And then turns around and lets him walk. So which is it? Was he really good and losing him this year is what made us stink? Or was he really bad and Pope is just using him as an excuse?
Pope talks importance of losing Lowe to injury
- Thread starter seccats04
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I’m just wondering are we going to run a left or right handed offense next year
I doubt he himself knows the answer. He really seems to have no plan, just does something to overcorrect for a past mistake and swings the pendulum extreme in the other direction. He has no strategy of what he's trying to build.
Coach speak. I look for pope to find better portal guys now. We should be better next season.
Pope is spiraling, he couldn’t pay JL the same amount of money, believe boosters have seen all they need to from him, dead man walking, 85% chance he’s gone after next year, IMO.
Should have been 85% after this year and 99.999% after next year (barring a FF run along w/ strong recruiting and an SEC title).
Maybe I’m wrong but It really doesn’t seem like Pope even knows the type of player he wants. Just seems like he goes after them all and if they love or act like UK is special and want to play here because it’s Kentucky he’s good with it.
Maybe tell your two starters to not go after loose balls in a blue/white scrimmage. Especially if it’s just the two of them.
Kentucky basketball has zero identity right now. That’s what’s really troubling.
Correct. The players don't even show that much effort in real games. Maybe against some sub 300 ranked team like Nicholls St.
Letting him walk is a positive imo. I was afraid that coach speak was authentic. Lowe was a weird fit and we actually started playing much better after he finally was ruled out for good.
If we bring him back it will mean both that 1) we're in for a weird fit again and worse 2) pope hasn't learned anything and overpaid someone.
If we bring him back it will mean both that 1) we're in for a weird fit again and worse 2) pope hasn't learned anything and overpaid someone.
Going to find out here after April 7 when the portal opens and 15 days later when it closes. We will have a pretty damn good idea how our season will go.
I hope it is higher than 85%. More like 98.5%
That 15% is the number I'm concerned with, and frankly, it's big enough to be super concerned.
Oh, they've got an identity. It's just a bad one. TBF, his last two teams share some serious similarities. Wildly inconsistent. Weak defensively, especially around the rim. Streaky shooting. All of that is an identity, it's just not one that typically produces quality results over the course of an entire season.
The guy doesn't understand the assignment
Honestly, I don't think it had to just be those 2 options... also, I don't think those 2 things are mutually exclusive b/c
1. Lowe being fully healthy all season may have helped this team... I don't think we really know, but the coaches saw them more in practice than we ever did, so I can at least say it's plausible that his being healthy could've helped this team.
2. Since he isn't healthy coming off of surgery, I think Pope is absolutely making the right move in letting him walk IF Lowe wasn't willing to take both a reduced NIL package AND a reduced role (backup) considering he's coming off the injury.
My opinion, Lowe, Aberdeen, and Oweh did not mix well together because of their playing styles, and Lowe was the odd man out, and the injury excuse was made.
Why else would the guy bolt the second his season was over? Regardless, he’s not UK material, and will be better suited at a place like UC or Dayton.
Why else would the guy bolt the second his season was over? Regardless, he’s not UK material, and will be better suited at a place like UC or Dayton.
AKA he's basically a deer in headlights.
I think its excuses. He should of never let Acadin Lewis go. I am sure he would have been a way more serviceable PG
I think that losing Lowe hurt us this year, because we really didn't have another point guard.
I also think that Lowe is too small and fragile for the SEC.
Both things can be true...
I also think that Lowe is too small and fragile for the SEC.
Both things can be true...
I recognize that Pope isn't good with the media and messaging *at all* and that fans are finding everything wrong with everything he says (understandably), but it's pretty clear that we perform better on offense this year if we have an actual PG and defined leader.
It was hoped or assumed that Aberdeen would play a backup role at PG and that CC, OO, and JJ would fill in the gaps only when absolutely necessary. Instead, we had to rely on Aberdeen as the ONLY PG and couldn't really back him up with anyone, so we lost the off-ball benefit that he brings to the table.
Losing Jaland had a cascading negative effect this year, but that doesn't mean he's the best fit for this program moving forward. Fans botched about him coming here last year and now we're botching that he's leaving. We gotta do better, y'all. And yes, I recognize Pope isn't cutting it. I'm not blowing smoke – just saying we can't have it both ways.
I was madder than a hound shtting thumbtacks because of how asinine that sounded, but I talked to a basketball coach about it and he basically said that from a coaching perspective, what he said makes complete sense because of all the benefits of pairing a lefty leader with righties. That said, the coach also said that to the fans, it's absolutely gonna sound like some BS excuse.
I think Pope knows what he's talking about, but he really, really, REALLY does not know how to convey that under duress. I hope Pope proves me right next year. All I'll say.
Just fwiw.
Agree 100%. In a few weeks we will know for sure what the roster will look like for next season. Hoping for the best
I dont think there is any doubt that Lewis is better than Lowe. Should have kept Lewis from leaving but that's hindsight of course.
The reality is top recruits dont want to split their time so Pope has to accept these guys need 30-35 minutes a game to come here or we end up with lesser talent. Just the way the game is right now.
I have to agree that he might be too fragile for the SEC every night, especially with them knowing about your previous injury. I’m good with Lowe moving on.
It's the right move to let him walk but Pope may not be able to get anyone better, both can be true.
I would hope so, I think we'd have to intentionally try to be worse in order to not be better.
You all are grasping at straws to be mad at the coach. The year was an embarrassment.
With that said, Lowe is damaged goods. Would you fight to keep him or let someone else take the risk? His shoulder is wrecked. Free up that money and spent it on something better.
You aren’t dumping money into a damaged car when it isn’t worth the value. Lowe is a sunk cost.
With that said, Lowe is damaged goods. Would you fight to keep him or let someone else take the risk? His shoulder is wrecked. Free up that money and spent it on something better.
You aren’t dumping money into a damaged car when it isn’t worth the value. Lowe is a sunk cost.
The same people would've lost their **** if we would've kept him
Well, two things could be true. Lowe was important as he was our starting PG.. but he also might not be worth keeping around. He was a janky shoulder and wants certain guarantees. I have to imagine even Pope knows he cant rely on him as our starter next year. We would absolutely need, at minimum, an experienced backup guard.. and we're probably never gonna be able to have that as Lowe would be the presumed starter.
Sadly, Lowe has to go.
Sadly, Lowe has to go.
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