Stokes is next

[Jmmcgr35]

The Stokes recruitment is odd. You would think he would be using Kansas to force Nike to up their $$ to keep him from going to an Adidas school.

They kid has been down to 3 schools for 6 months, and continues striging on those schools at a crucial time in recruiting. His top 2 are totally rebuilding, and if he wasn't only concerned with himself, he would commit now to help his future team know where they stand as they fill out their roster.

 

[Captain Coy]

He's trying to delay his decision until UK has moved on and then he can go to Nike and say, well they don't have a spot for me, or they don't have the money for him anymore I guess I have to go to Kansas now. His recruitment is basically about him and Nike and nothing else. He's trying to save face with Nike. That's the whole situation in a nutshell.

 

[Supercat67]

He will have a roster, but it's getting scary to think what the talent level on it will be next year.

The talent level will be slightly higher than a high school team.....I'm afraid.

 

[Wildcatsfan2012]

Pope got a plan. Diallo, Stokes, and Freeman all be cats by this time next week

One down.

 

[Bill_the_cat]

This is what’s exactly happening with all these visits. These players are using UK and Pope to drive up the price on the offer of where they actually want to go. Pope is being played for the incompetence he has shown.

What is the alternative? Pope needs to find the players he wants but has to get enough on campus to evaluate them.

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

He's trying to delay his decision until UK has moved on and then he can go to Nike and say, well they don't have a spot for me, or they don't have the money for him anymore I guess I have to go to Kansas now. His recruitment is basically about him and Nike and nothing else. He's trying to save face with Nike. That's the whole situation in a nutshell.

Just reading the tea leaves, its this. If he wanted to he at uk, he would say so. Plenty of opportunity and money to commit now.

He probably didn't think we'd be desperate enough to wait for his weeks later timeline that he put out with the reporter mouthpiece. He probably thought we'd move on and hed have a clear path to Kansas. He just didn't know how desperate Pope really is.

 

[Hughhefner]

Just reading the tea leaves, its this. If he wanted to he at uk, he would say so. Plenty of opportunity and money to commit now.

He probably didn't think we'd be desperate enough to wait for his weeks later timeline that he put out with the reporter mouthpiece. He probably thought we'd move on and hed have a clear path to Kansas. He just didn't know how desperate Pope really is.

Or maybe he wants to be on a team that actually has players, neither team has players. He is going to be paid handsomely at either school. Why not go to school that actually can win some games too.

 

[Tri-Countycat]

What is the alternative? Pope needs to find the players he wants but has to get enough on campus to evaluate them.

Well the alternative is to turn loose of some control, allow UK to hire a GM and let the GM (who hopefully can evaluate intention much better) and vet some of these visits to analyze the real intentions. Still not fool proof. It’s a tough business in college sports. I wouldn’t want to do it.

 

[AllBall]

No next will be Freeman, Rancik, and Alex Wilkins.

After that, I think staff will push to get Cruz Davis or Cox for guard depth to split mins across the backcourt. They'll also push to get Desean Goode or someone similar of that mold.

Then...all the chips will be pushed in to convince Stokes he's the final missing piece.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Please don’t misunderstand this question as I’m in agreement that Pope is done and should step down
My question is how much of a factor is JMI in all of this? I’m pretty much clueless about it to be brutally honest.
Any explanation would help

JMI has never been a problem. Matt jones makes JMI a problem because they smacked him down.

Pope doesn’t have a JMI problem. JMI has a Pope problem.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

you guys could at least wait two weeks before declaring the season over

Why? It doesn’t matter who Pope signs. He still can’t coach them.

 

[UKCowboys]

Pivot and sign two more guys for the money you are offering Stokes. Sign three. We already have a great shot at Freeman and Wilkins. Go find a big time shooter and an explosive wing to add to that mix and you'll have a better team for it

 

[chattanogawildcat]

Why? It doesn’t matter who Pope signs. He still can’t coach them.

That sounds Cal-like.

 

[GoBIG BLUE]

JMI hasn't stopped Stein signing big recruits for football

I have no knowledge first hand. I have read an article claiming and describing how the jmi contract is less restrictive in fb. Our administration appears to have chosen to no longer win big in basketball; (hoping money funnels over to football as a result?)

 

[kfwa]

Why? It doesn’t matter who Pope signs. He still can’t coach them.

then why even pay attention to it, if its a lost cause?

 

[UKGrad24]

With how Wright just used Pope for a bigger NIL deal. I'm sure Stokes is about to get a massive NIL package from KU.

Who needs top players when there are all these gems in the bottom of the recruiting barrel.

The gaslit are waiting… children of the Pope…

 

[UKBB4Ever]

That sounds Cal-like.

