Building a Contender - The Final Pieces

[UKSanders]

I was listing him by portal position. Carr is an above average defender, but not by much, who will probably be utilized in matchup situations. He's not going to go toe to toe with the best on the opposing team, if that happens to be a 3/4 position.

I'm not big on Jaxson Robinson, though I am big on bringing in someone who understands and knows Pope's system.

Knowledge of both the system AND having a relationship with Coach Pope are the reasons I bump Robinson a little higher compared to other SFs. As someone stated on this forum the other day, that previous relationship removes the potential barrier of the dynamic b/t a new coach and player.

 

[Eight_Banners]

Here's a lineup with Koby Brea, Chaz Lanier and Great Osobor added:

Player Additions:

Player PER ORtg DRtg
Otega Oweh 17.5 104.7 98.4
Amari Williams 28.5 109.5 92.1
Andrew Carr 20.8 127.6 103.2
Chaz Lanier 24.6 129 110.7
Great Osobor 25.5 116.5 98.4
Koby Brea 18.3 134.5 106.1
Brandon Garrison 17.8 108.6 101.2
Lamont Butler 14.3 105.3 100.3



Team Averages: PER: 20.9 / ORtg: 117.0 / DRtg: 101.3


2023-24 Top Teams (#1 and #2 seeds and Final Four teams)

Team Ranks by PER:
2024-25 Kentucky Wildcats: 20.9 - We would have elite PER
UCONN: 20.2
KENTUCKY: 18.8
PURDUE: 18.7
HOUSTON: 18.7
ARIZONA: 18.6
IOWA STATE: 18.4
MARQUETTE: 18.1
ALABAMA: 17.7
TENNESSEE: 17.4
NORTH CAROLINA: 17.2
NC STATE: 17

Team Ranks by ORtg:
PURDUE: 125.5
UCONN: 125.3
ALABAMA: 123.5
KENTUCKY: 120.5
ARIZONA: 119.8
2024-25 KENTUCKY: 117.0 ---- Put us among the top teams in Offensive Efficiency
NORTH CAROLINA: 116.7
TENNESSEE: 116.5
HOUSTON: 116.1
MARQUETTE: 115.3
IOWA STATE: 114.7
NC STATE: 113


Team Ranks by DRtg:
HOUSTON: 89.3
IOWA STATE: 91.4
UCONN: 97.9
ARIZONA: 97.9
TENNESSEE: 97.9
NORTH CAROLINA: 100.7
2024-25 KENTUCKY: 101.3 --- Keeps us in the middle of the top teams Defensively
MARQUETTE: 101.8
PURDUE: 102.8
NC STATE: 104.6
KENTUCKY: 108.6
ALABAMA: 111.9

 

[Eight_Banners]

Here's a lineup with Koby Brea, Chaz Lanier and JT Toppin added:

Player Additions:

Player	PER	ORtg	DRtg
Otega Oweh	17.5​	104.7​	98.4​
Amari Williams	28.5​	109.5​	92.1​
Andrew Carr	20.8​	127.6​	103.2​
Chaz Lanier	24.6​	129​	110.7​
JT Toppin	27.4​	131.8​	93.8​
Koby Brea	18.3​	134.5​	106.1​
Brandon Garrison	17.8​	108.6​	101.2​
Lamont Butler	14.3​	105.3​	100.3​

Team Averages: PER: 21.2 / ORtg: 118.9 / DRtg: 100.7


2023-24 Top Teams (#1 and #2 seeds and Final Four teams)

Team Ranks by PER:
2024-25 Kentucky Wildcats: 21.2 - We would have elite PER
UCONN: 20.2
KENTUCKY: 18.8
PURDUE: 18.7
HOUSTON: 18.7
ARIZONA: 18.6
IOWA STATE: 18.4
MARQUETTE: 18.1
ALABAMA: 17.7
TENNESSEE: 17.4
NORTH CAROLINA: 17.2
NC STATE: 17

Team Ranks by ORtg:
PURDUE: 125.5
UCONN: 125.3
ALABAMA: 123.5
KENTUCKY: 120.5
ARIZONA: 119.8
2024-25 KENTUCKY: 118.9 ---- Put us among the top teams in Offensive Efficiency
NORTH CAROLINA: 116.7
TENNESSEE: 116.5
HOUSTON: 116.1
MARQUETTE: 115.3
IOWA STATE: 114.7
NC STATE: 113


Team Ranks by DRtg:
HOUSTON: 89.3
IOWA STATE: 91.4
UCONN: 97.9
ARIZONA: 97.9
TENNESSEE: 97.9
NORTH CAROLINA: 100.7
2024-25 KENTUCKY: 100.7 --- Keeps us in the middle of the top teams Defensively
MARQUETTE: 101.8
PURDUE: 102.8
NC STATE: 104.6
KENTUCKY: 108.6
ALABAMA: 111.9


So, adding either JT Toppin or Great Osobor keeps us with pretty similar metrics. Personally, I would favor JT Toppin because he's only going to be a sophomore next year. However, he is so good that he will probably hit the NBA trail in 2025, so you're probably only getting both of them for one year.

 

[Eight_Banners]

Player	PER	ORtg	DRtg
Otega Oweh	17.5​	104.7​	98.4​
Amari Williams	28.5​	109.5​	92.1​
Andrew Carr	20.8​	127.6​	103.2​
Koby Brea	18.3​	134.5​	106.1​
Brandon Garrison	17.8​	108.6​	101.2​
Lamont Butler	14.3​	105.3​	100.3​
	19.5​	115.0​	100.2​

If we get a PG distributor, we are going to be tough.

 

[Eight_Banners]

Player	PER	ORtg	DRtg
Otega Oweh	17.5​	104.7​	98.4​
Amari Williams	28.5​	109.5​	92.1​
Andrew Carr	20.8​	127.6​	103.2​
Kerr Kriisa	12.1​	106​	116​
Koby Brea	18.3​	134.5​	106.1​
Brandon Garrison	17.8​	108.6​	101.2​
Lamont Butler	14.3​	105.3​	100.3​
	18.5​	113.7​	102.5​

From a metrics standpoint, the Kerr Kriisa addition brought this team down a ton. From a top PER team to a mid-pack PER team and curved the numbers in the wrong direction both offensively and defensively.

My thoughts are this:

He played for a terrible West Virginia team whose overall defensive rating was #339 out of 362, and whose offensive rating was #290 out of 362. Ideally, you put Kriisa on a team with much better players around him and his numbers will improve as well. His defensive numbers last year were lower than any of Kentucky's players of the entire Calipari era. However, his defensive numbers while at Arizona were much better, so I would chalk it up to lack of effort on a terrible team. Being surrounded by good players makes good players play with much more intensity.

This was the least exciting portal addition so far. I do think we need to get one more player, the best of the best *cough* JT Toppin *cough* to seal a great team for us next year.