Sleepers Media Video: Is Kentucky Too Talented?

[Son_Of_Saul]

I think it's a question that only has one real obvious answer, but it's quite the compliment to Mark Pope. There were many - including a few on this message board - who thought it would be impossible for Pope to accumulate 14 rotation-level players on one team. I personally think you can never have too much talent.

 

[JPFisher]

IMO, Sleepers puts out some of the worst content. I've blocked them. To answer the question, though, no. UK isn't too deep and talented.

Next year will be fun. Let the media rank us outside the top 5 or 10 preseason. I do not care. We'll be one of the best teams in the country in 25-26.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Last year they said our roster didn’t have enough and now their saying we have to much. I do think it’s fair to ask how pope is gonna play all these guys the mins they deserve. Hell I want to know that myself. But the staff will figure it out

 

[NerlensCat]

IMO, Sleepers puts out some of the worst content. I've blocked them. To answer the question, though, no. UK isn't too deep and talented.

Next year will be fun. Let the media rank us outside the top 5 or 10 preseason. I do not care. We'll be one of the best teams in the country in 25-26.

I think they have done a 180 on Kentucky and Pope. They love Pope and give him and the roster a ton of credit. Greg and Deon particularly like the team. Having said that, the content is hit or miss. They are not experts by any stretch. They are B10 based guys trying to expand to national.

 

[treyforuk]

I think they have done a 180 on Kentucky and Pope. They love Pope and give him and the roster a ton of credit. Greg and Deon particularly like the team. Having said that, the content is hit or miss. They are not experts by any stretch. They are B10 based guys trying to expand to national.

They both had them in the top 5. Not much hate.

 

[Cats192]

Hilariously, Jeff Goodman said the same thing on the field of 68. Too many mouths to feed. Give me a break.

When we get into the tournament, all of the talent will burn us. We'll have too many guys that can make a play and only 5 that can be on the court. Whatever will we do?!

Pope should have quit recruiting 2 or 3 players ago. It's really all about not having too much talent come March.

 

[jmw23712]

Good call on their part. Too many good players has been the demise of a lot of great basketball teams over the years.

96 UK team - had 11 players getting more than 9 mins per game. Get rid of 2-3 of those guys and they’re at least 40-0 obviously.

92 Dream Team - No one on the team played more than 24 mins per game but 10 guys played more than 16 mins. That forced them all to rest too much and get stiff on the bench. That team would have won the Gold, Silver, and Bronze if only they had less depth.

 

[Coach Marrow]

Video was actually decent.

 

[MidseasonTweaks]

Sleepers Media is awful usually. They shit on UK on the regular. They also seemingly don't know much about the team when they do talk about them.

 

[Philstat]

Just a laughable take in all honesty, there were a number of teams last year that were as at least as deep and talented as this team, hell look at Duke, three of top 10 draft picks, several talented bench players and still didn’t win the championship.

 

[Smashcat]

Next year will be fun. Let the media rank us outside the top 5 or 10 preseason. I do not care. We'll be one of the best teams in the country in 25-26.

Tend to agree.

 

[Wonky]

Last year they said our roster didn’t have enough and now their saying we have to much. I do think it’s fair to ask how pope is gonna play all these guys the mins they deserve. Hell I want to know that myself. But the staff will figure it out

Practices are going to be epic. We are going to be better prepared for games than any team in the country, IMO, because of our practice depth.

 

[BlueSince92]

When do you need to be 14 players deep?

When the Maserati is leaving the garage.

 

[wardlow]

Plenty of fans still saying we need a sharpshooter to make the roster really dangerous. Do we have too much or still missing a key piece?

Unfortunately a lot of people have opinions and platforms to spread their nonsense.

 

[WeWant9]

I’ve always found the “too much talent” argument to be very odd. Should teams sign a bunch of mediocre players to not let any feelings get hurt? Load it up and kick some ass.

 

[know1]

There is no such thing.

 

[blue cincy]

If you watch these guys on the regular you will know they hardly do any research, it is all what floats their boats and gets them views. Not much else.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

People act like most of the guys we got were dominating college ball last year. THEY WEREN'T. We have a very solid roster , probably capable of competing for a title, but this title or bust narrative is nonsense. This team has never played together. It appears a bit weak on 3 point shooting and the KEY peice to a title run is coming off RECENT ACL surgery. Not saying we can't win it just saying that this team might be a bit over hyped going into the season. I've read guys on here saying our roster is the best since 96. What HS it's good but not THAT good.

 

[Cleatortoises]

Good call on their part. Too many good players has been the demise of a lot of great basketball teams over the years.

96 UK team - had 11 players getting more than 9 mins per game. Get rid of 2-3 of those guys and they’re at least 40-0 obviously.

