Just a quick note

[billoliver40]

While it’s perfectly fine to comment on a teams play or coaching decisions, there’s a couple things to point out:
Some folks have stated here and there some of our players aren’t “Kentucky quality”…,, well, from all the talk about the money NIL is shelling out, guess what?

These are the guys that came. These are the ones that wanted to be here or settled on being here….so whatever Kentucky Quality players are….these are them.

Same with Pope. Yep, he balances brilliant with boneheaded coaching moves, But folks all reports are that UK offered stupid level money for three other guys, and got a no thank you….or a laugh out loud from Hurley. This guy actually wants to be here.

Take a breath. This was not gonna be a title year….healthy players or not. After rebuilding again next year, by the time year three gets here we can get the house for sale signs repainted.

 

[Blue_2_the_bone]

We’ve beat Duke, swept TN, beat Zaga, Florida, & UL. The guys we have are clearly UK material. Even our freshmen. Chandler was a 4 star committed to BYU, Perry a 24/7 composite 4 star who was recruited by other Power 5 schools. Noah was a 24/7 composite 4 star who would be starting at South Carolina and was recruited by TN, UL, Miss St, & others as soon as he decomitted. These are guys you develop over years and mix in vets with until they’re vets.

We just happened to have a bare cupboard and had to rely on the portal, which brought us great veterans for year 1. I love this team! They wear UK proudly! Our recruiting may bring a few 1 and done guys but also guys who need to develop. We have to quit thinking we’re gonna get classes of 5 stars who will leave after a year. That method doesn’t work. People need to realize this is year 1.

 

[twwilliams9]

While it’s perfectly fine to comment on a teams play or coaching decisions, there’s a couple things to point out:
Some folks have stated here and there some of our players aren’t “Kentucky quality”…,, well, from all the talk about the money NIL is shelling out, guess what?

These are the guys that came. These are the ones that wanted to be here or settled on being here….so whatever Kentucky Quality players are….these are them.

Same with Pope. Yep, he balances brilliant with boneheaded coaching moves, But folks all reports are that UK offered stupid level money for three other guys, and got a no thank you….or a laugh out loud from Hurley. This guy actually wants to be here.

Take a breath. This was not gonna be a title year….healthy players or not. After rebuilding again next year, by the time year three gets here we can get the house for sale signs repainted.

Just a quick note: what makes you think this wasn’t going to be a title year? You have a defeatist mentality.

 

[BC_Wader]

Just a quick note: what makes you think this wasn’t going to be a title year? You have a defeatist mentality.

We would be hard to beat with a completely healthy roster.

 

[Cleatortoises]

It's the first step in getting back to watching a team grow, mature and improve together.
It will make it easier to care about the team and players, because you won't forget their underperforming one and done names.
GBB!

 

[MonsterMash79]

It's the first step in getting back to watching a team grow, mature and improve together.
It will make it easier to care about the team and players, because you won't forget their underperforming one and done names.
GBB!

This👆

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Well.. these are the guys that were left in April. And I do think Kentucky was probably left out in the cold a bit due to the coaching change. I think we will fare MUCH better in this off season with Pope established at UK. He's probably already doing Transfer portal work as we speak, something he couldn't do this time last year.

 

[BlueBomb]

Three thoughts:
1. Pope cobbled together a better team that I EVER could've imagined given the time he had to do it, and the fact that most of the "studs" were already off the board.
2. This team is maddeningly inconsistent.
3. I'm allowed to get frustrated about point #2 and even complain about it on a message board, even when I understand that point #1 is true.

 

[wardlow]

Pretty successful seasons so far. Without injuries the team would be a two seed easy.

Injuries have derailed so many seasons for UK in the past ten years.

 

[NoDef]

We are supposedly top 5...if I we can't find out to get the best players it's our fault.

 

[OliverSimmonstwinbrother]

We are supposedly top 5...if I we can't find out to get the best players it's our fault.

There were a ton of good players in the portal but Pope didn't make an offer. It seemed like he put this team together at a discount. It worked fine in November but we are going to need higher cailiber players to compete in the SEC in this era.

 

[Youngcats]

This season has been a lot of highs and lows. The lows mostly in part the disruption from losing so many players to injury. I will miss watching the ones graduating as they played hard and hit shots- definitely a very likable team and coach.

