Bring back Theiro and big Z
If Thiero had improved his shot I would totally have taken him back, but it looks like he is worse from 3pt range this year.
Next year
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If Thiero had improved his shot I would totally have taken him back, but it looks like he is worse from 3pt range this year.
Yes, he is a really good all around player...the more you watch him the more he grows on you. He's a dog. I think he'll earn a spot in the league. The only guy that really competed hard was Garrison.
I’m just not sold on Johnson. Not saying he will be bad. But that he is an incomplete work in progress. Needs to shoot it better.
Define “major recruits”? If you are talking about top 5, maybe top 10, like Wilson or Ament, then yeah I’d like to take a chance on them. But 5* alone (there are usually 20-30 of them) does not mean 1st year success. The past 10 years most of our 5* recruits have been disappointments as FR. The exceptions Murray, Fox, Monk, Bam Sheppard, Dillingham, Herro, K. Johnson, SGA, Tyty, Wallace, maybe a couple more (so roughly a dozen) out of about 40-50 5* recruits. So about a 1 in 3 chance that a 5* won’t disappoint as a FR.
I’d much rather have a guy who has proven what he can do vs 18-23 yr olds, than a guy ranked say 10-30 in FR class.
If the team really bought into the offense Pope has, then the need to "make a play" wouldn't be nearly as prevalent. Cal isn't here anymore. Pope's offense is about "finding a shooter".
Theiro is Ark 2nd best player. That he’s not a good 3pt shooter is ok, you don’t have to be good at everything. He leads them in scoring (16.9), rebounding (5.9), he is making 68.6% of his 2’s, he gets to the FT line (6.1 FTA/gm), and averages 2.9 Stl+Blk.
He’s only making 6% less 3’s than Robinson, that is 1 less make every 17 attempts. But he is better than Robinson in every other way.
He’s only making 6% less 3’s than Robinson, that is 1 less make every 17 attempts. But he is better than Robinson in every other way.
Johnson’s biggest issue is shot selection. When he gets into a defined system, the hope is he begins to make reads rather than chucking
I’m hoping Pope digs up a European big, as I think it’s where we can go out and get someone with passing/playmaking ability that this offense clearly relies on. Maybe Ivisic transfers and wants to come back to UK
Chandler is close to Pope. He’s not going anywhere unless it’s back to BSU, which I highly doubt. He needed a year to get his game and conditioning back after two years on mission. I think he may take one of the biggest steps forward next year.
Get him and his brother to transfer here. That would be a dangerous duo.
I suspect he’s closer to his new fiancé….who lives in Utah and is Mormon. Mormons LOVE Utah . Kentucky is maybe too big a stage to “relearn” basketball. I have the feeling he will be back out West next year, probably BYU. And that’s fine . There will be lots better players in the portal.
Last I saw he was shooting 50% from the field and 40% from three for this year. So looks like he has improved his shooting. My main concern with Johnson is how he will respond to physical play and how he will be on defense. Looks pretty frail . Hopefully he’s going to be with us more than one year.
I believe that has already happened. Saw an interview with the coach at his new school and he said one of the things he was teaching was to be a “more efficient “ basketball player. Last I saw he was shooting 50% from the field and 40% from three .
I just feel compelled to jump in and say I must disagree with some of the sentiments about Oweh. He is a straight up bulldog every bit as much all around great player like Butler, and I do agree it will be sad to see those that go, leave. So maybe the sentiment about Oweh being NBA ready right now, eh, well, whatever.
But he has been unquestionably, to my eyes, the most consistent, all around best player, game in, game out, from the start. So from that perspective, I actually DO HOPE he comes back for another year here ! WOOHOO !
He has earned my nod this year, alongside Butler, as being truly the leaders on a team full of leadership.
I would rather think that even though the NBA doesnt have Oweh on any draft boards, he SHOULD be the kind of player any NBA team would want.
