It seems to me this is the best roster pre season in many years, certainly 2015 was better.
Not sure there’s a clear better pre season roster since. Any thoughts?
Not sure there’s a clear better pre season roster since. Any thoughts?
Best roster since…?
- Thread starter ia.ukfan_rivals
- Start date
Deepest since 2015 and most talented since 2017
I would agree with this!
This team SHOULD be pre-season top 3, but you just know some haters will continue to rank them lower (looking at you, Seth Greenberg and Jon Rothstein).
Honestly we don’t know. I’m not a Debbie downer and I am excited. But this is always a hard question to answer in April. People always sleep on Cal’s last year. That was a damn good roster. If this group can match that one ill be happy
That team had NO front court to speak of.
Mitchell was a shell of himself after mid-December, and the production from the 5 spot was abysmal.
Wagner, Edwards and Bradshaw were massive disappointments compared to preseason expectations.
That team was CARRIED by the consistency of Antonio Reeves and the star power of Sheppard/Dillingham, but that's really all we had going for us if we are being honest.
And it showed in March.
And in the regular season when they became the first team in Kentucky history to lose 3 straight games in Rupp.
You could argue that it’s the deepest roster since 2015. Thirteen guys who can legit play never happened with Cal …as he refused to even recruit that many.
But it’s not the best based on sheer talent. It does not have the sort of elite high end NBA talent that many of Cal’s later teams featured …even if those teams underachieved and/or disappointed.
Good. I like to be underrated and disrespected. Feels good to just win.
There are some hurdles to overcome like team chemistry, JQ getting healthy, Jelavic acclimating, and what not, but I don’t even care. I’m really excited to see what can happen.
If we get Oweh back, add Sarr and Hawthorne, since 2015 as far as depth.
Talent is hard to compare, because Cal has always had talent but it
either didn’t fit or he didn’t coach it.
Talent is hard to compare, because Cal has always had talent but it
either didn’t fit or he didn’t coach it.
2018 …even though it was such a frustrating disappointing season …should be included as well.
Remember that 18 team had arguably the current BEST PLAYER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD in SGA …who’s likely to soon win this season’s NBA MVP award. Plus at least seven future NBA players (PJ Washington, Kevin Knox, SGA, Nick Richards, Gabriel, Jarrod Vanderbilt, Hami Diallo, etc.). That’s a crazy shitload of raw talent for one college roster …even if it didn’t show in the on court results.
It looks like Pope is building rosters that will have the depth and athleticism of the Pitino years.
Cal always had NBA talent, he didn't always have top-end college talent.
We won't get Sarr anymore, so we can let go of that idea.
Some good points. Fascinating to me reviewing those teams how impossible it feels to compare, this is just such a fundamentally different roster build and approach to winning.
No doubt we have less NBA talent than some of those teams, but who’s worth more, lottery pick Tyler hero or maybe second round pick to late first Oweh (assuming he progresses)?
SGA doesn’t apply for much as he didn’t at all resemble who he is now in college. He was good but no one saw this coming.
Anyways interesting exercise. Reviewing those teams does nothing but me more glad we are done with Cal era.
No doubt we have less NBA talent than some of those teams, but who’s worth more, lottery pick Tyler hero or maybe second round pick to late first Oweh (assuming he progresses)?
SGA doesn’t apply for much as he didn’t at all resemble who he is now in college. He was good but no one saw this coming.
Anyways interesting exercise. Reviewing those teams does nothing but me more glad we are done with Cal era.
Garrison staying will allow us to bring JQ along more slowly if he's not 100% come November. will also allow us to get Moreno a lot of minutes early during the easier non-conference games. We have options and we have depth. The minutes Perry and Noah were able to get this year will pay dividends in that we don't even have to hesitate putting either of them in a game at a crucial moment if something unforeseen happens like injuries or foul trouble. That's a luxury most teams don't have with the number 12-13 guys on the bench
Certainly the deepest since 2015. Remains to be seen just how talented we are.
Don't forget they couldn't guard the other teams managers.
This is true. None of them were in college what they later became.
Especially SGA. I think everyone thought he would have a good NBA career. I can’t imagine anyone thinking he would be an MVP type.
Vanderbilt was hurt the whole time he was here.
The science seems to be in. It’s better to have bonafide college players that might not ever play in the NBA than it is to have NBA prospects learning to play.
Unless it’s an AD, Zion, Flagg type.
Or it was so inexperienced it couldn’t get us over the hump when it mattered. 2014 is a great example. We had 3x the talent UConn had (including at head coach), but they had a pair of veteran guards who had been there before.
