Pope’s offense is perfect for him. If he would stay that would be huge for us. He would be a lot better off here than following Calipari and sitting on the bench or being forced to stay in the paint when he does get playing time.
Big Z
- Thread starter Woodrow_Call_1998
- Start date
I'll get the warm fuzzies if my guy comes back . Me and rideordie and Mike Mc pushed hard for the big guy all year , and dumb dumb Benny wouldnt play him . By the end of the season the kid wouldnt even look at a 3 .
Get my boy Z back and I will feel so much better.
2 tall white goofy guys should be able to relate. I hope.
2 tall white goofy guys should be able to relate. I hope.
Most think he goes to Arkansas.
I'd love to have Z back but he has a LOT to work on, especially his cardio.
Hope not. Kentucky fans loved Z.
So much potential.....you would think perfect for Pope's offense.
I love adou too. My favorite player but I don't expect a single Cal player to be on this team. The ones that don't go pro will follow Cal... adou probably goes to Pitt though... Ugo another school, the rest follow Cal.
He and Reed are tight. Interesting neither has made any announcement. 🤞
Yeah, it really would be. I don't know what he's thinking right but I hope he's watching highlights of Pope's offense and sees that their big men shoot threes all the time. 😀
that would be a crazy move. Cal isn’t going to let him play on the perimeter, including now since Welch isn’t helping with the offense
I know what Pope would have him do
I agree and would love for Big Z to return. I think we should all prepare ourselves for the most Kiely result here which is all the recruits and existing players follow Cal. I do think it’s likely that Perry still comes, maybe we can get a few of the guys Cal refused to play to stick around as well like Hart & Burk’s.
He and Bradshaw were tight too, but they were also competing for PT. Hopefully he sees that his game translates more to Popes offense than the one he just played in. Cal will have him playing with his back to the basket if he gets his way. I think Z took some of the shots he did to spite Cal more than anything.
You know if he leaves to go to Arkansas that Cal won’t let him play on the perimeter like Pope would. Z is really good at passing the ball to so he is the perfect big man for that system.
I expect him to go back to Croatia as of now. Misses family, can’t make NIL, etc.
Don’t think any of the bigs were coming back to play for Cal(and thus going to Arkansas for him). He indirectly threw them under the bus hard after the season with all the physicality talk.
Don’t think any of the bigs were coming back to play for Cal(and thus going to Arkansas for him). He indirectly threw them under the bus hard after the season with all the physicality talk.
THE POPE needs to sit Z down with video and show him if he stays he'll make him a lottery pick
I get his loyalty for Cal helping him get here but then was hardly played. I'd imagine Z would be more loyal to the fan base for the support. Getting him or even Bradshaw back would be huge. Preferably Z.
If I were Pope, my first move would be to reach out to Z and show him my offense and how he could be a focal point in it, and we would encourage him to shoot the 3 and showcase his passing ability.
I know he's probably loyal to Cal and will either turn pro or follow his old coach, but I would love to see him in Pope's offense.
I know he's probably loyal to Cal and will either turn pro or follow his old coach, but I would love to see him in Pope's offense.
Why. Cal mis used him. Pope can develop him like Cal didn’t
Well he’ll have the whole off season to do it, wasn’t allowed to work with the team for much of last year.
He seems like he could be a star in Pope’s offense. I’d be surprised if we keep him though. I could see him entering the draft or going back home and playing pro basketball there if the NBA doesn’t work out. Maybe even following Cal to Arkansas. Staying at Kentucky to play with an all new coaching staff feels like a longshot even with the perceived fit, unfortunately.
I'm sure they were waiting for your goofy expertise.
This right here. You've nailed him perfectly. Z is a GREAT passer, with GREAT court vision, and can pull the bigs away from the basket because of his ability to knock down the trey. Pope would be all over that.
I don’t have any sources (or do I?)
If Reed is back, so is Z. You heard it here first.
If Reed is back, so is Z. You heard it here first.
I really think Pope can sell Z on the new offense and the potential for a big successful season for Z in 2025. I think Z has to at least listen to what Pope says, before making a final decision.
1). I think Z stays at UK (familiarity), depending if a few teammates stick with UK,
2). He goes a (G-League) pro route,
3). He goes East back towards home to play in Europe.
4). I do not see him going any further West, where he has to go through another learning curve, especially socially.
1). I think Z stays at UK (familiarity), depending if a few teammates stick with UK,
2). He goes a (G-League) pro route,
3). He goes East back towards home to play in Europe.
4). I do not see him going any further West, where he has to go through another learning curve, especially socially.
He just started following Arkansas on his twitter.
Oscar found a workaround for the NIL thing and managed to make some coin. I think Z could find a similar path.
Z would blow up in this offense. maybe we should get a billboard?
We all loved him. But he wasn’t ready. He wasn’t even in shape to play and his strength and lateral movement was a liability. Give me year two all the way. But I doubt he stays. Probably depends on how much he likes being in Lexington
Rock saying Z was " a. liability" just dumb .. the guards D was MIA , made the bigs look bad on occasion .. listen Z has weaknesses , I'm aware . I see it . But singling him out as a player that barely freaking played on a team that didnt D up well is just too harsh .
Uhmmmm. Yeah if folks don’t see that they need to take their Cal glasses off
Similar threads