Maybe thats why the NBA sucks. More power to the Demarcus Cousins of the world going to Mongolia to play for the love of the game. LOL
Go Big Blue !
But he has been unquestionably, to my eyes, the most consistent, all around best player, game in, game out, from the start. So from that perspective, I actually DO HOPE he comes back for another year here ! WOOHOO !
He has earned my nod this year, alongside Butler, as being truly the leaders on a team full of leadership.
I would rather think that even though the NBA doesnt have Oweh on any draft boards, he SHOULD be the kind of player any NBA team would want.
Maybe thats why the NBA sucks. More power to the Demarcus Cousins of the world going to Mongolia to play for the love of the game. LOL
Go Big Blue !
Being an NBA player requires more than being a good player. Some of Oweh’s issues are expected and I’m so glad he is on our team. It may be very difficult for his game to translate to the next level, but there is nothing wrong with being an outstanding college player
Absolutely no use worrying about it right now, and I'll bet chandler doesn't either right now. Kentucky fans crack me up with how much they speculate and worry over things they have no knowledge or control over. I know this, from now on pope will have more time to scrutinize and decide on portal guys and even hs guys. Seeing the returning players for a year up close tells pope and his staff what they'll need for the next team. I think this team is the least talented team pope will have at uk. And no, I'm not worried, lol
I was at the gonzaga game and was shocked at how timid Williams was in so many plays. And yes, even when in foul trouble you can stand your ground and hold your hands straight up. We need more players with mentalities like oweh and butler. Less Williams and Robinson types.
I was creeping on the North Carolina board earlier in the year and they were pissed that Hubert didn’t get Wolf . “They say “ he would have come to North Carolina if Hubert would have matched his $750,000 NIL deal he got from Michigan. But Hubert thought he had enough bigs .
I dont think anyone believes the sky is falling. I think most everyone is excited and just talking. Maybe I’m misreading the room .
Crowe is UNSTOPPABLE going to the rim on the High School level but……he can’t shoot for shit . How will that translate to college is my question.
Nope I agree with you. I think a lot of us aren’t even of the mind that losing Wilson is a big deal at all. I still think Pope is building a juggernaut.
I’m not worried at all . Where’d you get that ? I absolutely said “there will better players in the portal “.
Last draft projection I saw had Thiero going pretty early in the 2nd round. We all know that is plenty high enough for a Calipari player to declare for the draft.Bring back Theiro and big Z
That would be disappointing but certainly understandable. I like Chandler a lot and think he’ll be good next year and really good his junior year.
I think players at other schools are watching Kentucky now that we have a new coach and a different offense. I anticipate that we will have our choice of many players who can play the style that Coach Pope plays and how he coaches.
I would love to pick up players that will be here for more than one season, but I would take whatever helps us win.
Why waste 2 million dollars on JJ and Wilson and not play them big minutes?
Use that money elsewhere then.
Use that money elsewhere then.
I would really like to see Perry make a sophomore jump. To be fair, I think he will be more accustomed to the tempo of college than freshman and he’s been playing behind our best player. We don’t really know how he’ll do at lead guard yet. I’m picturing a Travis Ford type of So./Jr. season.
I love Oweh and hope he is back next year, but he is in a tier just below Butler IMO. He doesn’t bring the intensity all game like Butler and can settle for bad shots. Some times he will make an incredible finish at the rim that you can hardly believe and other times he will have what appears to be an unchallenged look at the rim and will whiff. One play he will grab a tough offensive rebound in traffic and the next thing you know he will have the ball ripped right out of his hands (Alijah Martin in Florida game). He sometimes mentally checks out I think. If he wants to elevate his game he needs to devote himself to preparing himself mentally and sustaining his mental engagement until the final horn sounds. He needs to work on his ability to shoot off the dribble too. He hurts us when he takes these kind of shots.
The fiancé thing complicates things . Pretty sure Richie Saunders would have been here if his wife would have felt more comfortable in Lexington.
