When Pope had a healthy roster
No need to panic....the wildcard that we're unsure of at this point is recruiting.....Time will tell
No need to panic....the wildcard that we're unsure of at this point is recruiting.....Time will tell
Beat Duke, Gonzaga, and Louisville....
- Thread starter Blueathletics
- Start date
Honestly, we’ve done well to stay .500 in the SEC. We’ve played most of the last few games without two of our best & most important players. Trying to compete against really good teams without your top 3 PGs is damn near impossible, too. Idk how that fact is lost on some ppl. We’re essentially playing with one hand tied behind our back & the other in a cast. But, if we have a healthy Butler for the postseason, NOBODY will want to see this team in their bracket.
I'm honestly not worried about recruiting.
Pope has already shown to be a coach that players like. He's probably more trustworthy to families than most coaches. And they must surely like his teams' playing style. That just leaves NIL, which isn't a "coach thing".
AND, more importantly I think the future of building successful teams is primarily in roster construction from the Transfer Poral. Yes, you want to bring in a few recruits, good enough to contribute (eventually), but not so good that they are OAD or think they can play more after one year and transfer, unless it is a OAD who is one of the few (5-6) each year so good that they can carry a team.
After saying that, unless the NCAA makes a change like going to a "5 seasons in 5 years" rule, the portal will be dried up a bit this summer compared to the past 2-3 years because there will be no more 5th year seniors (from the Covid rule).
Pope has already shown to be a coach that players like. He's probably more trustworthy to families than most coaches. And they must surely like his teams' playing style. That just leaves NIL, which isn't a "coach thing".
AND, more importantly I think the future of building successful teams is primarily in roster construction from the Transfer Poral. Yes, you want to bring in a few recruits, good enough to contribute (eventually), but not so good that they are OAD or think they can play more after one year and transfer, unless it is a OAD who is one of the few (5-6) each year so good that they can carry a team.
After saying that, unless the NCAA makes a change like going to a "5 seasons in 5 years" rule, the portal will be dried up a bit this summer compared to the past 2-3 years because there will be no more 5th year seniors (from the Covid rule).
I will say Williams has stepped up and is playing like the second best big in the conference behind Broom of course.
I agree, can Pope get players who can compete in today's SEC? The top teams in the SEC are
deep, can we get that depth? If Sears, Broome, Ziegler or any of a half dozen other upper
classmen had been at UK they would be long gone by now. Pope isn't Cal(thank you Lord)
but it remains to be seen if he can retain key players for 2 or three years. Every team is
subject to the dollars of the NBA, NIL and the portal yet yet Auburn, Alabama, UT and
multiple other schools not in the SEC keep players. Will/can we get into that mode?
Pope's greatest achievement so far has been putting together this roster out of thin air.
Where does he go from here in that area? The style looks to be fun to play, we are are
on a national stage and in the best conference in the history of college basketball.
Can Pope establish himself as an elite coach ,to me that is the final and defining
piece of the equation. In order to sustain that process we need to win 2 more regular
season games ,at least 1 game in both the SECT and NCAAT. Going forward I think
he has 2 more years to elevate his status as a coach.
In a perfect Cat world he succeeds in doing that. I am a Pope fan because I believe
he is a what you see is what you get type of person. Maybe the good guys win ever
once in a while
deep, can we get that depth? If Sears, Broome, Ziegler or any of a half dozen other upper
classmen had been at UK they would be long gone by now. Pope isn't Cal(thank you Lord)
but it remains to be seen if he can retain key players for 2 or three years. Every team is
subject to the dollars of the NBA, NIL and the portal yet yet Auburn, Alabama, UT and
multiple other schools not in the SEC keep players. Will/can we get into that mode?
Pope's greatest achievement so far has been putting together this roster out of thin air.
Where does he go from here in that area? The style looks to be fun to play, we are are
on a national stage and in the best conference in the history of college basketball.
Can Pope establish himself as an elite coach ,to me that is the final and defining
piece of the equation. In order to sustain that process we need to win 2 more regular
season games ,at least 1 game in both the SECT and NCAAT. Going forward I think
he has 2 more years to elevate his status as a coach.
In a perfect Cat world he succeeds in doing that. I am a Pope fan because I believe
he is a what you see is what you get type of person. Maybe the good guys win ever
once in a while
