Will we be any good......?

[SouthernINcat]

Serious Question. Obviously time will tell, I know this. But will these pieces Pope has put together be good?

How good? I don't know if we will be top 10 good or NIT bound.

Curious about opinions...

 

[KentuckyCat420]

There is not a single doubt in my mind that we will be better than the team John Calipari was about to roll out for next season.

Take that however you would like to.

 

[Phil_The_Music]

The players we have are really good. It all depends on how quickly they can learn to play together as an effective team. I think we will be proud of them.

 

[Catfan2226]

I think BBN is going to be very pleased with Mark Popes first season.
Very pleased.

 

[ThrowBackCat9]

Just got off the phone with Pope and I ran this question by him and he says the standard at UK is to win every game and compete for championships, even in year 1.

So I’m predicting 40-0 and #9.

 

[MidseasonTweak]

You said it yourself, time will tell. I see us having success based on the age of our group and tourney experience shared among part of our team.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Taking a wait and see approach and won’t go looking for a cliff to leap off if we’re just OK in year 1. Started completely over behind the curve. Keeping my expectations realistic, which I know is very common in this fanbase.

 

[millayc]

I don't have any hope for this year's team. I won't blame the coach at all. Impossible to put a good team together in a month with a no name coach that brings no good players with him. Year 2 is where we should be looking.

 

[Fadhi]

I'm really happy Pope picked up quality big men. We should be physically able to match up with most teams.

 

[Skyguyb27]

Will be top 25. Maybe if Pope gets his last few he wants a chance at top 10. Sweet 16 is possible now. With a strong portal finish could go further. At that point it’s all about matchups and a little luck.

 

[docholiday51]

There is not a single doubt in my mind that we will be better than the team John Calipari was about to roll out for next season.

Take that however you would like to.

I think we can be assured of that

 

[GoNoles111]

I expect a 7-9 seed type season..(21-11 or so?) And to win the first round NCAA game.


Anything beyond that would be gravy.

 

[sambowieshin]

There is not a single doubt in my mind that we will be better than the team John Calipari was about to roll out for next season.

Take that however you would like to.

We were going to suck (by UK standards) and Cal knew it. That is why he bolted and is trying to rebrand his image down in Hog land.
The one thing that pisses me off is knowing that some of the players Cal took with him would have been shoved out the door had he stayed on at UK. He desperately needed them to field a decent team and put his used car salesman pitch into action. At UK...he didn't give a rats ass anymore what we thought.
That was obvious when he left two top five draft picks on the bench to rot 8 minutes a game all season.
No coach in America does that if they are worried about their job or winning games.

 

[sportspm]

Just got off the phone with Pope and I ran this question by him and he says the standard at UK is to win every game and compete for championships, even in year 1.

So I’m predicting 40-0 and #9.

I would accept that, but I’d rather win every game by at least 15 points 😉
Seriously though we have 3 potential all conference defenders, plus one of the best bigs in the ACC last season and several of the top percentage 3 point shooters from last season. Don’t forget 3 quality freshman to not sleep on. I think we are in good shape. Plus one or 2 more incoming

 

[Jorts98]

I don't have any hope for this year's team. I won't blame the coach at all. Impossible to put a good team together in a month with a no name coach that brings no good players with him. Year 2 is where we should be looking.

It definitely is possible in 2024 with the way the transfer portal has evolved. They'll be fine.

 

[W1LDCAT22]

Serious Question. Obviously time will tell, I know this. But will these pieces Pope has put together be good?

How good? I don't know if we will be top 10 good or NIT bound.

Curious about opinions...

I am taking more of a wait-and-approach before getting excited about next year. However, with the current roster we have at this very second, I believe we will finish in the middle-of-the-pack in SEC play. I think we do squeek into the NCAAT with a 9-10 seed. We might pull off a win in the first round of the tournament, but that is the ceiling imo.

Now, the outlook drastically changes with the addition of either or both of Lanier or Robinson. If we get one, I will factor am additional 2-3 wins on the season. If we get both, I will think we will win at least 5 more games on the season, with a Sweet 16 finish as the floor. The dynamic of the team drastically changes with Lanier and/or Robinson, which would push us into Final Four contention. Fingers crossed!

 

[TOMCATS1990]

Yes I guarantee we win more then zero SEC and NCAA tourney games

 

[blue cincy]

Finish the roster out first. Then lets have this discussion.

 

[BelfryKYCatFanatic]

Keeping my expectations realistic, which I know is very common in this fanbase.

Hilarious!

 

[BIG BLUE GURU]

There is not a single doubt in my mind that we will be better than the team John Calipari was about to roll out for next season.

