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POLL: How Many Starters Do We HAVE to ADD to the ROSTER ??

How Many NEW Players Do We Need That Will Be Starters ??

  • 0

    Votes: 1 0.8%

  • 1

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 2

    Votes: 4 3.0%

  • 3

    Votes: 37 27.8%

  • 4

    Votes: 49 36.8%

  • 5

    Votes: 40 30.1%

  • 4

    Votes: 2 1.5%
  • Total voters
    133
  • This poll will close: .
M

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,515
15,552
113
To be a TOP TEN team at the end of the season and be either a 1, 2 or 3 seed going into the tournament, how many NEW starters do we need that were not on the team roster this past season ?? They can be either freshmen or portal transfers. We may have returning players that you might see as prime contributors off the bench, but how many NEW ROSTER ADDITIONS do we need STARTING to be the kind of team that fans, alumni and boosters expect and will be satisfied with ... the kind of team that can make it to the Final Four ??

Statistics for 2025-26

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JPFisher

JPFisher

Heisman
Jul 24, 2013
6,606
12,517
113
Kam should be a starter and so should Malachi. Leaves us a PG and PF to nab alongside a SG (unless Collin takes a massive leap forward in his development in the off-season. Work on that handle and your first move off the bounce, CC!).
 
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Resignmarkpope

Resignmarkpope

Freshman
Mar 13, 2026
118
87
18
JPFisher said:
Kam should be a starter and so should Malachi. Leaves us a PG and PF to nab alongside a SG (unless Collin takes a massive leap forward in his development in the off-season. Work on that handle and your first move off the bounce, CC!).
Click to expand...
If Kam and Malachi are starters, then Kentucky is losing 10plus games easy. Kam suxs azz
 
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U

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
3,324
5,605
113
I voted four. I think Moreno and Chandler will both take big jumps next season, but I think Chandler will be in Utah, so four. I like Kam as a 6th man
 
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JPFisher

JPFisher

Heisman
Jul 24, 2013
6,606
12,517
113
Resignmarkpope said:
If Kam and Malachi are starters, then Kentucky is losing 10plus games easy. Kam suxs azz
Click to expand...
Sarcastic Willy Wonka GIF
 
C

Cats192

Heisman
Apr 22, 2011
14,840
17,647
93
4.

I think Moreno is very likely to be a rock solid Center in year 2. I've made the comparison in other threads this year. His Freshman points and rebound numbers were double what Sophomore Nick Richards did. Richards came back as a Junior and became an All-SEC player. If Moreno hits the portal, big name programs will be after him. He's a great piece to have.

Need to upgrade the starters everywhere else.

Obviously PG has been an achilles heel the past 2 years. We need a star. We need a rock solid backup that can play at a high level if the starter goes down.

Chandler is a great piece. He's largely a 3 point specialist. He'll be even better next year. But I'd love to go get an elite SG and have Chandler come in off the bench.

Kam: Kam's upside is amazing. He just hasn't shown enough to go into this year feeling confident with him as a starter. I'll say this for him--if anyone besides Moreno from last year's team is going to start--Kam is the next best bet. The elite teams have all had this big wings. Kam at 6'8 fits the bill.

PF: We need a legit stretch 4. If Dioubate comes back, it's gotta be as a backup. Jelavic has had flashes, but we need someone that is more proven going into this pivotal season.
 
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mdluk1

mdluk1

All-Conference
Oct 28, 2007
886
4,095
93
Need a stud pg that can get shooters the ball when they’re open. And a stud stretch 4 that can hit the 3. A great shooter for the 2.that along with MM, Chandler , Williams , Noah and Jelavic would be a good start.
 
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philstat

philstat

All-American
Jan 3, 2004
10,162
7,426
56
I believe Pope will be missing two key positions next year, at the elite level, SF and PG, believe he will do fine elsewhere though I don’t see him moving the needle much for these two positions.
 
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S

Smeegs

All-Conference
Nov 19, 2025
505
1,377
93
JPFisher said:
Kam should be a starter and so should Malachi.
Click to expand...
Maybe if we just want to have another season like this one, but that doesn’t strike me as a prescription for getting better.