This year we will have 2 seniors, 3 juniors, and a bunch of sophs. Recipe for success.
That’s how I look at it. ‘17 had more talent at the top. The Fox/Monk/Bam trio was unreal. But this team has a lot more options.
I dont know when its the best roster since but we did upgrade major in defense and athletes. I mean we have a legit deep roster also.
Lowe 6-3 175 JR- ALL-ACC Pitt leading scorer, assists, steals.
Aberdeen 6-5 190 SR- 6th man on the national champions.
Oweh 6-5 215 SR- ALL-SEC UK leading scorer.
Dioubate 6-7 215 JR- Starter and glue guy on a top 10 team.
Garrison 6-11 250 JR- Played in every game at UK last year.
Williams 6-8 190 SO- Almost a double figure scorer as a frosh.
Quantice 6-9 230 SO- Almost a double figure scorer as a frosh.
Jelavic 6-11 220 FR- One of the best international prospects.
Johnson 6-4 185 FR- 5 star best shooter in HS.
Moreno 7-0 235 FR- 5 star best center in HS.
Chandler 6-5 202 SO- Really progressed at the end of the year.
Noah 6-6 220 SO- Steady contributor last year.
Perry 6-1 188 SO- Steady contributor last year.
1-13 we have the best roster in college right now. Now can Pope and coaches melt us into one coheasive unit?
Lowe 6-3 175 JR- ALL-ACC Pitt leading scorer, assists, steals.
Aberdeen 6-5 190 SR- 6th man on the national champions.
Oweh 6-5 215 SR- ALL-SEC UK leading scorer.
Dioubate 6-7 215 JR- Starter and glue guy on a top 10 team.
Garrison 6-11 250 JR- Played in every game at UK last year.
Williams 6-8 190 SO- Almost a double figure scorer as a frosh.
Quantice 6-9 230 SO- Almost a double figure scorer as a frosh.
Jelavic 6-11 220 FR- One of the best international prospects.
Johnson 6-4 185 FR- 5 star best shooter in HS.
Moreno 7-0 235 FR- 5 star best center in HS.
Chandler 6-5 202 SO- Really progressed at the end of the year.
Noah 6-6 220 SO- Steady contributor last year.
Perry 6-1 188 SO- Steady contributor last year.
1-13 we have the best roster in college right now. Now can Pope and coaches melt us into one coheasive unit?
It’s a great roster no doubt but the glaring hole at SG sticks out like a sore thumb.
Many on here underrate last years roster. I could see next years team not performing as well as this past years team. The drop off in shooting is a major concern. Wiffing on every major target at SG will cost us game. We had to have one of Yates/Wilkerson/Pierre and we stuck out.
The two major keys to Pope’s offense is shooting the 3 and your big man initiating the offense at the top of the key. We have neither of those things with this roster.
Many on here underrate last years roster. I could see next years team not performing as well as this past years team. The drop off in shooting is a major concern. Wiffing on every major target at SG will cost us game. We had to have one of Yates/Wilkerson/Pierre and we stuck out.
The two major keys to Pope’s offense is shooting the 3 and your big man initiating the offense at the top of the key. We have neither of those things with this roster.
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Hard to say and pre season means nothing as I've learned over the years.
It seems like it may be up there with 2017 and 2019. Those are the last 2 contenders we had that I thought could win a title or at least make final four. But again, pre season...I could be wrong.
It seems like it may be up there with 2017 and 2019. Those are the last 2 contenders we had that I thought could win a title or at least make final four. But again, pre season...I could be wrong.
Agree, just look at Kansas, talented roster, hall of fame coach, preseason #1, ended up having double digit losses and existed in the 1st round of the tournament.
None of the talent/depth stuff matters (yes we are very deep, very talented). Pope and coaches now have to get these 13 to 15 players (depends if we get anyone else) to mesh together. Both personality and playing. If he can do like last year and get the guys bought in on brotherhood (see Kansas last year, did not go well), we will be in good shape that way. But still coaches needs to evaluate what guys play best together and are they better off the bench or better starting.
I have faith in Pope and will be happy to see how it all comes together. We could very well be one of the best 3 or 4 teams this year and have a legit opportunity to get to the final 4 and win number 9.
I have faith in Pope and will be happy to see how it all comes together. We could very well be one of the best 3 or 4 teams this year and have a legit opportunity to get to the final 4 and win number 9.
Unless that NBA talent is polished and tough enough to handle pressure, I prefer seasoned college players. There is a difference.
