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Jones update

He generally throws shit on the walls and hopes it sticks and repeats info that was already reported and acts as if he was the 1st to report it. He is a wannabe. The national guys always have the scoop 1st and there is a reason why.
I guess the fact that Vince and Mark call him doesn’t matter?

Again the coaches have and will continue to talk to Matt. He has a platform that can reach the largest majority of the fan base and coaches will use that to their advantage. Until the fan base turns on them, which is what we just went thru with Cal.

On a personal level I don’t care for Matt. As someone who wants to go one place to get info I will go to his site.
 
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I'll say again.. Jones seemed to be pretty much wrong for the entire coaching hiring process. Maybe that changes now that he will have a new relationship with Pope.. but I can't really trust his info until proven otherwise.

I also think a guy who spends a lot of his day on the national sports media circuit.. probably doesn't have a lot of time to spend on Kentucky basketball.
 
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If we go into next season with Jaxon Robinson being our best player, I don't like our chances at competing for a SEC title, much less NCAA title. He should have been our 3rd best player, assuming we get em. And settling for the 2 PG's we landed is a bit mind boggling to me. We had all summer.
The reporting shows we panicked with both the PG’s. After the Roach/Baylor situation we panicked with Butler and went “all-in” on someone legitimately not ranked in the Top 150 portal players. With Kriisa we panicked after Smith had the transcript issue and locked him up. The faith these coaches have in “the offensive system” is something to behold. Butler can drive a little….but Kentucky is going to have a roster of guards where none of them can consistently dribble penetrate for kick-outs against SEC level defense. Seemingly the entire team is catch-and-shoot specialists but anytime the question of how those guys are going to get open shots arises the answer is always “the system.” I’m with you….right now I don’t think we have a Top 25 roster talent wise. And even with Robinson I think it’s borderline.
 
I guess the fact that Vince and Mark call him doesn’t matter?

Again the coaches have and will continue to talk to Matt. He has a platform that can reach the largest majority of the fan base and coaches will use that to their advantage. Until the fan base turns on them, which is what we just went thru with Cal.

On a personal level I don’t care for Matt. As someone who wants to go one place to get info I will go to his site.
Lol
 
Concerned the Osobor scenario will be regrettable when we look back on things later. Tough sitiation needing to lock down roster spots and not necessarily having the breathing room to put one player on hold waiting on another decision. Osobor was an intriguing player… hopefully we aren’t watching him blow up at another program this year.
The one advantage of Garrison over Osobor is multiple years.
 
The reporting shows we panicked with both the PG’s. After the Roach/Baylor situation we panicked with Butler and went “all-in” on someone legitimately not ranked in the Top 150 portal players. With Kriisa we panicked after Smith had the transcript issue and locked him up. The faith these coaches have in “the offensive system” is something to behold. Butler can drive a little….but Kentucky is going to have a roster of guards where none of them can consistently dribble penetrate for kick-outs against SEC level defense. Seemingly the entire team is catch-and-shoot specialists but anytime the question of how those guys are going to get open shots arises the answer is always “the system.” I’m with you….right now I don’t think we have a Top 25 roster talent wise. And even with Robinson I think it’s borderline.
I agree with your assessment here. Objectively speaking, this is not a team whose talent level is top 25. I think it would actually take landing an elite talent and Robinson to get us safely in the top 25. However, I'm gonna try my best to reserve my judgment until I see the product on the court. Scheme is important but how important is it? Can it elevate the right players games? Only time will tell. I'm curious to see how Mark Pope's coaching ideology plays out. I'll continue to have hope until the product tells me otherwise.
 
The reporting shows we panicked with both the PG’s. After the Roach/Baylor situation we panicked with Butler and went “all-in” on someone legitimately not ranked in the Top 150 portal players. With Kriisa we panicked after Smith had the transcript issue and locked him up. The faith these coaches have in “the offensive system” is something to behold. Butler can drive a little….but Kentucky is going to have a roster of guards where none of them can consistently dribble penetrate for kick-outs against SEC level defense. Seemingly the entire team is catch-and-shoot specialists but anytime the question of how those guys are going to get open shots arises the answer is always “the system.” I’m with you….right now I don’t think we have a Top 25 roster talent wise. And even with Robinson I think it’s borderline.
From a numbers standpoint, prior to the Kriisa addition, comparing our roster to 2023-24 #1 seeds, #2 seeds, and Final Four teams, we had the #2 in Player Efficiency Ratings, #11 offense, and #6 defense.

The Kriisa addition dropped us down, but it was in part because I was using his 2023-24 numbers, which were by far the worst of his career. West Virginia was terrible last year. I think he will be a good addition once all is said and done.
 