 

[AJG-15]

All those guys that he recruited can play at Kentucky. The best proof is that when because of injuries, we had rely on them they all stepped up: Jr in pg role, TP in pg role, Amari in pg role,… Noah defending and rebounding though he would rather shoot the 3, , Almanor producing when Carr was injured, Garrison bringing energy when Amari was struggling and even at time becoming number one center, Brea putting effort in defense, Oweh carrying the team for so many games with his toughness., Chandler, growing like a bamboo….

Now if take out all the PGs. from a team how do thing they play? For instance take Sears out Bama and his subs….

Because of injured PGs:
-Our ball movement down the court after a rebound is not as fast…,that means we have to create offense agains set defense…..much harder proposition…
-our on ball defense is not as aggressive, which means the rest of the guy have to work harder , communicate better or they are foul prone…
- many guys need to be shifted from their natural position so their effectiveness decreases.

 

[Johnfarrel]

All those guys that he recruited can play at Kentucky. The best proof is that when because of injuries, we had rely on them they all stepped up: Jr in pg role, TP in pg role, Amari in pg role,… Noah defending and rebounding though he would rather shoot the 3, , Almanor producing when Carr was injured, Garrison bringing energy when Amari was struggling and even at time becoming number one center, Brea putting effort in defense, Oweh carrying the team for so many games with his toughness., Chandler, growing like a bamboo….

Now if take out all the PGs. from a team how do thing they play? For instance take Sears out Bama and his subs….

Because of injured PGs:
-Our ball movement down the court after a rebound is not as fast…,that means we have to create offense agains set defense…..much harder proposition…
-our on ball defense is not as aggressive, which means the rest of the guy have to work harder , communicate better or they are foul prone…
- many guys need to be shifted from their natural position so their effectiveness decreases.

Last night, Kentucky hung with the 6th ranked team on their home court, missing three point guards and with Oweh having the worst game of his life. A better performance from Oweh and Kentucky could have won that game.

 

[UKFAN4L]

This is a house money year. Whatever happens, happens.
Let’s get these boys healthy and win the SEC tourney. Win at least 4 games in the Big Dance and hang another Final Four banner. It’s doable if we are fully loaded.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Three thoughts:
1. Pope cobbled together a better team that I EVER could've imagined given the time he had to do it, and the fact that most of the "studs" were already off the board.
2. This team is maddeningly inconsistent.
3. I'm allowed to get frustrated about point #2 and even complain about it on a message board, even when I understand that point #1 is true.

That’s the part I don’t get. Agreed with 1, to a large degree. But 2 is indicative of some level of injury, but also not high level coaching. That inconsistency has been a mark of Popes teams for years. I don’t like using the injuries as an excuse, but I certainly think they’re a reason. However, all teams are banged up to some level. I can respect the job Pope has done, but still be annoyed as hell that Amari averages 26-27 mins/game. I can enjoy Popes ridiculously efficient offenses, while also hating his maddening substitution patterns with this roster.

 

[Stretch98]

That’s the part I don’t get. Agreed with 1, to a large degree. But 2 is indicative of some level of injury, but also not high level coaching. That inconsistency has been a mark of Popes teams for years. I don’t like using the injuries as an excuse, but I certainly think they’re a reason. However, all teams are banged up to some level. I can respect the job Pope has done, but still be annoyed as hell that Amari averages 26-27 mins/game. I can enjoy Popes ridiculously efficient offenses, while also hating his maddening substitution patterns with this roster.

Do you want Amari Williams to play more or less than the 26-27 minutes?

 

[megablue]

Do you want Amari Williams to play more or less than the 26-27 minutes?

Amari is currently averaging 22.1 minutes per game, which is only 1.0 minute more than his 5-year average, per link below.
He only averaged 22.9 minutes per game last year at Drexel, which is a head-scratcher ... we're talking Drexel !!
Absent some physical problem or ailment, I would definitely like to see him averaging 26-27 minutes, if not more.
I have never understood why he doesn't play closer to thirty (30+) minutes a game against the better teams and have posted as much. His high games are 28 (Clemson) and 30 (Mississippi State).

Amari Williams College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Amari Williams - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more

www.sports-reference.com

Game-by-Game Statistics for Amari Williams

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Do you want Amari Williams to play more or less than the 26-27 minutes?