Take that however you would like to.

This times 100

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Need to see a finished roster. Until then...

I'd say this is a 25-40 team in the country. Probably 4-6 finish in the SEC and a 6-10 seed in the tourney.

 

[know1]

How many times is this going to be asked this week?

I firmly believe we'll be better than we have been for several years. I look for us to be no worse than a 4 seed and to win a few games in the tournament.

 

[Coach Marrow]

I have no idea. I would like for them to make the tournament and win a game though.

 

[jedcat]

I'm pretty optimistic, even as the roster stands right now. It seems Pope has been intentional in putting the pieces together, we will have so much experience, Pope's offensive scheme will be way better, and, though not "glamorous," we have players that are specifically skilled (3 point %, DPOY in conference, etc.).

 

[WildcatSir]

When these grown men beat Dukes ass you'll feel stupid.

 

[JFCats22]

As is? 18-13, 19-12 NCAAT bubble team.

Add a legit player? Probably a top 20 team and a 5-6 seed

 

[ukfan1622]

I think we'll have a better team than last year but maybe not a better record. The reason I say that is the predicted strength of the SEC. A recent projected top 25 I saw(when UK only had 4-5 players) had seven
SEC teams in the top 25 and those 7 did not include UK or South Carolina or Ole Miss(both were good last year) or Texas.

 

[NociHTTP]

We're absolutely going to suck. Hope you're doing well, Ron.

 

[Blue wood]

How many times is this going to be asked this week?

I firmly believe we'll be better than we have been for several years. I look for us to be no worse than a 4 seed and to win a few games in the tournament.

You don't have to post, we are not all waiting around for your opinion every time

 

[know1]

You don't have to post, we are not all waiting around for your opinion every time

Kind of like nobody's waiting around to see the same question asked over and over again, either. But at least I answered it unlike you.

 

[Blueisbest]

It's hard to tell. Get either Lanier or Robinson and we have the potential to be really good. It also depends on how the team meshes together and whether or not we have any issues with bruised egos concerning who was paid what.

 

[anonymous_2011]

As is? 18-13, 19-12 NCAAT bubble team.

Add a legit player? Probably a top 20 team and a 5-6 seed

I think this is realistic.

I've said before mid of SEC and possibly an 11 seed.

 

[MrHotDice]

Serious Question. Obviously time will tell, I know this. But will these pieces Pope has put together be good?

How good? I don't know if we will be top 10 good or NIT bound.

Curious about opinions...

Bottom line will be wins vs. Losses. Pope will make it if he wins enough games to satisfy the mob aka BBN.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

Let's look at just a little bit of what Kentucky has, when March rolls around, compared to recent history:

A. A guy who hit a buzzer beater in the FInal Four.
B. A guy whose team won more NCAA games in one year than Kentucky has over the past five years, including a win over a 1 seed.
C. A guy who made more three pointers against Oakland last year and scored more points than presumed NBA lottery picks Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham, and Arkansas players DJ Wagner and Zvonir Ivisic - COMBINED.

So if the Cats can get to the Dance, I don't see a St. Peters or Oakland outcome in the forecast.

 

[Hopmix]

As is? 18-13, 19-12 NCAAT bubble team.

Add a legit player? Probably a top 20 team and a 5-6 seed

had to screen shot this one.

 

[jeffky]

Serious Question. Obviously time will tell, I know this. But will these pieces Pope has put together be good?

How good? I don't know if we will be top 10 good or NIT bound.

Curious about opinions...

7 years of shit I need more Pope

 

[meow_cat]

He basically replied the same in a text I sent him earlier.

Just got off the phone with Pope and I ran this question by him and he says the standard at UK is to win every game and compete for championships, even in year 1.

So I’m predicting 40-0 and #9.

 

[Snarks0]

There is not a single doubt in my mind that we will be better than the team John Calipari was about to roll out for next season.

Take that however you would like to.

So basically win 1 postseason game (either sec or ncaa tournament)? Talk about a low bar

 

[OneBadCat]

It’s hard to say, but I don’t think this will be a team that loses games that they are supposed to win. We’ll have some losses, but I think it will be a competitive, fun team to watch.

 

[G-PIP]

At this point, before the season starts, I think I might feel better about the team prospects and the combined personnel already on this roster than any UK team since the 2014-15 squad. How it actually plays out we’ll have to see. There have been seasons since 2015 where the teams have been both better and worse than I expected. But the fact UK isn’t going to be forced to rely on underdeveloped freshmen to carry the team once again at least gives me more preseason hope than I’ve had in a while (21-22 season being an exception).