And in Jacksonville Fl!

Omega_X

Junior
Sep 7, 2026
135
205
43
I don't get the Florida hype. Their front court is incredible, no doubt, but their backcourt is very meh.

I like DA, but Boogie Fland is just not that good, what am I missing?
A frontcourt that’s one of the best in the last 20 years. Aberdeen and Fland are both really good guards. It’s disingenuous to say otherwise. That frontcourt has won a title and they’ve all been playing heavy minutes for 4 years. Fland is a 3 year starter and Aberdeen is a 5th year guy with a ton of experience. Thats not even mentioning anyone past the starters. The starters themselves is one of the most experienced and productive starting lineups you’ll ever see in college.
 

UKCowboys

Heisman
Oct 14, 2019
5,352
10,196
113
I just watched the first 17 minutes and you’re not wrong. That probably explains the 12 assist, I saw a lot of guys just trying to drive to the basket. Also it was pretty obvious that they had really worked on their defense.
Thats right. That doesn't mean we will be world beaters off the bat offensively, but Pope was not lying or making an excuse. I think he only wanted the guys thinking about defense.
 

seccats04

Heisman
Dec 6, 2004
14,760
24,229
113
I usually don’t consider traditional exhibition games where P5 teams play division 2/3 or NAIA teams say much about their own team. But these recent trend of playing games against Division 1 and especially P5 say a lot more than I think people want to admit. The competition is tougher.

We saw that last year where we beat Purdue and then loss to Georgetown, showing that our team was capable of beating anyone but they were also going to lose to pretty much anyone as well.
Beat Purdue, lose to Georgetown. The Pope experience.
 

Cleatortoises

Heisman
Dec 24, 2018
3,087
10,636
113
Just to be clear, I do know you’re joking, but the joke doesn’t really make logical impact I think some want in these types of comments.

Golden has a national title and has accomplishments most never do at his age. It doesn’t mean he’s going to win every game, it just means if he had the pathway of Pope, he wouldn’t be sitting with a 60% winning percentage, 10 years no tournaments, no tournament championships, and turned down to historic levels of a Kentucky program in recruiting.

I don’t think people fully comprehend how bad Mark has been at UK. Statistically in some areas he’s one of the worst we’ve ever hired. As in, Mark is not a good coach especially at a place like
This. He’d make more sense at a program like Virginia Tech, Georgia, or Southern Miss.

Although I don’t think any of those programs would hire him. BYU was about to begin moving toward his replacement they were done. They made clear they were very happy he was leaving and wished him luck.

So we’re not crazy, the Data is clear and the guy isn’t young. He’s not qualified for UK no matter how many people continue to believe this somehow makes sense. It makes sense for Barnhart and his control and access, it makes no sense for the program, brand, or base.

And I’m aware I’m not changing minds here, but this is bizarre. No UK fan especially with some age who knows how this works should support this peogram’s decision making right now. That is as close to a fact as you can get. In 10 years everyone still even halfway supporting this hire and supporting ideas of continuing with it will not be admitting that they did this. Same happened with BCG, I’ve been here a long time to know it lol.
So many words.
 
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warrior-cat

Hall of Famer
Oct 22, 2004
192,300
158,047
113
Yes but UF scored more in their loss against a better opponent than UK did in our win against a cupcake. Not sure I would put much stock in to Florida's loss.
 
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ScWildcat3

All-Conference
Sep 27, 2005
1,382
2,036
113
Florida is gonna be a monster this year. I got them winning the national title, think Golden moves onto the NBA afterwards, no chance he tries to "reload" that frontcourt.
I think he was planning on going this year but when the big 3 said they would return he did too. The lack of a recruiting class last year and zero depth really this year makes me believe he was planning on leaving. Probably expected to make at least final four again last year. In the broadcast yesterday the announcers who sounded like Florida guys even said if they would’ve beat Iowa he believes all 3 bigs would’ve left.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,810
73,093
113
A frontcourt that’s one of the best in the last 20 years. Aberdeen and Fland are both really good guards. It’s disingenuous to say otherwise. That frontcourt has won a title and they’ve all been playing heavy minutes for 4 years. Fland is a 3 year starter and Aberdeen is a 5th year guy with a ton of experience. Thats not even mentioning anyone past the starters. The starters themselves is one of the most experienced and productive starting lineups you’ll ever see in college.
Didn't they lose to Iowa in a game that wasn't close?
I get exhibition games aren't a real reflection of what these teams really are, but you still can't lose to Scott Drew at this point in his career and Aberdeen going 0-10 from 3, didn't happen just because it was an exhibition.
Also, is Aberdeen actually cleared ro play this season?
 

