The final knell in Pope’s coffin…

MdWIldcat55

Heisman
Dec 9, 2007
21,293
84,963
113
If Kentucky misses on both Robert Wright and Myles Byrd over the next day or so, It’s going to be a sign kids really don’t want to play for Pope. It would say he couldn’t even recruit BYU or sign guys from whatever conference San Diego State is in.

Hard to write the ship if he doesn’t get one or both of those guys.

For now, I’m optimistic we either get both, or a surprise on Stokes by Friday. Come on Pope. Knell this down.
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,180
98,252
113
I think we get one of those three, and it won't be Wright or Stokes. I hope I'm wrong. Stokes alone changes everything for Pope from a perception level and doesn't just create an air pocket on the sinking submarine, but maybe even plugs the widening hole on it.

Moreno
Stokes
Byrd
Williams
Wright

That would be a helluva early haul.
 

Mdnerd

All-American
Apr 20, 2022
1,916
5,808
113
If Kentucky misses on both Robert Wright and Myles Byrd over the next day or so, It’s going to be a sign kids really don’t want to play for Pope. It would say he couldn’t even recruit BYU or sign guys from whatever conference San Diego State is in.

Hard to write the ship if he doesn’t get one or both of those guys.

For now, I’m optimistic we either get both, or a surprise on Stokes by Friday. Come on Pope. Knell this down.


It's extremely hard to write the ship. Lots of writing...
 

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
3,398
5,823
113
If Kentucky misses on both Robert Wright and Myles Byrd over the next day or so, It’s going to be a sign kids really don’t want to play for Pope. It would say he couldn’t even recruit BYU or sign guys from whatever conference San Diego State is in.

Hard to write the ship if he doesn’t get one or both of those guys.

For now, I’m optimistic we either get both, or a surprise on Stokes by Friday. Come on Pope. Knell this down.
And if he signs Stokes, he might get a year 4. So not a final death knell quite yet
 

Wildcat_in_DC

All-Conference
Nov 25, 2025
744
1,078
93
If Kentucky misses on both Robert Wright and Myles Byrd over the next day or so, It’s going to be a sign kids really don’t want to play for Pope. It would say he couldn’t even recruit BYU or sign guys from whatever conference San Diego State is in.

Hard to write the ship if he doesn’t get one or both of those guys.

For now, I’m optimistic we either get both, or a surprise on Stokes by Friday. Come on Pope. Knell this down.
byrd is going to pick providence. why? because of its amazing tradition? no. because of he wants to win a title? lol. because he wants to play for a hall of fame coach? nope....first year on the job. because he gets to play against the best of the best in a great conference to boost his NBA profile? nah

its money. dedan thomas and others arent event taking visits! losing a player isnt a sign of X doesnt want to play for Y. kids are chasing the bag and a vast majority that is all that matters. all the other stuff is window dressing.
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,723
19,906
103
I think you are way off base saying kids don’t want to play for Pope. There is only one reason players are choosing a particular school. It’s called $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
We doled out a lot of money last year and missed on every single initial target. Yaxel took less money to go to Michigan and play for May instead of coming here. Nowhere near as much of a gap as he insinuated but he still passed on our higher offer.
 

philstat

All-American
Jan 3, 2004
10,416
8,285
56
We doled out a lot of money last year and missed on every single initial target. Yaxel took less money to go to Michigan and play for May instead of coming here. Nowhere near as much of a gap as he insinuated but he still passed on our higher offer.
Yeah, though this year is different…
 
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etowncatfan

All-American
Jan 3, 2003
15,798
5,557
113
We doled out a lot of money last year and missed on every single initial target. Yaxel took less money to go to Michigan and play for May instead of coming here. Nowhere near as much of a gap as he insinuated but he still passed on our higher offer.
First I’m not sure Yaxel’s Story is totally true.
Mays first season at Michigan was no different than Popes at UK. So I see no obvious advantage there. I’m guessing the money was very close.

My biggest question with Yaxel is how did he get to play 6 years of College Basketball?
 

Loucatfan30

Senior
Apr 11, 2024
846
997
87
If Kentucky misses on both Robert Wright and Myles Byrd over the next day or so, It’s going to be a sign kids really don’t want to play for Pope. It would say he couldn’t even recruit BYU or sign guys from whatever conference San Diego State is in.

Hard to write the ship if he doesn’t get one or both of those guys.

For now, I’m optimistic we either get both, or a surprise on Stokes by Friday. Come on Pope. Knell this down.
You still need signs people don't want to play for Pope?
 
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Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
41,567
63,436
113
According to KSR, Wright has made his recruitment a bidding war. So, the implication suggested in the OP would be false, if KSR is correct.
 
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moses1uk

All-Conference
Jun 16, 2005
855
1,349
93
If Kentucky misses on both Robert Wright and Myles Byrd over the next day or so, It’s going to be a sign kids really don’t want to play for Pope. It would say he couldn’t even recruit BYU or sign guys from whatever conference San Diego State is in.

Hard to write the ship if he doesn’t get one or both of those guys.

For now, I’m optimistic we either get both, or a surprise on Stokes by Friday. Come on Pope. Knell this down.
Byrd was not coming here . His agent said he’s only interested in a starting role and that’s Kams position . Clueless
 

JonathanW2

Senior
Aug 6, 2025
465
700
93
If Kentucky misses on both Robert Wright and Myles Byrd over the next day or so, It’s going to be a sign kids really don’t want to play for Pope. It would say he couldn’t even recruit BYU or sign guys from whatever conference San Diego State is in.

Hard to write the ship if he doesn’t get one or both of those guys.

For now, I’m optimistic we either get both, or a surprise on Stokes by Friday. Come on Pope. Knell this down.
Wright is going to come down to $$$. Who offers the most. That's why he went to BYU, and that's why he is in the portal a 2nd year in a row.
As for Byrd, I think it depends on where he goes. I think Pope sees him (& trying to sell him) on being a defensive stopper coming off the bench for 20mpg. But if another school offers more $$$ or the opportunity to be a starter playing 30mpg, that could be the deciding factor.
It's not all, or even much, about "wanting to play for, or not wanting to play for" this coach or that coach. It's mostly about the $$$.
 

TomTraubertsBlues

All-American
Oct 13, 2014
4,894
8,208
113
If we don't get Stokes, nothing we get in the portal is going to be good enough. Not a big fan of the guy, from what little I have heard, but we need elite talent to start coming here. It's like we have the plague or something.
 

BlueBloodKyFan73

All-Conference
Oct 29, 2010
3,910
4,895
113
I think we get one of those three, and it won't be Wright or Stokes. I hope I'm wrong. Stokes alone changes everything for Pope from a perception level and doesn't just create an air pocket on the sinking submarine, but maybe even plugs the widening hole on it.

Moreno
Stokes
Byrd
Williams
Wright

That would be a helluva early haul.
Well he missed on Byrd sooooooo.... STRIKE 1
Excited Naked Gun GIF by Laff