Roster next year

[JonathanW2]

Oweh & Aberdeen definitely gone.
Quaintance likely gone (unless the combination of his knee status and his lack of offensive ability, alarms NBA teams enough to not give him a high enough draft commitment to his liking)
Dioubate maybe gone (I'd make it 50/50), if he wants to be "the guy" and chucking 3's then he leaves, but I'm sure as a energy & DEF role guy Pope would like him back
Garrison, possibly gone (25/75), Pope likes him more than much of BBN. But he seems to have accepted a bench role. But if he wants to start next year, he'll leave.
I think the rest are likely to return:
Chandler
Moreno
Johnson
Williams (my bad for forgetting him)
Lowe (damn, I forgot him too)
Jelavic
Noah
Hawthorne (I think he could be a bigger piece than many believe, I think the skill was there, just not the strength (which is the easiest part to add)

So, if we assume it is Garrison, Chandler, Lowe, Moreno, Johnson, Williams, Jelavic, Noah, Hawthorne, that's 8 guys, but probably only 4 that we would want to be in top 8. I think we will add 1-2 FR, and then 2-3 Portal guys (the portal guys will HAVE TO BE guys ready to step in as Top 8 rotation guys but hopefully top 4 "go-to" guys (Chandler, Moreno or Johnson are the only returning ones who I think could be that). Out of the other 5, I could see 1-2 of those being a big contributor (say 5th/6th man), and who probably depends on who we add & what opportunities they get. But I think we need to add a couple of TOP portal guys this summer.

 

[Btoddisabish]

Gotta assume at least two of those guys are gonna transfer

 

[PTUKBlue]

Like it, but you forgot Williams who I think is a BIG piece we want back.

 

[PastorofMuppets82]

I think you left out Lowe too (Williams already mentioned by another poster).

 

[blackcat714]

If JQ dont play this year would you guys want him for next year after seeing how limited his offense is

 

[PastorofMuppets82]

In hypotheticals, There are certainly better scenarios to dream for, but I'd be pleasantly surprised to see (NOT in starter order, just position and who I thought of first):

PG's: Lowe returns, (Solid Portal PG)
SG: Chandler returns, Jasper returns, (1 of Pate, Holt, or Smith Jr)
SF: Williams returns, Noah returns, Hawthorne returns
PF: (Portal Stud), Dioubate returns, Jelavich returns
C: Moreno returns, (Portal C or Sayon Keita), Potter returns for emergencies and practice depth

That means Pope and company can offer 1 Freshmen stud lion's share, and focus on throwing the bank at a Stud Power Forward in the portal, and picking up point guard and center depth. I certainly want more, but I don't think we're going to get it sadly.

 

[bleedsblue5]

We need a true PG that has no previous injury history and is made of iron. Anything like that out there?

 

[UKGrad24]

whatever it is, Pope has to be top 10 or better all year, win the SEC or right at it, final four. Any middle of the road, top 5-7 finish, 7 seed bs, and he gotta go.

 

[Rainmaker]

Yes Lowe needs to be backup if he decides to stay. We need a stud portal PG and a stud portal Wing IMO. Bring in Pate and keep a core group of returners. Also would like a serviceable Center to backup Moreno from the portal and a big body 4. A stretch 4 or Smith Jr would be icing on the cake. Kam, JJ, Chandler, Moreno and one of MoD, Jelly, Garrison are musts for us return for next year.

 

[Drcatfan]

If we return the majority of this team (except Oweh, Aberdeen, & Quaintance) without bringing in a couple absolute studs we are in deep trouble. It's like Pearl said, UK recruited a bunch of quality 6th men but no studs. We would be in the exact same situation as now. A mediocre, borderline top 25 team

 

[theBlues]

I know I'm on an island here but, for me, I'm convinced Lowe with 2 arms is our best player and he is the one I'd most like to see return. I'm not saying we shouldn't have another point good enough to compete with him for the starting spot. I'd like to see all but BG return of the ones who can return but I suspect MoD is getting starter money and we need him to be a backup so I see him going elsewhere because of money.

