As it stands now

[HagginHall1999]

We know Allen, Hopkins, Mintz, Grady and TyTy are gone.

Brooks is probably gone.

Oscar is the trump/wild card and Sharpe is the icing on the cake. I think we get 1 of the 2 to stay and hope both (one can dream).

Assuming no one else transfers (I know what assuming does), this is what we can logically gather for next year's roster and my stab at comparing.

New Additions vs Exiting Players
Wallace = TyTy
Livingston > Brooks
CJ = Grady
? replace Mintz
? replace Allen
? replace Hopkins

Likely Returnees
Toppin
Collins
Wheeler

Possible Returnees
Oscar
Sharpe
Ware- not sure on him...

Possible Roster

G- Wheeler, CJ, Wallace, Transfer x 1
G/SF- Sharpe, Transfer x 1 or 2 if no SS
F- Livingston, Collins, Toppin
C- Oscar, Ware

So at bare minimum I think we are adding at least 3 transfers, possibly as many as 5.

I actually like the fact that Brooks is moving on and kind of that Hopkins is tbh. I like Hopkins long term but Cal was trying to fit him into a position that wasn't right for him now (3).

At this point with the way CBB is free agent driven I have hardly no attachment to any of these players outside of those with personality (Oscar, Toppin, Wheeler). My only interest is replacing with better parts.

If Hopkins leaving let's us land a guy who is a better fit and more suited to stretch the floor and guard then so be it.

So much of this season lays on decision of Oscar in particular. If we lose Oscar all bets are off. If Oscar stays I think we could be better than last year as we can replace the guys who've left with better pieces. If not we could be looking awful tbh.

 

[jessieshorts8]

Oscar is the only hope that next season isn't a mess.It's obvious Sharpe is gone.

 

[kydmb99_rivals103809]

If Wheeler is still our main PG next season we’re toast

 

[JimboBBN]

I'd be okay with not getting Wheeler back, but it is what it as at this point. Our offense will struggle in the half court as long as he is on the floor.

 

[STL_Cat]

Any chance we have at being an elite, title contending team next year hinges on Oscar and Sharpe. If those two guys shock the world and return next year, we might just have an elite championship level roster. Otherwise it's going to be another piece milled roster that may or may not be a top 20 type team. That's where we are right now.

 

[akaukswoosh]

It’s all pure speculation now. If Sharpe and Oscar aren’t here next year its hard to get excited. If they are here we can be good, but not sure just how good.

 

[track42]

Sharpe is gone.If we don't get Oscar back we have a cobbled up roster of transfers.Honestly the ones Cal has been after so far are not game changers but pieces to compliment an already good team.

 

[bookerfan66]

The stretch the floor comment made me sad.Cal is going hard after the Arkansas state kid who attempted three 3 point attempts all of last season.

 

[true-blue1]

Any chance we have at being an elite, title contending team next year hinges on Oscar and Sharpe. If those two guys shock the world and return next year, we might just have an elite championship level roster. Otherwise it's going to be another piece milled roster that may or may not be a top 20 type team. That's where we are right now.

I honestly don't see Sharpe coming back.

 

[kybassfan]

Oscar is the only hope that next season isn't a mess.It's obvious Sharpe is gone.

Really? He told you this? Lol

 

[drew_ukfan_rivals]

I'd be okay with not getting Wheeler back, but it is what it as at this point. Our offense will struggle in the half court as long as CCC is the coach

FIFY

 

[Bigblue2023]

Sharpe is gone. Next season is setting up be similar to this year. A decent team that will lose 9 to 12 games and not be any real threat. So awesome…

 

[STL_Cat]

I honestly don't see Sharpe coming back.

Oh I absolutely don't think Sharpe is coming back, which is why I said "shocks the world." No I don't see any way he comes back but IMO our only chance at being an elite team next year is if he does.

 

[GuyFromKY]

Our roster is a dumpster fire for next year. Oscar is definitely gone if his NIL isn’t fixed and it doesn’t appear that it’s going to be. Sharpe has been gone since before he got here.

 

[Thunder Mash]

After Mintz, Grady, Hopkins, Washington, and Allen are officially leaving, I think Kentucky will also lose:
-Brooks
-Sharpe
-Tshiebwe
-Wheeler (I'm iffy on him, though)

I just don't feel too confident in Oscar returning (hope I'm wrong). Livingston, Wallace, and Fredrick will take three of those spots. Transfer portal has to come up big these next few weeks.

