2024 v. 2025
DJ Wagner < DJ Wagner
A. Reeves > Johnell Davis
J. Edwards < A. Thiero
T. Mitchell > K. Knox
U. Onyenso < J. Aidoo
Bench:
R. Sheppard > Boogie Fland
R. Dillingham > Billy Richmond
Z. Ivisic < Z. Ivisic
A. Bradshaw = Billy Richmond
Arkansas hasn't landed a PG yet. If Wagner goes to Arkansas, UK's PGs, Butler and Kriisa are pretty much the same or better than him in every metric.
Arkansas hasn't landed a PF yet. As long as they don't land JT Toppin or Owusu-Anane, Kentucky has the better PF than Arkansas in Andrew Carr.
At SG, Arkansas's Davis has a better PER than Brea, but Brea was the best 3pt shooter in college basketball last year, filling a specific role for this UK team. Davis may be the all-around better player, but Brea fits within a system designed for him to thrive.
At SF, Adou Thiero is better than Otega Oweh in certain metrics, but Otega Oweh was the #1 defensive SF in the portal. It seems that he was also chosen for a specific purpose.
At C, Kentucky wins. Amari Williams was the #2 overall defensive C in the portal, had a higher PER than Aidoo or Ivisic, and was only slightly behind Aidoo in Offensive efficiency.
That said, I think both teams will be good. It seems like Pope's choices were very precise, putting together the pieces for a successful system. Calipari, as always, has gone after the best athletes. We'll see who has the better year one.