An athletic 3& D player…he’s prolly the most I’m excited about of the transfers.
Rylan Griffen Visit Coming
- Thread starter FitchandMurray29
- Start date
I think that percentage on the 3 goes up a good chunk this year with the looks he will get in Pope’s system. He knows it as well. He’s gonna be a fan favorite before the years over I believe.
I think most of KU’s problems last year were mainly due to Dickinson and Storrs.
Could be wrong, but those two have been headaches wherever they have been, IIRC.
For me, it’s Jaland Lowe. I can’t wait for BBN to see what this dude does with shooters spaced around him lol. He’s going to have people deleting post histories really quickly.
I just like the fact that we have a coach that is doing everything he can to fill a need and isn't just going with the "we'll figure it out in November" method.
Not only that, but Pope is making sure whoever he brings in, is a fit, specific to what works in his system.
Not only that, but Pope is making sure whoever he brings in, is a fit, specific to what works in his system.
Pope isn’t promising anyone they are a starter. If you look at the roster he means it. I don’t think we know who will start because almost every position will have a battle for that spot. That’s what he wants.
Real excited about his play making abilities
Griffen started 33 of 36 games on a Final Four team in 23-24. He was a double digit scorer for them. I think he would be okay as a starter for us.
Yeah right….Oweh will come of the bench…let’s be serious no normal coach that wants to control his roster will promise starting position but every coach has a starting line up in mind and who is coming of the bench for whom or for what game situation.
Pope recruited players with explicit that they will come off the bench last year and they were good with that: AA, Garrison, Chandler, Noah, Perry.
What he says I have no starters , that’s coaching talk to keep everyone on their toes and motivated.
Glad you directly quoted me saying Oweh is coming off the bench 😂.
You just like to pointlessly argue? I obviously do not think a preseason All-American candidate is coming off the bench. What in the world, my guy?
Oweh is the exception. Obviously, he will start. The other 4 slots are most definitely up for grabs, and will be right up until the season starts.
Bc this is year 2025 of the Lord and that's what college players do. Also it was for Kan$a$ not some scrub program.
Last edited:
Can he create his own shot?
Can he create shots for others?
Can he hit from the outside at a high %?
Can he be a good defender?
Can he rebound?
Hopefully all those questions are a yes.
Can he create shots for others?
Can he hit from the outside at a high %?
Can he be a good defender?
Can he rebound?
Hopefully all those questions are a yes.
Not as good a shooter, has more middle game, better defender
Just saw some advanced stats (I think from Graf) that paint a real nice picture of Griffen - he looks like the kind of player that could flourish under Pope.
Ironic, Bill Self may have done us a real favor disguising the kid's true talent last year. If he's coming from Bama right now, we likely couldn't afford him and he would have no incentive to come to a team with 10 rotation guys already in place.
Ironic, Bill Self may have done us a real favor disguising the kid's true talent last year. If he's coming from Bama right now, we likely couldn't afford him and he would have no incentive to come to a team with 10 rotation guys already in place.
We haven't been looking for nor do we need a star guard. We have Oweh and then behind him we have a few really good options. This would be a good fit for the last guard/SF position.
It was a couple factors. Stevenson was getting more time and with Nelson coming back, there was less time at the 4 for him. Same with Derrion Reid coming in. And there was Dioubate.
Also Oats had signed Mallette and Youngblood who both play a similar role and got Wrightsell to return. (Youngblood did sign right after Griffen left though)
Bama just had a ton of moving parts last off season.
Kansas had a big hole in their lineup too with McCullar and Furphy leaving. They got Griffen Storrs and Mayo in the process.
Also, just saw the Aberdeen kid from Florida entered the portal. Another aspect of This Crazy Time in College Basketball History is the poker aspect of it for coaches. I mean, you can't just rush out in the first days/weeks of portal season and get the best players you can - because as we see even better players will enter the portal later. Other hand, you can't really afford to sit and wait, you may not get those kids and then you have empty hands.
“Hey Aberdeen, if you will stay and come off the bench this year, you’ll start next year!”
Golden then went and got Xaivian Lee and has CJ Ingram coming in.
Listen we are smart fun base, but we need to make a difference between coaches talk and reality . Some players are recruited to start, some to fill roles, some to develop over the years.
