And truth to the Andrija jelavic buzz?

[TFCat11]

I have seen NOTHING to suggest that UK is paying anyone over $1M, forget about $2M-$3M! UK’s highest paid player this upcoming season will be Otega Oweh, and it’s going to cost $1.5M-$1.75M, and that would be at a return player discount, and THAT’S assuming he won’t get a 2nd “guarantee” from a NBA team that could use his skilllset.

I keep harkening back to the amount of guards that Pope is targeting, if someone isn’t leaving.

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

Matt Jones did say they would be adding a shooter though. Wonder if that changed

He did, he never said where from though(I don’t think). I want Yates or Pierre, I just don’t see how somebody isn’t left unhappy on the bench

 

[bookerfan66]

The writing has been on the wall for a looooong time that Jasper has been penciled in at starting 2G

Well depending on a true freshman and Brandon Garrison as starters is a choice that might come back to bite. We will see.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

I think it's clear that Williams is probably going to serve that Almonor type of stretch 4 role, maybe sometimes playing the 3 but not as much.

Jasper and Lewis are complete unknowns. We can't go into the year relying on Oweh and Lowe being the only 2 upperclassman perimeter guys on the roster, that would be malpractice.

NEED another guy on the perimeter who can put the ball in the bucket.

Williams dad said he was told Williams will be a 2/3

 

[FitchandMurray29]

I guess I still don't see why people think we don't have room.

We are losing 4 guards (Brea, Robinson, Kriisa and Butler) and only have 3 replacements so far (Lewis, Jasper & Lowe) and 2 of those 3 replacements are freshman.

Not to mention, we haven't even come close to fully replacing the shooting gaps left by Robinson and Brea.

Our crop of guards right now will struggle to shoot the ball at a high enough rate to fit what Pope wants to do.

There seems to be a definite and absolute need for another guard right now.

Lowe, Williams, Jasper, Lewis, and Chandler bumping up his expected minutes are how I think those 4 guards/wings are replaced.

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

I think it's clear that Williams is probably going to serve that Almonor type of stretch 4 role, maybe sometimes playing the 3 but not as much.

Jasper and Lewis are complete unknowns. We can't go into the year relying on Oweh and Lowe being the only 2 upperclassman perimeter guys on the roster, that would be malpractice.

NEED another guy on the perimeter who can put the ball in the bucket.

I can see that, but jasper and Lewis are ballers, I see both of them being very good

 

[kywildcat1021979]

Yep, I kind of chuckle every time I see people write up their mock rotations and Chandler is like the 12th man. Not happening. Will be a big part of plans this year.

From the beginning of the year until the end he was by far the most improved player on both sides of the ball. I know he will definitely have a major role next season!

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Well depending on a true freshman and Brandon Garrison as starters is a choice that might come back to bite. We will see.

If Pope is to be attractive to the top freshman, he also has to show he is willing to invest in them and play them. Jasper is a pretty known commodity and I think most people can comfortably tell how he will fit

 

[bookerfan66]

If Pope is to be attractive to the top freshman, he also has to show he is willing to invest in them and play them. Jasper is a pretty known commodity and I think most people can comfortably tell how he will fit

Maybe but people thought BJ Boston was a baller and stud before he played.

 

[bnewt]

Putting not great shooters around a non shooting point guard seems strange.

yes it does
got to have another shooter.... yates or Pierre if Pope truly wants 35 three's per game
Oweh is a scorer, but not a 3 point shooter, so that leaves only Chandler

 

[Tampa_cat54_rivals112262]

Lowe, Williams, Jasper, Lewis, and Chandler bumping up his expected minutes are how I think those 4 guards/wings are replaced.

Then we won't be very good.

Plain and simple.

That isn't enough shooting or experience to do what we want to do next year.

If Pope isn't willing to go out and make hard choices and get the best players available, then idk what we're doing.

Let's pass on the nation's leading scorer or an NBA talent from the Big-10 because we signed 2 freshman and 9PPG scorer from Tulane and a PG from Pitt that can't shoot the ball that well.

It would be like if Rick Barnes decided not to go get Chaz Lanier this year because he already had Gainey and Zeigler and Mashack and Dunbar, etc.

