And truth to the Andrija jelavic buzz?

[LineSkiCat14]

Why are we worried about guys being happy with playing time at the end of the bench in the portal era where half the guys enter the portal every offseason anyway? So what if the 12th and 13th man aren't happy, let them enter the portal and get new ones next offseason if that is what they choose.

One thing that us and other schools are just going to have to accept.. is that if you want rotational players, and if you want 3rd string/bench guys, you're probably going to have to pay them something. Even if we don't really ever need to use them. Kind of like the backup QB.

I wonder what the going rate would be for guys like 8 through 12. I have to think most of them are going to be going to classes to get a degree (Playing professional ball at any level is likely not an option).. but it probably wouldn't hurt to make sure they're getting something like 50 to 100k/year.

We know that's what Duke is going to have to do if it wants to keep a P5 starter buried on it's bench. Because they'd just go get playing time elsewhere.

 

[Digger-Cat]

You can’t sit here and say we want players to stay here and then over recruit them every year. Eventually you gotta give guys a chance

Then the issue is the guys that leave. If they aren't willing to stay and develop, then that's on them.
If Chandler wants to transfer, he's going to run into the same problem whetever he goes. Same for Perry and same for Noah.
If Pope brings Yates on, there is still a ton of playing time for the entire guard corps, especially the way Pope shuffles guys in and out.
I get it, you want to keep players happy, but you can't put Chandler's hurt feelings over the state of the program. This is UK, not a church league.

Not: please don't take that the wrong way, I'm not trying to he mean when I said that last sentence, but it is a correct statement IMO.

 

[The_Catfather]

Dioubate is a little undersized but he's a freaking warrior. Had double-doubles against the two teams playing for the title tonight and he was pretty much a part-timer for Alabama playing behind Omoruyi and Nelson. He could probably toughen Garrison up too. Bama fans hated seeing him go to the portal.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

It's up to the players to get better if they want playing time.
Pope can't base his rosters on whether or not he's going to hurt someone's feelings. No coach (except Cal) does that.

He also can’t over recruit and not give the guys time to develop

 

[Sparkaces1]

Are you referring to when he left Arizona to go to WVU? Because he wasn’t that high going from WVU to UK.

Yes, he was ranked higher than Knecht LOL

 

[Tampa_cat54]

Some smoke with Kentucky and Dioubate of bama according to pilgrim

I would be okay with this.

Elite perimeter size and athleticism which we sorely lacked this year.

Shooting would still be a major concern.

 

[bnewt]

There are though.


pg - Lowe
sg - Johnson - 3 level scorer, shooter with deep range
sf - Oweh
pf - Folguereis - Much better shooter than Carr
c - Garrison - Far above average for position shooter

Lowe is not a consistent 3 point threat, neither is Oweh or GArrison.
Jasper will be a freshman, he is not Flagg or Knueppel
Folguereis is moving up in competition so he is also an unknown
Chandler, Perry & Noah are also basically unknowns

so where is the shooters ?

 

[Digger-Cat]

Ok, but can we stop acting like a better offensive system won’t help Lowe.

If you were CMP, would you stop recruiting guards right now and roll the dice on Lowe turning into an elite shooter?

I wouldn't. No way, no how. He's not just going to turn into a 45% shooter over the summer and that's what is required for UK to be a player next year.

Pope is not going to stake his career on Lowe improving as a shooter.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

If you were CMP, would you stop recruiting guards right now and roll the dice on Lowe turning into an elite shooter?

I wouldn't. No way, no how. He's not just going to turn into a 45% shooter over the summer and that's what is required for UK to be a player next year.

Pope is not going to stake his career on Lowe improving as a shooter.

I would believe jasper is going to be good, Lewis will be good, and chandler and Williams make jumps, along with Oweh being very good.

 

[Digger-Cat]

The one thing that really gets me is we have an ELITE shooter on the team that played minutes this year. Travis Perry will be a high level shooter at this level. You put him on the floor with other athletes/shooters he will knock shots down. The issue with him this year was he came in as a freshman and got thrown into PG minutes guarding guys he couldn't guard. Trust me his will be an elite shooter, and because he is a competitor his defense will improve. He won't be a 30 minute a game guy but he will be a guy you have to have 15-20 minutes and a known commodity as a shooter.

Perry cant guard anybody and during the back end of the season, when he was left open, he fired bricks.
Perry is at least another year away.

 

[bnewt]

College is different, but he was put in a really bad spot this year. So by your theory we don't judge any kids shooting in high school. He wasn't ready to be thrown in a the point, but he is a two guard and can shoot the lights out. We don't need the ball in his hands we need the spacing his shooting will provide. You won't be able to leave him which will make teams play more honest. Don't know him personally but I know he can shoot it and if you can do that you can play in that system. Again he won't ever be elite but he will be better than Kerr Kirisa!

and a lot of people on here said that Kirisa wasn't good enough to be at UK

 

[Digger-Cat]

I would believe jasper is going to be good, Lewis will be good, and chandler and Williams make jumps, along with Oweh being very good.

