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Over the transfer portal

J

JohnAllis

Redshirt
Mar 29, 2026
4
14
2
I’ve read a lot of posts on here lately about people excited about this player or that player entering the transfer portal. I wish I could get that excited, but I just can’t. The state of the game right now does not excite me, and the fact that Kentucky is not above, but actually participating in, all this mercenary nonsense just makes me miss the enjoyment this sport and this program has brought me over the years, and miss the enjoyment of games that I watched – won and lost by athletes that just seemed to be more special than any third or fourth school wonder who is coming or going just to collect a paycheck.

I think I might have to find a new pastime for the winter months. Does nobody else feel like this?
 
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TheDude73

TheDude73

Heisman
Jan 7, 2006
24,059
23,390
113
At least it's faster than 9+ months waiting on prima donna's to soak up the limelight then sit at a table of 3-5 hats and pick someone else. In Pope's case, it's analogous to ripping the bandaid away.
 
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J

jmw23712

All-Conference
May 9, 2009
1,676
4,934
81
champagnecat said:
It’s not fun because we suck at it.

One and done era was fun cause we were great at it. Now we’re at the bottom
Click to expand...
I disagree. Yeah being good helps but no one chooses a school anymore because they want to be there. It’s just about the highest bidder. So even if we were good at it like Michigan last year, I’d still hate what it has become.
 
Titpwhahi2014

Titpwhahi2014

Senior
Feb 27, 2026
146
416
63
I miss the old days too but they’ve been gone for a while. I got over it. Most of us love college basketball and the tournament has, and always been, the greatest sports event. I didn’t think I could get attached to a portal transfer—but that’s exactly what happened with Otega Oweh. He was my son’s favorite player so naturally he became mine. And was only here two seasons! So whether Stokes shocks the world, or Rob Wright III commits and becomes an All-American next year—we’ll get attached to the next bunch as well. It’s why we’re UK fans.
 
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J

JohnAllis

Redshirt
Mar 29, 2026
4
14
2
jmw23712 said:
I disagree. Yeah being good helps but no one chooses a school anymore because they want to be there. It’s just about the highest bidder. So even if we were good at it like Michigan last year, I’d still hate what it has become.
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This is more my feeling too. I never loved one and done, although we had some special teams and players in that system. For context, one of my best UK fan game watching experiences was during the BCG era, so it’s not just about being good at the current system or not, it’s more a relative enjoyment of what that system is.
 
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C

Crestcat

Senior
Sep 5, 2025
264
409
63
Just like draft day when the NBA selects players there should be a portal day. Get 'em all in one place and just auction them off. Every body would know their team in one day.
 
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anot

anot

Junior
Mar 27, 2026
243
368
63
Guys you have to give Pope time to build a roster. When he came here he had a empty roster. It takes time. You can't just go out and buy players. Wait nevermind you can buy players. And we have money. But our coach has zero swag or respect and can't pay players to play for him beautiful isn't it?
 
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champagnecat

champagnecat

Senior
Nov 28, 2025
296
801
93
anot said:
Guys you have to give Pope time to build a roster. When he came here he had an empty roster. It takes time. You can't just go out and buy players. Wait nevermind you can buy players. And we have money. But our coach has zero swag or respect and can't pay players to play for him beautiful isn't it?
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Preaching to the choir brother
 
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J

JIMFKFT

Junior
Aug 9, 2003
1,690
397
83
If I were trying to break the bond between fans and college sports, I would do three things -- 1. begin an era of one and one, in which hotshot players looking solely for their best opportunity to impress NBA scouts spend no more than 30 games playing for a college team before moving on to "the next level." 2. initiate a transfer portal so that players can hop from school to school, while somehow miraculously maintaining progress toward a degree (yes, at this point, players are still supposedly students), and 3. introduce NIL, so that 18-year kids come to campus not only with their posses, but also with hundreds of thousands of dollars to throw around. At least the NBA is honest. Nobody expects you to do anything except play basketball. And, oh by the way, you're not going to skip from franchise to franchise. You sign a contract to stay with one team for several years. So that franchise's investment has a chance to pay off.
 
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N

Nightwish

Junior
Jul 10, 2025
307
380
63
We had "mercenaries" throughout Cal's tenure too. It only got on people's nerves once Cal checked out and a super freshman played like an ordinary freshman. If you'd rather not see UK have paid players then start getting used to us having 3 win seasons because you can't win big on vibes and decades-old tradition.

You don't have to like how things are but this is how things are. Adapt or get left behind. We know the programs who've adapted and I'm guessing their fans aren't complaining much. We've failed to adapt thus far. Hopefully that changes soon.
 
