP now behind a pay wall?), but you you need to be beating these sub50 teams a little more handedly. Nothing about last years returning players, this off season, or the start of the season leads me to believe we are getting out of the 2nd weekend.
They are currently rated 57th. Pretty similar to previous seasons under Dawkins.

And it's like yeah maybe those kind of teams shouldn't be taking us to OT at Rupp but it's like you pointed out these things happen even to very good teams.

I actually don't think this is a bad team. I think we could be good this season. The issue is it's not enough. The KP ranking of 26th, the prediction of 9-9 in the SEC (mostly due to a combination of us falling off our standards and other SEC teams simply getting better)..........it's ok.......it's just not good enough.

Once again I think this just comes down to recruiting. Pope needs to do better or else he just doesn't have the horses here to compete a tthe highest level.

I watched these three games. Made the trip to Lexingtion for two of them. And that's really my main takeaway. There's some good things here. Mason Williams has been a surprise to me. But this isn't a title contending team IMO. It's a crazy standard to hold a D1 coach to, but unforunately for Pope that's what this is here.
 

SenseMaker_Cats

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
2,416
6,867
113
I always hit the last to reply on a thread and start at the bottom and start scrolling up. When I see the post is taking up half the page, I know it’s Runt. lol. Just kidding you Runt.
 
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SkyPrince

All-Conference
Jul 7, 2025
703
1,161
93
I'm with you - I haven't noticed much either. Go look at top programs and how their players look like different human beings once in their program for a year or two. The top two come to mind. Look at Pat Ngongba this year. Look at Tarris Reed at UConn from when he joined to left. Dame Sarr looks like an NBA player this year, UConn's kids look like they would win a brawl against anyone. Moreno looks kind of soft.
We counter with silence during the FT section of practice.
"So players can clear their heads"
Did anyone else cringe when Dykes brought this up?
Pope doesn't have an ounce of Saban in him.
 

Runt#1969

All-American
Dec 13, 2010
21,615
9,610
113
They are currently rated 57th. Pretty similar to previous seasons under Dawkins.

And it's like yeah maybe those kind of teams shouldn't be taking us to OT at Rupp but it's like you pointed out these things happen even to very good teams.

I actually don't think this is a bad team. I think we could be good this season. The issue is it's not enough. The KP ranking of 26th, the prediction of 9-9 in the SEC (mostly due to a combination of us falling off our standards and other SEC teams simply getting better)..........it's ok.......it's just not good enough.

Once again I think this just comes down to recruiting. Pope needs to do better or else he just doesn't have the horses here to compete a tthe highest level.

I watched these three games. Made the trip to Lexingtion for two of them. And that's really my main takeaway. There's some good things here. Mason Williams has been a surprise to me. But this isn't a title contending team IMO. It's a crazy standard to hold a D1 coach to, but unforunately for Pope that's what this is here.
good take, i agree Answer, thanks for posting !
I always hit the last to reply on a thread and start at the bottom and start scrolling up. When I see the post is taking up half the page, I know it’s Runt. lol. Just kidding you Runt.
ya got me - GUILTY! LOL

hahaha

Go Big Blue !
 
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