Robinson raises the floor, brings things in focus.

[TucsonCat]

Before, I didn't know what to think of our roster. Seemed like we had a collection of contributing third leading scorers from NIT teams. Williams maybe can carry a good sec team. Maybe that team gells and is a scrappy out in the tournament. Maybe it's a SEC bottom feeder. Who knows?

But now, we can get a sense of what the worst is. Next season we should be BYU and probably better. A 6 seed at least. We at least got their leading scorer. And A10 player of the year to Robin next to him. And multiple defensive stoppers. And better shooters. That's a team you know won't crash and burn

And that's not necessarily a prediction. Maybe Oweh or Brea are superstars in waiting. Or whoever needed sunshine to grow. But we won't need it to be good.

 

[know1]

I agree. I'm not sure this makes the team all that much better - I think they are going to be great anyway. The real thing it does is make us deeper and give us more cushion and margin for error/injuries/etc.

In other words, it raises the floor just like you said.

 

[anonymous_2024]

I think with Robinson, we filled some glaring weaknesses in our roster. I think 3-4 seed in NCAA is now very realistic.

 

[know1]

I think with Robinson, we filled some glaring weaknesses in our roster. I think 3-4 seed in NCAA is now very realistic.

I already thought 3-4 was realistic. It might just be more realistic now and makes me more likely to say we'll be a 3.

 

[Panthur]

What Robinson does is make us click. ~15 points/game we can count on even despite opposing defenses keying on him. That’s the big thing that was missing for us. And having it guarantees that our offense will be clicking 1 through 5. Because when you have a guy who can score 15 points a night with defenses keying on him, defenses have to key on him. Otherwise he’ll light you up for 30 or 40. That makes all our other players more dangerous. And we have a deep roster of players who, when they get more dangerous, they get much more dangerous.

Make no mistake. Robinson doesn’t just raise our floor. He raises the fire out of our ceiling.

 

[pallen1414]

I think many are sleeping on Carr.

 

[Coach Marrow]

I think many are sleeping on Carr.

I don’t think Carr will score a lot, but I hope he’ll be extremely reliable for 10+ points a game.

 

[fs-ripcord65]

I think many are sleeping on Carr.

I agree. I also think folks may be sleeping on Brandon Garrison.

 

[bucsrule8872]

This team is going to be pretty solid, I think.

Robinson, Oweh, and Carr are all proven double digit scoring P5 players.

Butler is a proven winner. Game winning shot in the Final Four. Played for a national title. Should be a great leader. Conference DPOY.

Williams is a three time conference DPOY.

Our defense with that unit should be very good.

Then you’ve got the nation’s best 3 point shooter coming off the bench in Brea.

Throw in Kriisa, another good shooter and a great ball handler and passer with P5 starter experience.

Garrison is a proven P5 starter coming off the bench.

And finally, Almonor has won two tourney games. That’s more than our entire team has won since 2019.

That’s nine proven players. I like the team, if it jells, it will be solid.

A bunch of grown men. Six fifth year Seniors, a regular Senior, a Junior, and a Sophomore. Kind of the antithesis of what we had last season.

 

[W1LDCAT22]

Getting Robinson was huge and was someone we really needed. I think we are going to be a very solid team next year. I believe that we will finish in the top 4 of the SEC, with a 4-5 seed in the NCAAT. I believe Robinson did push Kentucky into being a legitimate top-25, most likely top-20 team.

 

[NociHTTP]

I'm loving the fact that we have a coach that will be centered on playing the guys who will most likely get you wins. Rather than this favoritism nonsense we had for years. If you don't perform, you sit. Just as with most other teams out there. Excluding Arkansas of course.

 

[3Eye]

Lots of potential “sleepers” on this team that could break out and be stars.

 

[Bleedin Blue in Ohio]

I think the floor now is a top 25 team. On talent and shotting alone this team should win 20+ games. If this team gels and players like Oweh and Garrison, make the next step in their careers to being big time players this team's ceiling just went to Top 10.

 

[TigerMoving]

This team will be elite top 5 by midseason at the latest. Too much experience, toughness and shooting. Plus a highly efficient offensive system. Team has absolutely everything.

 

[HoldMyBeer]

Top 15 team. 3-5 seed range. A lot to be excited about, most importantly this will not be a throwaway season like many in here proclaimed.

 

[DraftCat]

My question is why are we all settling for top 20-25?

This is a loaded roster with shooting and defensive studs.... are we scared to say we can be a contender?

Think everyone around here is still in love with the little stars next to recruits names.

 

[seccats04]

The most exciting part for me is for years I figured once Cal left, the following year would be terrible because we would have nobody left. Well, we had nobody left but we’re still going to field a good team. Kudos to Pope for putting a competitive roster together.

 

[TheBlueMist]

The construction of this roster excites me more about the teams we have AFTER next year. While I think we can be very good next year, giving Pope more time to build his brand, relationships with players, and our NIL coffers will result in a system that sustains success through recruiting and player development. I can see us achieving (and hopefully surpassing) what Self has done at Kansas (minus the cheating and strippers).

 

[HagginHall1999]

My question is why are we all settling for top 20-25?

