Who returns? Your guess?

[Anon1679859502]

I would like to see Hawthorne back but I’ve learned over the years not to take players at face value when they are talking to media. We have seen this time and time again.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

when the talking point all year that the roster is poorly constructed, i dont know how you return 3 or 4 starters. and i dont know how those guys dont bounce if you bring in a great portal player at their position.

losing BG, lowe, jasper and noah is a nothing burger. lowe never played, noah and jasper cant play, and BG is a headcase and you can replace him easy enough.

you need starters at: PG, SG, PF and C.
you need backups at: PG maybe PF.

you just cant go into next year with chandler, williams, and moreno as starters.

 

[ComebackCats98]

when the talking point all year that the roster is poorly constructed, i dont know how you return 3 or 4 starters. and i dont know how those guys dont bounce if you bring in a great portal player at their position.

losing BG, lowe, jasper and noah is a nothing burger. lowe never played, noah and jasper cant play, and BG is a headcase and you can replace him easy enough.

you need starters at: PG, SG, PF and C.
you need backups at: PG maybe PF.

you just cant go into next year with chandler, williams, and moreno as starters.

I’m afraid there will not be great portal players signed. They just on KSR referenced again Goose Givens saying the money isn’t going to be there like it was last year. If Kentucky built this roster with $22,000,000 how can they build a better one with less?

 

[Delk4three]

when the talking point all year that the roster is poorly constructed, i dont know how you return 3 or 4 starters. and i dont know how those guys dont bounce if you bring in a great portal player at their position.

losing BG, lowe, jasper and noah is a nothing burger. lowe never played, noah and jasper cant play, and BG is a headcase and you can replace him easy enough.

you need starters at: PG, SG, PF and C.
you need backups at: PG maybe PF.

you just cant go into next year with chandler, williams, and moreno as starters.

I agree. Anyone that returns should be a sub. No one was consistent enough to be a dependable starter.

 

[cornbreadnmilk]

when the talking point all year that the roster is poorly constructed, i dont know how you return 3 or 4 starters. and i dont know how those guys dont bounce if you bring in a great portal player at their position.

losing BG, lowe, jasper and noah is a nothing burger. lowe never played, noah and jasper cant play, and BG is a headcase and you can replace him easy enough.

you need starters at: PG, SG, PF and C.
you need backups at: PG maybe PF.

you just cant go into next year with chandler, williams, and moreno as starters.

Pope's comments scared me after the game. He seemed to imply building around Moreno,Chandler,Jelly and Kam.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

I’m afraid there will not be great portal players signed. They just on KSR referenced again Goose Givens saying the money isn’t going to be there like it was last year. If Kentucky built this roster with $22,000,000 how can they build a better one with less?

i have no confidence next year will work out. its on pope. he either wins next year or he gets fired (maybe).

 

[BlueSince92]

Collin Chandler
Braydon Hawthorne

 

[FitchandMurray29]

when the talking point all year that the roster is poorly constructed, i dont know how you return 3 or 4 starters. and i dont know how those guys dont bounce if you bring in a great portal player at their position.

losing BG, lowe, jasper and noah is a nothing burger. lowe never played, noah and jasper cant play, and BG is a headcase and you can replace him easy enough.

you need starters at: PG, SG, PF and C.
you need backups at: PG maybe PF.

you just cant go into next year with chandler, williams, and moreno as starters.

I know you and many won’t be happy with it, but Moreno and Chandler will start next year if they’re coming back. Williams I don’t think you’ll have to worry about starting.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

Pope's comments scared me after the game. He seemed to imply building around Moreno,Chandler,Jelly and Kam.

IMO i think kam is the only one that could be a starter on the right team.

chandler has nothing in his bag other than spot up 3 point shooting and that disappears at times. moreno lacks agility, he is just another 7 footer. jelly has an interesting toolset, but his awareness and production just are not there. if moreno, chandler, and jelavic are our 6th, 7th, and 8th guy....great. lets roll.

if they are starters.....we need to hope (1) they develop a ton - which never happens and (2) its a down year in college basketball

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

I’m afraid there will not be great portal players signed. They just on KSR referenced again Goose Givens saying the money isn’t going to be there like it was last year. If Kentucky built this roster with $22,000,000 how can they build a better one with less?