Bleedin Blue in Ohio

All-Conference
Feb 3, 2013
531
1,121
93
Just like NFL exhibition games. They do not count in the win lose category and coaches use different rotations and force more players in action to hopefully foster growth than they will in regular season games.
 
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AllBall

All-American
May 5, 2015
4,946
6,528
93
Didn't they lose to Iowa in a game that wasn't close?
I get exhibition games aren't a real reflection of what these teams really are, but you still can't lose to Scott Drew at this point in his career and Aberdeen going 0-10 from 3, didn't happen just because it was an exhibition.
Also, is Aberdeen actually cleared ro play this season?
Of course Aberdeen got cleared to play. Now if he was at UK there'd be no chance.
 
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CrimsonCats_rivals

All-Conference
Mar 22, 2022
1,781
3,676
61
Didn't they lose to Iowa in a game that wasn't close?
I get exhibition games aren't a real reflection of what these teams really are, but you still can't lose to Scott Drew at this point in his career and Aberdeen going 0-10 from 3, didn't happen just because it was an exhibition.
Also, is Aberdeen actually cleared ro play this season?
They lost by 1 point after Iowa hit a 3 with like 5 seconds left. Those things happen to just about everyone in the tournament at some point. This is ultimately pretty much the same team that won the SEC going away last year except they replaced a somewhat disappointing Xaivian Lee with Aberdeen at the second guard spot, which should probably be an upgrade stats in this particular exhibition notwithstanding. It would be foolish to discount them.
 

Lameguy

Senior
Mar 20, 2026
348
755
93
A frontcourt that’s one of the best in the last 20 years. Aberdeen and Fland are both really good guards. It’s disingenuous to say otherwise. That frontcourt has won a title and they’ve all been playing heavy minutes for 4 years. Fland is a 3 year starter and Aberdeen is a 5th year guy with a ton of experience. Thats not even mentioning anyone past the starters. The starters themselves is one of the most experienced and productive starting lineups you’ll ever see in college.
From everything I’ve ever read from the Experts here on Rupps Rafters. Fland and Aberdeen can’t be “really good” if they were they’d be in the NBA or is that only a standard that applies to Ky players? 😂😂😂
 
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Smeegs

All-Conference
Nov 19, 2025
1,274
3,700
113
Look Florida is a great team but the only reason they won the title a couple of years ago was because Clayton went off against Uconn, Texas Tech, Houston and Auburn, without him having a all time great run they wouldn't have even made the final four
Why are you making it sound like they just had a lucky hot run in the tourney?

That UF team was a 1 seed that went 36-4 against one of the toughest schedules in the country and in BY FAR the deepest and best SEC season in the conference’s entire history.

That team was awesome all season long, not just in the tournament.
 

Lameguy

Senior
Mar 20, 2026
348
755
93
Just like NFL exhibition games. They do not count in the win lose category and coaches use different rotations and force more players in action to hopefully foster growth than they will in regular season games.
Every Florida starter played over 30 minutes and they basically only used 7 guys. That logic doesn’t apply in this game.
 
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Lameguy

Senior
Mar 20, 2026
348
755
93
They lost by 1 point after Iowa hit a 3 with like 5 seconds left. Those things happen to just about everyone in the tournament at some point. This is ultimately pretty much the same team that won the SEC going away last year except they replaced a somewhat disappointing Xaivian Lee with Aberdeen at the second guard spot, which should probably be an upgrade stats in this particular exhibition notwithstanding. It would be foolish to discount them.
Aberdeen isn’t an upgrade.
 

yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
30,451
43,509
102
I don't get the Florida hype. Their front court is incredible, no doubt, but their backcourt is very meh.

I like DA, but Boogie Fland is just not that good, what am I missing?
I don’t think DA is any better than Fland . Da can’t be a starting guard on a team with final 4 aspirations.

Honesty, I assumed he was going to be in his old role as 6th or 7th man at Florida.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,810
73,093
113
They lost by 1 point after Iowa hit a 3 with like 5 seconds left. Those things happen to just about everyone in the tournament at some point. This is ultimately pretty much the same team that won the SEC going away last year except they replaced a somewhat disappointing Xaivian Lee with Aberdeen at the second guard spot, which should probably be an upgrade stats in this particular exhibition notwithstanding. It would be foolish to discount them.
Yeah, but it was f*cking Iowa, who, at the time, was 22-12 and 10-10 in the BIG10.
 