More! Which would mean Garrison plays less. Amari, along with Brea and Oweh need to play 34+ mins, especially with Butler and Robinson out. Popes theory of “optimal performance” or whatever he calls it is hot garbage. Those three at 80% are considerably better than the replacement options. Let them cook.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Amari is currently averaging 22.1 minutes per game, which is only 1.0 minute more than his 5-year average, per link below.
He only averaged 22.9 minutes per game last year at Drexel, which is a head-scratcher ... we're talking Drexel !!
Absent some physical problem or ailment, I would definitely like to see him averaging 26-27 minutes, if not more.
I have never understood why he doesn't play closer to thirty (30+) minutes a game against the better teams and have posted as much. His high games are 28 (Clemson) and 30 (Mississippi State).

Amari Williams College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Amari Williams - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more

www.sports-reference.com

Game-by-Game Statistics for Amari Williams

That’s insane. Far too low. I just guessed when I said 26-27. He should be playing 30+, especially considering how big the drop off is when he goes out.

 

[DraftCat]

Lmao only thing that hasn't been quality this year is the injuries we've racked up.

Pope built a team in 3 months off transfers and have battled injuries to our starters all season. We'd all like this season to be special but what they've done with the adversity they've faced is pretty remarkable in my eyes.

Good news is we aren't losing the entire team to the draft either.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Lmao only thing that hasn't been quality this year is the injuries we've racked up.

Pope built a team in 3 months off transfers and have battled injuries to our starters all season. We'd all like this season to be special but what they've done with the adversity they've faced is pretty remarkable in my eyes.

I’m not sure anyone would argue any of that. I think what some of us are saying, especially given the injuries, is let your best players play 30-35 mins/game.

 

[DraftCat]

I’m not sure anyone would argue any of that. I think what some of us are saying, especially given the injuries, is let your best players play 30-35 mins/game.

These guys are running an actual offense which in it's self can be tiring. We forget that for the most part Coach Cal teams were running pick and roll or trying to take their man off the dribble.

Everyone keeps referencing Amari Williams if you look at his career minutes played per year it's 21.1 over 4 seasons. I think the guy can't go much more than that.

Andrew Carr is still working his way back from back issues maybe his minutes increase down the stretch.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

These guys are running an actual offense which in it's self can be tiring. We forget that for the most part Coach Cal teams were running pick and roll or trying to take their man off the dribble.

Everyone keeps referencing Amari Williams if you look at his career minutes played per year it's 21.1 over 4 seasons. I think the guy can't go much more than that.

Andrew Carr is still working his way back from back issues maybe his minutes increase down the stretch.

Yeah, and Cals teams actually worked extremely hard defensively. This one, yeah, not so much. You can’t convince me Popes teams work or play any harder than anyone elses. That’s a myth. And other teams are shortening rotations and playing their best players those kinds of minutes. This team, especially with the injuries, has a SIGNIFICANT drop when they get into the bench. There’s one easy solution to that if they want to be their best.

 

[Aike]

I think everyone on the roster is Kentucky quality. We just don’t necessarily have the elite, top end talent of many of our best teams.

But I could see almost all of these guys playing key roles on championship level teams of the past, as anything from a 3rd to am 8th man.

Maybe a couple would rarely get off the bench, but most teams have players like that. In fact, some of these guys were like that before the injuries piled up.

 

[billoliver40]

I am puzzled. We have lost two recent games due to the team being gassed near the end but the answer is having guys play longer?
Please explain.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I am puzzled. We have lost two recent games due to the team being gassed near the end but the answer is having guys play longer?
Please explain.

Because 100% Garrison is equivalent to about 60% Amari. Same for Oweh and Chandler. Same for Brea and Almanor.

What makes you think we’ve lost recent games to the team being gassed?

 

[Kyhoward]

There were a ton of good players in the portal but Pope didn't make an offer. It seemed like he put this team together at a discount. It worked fine in November but we are going to need higher cailiber players to compete in the SEC in this era.

Were you at the meetings and conversations with Coach Pope and his staff when they were making their list of players they wanted to go after? Who specifically did Pope not make an offer to that he should have?

 

[megablue]

For reference, here are MPG rankings, if you click MPG in drop-down block:

NCAA College Men's Basketball DI Stats | NCAA.com

Discover the current NCAA Division I Men's Basketball leaders in every stats category, as well as historic leaders.

www.ncaa.com

 

[OliverSimmonstwinbrother]

Were you at the meetings and conversations with Coach Pope and his staff when they were making their list of players they wanted to go after? Who specifically did Pope not make an offer to that he should have?

Davis
Osobor
Poplar
Smith
Richmond

Off the top of my head.

