Milan to UK?

ZaytovenCat

All-American
Apr 25, 2013
24,090
8,897
97
Yeah, but who is closer to reality? Almost everyone who is pulling for Pope to put a good product on the floor this winter was on board with letting him go after the season. But while some folks have destroyed Pope for a couple of months straight, saying he should be fired for recruiting, reality is I think he has a solid team, and if he lands Momcilovic, will have a top 10ish caliber team, so who is really more blinded?
I think even with Milan it’s a top 15ish team at best but most likely a 10-12 loss team who is fringe top 25. The roster is flawed. It’s best asset is the backcourt which features two guys that both need the ball in their hands to be effective. That means there’s a good chance that atleast one of Zoom or Wilkins won’t have the year we hope they do. Even worse, it throws them both off and they both have years that are worse than expected.

I just think currently the team is no better top to bottom than this past years team. Milan would make them somewhere between Popes first two teams and that’s just not remotely good enough. Not in year 3.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Anon1773113393

Threedognight

Sophomore
May 26, 2026
137
197
43
I think even with Milan it’s a top 15ish team at best but most likely a 10-12 loss team who is fringe top 25. The roster is flawed. It’s best asset is the backcourt which features two guys that both need the ball in their hands to be effective. That means there’s a good chance that atleast one of Zoom or Wilkins won’t have the year we hope they do. Even worse, it throws them both off and they both have years that are worse than expected.

I just think currently the team is no better top to bottom than this past years team. Milan would make them somewhere between Popes first two teams and that’s just not remotely good enough. Not in year 3.
When I think about are we better this year than last year I remember that Denzel Aberdeen was the starting pg for 2/3rd of the year and I sigh a bit of relief.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Anon1773113393

TFCat11

Heisman
Mar 25, 2019
6,244
11,482
108
Damn, Pope about to have his lunch money stolen again by another coach!

If there a high major coach, that HASN’T pulled Pope’s undies over his head in embarrassing fashion yet?

This has surpassed cringe territory about 10 recruits ago 🤮
 

NoJuice

Freshman
May 27, 2026
74
87
18
Damn, Pope about to have his lunch money stolen again by another coach!

If there a high major coach, that HASN’T pulled Pope’s undies over his head in embarrassing fashion yet?

This has surpassed cringe territory about 10 recruits ago 🤮
Na man year three will have some kind of excuse for 15 losses. He'll be here year four ready for vengeance....
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,481
99,937
113
He's the type of player who will reveal what Pope is really made of. Pope would have a team that fits his system, with multiple elite shooters in Kam, Momci, Morton, N'Diaye, McBride, and maybe even Wilkins (people forget he was just a freshman last year). Then you have two elite play makers and an NBA level center.

No room for excuses next year. Get it done, Pope, or get done.
 

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
19,999
35,212
113
So…what’s his price tag? 7-9 mil? Would you pay that much?

We aren't paying it so sure. Pope is a desperate coach so he needs Mom to make a sweet 16 and get another year on his deal.

I think a sweet 16 gets him a year 4 as long as the loss is competitive. He cant get blown out 3 years in a row n ncaa loss.

Im not sure if Mom means more than a sweet 16. Will depend on matchups and luck factor if game is closed.

Im not saying I think he should get a 4 year if we lose a close on sweet 16. Im just saying wouldn't surprise me.
 

FitchandMurray29

All-American
Dec 11, 2021
2,736
5,774
61
The two teams I’ve seen on my feed this morning have been Arizona and Texas Tech.

I’m not convinced Milan will want to go against Iowa St(assuming money is equal) next year. Arizona hosted ISU last year so presumably they will go to Hilton this year.
 

KYFOSSIL

Heisman
Jan 13, 2005
8,198
11,133
62
That Twitter account that said we are the favorite is just a Kentucky homer. An irrational one. Basically the Rainman or UKCowboy of Twitter.
Actually, several people are saying we've been considered the favorite for a week or two if he pulled out the draft.
 

NikePrefersDuke

Redshirt
May 15, 2026
37
38
18
Most over hyped player I can remember in some time. Great shooter though. I can't see this dude being great in the sec. He can't put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket, strictly jump shots. You have to be able to get a shooter a shot .
100% agree. He would get exposed in the SEC. That is why I see him taking less NIL to go somewhere else. Kentucky doesn’t have enough talent to protect him from a brutal SEC schedule.

He will be forced to fight through a lot of hand-checks, elbows and shoulder bumps to just to get off a highly-contested 3-pointer. His 3-point % will crater and he can’t create his own shot.

I see him at Arizona.
 
  • Like
Reactions: #1 cat fan

Timmy2Dads

Freshman
Jul 26, 2021
20
73
13
Seriously who is better than us if we get "Milan"? I have to think we're preseason #1 or #2.
Easily #1 in d1. Not really sure how thats even a question????

I think with Milan UK would even contend for a top 10 NBA roster.

The looney tunes monstars come to life
 

NikePrefersDuke

Redshirt
May 15, 2026
37
38
18
Apparently you missed he part where Kentucky has 2 driving guards with killer mid range. . Why does he need to put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket? He needs to sit at the three point line and set screens and make a big sit out with him. And if that big even thinks about leaving him to sag. It’s an 3 bucket. If he doesn’t sag it’s a layup for guard or a lob to Malachi when help rotates. That’s gonna be his entire role and I wish a mfr would play zone with him and Kam on the floor.
You are describing this imaginary world where Momcilovic just stands still, gets wide‑open threes, and never has to dribble or defend. SEC defenses aren’t giving him clean looks, and he’s not surviving 18 games of hand‑checks, bumps, and switches without his efficiency falling off a cliff.

This fantasy role for him only works in theory. In practice, he’d get run off the line, worn down physically, and forced into the exact situations he struggles with. That’s why he won’t pick Kentucky.
 

The Ganner

Senior
Nov 21, 2009
309
832
93
You are describing this imaginary world where Momcilovic just stands still, gets wide‑open threes, and never has to dribble or defend. SEC defenses aren’t giving him clean looks, and he’s not surviving 18 games of hand‑checks, bumps, and switches without his efficiency falling off a cliff.

This fantasy role for him only works in theory. In practice, he’d get run off the line, worn down physically, and forced into the exact situations he struggles with. That’s why he won’t pick Kentucky.
Koby Brea says hello
 

NikePrefersDuke

Redshirt
May 15, 2026
37
38
18
When I think about are we better this year than last year I remember that Denzel Aberdeen was the starting pg for 2/3rd of the year and I sigh a bit of relief.
You do realize that Pope recruited two “Denzel Aberdeen’s” and expects them to play well together. When Mom takes a close look at this team in the brutal SEC…he will take a pay cut and save his career.

Unfortunately he would kill in the ACC on that Louisville team. But I think AZ will offer more NIL.
 

The Ganner

Senior
Nov 21, 2009
309
832
93
You do realize that Pope recruited two “Denzel Aberdeen’s” and expects them to play well together. When Mom takes a close look at this team in the brutal SEC…he will take a pay cut and save his career.
False. Aberdeen had 3 years of college experience in which he'd never been a PG or demonstrated skill as a facilitator, and had to learn on the job. Diallo and Wilkins were primary facilitators on their teams.
 

kfwa

Senior
Oct 12, 2014
531
991
93
given the pressure on Pope, I can see him just emptying out the bank to get MM, giving him a legitimate team that is a contender, knowing that if he doesn't have that kind of team, it might very well be his last year at UK. To add to that, he is also, along with many other coaches, hoping congress steps in and puts transfer limits and caps on this NIL /Revenue thing so UK can gain back some leverage its lost.

The pressure will also be on MM. You pay a guy that kind of money and he has 2-3 games of underperforming and people are going to be up in arms.