PG next year

[BlueBloodKyFan]

I like Alvaro Folgueiras better than Reed Bailey.

Me too I would like both if Bailey turned into a Cade Tyson type like he did at UNC. Could be how he was used at UNC but really cracked the lineup for PT.

 

[G-PIP]

I like Alvaro Folgueiras better than Reed Bailey.

Tough choice. Both good PF options. Wouldn't it be nice to have them both making a PF tandem?

 

[BlueBloodKyFan]

Tough choice. Both good PF options. Wouldn't it be nice to have them both making a PF tandem?

Alvaro is better defender shooter and ball handler you could use Bailey as stretch 5 if we couldn’t get Gwath but probably struggle at rim protection that’s why we need Gwath as stretch 5

 

[AJG-15]

Pope didn't miss on high school players. He got top guys who likely develop into high level college players. That's how you build a base to win and be in the hunt consistently. With the very rare exception, starting a freshman means you missed in recruiting.

Right ! ! What do you call when you offer players and they go to different schools? So far his HS recruits are all from Kentucky or BYU. He didn’t exactly get any big recruits that he offered.

 

[chasingwildcat]

Alvaro is better defender shooter and ball handler you could use Bailey as stretch 5 if we couldn’t get Gwath but probably struggle at rim protection that’s why we need Gwath as stretch 5

Gwath may be too skinny, he may be abused in rebounding...

 

[AJG-15]

This is a valid way to put it.

But, a valid corollary to this is that when Pope had that uber flexibility he used it to bring in six of the nonstarting pieces you listed. He still has all those pieces and they’re all better now, at least in terms of experience in his system.

Of course, that’s only relevant if those are all pieces Pope brought in to fill roles that are inherent to his system. As opposed to, say bringing in Garrison to balance Williams somehow.

From that perspective, I think it’s safe to say that Perry, Noah, Chandler, and Oweh were all brought in with regards to their own strengths (including the strengths of two being blue-bleeding Kentucky boys) and without regard to how they matched with or balanced any other players we were already bringing in. Kriisa and Garrison, you could definitely make strong arguments they were brought in to balance somebody or play off them.

So to me that seems like two full spots of net flexibility lost so far. The other four, we may want to think of them as each representing half-spots of flexibility lost. On one hand, they weren’t brought in to complement anybody else and they are all better now than when they came in. On the other hand, their original spot was something Pope -could- have used for a complementary piece last year—he just didn’t do it. And now he can’t do it.

As far as the three signed freshmen: We could call those lost spots of flexibility. Otoh, each of those is actually a spot of flexibility that Pope actually had this cycle; he’s just already used it this cycle. The same way as he lost a spot of flexibility last cycle every time he signed one of our current players. So none of those spots are actually lost flexibility over what we had last year. I think all those freshmen are in the range where it’s possible but unlikely they could blow up by the end of the year, and very likely they could blow up the year after that. No bad choices, no bad use of this cycle’s original inherent flexibility. I definitely do agree with you that we missed on all the superstars from high school and we’ll have to either make that up from the portal or go without in terms of ceiling.

So to recap in my own head, this year we’re starting out without two spots that were used flexibly last year—Garrison’s and Kriisa’s, assuming both return. Three spots that were used non-flexibly (if that makes sense, I think Pope would have used them the way he did no matter what), we carried over, which is net gain in terms of experience now, but a net loss in terms of flexibility. Those being Perry, Noah, and Chandler. Oweh’s spot——different ways we could look at that one but we’d probably all agree Pope would bring him back over pretty much anyone in the nation if he had to choose for some reason. So I don’t think that’s any lost flexibility.

So we’re down somewhere between two and five spots of flexibility that Pope would realistically use.

To balance that we have two extra scholly spots that no one had last year. Plus we still have the thirteenth scholly spot, a spot Pope only used for a walk-on last year.

I don’t think the loss of flexibility will ultimately wind up hurting us too much. But it is real and will definitely affect us some ways. Good insight to consider it.

The experience in his system is a valid point but I would have preferred a some higher caliber player , let’s say Richie Saunders than Colin Chandler.

 

[BlueBloodKyFan]

The experience in his system is a valid point but I would have preferred a some higher caliber player , let’s say Richie Saunders than Colin Chandler.