Some dudes will need to step up for the current roster to compete next year. We're all talking about Robinson like he's already on the roster, too. Nope. I just hate knowing we are rolling in with Butler as our starting PG next year. Kid is far from dynamic. I could see taking him in late April at BYU, but at UK? I don't get some of the staff moves at lead guard this portal season.
Thankfully, they know much more than you.
 
The reporting shows we panicked with both the PG’s. After the Roach/Baylor situation we panicked with Butler and went “all-in” on someone legitimately not ranked in the Top 150 portal players. With Kriisa we panicked after Smith had the transcript issue and locked him up. The faith these coaches have in “the offensive system” is something to behold. Butler can drive a little….but Kentucky is going to have a roster of guards where none of them can consistently dribble penetrate for kick-outs against SEC level defense. Seemingly the entire team is catch-and-shoot specialists but anytime the question of how those guys are going to get open shots arises the answer is always “the system.” I’m with you….right now I don’t think we have a Top 25 roster talent wise. And even with Robinson I think it’s borderline.

Agree, thought we could have done a lot better recruiting lead guard, but let's see what happens I guess. I think we need to fill 3 more scholarships.
 
Add Robinson and another PG and call it a day. Probably won't cut down the nets year one, but its going to be fun and refreshing basketball!
 
The reporting shows we panicked with both the PG’s. After the Roach/Baylor situation we panicked with Butler and went “all-in” on someone legitimately not ranked in the Top 150 portal players. With Kriisa we panicked after Smith had the transcript issue and locked him up. The faith these coaches have in “the offensive system” is something to behold. Butler can drive a little….but Kentucky is going to have a roster of guards where none of them can consistently dribble penetrate for kick-outs against SEC level defense. Seemingly the entire team is catch-and-shoot specialists but anytime the question of how those guys are going to get open shots arises the answer is always “the system.” I’m with you….right now I don’t think we have a Top 25 roster talent wise. And even with Robinson I think it’s borderline.
Another poster that claims to have insight into the coaches mindset. Thankfully, no one listens to you
 
I agree with your assessment here. Objectively speaking, this is not a team whose talent level is top 25. I think it would actually take landing an elite talent and Robinson to get us safely in the top 25. However, I'm gonna try my best to reserve my judgment until I see the product on the court. Scheme is important but how important is it? Can it elevate the right players games? Only time will tell. I'm curious to see how Mark Pope's coaching ideology plays out. I'll continue to have hope until the product tells me otherwise.
I will be the first to say the offensive scheme is elite….but scheme only gets you so far. It’s just so odd to me they built this whole team and then seemingly overlooked the engine of the whole thing. An elite dribble penetrator and assist guy (like Sears at Bama) would have truly “unlocked” this roster of elite set shot specialists.
 
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I will be the first to say the offensive scheme is elite….but scheme only gets you so far. It’s just so odd to me they built this whole team and then seemingly overlooked the engine of the whole thing. An elite dribble penetrator and assist guy (like Sears at Bama) would have truly “unlocked” this roster of elite set shot specialists.
Pope’s system doesn’t rely on an elite dribble penetrator.

Cal has you brainwashed.
 
People are underrating Kerr in Pope's offense. Averaged 11 and 4 assists at WVU as a starter, and was a starter at Arizona that was a #1 seed. And he's willing to come off the BENCH, at UK. Imagine having a starting PG talent to be a backup. Not to mention one of the most efficient 3 point shooters in the country.
And our best teams always have someone that just loves to talk ish all game and we've missed that recently.

Would love a Ramen Bradley or Liggins on any team we ever trot out.....we've been missing that
 
I guess the fact that Vince and Mark call him doesn’t matter?

Again the coaches have and will continue to talk to Matt. He has a platform that can reach the largest majority of the fan base and coaches will use that to their advantage. Until the fan base turns on them, which is what we just went thru with Cal.

On a personal level I don’t care for Matt. As someone who wants to go one place to get info I will go to his site.
This is smart, instead of going to multiple sites, you go to one where he steals from all the sites. Nice!
 
Wtf are you talking about with Butler and Kriisa? One will start, the other will play plenty. They are totally different players that fill totally different (but equally necessary) roles on the team.

The Kerr toxicity crap is just that.
guys a clown just ignore is ass fn clueless troll who needs to go finish off squid calamari
 
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If we go into next season with Jaxon Robinson being our best player, I don't like our chances at competing for a SEC title, much less NCAA title. He should have been our 3rd best player, assuming we get em. And settling for the 2 PG's we landed is a bit mind boggling to me. We had all summer.
I agree on Jaxson Robinson. He was not even a starter at BYU last year.
 