 

[Maddmatt87]

In hypotheticals, There are certainly better scenarios to dream for, but I'd be pleasantly surprised to see (NOT in starter order, just position and who I thought of first):

PG's: Lowe returns, (Solid Portal PG)
SG: Chandler returns, Jasper returns, (1 of Pate, Holt, or Smith Jr)
SF: Williams returns, Noah returns, Hawthorne returns
PF: (Portal Stud), Dioubate returns, Jelavich returns
C: Moreno returns, (Portal C or Sayon Keita), Potter returns for emergencies and practice depth

That means Pope and company can offer 1 Freshmen stud lion's share, and focus on throwing the bank at a Stud Power Forward in the portal, and picking up point guard and center depth. I certainly want more, but I don't think we're going to get it sadly.

I agree except I think Jasper bails.

 

[rivercatinfl]

In hypotheticals, There are certainly better scenarios to dream for, but I'd be pleasantly surprised to see (NOT in starter order, just position and who I thought of first):

PG's: Lowe returns, (Solid Portal PG)
SG: Chandler returns, Jasper returns, (1 of Pate, Holt, or Smith Jr)
SF: Williams returns, Noah returns, Hawthorne returns
PF: (Portal Stud), Dioubate returns, Jelavich returns
C: Moreno returns, (Portal C or Sayon Keita), Potter returns for emergencies and practice depth

That means Pope and company can offer 1 Freshmen stud lion's share, and focus on throwing the bank at a Stud Power Forward in the portal, and picking up point guard and center depth. I certainly want more, but I don't think we're going to get it sadly.

I hope you are correct in your assessment. To me, the continuity of having all these guys back would be a big advantage. At least most would be familiar with Pope's system. I honestly think Pope gets a couple good freshman and picks a couple high caliber portal transfers as you suggest.

I like it, Pope will deliver!

 

[rivercatinfl]

I know I'm on an island here but, for me, I'm convinced Lowe with 2 arms is our best player and he is the one I'd most like to see return. I'm not saying we shouldn't have another point good enough to compete with him for the starting spot. I'd like to see all but BG return of the ones who can return but I suspect MoD is getting starter money and we need him to be a backup so I see him going elsewhere because of money.

I know Garrison is likely to leave but I kinda hope he stays. He is limited but can definitely be a big body for us when we need one.
I rewatched the UT game and their bigs pushed Moreno all over the place. Garrison poses more of an obstacle for this 6-8 260 lbs thugs from UT.
I think he has value and needed experience. I wouldn't run him off by any stretch.

 

[rivercatinfl]

Last year Garrison put up almost identical numbers to the guy I think he resembles from 1998 UK Jamaal Magloire.
I hope he returns and hits his potential in blue and white.

 

[davtay]

I know Garrison is likely to leave but I kinda hope he stays. He is limited but can definitely be a big body for us when we need one.
I rewatched the UT game and their bigs pushed Moreno all over the place. Garrison poses more of an obstacle for this 6-8 260 lbs thugs from UT.
I think he has value and needed experience. I wouldn't run him off by any stretch.

I agree. BG is badly needed. MM cannot play 40 min game. Garrison sometimes makes bonehead plays, but who on the team doesn't. I think he was selected as the "whipping" boy for this team and whatever he does gets crap. I thought he played well against Arkansas. Had a couple pretty assists.

 

[Jaime Chitwood]

I agree except I think Jasper bails.

He's easily replaceable.

 

[UKGrad24]

I know I'm on an island here but, for me, I'm convinced Lowe with 2 arms is our best player and he is the one I'd most like to see return. I'm not saying we shouldn't have another point good enough to compete with him for the starting spot. I'd like to see all but BG return of the ones who can return but I suspect MoD is getting starter money and we need him to be a backup so I see him going elsewhere because of money.