That's the same thing Cal did, which is why he's not here anymore.

 

[Digger-Cat]

There are though.


pg - Lowe
sg - Johnson - 3 level scorer, shooter with deep range
sf - Oweh
pf - Folguereis - Much better shooter than Carr
c - Garrison - Far above average for position shooter

What if Johnson is no better than BJ Boston, or "The Dragon"? How do you know he can legit start for a FF team? He's an unknown.

But that roster right there, is a middle of the pack SEC team and a second round loser.

Yes, our players are going to improve, but so is everyone else.

 

[bnewt]

How quickly we forget. We have to get stops and rebounds.

yes, and that has not been addressed

 

[bnewt]

He also can’t over recruit and not give the guys time to develop

hate to say it, but just think "time to develop" is a thing of the past
the portal & NIL have destroyed that line of thinking

 

[BleedBlue13]

I thought I saw the previous two years, last year of hs and first year of college he shot 41% and 35% from 3. It’s been explained a hundred times why his percentage was lower last year. To say he’s not capable of being a good shooter is running with only one years stats. Also not like he has nothing else to offer has size speed and passing as well.

 

[SemperFiCat]

yes, and that has not been addressed

Nope, but we have spots open still. I know Pope will address our toughness.

 

[Digger-Cat]

People keep focusing on guys that score, and not nearly enough on guys who can defend and rebound.

Need guys that can do both.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

That's the same thing Cal did, which is why he's not here anymore.

Yes but cal also ran the same offense from 2005 and never made any adjustments. This is a different coaching staff

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

People keep focusing on guys that score, and not nearly enough on guys who can defend and rebound.

All year we had some complain about lack of shot creation, physicality and athleticism. He goes and is getting that in the portal, now it’s lack of shooting

 

[SemperFiCat]

Need guys that can do both.

I agree. Just saying, we as fans are getting hung up on only the scoring side. We'll score, but we need to be able to harass, gets stops, and rebound. Too many just want Steph Currys.

 

[Digger-Cat]

This.

This is the season that dictates if Pope will be able to recruit top 15 freshman over the next 5 years.

1) Jasper is #13 nationally. If he comes here and barely plays then we are fully committed moving forward to the Pitino method of building via proven portal guys only.

2) If you want to be in MCDAA recruits living rooms then 1 or 2 of Moreno/Lewis/Jasper have to be key pieces and productive this season…w hopefully 1 of them going 1nD.

Not saying 1 or 2 is the right way forward….you can make a case for either…I believe the best guys you can get should play regardless of the recruiting pipeline…but good luck recruiting top 10 recruits if they are concerned they will sit behind a portal upperclassmen that gets added after the season ends and post the HS recruits commitment

Yeah, but Pope can't just play Jasper all the minutes in the world and sacrifice games, like JVC did with BJB and Edwards, just so he can show future recruits that they will play, no matter what.

Cal put those guys ahead of the program unconditionally and now he's at Arkansas.

If JJ turns out to he legit, CMP will make him a featured player, he has proven that.

 

[Sparkaces1]

What if Johnson is no better than BJ Boston, or "The Dragon"? How do you know he can legit start for a FF team? He's an unknown.

But that roster right there, is a middle of the pack SEC team and a second round loser.

Yes, our players are going to improve, but so is everyone else

There is no way to tell at this point, Lowe could become an all american, Oweh could be an all american and Jasper Johnson could be a one and done. The only sure thing is Oweh would be at worst like 2nd or 3rd team all sec.

 

[Digger-Cat]

He also can’t over recruit and not give the guys time to develop

100% agree.

But we have to decide what we want here:
Do we want to be a team that is elite offensively and elite defensively?

Or

Do we just want to be what we were this year?

I can assure you, Pope wants option A and you don't get option A when Perry, Chandler and Noah are getting more than a few minutes a game. Those guys are complimentary pieces.

CMP needs to land one of Yates/Pierre and get one of these high quality PF's, maybe more than 1.

 

[Digger-Cat]

There is no way to tell at this point, Lowe could become an all american, Oweh could be an all american and Jasper Johnson could be a one and done. The only sure thing is Oweh would be at worst like 2nd or 3rd team all sec.

Yeah and all of us hope that all of them turn out to be decorated guys, but with an open portal, available funds and open roster positions, Pope has a job to do if he wants UK to be a FF threat.

 

[TriCountyCat]

Perry cant guard anybody and during the back end of the season, when he was left open, he fired bricks.
Perry is at least another year away.

Bricks is an understatement. It sounded like the rim was gonna break.

 

[bigbluedon]

We need Pierre and two power forwards. Beef and strength on the front line is imperative.