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He generally throws shit on the walls and hopes it sticks and repeats info that was already reported and acts as if he was the 1st to report it. He is a wannabe. The national guys always have the scoop 1st and there is a reason why.
Yeah, when the "local" program plug is regularly getting out-scooped by national guys that have way more to focus on and far fewer connections to the local community, you know that "local" plug is not really an "insider" at all.
 
Matt just said that the staff is looking for one bucket getter and he feels like Jaxson is that guy, but will have back up options. He also mentioned the staff will fill out the 11th and 12th man spots on the roster. However, it sounds like those spots will be filler. Not sure I like hearing that. I like Robinson a lot, but is a bucket getter? I feel we need Robinson AND a bucket getter. That's just me though. Seem unlikely regardless.
 
Matt just said that the staff is looking for one bucket getter and he feels like Jaxson is that guy, but will have back up options. He also mentioned the staff will fill out the 11th and 12th man spots on the roster. However, it sounds like those spots will be filler. Not sure I like hearing that. I like Robinson a lot, but is a bucket getter? I feel we need Robinson AND a bucket getter. That's just me though. Seem unlikely regardless.
Damn. He’s using the same words “bucket getter” as Aaron gershon used last night. Come on Matt.
 
Matt just said that the staff is looking for one bucket getter and he feels like Jaxson is that guy, but will have back up options. He also mentioned the staff will fill out the 11th and 12th man spots on the roster. However, it sounds like those spots will be filler. Not sure I like hearing that. I like Robinson a lot, but is a bucket getter? I feel we need Robinson AND a bucket getter. That's just me though. Seem unlikely regardless.
Robinson averaged 15 a game and really came on late.
 
Robinson seems like a must get at this point as UK doesn't seem to be in a good position with other top players left.
Based on what? No one but the staff knows who they are working on.

Cheese-Lasagna-72DPI1-e1476892466909-800x600.jpg
 
Robinson seems like a must get at this point as UK doesn't seem to be in a good position with other top players left.
The thing about the staff is they don’t really say anything so we don’t know who the guys in the draft they feel good about are. Poplar seems like somebody they can get now, but do you chance that with Robinson. The Lathon guy from morehead state is good and somebody they should reach out to cover themselves. But this staff has it covered, I wish they would get 2 wing scorers instead of just one but pope has his plan so in gonna trust him
 
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From a numbers standpoint, prior to the Kriisa addition, comparing our roster to 2023-24 #1 seeds, #2 seeds, and Final Four teams, we had the #2 in Player Efficiency Ratings, #11 offense, and #6 defense.

The Kriisa addition dropped us down, but it was in part because I was using his 2023-24 numbers, which were by far the worst of his career. West Virginia was terrible last year. I think he will be a good addition once all is said and done.
Too many ppl are underestimating the roster for sure.

The “how are the catch and shoot guys going to get open” fear mongering is a product of the mindset that the only way to “create” open shots is off ball screens and dribble penetration with kickouts and swing passes. Ppl think that bc it’s what we’ve watched the last 15 years, but it’s also the majority of what 85%+ of teams in colllege and NBA run now.

Pope has shown that he wants a ton of off ball movement, staggered screens, zoom, multiple ppl moving off ball simultaneously, minimum ball sticking. Princeton style; similar to the Bellarmine “no dribbles” system but not as extreme/strict bc you have higher quality athletes.

Ppl are too stuck on watching a lot of 1v1 2v2 basketball that the game has mutated into…it’s actually a lot harder to defend chasing a team around the floor for 40 minutes…it just fell out of fashion bc the NBA is all about promoting “stars” bc it sells tickets and merchandise and the ball screen 1v1 game showcases those guys. So as the ppl who played on those systems become coaches…thats what they know and teach. The off ball non-stop motion and screening away takes a higher sustained effort level, higher capacity for understanding multiple concepts, more coaching/good students of the game….but extremely effective when done right. Now-a-days we’d refer to it as the “European game”…reality it’s just a loss version of basketball in the states as we overemphasized showcasing individual talent and de-emphasized high level quick ball movement to move the defense, not just to pass to an open player.
 
The thing about the staff is they don’t really say anything so we don’t know who the guys in the draft they feel good about are. Poplar seems like somebody they can get now, but do you chance that with Robinson. The Lathon guy from morehead state is good and somebody they should reach out to cover themselves. But this staff has it covered, I wish they would get 2 wing scorers instead of just one but pope has his plan so in gonna trust him
Pope took Garrison because he didn't want to wait on Osobor so I don't see the difference.
 
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