I would say you’re probably on an island. I’m sort of the opposite and I think most are. He’s wildly inconsistent, makes really bad decisions when I’ve seen him, and has never been a consistent scorer. More of a ball hog. But hey, he has been hurt. Not going to pretend that’s not happening. But I think he falls below what a UK guard should be.

If he’s back I hope it’s a backup role. If for nothing more than he’s injury prone and we can’t keep relying on guys like that.

 

[UKGrad24]

I agree. BG is badly needed. MM cannot play 40 min game. Garrison sometimes makes bonehead plays, but who on the team doesn't. I think he was selected as the "whipping" boy for this team and whatever he does gets crap. I thought he played well against Arkansas. Had a couple pretty assists.

While I do think we need BG, he must remain in his role and must be playing within himself. Moreno is the guy and he needs to fill on accept it and surprisingly it appears he has. I wish we would have been rolling this way since early on.

Garrison isn’t terrible he’s just not very good, but he is a body that plays hard. In a certain role he’s important to this team. But I do hold my breath when he’s in.

 

[theBlues]

I would say you’re probably on an island. I’m sort of the opposite and I think most are. He’s wildly inconsistent, makes really bad decisions when I’ve seen him, and has never been a consistent scorer. More of a ball hog. But hey, he has been hurt. Not going to pretend that’s not happening. But I think he falls below what a UK guard should be.

If he’s back I hope it’s a backup role. If for nothing more than he’s injury prone and we can’t keep relying on guys like that.

I think the ability to get into the lane at will is incredibly undervalued and it's something Lowe has and not many players do have(nobody else currently on our team has that). It's true that he didn't pass much when he played but if folks will think back, at that time almost everybody was in a shooting slump and it seemed none of them wanted to shoot. At that time we needed scoring from Lowe a lot more than passing and he gave it to us. I think that if he comes back healthy I'll have plenty of company next year.

 

[oakhillcatman]

Last year Garrison put up almost identical numbers to the guy I think he resembles from 1998 UK Jamaal Magloire.
I hope he returns and hits his potential in blue and white.

Did you watch Magloire play he would have torn Harrison"s head off. Magloire would have made this team a contender.

 

[davtay]

While I do think we need BG, he must remain in his role and must be playing within himself. Moreno is the guy and he needs to fill on accept it and surprisingly it appears he has. I wish we would have been rolling this way since early on.

Garrison isn’t terrible he’s just not very good, but he is a body that plays hard. In a certain role he’s important to this team. But I do hold my breath when he’s in.

I agree completely. MM is the guy, but BG is needed.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

I know I'm on an island here but, for me, I'm convinced Lowe with 2 arms is our best player and he is the one I'd most like to see return. I'm not saying we shouldn't have another point good enough to compete with him for the starting spot. I'd like to see all but BG return of the ones who can return but I suspect MoD is getting starter money and we need him to be a backup so I see him going elsewhere because of money.

Don’t let anyone convince you that you are on an island. I’m 100% with you on Lowe. It’s a difficult decision, but I want him back. No question about it. If Pope decides to move on, I’m good with it but he has to nail the replacement because Lowe has a world of talent and two years of eligibility.

 

[davtay]

Don’t let anyone convince you that you are on an island. I’m 100% with you on Lowe. It’s a difficult decision, but I want him back. No question about it. If Pope decides to move on, I’m good with it but he has to nail the replacement because Lowe has a world of talent and two years of eligibility.

Yep, not alone on the island. Lowe can penetrate the paint, pass and score. Injuries just have not let him do so at UK. If surgery corrects the shoulder issue, I would be glad to have him back.

 

[chroix]

Did you watch Magloire play he would have torn Harrison"s head off. Magloire would have made this team a contender.

Magloire took no ****. One of my all time favorites.