 

[catswin]

Wallace = TyTy
Livingston > Brooks
CJ = Grady
? replace Mintz
? replace Allen
? replace Hopkins

Wallace will be much better than what tyty gave us this year.
CJ was a starter on a top 10 team. He will be better than Grady.
Wheeler will be better than this year Wheeler.
Oscar will be even better as he refined his moves down low.
Replacing Hopkins/Allen won’t be a problem.

 

[reggis]

Sharpe is gone. Next season is setting up be similar to this year. A decent team that will lose 9 to 12 games and not be any real threat. So awesome…

We didn't lose 9 to twelve this year. Hopefully Cal will improve his coaching next year and he uses assistants during time outs

 

[mdlUK.1]

Wallace will be much better than what tyty gave us this year.
CJ was a starter on a top 10 team. He will be better than Grady.
Wheeler will be better than this year Wheeler.
Oscar will be even better as he refined his moves down low.
Replacing Hopkins/Allen won’t be a problem.

TyTy was one of the best players in the country before he got hurt. Hopefully, Wallace will be close to as good as TyTy.

CJ coming off an injury. Grady was great for us until the end and i read somewhere that he was nursing an injury we didn’t know about ??

I agree with the rest.

 

[dickieVIII]

Our roster is a dumpster fire for next year. Oscar is definitely gone if his NIL isn’t fixed and it doesn’t appear that it’s going to be. Sharpe has been gone since before he got here.

Why do you say "it doesn't appear that its going to be". That is the EXACT opposite of what I have heard.

 

[bookerfan66]

Why do you say "it doesn't appear that its going to be". That is the EXACT opposite of what I have heard.

Where did you hear it?

 

[Kywildcat_nation28]

Grady was big for us this year except for the end so to say CJ is better hope yalls expectations aren't high

 

[Bigblue2023]

We didn't lose 9 to twelve this year. Hopefully Cal will improve his coaching next year and he uses assistants during time outs

I reread my post and still can’t find where I said we lost 9 this year. Next year will be… key word…”similar” to this year. Although it would be very easy to deduce the idea I believe we’ll be slightly worse next season.

 

[HagginHall1999]

@EKYCard643 with laughing emoji at my op.

I cannot imagine using my spare time to troll an opponent message board. There is plenty to laugh at within your own program fella, spend your time wisely.

Your last FF was 2005. Last NT was 1986. Our former coach burnt your program to the ground and program still has more to answer to. Classic Louisville goober.

 

[dickieVIII]

Why do you say "it doesn't appear that its going to be". That is the EXACT opposite of what I have heard.

https://www.aseaofblue.com/2022/4/5/23011894/kentucky-basketball-news-oscar-tshiebwe-nba-draft-2022

Go down about middle of the article. ..........


The reason for Tucker’s optimism is that UK appears close to a solution for the NIL concerns with Tshiebwe, who is still prohibited from anything that constitutes “work.” As Tucker notes, that includes promotional photo shoots, TV commercials, paid public appearances, and autograph tours among other things.

“But Tshiebwe, his agent, his immigration lawyer and UK are still working tirelessly to get all those limitations removed and open the door for “potentially millions,” a source says,” Tucker wrote,” adding, “There is a great deal of optimism within the Joe Craft Center that the best player in college basketball returns to school.”

 

[Kybluedude]

TyTy was one of the best players in the country before he got hurt. Hopefully, Wallace will be close to as good as TyTy.

CJ coming off an injury. Grady was great for us until the end and i read somewhere that he was nursing an injury we didn’t know about ??

I agree with the rest.

What was Grady’s injury? I didn’t hear anything about it. Thanks

 

[Sparkaces]

Wallace will be much better than what tyty gave us this year.
CJ was a starter on a top 10 team. He will be better than Grady.
Wheeler will be better than this year Wheeler.
Oscar will be even better as he refined his moves down low.
Replacing Hopkins/Allen won’t be a problem.

So are you saying CJ should start at the 3 like Grady? Grady was horrible on D, I can't even imagine CJ trying to guard SEC 3's. CJ should be the backup PG or SG. We badly need an athletic wing to take Sharpe's spot.

 

[catswin]

So are you saying CJ should start at the 3 like Grady? Grady was horrible on D, I can't even imagine CJ trying to guard SEC 3's. CJ should be the backup PG or SG. We badly need an athletic wing to take Sharpe's spot.

The scouting report on CJ out of Iowa was that he is a very good defender. I have no idea, because when I watch other teams play a few times a year, the last thing I watch is individual defenders.

He was guarding 2s and 3s in the toughest conference for two years, so it won’t be much different next season for us.

Best case scenario is CJ plays the roll of Mintz. Hopefully we will get a stud 3.

