With a good PG Aberdeen prob is a fine 2G . He would even be better with another years experience .
BB: KSR - Ryan believes only 3 returnees
- Thread starter TheResistance
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Aberdeen is a senior, he can’t come back
true I'd guess , unless he hits portal gold. I think it's pretty important to finish this season well and not a big egg vs SC or get blown by ISU.
Would love to pick Pope's brain on his actual thoughts on each player seeing that Pope has alluded to team chemistry with this team. Who or what was the cause of the chemistry issue(s)? Those answers will go a long way in determining who he wants back.
I hope Kam comes back.
If only 3 are coming back and we have no recruits next year, it is not looking good for Pope. Year 3 may be the worst year under UK basketball.
Again this is Ryan's opinion not as fact, so it could be, it could be 1, it could be 7. We won't know until the season is over.
I think there will be 6 back: Chandler, Hawthorne, Lowe, Williams and Moreno and Noah. I think Potter is back but I don't count him because he didn't play.
I honestly, have no idea what will happen at the end of the season. All I know is that the trajectory for Pope's third year is abysmal as of now.
Again this is Ryan's opinion not as fact, so it could be, it could be 1, it could be 7. We won't know until the season is over.
I think there will be 6 back: Chandler, Hawthorne, Lowe, Williams and Moreno and Noah. I think Potter is back but I don't count him because he didn't play.
I honestly, have no idea what will happen at the end of the season. All I know is that the trajectory for Pope's third year is abysmal as of now.
I’m good with Hawthorne, Noah, Williams, Johnson, Lowe as a backup back as well. The more continuity the better as long as we add some legit stars at the 1,3, and 4 spots
The problem is if we overpaid for some of our current players, do you just dismiss them from the team. That seems like a slippery slope. I think Jelavic, Chandler, Hawthorne, Moreno, Lowe and Noah are back. We need a go-to scorer, another point guard or two and a stretch 4 badly. I am a big fan of a tight 8 man rotation. But those 8 players all have to be solid players that we don’t have a huge drop off when the subs come in.
I mean, most of this team looks as miserable as possible, and I would imagine most would have to agree to a pay cut to return. So it's not exactly hard to understand.
Personally, I don't want kids who don't want to be here. Its been proven year in year out that the teams winning National Championships are not the clubs with the highest priced rosters or most mcdonalds all americans. Go get the right coach and recruiters, support them, and get the Hell out of their way. Don't expect Final Fours to start rolling in no matter who is here next season. It takes time to build a championship team
Not sure why so many here are so set on chandler. he is not a starting 2 guard on a top 10 team. he would be coming off the bench for the vast majority of top 20 teams and only starts for us because we aren't any good. he's a spot up shooter that is bad at defense and can't create his own shot. and there are better spot up shooters out there. we can't be a top 10 team and compete for a championship with any of this years players except Moreno. the problem is we have no recruits and Pope has proven to be bad at building a team. Bad times ahead guys,
I hope Chandler leaves. If he stays, Pope will start him and he's not a starting level 2G in the SEC.
Pope has really no professional choice but to blow it up and start from almost scratch.
I could see Hawthorne, Chandler, and Moreno being the 3… but… honestly, all 3 are traditionally UK reserve types, so Pope is going to have to go the nuclear option in the portal, especially if Stokes goes to the rug doctor.
I could see Hawthorne, Chandler, and Moreno being the 3… but… honestly, all 3 are traditionally UK reserve types, so Pope is going to have to go the nuclear option in the portal, especially if Stokes goes to the rug doctor.
You're correct most aren't UK caliber players that's for sure.
Chandler can be streaky, but the dude can sure come up in the clutch. I never hope a guy like that leaves...
What I think is always the same: Why would we want someone to return that has expressed that he doesn't want to ??
If the jersey does not bind them, they should go elsewhere. They only get to do this college ball thing one time. It's their gig ... live it !!
Additionally, I cannot help but wonder what playing with a Multi-Million dollar Freshman does to team chemistry ??
SIDE QUESTION: Are Dickinson, Broome, Tshiebwe and Bacot currently on NBA rosters ?? Just curious ...
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If Lowe is the PG1 next season, regardless of who else Pope brings in, Pope is toast… Sorry, not sorry, Lowe is literally that bad, as a UK level PG.
JJ is the perfect fit. It’s mark pope that isn’t the fit. If the consternation is that high Moreno won’t be back eitherWe already know that we have a few bad apples in the bunch, now when they leave will the rest leave or stay is the question.
I think more stay then we think
Moreno - we need him to return
Chandler - can’t lose him
Lowe - Pope will keep
BG - Where else would he go? Stuck with him
Hawthorne - Already coming back
Potter - hopefully new team manager
Jelly - could leave
Noah - making money, he isn’t leaving
Williams - could draw attention in portal might leave
Mo - wants to start and will transfer
JJ - Just not the right fit, will transfer
JQ - Might never return to the State again
DA - Gone
OO - Gone
I don’t understand this. How can people say they don’t want Williams back. Yes he struggled with his shooting at the beginning of the season. Before he got hurt, he was really coming on. Also, he never let his poor shooting affect his defense. He was the best defender on the team all year long. I would take Williams back in a heartbeat.
The fewer players that return from this team, the better. Only player I would want back is Malachi. Give Hawthorne a shot, sure. If this team had a different coach, I would want Jasper back, but Pope won't develop Jasper properly, so he'll be better off elsewhere.
At this point, anyone including Ryan can guess. No one has any clue whatsoever.
Alan Cutler just said on his show that Larry Vaught spoke with Lowe's father and Lowe's father said that Kentucky has not asked him to come back yet.tifiw
Perhaps this means Pope is already looking hard at another PG that he thinks is better. ????
Chandler would be deadly if he had multiple playmaker around him and other players that can knock down shots. He’s a knockdown shooter not a playmaker. Unfortunately this year he was forced into a role that he really doesn’t fit into.
Jelavic is the only other one I would consider and maybe Potter just to have a ky kid.
Sign 5 or 6 top transfers and be done
I do not think he is either ... not on the kind of high-level team that everyone wants to see us have. Clearly, he can help at only 10-15 mins per game.
In today’s era? i will always start with nil/money and go from there.
If he wants to keep his job, he better be.
I’m not really seeing it. I don’t see how he’s that much worse than a freshman or sophomore Doron Lamb. If we have multiple playmakers he’s a deadeye shooter, athletic, and a good passer. I agree he can’t be even one of your three best players but otherwise I think he’s more than enough personally.
Definitely want back:
Chandler, Moreno, Kam
Might want back, situationally:
MoD
One of Garrison, Jelavic
Lowe as a backup for two great ball handlers
wish tremendous success in their new home:
Noah, JJ
Chandler, Moreno, Kam
Might want back, situationally:
MoD
One of Garrison, Jelavic
Lowe as a backup for two great ball handlers
wish tremendous success in their new home:
Noah, JJ
There was no 22 million dollar team. I would be shocked if they spent half that much.
If that system/coach includes visiting the weight room at least once. Dude looked like a physically weak child playing against grown men all season.
Either way this program has no idea what the hell it's doing