 

[kyjeff1]

In hypotheticals, There are certainly better scenarios to dream for, but I'd be pleasantly surprised to see (NOT in starter order, just position and who I thought of first):

PG's: Lowe returns, (Solid Portal PG)
SG: Chandler returns, Jasper returns, (1 of Pate, Holt, or Smith Jr)
SF: Williams returns, Noah returns, Hawthorne returns
PF: (Portal Stud), Dioubate returns, Jelavich returns
C: Moreno returns, (Portal C or Sayon Keita), Potter returns for emergencies and practice depth

That means Pope and company can offer 1 Freshmen stud lion's share, and focus on throwing the bank at a Stud Power Forward in the portal, and picking up point guard and center depth. I certainly want more, but I don't think we're going to get it sadly.

I like this, but if it were up to me, I would not want Lowe to be pg1 and I wouldn't want to give the SG1 role to Chandler. I think Pope needs to load up on guards for sure.

I love Kam starting at the 3 with Noah backing him up.

Yeah, definitely need a better starter at the 4. I like Mo and Jelly as back ups, but neither should be starters for different reasons.

Hopefully Moreno comes back, he’s getting better by the game and eventually the NBA will notice. Either way, we definitely need more depth at the 5 and if BG stays, we still need another dude. I would gladly take JQ if he doesn't go to the NBA. He never got the chance to show what he could really do.

 

[RunninRichie]

Last year Garrison put up almost identical numbers to the guy I think he resembles from 1998 UK Jamaal Magloire.
I hope he returns and hits his potential in blue and white.

One of the worst takes ive ever seen.

 

[kyjeff1]

I know I'm on an island here but, for me, I'm convinced Lowe with 2 arms is our best player and he is the one I'd most like to see return. I'm not saying we shouldn't have another point good enough to compete with him for the starting spot. I'd like to see all but BG return of the ones who can return but I suspect MoD is getting starter money and we need him to be a backup so I see him going elsewhere because of money.

I'm just not convinced he's all that good. He isn't a good shooter, or defender and I really don't think we can trust him to stay uninjured an entire season.
At worst, Pope needs to make him earn that starting spot. Bring in another pg that is capable of starting.

 

[kyjeff1]

I agree. BG is badly needed. MM cannot play 40 min game. Garrison sometimes makes bonehead plays, but who on the team doesn't. I think he was selected as the "whipping" boy for this team and whatever he does gets crap. I thought he played well against Arkansas. Had a couple pretty assists.

Well, it's been proven, when BG gets a T, we win. He is 9 for 9. Bring him back and turn him into an enforcer.
The more player retention, the better.

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

I'm just not convinced he's all that good. He isn't a good shooter, or defender and I really don't think we can trust him to stay uninjured an entire season.
At worst, Pope needs to make him earn that starting spot. Bring in another pg that is capable of starting.

i dont think he is that good either. and given his size i dont think he holds up, especially when we get to SEC play.

the question is, will there be better PGs in the portal and can we get them? thats a game of chicken i dont see our staff winning. if you let lowe walk and you end up taking the 3rd, 4th, or 5th best PG option....are we better or worse?

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Oweh & Aberdeen definitely gone.
Quaintance likely gone (unless the combination of his knee status and his lack of offensive ability, alarms NBA teams enough to not give him a high enough draft commitment to his liking)
Dioubate maybe gone (I'd make it 50/50), if he wants to be "the guy" and chucking 3's then he leaves, but I'm sure as a energy & DEF role guy Pope would like him back
Garrison, possibly gone (25/75), Pope likes him more than much of BBN. But he seems to have accepted a bench role. But if he wants to start next year, he'll leave.
I think the rest are likely to return:
Chandler
Moreno
Johnson
Jelavic
Noah
Hawthorne (I think he could be a bigger piece than many believe, I think the skill was there, just not the strength (which is the easiest part to add)

So, if we assume it is Garrison, Chandler, Moreno, Johnson, Jelavic, Noah, Hawthorne, that's 8 guys, but probably only 4 that we would want to be in top 8. I think we will add 1-2 FR, and then 2-3 Portal guys (the portal guys will HAVE TO BE guys ready to step in as Top 8 rotation guys but hopefully top 4 "go-to" guys (Chandler, Moreno or Johnson are the only returning ones who I think could be that). Out of the other 5, I could see 1-2 of those being a big contributor (say 5th/6th man), and who probably depends on who we add & what opportunities they get. But I think we need to add a couple of TOP portal guys this summer.

