Useless chatter

[billoliver40]

Never too early for a fan to wonder about next season.
What (realistically, not just hoping) do you think are the odds of each player returning NEXT season to Kentucky?

Oweh
Garrison
Chandler
Noah
Perry
Almonor
Kriissa

Just thoughts to kick around...and yes, the transfer portal definitely is a big player in all this.

 

[EliteBlue]

Oweh: 15%
Almonor:50% if he takes a 5th year
Kerr: 80% (maybe he decides he’s ready to head home to Estonia and play professionally…maybe he wants 1 full year of Kentucky?? Who knows)

The rest should be back

 

[olehosk]

Oweh - 85
Garrison -75
Chandler - 75
Noah - 90
Perry - 90
Almonor - eligible?
Kriissa - eligible?

 

[CalipariCapo]

Oweh- 80%
Garrison- 80%
Chandler- 10% (he’s engaged to a girl in Utah. I see him transferring to BYU)
Noah- 100%
Perry- 100%
Almanor- 50% (if he gets the 5th year)
Krissa- 40% (depends if he gets the medical redshirt)

 

[Wildcats1st]

Oweh: 15%
Almonor:50% if he takes a 5th year
Kerr: 80% (maybe he decides he’s ready to head home to Estonia and play professionally…maybe he wants 1 full year of Kentucky?? Who knows)

The rest should be back

Kerr is finished with eligibility
Chandler I predict transfers to byu
I would think Oweh isn’t getting drafted until he develops better handles and a consistent shot. I think he returns.
Garrison returns
Noah/Perry return
If almonor could get an extra year I think he’d probably like to return.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Oweh: 15%
Almonor:50% if he takes a 5th year
Kerr: 80% (maybe he decides he’s ready to head home to Estonia and play professionally…maybe he wants 1 full year of Kentucky?? Who knows)

The rest should be back

Why is Oweh so low? I would put Oweh as back next year

 

[JonathanW]

Almonor can only take a 5th year if the NCAA changes it's eligibility rules. He started after the COVID year.
Kriisa has had 5 years (including his Covid year). He could possibly get a redshirt year, but only if the NCAA does not change the eligibility rules to what they hinted at a few weeks ago (a "5 seasons in 5 years" rule).
So essentially, I think we could bring back either Almonor or Kriisa, but not both.

 

[EliteBlue]

Kerr is finished with eligibility
Chandler I predict transfers to byu
I would think Oweh isn’t getting drafted until he develops better handles and a consistent shot. I think he returns.
Garrison returns
Noah/Perry return
If almonor could get an extra year I think he’d probably like to return.

Kerr is eligible for a medical redshirt and I personally suspect he gets it

I’d love to have Oweh back. May just be gun shy after the Cal era to say he for sure comes back with how much consistency he’s shown this year. Last I looked, he’s projected 2nd round.

 

[EliteBlue]

Why is Oweh so low? I would put Oweh as back next year

Probably still operating a little under the Cal PTSD w players draft projections….but he was projected 2ndRd last I looked in Jan. He’s been one of the most consistent players in CBB and has an NBA ready body and athleticism. If he doesn’t think he can drastically improve draft position by coming back another year, then he may decide the timing is right. Being fringe 2nd after a good season means you’re also an underperforming year away from undrafted

Reality is…it’s all a guess for anyone both a lock 1st round guy. You never know what’s in these guys heads and how much they value the college experience etc. I also don’t know how close he is to a degree and that may influence coming back another year too.

Just spitballing purely on draft position and not the college student aspect

 

[cordmaker]

Almonor can only take a 5th year if the NCAA changes it's eligibility rules. He started after the COVID year.
Kriisa has had 5 years (including his Covid year). He could possibly get a redshirt year, but only if the NCAA does not change the eligibility rules to what they hinted at a few weeks ago (a "5 seasons in 5 years" rule).
So essentially, I think we could bring back either Almonor or Kriisa, but not both.

You've got to remember how much the NCAA hates Kentucky, we've had more problems getting players eligible than probably any team!!!

 

[Ron Mehico]

I think Garrison is most likely to hit transfer portal.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Didn’t Pope already say that Kriisa is eligible for a medical redshirt?

He only played 9 games, so that meets the NCAA requirement. I don’t see how they could deny him, if he doesn’t play anymore this year.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I think six will be back. Seven if the NCAA change the rule and that gives Almonor a fifth year to play.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Probably still operating a little under the Cal PTSD w players draft projections….but he was projected 2ndRd last I looked in Jan. He’s been one of the most consistent players in CBB and has an NBA ready body and athleticism. If he doesn’t think he can drastically improve draft position by coming back another year, then he may decide the timing is right. Being fringe 2nd after a good season means you’re also an underperforming year away from undrafted

Reality is…it’s all a guess for anyone both a lock 1st round guy. You never know what’s in these guys heads and how much they value the college experience etc. I also don’t know how close he is to a degree and that may influence coming back another year too.

Just spitballing purely on draft position and not the college student aspect

Oweh won’t last on the NBA with that jumpshot

 

[JwUKFan11]

I don't think any will go to the NBA so that just leaves the option to transfer. I could see all of them coming back but there is almost always a surprise transfer or 2. Most likely IMO would be Chandler and Garrison.

 

[Padsfs07]

They said the NCAA will not be implementing that rule for this years' athletes, so no Almonor.

Krissa has a medical redshirt option that Pope has even commented on.

 

[bucsrule8872]

They said the NCAA will not be implementing that rule for this years' athletes, so no Almonor.

Krissa has a medical redshirt option that Pope has even commented on.

Thanks for the info. I hadn’t heard that the NCAA had shot down the 5th year rule already.

 

[Chief Paducah]

I am going to go optimistic in Pope's first off-season

Oweh - 90%
Garrison - 70%
Chandler - 95%
Noah - 100%
Perry - 100%
Almonor - Depending on Eligibility 90%
Kriissa - Depending on Eligibility 90%

 

[chroix]

I’m expecting all of them that can return do. Coach talked about continuity being a factor in his recruiting approach and until I see otherwise I’m expecting a lot of returners.

 

[Cats192]

Oweh--Almost certainly back. He's a dawg, great college player. His shooting makes it tough to see him as a high draft pick/drafted at all.
Garrison--probably back, but he's the one I could see going back into the portal.
Noah--certainly back
Perry--certainly back
Almonor--don't think he'll have any eligibility
Kriissa--I honestly hope he comes back this year, but if he doesn't, he'll be back

Chandler--I think certainly back. I see people saying his fiance is in Utah and he'll transfer to BYU. I'm assuming his fiance was always in Utah? And he was originally committed to Pope at BYU. If he proposed to her in New York in late 2024, I assume they've been in love/pretty serious for a while. If he's going to switch to BYU to be closer to her--why come to Kentucky to begin with? It probably took more work to leave BYU in the first place.

In regards to all 3 Freshmen: We're used to seeing some of these lower ranked recruits get a chance early on. And then they feel recruited over. Pope keeps giving these guys chances (his hand is being forced to an extent due to the injuries). But he's building their confidence. They've done well with the minutes. They're going to continue to get minutes this year. They'll have significant roles next year. I'd venture to guess they're starting or playing major minutes as Juniors/seniors. I don't think we should be worried about any of those guys.

 

[UK67KU59]

Oweh - 90%
Garrison - 70%
Chandler - 50%
Noah - 90%
Perry - 70%
Almonor - 80%, if eligible
Kriisa - 40%, if eligible

 

[bucsrule8872]

I think Garrison returns unless Pope recruits over him and signs a superstar 5 man. I really doubt that. Garrison will likely be our starting 5 next season.

 

[JimBR]

Would like to see Chandler return. He has shown signs of being a decent player. Is a much better defender and rebounder than Perry. If his shot improves he could be a significant contributor.

 

[blue cincy]

Kerr is finished with eligibility
Chandler I predict transfers to byu
I would think Oweh isn’t getting drafted until he develops better handles and a consistent shot. I think he returns.
Garrison returns
Noah/Perry return
If almonor could get an extra year I think he’d probably like to return.

Pope already reported Kerr is able to get medical redshirt, played in less than 30% of games and did not play past deadline.

