Dink Pate to Providence

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
44,947
81,011
113
Lots of beautiful and meaningful conversations. Best wishes to all these amateur student-athletes.

 

BMR1987

Senior
Mar 5, 2025
218
511
87
I never believed he would be eligible and still don't, and I'm on record on here as having stated my doubts even when others swore to me he would be. No one could even say as much at the time without getting jumped on because folks are so desperate for anything resembling a star player.

Anyone with an internet connection and basic knowledge of how to use a search engine could easily find where Charlie Baker is on record as saying that any player who signed a pro contract will never play in the NCAA, and that the NCAA views Exhibit 10 deals (which Pate signed) as pro contracts (their comments in the Bediako ruling basically confirms as much) even if it never results in them playing in a single NBA game.

Looking beyond the "LOL WHIFF!" of it all, to me this one is more of an indictment of where Pope's priorities are and the desperation he's feeling. There is no disputing that he showed a lot of interest in Pate, which I always thought was too risky for a program the stature of Kentucky (especially coming off the JQ risk) and with this being his make or break season.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
44,947
81,011
113

Whiff God part deux

(Intro)
Look, I was gonna land a five-star… but then—nah
Forget it, let me explain why it never goes as planned, bruh


(Verse 1)
Y’all ever notice every time a prospect’s on the line?
Top ten, top five, blue-chip, “he’s mine!”—psych
Another school swoops in, takes him overnight
Meanwhile I’m on the phone like “hey… you like…?”

I pitch culture, grit, development too
They nod real polite then commit to Duke
Or Kansas, or UConn, or somewhere new
And I’m left with a “thanks coach, but we’re cool”

Now I ain’t sayin’ I can’t coach X’s and O’s
But when it’s time to recruit, man, nobody shows
Portal opens up, I’m scrollin’ through posts
Like “who’s left? anybody? hello? ghosts?”

Fans on the timeline, losin’ their minds
“Where the five-stars at?”—I’m like “give me some time”
But time keeps tickin’, board keeps shrinkin’
Next thing you know I’m offerin’ dudes that were thinkin’
Division II… now they startin’ for me
And I’m sellin’ it like “yeah, that’s part of the dream!”


(Pre-Chorus)
Uh, summa-lumma, whiffin’ on a big one
Every time I think I got a kid—he’s gone
And I don’t wanna be another meme, son
But it’s lookin’ like I might be the—


(Chorus)
Whiff God, whiff God
All I do is miss, I’m the Whiff God
Big board, clipped off
Every name I had just dipped off
Whiff God, whiff God
Tryna build a class but it’s been odd
Five-star? Kick rocks
I’m just hopin’ for a TikTok walk-on

Now wait, let me get it, I’m ready, I’m back in it
Callin’ a recruit and I’m feelin’ immaculate
Tellin’ him “Lexington’s actually passionate”
He say “I’ll visit,” I’m thinkin’ it’s happenin’

Then I refresh and I check his commitment
Boom—different school, yeah that’s how it’s been
Every announcement got me lookin’ ridiculous
Hat on the table, but it ain’t ever Kentucky, man

I’m like “what did I miss?” was it NIL deals?
Was it facilities? jerseys? meals?
I got tradition, banners, history real
But they still pick another appeal

Now I’m pivotin’, scramblin’, tryin’ to salvage it
Offerin’ late like a clearance rack cabinet
Fans in the stands start panickin’
Message boards turn to savages

“Where’s the class?”—I’m like “it’s in progress”
They like “coach, this is honestly nonsense”
I’m noddin’ like yeah, that’s a fair assessment
But I still gotta spin it as long-term investment
 

TommyMansky

Senior
Dec 5, 2025
571
961
93

Whiff God part deux

(Intro)
Look, I was gonna land a five-star… but then—nah
Forget it, let me explain why it never goes as planned, bruh


(Verse 1)
Y’all ever notice every time a prospect’s on the line?
Top ten, top five, blue-chip, “he’s mine!”—psych
Another school swoops in, takes him overnight
Meanwhile I’m on the phone like “hey… you like…?”

I pitch culture, grit, development too
They nod real polite then commit to Duke
Or Kansas, or UConn, or somewhere new
And I’m left with a “thanks coach, but we’re cool”

Now I ain’t sayin’ I can’t coach X’s and O’s
But when it’s time to recruit, man, nobody shows
Portal opens up, I’m scrollin’ through posts
Like “who’s left? anybody? hello? ghosts?”

Fans on the timeline, losin’ their minds
“Where the five-stars at?”—I’m like “give me some time”
But time keeps tickin’, board keeps shrinkin’
Next thing you know I’m offerin’ dudes that were thinkin’
Division II… now they startin’ for me
And I’m sellin’ it like “yeah, that’s part of the dream!”


