CBS’ Isaac Trotter has UK at #4 preseason
- Thread starter akaukswoosh
- Start date
If we're being honest, this guy knows his stuff.
That scrimmage with Purdue in a month will be awesome.
Do we know yet if it will be televised? Or maybe can find some random YouTube account streaming it?
Candid Coaches: Who will be the best men's college basketball team this season?
In CBS Sports' annual survey of nearly 100 coaches across the sport, two schools rise above all others
www.cbssports.com
Yes it will be televised.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky men’s basketball team will host Purdue in an exhibition contest inside of Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center on Oct. 24 as part of its upcoming 2025-26 schedule.
A game time and television designation will be announced at a later date.
I’m highly skeptical of his second-place choice but otherwise that is a solid list.
We ain’t scared of no Travis Perrys
Isaac Trotter is a basketball genius. He’s forgotten more basketball than all of us have ever known.
Who is he again?
Who is he again?
I was going to say… exhibition games against awful opponents have always been televised in the past, so surely the Purdue will be on TV!
Beat Purdue then become Number 1 . Learn to play with that target on your back .
Slow down Chief.
This is a process.
These kids are young.
It‘s not about winning. It‘s about changing these kids lives.
This is a process.
These kids are young.
It‘s not about winning. It‘s about changing these kids lives.
Wrong coach. I think that’s probably on a billboard somewhere in Arkansas though.
Hat's off to Pope. He's exceeded expectations. Preseason 4 in second year is awesome. I'm really excited by this team. Veteran team. I would love if they excel Defensively because we might not be able to outrace other teams to 100 and see who wins. Drop off in shooters. Uplift in studdly athleticism.
In all seriousness, this will be perhaps, the most exciting exhibition game
since the ‘78 team played the Russian National team.
since the ‘78 team played the Russian National team.
No clue but we beat them by 30
Purdue is pretty legit. On paper they are 1A (with Houston 1B) as the best team in the country coming into the season based on what they have done. Doesn't mean the games will play out like that, injuries, distractions, illness, etc.
PG - Brayden Smith SR 1st Team All-American, Big 10 Player of the Year in 2025, 15.8 ppg, 8.7 apg, 4.5 rpg. 42% from the field, 38% from 3 pt
SG - Omer Mayer FR #43 overall in 2025 Class 4 Star (#1 rated international player). Averaged 20 ppg, 5 apg, 4.3 rpg, and 2 spg in the FIBU U19
CG/SF - Fletcher Loyer SR Started all 111 games at Purdue, 14 ppg, 2 rpg, 45.6% from the field, 44.4% from 3 pt
PF - Trey Kaufman-Renn SR 3rd Team All-American 20.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.2 apg, 59.5% from the field
C - Oscar Cluff - SR (South Dakota State Transfer) 17.7 ppg, 12.3 rpg
They've got some shooters and size off the bench too.
Cox - SO 39.8% from 3 pt last year
Murphy - SR transfer shot 42.3% from 3 pt last year on 7 attempts a game
Jacobsen - SO 7'4" who missed most of last year with a broken leg
Burgess - SO 6'11" played backup center role after Jacobsen went down
I like that we get to face them early and as an exhibition. Both teams have a new moving parts. Be interesting to see how we handle the beef they have down low while staying on the kick out shooters. Will give us a great idea of where we are defensively right out the gate and what, if any, needs a lot of work.
PG - Brayden Smith SR 1st Team All-American, Big 10 Player of the Year in 2025, 15.8 ppg, 8.7 apg, 4.5 rpg. 42% from the field, 38% from 3 pt
SG - Omer Mayer FR #43 overall in 2025 Class 4 Star (#1 rated international player). Averaged 20 ppg, 5 apg, 4.3 rpg, and 2 spg in the FIBU U19
CG/SF - Fletcher Loyer SR Started all 111 games at Purdue, 14 ppg, 2 rpg, 45.6% from the field, 44.4% from 3 pt
PF - Trey Kaufman-Renn SR 3rd Team All-American 20.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.2 apg, 59.5% from the field
C - Oscar Cluff - SR (South Dakota State Transfer) 17.7 ppg, 12.3 rpg
They've got some shooters and size off the bench too.
Cox - SO 39.8% from 3 pt last year
Murphy - SR transfer shot 42.3% from 3 pt last year on 7 attempts a game
Jacobsen - SO 7'4" who missed most of last year with a broken leg
Burgess - SO 6'11" played backup center role after Jacobsen went down
I like that we get to face them early and as an exhibition. Both teams have a new moving parts. Be interesting to see how we handle the beef they have down low while staying on the kick out shooters. Will give us a great idea of where we are defensively right out the gate and what, if any, needs a lot of work.
Im a little bearish on Purdue/Smith. The Big10 was decent last year, but not exceptional. And I think their slower pace basketball pedigree helps a guy like Smith a lot. When he played against the SEC and Houston (a team thats more like an SEC team), the results were a little more mixed. I think the athleticism speed and length of those teams made life tough for a 5-11/6' point guard.
Theres also the fact thay they just don't seem to have great tournaments. I suspect they will win a lot in the B10 and then get ousted in the elite8 by a team thats just more athletic.
I certainly agree, and a lot of their preseason ranking is that they should steam roll most of the Big 10 and again, they look really good on paper from a returning PPG, Effective FG% and 3 PT FG%. How that translates to OOC schedule early and more importantly the NCAA tournament later remains to be seen. I don't think they are the frauds Kansas were last year at pre-season #1 though.
I like his top 10 quite a bit. Other than UConn at 2. I just don’t see it. Like at all.
They’re gonna be legit. However, I don’t believe they’re gonna be athletic enough to cut down the nets. A very good defense with length will be their downfall IMO.