Roster construction

[kyjeff1]

Do you think there is any truth to the Dinka Pate rumors? I would prefer someone like him to HS recruit.

I would love to get that guy. See my reply in post 42. That's a heck of a backcourt.
I should probably stop talking about Haggerty, the chances of us getting him might not be good and I don't want anyone thinking he's the guy. But Pope should try to get him, or someone as good.

 

[gbl97]

We need more talent and ability.

This. We need a couple guys who can go make plays that no one on the opponent's team can. See Philon, Hubbard, Acuff, Ament, etc... Some dudes can go get a bucket no matter how good the defense is. We haven't had one of these since Cal left.

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

Where did I compare Lowe to the 4th guy off the bench? I didn't compare him to anybody.

We need more than 1 pg and what's not fair here, is Lowe never got the chance to develop, he was injured the whole time. Just look at DA, he was terrible until mid January, look at him now. Shouldn't Lowe get that same respect? Lowe is getting surgery, he'll be fine next year, but he can’t be our only pg.

And just because Florida won it with Clayton at the 1, doesn't mean that's the only way. We won a title with Marquise Teague running the point and went to 2 final 4's with Andrew Harrison. You need shooters but they don't HAVE to point guards.

I don't get the love affair with Trent Noah. He’s a glorified walk on and going into next year, if Pope is serious about winning, he can't bring Garrison and Noah back and he can’t try to spread the wealth between 15 guys and since it looks like 9 guys are returning, you have to either get rid of Noah, or make him a very limited spot player. He’s not good enough to be a regular rotation piece.

If the consensus is that Lowe is not good enough, fine, I have no problem with that, send him down the road. Doesn't matter to me, but whoever Pope brings in, won't be a plug-and-play guy. At least Lowe has been a part of the system and knows what we do.

I agree except with Noah. Why wouldn’t you bring him back? A JR/SR Noah would be great to have on the bench. Doesn’t have to be a big role but if he gets that, why wouldn’t you want that on your team?

 

[TFCat11]

Roster construction? We talking about roster construction? Those that have been paying attention, knows what the roster construction is going to look like…

Whatever it will be, will be without a single HS 5* stud, and zero top tier portal transfers! We all know this, why are we playing pretend and talking about dudes like Haggarty?

Pope has not, and will not out work the other major programs for a recruit! Kinney, Crowe, and Stokes is all you need to see to understand this!

Just move the finish line further down the track, and when you reach it, just move it again, and again, and again… That’s some fans mindset with Pope, the never ending cycle of wait and see.

 

[davtay]

Roster construction? We talking about roster construction? Those that have been paying attention, knows what the roster construction is going to look like…

Whatever it will be, will be without a single HS 5* stud, and zero top tier portal transfers! We all know this, why are we playing pretend and talking about dudes like Haggarty?

Pope has not, and will not out work the other major programs for a recruit! Kinney, Crowe, and Stokes is all you need to see to understand this!

Just move the finish line further down the track, and when you reach it, just move it again, and again, and again… That’s some fans mindset with Pope, the never ending cycle of wait and see.

Gotta admit, you are always consistent. 100% negative no matter the coach, record, team, or subject.

 

[Agent Redbone]

No doubt, everyone is ready to pounce on everytning they don't agree with.

True, and that makes reading and posting less enjoyable. I come here because I love the Cats and I look to hear different perspectives discussed. Not fun reading the personal attacks and arguments.

 

[kyjeff1]

I agree except with Noah. Why wouldn’t you bring him back? A JR/SR Noah would be great to have on the bench. Doesn’t have to be a big role but if he gets that, why wouldn’t you want that on your team?

Too many players. With Noah, we would be returning 9 players, not including Garrison.

I think we all agree we need another pg, another center and another backcourt shooter. That's already too many mouths to feed and I think we're all done seeing Pope swapping lineups in and out every 2 minutes. That absolutely does not work. Settle on your best 5 and 3 or 4 bench guys. 5 at the absolute most.

 

[MegaBlue05]

A lot of outstanding unemployed coaches and recruiting gurus in this thread. Some even know the future!

 

[davtay]

True, and that makes reading and posting less enjoyable. I come here because I love the Cats and I look to hear different perspectives discussed. Not fun reading the personal attacks and arguments.