He tried to get Saunders but Saunders wife wanted to stay in Utah. Saunders even said telling Pope he was staying at BYU was the hardest decision he had to make

 

[BlueSince92]

The experience in his system is a valid point but I would have preferred a some higher caliber player , let’s say Richie Saunders than Colin Chandler.

Richie Saunders wouldn't bother any of us a bit, least of all me. But even with our current ten spots filled right now assuming everybody comes back who could, we've still got five full-scholly roster spots left with no more than five seriously needed players. So to me it's not really a question of Saunders (or somebody) versus Chandler coming in, only a question of whether whoever comes in is more likely to play in front of Chandler or behind him. And in that scenario I love Chandler, but by all means let's bring in someone who could easily play ahead of him. Why not.

Except....here is a related question: Do the current players already know their ballpark NIL deals for next year? If they don't, then yeah go with what I already said. If we do find superstars who need extra NIL, maybe our returnees either accept less NIL for the sake of the team, or if they bolt then there you go, we've got that flexibility right back.

....but if they already do have some guaranteed range of NIL, then I'm closer to feeling like what you said here. Because that might mean we've already guaranteed Chandler something that would keep us from being able to make Saunders a really decent offer, even if his wife wanted to come.

 

[AJG-15]

Richie Saunders wouldn't bother any of us a bit, least of all me. But even with our current ten spots filled right now assuming everybody comes back who could, we've still got five full-scholly roster spots left with no more than five seriously needed players. So to me it's not really a question of Saunders (or somebody) versus Chandler coming in, only a question of whether whoever comes in is more likely to play in front of Chandler or behind him. And in that scenario I love Chandler, but by all means let's bring in someone who could easily play ahead of him. Why not.

Since we only have one starter coming back, Oweh, everyone that will come should be above the returning players outside of Oweh.

If the other returning players will be starting , next year will be a long season….

 

[yoshukai]

Tough choice. Both good PF options. Wouldn't it be nice to have them both making a PF tandem?

Me too I would like both if Bailey turned into a Cade Tyson type like he did at UNC. Could be how he was used at UNC but really cracked the lineup for PT.

“Supposedly “ Reed Baileys father is pretty good friends with Sean Miller and Texas is going to be involved.

 

[BlueSince92]

Since we only have one starter coming back, Oweh, everyone that will come should be above the returning players outside of Oweh.

If the other returning players will be starting , next year will be a long season….

Yeah I agree. That's why I edited my original comment here, but not before you replied. So anyway it's up there now ⬆️⬆️

 

[yoshukai]

Right ! ! What do you call when you offer players and they go to different schools? So far his HS recruits are all from Kentucky or BYU. He didn’t exactly get any big recruits that he offered.

Always amazes me how people just gloss over beating out Uconn and Duke for Acaden Lewis because it doesn’t fit their agenda.

 

[Coach Marrow]

Just that CMP is REALLY high on Silas Demary . But he’s from North Carolina and UNC, DUKE and NC state are in contact too . Would be a big win if we could beat those guys on this kid .

Do think Demary is seen more as a point guard or a shooting guard by the staff?

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Always amazes me how people just gloss over beating out Uconn and Duke for Acaden Lewis because it doesn’t fit their agenda.

Some people care more about being right than doing right.

 

[G-PIP]

Right ! ! What do you call when you offer players and they go to different schools? So far his HS recruits are all from Kentucky or BYU. He didn’t exactly get any big recruits that he offered.

You said Pope “missed on acquiring top players from HS for next year.” That’s not true. All 3 of UK’s recruits are top players from high school. Plus, if none of the three end up being one-and-done (which is possible) then Pope & staff did an even better job of recruiting – I mean if your goal in recruiting is to win games and compete for a championship.

 

[BlueBloodKyFan]

Do think Demary is seen more as a point guard or a shooting guard by the staff?

Not sure how staff views it but he’s listed and played PG at 6’5 an 200lb he also declared for draft

 

[bnewt]

Gwath may be too skinny, he may be abused in rebounding...

Not so sure
Seems pretty aggressive when it comes to rebounding and blocking g shots

 

[chasingwildcat]

Not so sure
Seems pretty aggressive when it comes to rebounding and blocking g shots

In SEC, you need weights and muscle...

He can just uses his talent and size in mountian west

He has about 5 reb in 25 min, not impressive at all