Big z in portal

[BlazerHallsBallsN96]

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Damn. This was one I wanted to see come back, maybe pope can get him back

Him making this gem of a kid leave entirely will be a lasting sore spot for me w CCC as if there weren't enough.
Him refusing to utilize him whatsoever as a five out offensive option was criminal, you know we showed him a lot more love than coach did and loved his threes. I wanted him bag so much.
Cow screwed so many pooches the animal rights groups are gonna target him.
Bye hogwash

 

[sluggercatfan]

I don’t either, pope is smart, he sees what z can be in his offense. I think he atleast tries to get him back but gets told thanks but I’m off to Arkansas

$$$$$$$

 

[MidseasonTweak]

He's going to Arkansas

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

Please show me all the 7 footers that can step out and shoot threes in the portal.


I'll wait............

Broome hits for a pretty fair clip

 

[Supafuzz75]

Didn’t JQ family say they were waiting to hear from UK and willing to listen but the call never came.

No idea what this is referring to..

 

[Tubbyfan78]

That’s exactly it I think. He’s not a for sure One and Done and he is the type than can stay for 2-3 years and be super solid. That’s why we all like him so much.

If he is committed to improving, I agree 100%. I just assume Cal guys are committed to getting to the NBA as soon as humanly possible. That's why they play for him.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

That was the price of this hire. I'm going to support pope for sure, but you had to know this hire meant you lost everyone.

This was a certainty when Mitch pulled that trigger. Just remember, Mitch had to make this hire to save this year's roster, despite the fact any sensible person knew his year's roster was lost.

So we'll have BYU guys, Perry, and some other transfers that put nil over NBA draft potential.

 

[Tedington68]

Prolly end up somewhere like Purdue or something.

This is why we should have never showed the love we did to these calipari mercs.

Even got a billboard going for him and he bolts first chance he gets.

Gtfo

He hasn't actually bolted...he's just entered the portal....we saw on the football team these guys frequently enter just to get a bump in NIL and end up withdrawing from the portal and staying with the team.....its just business these days

 

[bleedingblue2767]

I like Z, but if he doesn't want to be here than so be it.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

He's going to Arkansas

Either that or he just goes on to pro ball

 

[Kantucke]

I'll never get over Calipari using Big Z as Ugos breather

 

[Tedington68]

He hasn't actually bolted...he's just entered the portal....we saw on the football team these guys frequently enter just to get a bump in NIL and end up withdrawing from the portal and staying with the team.....its just business these days

Also entirely possible Pope made it known he's looking for guys that wanna be here long term and if your only goal is to get drafted asap this isn't the place for you. Time will reveal what's up

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Big mistake kid.

 

[track42]

Also entirely possible Pope made it known he's looking for guys that wanna be here long term and if your only goal is to get drafted asap this isn't the place for you. Time will reveal what's up

No.That would just be dumb.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

He hasn't actually bolted...he's just entered the portal....we saw on the football team these guys frequently enter just to get a bump in NIL and end up withdrawing from the portal and staying with the team.....its just business these days

Exactly. It’s just unreal how some flip out and completely melt down at the drop of a hat. Good grief.

 

[SemperFiCat]

After what Cal did to him last year?? He'd have to have no understanding of basketball to want to play in Cal's 'system' again. I can understand him leaving, but to play for Cal again would be some Stockholm Syndrome ish.

 

[Tedington68]

No.That would just be dumb.

Is it?? Because it's pretty much the reason Cal isn't here anymore...he only wanted kids that were passing through town for a minute. So Pope was hired to correct that situation......it may be wrong.....but i don't think it falls under the category of dumb.

 

[Seth_C]

Popes offense is literally a dream scenario for big z

And yet, Big Z came to UK with Calipari, who clearly plays an offense that is terrible for Z. So he may not make the best choices, in general.

 

[track42]

Is it?? Because it's pretty much the reason Cal isn't here anymore...he only wanted kids that were passing through town for a minute. So Pope was hired to correct that situation......it may be wrong.....but i don't think it falls under the category of dumb.

Every player dreams of playing in the NBA.Actually putting out now that you don't want players like that would be a disaster.For all the romance about playing for the name on the front of the jersey guys want NIL and hopes for the NBA more.

 

[PrinceofPain]

 

[Rockfly78]

It’s just a harsh reality. The only player that has come here for Kentucky is Reed and a couple others. All the rest were here because of Cal 100 percent.

 

[BlazerHallsBallsN96]

Cal is gonna have him trying to back down people in the post.

Funny and unbelievable as it sounds he will actually ram headstrong all year long for him to do this and "be tougher". Can't nobody squarepeg ram a round hole like ol' CCC. Been proving it for a decade.

 

[Fox2monk]

You just have to remind yourself that the university means nothing to these type of kids anymore. They’re only there to further there brand, make a little NIL, and then bolt.

Times have changed. Luckily pope will recruit guys that don’t have that mindset

I know and I hope he can find some but in order to get talent unfortunately just about every player is like that now. Look at Trey Mitchell, he played for 4 universities in 4 years.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

It’s just a harsh reality. The only player that has come here for Kentucky is Reed and a couple others. All the rest were here because of Cal 100 percent.

After what I saw Hagans post the other day I came to this conclusion

 

[TankedCat]

can't buy loyalty

 

[TheBlueMist]

I liked Z's upside, but this is just the nature of modern college basketball. He might have gone in the portal even if Cal stayed. Pope needs to bring in an assistant who recruits Europe (like Lloyd) to find more players like Z.

 

[Kantucke]

UConn, Duke, North Carolina & Kansas must be drooling, Wish he'd given pope a chance, but it's the nature of the beast Under the right coach (not Cal), he dominates college basketball.

 

[BlazerHallsBallsN96]

I'll never get over Calipari using Big Z as Ugos breather

Omg I know. Then they wonder why NO COACH from ANY school no matter how obscure and understaffed and understarred they may be, fears a CCC team even if full of first rounders. Seems like seniors enjoy beating these freshmen lazy ass weak entitled brats CCC has been throwing out in the floor. I'm 59 and attended during 96 so I know shit effort when I see it and it's CCC culture now. The stain starts from the top.

 

[bnewt]

Like I said, they came for Cal to get their draft stock up. Let them hit the door.

But ccc treated him like crap. Why play for a coach that doesn't have your best interest as his concern

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Hard to believe a guy from Croatia came to play for a coach. Most Croatians dream of playing basketball for Kentucky. We should start recruiting in state only and stop recruiting these “mercs”. If a guy comes here because Mark Pope runs an awesome offense that gives players freedom, I don’t want them. No players with NBA aspirations, just guys who want to entertain the fans and put their futures last.

He wants to go to the NBA. For that, noone is better than cal. If we hire Drew, oats, or pearl (the realistic guys), we maybe keep some. With pope we lose them all. Is what it is.

 

[BBNinSC]

Big Z and JQ will be the starting frontcourt for Arkansas next season

 

[sefus12]

That was the price of this hire. I'm going to support pope for sure, but you had to know this hire meant you lost everyone.

This was a certainty when Mitch pulled that trigger. Just remember, Mitch had to make this hire to save this year's roster, despite the fact any sensible person knew his year's roster was lost.

So we'll have BYU guys, Perry, and some other transfers that put nil over NBA draft potential.

So show me where Donovan was coming if we just waited for his season to end. Because the best info I’ve seen on Donovan is where Kyle Tucker said he was contacted by UK before pope was hired and Pitino said BD wanted no part of the job.

 

[bnewt]

All these guys Cal misused and abused deserve what they get if they drink the Cal-aid. Good riddance , ready to be rid of any connection.

Exactly, why go for a 2nd year of the same treatment. Just doesn't make sense

 

[TriCountyCat]

Maybe he can be buried on the bench behind JQ at Arkansas. Anybody that buys a single thing that Cal is selling outside of Klutch players are 🥜

 

[sefus12]

Exactly. It’s just unreal how some flip out and completely melt down at the drop of a hat. Good grief.

Not speaking for all of BBN, but the message board contingent has more than its fair share of emotional midgets (being nice there).

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

Not speaking for all of BBN, but the message board contingent has more than its fair share of emotional midgets (being nice there).

This board said it was being updated late the other night after Pope was announced but I think it was temporarily shut down because several were posting Barnhat’s contact info. I saw who they were and was not surprised.

 

[Warf2012]

I don’t know why anyone would be surprised. I knew all of this was coming as soon as the hire was made. They hired a guy that absolutely none of the guys have even heard of. Him playing at UK 30 years ago and before they were even born means nothing to them. His coaching record had been average at best outside of this last year. We’ve even got knowledgeable former players like Patterson questioning the hire.

I absolutely can’t stand Shaka Smart but even he would have been a better hire. Players have atleast heard of him and know who he is. I don’t think you guys realize how bad it’s going to get. The absolute worst thing that can happen is Barnhart still being here when the next hire is made. Getting him gone is priority #1.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

I don’t know why anyone would be surprised. I knew all of this was coming as soon as the hire was made. They hired a guy that absolutely none of the guys have even heard of. Him playing at UK 30 years ago and before they were even born means nothing to them. His coaching record had been average at best outside of this last year. We’ve even got knowledgeable former players like Patterson questioning the hire.

I absolutely can’t stand Shaka Smart but even he would have been a better hire. Players have atleast heard of him and know who he is. I don’t think you guys realize how bad it’s going to get. The absolute worst thing that can happen is Barnhart still being here when the next hire is made. Getting him gone is priority #1.

I stopped reading at Shaka.

 

[BlazerHallsBallsN96]

Big Z and JQ will be the starting frontcourt for Arkansas next season

Don't care if it's Ewing and Davis long as CCC is making the decisions well always have a chance to win, with a quick easy zone bwahahahahahha.
The fact that CCC still looks so surprised and perplexed every time he sees it is gold. Like wow 10 years straight of heartbreak still can't teach you!!!!

 

[BlazerHallsBallsN96]

I know and I hope he can find some but in order to get talent unfortunately just about every player is like that now. Look at Trey Mitchell, he played for 4 universities in 4 years.

He looked great at first and then you could see the real him come out when he didn't have his way. Omg lack of effort, never squatted on defense horrible