Especially the ones that have no bearing on anything. Like coach's religion. Whether he is soft. That kind of thing is the worst.

 

[kywildcat1021979]

Gotta admit, you are always consistent. 100% negative no matter the coach, record, team, or subject.

He's not wrong we have 0 committed recruits for next year. This year Pope couldn't get any top transfer recruits he had to settle for 3rd or 4th string at any of the positions ( then he over paid to get them). I mean there really isn't nothing here that makes anyone think that he's going to be able to get the top recruits or the top portal players he hasn't been able too yet and year 2 is about up. I honestly want Pope to succeed but if he can't get the any of the top talent in high school or the portal UK isn't the school he needs to be coaching at.

 

[davtay]

He's not wrong we have 0 committed recruits for next year. This year Pope couldn't get any top transfer recruits he had to settle for 3rd or 4th string at any of the positions ( then he over paid to get them). I mean there really isn't nothing here that makes anyone think that he's going to be able to get the top recruits or the top portal players he hasn't been able too yet and year 2 is about up. I honestly want Pope to succeed but if he can't get the any of the top talent in high school or the portal UK isn't the school he needs to be coaching at.

Believe me, he is wrong. In a lot of ways. He has been this way for years. Portal season hasn't even began yet. One doesn't have to throw in the towel already. Lot of time before next season. But, I'm not telling anyone how to "fan", just don't understand when fans bail before season and transfer portal is even over.

But TFCat, he is never positive. Ever. Not just under Pope either. He is his own personal raincloud.

 

[TotheMoon88]

I agree.

Btw, love the "break glass in case of emergency" analogy.

It’s the nicest way I knew how to put it lol

 

[Anony Moose]

Well, who do you drop besides Garrison?
JJ is going to be special, maybe not in 26/27, but eventually he is going to be great.
Do you drop Chandler? Moreno? Kam? Lowe? Jelevic?
I know most will say Lowe, but if you add another strong pg, you make Lowe compete for that spot.
Honestly, besides Lowe, the rest would be a really good core, but we need more star power than just Moreno.

Umm..you realize the players decide their future, not UK or Pope.

JJ has played limited minutes and looked miserable quite often. He will have plenty of suitors.

Kam played sparingly multiple points in the season and didn't look too happy. Again, he will have several suitors.

Lowe no one wants and would have to be willing to be a back-up. He's also coming back off injury and surgey.

Jelly was in the doghouse for a while and only recently seemed to find his way out. That of course may have been strictly out of necessity. Another play with likely options.

 

[Monday Nitro]

Believe me, he is wrong. In a lot of ways. He has been this way for years. Portal season hasn't even began yet. One doesn't have to throw in the towel already. Lot of time before next season. But, I'm not telling anyone how to "fan", just don't understand when fans bail before season and transfer portal is even over.

But TFCat, he is never positive. Ever. Not just under Pope either. He is his own personal raincloud.

He's another one that 100% trolls and thinks irritating others is "funny". Sad people.

 

[UKCowboys]

What’s this stupidity? You want Pope to fail. We got it the first 11,260 times. Touch grass and date a girl.

No one else should ever get banned while this UNC fan is allowed to

 

[UKCowboys]

We have up to 9 guys returning next year (not counting Garrison, because I hope he goes elsewhere) .

-Chandler
-Noah
-Moreno
-Kam
-Lowe
-Jelavic
-Johnson
-2 redshirt guys

So, given that, how many guys do we want to have on the roster?
Would you take a PJ Haggerty, that averages 23ppg, or would you rather roll the dice on a freshman?
I don't know what high school centers there are, haven't heard of any, but we're going to need a guy behind Moreno. I would rather get that guy from the portal.
Probably need another Mo D, you don't usually find those guys in high school.
So, yeah, if Pope can grab Stokes, that would be awesome, but to me, it doesn't look like we will need very many pieces.

2-3 tops

 

[UKCowboys]

If we run with that team and whatever clunkers Pope pulls from the portal, we are going to get absolutely humiliated....again!

No one who is literate is absolutely humiliated by a team that lost half its roster and still battles hard

 

[Anony Moose]

No one who is literate is absolutely humiliated by a team that lost half its roster and still battles hard

Half it's roster? Battles hard?

