ADVERTISEMENT

GYERO

So I guess the Moreno kid looks good at the McDonald’s practices? Other than his first name making me think of the creepy red-headed kid from “Children of the Corn” whenever I hear it, I’m pretty excited that he can maybe contribute next year.
Saw one of the Arkansas guys raving about him.
 
Last year, all our portal additions, other than Brea, came out of nowhere.

^ and were met with "meh" from BBN, mostly.

And it was thought for most of the time it was Duke or UConn for Brea, and he revealed numerous times here it was pretty much UK, his dream school, all along for him.

#Trust
 
I have no idea how to project Moreno because I've never seen many 7'1 guys before! I can tell you that I noticed such an improvement in him from last year's state tournament to this year's. The kid has worked on his body and athleticism and even his stamina. He had a couple of "oooooh" lobs and big time rejections. Yes, he was blocking and dunking on 6'5 - 6'7 sixteen year olds, but still. He ran the floor very well and didn't miss many free-throws (although his form is sort of wack). The kid will keep getting better.
 
My timing Friday night might have been bad to ask how long will BJW give Pope before turning on him.

But you lose to UT in a tournament game, and have a perception of struggle in any format of recruiting and BJW will absolutely BJW.

Where I’m at, Bullitt County, I’ve heard it already most of the season. Sadly, now it’s creeping in all over the state.

I hope it’s basically in game redass reaction, but I don’t want Pope to have any negativity this early when in general the man is crushing this job about as well as anyone could have.
 
Pope on his last radio show yesterday said he values shooting, decision making and high character the most. He also said the SEC this year taught him they need to get physically tougher and even joked (I think) of setting up football practice dummies on the court to have guys get used to fighting through screens better.
 
Pope sounds like he's in no hurry to get the roster complete:



Pope also said last night on his call-in show that he wants Trent Noah to gain 15-18 pounds of muscle this offseason. Interesting. Noah is realistically 6'4 or 6'5. I don't ever see him as a long-term 4 in college. I guess the plan is to turn him into a jumbo wing who can guard the 2 through 4.

I think it is sufficiently obvious that Pope has to add size, athleticism, and more consistent defensive ability across the board. He's not going to jeopardize shooting to do it, either. Kam Williams is what we are looking for.

Intricate roster building for the long haul is music to this Cat fan's ears. Last year we had a bunch of specialists that they masterfully cobbled together into a cohesive whole. This year, I want to have guys who are good to great at multiple skills so we don't have to substitute using a flowchart designed by Charlie to locate Pepe Silvia.
 
Last edited:
Players not mentioned so far, I hope we land a few guys who can handle the ball / get to the rim. After Robinson went down, Butler was about the only guard who could consistently drive it deep. Ball handling was a pretty big issue, when teams trapped us late when we had a nice lead, we did not have enough guys who could break the press dribbling so they stopped their dribble or panicked and threw it away.
 
I guess because there is no chance the SEC will be as deep as we were this past season and we are going to need some of these schools to put some focus on basketball for seeding. Hopefully the right coaches at the right schools will help.


Also, and less important, because I’m a fan and in the depths of winter I like watching other teams play good games when they aren’t playing UK.
 
Last edited:
How is it a criticism/slander to call someone a "F boy?"


So, you're a dude who is only good for having uncommitted intercourse with women? Wow. Gotta be embarassing for you. Or whatever. 😮
 
  • Like
Reactions: Col. Angus
Rafters right now: “Players in the transfer portal are signing with other schools! Should Mark Pope be drawn and quartered and fired into the sun?”
It's a little much. I wish I could enjoy it like Ron. I like to think BJW has a pretty good grasp on what qualifies as good basketball even if their expectations aren't always realistic but there is so much doom and gloom about what Pope's doing or not doing, our NIL is not nearly enough, etc.

I think this season was a fantastic advertisement for UK basketball. Relentlessly positive coach, as good a collection of wins from any season that didn't end in a Final Four or better, a patched together line-up that kept finding ways to deal with adversity. After you throw in the passion and history of Kentucky basketball who TF wouldn't want to play here?

Pope may disappoint at some point, but I don't understand how you don't look at this season as anything as a success.
 
Every time I've watched Moreno, I walk away thinking; remarkably boring but effective player. He has no dreams of "stretching the floor" and showing off a full array of skills. He just does dirty work, and makes layups. How refreshing, if I'm being honest.

(He used to ride my school bus sometimes, because he had a friend on my route, and he is a genuinely polite and nice kid)
 
What I wouldn’t give to have the Clown drive me and my primary crew around for a day in a tricked out school bus full of drugs and booze. Maybe a pastoral October Saturday afternoon in the Bluegrass region. Distillery, the track, Commonwealth at night. Man.
I still have my Class B CDL, so if a bus is rented, I can drive it. Actually thought about driving Gold Shield on a "per request" basis.


Cameroon Boozer "plays the game the right way", and so it starts...
 
Last edited:
  • Haha
Reactions: WynnDuffy
Couldn’t agree more on Ament.

Also feel like as far as a big goes UK has the best of this group. Outside of 2 dunks Boozer hasn’t been better than Moreno.

I love that Moreno isn’t trying to press and do more in this type of game. This has never been a game for the bigs, but he has 2 blocks, 2 rebounds and 5 points from a solid post move and a 3 in the corner.
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT