What seniors can return for the 2025-26 season?

[Fox2monk]

I expect something like:
C: Garrison & Moreno
PF: (hopefully Wilson) & a good portal guy
SF: A good portal guy & Chandler & Noah
SG: Oweh or a good portal guy & Johnson
PG: Lewis & Perry
Then maybe 1 more mid-tier portal guy (like Almonor was), probably a Guard.

People talk about getting 13-15 guys. Sure we may get some KY kid who has no expectations of playing, just wants to put on the Blue & White uniform. But you aren't getting a guy who is good enough to contribute to be a 13th+ guy and not play. Even with NIL. I imagine you can get more NIL at UL being the 8th man, at WKU being the 5th man, than the 13th man at UK.

In the above, depending on who the portal guys are of course, I could see the minutes going something like this:
C: Garrison 24, Moreno 16
PF: Wilson 22, portal guy 18
SF: portal guy 20, Chandler 16, Noah 10 (6 of these from the 3 guys will be at SG)
SG: Oweh 24, Johnson 16 (6 of Johnson's will be at PG)
PG: Lewis 22, Perry 12

Next year could be a slightly down year from this year, but I think the year after could be very very good.

I think we will be scary good next year as long as the freshman are as good as their rating and fit into the system. Pope will obviously put them in the best position to succeed along with having 5 guys who play this year returning, plus 3 or 4 portal studs.

 

[podgejeff_]

I expect something like:
C: Garrison & Moreno
PF: (hopefully Wilson) & a good portal guy
SF: A good portal guy & Chandler & Noah
SG: Oweh or a good portal guy & Johnson
PG: Lewis & Perry
Then maybe 1 more mid-tier portal guy (like Almonor was), probably a Guard.

People talk about getting 13-15 guys. Sure we may get some KY kid who has no expectations of playing, just wants to put on the Blue & White uniform. But you aren't getting a guy who is good enough to contribute to be a 13th+ guy and not play. Even with NIL. I imagine you can get more NIL at UL being the 8th man, at WKU being the 5th man, than the 13th man at UK.

In the above, depending on who the portal guys are of course, I could see the minutes going something like this:
C: Garrison 24, Moreno 16
PF: Wilson 22, portal guy 18
SF: portal guy 20, Chandler 16, Noah 10 (6 of these from the 3 guys will be at SG)
SG: Oweh 24, Johnson 16 (6 of Johnson's will be at PG)
PG: Lewis 22, Perry 12

Next year could be a slightly down year from this year, but I think the year after could be very very good.

If Oweh comes back and Pope hits the portal like he did this year if anything I think we'll be better than this year. Assuming we don't lose much to the portal ourselves, every guy looks to have an expanded role next year that's sticking around.

Garrison, Chandler, Noah and Perry are all going to have a year in Pope's system, which will be firmly installed by that point.

 

[trueblujr2]

I’d love to take 3 portal studs, and then add a couple depth shooters or practice players, never have enough bodies.

If the win over Duke is any indication of how our season is going to go, then we should have high level portal guys clamoring to come here. We're gonna need another 5 who can go out beyond the arc. Would be ironic if Big Z were to make a return. Moreno is good, but he's not a three point threat.

 

[podgejeff_]

If the win over Duke is any indication of how our season is going to go, then we should have high level portal guys clamoring to come here. We're gonna need another 5 who can go out beyond the arc. Would be ironic if Big Z were to make a return. Moreno is good, but he's not a three point threat.

Moreno was clearly recruited for his passing ability. That seems to be 100% what Pope looks for in centers. He just so happened to be from Georgetown as well.

I think passing might be more of a valued skill than 3s in Pope's system.

 

[KA4Prez]

4 Freshman

- Lewis
- Moreno
- Johnson
- Wilson

5 Returnees

- Oweh
- Garrison
- Perry
- Chandler
- Noah

3 Free Agents
- ?
- ?
- ?

This is how the roster will take shape, IMO.