Our new Player Development Coach's Thoughts On Recruiting

gbl97

All-American
Mar 12, 2002
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This was interesting:

Brown is especially keen on Dean Oliver’s Four Factors. According to Oliver’s book Basketball on Paper (which sounds exactly the type of tome that Mark Pope would view as basketball scripture), these four factors correlate most closely with winning: Effective Field Goal Percentage (40%), Turnover Percentage (25%), Offensive Rebound Percentage (20%), and Free Throw Rate (15%).
 
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BBNUK4Life

Junior
Mar 13, 2026
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we suck again GIF
 

Jeff Sykes

All-Conference
Nov 25, 2006
2,049
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Screw data. Let's look at the teams currently still playing in March. How many of those are system driven and how many have stud players? That is what to look at. Data is fine to use as a tool to go along with everything else, especially your eyes.
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
28,467
67,823
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This was interesting:

Brown is especially keen on Dean Oliver’s Four Factors. According to Oliver’s book Basketball on Paper (which sounds exactly the type of tome that Mark Pope would view as basketball scripture), these four factors correlate most closely with winning: Effective Field Goal Percentage (40%), Turnover Percentage (25%), Offensive Rebound Percentage (20%), and Free Throw Rate (15%).
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
28,467
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Not a huge fan of hearing that. Go get a few studs first, then maybe use analytics to fill the the role players and find the right pieces. If we have a huge NIL budget, I'd rather take the Dodgers approach than be a small market team trying to do the "whole is greater than the sum of it's parts" stuff
It's because good buddy Keegan, knows Pope can't recruit. He doesn't even have a staff right now.
 

mash_24

Heisman
Sep 26, 2011
9,203
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Not a huge fan of hearing that. Go get a few studs first, then maybe use analytics to fill the the role players and find the right pieces. If we have a huge NIL budget, I'd rather take the Dodgers approach than be a small market team trying to do the "whole is greater than the sum of it's parts" stuff
This really should be the approach. It’s not complicated. Get a couple elite talents. Then surround them with guys with an elite skill.
 

will.ksr

All-American
Nov 18, 2008
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Perfect approach with UK’s NIL. Build the right way for players that will have bids from other schools. Getting pure talent that also fits together isn’t one or the other proposition.
 
Mar 16, 2022
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I remember when we had one damn good named Mashburn and surrounded him with players who had heart, hustle, skills, and proud d to be a UK basketball player and that team did pretty good against the big boys
They were 4 seniors and two were fifth year seniors and played their entire careers at UK. That doesn’t happen today. Forget about that fact.
 

Old Blue Fart

All-Conference
Mar 23, 2014
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They were 4 seniors and two were fifth year seniors and played their entire careers at UK. That doesn’t happen today. Forget about that fact.
True, but tell me other then Mashburn, who else, from that team made it in the NBA?
This board is obsessed with their thinking we have to have everyone a 5 star. Mention a name that is not 5 stars and all the boo birds come out to tell us how bad they are
 
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wildcatdon

Heisman
Oct 17, 2012
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They were 4 seniors and two were fifth year seniors and played their entire careers at UK. That doesn’t happen today. Forget about that fact.
You don’t forget about that. You coach what you recruit. Get your head out of the sand and pay attention to what’s going on.
 

Zuma75

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2017
847
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Not a huge fan of hearing that. Go get a few studs first, then maybe use analytics to fill the the role players and find the right pieces. If we have a huge NIL budget, I'd rather take the Dodgers approach than be a small market team trying to do the "whole is greater than the sum of it's parts" stuff
I’m all for fit as long as we’re fitting in pieces around a couple of studs.

If this is just code for “making the best of Pope’s limited recruiting ability” then … not a fan.
 

UKGrad24

All-American
Apr 2, 2024
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It's because good buddy Keegan, knows Pope can't recruit. He doesn't even have a staff right now.
That’s all this is. He’s adapting to what Popes abilities are. Pope has always been a grade D recruiter. What happened is Mitch thought Kentuckys brand and the NIL money would make Pope an elite recruiter and elevate him. Didn’t happen.

This guy is well aware he’s going to have to recruit lower ranked players.

The best method is to get the BEST players you can from both wings. You can’t overload freshman it doesn’t work, but you need talent where it is. In 1995 did Pitino say no to Mercer because he’s a freshman? No, he recruited diamonds, freshman, retained talent they he developed. The idea that you do one or the other is hilariously stupid. But mark can’t recruit, he’s gotta act like it’s a super secret plan to evade top talent. Let’s ignore that he’s around 0-25 or more recruiting top blue chip players thus far. He’s tried he can’t get them.
 
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UKGrad24

All-American
Apr 2, 2024
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I may be in the minority, but I like seeing that Keegan Brown has an objective way to assess talent. Cal would just chase 5 stars indiscriminately. Let's go get 5 star guys, but let's get the ones who are most likely to pan out. Get 4 star guys who are underrated.
Calipari threw darts at top 25 lists. You don’t do that you recruit fit wherever that is. You also don’t recruit diamonds and hope for the best.

For some reason we just can’t get a coach like Pitino. Who understands to recruit need at every level, Mercer to Padgett….and in between. I don’t know why everyone thinks this needs to be one or the other. It’s like Pope Vs. Cal. Theres a lot of options in between there but we don’t seem to understand it.
 

Zuma75

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2017
847
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That’s all this is. He’s adapting to what Popes abilities are. Pope has always been a grade D recruiter. What happened is Mitch thought Kentuckys brand and the NIL money would make Pope an elite recruiter and elevate him. Didn’t happen.

This guy is well aware he’s going to have to recruit lower ranked players.

The best method is to get the BEST players you can from both wings. You can’t overload freshman it doesn’t work, but you need talent where it is. In 1995 did Pitino say no to Mercer because he’s a freshman? No, he recruited diamonds, freshman, retained talent they he developed. The idea that you do one or the other is hilariously stupid. But mark can’t recruit, he’s gotta act like it’s a super secret plan to evade top talent. Let’s ignore that he’s around 0-25 or more recruiting top blue chip programs thus far.
“Mitch thought Kentuckys brand and the NIL money would make Pope an elite recruiter and elevate him.”

This is what everyone was pinning hopes on
 

UKAlum84

All-Conference
Aug 4, 2022
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I actually want to agree with the system vs raw talent... I think metrics will show that a complete team, can win big games, especially when playing teams that have a player with raw talent but no supporting role players. The chicago bulls of the 90s were like an all star team, in that you had both talent and a system with role players finely tuned to win games. Didn't Phil Jackson have that special triangle offense as well?
 
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Walker34

Junior
Aug 30, 2025
147
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Really need both: a team with a lot of system guys and a few super talented difference makers for when the “system” breaks down.
Perfect roster is a team of talented juniors and Seniors and 1 stud Freshman. Problem is getting the right stud Freshman. Have to have one who won't sit out take his ball and go home when things don't go his way.