Not at all

 

[UKBB4Ever]

then why even pay attention to it, if its a lost cause?

Same reason you do I would guess.

But I don’t know. Maybe the situation doesn’t bother you?

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

Or maybe he wants to be on a team that actually has players, neither team has players. He is going to be paid handsomely at either school. Why not go to school that actually can win some games too.

Ku needs a roster too. So do most schools. This isnt the key issue or he would've already committed somewhere else.

 

[Catphright23]

Y'all talking **** about small school players where did walter Clayton come from or Dalton Knecht? Plus look at hurleys first championship squad. Y'all people are quite full of basketball knowledge.
Pope isn't a bad coach, sub patterns last year was bad and maybe too nice . Plus y'all say he is mediocre but we have had a coach win 9 games. He has never had a team that only won 9 games. During time outs and ,2nd halves you gotta coach to come back. Talent only wins some of the time Maybe not a good recruiter, he can get better.

 

[kfwa]

Same reason you do I would guess.

But I don’t know. Maybe the situation doesn’t bother you?

that isn't the point , I'm just wondering why comment on something and the end result is "it doesn't matter, its a lost cause no matter what". So are you just going to spam that on every thread about everything related to Mark Pope? No matter what he does, its useless. that's the sentiment?

 

[battle_cats]

"The sky is falling". Look out below. Kentucky fans are embarrassing when it comes to basketball. I have your helmets in this box. Now go get into a shelter before the sky doinks you and spits your pumpkin seeds all over the bluegrass.

 

[MegaBlue05]

that isn't the point , I'm just wondering why comment on something and the end result is "it doesn't matter, its a lost cause no matter what". So are you just going to spam that on every thread about everything related to Mark Pope? No matter what he does, its useless. that's the sentiment?

Yes. This guy loved Cal. Defended him rigorously to the bitter end and has had an axe to grind with Pope since.

The doomsday defeatist mentality a lot of people have is sad. They’re already predicting gloom and absolute doom before the roster is even complete. Why wait and present an informed opinion when all pieces are in place when you can just piss and moan daily?

 

[Kingslayer07]

JMI has never been a problem. Matt jones makes JMI a problem because they smacked him down.

Pope doesn’t have a JMI problem. JMI has a Pope problem.

JMI is still a problem, for basketball. This has been covered like 3 months ago?

 

[ftp000]

Well the alternative is to turn loose of some control, allow UK to hire a GM and let the GM (who hopefully can evaluate intention much better) and vet some of these visits to analyze the real intentions. Still not fool proof. It’s a tough business in college sports. I wouldn’t want to do it.

You just want to tell others how to do it?

 

[ftp000]

Why? It doesn’t matter who Pope signs. He still can’t coach them.

His first season set records for tier one wins. He outcoached some of the best coaches in college BB. Stop your nonsense.

 

[UKGrad24]

Y'all talking **** about small school players where did walter Clayton come from or Dalton Knecht? Plus look at hurleys first championship squad. Y'all people are quite full of basketball knowledge.
Pope isn't a bad coach, sub patterns last year was bad and maybe too nice . Plus y'all say he is mediocre but we have had a coach win 9 games. He has never had a team that only won 9 games. During time outs and ,2nd halves you gotta coach to come back. Talent only wins some of the time Maybe not a good recruiter, he can get better.

That encompasses a lot of subject matter. Please use his 12 year record and defend the statement. Start with the best recruits he’s ever signed, where they rarete, wins, winning %, tournament history, best tournament wins, championships won. Current trajectory at UK, current accomplishments etc, relative to past UK coaches.

Don’t just say it, defend it. I can say you’re likely more attractive and more strapped than me but obviously that’s not true. So just defend it, I’d like to someone to please defend this claim instead of just saying it. But I don’t think you will, you’ll dismiss it and say nothing of substance related to the question. I’d like to see someone make the case he’s a good coach and not a bad one, make the argument he’s worthy of this job.

 

[Catphright23]

That encompasses a lot of subject matter. Please use his 12 year record and defend the statement. Start with the best recruits he’s ever signed, where they rarete, wins, winning %, tournament history, best tournament wins, championships won. Current trajectory at UK, current accomplishments etc, relative to past UK coaches.

Don’t just say it, defend it. I can say you’re likely more attractive and more strapped than me but obviously that’s not true. So just defend it, I’d like to someone to please defend this claim instead of just saying it. But I don’t think you will, you’ll dismiss it and say nothing of substance related to the question. I’d like to see someone make the case he’s a good coach and not a bad one, make the argument he’s worthy of this job.

He's never had a 9 win season with a bunch of McDonald's all Americans. The year we had maxey he did pretty well too. If you don't coach how did we win games in 2nd half and how did we produce plays out of time outs. I never said **** about recruiting. Cal can recruit but is a bad coach since 2020.