JRCAT14

All-American
Sep 21, 2018
1,499
5,177
113
Seems strange reading posts by "UK" fans explaing away an exhibition loss by UF while at the same time there are posts which are entirely the polar opposite on the 20 point win by UK(Pope).
Either is agenda driven or a bunch whiney, spoiled, entitled "fans". Maybe both!
 
Last edited:

ScWildcat3

All-Conference
Sep 27, 2005
1,382
2,036
113
I don’t think DA is any better than Fland . Da can’t be a starting guard on a team with final 4 aspirations.

Honesty, I assumed he was going to be in his old role as 6th or 7th man at Florida.
He is their best guard basically which is why Golden was fighting so hard to get him eligible. Golden wasn’t planning on coming back but almost had to with the big 3 guys back. Scrambled to get DA. They will definitely be good again but if they suffer any injury to Haugh or condon they are screwed. The guards will keep them from winning a title though.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,810
73,093
113
It still applies. If you think a coach coaches the same exhibition vs a real game, I have land in a tropical location if you want to buy?
It doesn’t apply. In the NFL, starters don't play pre season games in most cases. Some will play a series or two, but that's it.

Florida played their 5 best players 30 minutes, that's not even close to the same thing.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,810
73,093
113
I don’t think DA is any better than Fland . Da can’t be a starting guard on a team with final 4 aspirations.

Honesty, I assumed he was going to be in his old role as 6th or 7th man at Florida.
I agree. I really like DA, he’s a tough experienced guard, but if he's their best 2 guard, I have an issue with them being the best team in the country.
 
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Lameguy

Senior
Mar 20, 2026
348
755
93
It still applies. If you think a coach coaches the same exhibition vs a real game, I have land in a tropical location if you want to buy?
You were talking about the coach using different rotations, when every starter played over 30 minutes with some at 38 and 39, it doesn’t look like he experimented much. And good luck selling that land that you bought.😂😂😂😂
 
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tj4fun

All-Conference
Dec 22, 2013
814
1,261
93
Just like NFL exhibition games. They do not count in the win lose category and coaches use different rotations and force more players in action to hopefully foster growth than they will in regular season games.
Look at the stats! Starters played 33-38 minutes.
I understand this is a exhibition game. But this team has played together for over a year and the broadcast crew was talking about how Golden told them #1 priority was to win that game! You watch it and you will see he left the starters in most of the game !
 

ScWildcat3

All-Conference
Sep 27, 2005
1,382
2,036
113
Look at the stats! Starters played 33-38 minutes.
I understand this is an exhibition game. But this team has played together for over a year and the broadcast crew was talking about how Golden told them #1 priority was to win that game! You watch it and you will see he left the starters in most of the game !
He played the 2nd half no doubt to win. It’s still an exhibition but they couldn’t shoot last year well enough and only added an average 3 pt shooter to replace an average shooter. Lost the only depth they had in the front court as well.
 

Bleedin Blue in Ohio

All-Conference
Feb 3, 2013
531
1,121
93
It doesn’t apply. In the NFL, starters don't play pre season games in most cases. Some will play a series or two, but that's it.

Florida played their 5 best players 30 minutes, that's not even close to the same thing.
If you think they played that game the exact same as they, would one that counts in the win lose category that is an incorrect assumption. Scrimmage games are not the same as regular season games. Players may play hard but the level of intensity will be much lower. Coaches will coach much different and experiment more and try to see who responds to certain sets, certain positions, etc.. Drawing any conclusions to scrimmage games is not wise. I am glad they have those games it is now fun and interesting to watch. Better to see than read about but I would not spend my money to attend vs a regular season game either.
 

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
43,751
66,570
113
Looking at the minute distribution, both UF and Baylor appear to have approached this game as a true barometer of where the are. The Gators did not play many bench minutes. I know it was an OT game but the starters played a lot of
Minutes b
 
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ScWildcat3

All-Conference
Sep 27, 2005
1,382
2,036
113
Looking at the minute distribution, both UF and Baylor appear to have approached this game as a true barometer of where the are. The Gators did not play many bench minutes. I know it was an OT game but the starters played a lot of
Minutes b
They don’t have a bench really. 2 guards and that’s it. The 4th big is beyond bad. Haugh condon and chinyelu will only come out if absolutely necessary
 
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Jul 24, 2026
555
801
93
Look Florida is a great team but the only reason they won the title a couple of years ago was because Clayton went off against Uconn, Texas Tech, Houston and Auburn, without him having a all time great run they wouldn't have even made the final four
Facts no one acknowledges walter Clayton
 
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