92 Dream Team - No one on the team played more than 24 mins per game but 10 guys played more than 16 mins. That forced them all to rest too much and get stiff on the bench. That team would have won the Gold, Silver, and Bronze if only they had less depth.

2015 won 38 straight until 🐄 tightened it up.
Worst 38-1 team ever.
Could have gone 40 -0 if we only played 6 or 7. 😎

 

[FilsonCat]

After what happened during the meat grinder of SEC conference play last season, you stack your team as deep as you can. Pope did. But, even as deep as we are, on paper, an argument can still be made that we still need another true point guard. The neat thing about a lot of the concepts and action that Pope uses is that plays can be initiated from different positions. We don't have to initiate offense off of the dribble.

There's all types of utilization analytics in vogue now that can be used to get players on the court and spread out minutes by the most effective matchups. Pope is an analytics guy at heart, so if anyone can get it figured out, he's one of the coaches who will.

The additional benefit of having tremendous depth is that guys are able to really put the hammer down when they do get in. It's a huge mental advantage to know they'll have fresh legs at the end of virtually every game.

 

[Digger-Cat]

It used to he you pressed full court to wear teams down, but as time went on, coaches adjusted but improving guard play, ball handling and passing.
But Pope has found a new way to do it. He showed it last year, issue was, once he got past the best 5, there was a steep drop off, somewhat due to injuries. But this year, he's going to roatate guys in and out like a hockey team, with really good players.
Last year, our guys would go off right out of the gate in the 2nd half, part of that was due to opponent having tired legs. That surge should be even stronger this year.

 

[STL_Cat]

Seems like this has always been the question, right before we have one of our greatest seasons ever. I'll take it.

 

[JPFisher]

People act like most of the guys we got were dominating college ball last year. THEY WEREN'T. We have a very solid roster , probably capable of competing for a title, but this title or bust narrative is nonsense. This team has never played together. It appears a bit weak on 3 point shooting and the KEY peice to a title run is coming off RECENT ACL surgery. Not saying we can't win it just saying that this team might be a bit over hyped going into the season. I've read guys on here saying our roster is the best since 96. What HS it's good but not THAT good.

Nobody on last year's team was dominating college ball before they got here. A team of skilled old dudes made it to the Sweet Sixteen in one of the most stacked years of college basketball ever.

I don't bet, but if I did, I'd be confident putting money on our offense being just as good as last year. What we lack in sheer 3pt%, we make up for with rebounding and driving. Teams could smother us on the perimeter last season because we had no one who could drive to the basket except maybe Butler. Opponents won't be able to do that this year. They also won't be able to get out in transition or take away additional possessions like they did. Miss one? Shoot another.

And for what it's worth, I don't see JQ as a key to the 'ship. He might well be our best player, but we went without three of our best players last year and still got through the SEC gauntlet alright.

Pope has a great team. I think it's fair to be excited. Maybe not comparing this team to 96 excited, but excited.

I get your points, by the way. Lots of unknowns, but that's what makes it fun to be a fan, right?

 

[blue cincy]

They both had them in the top 5. Not much hate.

I do not think it is hate as much as these guys are lazy, mostly admit they do not do much research on the teams. It would be like us, not looking at many teams or any teams in depth and picking our way too early top 25. We can all do it and many do it but does not mean we hate them. Just calling them out.

 

[TopCatCal]

I think it's a question that only has one real obvious answer, but it's quite the compliment to Mark Pope. There were many - including a few on this message board - who thought it would be impossible for Pope to accumulate 14 rotation-level players on one team. I personally think you can never have too much talent.

Too talented would mean we've got something like 7 or 8 first round draft picks. Well that's not the case. But we are definitely a very deep team. Probably the deepest team in the country with quality players 1 thru 14.

 

[CELTICAT]

Seems like has always been the question, right before we have one of our greatest seasons ever. I'll take it.

Was coming here to say that at least in my lifetime, this question has come up a handful of times, and it's always right before a year to remember.

 

[runt#69]

Was coming here to say that at least in my lifetime, this question has come up a handful of times, and it's always right before a year to remember.

 

[Creed Bratton]

IMO, Sleepers puts out some of the worst content. I've blocked them. To answer the question, though, no. UK isn't too deep and talented.

Next year will be fun. Let the media rank us outside the top 5 or 10 preseason. I do not care. We'll be one of the best teams in the country in 25-26.

So are we too talented or are we only talented enough to be 8-12th which is where most "experts" have us. I can't keep up these days. 🤣

 

[JPFisher]

So are we too talented or are we only talented enough to be 8-12th which is where most "experts" have us. I can't keep up these days. 🤣

Expertise goes out the window the minute they're beholden to clicks for their income. "What stupid s**t can I say to rile up Kentucky fans today?" 😂

 

[rivercatinfl]

He's full of crap but it's a good problem to have and Pope will use the talent better than anyone I can think of in today's game.

