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6 points on current basketball situation

Hitman206

Hitman206

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Jul 11, 2009
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Six points on current Basketball situation:

1. Assumption is Chandler and Moreno are both coming back. One person even said Chandler deal was “done” but I couldn’t confirm it. Said most other guys are all based on offers, which will come next week

2. Most common theme is that college BB media has no idea what Pope game plan on roster and program in general is. Whereas virtually every program mentioned guys had lots of scoop and thoughts of who would transfer where, they had little on Kentucky. One said “I have no idea who they want or are targeting and am not even sure who is making the decisions.” They were actually probing me for info on targets.

3. Pope is very well liked but people said he is hard to get to know and understand. One person kind of summed it up to me when they said “I really want him to win because he is such a good guy but I don’t really get him.”

4. They expect Stokes to go to Kansas if Self doesn’t retire but Kentucky if he does. “There are the only two teams willing to meet his price demands.” Quin Ellis assumed to be going to Louisville. Dink Pate unknown although there was a vigorous debate about how good folks thought he would be at college BB level.

5. One common theme all said to me. Kentucky is THE most important brand in college BB to media making money and moving the needle. As one said to me “no fanbase gives clicks, watches videos or cares even half as much as Kentucky.” I asked another what fanbases were the most valuable to them as a media brand. He said “1. Kentucky 2. Kentucky 3. Kentucky 4. Kentucky. Them Duke, UNC and Kansas…Arizona is coming on now too.”

6. The biggest mystery that all discussed…what happened in locker room before Louisville game and how Pope was after Michigan State game. I have been asked about both like 5 times over last three days. I really didn’t have an answer and no one else did either

Via Matt Jones
 
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UKBB4Ever

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I really doubt Moreno is at UK next season.

I don’t think anyone knows on Chandler. Including Chandler.

Whatever jones says then expect the opposite.
 
BlueSince92

BlueSince92

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Hitman206 said:
5. One common theme all said to me. Kentucky is THE most important brand in college BB to media making money and moving the needle. As one said to me “no fanbase gives clicks, watches videos or cares even half as much as Kentucky.” I asked another what fanbases were the most valuable to them as a media brand. He said “1. Kentucky 2. Kentucky 3. Kentucky 4. Kentucky. Them Duke, UNC and Kansas…Arizona is coming on now too.”
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It ought to be a federal crime that our administration(s) have leveraged all this passion into one championship in the past 28 years.
 
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SkyPrince

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There will be a complete meltdown if Stokes picks Kansas even though everyone knows it's a strong possibility.
Until Stokes makes his decision, you can't really say who's staying and who's leaving off the current roster.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

*Fox2Monk*

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SkyPrince said:
There will be a complete meltdown if Stokes picks Kansas even though everyone knows it's a strong possibility.
Until Stokes makes his decision, you can't really say who's staying and who's leaving off the current roster.
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It’s just sad that it’s even a possibility. He’s got a deal with Nike and we have the largest money offer by a ton. Should be an easy choice.
 
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UKCowboys

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megablue said:
I agree 100% and the return of Chandler and Moreno is only helpful if they are recruited over. They can be valuable back-ups on any TOP TEN team.
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Thats ridiculous. A starting five of Jackson Shelstad, Chandler, Stokes, Miikka Muurinen and Moreno is easily top 10. Chandler and Moreno can start all day. They just cant be options #1 and #2
 
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Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
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Bugs092056 said:
The Mark Pope Louisville thing kinda sums up his bewilderment of being in this position
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This pissed me off. Idiot brings this story out to the media with the something happened BS but I’m not ready to talk about it. Then WTF do you mention anything at all? Media members should have refused to ask any other question other than that until it was answered. And to this today it hasn’t been. If I recall he tried backpedaling a week or so later saying it wasn’t as big of a deal as he made it out to be. Pope is so in over his head here it’s not remotely funny. He is failing at every single aspect of the job and it is only going to get worse. We might as well be on probation.
 
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senonesy

senonesy

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kyhankypanky said:
Not sure I’d even want them as backups. Too much baggage, and guys like them can easily be found in the portal. I suspect Pope will wildly overpay for both out of loyalty.
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Two players that have had the least amount of drama I can remember. What “baggage” do you speak of?
 
S

SBKY

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UKCowboys said:
Thats ridiculous. A starting five of Jackson Shelstad, Chandler, Stokes, Miikka Muurinen and Moreno is easily top 10. Chandler and Moreno can start all day. They just cant be options #1 and #2
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Sure. Just like this year we were preseason top 10. Are we still delusional?
 
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kyhankypanky

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senonesy said:
Two players that have had the least amount of drama I can remember. What “baggage” do you speak of?
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No, don’t misunderstand. I think they are great kids, nice guys. The baggage is from the dysfunction of the last year. I think on the team I would aspire to build they could have a role way down on the bench. MM needs 25 lbs of muscle, better hand strength and a meanness I’m not sure you can teach. This part true of CC too. I suspect Pope will overpay for both and all but pencil them in as starters
 
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Old Blue Fart

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Hitman206 said:
Six points on current Basketball situation:

1. Assumption is Chandler and Moreno are both coming back. One person even said Chandler deal was “done” but I couldn’t confirm it. Said most other guys are all based on offers, which will come next week

2. Most common theme is that college BB media has no idea what Pope game plan on roster and program in general is. Whereas virtually every program mentioned guys had lots of scoop and thoughts of who would transfer where, they had little on Kentucky. One said “I have no idea who they want or are targeting and am not even sure who is making the decisions.” They were actually probing me for info on targets.