 

[Kyhoward]

These guys are running an actual offense which in it's self can be tiring. We forget that for the most part Coach Cal teams were running pick and roll or trying to take their man off the dribble.

Everyone keeps referencing Amari Williams if you look at his career minutes played per year it's 21.1 over 4 seasons. I think the guy can't go much more than that.

Andrew Carr is still working his way back from back issues maybe his minutes increase down the stretch.

Agree, I watch many of the BYU games last year once Pope was named the coach. Most coaches use defense to wear out the opponent and I came to the conclusion that Pope uses offense to wear out the opponent. But, to do this, you need depth which we had earlier in the season but not since Butler, Carr, and Jax have been injured. Plus the 3 frosh have only been contributors in the past few games but had little impact earlier.

Most of our roster is gone after this season and Oweh may leave as well. We have 3 freshmen recruits but they will need time adjusting the college game and particularly the SEC. I believe we have to really hit the portal and get several 6'- 8" power guys that are physical and can rebound. I like Garrison and he is improving but he is not a physical player that rebounds despite his size. Also wings that can shoot with Brea and Almonor leaving.

This has been a good season with a team that plays together. Yes, they have deficiencies, but are the definition of a team IMHO. Hopefully, Butler and Jax can come back and, if so, no one would want us to be in their draw in the NCAA tournament!

 

[Kyhoward]

Davis
Osobor
Poplar
Smith
Richmond

Off the top of my head.

I believe Pope was going after both Davis and Osobor - thank goodness we did not get them based on their play this season. Osobar follower his coach to Washington and had done that once before, so not coming to UK with a new coach and team is not a head scratcher! Much rather have Otega and Amari.

Don't know about the others you mentioned but there are 352 other Division 1 schools after these same players. You answered my 2nd question but not the first because you were not there and have no clue who Pope and staff really coveted and did not get.

 

[Kyhoward]

All those guys that he recruited can play at Kentucky. The best proof is that when because of injuries, we had rely on them they all stepped up: Jr in pg role, TP in pg role, Amari in pg role,… Noah defending and rebounding though he would rather shoot the 3, , Almanor producing when Carr was injured, Garrison bringing energy when Amari was struggling and even at time becoming number one center, Brea putting effort in defense, Oweh carrying the team for so many games with his toughness., Chandler, growing like a bamboo….

Now if take out all the PGs. from a team how do thing they play? For instance take Sears out Bama and his subs….

Because of injured PGs:
-Our ball movement down the court after a rebound is not as fast…,that means we have to create offense agains set defense…..much harder proposition…
-our on ball defense is not as aggressive, which means the rest of the guy have to work harder , communicate better or they are foul prone…
- many guys need to be shifted from their natural position so their effectiveness decreases.

Great post AJG!!

Butler is sorely missed on both offense and defense as you mentioned.

 

[Aike]

Agree, I watch many of the BYU games last year once Pope was named the coach. Most coaches use defense to wear out the opponent and I came to the conclusion that Pope uses offense to wear out the opponent. But, to do this, you need depth which we had earlier in the season but not since Butler, Carr, and Jax have been injured. Plus the 3 frosh have only been contributors in the past few games but had little impact earlier.

Most of our roster is gone after this season and Oweh may leave as well. We have 3 freshmen recruits but they will need time adjusting the college game and particularly the SEC. I believe we have to really hit the portal and get several 6'- 8" power guys that are physical and can rebound. I like Garrison and he is improving but he is not a physical player that rebounds despite his size. Also wings that can shoot with Brea and Almonor leaving.

This has been a good season with a team that plays together. Yes, they have deficiencies, but are the definition of a team IMHO. Hopefully, Butler and Jax can come back and, if so, no one would want us to be in their draw in the NCAA tournament!

That’s exactly what he does. Constant movement and sprinting to the corners repeatedly.

It’s about discipline. If we stay disciplined then we get 2 or 3 windows each game where the opponent breaks down and we go on runs.

That’s the strategy. And it’s why we limit minutes and want to keep everyone at their peak.

But everyone getting minutes has to go all out the entire time they’re on the court. They have to stick to the system, or the breakdowns are on our side.

Doesn’t mean any of this is right or wrong. But it is the strategy. And we’ve not even seen it for a full season yet. Certainly haven’t seen it with a healthy squad for an extended period.

Part of the thing I’m most looking forward to is what guys like Perry and Noah look like in year 2 and beyond. When they know this system like the back of their hands.