 

[kyjeff1]

Okay, so here are the guys that could return next year. What's everyone's take on who Pope should kick to the curb and what should he be looking for to complete the roster? When I say "who", I mean a description of the type of guy we want to see in a particular position:

Lowe
Johnson
Kam Williams
Chandler
Mo D
Jelavic
Moreno
Noah
Hawthorn
Potter
Garrison

That’s 11 guys, which is already too many. We can agree that this is not a title winming roster, so, what do you do here?

A lot of you guys are pissed at Pope over recruiting, but by the looks of it, Pope would be compounding the problem by flooding the roster with more kids.

To me, you get rid of Noah and Garrison. You can't tell Pope he needs to get rid of guys that aren't good enough, then hang on to Noah. We already have too many players.

I don't know crap about Potter & Hawthorn, but there's a reason they were red shirted. Given the circumstances, they may need to go.

I would move BG and Noah out for sure.
Bring the rest back

Add a Dink Pate type pg
Add a PJ Haggerty type sg
Add another big man

If you get rid of Noah, Potter, Hawthorn and BG, then add three, you're at 10 guys. I think that's already too many.

I feel like we need a star in the front court (Moreno) and a star in the backcourt (PJ Haggerty type guy). When you look at guys like Chandler, Kam and JJ, those are excellent pieces to surround your stars with.

Chandler will be a Koby Brea type guy, Kam is a stretch 4 that is a real matchup problem and JJ is going to eventually be a legit star. I truly believe that.

I know Mo D can’t shoot, but you have to have him just for his toughness and grit.

I'm not an expert talent evaluator and this is just my opinion, so if you guys feel JJ and Lowe need to go, that's cool, I disagree, but I won't argue with you.

I know most will bark at me for saying to send Noah packing, but the truth is, he's not good enough to "adhere to Kentucky's standards" and we have too many players.

 

[Cats_2010]

I simply listed the guys in line to return. Not sure if you realize this, but I don't get to make the decisions on who stays and goes

But you ended with the following: So, yeah, if Pope can grab Stokes, that would be awesome, but to me, it doesn't look like we will need very many pieces.

 

[kyjeff1]

Umm..you realize the players decide their future, not UK or Pope.

JJ has played limited minutes and looked miserable quite often. He will have plenty of suitors.

Kam played sparingly multiple points in the season and didn't look too happy. Again, he will have several suitors.

Lowe no one wants and would have to be willing to be a back-up. He's also coming back off injury and surgey.

Jelly was in the doghouse for a while and only recently seemed to find his way out. That of course may have been strictly out of necessity. Another play with likely options.

No sh*t, this is assuming guys don't transfer. If Johnson transfers, fill that spot with a better player, this isn’t rocket surgery.

I get it, you think everyone is unhappy and is going to transfer blah, blah, blah, but you have nothing to back that up.

To me, none of these players look unhappy and they all have had plenty of opportunities to show what they can do. If they leave, fine, go to the portal and find a better player.
#NoGotchaMoment4You!

 

[Anony Moose]

No sh*t, this is assuming guys don't transfer. If Johnson transfers, fill that spot with a better player, this isn’t rocket surgery.

I get it, you think everyone is unhappy and is going to transfer blah, blah, blah, but you have nothing to back that up.

To me, none of these players look unhappy and they all have had plenty of opportunities to show what they can do. If they leave, fine, go to the portal and find a better player.
#NoGotchaMoment4You!

Lol, fill with a more talented player? A lot easier said than done for this staff.

Nah, I think at least some return, but you're kidding yourself if you don't think several will transfer. Particularly when good players getting plenty of run still transfer by the hundreds each year.

Lol, okay Helen Keller.

Lol, better players....

 

[kyjeff1]

But you ended with the following: So, yeah, if Pope can grab Stokes, that would be awesome, but to me, it doesn't look like we will need very many pieces.

Okay, so what's the issue? I gave my opinion.

I mean, I literally said the phrase "but to me… ." that literally means "in my opinion".

This is a weird place.

 

[Kyhoward1]

True, and that makes reading and posting less enjoyable. I come here because I love the Cats and I look to hear different perspectives discussed. Not fun reading the personal attacks and arguments.

Agree completely Redbone!
Let’s talk basketball - like you I enjoy other folk’s perspectives and differing opinions. I am just using my ignore button whenever someone attacks another poster - does not have to be me, but any poster. Name calling and disgusting language is not necessary. GBB!

 

[Ridinwithpope]

People keep saying we are so far away from Kentucky not being good next year with Popes recruiting. So far from the truth. If Lowe stays, get one pg… if he leaves.. get two. One of those point guards need to be able to shoot the ball. Keep Jasper. Let kam get confidence and bring him back. Year 2 of jelly would be really nice as he continues his confidence. He is already a way better player now than when he started. Let Chandler be your
Koby Brea. Let Malachi be an all sec center. Get a Lamar Wilkerson type shooter to compliment kam and jelly from 3. Let bg go and get a big who can rebound like crazy. Keep mo for heart and identity. Develop Hawthorne as a stretch 3 behind kam and potter be your third center. With 3 maybe 4 portal additions depending on the Lowe situation.. you have a great team. One that I think could fight for a final four.

 

[Ridinwithpope]

People also keep saying you can’t build from the portal.. where do you think the number one team in Michigan built their team?

 

[Anon1751335390]

I tend to think we need a competent big to play the 4 as much as we need a primary ball handler if the returning core will be Moreno, Chandler, Williams, and JJ and/or another guard.

 

[megablue]

People also keep saying you can’t build from the portal.. where do you think the number one team in Michigan built their team?

All coaches are paid big money to recruit players that can help them win games. They have a staff.
It is their job to figure out the best way to fill their rosters. Obviously, some are better at doing this than others. The most successful coaches, sone how, some way, have figured out how to do it.

 

[Anon1751335390]

People also keep saying you can’t build from the portal.. where do you think the number one team in Michigan built their team?

Yeah it’s about getting together a group of very good players. Doesn’t matter where they come from.

With the advent of the portal and NIL, “recruiting class” needs to expand. Every player in college basketball is a free agent. There are little barriers to player movement. Potential returning players need to be convinced to return.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Lowe
Johnson
Kam Williams
Chandler
Mo D
Jelavic
Moreno
Noah
Hawthorn
Potter
Garrison

I'm not sure that I agree that returning all those players is less than championship caliber. If we wind up a 6/7 seed and then you return all of those players, I'd expect a likely top 5 team next season. I have a little more faith in some of these players than many, which I can acknowledge.

Jaland Lowe - Preference is to bring him back.

Projected Role: Secondary Star

- Ceiling - SEC Player of the Year
- Floor - High Quality Starter
- Median - 2nd Team All-SEC

- Strengths
+ Speed / Agility
+ Playmaking / Ballhandling
+ Slashing / Finishing
+ Midrange / Shot Creation

- Weaknesses
+ Inconsistent Perimeter Shooting
+ Poor Defender
+ Injury Concerns

Jasper Johnson - Preference is to let him walk. However, assuming he comes back:

Projected Role: Sixth Man

- Ceiling - High Quality Starter
- Floor - Rotation Piece
- Median - Sixth Man

- Strengths
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Shot Creation

- Weaknesses
+ Poor Defender
+ Poor Slashing
+ Playmaking

Kam Williams - Preference is to bring him back - All-in / High Priority returnee

Projected Role: High Quality Starter

- Ceiling - 1st Team All-SEC
- Floor - Sixth Man
- Median - High Quality Starter

- Strengths
+ Defensive Versatility
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Cutting

- Weaknesses
+ Consistency
+ Injury Concerns

Collin Chandler - Preference is to bring him back - All-in / High Priority returnee

Projected Role: Tertiary Star

- Ceiling - 1st Team All-SEC
- Floor - High Quality Starter
- Median - 2nd Team All-SEC

- Strengths
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Athleticism
+ Intangibles / Clutch
+ On-ball Defensive Upside
+ Passing

- Weaknesses
+ Off-ball Defense
+ Ball Handling
+ Consistency

Mo Dioubate - Preference is to let him walk. However, assuming he comes back:

Projected Role: Mid-Level Starter

- Ceiling: High Quality Starter
- Floor: High Quality Rotation
- Median: Mid-Level Starter

- Strengths
+ Defensive Versatility
+ Rebounding
+ Effort/Motor

- Weaknesses
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Ball Handling
+ Size/Measurables