3. Pope is very well liked but people said he is hard to get to know and understand. One person kind of summed it up to me when they said “I really want him to win because he is such a good guy but I don’t really get him.”

4. They expect Stokes to go to Kansas if Self doesn’t retire but Kentucky if he does. “There are the only two teams willing to meet his price demands.” Quin Ellis assumed to be going to Louisville. Dink Pate unknown although there was a vigorous debate about how good folks thought he would be at college BB level.

5. One common theme all said to me. Kentucky is THE most important brand in college BB to media making money and moving the needle. As one said to me “no fanbase gives clicks, watches videos or cares even half as much as Kentucky.” I asked another what fanbases were the most valuable to them as a media brand. He said “1. Kentucky 2. Kentucky 3. Kentucky 4. Kentucky. Them Duke, UNC and Kansas…Arizona is coming on now too.”

6. The biggest mystery that all discussed…what happened in locker room before Louisville game and how Pope was after Michigan State game. I have been asked about both like 5 times over last three days. I really didn’t have an answer and no one else did either

Via Matt Jones
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Wondering about Chandler coming back or not.
I read elsewhere about his wife possibly returning home to Utah.
Not sure what to believe. I for one would like to see him return.
 
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Hunting9

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UKCowboys said:
So you DON'T think that starting 5 is top 10? I actually think it would be preseason number one
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You also think the earth is flat but it’s obvious you don’t know much about anything. Why even think about a starting 5 that will NEVER come close to reality. You know who the coach is, right ?
 
U

UKCowboys

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Hunting9 said:
You also think the earth is flat but it’s obvious you don’t know much about anything. Why even think about a starting 5 that will NEVER come close to reality. You know who the coach is, right ?
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You're the winner man...never blocked anyone in my life, but your posts are like an idiot alert for incoming stupidity
 
E

Eagles_Ball_69

All-Conference
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UKCowboys said:
Thats ridiculous. A starting five of Jackson Shelstad, Chandler, Stokes, Miikka Muurinen and Moreno is easily top 10. Chandler and Moreno can start all day. They just cant be options #1 and #2
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Shelstad, Stokes, Muurinen...over/under is 1.5. What's your bet?
 
H

Hunting9

Junior
Oct 30, 2025
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UKCowboys said:
You're the winner man...never blocked anyone in my life, but your posts are like an idiot alert for incoming stupidity
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I want you to block me. Thank you. And yes, when it comes to you and I, I am definitely the winner. When you started saying you had kids that were pro athletes and pro prospects I just about lost it. You are FOS.
 
U

UKCowboys

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Eagles_Ball_69 said:
Shelstad, Stokes, Muurinen...over/under is 1.5. What's your bet?
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Doesn't matter....
The statement I responded to was that Chandler and Moreno could not start on a top 10 team. I can take off Shelstad, Stokes and Muurinen and make it Dink Pate, Stefan Vaaks and Paulius Murauskas starting alongside Chandler and Moreno and its still top 10. The point is they can start, just not be the stars
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

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UKCowboys said:
Doesn't matter....
The statement I responded to was that Chandler and Moreno could not start on a top 10 team. I can take off Shelstad, Stokes and Muurinen and make it Dink Pate, Stefan Vaaks and Paulius Murauskas starting alongside Chandler and Moreno and its still top 10. The point is they can start, just not be the stars
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I mean, sure. What you say is factually true. I think it's a bit obtuse to think the poster (or any poster) would say that without at least considering Pope's inability to get THAT level of player. Fact is, on this years team neither of those guys were the stars. At best they were options 3 and 4 behind Oweh and Aberdeen. I struggle to think any team, coached by Pope, can add one player of Oweh and Aberdeens ilk to this years team and FINISH the year top 10. Watching this years team, at no time did I think to myself "hey, we're one player away". It's also pretty disingenuous to try to prove a point that would require Pope to go get three of the best players in a class/portal.
 
U

UKCowboys

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Eagles_Ball_69 said:
I mean, sure. What you say is factually true. I think it's a bit obtuse to think the poster (or any poster) would say that without at least considering Pope's inability to get THAT level of player. Fact is, on this years team neither of those guys were the stars. At best they were options 3 and 4 behind Oweh and Aberdeen. I struggle to think any team, coached by Pope, can add one player of Oweh and Aberdeens ilk to this years team and FINISH the year top 10. Watching this years team, at no time did I think to myself "hey, we're one player away". It's also pretty disingenuous to try to prove a point that would require Pope to go get three of the best players in a class/portal.
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Not if you step back from the Pope derangement syndrome. By all accounts we spent $22M last year. Supposedly we will have less this season, but the second highest NIL budget was $13, so we should still have the highest budget. We will have a new AD, new recruiters, its certainly possible we will have a big portal season
 
E

Eagles_Ball_69

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UKCowboys said:
Not if you step back from the Pope derangement syndrome. By all accounts we spent $22M last year. Supposedly we will have less this season, but the second highest NIL budget was $13, so we should still have the highest budget. We will have a new AD, new recruiters, its certainly possible we will have a big portal season
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Make no mistake, I hate the dude. But I don't think it's anything close to derangement to expect Pope and Mo Williams to hit it big in the portal or anywhere else. Why? They've never done it before. Again, hope is a bad strategy.

It would be like someone thinking Jon Scheyer is going to out strategize someone down the stretch in a big game. Highly unlikely. Why? Not much evidence exists he's capable of doing so.

I don't have these views because I hate Pope. I hate Pope because his performances have formed these views.
 
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