This is a loaded roster with shooting and defensive studs.... are we scared to say we can be a contender?

Think everyone around here is still in love with the little stars next to recruits names.

Agree. There is a lot of hesitancy yet year in and year out we (for the most part and myself included) but hook line and sinker on every one of Cal's classes....and those guys never stepped foot on a CBB floor.

Personally, I think this team was a contender without Robinson. This is farnmore talent than Pope has ever had as a HC.

Fully expect us to compete for SEC title and beyond next year.

 

[Bluefaithful]

I'm just looking at the ceiling,. We are Kentucky and at Kentucky we just look at the ceiling and that's where the Banners hang and there's no bread banners up there.

Go Cats!!

 

[DraftCat]

Agree. There is a lot of hesitancy yet year in and year out we (for the most part and myself included) but hook line and sinker on every one of Cal's classes....and those guys never stepped foot on a CBB floor.

Personally, I think this team was a contender without Robinson. This is farnmore talent than Pope has ever had as a HC.

Fully expect us to compete for SEC title and beyond next year.

Right... we have a talent group of upper class men. But yet we all fell head over heel for freshman players who couldn't shoot a lick but rather jump out of the gym.

Keep hearing we need a "superstar" this isn't the fricken NBA.

Pope has a squad now if it comes together we will see but these are the teams I've been clamoring for years.

 

[oldcat52]

Question for those who know more about the SEC than I do. We read about players returning from the NBA draft to their old team or going to a new team thus making it better. From what I understand, the SEC is loaded. You read about Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, etc. So (question time) without seeing these new Kentucky players, will we be top-tier competitive with the Sec’s best?

 

[Kingslayer07]

Top 15 team. 3-5 seed range. A lot to be excited about, most importantly this will not be a throwaway season like many in here proclaimed.

We shall see. None of these guys have played together, and none have played at UK. How well with Pope get these guys to play together?? Soooo many question marks. I could see us being anywhere from 17-25 in the polls all season to barely making the tournament.

 

[Kingslayer07]

Question for those who know more about the SEC than I do. We read about players returning from the NBA draft to their old team or going to a new team thus making it better. From what I understand, the SEC is loaded. You read about Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, etc. So (question time) without seeing these new Kentucky players, will we be top-tier competitive with the Sec’s best?

Auburn, A&M and even Ole Miss are going to be good too. I'm betting we will finished between 4-6 in the SEC this year. Oh and Texas!

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

He was the missing piece. I see no reason we are any worse than top 15.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

Jaxson’s biggest impact imo is as a symbol that provides reason for of high hopes throughout this off-season and gives more credibility to Pope for recruiting this summer/fall before games start.

 

[WildcatNC]

I think this is a top 10 roster. If all these guys had played together last year it would be a preseason top 8-15 team imo.

I get being bearish on us though since it's a whole new team. Never know how the peices will fit until you see it.

If BYU was going to be top 15 going into this year, no way this team isn't. Upgraded at every single spot. Even the one we got from them will be more experienced than last year.

I don't see the flat out stars to support near the top 5, but it's not crazy to think there could easily be one or two on the roster that could break out and be that.

Honestly a spectacular year one roster considering the time constraints the staff were working with. Basically 3 or 4 weeks for most of it.

 

[Bkocats]

My question is why are we all settling for top 20-25?

This is a loaded roster with shooting and defensive studs.... are we scared to say we can be a contender?

Think everyone around here is still in love with the little stars next to recruits names.

No I don’t think it’s the little stars
But I do think we’re all a little gun shy right now
We all want to hope..,but we’ve kinda been kicked in the face for it recently. I know we have a new coach now but…there’s been some damage done to the collective psyche
CMP has a more than a roster to build here.

 

[HoldMyBeer]

My question is why are we all settling for top 20-25?

This is a loaded roster with shooting and defensive studs.... are we scared to say we can be a contender?

Think everyone around here is still in love with the little stars next to recruits names.

I think it's more that folks are being realistic.

With the addition of JR we are still only ranked 4 in transfer portal rankings, 39th in recruit ranking, our coach has never won a tourney game, and our players have have never played a game together.

Would you bet a months salary that we are gonna be a contender? No you wouldn't, but it's easy to hop on here and type "40-0 forget the stars etc".

 

[RalphDaltonFan]

With Robinson/Brea on the wings--the lane should open up for a lot of easy baskets or at least opportunities to get some easy hoops. That should make Butler's job a lot easier than what he was used to at San Diego State on the offensive end. How the team finishes at the rim will matter--Oweh is strong in this area and so was Chandler out of HS--he's the guy who has highest upside on the entire roster if he can knock off the rust as expected.

Very experienced/solid roster and can play a variety of ways. Only player I'm not nearly as high on as the Coaching Staff/Pope is Kriisa. But hope that I'm wrong and he has a fantastic last season.

 

[Jim Malone Lt.]

Before, I didn't know what to think of our roster. Seemed like we had a collection of contributing third leading scorers from NIT teams. Williams maybe can carry a good sec team. Maybe that team gells and is a scrappy out in the tournament. Maybe it's a SEC bottom feeder. Who knows?