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C

ChocoChicken

Junior
Apr 6, 2026
84
202
33
Shaudylo said:
It’s annoying because every good to semi good guy that hits it fans automatically think we might land him . It was like that last offseason too .
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“Oh, this top 5 guy had Kentucky in his top 3!”
“Oh, he’s going to Michigan..”
“Well this top 20 player has Kentucky in his top 2, surely we nab him!”
“No wait, he’s going to Louisville…”
“Surely this top 40 guy will come here!”
“Never-mind, someone hired his coach and he’s going to Indiana.”
“Oh yeah, we got this guy from Tulane University. I never heard of him until he committed and he’s not ranked, but I bet he’ll make us a top 10 team next year!”

This was the last two years for pretty much every portal transfer we got.
 
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J

JohnAllis

Redshirt
Mar 29, 2026
4
14
2
I don’t know if UK gets left behind, but me personally, I did get left behind by this system. I’m good with that, as I don’t want to be part of supporting it. Sucks, but the college game probably isn’t for me anymore, may have to get bigger into high school basketball.
 
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U

UKBB4Ever

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,770
3,085
113
jmw23712 said:
I disagree. Yeah being good helps but no one chooses a school anymore because they want to be there. It’s just about the highest bidder. So even if we were good at it like Michigan last year, I’d still hate what it has become.
Click to expand...
Players take less money to play elsewhere. It’s not all about the money.
 
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W

Wildcat_in_DC

All-Conference
Nov 25, 2025
739
1,059
93
its mostly the fans fault.

every other name that hits the portal uk fans talk themselves into being a "must get". our roster would have 500 guys on it and fans would still be mad about missing out on someone. portal is open 3 days, like 5 guys our of 2000 have picked a school and fans here are pissed pope is moving too slow.

maybe some folks just need to face reality, they aren't built for this and should just see themselves out.
 
JASUN74

JASUN74

All-Conference
May 22, 2008
3,210
4,595
73
champagnecat said:
It’s not fun because we suck at it.

One and done era was fun cause we were great at it. Now we’re at the bottom
Click to expand...
Yep and there’s not one excuse for this program to be down like it is. Well not an excuse that means anything. Fans sure in heck has did everything we could possibly do to have a winner. Great post bro.
 
MidseasonTweak

MidseasonTweak

Heisman
Mar 1, 2020
9,261
14,408
113
Wildcat_in_DC said:
its mostly the fans fault.

every other name that hits the portal uk fans talk themselves into being a "must get". our roster would have 500 guys on it and fans would still be mad about missing out on someone. portal is open 3 days, like 5 guys our of 2000 have picked a school and fans here are pissed pope is moving too slow.

maybe some folks just need to face reality, they aren't built for this and should just see themselves out.
Click to expand...
Hell, I know this and even I get deluded a bit before coming back to reality. A lot of us are just anxious and want good news now.
 
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JASUN74

JASUN74

All-Conference
May 22, 2008
3,210
4,595
73
jmw23712 said:
I disagree. Yeah being good helps but no one chooses a school anymore because they want to be there. It’s just about the highest bidder. So even if we were good at it like Michigan last year, I’d still hate what it has become.
Click to expand...
How are we hearing players took pay cuts to play somewhere else if it’s all about highest bid? Maybe it’s been false news but I don’t see how we couldn’t have a top team if it’s just about money. I can’t figure this out. 😆
 
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JASUN74

JASUN74

All-Conference
May 22, 2008
3,210
4,595
73
anot said:
Guys you have to give Pope time to build a roster. When he came here he had an empty roster. It takes time. You can't just go out and buy players. Wait nevermind you can buy players. And we have money. But our coach has zero swag or respect and can't pay players to play for him beautiful isn't it?
Click to expand...
Man you about had me. I was ready to say what the crap is this guy taking about.
 
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JASUN74

JASUN74

All-Conference
May 22, 2008
3,210
4,595
73
Wildcat_in_DC said:
its mostly the fans fault.

every other name that hits the portal uk fans talk themselves into being a "must get". our roster would have 500 guys on it and fans would still be mad about missing out on someone. portal is open 3 days, like 5 guys our of 2000 have picked a school and fans here are pissed pope is moving too slow.

maybe some folks just need to face reality, they aren't built for this and should just see themselves out.
Click to expand...
Fans have done nothing but put their hearts and money into Kentucky Basketball and it’s not been giving back. I think fans have every right to be upset.
 
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1

#1 cat fan

Junior
May 7, 2009
199
202
43
T
jmw23712 said:
I disagree. Yeah being good helps but no one chooses a school anymore because they want to be there. It’s just about the highest bidder. So even if we were good at it like Michigan last year, I’d still hate what it has become.
Click to expand...
The only difference is now it's public. **** has been going on for years.
No top kid since LeBron James days in highschool has went to a college without being paid.
 
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