Andrija Jelavic - Preference is to let him walk. However, assuming he comes back:

Projected Role: Mid-Level Starter

- Ceiling: 2nd Team All-SEC
- Floor: Rotation
- Median: Mid-Level Starter

- Strengths
+ Perimeter Shooting Form/Spacing
+ Defensive Rebounding
+ Untapped Potential

- Weaknesses
+ Physicality
+ Motor
+ Consistency

Malachi Moreno - Preference is to bring him back - All-in / High Priority returnee

Projected Role: Primary Star

- Ceiling: 1st Team All-American
- Floor: High Quality Starter
- Median: 1st Team All-SEC

- Strengths
+ Rebounding
+ Playmaking
+ Interior Defense
+ Motor
+ Inside Scoring

- Weaknesses
+ Perimeter Scoring
+ Lateral Quickness

Trent Noah - Preference is to bring him back / Offer should be within reason

Projected Role: Quality Reserve

- Ceiling: Low-Level Starter
- Floor: High Quality Reserve (Non-Rotation)
- Median: Back-end Rotation

- Strengths
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Effort
+ Role Acceptance

- Weaknesses
+ Athleticism
+ Defense
+ Inside Scoring/Slashing
+ Playmaking

Braydon Hawthorne - Preference is to bring him back / Offer should be within reason

Projected Role: High Quality Rotation

- Ceiling: High Quality Starter
- Floor: High Quality Reserve (Non-Rotation)
- Median: High Quality Rotation

- Strengths
+ Wingspan/Height/Measurables
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Untapped Potential

- Weaknesses
+ Weight
+ Physicality
+ Unproven

Reece Potter - Preference is to bring him back / Offer should be within reason

Projected Role: High Quality Reserve (Non-Rotation)

- Ceiling: Mid-Level Rotation
- Floor: Mid-Level Reserve (Non-Rotation)
- Median: High Quality Reserve (Non-Rotation)

- Strengths
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Passing
+ Role Acceptance
+ Height

- Weaknesses
+ Athleticism
+ Defense
+ Inside Scoring

Brandon Garrison - Preference is to let him walk. However, assuming he comes back:

Projected Role: High Quality Rotation

Ceiling: 2nd Team All-SEC
Floor: High Quality Rotation
Median: High Quality Rotation

- Strengths
+ Defensive Versatility
+ Pick and Roll Finishing
+ Untapped Potential

- Weaknesses
+ Motor and character concerns
+ Inside Scoring
+ Shot Selection
+ Lack of Fundamentals
+ Inconsistency

 

[Dead Cat Bounce]

We have up to 9 guys returning next year (not counting Garrison, because I hope he goes elsewhere) .

-Chandler
-Noah
-Moreno
-Kam
-Lowe
-Jelavic
-Johnson
-2 redshirt guys

So, given that, how many guys do we want to have on the roster?
Would you take a PJ Haggerty, that averages 23ppg, or would you rather roll the dice on a freshman?
I don't know what high school centers there are, haven't heard of any, but we're going to need a guy behind Moreno. I would rather get that guy from the portal.
Probably need another Mo D, you don't usually find those guys in high school.
So, yeah, if Pope can grab Stokes, that would be awesome, but to me, it doesn't look like we will need very many pieces.

I very much want Pope to succeed, but I look at that roster and see big holes. Pope’s gonna have to nail the portal in the coming off season, or it will be another year of modest achievement for UK basketball.

 

[Ridinwithpope]

I'm not sure that I agree that returning all those players is less than championship caliber. If we wind up a 6/7 seed and then you return all of those players, I'd expect a likely top 5 team next season. I have a little more faith in some of these players than many, which I can acknowledge.

Jaland Lowe - Preference is to bring him back.

