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Uninspired by the talent available

J

JayEzzy

Redshirt
Oct 31, 2023
30
45
16
I think we’re all in agreement CMP requires a talent upgrade to survive next season. Looking at the available portal talent, and factoring in our inability to close on our first options at any point in CMP’s tenure, I have a hard time seeing us flip that switch.

For instance, the guy at Colgate seems like a realistic get. But who all is he hearing from? Are they teams we expect to compete for a title? Or even win their league? Let’s see…

“Cox, the 6-foot-3 combo guard, is hearing from the likes of Indiana, UCLA, Syracuse, West Virginia, Missouri, Virginia Tech, Utah, Creighton, Rutgers, Auburn, Dayton, UNLV, SMU, Villanova, Texas, Cincinnati, VCU, Butler, and Maryland among those in pursuit, his agent confirmed.”

Hmm not great when we’re competing with Dayton!!

Anyway, really just venting frustration. Looking forward to the spring game next weekend.
 
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F

FitchandMurray29

All-American
Dec 11, 2021
2,523
5,213
61
Pretty obvious to me that Cox would be paid handsomely by us to be our 6th man/backup PG while most of the other programs there are recruiting him to be their starter with lesser budgets. Recruiting for different roles creates the discrepancy in level of program imo
 
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J

JayEzzy

Redshirt
Oct 31, 2023
30
45
16
FitchandMurray29 said:
Pretty obvious to me that Cox would be paid handsomely by us to be our 6th man/backup PG while most of the other programs there are recruiting him to be their starter with lesser budgets. Recruiting for different roles creates the discrepancy in level of program imo
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Like someone said above, every big time program is basically rebuilding their roster. We’re the only one that needs a backup pg? Doubt it. No one competing for a title has any use for this kid. Maybe as the talent pool dwindles they might nibble at him, but he’s one of our main targets lmao.
 
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FitchandMurray29

All-American
Dec 11, 2021
2,523
5,213
61
JayEzzy said:
Like someone said above, every big time program is basically rebuilding their roster. We’re the only one that needs a backup pg? Doubt it. No one competing for a title has any use for this kid. Maybe as the talent pool dwindles they might nibble at him, but he’s one of our main targets lmao.
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Due to our experience the last 2 years and overall NIL budget, I would be surprised if we didn’t pay more for a backup PG than anyone in the country.
 
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J

JayEzzy

Redshirt
Oct 31, 2023
30
45
16
FitchandMurray29 said:
Due to our experience the last 2 years and overall NIL budget, I would be surprised if we didn’t pay more for a backup PG than anyone in the country.
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But we have less money than we did AND we’re still going to get 2-3 studs that are hopefully better than Aberdeen/Oweh/Chandler…so how are we overpaying for backups? That math doesn’t make sense.
 
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Ukdaddy98

Ukdaddy98

Freshman
Jan 15, 2026
35
65
18
Pope knows this is it. He does. It either works or he’s gone after next season. The UK fanbase is about as low in morale as I’ve seen since late Tubby and Gillispie.

I just don’t know if he can piece together a team from the available players in the portal that can do anything to save his job.
 
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F

FitchandMurray29

All-American
Dec 11, 2021
2,523
5,213
61
JayEzzy said:
But we have less money than we did AND we’re still going to get 2-3 studs that are hopefully better than Aberdeen/Oweh/Chandler…so how are we overpaying for backups? That math doesn’t make sense.
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One way is dropping the money we pay guys 9-end of roster less. Also I don’t believe the budget is dropping drastically.

One of Aberdeen or Jasper had to be the backup PG this past offseason. They were making a combined 3.5M imo

You’re getting hung up on the “overpay” part. I’d rather pay 2M and get a guy like Cox then pay 1.5M for a lesser option and then pay 500k for an end of bench guy that possibly even redshirts like Hawthorne did.
 
J

JayEzzy

Redshirt
Oct 31, 2023
30
45
16
FitchandMurray29 said:
One way is dropping the money we pay guys 9-end of roster less. Also I don’t believe the budget is dropping drastically.