 

[katwest]

I think all of those that are eligible to come back will. The second year is always easier than the first, to go through learning the system and playing in the toughest conference in America and being part of Kentuckys resurgence is pretty noteworthy. All of these players mentioned have played about as much as can be expected based their progress. They are not going to find a better coach that believes in them and gives them more opportunity than pope.

 

[qwesley]

With Lewis and Perry there is no reason to take KK back for another year. Need a stud athletic lead guard.

 

[Blue_2_the_bone]

Oweh will be back or transfer. He’s not going to the league next year. Hopefully we get to see him in blue 1 more year.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

what reason would Oweh not be back? this isnt calipari's iso one on one offense that anyone able to prove they can score 12 ppg goes pro and the pros want them. Oweh gets his points because the offense gets defenders in bad positions for Oweh to drive and score, not because Oweh is one on one beating his man down. He's also a SG that doesnt create and hit his own 3pt shots, I LOVE OWEH, he's a damn good college player but he has a lot to work on before the NBA sees him as a draft worthy guy

 

[FirewithFire]

I predict everything rides upon how much NIL money is available.

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

I think Garrison is most likely to hit transfer portal.

And just why the hell would he do that?
He’s gonna be big for us next year

 

[Ron Mehico]

And just why the hell would he do that?
He’s gonna be big for us next year

Word on the street my big blue friend

 

[bucsrule8872]

Word on the street my big blue friend

That’s too bad. I was hoping he would stick around and grow into a superstar for us.

 

[Ron Mehico]

That’s too bad. I was hoping he would stick around and grow into a superstar for us.

Hey you never know Amari Williams tried to get out of his scholarship with us after we signed Garrison until Pope talked him out of it so who knows.

 

[aceman509]

Noah - 95%
Perry - 95%
Chandler - 90%
Oweh - 70%
Kriissa - 35%
Almonor - 95% if he is eligible, don't think he gets eligible so I say 15%
Garrison - 10%

 

[fatguy87]

what reason would Oweh not be back? this isnt calipari's iso one on one offense that anyone able to prove they can score 12 ppg goes pro and the pros want them. Oweh gets his points because the offense gets defenders in bad positions for Oweh to drive and score, not because Oweh is one on one beating his man down. He's also a SG that doesnt create and hit his own 3pt shots, I LOVE OWEH, he's a damn good college player but he has a lot to work on before the NBA sees him as a draft worthy guy

He also hasn’t shown to be otherworldly defensively.

At his age, lacking superior defensive ability and a reliable jumper hurts his draft prospects.

 

[trueblujr2]

Oweh: 15%
Almonor:50% if he takes a 5th year
Kerr: 80% (maybe he decides he’s ready to head home to Estonia and play professionally…maybe he wants 1 full year of Kentucky?? Who knows)

The rest should be back

I think Oweh has all but said he's coming back.
It will take a rule change by the NCAA for Almonor to come back and last I read, that rule change isn't likely.
I think Kerr is lpetitioning for a medical Redshirt, so I would assume that would mean he returns instead of going home.

As for Noah, Perry and Chandler? I would say they are 100% locks to return. JMO

Garrison, I'd put him at 80% or better as well. he's not going pro and is likely penciled in as the starter for next year to replace Williams, though that will also depend on who's available in the portal and if there is somebody too good to pass up.

 

[ORCAT]

Why is Oweh so low? I would put Oweh as back next year

I would say Oweh back next year as well. With his size, he must develop a much better outside shot and advance his handles way more too. I can't see any NBA team drafting him at this point, no matter he has been our most consistent scorer. NBA is looking for much more all around game from a guy his size and there are many others out there that would be drafted ahead of him. He needs another year to work on those skills to have any hope for a pro career.

 

[trueblujr2]

With Lewis and Perry there is no reason to take KK back for another year. Need a stud athletic lead guard.

I think this years injury bug shows you take KK back if he wants to be here. roster needs to be full next year. 15 schollies.

 

[bnewt]

They said the NCAA will not be implementing that rule for this years' athletes, so no Almonor.

Krissa has a medical redshirt option that Pope has even commented on.

I hope Krissa can return. Just like his fire & competitiveness

 

[bnewt]

Word on the street my big blue friend

would hate that
thought that he was enjoying himself
always seems to play with enthusiasm