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

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Game-by-Game Statistics for Amari Williams