Toggle sidebar

It's as simple as this. We have average players

D

Damage_inc

Senior
Oct 4, 2019
418
755
91
We are essentially an average squad. Now sometimes, actually a lot of the time, average teams make nice runs in the tournament. I really hope this team can do that. But you sure can't expect it.

What we are seeing is the result of poor recruiting and sadly that doesn't seem to be getting better. That's the part that frustrates me the most. We spent so much money on this team and we essentially paid starter money to a lot of role players. There is no elite talent on this team and that's not a winning formula for Kentucky.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dsportw, RunninRichie, mhs1964 and 13 others
C

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,700
19,828
103
We haven’t made the tournament yet for them to even have a chance at a run. It is very possible that we win one of our remaining 5 games or worse lose all 5.

if you lose 4 of next 5, get bounced game 1 of SECT that will be 7 losses in 8 games and a 18-14 record. That’s not getting in.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dsportw, RunninRichie and rivercatinfl
M

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,515
15,552
113
Damage_inc said:
We are essentially an average squad. Now sometimes, actually a lot of the time, average teams make nice runs in the tournament. I really hope this team can do that. But you sure can't expect it.

What we are seeing is the result of poor recruiting and sadly that doesn't seem to be getting better. That's the part that frustrates me the most. We spent so much money on this team and we essentially paid starter money to a lot of role players. There is no elite talent on this team and that's not a winning formula for Kentucky.
Click to expand...
I agree with you. To be the high-level team that most fans want, we need better talent. Yes, it is that simple.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CrimsonCats_rivals, Pygmy Sasquatch, Damage_inc and 1 other person
Drogon

Drogon

All-Conference
Mar 14, 2017
1,663
2,167
113
Our top 5 isn't horrible. If we actually had a PG to give us a 6th this team could win a lot of games. Unfortunately, Aberdeen, while making a valiant effort, just isn't a creator for others.

Even if Lowe comes back we have to have a highly capable backup. For injury or lack of performance from PG1. Im talking barely a drop off when he comes in or is out there at the same time.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Anony Moose
U

UKBB4Ever

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,734
3,030
113
We have 3 active MD AA's playing. One not playing. We have the preseason SEC POY. We supposedly "stole" MoD and Aberdeen from contenders. Jelivik(sp) was supposedly the top player in his league. That's not a talent problem.

The players are not improving under this coaching staff. That's a problem.

They players are not in game condition. That's a problem.

The players can't just do the subbing. Maybe they should?

There is no game preparation. That's a problem.

There are no defined roles. That's a problem.

There's no leadership or ownership from the coaching staff. That's a problem.

The team just not play hard many nights and almost never for a full game. That's a major problem.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: RunninRichie, jedwar, K_TIME and 1 other person
C

Crestcat

Senior
Sep 5, 2025
260
400
63
Drogon said:
Our top 5 isn't horrible. If we actually had a PG to give us a 6th this team could win a lot of games. Unfortunately, Aberdeen, while making a valiant effort, just isn't a creator for others.

Even if Lowe comes back we have to have a highly capable backup. For injury or lack of performance from PG1. Im talking barely a drop off when he comes in or is out there at the same time.
Click to expand...
We need a defender and disher at pg. More in the mold of Butler not Lowe.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mhs1964, rivercatinfl, Ukwazoo3 and 1 other person
D

Damage_inc

Senior
Oct 4, 2019
418
755
91
Drogon said:
Our top 5 isn't horrible. If we actually had a PG to give us a 6th this team could win a lot of games. Unfortunately, Aberdeen, while making a valiant effort, just isn't a creator for others.

Even if Lowe comes back we have to have a highly capable backup. For injury or lack of performance from PG1. Im talking barely a drop off when he comes in or is out there at the same time.
Click to expand...
I'm not sold on Lowe. He reminded me of wheeler a lot on the floor. We also can't forget now how crushing it was that Lewis bolted. Having him on the team today would probably mean we have 2-3 less losses. Pope can't just let him walk like he did.
 
K_TIME

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,370
25,644
113
I get it...but Pope did indeed buy/recruit these guys...so it's hard to go there.

But is
Aberdeen
Oweh
Chandler

Worse than

Wilkerson
Blue Cain (ugh)
and Millender


Come on....they are not talented and UK should have solidly won vs. UGA at home.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dsportw
C

Cats192

Heisman
Apr 22, 2011
14,840
17,647
93
I don't really think last night's loss was a product of having "average" players.

We beat teams better than Georgia on the road (UT and Arkansas). We played a better game vs Florida on the road.

We just looked unprepared (again) vs Georgia. We're somehow down double digits in nearly every game vs a power opponent. We don't have the talent that gives us a lot of room for error. But the errors we're making are ones that should not be made.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dsportw, RunninRichie, Phil_The_Music2 and 1 other person
B

bleedsblue5

Senior
Jul 1, 2025
407
869
93
If you think it is just because we have average players, you are not fully watching the game, we do not defend well or block out/rebound well (coaching) and we play standing straight up like we are in the NBA also COACHING. I get that we may not be a top 10 team, but we can 100 percent be better than what we are with what we have.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dsportw and Crestcat
Ukwazoo3

Ukwazoo3

All-Conference
Jul 6, 2025
620
1,329
93
OliverSimmonsTwinBrother said:
I just hope all the guys are having fun. At the end of the day thats what it's all about.
Click to expand...
See, basketball is energy exchange. If you don’t guard the perimeter, the perimeter guards you. If you don’t value the rock, the rock rolls away. By the end, we weren’t losing. We were learning.

Next time, we close out like we’re hugging old friends. And we keep our positive energy steady from tip to final buzzer.
Because the game is a circle. And sometimes that circle spins right past you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rivercatinfl
Pygmy Sasquatch

Pygmy Sasquatch

All-American
Mar 27, 2009
9,293
9,564
113
I'm beginning to believe our coach is subpar as well. He is currently failing the assignment. His mentor would find a way to get more out of this squad.
 
jedwar

jedwar

Heisman
Moderator
Dec 30, 2002
19,583
32,793
113
Pygmy Sasquatch said:
I'm beginning to believe our coach is subpar as well. He is currently failing the assignment. His mentor would find a way to get more out of this squad.
Click to expand...
He has averaged 12 losses a season for his career. He wins some big games then turns around and loses headscratchers. He is EXACTLY who he was when he was hired. The first night disbelief of that hire was warranted. Then the spectacle of the introductory presser happened. What a masterful piece of work/propaganda that was by MB. Probably his best work since he's been AD.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Catlogic1552 and Pygmy Sasquatch
R

rivercatinfl

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2012
1,977
1,874
97
Damage_inc said:
We are essentially an average squad. Now sometimes, actually a lot of the time, average teams make nice runs in the tournament. I really hope this team can do that. But you sure can't expect it.

What we are seeing is the result of poor recruiting and sadly that doesn't seem to be getting better. That's the part that frustrates me the most. We spent so much money on this team and we essentially paid starter money to a lot of role players. There is no elite talent on this team and that's not a winning formula for Kentucky.
Click to expand...
I just hope we can win 3 outta the next 5. We need to win 20 games somehow. Otherwise we may. be going to the NIT.
 
Pygmy Sasquatch

Pygmy Sasquatch

All-American
Mar 27, 2009
9,293
9,564
113
jedwar said:
He has averaged 12 losses a season for his career. He wins some big games then turns around and loses headscratchers. He is EXACTLY who he was when he was hired. The first night disbelief of that hire was warranted. Then the spectacle of the introductory presser happened. What a masterful piece of work/propaganda that was by MB. Probably his best work since he's been AD.
Click to expand...
I wasn't very happy with the hire either initially. I allowed the press conference to sway me and hoped that with UK's resources and reputation he would bat above his average coaching-wise and with recruiting. I'm afraid I was wrong.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Reggie Noble, AJG-15 and jedwar
jedwar

jedwar

Heisman
Moderator
Dec 30, 2002
19,583
32,793
113
Pygmy Sasquatch said:
I wasn't very happy with the hire either initially. I allowed the press conference to sway me and hoped that with UK's resources and reputation he would bat above his average coaching-wise and with recruiting. I'm afraid I was wrong.
Click to expand...
Same for me. It's simply not working out. Yes he gets year 3 but if that is more of the same then the conversations get real on whether to move on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chuckinden, Pygmy Sasquatch and AJG-15
C

Coach777

All-Conference
Dec 19, 2022
461
1,147
93
UKBB4Ever said:
We have 3 active MD AA's playing. One not playing. We have the preseason SEC POY. We supposedly "stole" MoD and Aberdeen from contenders. Jelivik(sp) was supposedly the top player in his league. That's not a talent problem.

The players are not improving under this coaching staff. That's a problem.

They players are not in game condition. That's a problem.

The players can't just do the subbing. Maybe they should?

There is no game preparation. That's a problem.