Projected Role: Secondary Star

- Ceiling - SEC Player of the Year
- Floor - High Quality Starter
- Median - 2nd Team All-SEC

- Strengths
+ Speed / Agility
+ Playmaking / Ballhandling
+ Slashing / Finishing
+ Midrange / Shot Creation

- Weaknesses
+ Inconsistent Perimeter Shooting
+ Poor Defender
+ Injury Concerns

Jasper Johnson - Preference is to let him walk. However, assuming he comes back:

Projected Role: Sixth Man

- Ceiling - High Quality Starter
- Floor - Rotation Piece
- Median - Sixth Man

- Strengths
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Shot Creation

- Weaknesses
+ Poor Defender
+ Poor Slashing
+ Playmaking

Kam Williams - Preference is to bring him back - All-in / High Priority returnee

Projected Role: High Quality Starter

- Ceiling - 1st Team All-SEC
- Floor - Sixth Man
- Median - High Quality Starter

- Strengths
+ Defensive Versatility
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Cutting

- Weaknesses
+ Consistency
+ Injury Concerns

Collin Chandler - Preference is to bring him back - All-in / High Priority returnee

Projected Role: Tertiary Star

- Ceiling - 1st Team All-SEC
- Floor - High Quality Starter
- Median - 2nd Team All-SEC

- Strengths
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Athleticism
+ Intangibles / Clutch
+ On-ball Defensive Upside
+ Passing

- Weaknesses
+ Off-ball Defense
+ Ball Handling
+ Consistency

Mo Dioubate - Preference is to let him walk. However, assuming he comes back:

Projected Role: Mid-Level Starter

- Ceiling: High Quality Starter
- Floor: High Quality Rotation
- Median: Mid-Level Starter

- Strengths
+ Defensive Versatility
+ Rebounding
+ Effort/Motor

- Weaknesses
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Ball Handling
+ Size/Measurables

Andrija Jelavic - Preference is to let him walk. However, assuming he comes back:

Projected Role: Mid-Level Starter

- Ceiling: 2nd Team All-SEC
- Floor: Rotation
- Median: Mid-Level Starter

- Strengths
+ Perimeter Shooting Form/Spacing
+ Defensive Rebounding
+ Untapped Potential

- Weaknesses
+ Physicality
+ Motor
+ Consistency

Malachi Moreno - Preference is to bring him back - All-in / High Priority returnee

Projected Role: Primary Star

- Ceiling: 1st Team All-American
- Floor: High Quality Starter
- Median: 1st Team All-SEC

- Strengths
+ Rebounding
+ Playmaking
+ Interior Defense
+ Motor
+ Inside Scoring

- Weaknesses
+ Perimeter Scoring
+ Lateral Quickness

Trent Noah - Preference is to bring him back / Offer should be within reason

Projected Role: Quality Reserve

- Ceiling: Low-Level Starter
- Floor: High Quality Reserve (Non-Rotation)
- Median: Back-end Rotation

- Strengths
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Effort
+ Role Acceptance

- Weaknesses
+ Athleticism
+ Defense
+ Inside Scoring/Slashing
+ Playmaking

Braydon Hawthorne - Preference is to bring him back / Offer should be within reason

Projected Role: High Quality Rotation

- Ceiling: High Quality Starter
- Floor: High Quality Reserve (Non-Rotation)
- Median: High Quality Rotation

- Strengths
+ Wingspan/Height/Measurables
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Untapped Potential

- Weaknesses
+ Weight
+ Physicality
+ Unproven

Reece Potter - Preference is to bring him back / Offer should be within reason

Projected Role: High Quality Reserve (Non-Rotation)

- Ceiling: Mid-Level Rotation
- Floor: Mid-Level Reserve (Non-Rotation)
- Median: High Quality Reserve (Non-Rotation)

- Strengths
+ Perimeter Shooting
+ Passing
+ Role Acceptance
+ Height

- Weaknesses
+ Athleticism
+ Defense
+ Inside Scoring

Brandon Garrison - Preference is to let him walk. However, assuming he comes back:

Projected Role: High Quality Rotation

Ceiling: 2nd Team All-SEC
Floor: High Quality Rotation
Median: High Quality Rotation

- Strengths
+ Defensive Versatility
+ Pick and Roll Finishing
+ Untapped Potential

- Weaknesses
+ Motor and character concerns
+ Inside Scoring
+ Shot Selection
+ Lack of Fundamentals
+ Inconsistency

Very well thought out and broken down. With your preferences though.. you have a lot of let them walk guys. That would make me very nervous having to fill all those holes. Sometimes retention is better than starting with scratch on a new guy to learn pope and the way he coaches.

 

[Kyhoward1]

Anymore I am almost amazed when someone uses reasoning when they post here. Pope has said multiple times that player retention was his focus, thus should be only a few openings available for next year. But the FARR Pope crowd...Pope cain't cruit... sheesh.