One of Aberdeen or Jasper had to be the backup PG this past offseason. They were making a combined 3.5M imo

You’re getting hung up on the “overpay” part. I’d rather pay 2M and get a guy like Cox then pay 1.5M for a lesser option and then pay 500k for an end of bench guy that possibly even redshirts like Hawthorne did.
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Goose said they don’t have money they did last year. Maybe you know better than him!
 
C

Catphright23

Senior
Dec 6, 2023
290
578
93
UKWildcats1987 said:
We finished 6th and 9th n the sec. We need even higher level talent. Averaging 13 losses a season isn't acceptable.
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We had no pg. We thought lowe, Aberdeen and Jasper would suffice. Bg, jelavic were far too inconsistent as was Noah. Roster management was bad last year, his first year not so much. You don't have to mix athleticism with people who are skilled and can shoot.
 
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F

FitchandMurray29

All-American
Dec 11, 2021
2,523
5,213
61
JayEzzy said:
Goose said they don’t have money they did last year. Maybe you know better than him!
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I believe his sentiment was largely due to how last offseason operated with phony NIL still and rev share with the expectation of that changing due to the changed rules this year.

They are not recruiting some of the most expensive players on the market with some baby budget. MJ who also relied on Givens’ quote still thought we’d have a top 6-7 payroll in the sport.
 
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S

Smeegs

All-Conference
Nov 19, 2025
545
1,509
93
Nobody was “inspired” by Elliott Cadeau or Aday Mara in last year’s portal. Mara couldn’t even crack the starting lineup at UCLA, and Cadeau basically got pushed out the door at UNC.

A year later and they ended up being Michigan’s two best final four performers on a 37-3 national champion.

So take heart, there are likely plenty of difference makers for a reasonable price available in this portal. Even if we may not know who they are yet.
 
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K

KYWC36

All-Conference
Jul 11, 2013
1,325
1,956
113
whack0001 said:
That’s why high school recruiting and retainability is still important. We can’t get ourselves in a position where we’re relying on an unpredictable portal and end up having to build a brand new team full of mid major rejects.
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I definitely agree we have to have some HS recruits year but it has also been proven time and time again that you don't win titles with Freshmen dominated teams, so that doesn't help as much either because after year 1,they join the rat race which is the portal as well. Every year the roster can and often does reset, Everyone wants more money, that's just the reality. Some years we need a lot like this year, and some years we will need not as much and no coach is going to change that college bball reality. This sport isnt what it used to be, nothing is guranteed and everything is year to year
 
MegaBlue05

MegaBlue05

Heisman
Mar 8, 2014
10,795
21,241
66
It’s all a crap shoot. Nobody will know until we see them play together.

None of us can see the future, and with more than 1000 kids in the portal, rankings are also a crap shoot. Two seasons ago, IU bought the No. 1 portal class, didn’t make the tournament and fired the coach. On paper by rankings they had a great roster. Fit is way more important than individual talent/rankings.

I’m hoping for the best and expecting the worst.
 
W

whack0001

All-Conference
Mar 20, 2009
1,829
2,770
56
KYWC36 said:
I definitely agree we have to have some HS recruits year but it has also been proven time and time again that you don't win titles with Freshmen dominated teams, so that doesn't help as much either because after year 1,they join the rat race which is the portal as well. Every year the roster can and often does reset, Everyone wants more money, that's just the reality. Some years we need a lot like this year, and some years we will need not as much and no coach is going to change that college bball reality. This sport isnt what it used to be, nothing is guranteed and everything is year to year
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Yeah I agree we can’t rely on freshman but we have to be at least capable of bringing in a couple big time, difference making recruits. We’re in a dangerous spot right now with 1 mediocre high school recruit and an unpredictable portal. I’m just losing all confidence in Pope.
 
seccats04

seccats04

Heisman
Dec 6, 2004
14,410
23,099
113
Catphright23 said:
We did get guys like Aberdeen, butler, brea, robinson, mo d, from the portal and a decent amount of people wanted each of them
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Yes but we still lost 26 games in two years with those type players. Those are great glue guys but they can't be two or three of your best players.
 