If we don't go out and land another scorer, I have serious doubts about our ability to compete next year.

Nevermind the fact that if we pass the ball to the PF position right now, there will be no one there to catch it.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Putting not great shooters around a non shooting point guard seems strange.

Think back to last year’s starting lineup:

pg - Butler (brought in as a non-shooter)
sg - Oweh (slasher, very low volume shooter)
sf - Robinson (shooter, not great efficiency)
pf - Carr (average shooter, not great volume)
c - Williams (literally no jumper)


^ That’s the starting five Pope brought in last year. How did they shoot? Really good. Not as much volume as wanted but 38% 3pt as an entire team. Pope knows what he’s doing.

 

[bnewt]

I think it's clear that Williams is probably going to serve that Almonor type of stretch 4 role, maybe sometimes playing the 3 but not as much.

Jasper and Lewis are complete unknowns. We can't go into the year relying on Oweh and Lowe being the only 2 upperclassman perimeter guys on the roster, that would be malpractice.

NEED another guy on the perimeter who can put the ball in the bucket.

exactly, Jasper my be great, but just can not take that chance
that is why I liked the Lee guy from Pirnceton, he was a much better shooter than Lowe, and now with Wright in the portal, he would have
been a good pick up.

 

[bnewt]

If Pope is to be attractive to the top freshman, he also has to show he is willing to invest in them and play them. Jasper is a pretty known commodity and I think most people can comfortably tell how he will fit

they can play a lot of minutes, but they don't have to start unless they earn it

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

Guys I get it but we also gotta stop acitng like guys can’t make major jumps. Chandler is gonna get better, jasper will be good, same for Lewis, Williams will as well. Yates or Pierre was always going to be a luxury add and not a necesssity add

 

[bookerfan66]

Think back to last year’s starting lineup:

pg - Butler (brought in as a non-shooter)
sg - Oweh (slasher, very low volume shooter)
sf - Robinson (shooter, not great efficiency)
pf - Carr (average shooter, not great volume)
c - Williams (literally no jumper)


^ That’s the starting five Pope brought in last year. How did they shoot? Really good. Not as much volume as wanted but 38% 3pt as an entire team. Pope knows what he’s doing.

Sweet 16's are fine but I thought Pope would get better this season.

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

they can play a lot of minutes, but they don't have to start unless they earn it

Let’s say we get Yates. Lowe, Lewis, Yates, Oweh, Johnson, Williams, chandler thats 7 guys, who is getting left out and not getting mins?

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Sweet 16's are fine but I thought Pope would get better this season.

That’s the thing. I believe he got better and younger…..if we land a PF. We are setup to be as good if not better than last year with the opportunity to bring back nearly a full roster to win big in 2027. I’ve been saying it for awhile — Pope does not seem to be building for 2026 as much as 2027.

 

[bookerfan66]

That’s the thing. I believe he got better and younger…..if we land a PF. We are setup to be as good if not better than last year with the opportunity to bring back nearly a full roster to win big in 2027. I’ve been saying it for awhile — Pope does not seem to be building for 2026 as much as 2027.

Well let's set out next season then.

 

[Catlogic15]

I can see Chandler taking a big step forward next year and being a consistent part of the rotation.

He really needs to improve his ball handling.

 

[bnewt]

Then we won't be very good.

Plain and simple.

That isn't enough shooting or experience to do what we want to do next year.

If Pope isn't willing to go out and make hard choices and get the best players available, then idk what we're doing.

Let's pass on the nation's leading scorer or an NBA talent from the Big-10 because we signed 2 freshman and 9PPG scorer from Tulane and a PG from Pitt that can't shoot the ball that well.

It would be like if Rick Barnes decided not to go get Chaz Lanier this year because he already had Gainey and Zeigler and Mashack and Dunbar, etc.

If we don't go out and land another scorer, I have serious doubts about our ability to compete next year.

Nevermind the fact that if we pass the ball to the PF position right now, there will be no one there to catch it.

trying to give Pope the benefit of the doubt, by some of these additions don't make sense unless UK truly does not
have NIL $ to get what is needed, which unfortunately appears to be true. Connected with too many portal players to keep drawing blanks. Honestly, pretty underwhelming thus far

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

He really needs to improve his ball handling.