He is our coach for this year. Oats, Hurley, and Donovan had turned us down. No chance in putting negative **** out there.

 

[Hughhefner]

Ku needs a roster too. So do most schools. This isnt the key issue or he would've already committed somewhere else.

My point, he is waiting to see which team has a better roster, considering the money is the same.

 

[TigerMoving]

I have zero confidence in Pope's recruiting prowess, and it defies all common sense....but for some strange reason I think we are gonna end up with Stokes. We might end up paying 10mil for him but I think we go full desperation mode to get him signed up. Getting Zoom has to to help too.

 

[Captain Coy]

JMI has never been a problem. Matt jones makes JMI a problem because they smacked him down.

Pope doesn’t have a JMI problem. JMI has a Pope problem.

A siege mentality is a collective, defensive mindset where a group or nation believes they are constantly under attack, threatened, or isolated by a hostile outside world. It fosters intense internal solidarity, distrust of outsiders, and a pessimistic, "us vs. them" worldview. It is used to justify extreme security measures or to maintain political power.

 

[MichaelGray]

He's never had a 9 win season with a bunch of McDonald's all Americans. The year we had maxey he did pretty well too. If you don't coach how did we win games in 2nd half and how did we produce plays out of time outs. I never said **** about recruiting. Cal can recruit but is a bad coach since 2020.

He is our coach for this year. Oats, Hurley, and Donovan had turned us down. No chance in putting negative **** out there.

Now that we have Pope I've often wondered in the last 2 seasons how he would've done with all the talent Calipari had? I'd like to say Pope would've done better but idk if he would've used the dribble drive back then? That offense was effective in Cal's first 5-6 seasons even though he only won it once. Once the college game started going to more of a 5 out 3 point shooting style, Cal struggled, plus Duke started getting the top guys & Cal didn't recruit a lot of knockdown shooters. Pope is a better in game coach for sure.

 

[KyWideWes]

The Stokes recruitment is odd. You would think he would be using Kansas to force Nike to up their $$ to keep him from going to an Adidas school.

They kid has been down to 3 schools for 6 months, and continues striging on those schools at a crucial time in recruiting. His top 2 are totally rebuilding, and if he wasn't only concerned with himself, he would commit now to help his future team know where they stand as they fill out their roster.

Nothing around this makes sense, including why aren't we taking 75% of what we are offering him and throwing it at Juke Harris.

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

"The sky is falling". Look out below. Kentucky fans are embarrassing when it comes to basketball. I have your helmets in this box. Now go get into a shelter before the sky doinks you and spits your pumpkin seeds all over the bluegrass.

Joined last December

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

He's never had a 9 win season with a bunch of McDonald's all Americans. The year we had maxey he did pretty well too. If you don't coach how did we win games in 2nd half and how did we produce plays out of time outs. I never said **** about recruiting. Cal can recruit but is a bad coach since 2020.

He is our coach for this year. Oats, Hurley, and Donovan had turned us down. No chance in putting negative **** out there.

Oats, Hurley, Donovan were never asked

 

[Catphright23]

Oats, Hurley, Donovan were never asked

Oats was asked. Hurley turned us down. Donovan wasn't but he had already turned us down two to three times. We offered hurley like 10 million a year. We would've ended up with shaka smart. Bruce pearl just retired. People didn't want dusty may at the time.

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

Oats was asked. Hurley turned us down. Donovan wasn't but he had already turned us down two to three times. We offered hurley like 10 million a year. We would've ended up with shaka smart. Bruce pearl just retired. People didn't want dusty may at the time.

According to who?

 

[UKCowboys]

I was reading earlier that Kansas athletic program is nearly $12M in the red. If they are going to put up a similar offer through NIL to the offer UK is making, it sounds like a major chunk of that will have to come from Adidas. Since Stokes can't stand their gear, are they going to pony that up when he hates their gear? I am sure they will, but it seems to me if Pope comes back and adds a little to his offer and hits him with a deadline of tomorrow or Sat, he might get it done

 

[Catphright23]

According to who?

Most media outlets reported it. Numerous reportings. Oats said he wasn't interested and I believe had some divorce or custody thing going in Alabama. Billy was offered after tubby and after Billy g.

 

[UKVACats0107]

No next will be Freeman, Rancik, and Alex Wilkins.

After that, I think staff will push to get Cruz Davis or Cox for guard depth to split mins across the backcourt. They'll also push to get Desean Goode or someone similar of that mold.

Then...all the chips will be pushed in to convince Stokes he's the final missing piece.

Spot on post imo.. STOKES is the final piece! I will say, I like the players coming in on visits to compliment the #1 player in the country.
And why do I feel there is someone totally unexpected about to come into play.