But now, we can get a sense of what the worst is. Next season we should be BYU and probably better. A 6 seed at least. We at least got their leading scorer. And A10 player of the year to Robin next to him. And multiple defensive stoppers. And better shooters. That's a team you know won't crash and burn

And that's not necessarily a prediction. Maybe Oweh or Brea are superstars in waiting. Or whoever needed sunshine to grow. But we won't need it to be good.

BYU was a 6 and this team has WAY more talent. Raise your expectations.

 

[MidseasonTweak]

I'm just waiting for the "this isn't a boom type player", etc from the Debbie Downers.

 

[ukfan041]

Given the timeframe for which he had to work, Pope absolutely crushed this roster! I believe that we’ll be ranked somewhere between 15-18 to start the season and that’s only because Pope doesn’t have the respect of the national media yet. By the end of the year, I see a fringe top 10 team with tremendous postseason potential.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Before, I didn't know what to think of our roster. Seemed like we had a collection of contributing third leading scorers from NIT teams. Williams maybe can carry a good sec team. Maybe that team gells and is a scrappy out in the tournament. Maybe it's a SEC bottom feeder. Who knows?

But now, we can get a sense of what the worst is. Next season we should be BYU and probably better. A 6 seed at least. We at least got their leading scorer. And A10 player of the year to Robin next to him. And multiple defensive stoppers. And better shooters. That's a team you know won't crash and burn

And that's not necessarily a prediction. Maybe Oweh or Brea are superstars in waiting. Or whoever needed sunshine to grow. But we won't need it to be good.

Talked about watching Robinson in several clips in another thread. Did not know he was this good. He will be a problem for everyone. His offense is high level. And with him already knowing the offense and playing with more older and talented guys than he ever has it will be interesting to see how it all comes together.

 

[KentuckyCat420]

I think we have one of the Top 3 front courts in the country.

 

[Killswitch24]

With Robinson/Brea on the wings--the lane should open up for a lot of easy baskets or at least opportunities to get some easy hoops. That should make Butler's job a lot easier than what he was used to at San Diego State on the offensive end. How the team finishes at the rim will matter--Oweh is strong in this area and so was Chandler out of HS--he's the guy who has highest upside on the entire roster if he can knock off the rust as expected.

Very experienced/solid roster and can play a variety of ways. Only player I'm not nearly as high on as the Coaching Staff/Pope is Kriisa. But hope that I'm wrong and he has a fantastic last season.

I agree with everything except Kriisa. I think people are wildly underestimating his ability and the way he fits so well with these kinds of players. He’s what you’d call a gamer, cannot be intimidated, and is playing for wins. He can also get red hot when he’s on which will make UK that much more deadly. There’s a reason Pope wanted Kriisa at his last stops too. And we shouldn’t forget he had already led a team to a top seed in the tournament.

Kriisa is going to give this team an edge that will be very much needed in the rough and tumble of the SEC.

 

[BBNinSC_rivals62411]

I really love this roster. Pope has done a great job at constructing a tough, experienced group of guys.
I believe he will fit these pieces together into a sum greater than it’s parts and contend right away in the SEC and nationally

 

[UK67KU59]

I posted something similar in a thread a few weeks ago. Expectations will ebb and flow throughout the offseason and regular season but it's fun to dream in the summer doldrums.

Regular Season: 25-6 (lose to Gonzaga)
Conference Record: 14-4
Top 4 Seed in SEC Tourney
SEC Tourney Runner-up
Record entering NCAA: 27-7 [Low #2/High #3 Seed Line]
Season Record: 31-8
NCAA Final Four

Alabama looks tough in the SEC, but I think we at least compete for the regular season crown. It's so hard to peg teams in the portal/NIL era because rosters get completely overhauled, but Kansas, Houston, Baylor and Gonzaga look like they are set up well for good seasons. October/November can't get here soon enough!


Home

• Alabama - W
• Arkansas - W
• Auburn - W
• Florida - W
• LSU - W
• South Carolina - W
• Tennessee - W
• Texas A&M - L
• Vanderbilt - W

Away

• at Alabama - L
• at Georgia - W
• at Ole Miss Rebels - L
• at Mississippi State - W
• at Missouri - W
• at Oklahoma - W
• at Tennessee - L
• at Texas - W
• at Vanderbilt - W

 

[SemperFiCat]

Honestly, I don't really care about seeding and final record. I have this sense of relief, hope, optimism and joy because I know we have Kentucky basketball back. And I am perfectly happy to give Pope a couple years to make us a legit contender. I fully expect Kentucky to be a solid top 10 team in the near future. I'm so freaking happy about what's happened in the last month or so. Feels great to be rid of Cal!!

 

[anon1751545683]

Looks like a very good TEAM to me. Emphasis on team.

I don’t see a super star. But most of the super stars were at home the first weekend of April.

We have a great mix of very good and experienced players.

We have Perry whom will surprise many. Trent has already surprised people.

We have a great team building coach that’s on the rise.

There’s a lot to be happy about.

I hate to wish time away but I can’t wait to see them in action.

No way we are not top 10 by Jan.