Pope is no different in that aspect. It was not on attack on you but attacking the idea that there are no starters ….or promises made behind the scene. Of course there are, otherwise you will not be able to recruit anyone .
Of course they will say you will have to come and compete, and every practice you will compete against best competitors, and that will make you better, and it’s a unique opportunity cause we are Kentucky. Cal used the same line…
K used the same line when he got 3 super players on the same position: Zion, Barrett and Redish.. they could not play together. Pieces have to fit.
Pope first year, chose pieces that would allow of the bench to play different speed and style. Injuiries affected that especially with Kerr our speed of game slowed down.
I wonder if a pope is changing his philosophy a bit and adjusting to perhaps have more redundancy vs different style or he wants to have both….
I am just questioning the rational of getting a similar type of player to Williams by recruiting Brayden Hawthorne and Griffin …. What does it mean ? That means Oweh might not come back?
Last edited:
If things go well for us this coming year, Pope will have his hands full in 26/27 with our returnees that end up coming off the bench wanting a bigger role, just like Bama and Florida.
I like this guy. I like Sarr better but we'll see how it plays out and gotta trust Pope. I stopped doubting him after the first UT game this season. Lol! No way we shoulda won that game but we did. So far, I have yet to see much to doubt Pope for. He's MY coach of the year.
It’s bargain bin when you’re looking for more than a role player. This guy is a role player he doesn’t move the needle. We will have depth for days we need another money shooter ideally someone who can rotate over and play some pg. pope wants the best starting 5 in the country with the best bench behind them. Too many people want it done now when this new window is just opening with returning players and a full portal. With Lowe at PG he needs a stud with him. He is a big question mark and you roll with Lowe and Griffen that’s not a final four back court. We really need someone who will elevate our talent level in the back court. Oweh is great at the 3 but the 2g is a massive talent drop. I’ve seen enough from pope to know he’s wants an elite talent at every spot. After missing out on dent the back court still needs a lot of work.
Griffen is a shooting guard. Maybe a 2/3. Williams is a more of a 3 than anything and may slide over to the 4. Hawthorne looks like a depth piece. If anything, it shows Pope maybe doesn’t trust relying on Johnson, Chandler, and Noah to fill those roles completely.
It’s like the opposite of Calipari’s approach with the 9 deep roster because he doesn’t want to deal with unhappy players.
I’m gonna extrapolate on my previous post a little:
We have to fill five positions as starters: PG, SG, SF, PF, C
The only “position” that I think we can pencil in is point guard and that’s because Acaden Lewis left the program.
PG -> Lowe
As for shooting guard, that could be filled by Otega Oweh, Jasper Johnson, Collin Chandler, or someone we add from the portal such as Rylan Griffen.
As for small forward, that could be filled by Otega Oweh, Kam Williams or (unlikely) Mouhamed Dioubate.
As you can see there is competition for both SG and SF spots. Oweh will certainly be penciled into one or the other.
As for power forward, that spot could be filled by Mouhamed Dioubate, (unlikely) Kam Williams, Brandon Garrison, Andrija Jelavic or (unlikely) Jayden Quaintance.
As for center, that spot could be filled with Brandon Garrison, Jayden Quaintance or (unlikely) Malachi Moreno.
You have position battles all over but none of that requires screwing off the top of your head and pouring your brain onto a dish. Yes, obviously, some guys are certain to start.
I hope that helps clarify 👍
Yeah , I agree is for depth. I wonder if besides the length and strength that he added this year, if Pope also , because of injuries , wants to focus more of doubling certain position than adding different players that bring different style of play.
I guided we will have to wait the final roster to understand Pope ‘ thoughts for this coming year.
All good. You are fine my friend. Thanks for the clarification . Yes, I agree we need some shooters at 2 or 3 or both.
He plays so similarly to Jaxon. I think he is a good fit.
And if he had gone to a place like Sam Houston State, he'd probably be a 17 to 18 point per game guy and we'd all be salivating at the idea of him coming to Kentucky.
He's a perfect fit for Pope's system.
Sign him up.
Similar threads
Latest posts
-
-
looks like our defense is going to be pretty good- Latest: kywildcatsfannumber1
-
-
-
Who will we miss most from last year's squad next season?
- Latest: kywildcatsfannumber1