(Pre-Chorus)
Uh, summa-lumma, whiffin’ on a big one
Every time I think I got a kid—he’s gone
And I don’t wanna be another meme, son
But it’s lookin’ like I might be the—


(Chorus)
Whiff God, whiff God
All I do is miss, I’m the Whiff God
Big board, clipped off
Every name I had just dipped off
Whiff God, whiff God
Tryna build a class but it’s been odd
Five-star? Kick rocks
I’m just hopin’ for a TikTok walk-on

Now wait, let me get it, I’m ready, I’m back in it
Callin’ a recruit and I’m feelin’ immaculate
Tellin’ him “Lexington’s actually passionate”
He say “I’ll visit,” I’m thinkin’ it’s happenin’

Then I refresh and I check his commitment
Boom—different school, yeah that’s how it’s been
Every announcement got me lookin’ ridiculous
Hat on the table, but it ain’t ever Kentucky, man

I’m like “what did I miss?” was it NIL deals?
Was it facilities? jerseys? meals?
I got tradition, banners, history real
But they still pick another appeal

Now I’m pivotin’, scramblin’, tryin’ to salvage it
Offerin’ late like a clearance rack cabinet
Fans in the stands start panickin’
Message boards turn to savages

“Where’s the class?”—I’m like “it’s in progress”
They like “coach, this is honestly nonsense”
I’m noddin’ like yeah, that’s a fair assessment
But I still gotta spin it as long-term investment
Don’t Stop Believin’
 

OliverSimmonsTwinBrother

All-Conference
Feb 3, 2025
1,417
4,702
113
I relate to Pope so hard on this "recruitment " y'all. I was rizzing up the 3rd shift gal at Fill Up's(2/10) for the past 5 months, stopping by and making small talk, asking for Skoal 3 times a week when I dont even dip.

Suddenly the principal at my kids school (at least a 4!) Wants an urgent meeting due to behavior issues (ok lol 😉) so long Fill Ups gal, just call me George Jefferson, Im moving on up.
 

HipTer

Senior
Apr 11, 2012
986
698
93

Whiff God part deux

(Intro)
Look, I was gonna land a five-star… but then—nah
Forget it, let me explain why it never goes as planned, bruh


(Verse 1)
Y’all ever notice every time a prospect’s on the line?
Top ten, top five, blue-chip, “he’s mine!”—psych
Another school swoops in, takes him overnight
Meanwhile I’m on the phone like “hey… you like…?”

I pitch culture, grit, development too
They nod real polite then commit to Duke
Or Kansas, or UConn, or somewhere new
And I’m left with a “thanks coach, but we’re cool”

Now I ain’t sayin’ I can’t coach X’s and O’s
But when it’s time to recruit, man, nobody shows
Portal opens up, I’m scrollin’ through posts
Like “who’s left? anybody? hello? ghosts?”

Fans on the timeline, losin’ their minds
“Where the five-stars at?”—I’m like “give me some time”
But time keeps tickin’, board keeps shrinkin’
Next thing you know I’m offerin’ dudes that were thinkin’
Division II… now they startin’ for me
And I’m sellin’ it like “yeah, that’s part of the dream!”


(Pre-Chorus)
Uh, summa-lumma, whiffin’ on a big one
Every time I think I got a kid—he’s gone
And I don’t wanna be another meme, son
But it’s lookin’ like I might be the—


(Chorus)
Whiff God, whiff God
All I do is miss, I’m the Whiff God
Big board, clipped off
Every name I had just dipped off
Whiff God, whiff God
Tryna build a class but it’s been odd
Five-star? Kick rocks
I’m just hopin’ for a TikTok walk-on

Now wait, let me get it, I’m ready, I’m back in it
Callin’ a recruit and I’m feelin’ immaculate
Tellin’ him “Lexington’s actually passionate”
He say “I’ll visit,” I’m thinkin’ it’s happenin’

Then I refresh and I check his commitment
Boom—different school, yeah that’s how it’s been
Every announcement got me lookin’ ridiculous
Hat on the table, but it ain’t ever Kentucky, man

I’m like “what did I miss?” was it NIL deals?
Was it facilities? jerseys? meals?
I got tradition, banners, history real
But they still pick another appeal

Now I’m pivotin’, scramblin’, tryin’ to salvage it
Offerin’ late like a clearance rack cabinet
Fans in the stands start panickin’
Message boards turn to savages

“Where’s the class?”—I’m like “it’s in progress”
They like “coach, this is honestly nonsense”
I’m noddin’ like yeah, that’s a fair assessment
But I still gotta spin it as long-term investment
F2M, I don't even know what that's all about, but I sure appreciate the effort. Rock on!
 
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Artlaibesghost

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2022
946
1,832
93
I don't care how good this guy is, he isn't currently eligible. How many believe the NCAA would clear him if he came here. Pope pursuing never made sense to me
 

BlueSince92

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
10,484
2,843
230
I certainly never hung any hopes on Pate but all the same…

The thing about Pate was he was at least half a level above this promising reserve thing that we keep doing to ourselves over and over instead of signing starters.
 

Oboro_3

Redshirt
Sep 3, 2024
14
33
13
Not a big loss at all. Why accept a commit that may scare other players who have zero eligibility issues. We could accept Dink if we had other commits but it was too much of a gamble and he was asking too much as well. I think Pope knows we are pretty good at this point as far as filling that position.
 
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JonathanW2

Senior
Aug 6, 2025
465
699
93
Good, he is one I didn't want.
NON-efficient scorer (misses a lot of shots), who turns it over a lot, and isn't good defensively, with eligibility questions.
No thank you!!!