With the sheer number of transfers and the assumption that most (not all) are making decisions at or near the end of a season, how realistic is it to really be tactical and selective when it comes to recruiting? Feels like such a free-for-all where most programs (even UK) are just throwing random darts and hoping they can get enough good players when the dust settles. But with everyone having money and some deals brokered early, I don’t see how UK can be confident they can field a title team year to year. The portal certainly has diminished my interest in the game more than just a little bit.
Is there really any sort of plan or priority with recruiting the portal?
- Thread starter IowaMuse
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This is not something a coaching staff would make publicly available, for obvious reasons.
I’m going to bet that Mark Pope and crew have a very detailed list of exactly what they are looking for in the portal. Number of players, positions, type of player, how much money said player is worth in their opinion, etc. When a guy becomes available, they most likely go directly into that matrix and then it’s determined to reach out initially or not.
Just because it seems like chaos on the fans side doesn’t mean there isn’t a method to the madness from the start.
Just because it seems like chaos on the fans side doesn’t mean there isn’t a method to the madness from the start.
Pope said they have a guy who knows every player in the portal. I think they very much prioritize who they target. And I think they're constantly evaluating guys.
Kam Williams was my favorite wing early in the portal. Pope got him.
Gwath is my favorite Center in the portal. It sounds like Pope may get him. Bol Bowen was on campus, I view him as a very close 2nd best option.
Obviously Yaxel is the dream for a Power Forward. Pope flew to see him the day he hit the portal.
I think Foligueras or however it's spelled would be a great 2nd option. It sounds like we're trending really well with him.
Mgbako or however it's spelled is supposed to be on Campus tomorrow. I don't get that one. Doesn't shoot well. Not super athletic. I'm not under the impression he's some kind of amazing defender.
Kam Williams was my favorite wing early in the portal. Pope got him.
Gwath is my favorite Center in the portal. It sounds like Pope may get him. Bol Bowen was on campus, I view him as a very close 2nd best option.
Obviously Yaxel is the dream for a Power Forward. Pope flew to see him the day he hit the portal.
I think Foligueras or however it's spelled would be a great 2nd option. It sounds like we're trending really well with him.
Mgbako or however it's spelled is supposed to be on Campus tomorrow. I don't get that one. Doesn't shoot well. Not super athletic. I'm not under the impression he's some kind of amazing defender.
I think Pope is waiting for the top 40 portal options to commit so his spreadsheets will be easier to read.
No. Every day is like unwrapping a pop tart. Wtf knows what could be in there?
That’s how major college programs operate. Just winging it.
That’s how major college programs operate. Just winging it.
Throwing sour patch kids at a frozen wall. Is what is going on.
No offense to Noah and Perry, but if we go into next year with them in the top 6-7 in the rotation then we are not seriously competing for a title. Pope and staff need to bring in the elite talent to go with his coaching.
Pope is a strong believer in analytics. His approach is more "moneyball" than projecting players by their composite rankings. We may very well see him fill out the roster with lower ranked talent with great analytics numbers that are a good scheme fit.
The real question is whether Pope can catch lightning in a bottle twice. It is difficult to put together a competitive team led by mid-major portal talent. We just aren't able to reel in any of the biggest names in the portal right now. The elite portal talent is chasing the crazy money being thrown around by lots of teams.
The real question is whether Pope can catch lightning in a bottle twice. It is difficult to put together a competitive team led by mid-major portal talent. We just aren't able to reel in any of the biggest names in the portal right now. The elite portal talent is chasing the crazy money being thrown around by lots of teams.
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First are they a fit, portal entitled players stay away from, they aren’t worth it
There’s a budget and strategy in play too
Agents are pitting schools against each other to drive up price
It’s the Wild Wild West out there.
The UAB and Robert Morris player would be great fits in Popes system - he needs to add a true rim protector and Elite PG
Word is they have a war chest of NIL money
Be patient and trust in Pope
There’s a budget and strategy in play too
Agents are pitting schools against each other to drive up price
It’s the Wild Wild West out there.
The UAB and Robert Morris player would be great fits in Popes system - he needs to add a true rim protector and Elite PG
Word is they have a war chest of NIL money
Be patient and trust in Pope
Validation granted, by your posts. But this was lions den. And now has grown to a 7th wonder of the world "the coliseum" . Where things that existed go extinct.
Bozos have plans when drafting their fantasy football teams. You think a coaching staff running an enterprise the size of UK basketball has no plan?
Thanks for your profound contribution to the discussion. Which of your other accounts should I also put on ignore?
If theyre top 6-7 guys, we wont even be sniffing an sec title. In fact we would probably be playing on Wednesday in the new sec.
Some of yall could start a fire with the friction produced from your hand wringing.
I agree. they should not be top 10 in our rotation. They role should be spot minutes and keep working and get better. Pope should clarify roles or clean house.
We seen last year, the way roaster was build (more on complementing then doubling the starters) that when a starter went down, we could not replace him. Pope tried all kinds of rotation changes that didn’t work.
The incoming freshman are all better than the freshman from last year, I would argue Moreno is better even than BG.
So far we got one guy from Portal. We need more. There is time but this year is going to be harder than other years, for teams to satisfy all their needs with quality players from portal.
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The thought of Perry entering every game at the 15:56 mark again does not boost confidence.
He should not . He is not yet ready to be a sub to play meaningful minutes or replace a starter in case of injury. Same goes for Noah and Chandler.
Pope is a system coach. He is going to recruit to his system.
I’m sure they have a detailed plan in place and a plan B for every spot.
No one on this board is privy to it.
We might not get a guy over fit. We might not get a guy over perceived playing time.
We will not get guys that don’t want to fit into a system.
We will never lose a guy over money alone.
I’m sure they have a detailed plan in place and a plan B for every spot.
No one on this board is privy to it.
We might not get a guy over fit. We might not get a guy over perceived playing time.
We will not get guys that don’t want to fit into a system.
We will never lose a guy over money alone.
What are the chances that Jasper and/or Lewis will be better than some of these guards being fawned over?
Pierre only had an offensive rating of 105. He never even cracked 100 until his senior season.
What sort of production would we expect out of him? He’s a senior as well. It doesn’t seem likely he’s the type of player to take a team up a competitive tier.
Some players like Dent and Smith are clear stars. Others like Thomas and Demary aren’t guaranteed to be better than average player in the top 8 of the rotation.
Pierre only had an offensive rating of 105. He never even cracked 100 until his senior season.
What sort of production would we expect out of him? He’s a senior as well. It doesn’t seem likely he’s the type of player to take a team up a competitive tier.
Some players like Dent and Smith are clear stars. Others like Thomas and Demary aren’t guaranteed to be better than average player in the top 8 of the rotation.
Pope has one assistant who tracks all possible portal players even before they enter the portal, they grade them then make a wish list. I have heard they contact anyone on that list as soon as they enter the portal then proceed from there.