Others manage to do it. Pope spread the wealth too far this year and didn’t land a star player. Lowe's injury was unexpected. JQ is another story and that money could have been bundled with money we paid a mediocre player for a star player.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

Others manage to do it. Pope spread the wealth too far this year and didn’t land a star player. Lowe's injury was unexpected. JQ is another story and that money could have been bundled with money we paid a mediocre player for a star player.

exactly right. ISU just whooped our *** and didt spend anything close to 22M. a 15M roster should still be able to be one of the best in the country under the right coach. but (a) we dont have that coach and (b) he will still not build it right.

next year or two will be tough. it is what it is.

 

[Cbbcrazy2]

Chandler isn’t going anywhere IMHO.

One thing that is cast in stone, Chandler will dribble to the corner. Get double teamed and add a turnover to his stat sheet.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

Others manage to do it. Pope spread the wealth too far this year and didn’t land a star player. Lowe's injury was unexpected. JQ is another story and that money could have been bundled with money we paid a mediocre player for a star player.

Preach. I’d say we paid over 10M dollars for this:
-Otega Oweh(4M)
-Jaland Lowe(2.5M)
-Jayden Quaintance(2M)
-Jasper Johnson(1.5M)
-both redshirts we’ll say a combined 500k

So literally over 10M and the only thing you got for it was a good 2 guard with varying levels of competitiveness that also had turf toe over the summer lol.

 

[Jimmy James]

Williams
Moreno
Hawthorne
Potter

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Preach. I’d say we paid over 10M dollars for this:
-Otega Oweh(4M)
-Jaland Lowe(2.5M)
-Jayden Quaintance(2M)
-Jasper Johnson(1.5M)
-both redshirts we’ll say a combined 500k

So literally over 10M and the only thing you got for it was a good 2 guard with varying levels of competitiveness that also had turf toe over the summer lol.

It’s so maddening!

 

[The_Catfather]

One thing that is cast in stone, Chandler will dribble to the corner. Get double teamed and add a turnover to his stat sheet.

You learn in elementary school not to pick up your dribble in the corner right across halfcourt. I don't know what irritated me more... that, or when Moreno/BG would get the ball stripped from behind at the top of the key. If Moreno comes back, Pope has to get a 4 that can actually dribble and pass the ball and has basic basketball skills.

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

The Kentucky kids all come back Malichi Moreno, Jasper Johnson, Trent Noah, and Reese Potter. Colin Chandler is all in with Mark Pope and will return also. After that Kam Williams and Braydon Hawthorne will return. I see everyone else transferring due to themselves or Coach Pope letting them know they will not fit his scheme next season. I think Pope knows he MUST produce next year and will want his style players running his scheme. Live and die with what you do best. He will then make a major offer to try and get Tyron Stokes and add 4 transfers 2 post players and 2 point guards. Next years line up will look like this

C- Moreno / Transfer/Potter
F- Transfer / Williams
F - Stokes / Williams/Noah/Hawthorne
G - Chandler / Johnson
PG - Transfer / Transfer

You think way too highly of "Kentucky kids" connection to the university. I would say the only guarantee is Potter.

 

[AllBall]

I’ll look at each player’s decision through a free agency lens like we’re looking at NFL players or something.

Lowe: probably got 2.5M plus to come originally. After a disappointing sample of injured games and a torn up shoulder, his market value undoubtedly takes a hit. My guess is he’s somewhere between 1.5-2M. The guy was a preseason Cousy finalist(top 20 PGs in the country) that has an all conference season in a major conference. I think the conversation for Lowe and UK goes much more to role discussion than money. I don’t think Pope can guarantee him the starting role and thus he hits the portal.

Jasper: not much to say. He will still get another pay day due to HS pedigree, just will probably be elsewhere.

Kam Williams- market probably also suppressed compared to last year. The DraftExpress nonsense with his potential wouldn’t be there. He proved to be a solid depth piece but also broke his foot. Should be expected to return imo.

Garrison- I’m not sure either side really will want to reunite. Some may not realize but Garrison was our lowest scorer that played assuming you don’t count Noah. You just can’t pay big money to a sub 5 PPG knucklehead center that has random displays of ability.

Chandler: he earned a big pay raise going from 2.7 PPG to 9.8 while being above 40% from 3. Wouldn’t be shocked if he made a million this year and him doubling it next year. Would be surprised if he passes that up.

Moreno- don’t think he considers transferring unless he doesn’t get the NIL offer he desires. Wouldn’t be surprised if his NIL starts closing in on 2.5M. HS pedigree, decent freshman season, and shortage of centers will lift his value considerably.

Hawthorne and Potter-why become a free agent when no one has seen you play in a year? Both will be back unless it was obvious Potter wouldn’t ever be playable in an emergency role.

Noah- when you have plenty of DNPs as a non freshman, it’s probably safe to assume you leave.

Dioubate- this is a tough one. His market definitely didn’t improve. Probably got 1.5-2M last year. My guess is he’s around 1.5M this year. I don’t think he was a personality or player fit and thus leaves.

Jelavic- don’t think they paid a ton for him last year and imo his value even went down from there. This is a 6 figure player, not a 7 figure player imo. Does Pope want him as a backup 4 man for cheap while he doesn’t have better options? Does he just want to go home?

My little free agency exercise has Chandler, Moreno, Williams, Hawthorne, and Potter back. Roster looking like this:

PG: none
SG: Chandler
SF- Williams, Hawthorne
PF: none
C: Moreno, Potter

My little caveat here are the wings. If we appear to be getting Stokes/Pate/SF from portal, do one of Williams/Hawthorne just peace out.

Chandler is a backup. He doesn't handle the ball well enough. He also struggles to shoot off the dribble thus limiting his offense.

 

[mash_24]

My hope is Chandler - Moreno - Kam - Mo all return. See what Hawthorne has. Potter and Noah on minimal deals. Add a stud PG, stud PF. 3 other guys with an elite skill.

 

[Snarks]

Well, we have zero incoming players so unfortunately I think a lot of these guys come back. We have to have a roster.

 

[BlueKnight2011]

Pope highlighted Moreno, Colin, and Jelavic as guys he’s prioritizing in the press conference yesterday. Who knows how it’ll all shake out but it sounds like he’s wanting a lot of these guys back. He might not have the resources or cutthroat personality to get a bunch of guys out and replace them with upgrades. We might be looking at a very very bad roster next season. I can’t imagine what returning a majority of these guys minus Oweh is gonna look like. Especially if our main addition is a guy like Dink Pate who isn’t good. We could lose about 17 games next year

 

[The_Catfather]

If Dink Pate is one of our "stars" next year we're in a world of hurt.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

Well, we have zero incoming players so unfortunately I think a lot of these guys come back. We have to have a roster.

i dont think that is entirely true....look at michigan for example. there starting five consists of:

yaxel: transfer from uba
johnson: transfer from illinois
mara: transfer from ucla
cadaue: transfer from unc
mckenny: freshman

they have 3 bench guys, all transfers that have been in the program a bit. to me thats our chandler, williams, and moreno. land stokes, get 4 very good starter level guys and thats all you need.

no need to have 4, 5, or 6 of these guys returning. you need to bank on not having injuries though.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

We have 11 that could return. If more than 7 return we are in trouble.

Oh **** first time I agreed with you all year

 

[Madhuvan]

Lowe- gone
Jasper- gone
Kam- stay
Mo- gone
Jelly- stay
Moreno- stay
Hawthorne - stay
Chandler - stay
Noah - gone
Reece Potter - stay
Garrison - gone

I’d take that.

 

[Woodrow24]

Chandler, Lowe, Kam Williams, Potter, and Noah are the guys I think will come back. That’s just my guess on it.

 

[Cats4321]

Does anyone else think BYU might try really hard to get Chandler?

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

Am I the only one who thinks BYU might try really hard to get Chandler?

byu poached the wright kid from baylor last year after he agreed to come back. byu could do the same with chandler but i also think they can go get a better player, someone who is really elite.

 

[FatCatMan]

With so many of the assistant coaches leaving, I’m starting to wonder if we won’t have a mass exodus. Like who wants to stay at this point?

 

[TheBlueMist]

I would like to keep Chandler, Mo. and Moreno (back up). I would be fine if other stayed (Kam, Hawthorne, Noah), but we can find similar players in the portal if they leave.

If everyone left, I think we'll still have a middle of the pack SEC team and be looking for a new coach at the end of next year. If everyone stays, same results.

 

[Hush4872]

I hope they all leave. Need a complete reset.

I'm in this group, but it is funny the complaint was that Cal didn't return and develop players and now most of us want none of this team to return.

I don't think anyone has faith in Pope to actually develop the majority of these guys.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

the evans kid from oregon entered the portal. had a big 3rd year on a bad oregon team. fluid athlete, can dribble and pass it. averaged 2 assists per game. shot 30% from three this year, 80% from the line.

make this kid the #1 center and offer moreno and garrison the same deal to be the back up. first one that takes it, gets it.