We will probably have another team that wins around 22 to 24 games.

Pope has hardly made a splash when it comes to getting elite players here, and that's likely not going to change this portal season.

 

[UKGrad24]

Don’t let anyone convince you that you are on an island. I’m 100% with you on Lowe. It’s a difficult decision, but I want him back. No question about it. If Pope decides to move on, I’m good with it but he has to nail the replacement because Lowe has a world of talent and two years of eligibility.

You want Lowe to be the starting PG for UK next year? Or am I missing your point.im honestly shocked, just got done talking with quite a few fans that hope he’s gone or back as a backup. I said and still say he’s too good to be a backup and would never accept that role. But if our PG is Lowe next season, I think that’ll do it for Mark.

Would love to be wrong, but I doubt it.

 

[UKGrad24]

One of the worst takes ive ever seen.

Don’t know who it is or what was said, but you replied to someone I have on ignore, be I never ignore people so don’t even remember doing it. If I ignored you, whew that’s not good.

 

[UKCowboys]

Lowe, Chandler, Kam, Noah, Mo, MM, Jasper, Jelly...even BG if he is willing to come off the bench. All a year older plus 3-4 top portal, g league, Euro or reclass...if 2-3 of the new guys are dudes, thats a darned good team

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

You want Lowe to be the starting PG for UK next year? Or am I missing your point.im honestly shocked, just got done talking with quite a few fans that hope he’s gone or back as a backup. I said and still say he’s too good to be a backup and would never accept that role. But if our PG is Lowe next season, I think that’ll do it for Mark.

Would love to be wrong, but I doubt it.

Lowe has been a loser for his entire college career. He's a volume score who shoots low percentages, mediocre defense, and cannot absorb contact. Fans are fundamentally correct to doubt that he could ever lead this program to a national championship.

 

[RunninRichie]

Don’t know who it is or what was said, but you replied to someone I have on ignore, be I never ignore people so don’t even remember doing it. If I ignored you, whew that’s not good.

Said BG had the same numbers as Jamal Magilore.

 

[UKGrad24]

Said BG had the same numbers as Jamal Magilore.

 

[UKGrad24]

Lowe has been a loser for his entire college career. He's a volume score who shoots low percentages, mediocre defense, and cannot absorb contact. Fans are fundamentally correct to doubt that he could ever lead this program to a national championship.

Full agreement.

I just don’t get some of this. Same fanbase that values Wall, Knight, Fox, and Rondo are okay with Lowe running it back. Might be a subconscious play at excusing bad recruiting too, don’t think anyone actually believes Lowe is the best we can do. Might be the best Mark can do, but he’s not UK material unless he’s coming off the bench.

It’s stuff like this that makes me think Pope is done here. If this is how it’ll be then the experiment is over to me. An I don’t know about an island, but at anytime someone runs a poll on this, no doubt people wanting Lowe back as the starting PG at UK is under 15/20%.

 

[RunninRichie]

Full agreement.

I just don’t get some of this. Same fanbase that values Wall, Knight, Fox, and Rondo are okay with Lowe running it back. Might be a subconscious play at excusing bad recruiting too, don’t think anyone actually believes Lowe is the best we can do. Might be the best Mark can do, but he’s not UK material unless he’s coming off the bench.

It’s stuff like this that makes me think Pope is done here. If this is how it’ll be then the experiment is over to me.

It's the same types that said BCG had a killer roster in year 2.

 

[NociHTTP]

Did you watch Magloire play he would have torn Harrison"s head off. Magloire would have made this team a contender.

Harrison?