While we will be competitive next season, I think Pope is aiming for the 2027 season as our year to be a legitimate title contender.

We currently have 10 players on the roster for next season, and 9 of those 10 have eligibility in the 26-27 season. The only one that does not is Oweh.

Retention is a program from season to season is a huge piece of winning championships. Here are the final four teams from this year and what they returned:

Houston: 75.1% of minutes played and 73.1% of scoring
Florida: 60.2% of minutes played and 56.9% of scoring
Auburn: 56.6% of minutes played and 58.2% of scoring
Duke: 23.6% of minutes played and 19.4% of scoring

Duke is the only team that didn't return half of their minutes and scoring, and they are clearly unique since they had one of the best freshman of all time, and 2 other freshman that are both lottery picks as well.

Obviously, when talking about these portal guys, Offensive numbers are typically highlighted. But, personally, I hope Pope is making Defense a bit of a priority with this next squad. Defense travels, and is typically more reliable. So, find me some sticky, pestering, physical dogs that love to get after it. I watched the second half of that Tenn game (and other games) thinking that if we could just get a couple stops, we could get back into it. It may not be sexy, but I'd love to see an absolute elite defensive Kentucky team. Heck, maybe even some effective press.

With the PF spot still unclaimed, wonder if this piques Pope's interest?

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Nike game coming Saturday night on USA at 9 CST, Moreno and Johnson playing.
Jordan game coming on the 18th with both of our guard signees playing, but believe that game has been no longer televised in recent years?

Hmmm, bet the U6 boards are LIT...

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I think the SEC is going to take a step back next season. Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Florida…. got lucky on mid major hits in the portal, that will not always happen. I expect them all to take steps back next year. What’s the chances of Alabama and Auburn getting a Booth or Sears again from a mid major? Seriously doubt they will find All Americans like they did the last two years. Tennessee doesn’t look like they have a Knecth or Lanier coming in and they are loosing a lot. Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida had no idea that Sears, Broom, Kencth… we’re going to turnout to be the players they were. There luck will run out on mid major hits eventually. They will be good but there luck of hitting on All Americans through the portal won’t last forever. If Kentucky plays is cards right in the portal we might be the best team in the SEC next year. Oweh, might be the best returning player in the SEC. He will most certainly be preseason first team all SEC. He will also be on the Wooden Award watch and probably be on one of the 1-3 All American preseason teams. There will be good teams in the SEC next year. The likelihood of hitting on an all American through the portal multiple years in a row is highly unlikely. This might be KY year with a portal All American. I expect big things from Oweh this up coming season.

If I am feeling down I go right to Youtube and watch the videos of Duke losing and then I feel GREAT!

These are the main guys right now but there are going to be a lot more, will be sure to update or post a new thread with guys as they plan on making it in...

I'm not quite sure this feller is legit





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To Cincinnati.. Good luck to him..

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Hopefully this clip hadn't already been posted somewhere, but I saw this and thought everyone might appreciate it. I think these kind of drills embody what Houston is as a program right now. I think we could benefit from a little bit of this toughness. With Pope's offensive coaching ability and analytical intelligence, if you were to throw in a little bit of this meanness, we'd be well on our way.

Either way, hard not to appreciate this kind of effort in practice