Future NBA talent, which is what these blue chip HS kids are, will only get you so far. Sure, if you can get your hands on a generational talent, or a lottery pick, you definitely take them, but simply saying "we need NBA talent" is wrong. 99% of the time, that NBA talent is not good enough to beat seasoned college "teams" when the lights are at their brightest.
This is one of many reasons Cal only has 1 title. Half the damn NBA came through our doors and played for Cal, but most of them had flaws that got abused on a college court, yes, even SGA had flaws. Oh he's great now, but we needed him, and all the other freshmen, to be elite and they just weren't.
Give me elite college talent over future NBA talent, unless that future NBA talent is lottery level. If it's not lottery level, it needs to just be a piece of the puzzle, not a main cog.
Future NBA talent, which is what these blue chip HS kids are, will only get you so far. Sure, if you can get your hands on a generational talent, or a lottery pick, you definitely take them, but simply saying "we need NBA talent" is wrong. 99% of the time, that NBA talent is not good enough to beat seasoned college "teams" when the lights are at their brightest.
This is one of many reasons Cal only has 1 title. Half the damn NBA came through our doors and played for Cal, but most of them had flaws that got abused on a college court, yes, even SGA had flaws. Oh he's great now, but we needed him, and all the other freshmen, to be elite and they just weren't.
Give me elite college talent over future NBA talent, unless that future NBA talent is lottery level. If it's not lottery level, it needs to just be a piece of the puzzle, not a main cog.
I like the makeup of this team better than Cal’s teams. He always seemed to have guys out of position. Playing Poythress and Lyles at the 3. Playing Briscoe at the 3. Also, Cal never had much in the way of upperclassmen like this team. His Seniors were always role players. Two of the stars on this team will be Seniors (Oweh and Aberdeen). I like having a roster with Seniors and Juniors leading the way. That experience pays dividends once the tournament starts.
I think we have a good roster but to say we have the best in college is a stretch. It is a stretch because we don't know what the final rosters are for otheer teams. Most teams are still getting additional pieces for their team. Cal had talent and did not win, Pope has acquired a great group but to determine if they are the best or near the best depends on if they can play together in Pope's style of play. Some of our kids may grow in our system and sadly some may degress. Time will let us know if we have the best roster. We must now hope Oweh, 2nd team All SEC, returns and that is not a given.
Great roster on paper. Depth at every position.
Have 5 returnees who may be the most important players because of their 1 year in the system, especially early in the season. Of course, cohesion of the new players is an unknown.
Don’t see many playing over 25 minutes (Lowe and Oweh). Will there be dissension over playing time? I don’t believe so as CMP has probably explained his system to those he has been recruiting on using a deep roster to keep everyone fresh. His is not based on a couple of superstars carrying the load (ala Ellen’s roommate)
Only 2 seniors which bodes well for the following season too given CMP’s emphasis and #1 priority on keeping players that can return. Obviously, you have to suspect that a few players may leave but no mass exodus should be expected. Although the NIL and portal system is ridiculous, UK has the resources to be successful in this environment as it is.
Good team, but once you get through IQ, NR, TM and AH, the roster dropped like a stone.
EJ Montgomery was our 5th best guy and he averaged 6ppg.
I thought Sestina was better, but he only put up 6ppg and Brooks put up 4.5ppg.
Then there was Juzang, same guy that killed it at UCLA, was buried on the bench.
I would take this 25/26 team ten times put of 10 over that roster.
Yep.
With retention and development being the key, the idea that 11 of the 13 scholarship players on this team could return next season bodes well for us.
Like you said, not everyone will return. JQ is likely leaving after this season. Johnson probably sees himself as OAD. Some others might decide to test the portal waters next Spring. But overall, we should have at least 7 or 8 returnees, unless something weird happens.
That’s how you build a roster. Retention and development. That’s the key.
It’s the best roster we’ve had since 2015 bar none. No team at UK since then has had the quality depth this team has. There are alot of great college players on this roster maybe not so many pros BUT we aren’t playing based on potential. All those cal teams as talented as they were, they were no where near their potential. You’re likely gonna get all this squad has. They can’t just show up. It’s not that kind and of team. It does have great college team written all over this team. The real question is when the last time we had college stars top to bottom on a roster? I remember when we didn’t put lots of players to the league every year. Those pitino teams had lots of college stars and less nba guys. This seems like a pitino team. Deep, bruising, deep.
there are a couple players who picked UK in order to be in the league next year. Lowe is projected in the first round plus kam Williams has said his goal is oad.