 

[mdlUK.1]

What was Grady’s injury? I didn’t hear anything about it. Thanks

Not sure how valid this is but here is the link.

http://kyinsider.com/per-report-kentucky-basketball-had-more-injuries-at-the-end-of-the-season/?amp

 

[Tubbyfan78]

TyTy was one of the best players in the country before he got hurt. Hopefully, Wallace will be close to as good as TyTy.

CJ coming off an injury. Grady was great for us until the end and i read somewhere that he was nursing an injury we didn’t know about ??

I agree with the rest.

Tyty was not one of the best players in the country. My god you people are delusional. He was never better than the 3rd best player on our team. He had a couple big games in games that didn’t matter. He’s a talented kid but his UK career was a bust.

 

[TortElvisII]

The stretch the floor comment made me sad.Cal is going hard after the Arkansas state kid who attempted three 3 point attempts all of last season.

Someone made a big deal that he was a 33% shooter from three. So he made one.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

What's weird to me is that we will likely lose six underclassmen from a team that lost to a 15 seed, and there's a real chance none of them end up top 10 picks.

Think about that.

 

[DelkBowl]

Until we are finished recruiting, what we know now means nothing.

 

[mebeblue2]

has Brooks said he was leaving?

 

[BBallin23]

If Wheeler is still our main PG next season we’re toast

What a horrible opinion. Wheeler is the only guy on the team that pushes the ball. He was top 5 for the Jerry west awsrd, which means he’s very elite,

 

[FitchandMurray29]

What's weird to me is that we will likely lose six underclassmen from a team that lost to a 15 seed, and there's a real chance none of them end up top 10 picks.

Think about that.

I’ve got Hopkins and TyTy as the only players in college less than 3 years. Allen was in his third year in college as was Oscar and Keion. Shaedon would count but while he was on the roster he wasn’t on the team that lost to a 15 seed. He also will be a top 10 pick but that’s besides the point. Who are these 6 players?

 

[OmahaCats]

If Wheeler is still our main PG next season we’re toast

Seriously? Yeah All SEC two years in a row is garbage

 

[OmahaCats]

What a horrible opinion. Wheeler is the only guy on the team that pushes the ball. He was top 5 for the Jerry west awsrd, which means he’s very elite,

Completely agree. People who don’t like Wheeler don’t have a clue. He’s not the reason we sucked at the end. Why don’t you blame the other 3 guards who are supposed to be your shooters. Wheeler isn’t a shooter and we already know that. He can score however. And he can push the pace as good as anyone in the country.

we shot 27% from 3 in the last 7 games. Blame your other 3 guards for that

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I’ve got Hopkins and TyTy as the only players in college less than 3 years. Allen was in his third year in college as was Oscar and Keion. Shaedon would count but while he was on the roster he wasn’t on the team that lost to a 15 seed. He also will be a top 10 pick but that’s besides the point. Who are these 6 players?

Six players with eligibility left.

Oscar
Ty Ty
Allen
Sharpe
Brooks
Hopkins

Not technically "underclassmen", but the point is the same. They could all come back but they're not going to.

 

[Crawfords Corner]

Completely agree. People who don’t like Wheeler don’t have a clue. He’s not the reason we sucked at the end. Why don’t you blame the other 3 guards who are supposed to be your shooters. Wheeler isn’t a shooter and we already know that. He can score however. And he can push the pace as good as anyone in the country.

we shot 27% from 3 in the last 7 games. Blame your other 3 guards for that

His stats even bear out that these people have no effing clue. Shooting isn't the only aspect of the game. It's just one. He had a better than 2:1 assist/to ratio

 

[Wildcats1st]

Completely agree. People who don’t like Wheeler don’t have a clue. He’s not the reason we sucked at the end. Why don’t you blame the other 3 guards who are supposed to be your shooters. Wheeler isn’t a shooter and we already know that. He can score however. And he can push the pace as good as anyone in the country.

we shot 27% from 3 in the last 7 games. Blame your other 3 guards for that

No you blame wheeler bc teams can put their attention elsewhere. Wheeler in the half court was attrocious and in the college game there is no way to avoid half court matches. Wheeler in the OT vs St. Peter’s looked like a guy with no clue what to do. He was a junior he has terrible habits can’t shoot and is very small. He’s not going to get better. It’s doesn’t matter if he changes his shot mechanics bc late in games when he’s tired he pushes it barely to the rim. No any uk team with wheeler as our starting pg starts out with a first weekend ceiling imo. Cal cannot win anything wo an elite pg. period. Wheeler is far far from elite.