U

UKreturntogreatness

Junior
Nov 19, 2025
134
337
63
I am very concerned because to be the best you need the top elite talent. For instance it looks like we have a decent chance to land Zoom Diallo. Not to spoil the fantasies but he is listed as the 24th or 25th highest player in the Portal and not the top point guard by any means. Freak out all you want but this is the facts by the experts on several portal lists. He may prove a great pick-up but Kentucky should be getting the top 10 on the portal only to be a true contender. The only one I see we are mentioned with at present is Murauskas, and Wright. Hope we get them as that would be exciting otherwise look at the past transfers we received and remind me how we did overall!
 
B

Bill_the_cat

Junior
Nov 17, 2025
274
365
57
The money will be there. The big issue is with an offer such a large portion to Stokes, there may not be enough to field a decent team around him.
 
J

JayEzzy

Redshirt
Oct 31, 2023
30
45
16
Wildcat_in_DC said:
we top 8 money to spend on a team. money wont be an issue. its how you spend and who you spend it on. not complicated. unless you cant do math. can you do math?
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Man I’m sure you’re a good guy with a good point, but I can’t read that nonsense. Put the bottle down 😅
 
K

KYWC36

All-Conference
Jul 11, 2013
1,325
1,956
113
whack0001 said:
Yeah I agree we can’t rely on freshman but we have to be at least capable of bringing in a couple big time, difference making recruits. We’re in a dangerous spot right now with 1 mediocre high school recruit and an unpredictable portal. I’m just losing all confidence in Pope.
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I think the terms difference making and mediocre is a matter of opinion and that is often formed by ill informed fans who don't know nearly what they think they do, however, to your point, I do agree Pope did not have a good recruiting year- and it wasn't about who he didn't sign, it was his narrow approach to it, you cannot go into the off season in this day and age of the portal and NIL and not have people signed because there will ALWAYS be holes to fill you did not anticipate. Regardless of how you feel about Pope- and I'm a fan- that part is true.
 
D

Doc4UK!

All-Conference
Aug 14, 2003
2,798
1,768
113
BigBubDaBiz said:
Agreed. Was just going through the list of transfers so far and I’m not seeing the talent level yet. I would expect several additional names to be added to the transfer portal list and we are gonna need it or CMP might as well start packing his bags now.
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We need scoring and really not impressed that we can overcome the competition. Alabama
JayEzzy said:
Goose said they don’t have money they did last year. Maybe you know better than him!
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Money spent on getting players is less than money that would have to be spent on getting a new coach so I suspect UK comes up with the money to get players to keep things respectable. Currently the players we have returning would equal another Wednesday start for the SEC tournament.
 
J

JonathanW2

Senior
Aug 6, 2025
465
699
93
JayEzzy said:
Right and we overpaid for what was a trash team. That extra $$ is no longer in the equation so what gets us over the top?
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I hate when people exaggerate. "Trash team", SMH. Was 22-14 disappointing and underachieving? Yes! Would the season have been better if we had been healthy? Yes! Would it have been better enough for the team to have met expectations? We really don't know. I think most of us can agree it wasn't the best constructed team (puzzle pieces just didn't seem to fit). But "trash", come on, get a grip!
 
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G

Grevey1975

Redshirt
Mar 23, 2026
9
13
3
I have 0 confidence in Mark Pope in recruiting and his coaching ability.Sorry to be a Debbie Downer but I'm still fuming over 14 losses and seemingly no hope for next year, I hope I eat my words.
 
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Tri-Countycat

Tri-Countycat

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
1,340
2,966
113
Grevey1975 said:
I have 0 confidence in Mark Pope in recruiting and his coaching ability.Sorry to be a Debbie Downer but I'm still fuming over 14 losses and seemingly no hope for next year, I hope I eat my words.
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You mean the fact that Pope offered scholarships to 10 top freshman and hasn’t gotten any of them hasn’t solidified your confidence?
 
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