Can he not? He has a whole offseason

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Well let's set out next season then.

Not how it works. If you want to win a national title, what is the most important ingredient from this list:

Pure talent
Experience
Talented continuity

It’s the third.
Pope knows this. He isn’t here to have a “contender” and he doesn’t want to be a “contender”. Pope geniunely wants to win national championships

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

trying to give Pope the benefit of the doubt, by some of these additions don't make sense unless UK truly does not
have NIL $ to get what is needed, which unfortunately appears to be true. Connected with too many portal players to keep drawing blanks. Honestly, pretty underwhelming thus far

A top guard in the portal and a wing many see NBA potential on is underwhelming?

 

[bookerfan66]

Not how it works. If you want to win a national title, what is the most important ingredient from this list:

Pure talent
Experience
Talented continuity

It’s the third.
Pope knows this. He isn’t here to have a “contender” and he doesn’t want to be a “contender”. Pope geniunely wants to win national championships

Well if this is his roster we will see how it goes next season. The proof will be the record

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

Not how it works. If you want to win a national title, what is the most important ingredient from this list:

Pure talent
Experience
Talented continuity

It’s the third.
Pope knows this. He isn’t here to have a “contender” and he doesn’t want to be a “contender”. Pope geniunely wants to win national championships

You can’t sit here and say we want players to stay here and then over recruit them every year. Eventually you gotta give guys a chance

 

[Tampa_cat54_rivals112262]

Guys I get it but we also gotta stop acitng like guys can’t make major jumps. Chandler is gonna get better, jasper will be good, same for Lewis, Williams will as well. Yates or Pierre was always going to be a luxury add and not a necesssity add

It's a round of 32 roster on the perimeter right now, sweet 16 would be the absolute ceiling. It's simply not good enough as-is.

How is our Perimeter roster (or front court for that matter) any better than Illinois' last year? If anything, it's maybe worse, and they were a 6 seed with a Round of 32 exit.

I watched Cal, year after year, pass on top talent in the portal because "guys will improve!".

I heard on this board everywhere "We have Wheeler and Toppin and Mintz and they are all going to take big jumps, plus we have TyTy coming in so we just don't have room" for the top end of the portal.

Cal barely even wanted to take Antonio Reeves!

If Cal had been willing to just take the best players available, he'd probably still be here.

Can't afford for Pope to make the same mistakes.

Going into next season with only 2 upperclassman on the perimeter, neither of which can shoot, is not a recipe for success.

 

[bookerfan66]

A top guard in the portal and a wing many see NBA potential on is underwhelming?

A top guard that can't shoot?

 

[FitchandMurray29]

Then we won't be very good.

Plain and simple.

That isn't enough shooting or experience to do what we want to do next year.

If Pope isn't willing to go out and make hard choices and get the best players available, then idk what we're doing.

Let's pass on the nation's leading scorer or an NBA talent from the Big-10 because we signed 2 freshman and 9PPG scorer from Tulane and a PG from Pitt that can't shoot the ball that well.

It would be like if Rick Barnes decided not to go get Chaz Lanier this year because he already had Gainey and Zeigler and Mashack and Dunbar, etc.

If we don't go out and land another scorer, I have serious doubts about our ability to compete next year.

Nevermind the fact that if we pass the ball to the PF position right now, there will be no one there to catch it.

We have 3 kids that are/were top 40 prospects coming out of high school, 2 kids ranked in the top 30 of some portal rankings, and a presumed returning all conference guard. Thats not even counting Perry or small ball 4/3 Noah.

If that’s not good enough then my eyes turn to the coaching staff. On paper that’s great recruiting and talent. No one forced them to sign any of those kids that are good enough to warrant/demand PT.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Well if this is his roster we will see how it goes next season. The proof will be the record

I feel like your answer suggests you might be misunderstanding me. Pope is trying to build a team that can win next year but he wants to build a monster for 2027. Next year is a building year. Think of 2026 kind of like Auburn’s year last season.

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

A top guard that can't shoot?

Did Lamont butler not improve as a shooter in our offense?

 

[Tampa_cat54_rivals112262]

We have 3 kids that are/were top 40 prospects coming out of high school, 2 kids ranked in the top 30 of some portal rankings, and a presumed returning all conference guard. Thats not even counting Perry or small ball 4/3 Noah.