I think Kam is best suited for a 6th man type role (especially since he can backup multiple positions). He’s not meant to be a starter carrying a heavy load at a blueblood caliber program.
 
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TFCat11

TFCat11

Heisman
Mar 25, 2019
5,745
10,074
108
I said 4, but then I read your post about being top 10, and a top 3 seed, so I’m changing my answer to 5, with Moreno being the lone starter, but not if UK wants a deep tournament run.

Moreno needs to take up a 6th man position, similar to what he would have been this past season, had JQ actually been a serviceable basketball player at the 5 spot.
 
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M

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,515
15,552
113
Kentucky Basketball last returned three or more starters for the 2011-2012 season, when starters Doron Lamb, Darius Miller, and Terrence Jones returned to join Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, resulting in a 38-2 record and a national championship. Since 2010, the program has heavily prioritized high-turnover rosters, rarely retaining that level of starting experience.

Key Context on Kentucky's Returning Starters:
  • The 2011-12 Team: That squad was highly unusual in the modern era, returning significant contributors from a Final Four team, which provided invaluable experience.
  • 1-and-Done Era: Under John Calipari (2009–2024), Kentucky consistently ranked among the lowest in the nation in returning minutes, relying on freshmen rather than returning starters.
  • Subsequent Years: Often, Kentucky returned only one or two starters (or zero), relying heavily on incoming freshman classes or transfers rather than the continuity of three+ established starters.
 
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K

Kyfan27

Senior
Jan 7, 2023
363
589
93
We need AT LEAST two studs. Preferably a 4 and a wing / PG player and I mean potential all American level dudes. Then a third very good all SEC type player as our PG or wing guy. Ideally shooters and role players WHO KNOW THEIR ROLE everywhere else. We need star power to overcome Pope's coaching right now which I can't believe we are back to this. It may not matter because he might just sub them out constantly and never let them get in a rhythm.
 
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JPFisher

JPFisher

Heisman
Jul 24, 2013
6,606
12,517
113
Smeegs said:
Maybe if we just want to have another season like this one, but that doesn’t strike me as a prescription for getting better.

I think Kam is best suited for a 6th man type role (especially since he can backup multiple positions). He’s not meant to be a starter carrying a heavy load at a blueblood caliber program.
Click to expand...
He was staying to get into a groove before the injury. I could see him getting starting minutes. Could also see your perspective.
 
UKJenning

UKJenning

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2022
764
2,066
57
If Pope could land a couple of star players we would only need 2-3 new starters.

With his crap recruiting and roster building we need 4-5 new starters.

I say we end up starting Chandler, Moreno, and Williams.

Pope will add a couple of role players and we will suck even worse next season.
 
M

mash_24

Heisman
Sep 26, 2011
9,224
26,988
108
3 or 4
Stud portal PG ( Dedan Thomas if healthy)
SG - Chandler
Wing - Byrd - portal (SDSU)
Wing- Stokes
C - Moreno

Bench - Decker(portal), Kam, Hawthorne, Bizjack(portal), best defender portal big you can sign, Noah, Williams, Potter
That’s a pretty nice roster.
 
JakeKx

JakeKx

All-Conference
Oct 5, 2023
718
1,247
92
I think a serious question at this point is are we even going to have enough players to field a damn team. What do we have coming back, 3 players?
 
Seth_C

Seth_C

All-American
Mar 12, 2017
4,595
8,158
96
For us to be great we need new starters at every position but Moreno. I would be confident if he was the fifth option on the team.

To a lesser degree maybe, maybe Moreno and Chandler but in that case the other three would need to be truly outstanding players. All-conference level, likely first round NBA level guys.
 
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Artlaibesghost

Artlaibesghost

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2022
923
1,795
93
I said 5 but if we get a rock solid 4 me might get by with Moreno at Center. Need a top flight point guard, a solid 2 guard who can score and DEFEND. We also need a slashing 3 to replace Oweh. Not sure Pope can pull that off, but we lose 10 to 12 again .
 
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