There are no defined roles. That's a problem.

There's no leadership or ownership from the coaching staff. That's a problem.

The team just not play hard many nights and almost never for a full game. That's a major problem.
Click to expand...
I've commented in so many post that the players haven't improved under Pope but people just dismiss that but obviously they've never coached. People like to "dog" on BG and I agree he may not be the smartest player but he has not improved ANY in 2 years and he's a Mcd. None of the bigs have any skills around the rim!! It doesn't take years to learn the proper footwork and moves to score around the rim and also defend around the rim. When you teach and drill constantly it becomes instinctive to do and that's called Muscle Memory which is in every sport. Because of this I'm thoroughly convinced he can never be successful at this level. I agree with your other points but you can't deny lack of player development.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dsportw, AJG-15 and jedwar
A

AJG-15

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2024
1,899
3,247
78
UKBB4Ever said:
We have 3 active MD AA's playing. One not playing. We have the preseason SEC POY. We supposedly "stole" MoD and Aberdeen from contenders. Jelivik(sp) was supposedly the top player in his league. That's not a talent problem.

The players are not improving under this coaching staff. That's a problem.

They players are not in game condition. That's a problem.

The players can't just do the subbing. Maybe they should?

There is no game preparation. That's a problem.

There are no defined roles. That's a problem.

There's no leadership or ownership from the coaching staff. That's a problem.

The team just not play hard many nights and almost never for a full game. That's a major problem.
Click to expand...
I agree. All these are on coaching.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dsportw
C

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,700
19,828
103
Damage_inc said:
I'm not sold on Lowe. He reminded me of wheeler a lot on the floor. We also can't forget now how crushing it was that Lewis bolted. Having him on the team today would probably mean we have 2-3 less losses. Pope can't just let him walk like he did.
Click to expand...
Yeah Lowe wasn’t that great, 22 assist in 8 games as your leading PG is atrocious. He was 5-24 from 3, 24-67 overall. If he’s back next year with our expected other returners it is an NiT team at best.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dsportw, Damage_inc and Reggie Noble
BBNinSCar

BBNinSCar

All-Conference
Apr 23, 2013
1,365
2,157
81
Pope and Kentucky made mistakes in the portal.
They overpaid for most of the roster by competitively bidding for several good, not great, players.
Most of the schools that are at the top of the rankings have developed most of their squad and then paid big NIL dollars for 1 or 2 elite players. Our roster is crowded with players that expect playing time and the coaching staff is struggling to keep everyone happy.
A better plan might have been to take the NIL money paid to Aberdeen and Dioubate and make a big offer to AJ Dybantsa. We could have gotten what Jelavic or Garrison contribute for a lot less money. I can’t completely blame Pope for this disaster- I believe there is a problem with the team’s chemistry.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rivercatinfl
Z

Zuma75

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2017
863
1,194
93
Pygmy Sasquatch said:
I wasn't very happy with the hire either initially. I allowed the press conference to sway me and hoped that with UK's resources and reputation he would bat above his average coaching-wise and with recruiting. I'm afraid I was wrong.
Click to expand...
Pretty much the entire fan base bought into the fever dream that MB conjured up in that press conference. But the spell has broken.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bugs092056, Damage_inc and Pygmy Sasquatch
M

mhs1964

Junior
Feb 8, 2018
299
317
58
Cats_2010 said:
We haven’t made the tournament yet for them to even have a chance at a run. It is very possible that we win one of our remaining 5 games or worse lose all 5.

if you lose 4 of next 5, get bounced game 1 of SECT that will be 7 losses in 8 games and a 18-14 record. That’s not getting in.
Click to expand...
And wouldn’t deserve it
 
R

rivercatinfl

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2012
1,977
1,874
97
Cats_2010 said:
Yeah Lowe wasn’t that great, 22 assist in 8 games as your leading PG is atrocious. He was 5-24 from 3, 24-67 overall. If he’s back next year with our expected other returners it is an NiT team at best.
Click to expand...
We have got to find more talent somewhere. these guys are average. They are tweeners in their respective guard positions. Chandler is a 2 , Jasper is a 2, Noah is a 2 guard. Oweh is a 2, Aberdeen is a 2. Our bigs are weak ( love Moreno) but he was swallowed by Cyril last night. Our so small forwards can't go get us a bucket.
As much as I'd like to see continuity into next year, these returners will not be good enough again.
We have to step up in talent or we really will be Indiana.
 
  • Like
Reactions: loublue22_rivals308424
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom