Milan to UK?

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
42,239
64,308
113
To decide where he wants to go. Does he go to UK for the money or does he take less to go to a school that would have a shot at a National title?
You have guaranteed yourself to be pissy and upset whether he comes or goes. That is fine until we all have to read about it over and over again. Have a new thought. Please.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cole World

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
42,239
64,308
113
They are making beads arts and crafts to sell to raise funds
Maybe true. When people sell houses, they will sometimes open the house for a few days and will keep the offer windows open until the end so they have a bunch of people wondering if they need to go higher before anyone ever acknowledges their offer. When you say you’re taking a few days to decide, you give the bidder time to ruminate and ask themselves whether they have a little more to throw onto the table. If you want the true last best and final offer, it’s one way to attempt to get at that amount.
 

exo6desmo

Senior
Mar 25, 2026
255
454
63
I’ll be at my daughter’s high school graduation and festivities most of the day. Hopefully he commits and signs while I’m busy. I’m hoping to check in later and see that as the top story! LFG Pope pull this one out.
I'll be busy helping Rich Brooks in his tomato garden. I'll probably check back on Monday afternoon to see what's up. If anything.
 

TeamAmerica

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
1,459
5,026
113
You have guaranteed yourself to be pissy and upset whether he comes or goes. That is fine until we all have to read about it over and over again. Have a new thought. Please.
Speaking reality isn't pissy or upset. I'm to old to get upset over a game. The odds for UK to win the Championship was 65-1 a few days ago. Do they have a shot to win? Of Course they do. A 90-1 shot hit at Charleston yesterday so anything can happen.. But most likely they don't.
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,481
99,937
113
He’s been officially out of the draft for a day and a half
That was Wednesday.

Today is Saturday.

Kentucky supposedly already has a deal signed with him.

Even if we get him, why the hesitation?

Because elite players are hesitant to put their trust into Mark Pope, even when a $7 million offer is staring back at them.
 
Last edited:

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
4,246
7,616
113
Everyone has sources. No one names sources. We forget when the sources were wrong. We act like the guy is in-the-know when the source is close or right. If Monday comes and no announcement, then there will be a new source to explain why a little more time is needed.
I don't have "sources", I listen to KSR and watch a few podcasts if they pop up under UK basketball. Aaron Torres is the person I heard say MiMo was still fulfilling contracts and could not commit till Sunday. I have no idea if its true, but I did hear it. I didn't say that to Anon 687865 because he is a 26 account troll, the biggest UK hater on the board
 

Im The Village Idiot

All-Conference
Sep 7, 2025
763
2,211
93
I don't have "sources", I listen to KSR and watch a few podcasts if they pop up under UK basketball. Aaron Torres is the person I heard say MiMo was still fulfilling contracts and could not commit till Sunday. I have no idea if it’s true, but I did hear it. I didn't say that to Anon 687865 because he is a 26 account troll, the biggest UK hater on the board
I think Torres is wrong here. We all heard those things as well, and yes it is true that Milan still had some advertising responsibilities to Iowa State but…

Boosters are losing confidence in Pope because of his inability to close here. Some of them are concluding that the only reason the deal isn’t done is because of Mark Pope — we have the role, the system, the brand and the highest offer by $1M…

Pope better close this or boosters are going to want him gone by midseason….and no, this is not an exaggeration. Momcilovic or it’s over for Pope.

^ These opinions and/or takes did not originate from me btw
 

sefus12

Heisman
Dec 22, 2007
7,148
18,977
103
That was Wednesday.

Today is Saturday.

Kentucky supposedly already has a deal signed with him.

Even if we get him, why the hesitation?

Because elite players are hesitant to put their trust into Mark Pope, even when a $7 million offer is staring back at them.
OR, hear me out, maybe he’s not 100% sure and his agent is doing everything he can to get all the money he can from whatever team MM eventually signs with?
 

Im The Village Idiot

All-Conference
Sep 7, 2025
763
2,211
93
OR, hear me out, maybe he’s not 100% sure and his agent is doing everything he can to get all the money he can from whatever team MM eventually signs with?
We hope that’s the case but there hasn’t even been a draft of a contract on the JMI end. And boosters have grown frustrated with the saga. Things don’t line up with the idea that this was done already.
 

Anon687865

Sophomore
May 25, 2026
184
130
43
I don't have "sources", I listen to KSR and watch a few podcasts if they pop up under UK basketball. Aaron Torres is the person I heard say MiMo was still fulfilling contracts and could not commit till Sunday. I have no idea if its true, but I did hear it. I didn't say that to Anon 687865 because he is a 26 account troll, the biggest UK hater on the board
And you're the biggest Pope slurper on the biatd. Moron
 
  • Like
Reactions: KINGbigblue

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
12,717
19,932
113
Please don't be another Yaxel situation
Hopefully it won't be, but you reminded me that A LOT of great athletes, despite having so and so in their ear telling them "go prove everyone wrong, make the program elite again" in the end really just don't care. On one hand I can see Milan being genuine in like for Pope and what how he can fit in with what Pope's wanting to do....and the other hand going "Meh".
 

0r1c

Junior
Jan 4, 2026
141
313
63
I think Torres is wrong here. We all heard those things as well, and yes it is true that Milan still had some advertising responsibilities to Iowa State but…

Boosters are losing confidence in Pope because of his inability to close here. Some of them are concluding that the only reason the deal isn’t done is because of Mark Pope — we have the role, the system, the brand and the highest offer by $1M…

Pope better close this or boosters are going to want him gone by midseason….and no, this is not an exaggeration. Momcilovic or it’s over for Pope.

^ These opinions and/or takes did not originate from me btw
Aaron Torres said that?
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,481
99,937
113
OR, hear me out, maybe he’s not 100% sure and his agent is doing everything he can to get all the money he can from whatever team MM eventually signs with?
Oh, I'm sure that's the case. But Duke got Blackwell immediately. No negotiation. Just done.

Same for Yessofou and St. John's.

To claim that Pope struggles to close is probably the biggest understatement in the history of our program.

Meanwhile, the "poor state" of Kentucky has a city team that is outspending us at every turn.

Doesn't add up unless one factors in the reality that Mark Pope as a personality is a major turnoff to elite players.

He's weird, and everyone knows it at this point.
 

exo6desmo

Senior
Mar 25, 2026
255
454
63
Oh, I'm sure that's the case. But Duke got Blackwell immediately. No negotiation. Just done.

Same for Yessofou and St. John's.

To claim that Pope struggles to close is probably the biggest understatement in the history of our program.

Meanwhile, the "poor state" of Kentucky has a city team that is outspending us at every turn.

Doesn't add up unless one factors in the reality that Mark Pope as a personality is a major turnoff to elite players.

He's weird, and everyone knows it at this point.
I'll be honest, and I know this will sound bad, but Mormons can seem like strange folks. I've known many and are friends with several. But they do strike folks as being odd. For young black dudes I can really see it. And Pope has the added difficulty of coming off as goofy on top of that.
 

Im The Village Idiot

All-Conference
Sep 7, 2025
763
2,211
93
Aaron Torres said that?
No. Torres speculated it’s already over and that there was Iowa State NIL advertisement obligations remaining and that’s why we are still waiting.

I have zero inside information coz I’m not connected at all — but others who are say this is not done and has not been done.

I will say Rainmaker is confident it has been done as well.

We will find out soon and I hope, for Pope’s sake, that Mom is a Cat.
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,481
99,937
113
No. Torres speculated it’s already over and that there was Iowa State NIL advertisement obligations remaining and that’s why we are still waiting.

I have zero inside information coz I’m not connected at all — but others who are say this is not done and has not been done.

I will say Rainmaker is confident it has been done as well.

We will find out soon and I hope, for Pope’s sake, that Mom is a Cat.
If I won mega millions, I'd consider just swapping teams with St. John's as well as coaches. Keep Moreno, Wilkins, Hawthorne and McBride. Trade the rest of the players straight up and pay out the difference.

G - Wilkins - Ellis
G - Jackson - Ellis
F - Yessoufou - Hawthorne
F - Momci - McBride
C - Moreno - Prey

Pitino wins a title with that group, and it would be worth $30 million to me to see him do it.
 

Cats4321

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2025
960
2,765
93
"I'm hearing" that no one knows what the decision will be...including the Kentucky coaching staff. I'm also hearing that these insiders and experts are just making stuff up. How could they possibly know anything if the Kentucky staff likely doesn't even know? That's what my "sources close to the program" are saying.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TFCat11

Im The Village Idiot

All-Conference
Sep 7, 2025
763
2,211
93
They don’t even have a draft of a contract yet? How is that even possible?
Take it with a grain of salt. The person who said it has a long track record of accuracy and is plugged in on the JMI side. But still could be wrong, ultimately.

The only thing it would mean to me is this thing is absolutely not done. Some will say “it’s only been 72 hours since he withdrew from the draft” and that is true — but we have been here before with the “UK is a lock. This is done” and a few days later we get radio silence and then “things changed.”

Pope needs to lock it down.
 

senonesy

All-American
Nov 30, 2017
4,160
8,477
113
Oh, I'm sure that's the case. But Duke got Blackwell immediately. No negotiation. Just done.

Same for Yessofou and St. John's.

To claim that Pope struggles to close is probably the biggest understatement in the history of our program.

Meanwhile, the "poor state" of Kentucky has a city team that is outspending us at every turn.

Doesn't add up unless one factors in the reality that Mark Pope as a personality is a major turnoff to elite players.

He's weird, and everyone knows it at this point.
What do you mean there were no negotiations for Blackwell? Of course there was. You think Duke just said come and play for us and we will figure out later what we’ll pay you? I am sure his agent was taking bids from other teams. No different than this one, but we are sitting here analyzing every tweet/article/post on Milan.
 

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
4,246
7,616
113
If I won mega millions, I'd consider just swapping teams with St. John's as well as coaches. Keep Moreno, Wilkins, Hawthorne and McBride. Trade the rest of the players straight up and pay out the difference.

G - Wilkins - Ellis
G - Jackson - Ellis
F - Yessoufou - Hawthorne
F - Momci - McBride
C - Moreno - Prey

Pitino wins a title with that group, and it would be worth $30 million to me to see him do it.
Why? Pope kicked their *** with last years team...this team will be much better
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,481
99,937
113
What do you mean there were no negotiations for Blackwell? Of course there was. You think Duke just said come and play for us and we will figure out later what we’ll pay you? I am sure his agent was taking bids from other teams. No different than this one, but we are sitting here analyzing every tweet/article/post on Milan.
What I mean is that he didn't hesitate once he withdrew from the draft. He didn't fight for leverage or ask for more than they originally agreed on. He could have, but he didn't.

And why single him out when you ignored the point about Tounde's near immediate commitment to St. John's? Why does that seem to happen for virtually every elite program, but Kentucky has to go through a "process?" Collins, Stokes, Wright, Wilkerson, Wilson, etc. These were all guys we supposedly led on. All of them negotiated their way right out of committing to Kentucky.

The point is that UK seems like one of the few elite programs out there that has to go through the 11th hour deep negotiation process every time when it comes to primary targets.
 

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,481
99,937
113
Why? Pope kicked their *** with last years team...this team will be much better
Great logic!

And Pope got waxed by Nate Oats every time they've met up. Do you think Oats is a better coach than Pope, when he's won by 5 points, 13, 15, and 29 points for an average of 15.5 points per win?

Pitino is the better coach. Pope got the best of him last year. That doesn't mean squat when it comes to the overall abilities of both of these men.
 

The Ganner

Senior
Nov 21, 2009
309
832
93
I think Torres is wrong here. We all heard those things as well, and yes it is true that Milan still had some advertising responsibilities to Iowa State but…

Boosters are losing confidence in Pope because of his inability to close here. Some of them are concluding that the only reason the deal isn’t done is because of Mark Pope — we have the role, the system, the brand and the highest offer by $1M…

Pope better close this or boosters are going to want him gone by midseason….and no, this is not an exaggeration. Momcilovic or it’s over for Pope.

^ These opinions and/or takes did not originate from me btw
I can certainly believe it. I mean, as bad as it has already been, this fanbase is going to absolutely erupt if Pope fails here.
 

TFCat11

Heisman
Mar 25, 2019
6,244
11,482
108
No. Torres speculated it’s already over and that there was Iowa State NIL advertisement obligations remaining and that’s why we are still waiting.

I have zero inside information coz I’m not connected at all — but others who are say this is not done and has not been done.

I will say Rainmaker is confident it has been done as well.

We will find out soon and I hope, for Pope’s sake, that Mom is a Cat.
I want to give you some much deserved credit, you held a position on Pope for the longest time, but as new and increasingly ample data came in, you adjusted your stance on him accordingly, just like any reasonable person should do.

That’s a lot more than I can say for many posters on here who have their heels firmly planted in the, “Pope does no wrong” side of the argument…

I had almost given up on you being a reasonable man, but lately you have definitely earned much respect 👊🏻