 

[chroix]

That wasn’t a bad video (other than the production quality) but also pick any two people from this board and it probably is better and deeper content than that.

 

[fatguy87]

We have many talented players. The question is how many will play at a star level. That’s what is keeping us out of the top 5 in these preseason rankings. The pundits believe our top 2 or 3 players collectively won’t be as good as the teams ahead of us.

 

[gbl97]

People act like most of the guys we got were dominating college ball last year. THEY WEREN'T. We have a very solid roster , probably capable of competing for a title, but this title or bust narrative is nonsense. This team has never played together. It appears a bit weak on 3 point shooting and the KEY peice to a title run is coming off RECENT ACL surgery. Not saying we can't win it just saying that this team might be a bit over hyped going into the season. I've read guys on here saying our roster is the best since 96. What HS it's good but not THAT good.

I agree and I hope I am wrong. Only 2 of our incoming guys averaged double figures last year. Some of them didn't start. We have only one 5-star guy coming in and he's hurt. Our best returner (Oweh) has a bad handle, a broken jumper, and misses more layups than he makes.

Look at the dominant players on this year's Final Four teams: guys like Broome, Clayton, Cryer, Flagg. What evidence have we seen from any of our guys to think we are on that level?

Again, I hope I'm wrong and the optimists are right.

 

[KAB Cats]

I like Sleepers and don’t mind when they put out contrarian views, but they’re stretching on this one.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I agree with them that the conversation for number one team starts with Houston and Purdue. That’s the top two teams.

After that, who is #3-10 is very debatable.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Also, if you watch the actual Field of 68 video, I think the comment by Goodman was taken out of context a little.

Goodman was asked if he thought Oweh was an All-American and he essentially said that UK might be too talented for Oweh to stand out enough to be an AA. He said that we would have too many mouths to feed in that sense, not that it would hurt UK, but hurt Oweh when it comes to being an AA. In other words more competition for the ball might hurt Oweh’s stats.

 

[d2atTech]

IMO, Sleepers puts out some of the worst content. I've blocked them. To answer the question, though, no. UK isn't too deep and talented.

Next year will be fun. Let the media rank us outside the top 5 or 10 preseason. I do not care. We'll be one of the best teams in the country in 25-26.

we will win. i am starting to think these "writers" are either AI or are full clickbait. Why not write a meaningful investigative piece, like: "Why the NCAA gave schools differential treatment and didn't punish schools like UNC and Duke for a litany of violations."

 

[runt#69]

I agree and I hope I am wrong. Only 2 of our incoming guys averaged double figures last year. Some of them didn't start. We have only one 5-star guy coming in and he's hurt. Our best returner (Oweh) has a bad handle, a broken jumper, and misses more layups than he makes.

Look at the dominant players on this year's Final Four teams: guys like Broome, Clayton, Cryer, Flagg. What evidence have we seen from any of our guys to think we are on that level?

Again, I hope I'm wrong and the optimists are right.

Are Artslaib and GBL really hoping to be wrong ?? Are you guys really hoping ? seriously ? HOPING ? good lord.

.... and that the optimists (apparently 99% of the entire BBN) which includes me, looks at the preceeding comments as like a "WTF??" take .... on our entire team ! Sweet Jesus.

Looking at the past 2 years, with final four teams, and who do we have on that level ? you ask ?

Well, Aberdeen and Mo D. both just came from those same Final Four teams you are talking about.

Am I missing something ?

And your comments act like Oweh is a net liability than, say closer to the All-American level player he can be next year.

Oweh was fighting along with the rest of the team last year to simply overcome having to shoulder a tremendous burden due to the injury situation. Bad handle and broken jumper, I'd still take Oweh and you can take anyone else you want next year. We'll see how broken and bad he turns out to be at the end of next season as the leader of our team.

But it's a shame you can't already be otimisitic about it, so I'll simply stick with the other 99% of us in BBN that live here and are positively stoked and actually happy and thrilled for the new season. CCC is f'kin dead and buried here. Long live the Pope.

Optimistic ?

Hell, I'm downright a giddy blue blooded SOB !!!

Let everyone sleep on Kentucky next year, until they can't. That'll be soon enough. Then all the naysayers, negative nancies and neer-do-wells will be allowed to jump on this bandwagon.

I say just try to have a lil' better and stronger faith, is my advice. It works for me, is all I'm sayin'.

runt rant/off

(#3,317 and counting)

Go Big Blue

 

[wildcatknh]

Sleepers Media is awful usually. They shit on UK on the regular. They also seemingly don't know much about the team when they do talk about them.

I watched most of Sleepers' content on UK pretty much all of last season and found they were usually pretty high on UK and pretty complimentary. Any criticisms they had were usually pretty reasonable and accurate.