Man, all most of us have said was let it play out. I believe he has a plan, give the man time to implement it.

Nope, we are called pumpers and the reason the program is Indiana.....makes no sense.

“Let it play out” - great advice

At this point of the season, no one knows the players that are going to leave besides OO and Denzel or who may come here to play at UK. CMP and staff will have the entire list of the 1,000s of players in the portal when the time comes.

“Resoning” - an appropriate word for when discussing roster construction.
In both years 1 and 2, a popular sentiment was CMP is not going to have any players! Why didn’t he get Player A, or Player B. Player C is a must get to even have a chance in the SEC etc etc. it would be interesting to count all the names brought up in this forum by all posters that were “must gets” or we don’t even need to play the season.

Player retention- as you stated correctly Coach has said numerous times that re-recruiting players currently on the roster is Priority #1. That does not mean necessarily that all undergrads that could return will. They may leave or the brain trust decides a better player or fit can be found either with a high school or portal player.

I am a huge college bb fan and have been so for nearly 60 years, yet the vast majority of players in the portal are unknown to me and many of the posters on this site. Coach and staff will have game film, and info that none of us have access to in making their offers to both high school and portal players. I am not going to exhaust myself speculating but trust in our coaches.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Very well thought out and broken down. With your preferences though.. you have a lot of let them walk guys. That would make me very nervous having to fill all those holes. Sometimes retention is better than starting with scratch on a new guy to learn pope and the way he coaches.

I very much agree. I'm not sold on Jelavic or Dioubate at the power forward slot, so if you brough back this lineup I'd be very happy:


pg - J. Lowe
sg - C. Chandler
sf - K. Williams
pf - Portal Stud
c - M. Moreno

 

[kyjeff1]

Lol, fill with a more talented player? A lot easier said than done for this staff.

Nah, I think at least some return, but you're kidding yourself if you don't think several will transfer. Particularly when good players getting plenty of run still transfer by the hundreds each year.

Lol, okay Helen Keller.

Lol, better players.

A lot easier said than done???
Who is so freaking hard to replace? All you have done is crap on the players and say this isn’t a UK worthy roster, well, if that's true, then nobody should be hard to replace, right?
Sh*t, pay me 5 million a year, I'll have no problem combing through the portal to find players.

 

[UKortho]

He's not wrong we have 0 committed recruits for next year. This year Pope couldn't get any top transfer recruits he had to settle for 3rd or 4th string at any of the positions ( then he over paid to get them). I mean there really isn't nothing here that makes anyone think that he's going to be able to get the top recruits or the top portal players he hasn't been able too yet and year 2 is about up. I honestly want Pope to succeed but if he can't get the any of the top talent in high school or the portal UK isn't the school he needs to be coaching at.

Nothing to be positive about in the last 5 years. The Pope hire will just add to the poor results unless he somehow learns to get the team to play 40 minutes per game (and recruit).

 

[Anony Moose]

A lot easier said than done???
Who is so freaking hard to replace? All you have done is crap on the players and say this isn’t a UK worthy roster, well, if that's true, then nobody should he hard to replace, right?
Sh*t, pay me 5 million a year, I'll have no problem combing through the portal to find players.

You seem to forget our recent recruiting woes, both HS and portal players. Who's coming?

 

[davtay]

A lot easier said than done???
Who is so freaking hard to replace? All you have done is crap on the players and say this isn’t a UK worthy roster, well, if that's true, then nobody should he hard to replace, right?
Sh*t, pay me 5 million a year, I'll have no problem combing through the portal to find players.

Yep, they continuously say that we have no talent, so no talented players should be easily replaced.

Time for them to move those goalposts.

 

[kyjeff1]

I tend to think we need a competent big to play the 4 as much as we need a primary ball handler if the returning core will be Moreno, Chandler, Williams, and JJ and/or another guard.

Kam, Jelevic and Mo D.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Yep, they continuously say that we have no talent, so no talented players should be easily replaced.

Time for them to move those goalposts.

I'll plainly say it. The Anony Moose account is an extremely obvious troll. No clue how that account continues to find air to breathe. Should be banned to hell and back. A single look at the post history makes it clear that guy is just here to stir up trouble. "Lulz"