If that’s not good enough then my eyes turn to the coaching staff. On paper that’s great recruiting and talent. No one forced them to sign any of those kids that are good enough to warrant/demand PT.

Haven't we learned from 15 years with Cal that rankings mean nothing?

Yeah, Damion Collins and BJ Boston, etc. were top 30 out of HS.

Shavir Wheeler was a top-ranked portal transfer.

I go off what I know, and I know this perimeter group, as-is, isn't good enough.

And you know what? I'm pretty sure Pope & Co agree with me because they had Zooms yesterday with both Yates and Pierre. Clearly they are interested in adding another piece as well.

 

[bnewt]

Matt Jones did say they would be adding a shooter though. Wonder if that changed

He did, he never said where from though(I don’t think). I want Yates or Pierre, I just don’t see how somebody isn’t left unhappy on the bench

not so sure that Jones knows anything
too many of his statements did not come to fruitioin

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

It's a round of 32 roster on the perimeter right now, sweet 16 would be the absolute ceiling. It's simply not good enough as-is.

How is our Perimeter roster (or front court for that matter) any better than Illinois' last year? If anything, it's maybe worse, and they were a 6 seed with a Round of 32 exit.

I watched Cal, year after year, pass on top talent in the portal because "guys will improve!".

I heard on this board everywhere "We have Wheeler and Toppin and Mintz and they are all going to take big jumps, plus we have TyTy coming in so we just don't have room" for the top end of the portal.

Cal barely even wanted to take Antonio Reeves!

If Cal had been willing to just take the best players available, he'd probably still be here.

Can't afford for Pope to make the same mistakes.

Going into next season with only 2 upperclassman on the perimeter, neither of which can shoot, is not a recipe for success.

Different coaching staff though.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Easier and cheaper to get a bruising head buster inside than a guard like Pierre. Spend the money on Pierre, get Alvaro now, then finish up with a rim protector and a head buster.

 

[Tampa_cat54_rivals112262]

Did Lamont butler not improve as a shooter in our offense?

Lamont Butler hit 8 3FGs in SEC play, including the SEC tournament.

Can we stop acting like Butler turned into Doron Lamb?

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

Lamont Butler hit 8 3FGs in SEC play, including the SEC tournament.

Can we stop acting like Butler turned into Doron Lamb?

Ok, but can we stop acting like a better offensive system won’t help Lowe.

 

[bnewt]

A top guard in the portal and a wing many see NBA potential on is underwhelming?

compared to what has been available..........yes
you excited about a 30% shooter & a guy that averaged 9 point per game
Hopefully Lowe isn't a taller version of Wheeler especially since there are no proven shooters around him.
now if he was cat quick, and could beat his man off the dribble and create dunks or layups for others that would be great.
From his videos, I don't see that cat like quickness. I don't see any shooters around him & I don't see anyone for him to throw
lobs to. Depending on Noah, and Perry will not get UK to the final four. In fact, it won't even allow them to win the SEC.

 

[hs_sportsfan]

The one thing that really gets me is we have an ELITE shooter on the team that played minutes this year. Travis Perry will be a high level shooter at this level. You put him on the floor with other athletes/shooters he will knock shots down. The issue with him this year was he came in as a freshman and got thrown into PG minutes guarding guys he couldn't guard. Trust me his will be an elite shooter, and because he is a competitor his defense will improve. He won't be a 30 minute a game guy but he will be a guy you have to have 15-20 minutes and a known commodity as a shooter.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Lamont Butler hit 8 3FGs in SEC play, including the SEC tournament.

Can we stop acting like Butler turned into Doron Lamb?

If you can acknowledge Butler was not an elite shooter, you see Pope doesn’t have to have “elite shooters” for his offense to work. We brought in three elite shooters for last years team: Robinson, Brea and Kriisa.

Kriisa had a season ending injury less than ten games into the year and Robinson had a major shooting slump that tanked his efficiency. Only one of the elite shooters we brought in put up elite shooting numbers and we were still a top 15 team……even without athleticism, depth or talent.


People that don’t think we will be better should at least consider those factors.