 

[Digger-Cat]

Yes but cal also ran the same offense from 2005 and never made any adjustments. This is a different coaching staff

Joh Wooden isn't getting to a FF with the guys we have right now, not against todays competition.

 

[Digger-Cat]

I agree. Just saying, we as fans are getting hung up on only the scoring side. We'll score, but we need to be able to harass, gets stops, and rebound. Too many just want Steph Currys.

I'm amazed at what this injured team did defensively after the Ole Miss debacle. The improvement was astonishing and he (Pope) did it with our best defender out.
Scoring has to be priority 1, but with every player Pope targets, defensive efficiency needs to he a close second.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

SEC basketball getting more like the football.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Joh Wooden isn't getting to a FF with the guys we have right now, not against todays competition.

Again my point is we don’t know that. All you all are make assumptions with fear of what th least coaching staff did.

 

[Sparkaces1]

Again my point is we don’t know that. All you all are make assumptions with fear of what th least coaching staff did.

Agree, spending the most money and getting top portal guys is not a guarantee, see multiple examples already, Pope is a brilliant guy, his staff is full of brilliant guys, they are bringing the guys they think can win, hell he put a team together in a couple of weeks that possibly could have made the final 4 if healthy, trust them!

 

[Padsfs07]

Lowe is not a consistent 3 point threat, neither is Oweh or GArrison.
Jasper will be a freshman, he is not Flagg or Knueppel
Folguereis is moving up in competition so he is also an unknown
Chandler, Perry & Noah are also basically unknowns

so where is the shooters ?

Likely why Pope is recruiting Yates.

 

[Digger-Cat]

Again my point is we don’t know that. All you all are make assumptions with fear of what th least coaching staff did.

What we're trying to tell you, is you're assuming all of our players are going to improve over the summer and our freshmen are going to be elite.

You cant do that, not in Pope's position. He has to build the best possible team he can build and he can't do that on assumptions.

What we all need to realize is, everyone else's players are going to get better too and we know through past experience that the 13th best high school kid is not usually someone that can be counted on as one of your 5 best players.

 

[BleedBlue13]

Just our fans on this board have drastically different beliefs in everyone so you aren’t gonna change anyone’s mind until the team plays and proves people right or wrong. We lost a lot of experience and replaced it with more talent imo. If we need nba talent in the nba to help recruiting we have a lot of prospects now for sure. Out of what we lost don’t see a lot. Trading that experience for talent will for sure mean more growing pains than last year but if it goes to plan they grow into another year at UK instead of graduation.

 

[Digger-Cat]

Agree, spending the most money and getting top portal guys is not a guarantee, see multiple examples already, Pope is a brilliant guy, his staff is full of brilliant guys, they are bringing the guys they think can win, hell he put a team together in a couple of weeks that possibly could have made the final 4 if healthy, trust them!

So, are you saying you would rather Pope leave our guard corps as is, no yates, no Pierre and take the chance on Lewis, the 36th best HS player (Lewis) and JJ, the 13th best high school player, being a more sure bet than two of the best proven college guards in the portal???

You would take Johnson and Lewis over Yates and Pierre? What you're saying is, the 2 high school kids are more of a guarantee than the 2 proven college kids… .right?

Forgive me if I misread what you meant.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

Why are we worried about guys being happy with playing time at the end of the bench in the portal era where half the guys enter the portal every offseason anyway? So what if the 12th and 13th man aren't happy, let them enter the portal and get new ones next offseason if that is what they choose.

That's not how to build the continuity needed. Our 10-12 guys this year, Chandler, Noah and Perry, are expected to be upperclass team leaders in 3 yrs. That's the type of player we need to continue to find to fill out those last 3-4 slots.

 

[BleedBlue13]

I think PG is done with Lowe/Acaden and either Pierre or Yates pairs with Jasper at SG. Also have Chandler Williams and Oweh figuring in at the 2/3. A 5 star who got better after two years off, nba potential guy, and our best player. Frontcourt if we do add Alvaro may be done may not I really don’t know and not sure if Williams is gonna get most of his minutes as Oweh backup or as a backup 4. Who knows if we start the season with Moreno/Garrison at the 5, where was Gwath gonna slot in if we got him?

 

[Sparkaces1]

So, are you saying you would rather Pope leave our guard corps as is, no yates, no Pierre and take the chance on Lewis, the 36th best HS player (Lewis) and JJ, the 13th best high school player, being a more sure bet than two of the best proven college guards in the portal???

You would take Johnson and Lewis over Yates and Pierre? What you're saying is, the 2 high school kids are more of a guarantee than the 2 proven college kids… .right?

Forgive me if I misread what you meant.

That's not what I am saying at all, I trust Pope to put the team together, that's all. It seems like he is still recruiting guards/wings, so I don't really see the concern. One thing is for sure they need bigs more than guards at this point.

 

[bigblue1971]

So back to the Croatian guy...
Looks very mobile for a player 6'11" Can also shoot it from deep. He could be a star here.