Yes, we missed on Mahaney. But we got Brea. Still was a whiff. Why didn't Kentucky have a chance? Do you think Cal or any other elite recruiter would let Lanier being from TN stop them? Malik Monk went to UK over Arkansas. And his brother was a star football player there. Like I said, recruiters get recruits. They don't let these things stop them. Not withstanding NIL of course.
Not being combative but do you believe that our roster is exactly what Pope and staff wanted?
It’s not a whiff of Kentucky didn’t meet his NIL demands, you seem to ignore that part every time. Go look at what Lanier said, and tell me how Kentucky or BYU ever really had a chance.
Yes, I do minus Devion smith. After that he got guys who fit exactly what wants likes to do. If they back off osobor and choose not to meet Mahaney will NIL, and choose to pursue brea there is a reason for that. So to answer your question yes, I think he has gotten the players he wanted. Laneir they wanted but they probably never really stood a good chance to get him.
Me.. I'm 100% on with CMP.. And will be until he gives me a reason not to be.. Just have a good feeling with him.. Rest you beeches can just be miserable and continue crying about him..
Pope was extremely handicapped this recruiting season. He had to build an entire roster so how much NIL he could spend per player was limited. He also was a little late to the transfer portal game and establishing relationships early is key. Not to mention he's a first year coach at UK, recruits haven't been able to see what he's capable of yet on the big stage. If this time next year, he hasn't been able to land more big time targets that he goes after, I'll be right there with you in being concerned. But given all the cards he was dealt for this year, I think he did a solid job.
He did do a good job. I was just talking about his inability to land a ''big fish''. I.E. one last player. I have said I think year 2 will tell us how Pope can recruit. He came in at a weird time. A full recruiting cycle will tell us a lot.
Osobor can be considered a miss, but his price tag, coupled with the fact we got a multi-year guy instead, helps matters. Washington will still be mostly irrelevant with Osobor.
Garrison was an awesome pivot from Osobor.
UK, UConn, no one was getting BOTH Mahaney & Brea. It was one or the other. Many of us preferred Brea.
It's a complete rebuild. Culture first, recruiting second, and then long-term success.
The winner we needed is in charge. The rear will follow.
Having as much NIL money as anyone doesn't mean we abandon principles for guys asking way over their value.
They don’t have to punt on year 1 either. Next years roster as currently built can still be competitive and good.
You can't force players to commit.Davis
Osobor
Mahaney
Lanier
Robinson
I think his family has KY ties.
Because Barnhart himself said we had $4 million committed to basketball.
UK brings me no misery, but if you can't handle the reality that we've struck out on every top 20 portal transfer, maybe you should stay away from the conversation instead of acting like there's only one discussion to be had.
Another factor is that most people here remember what it was like when Calipari arrived. He brought Bledsoe, Wall, and Boogie with him. Lexington was a circus and the hype was through the roof. Our flameout in the EE was a different story, but we're only in the recruiting season atm, so that's all we can compare right now. I see this as a 20 win, sweet sixteen ceiling team. People are disappointed because they are comparing the level of hype.
But they haven’t struck out thought, that’s alot of our points.
Great point. Kyrie Irving and Paolo Banchero are definitely considered "middling" talent.
We have a top 20 portal transfer? Maybe.
I think Lineski's biggest point was that Duke has been rather underwhelming when it comes to landing elite players and seeing them transition to the NBA. For all the help that Nike gave them (which was historically monumental), the most Duke could say at the end of it was that they had accumulated maybe five guys worthy of All-Star consideration - Kyrie, Tatum, Zion, and Banchero, and Ingram.
It's not a use it or lose it situation.
Agree, there is also Jamir Watkins and Cedric coward still left. Kyle Tucker just tweeted about Watkins, if Kentucky were to go after him I wouldn’t be mad.
I’m not disappointed with this offseason recruiting wise. I am happy with what pope has done.
I don't think it should take 3 or 4 years for UK to at least compete for a Final 4.
