Where would enthusiasm for Oweh's return to school rank since probation ended?

[Son_Of_Saul]

I've got him at #6 in terms of potential fan enthusiasm for a returning player.

#1. Jamal Mashburn returns for junior year.
#2. Tony Delk returns for senior year.
#3. Ron Mercer returns for sophomore year.
#4. Terrence Jones returns for sophomore year.
#5. Tayshaun Prince returns for senior year.
#6. Otega Oweh returns for senior year.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

I've got him at #6 in terms of potential fan enthusiasm for a returning player.

#1. Jamal Mashburn returns for junior year.
#2. Tony Delk returns for senior year.
#3. Ron Mercer returns for sophomore year.
#4. Terrence Jones returns for sophomore year.
#5. Tayshaun Prince returns for senior year.
#6. Otega Oweh returns for senior year.

I know that 2023 season didn’t go great but NPOY Oscar Tshiebwe returning had us in conversation of being #1 preseason. Huge fan of all those guys but Oscar is a gaping hole in that ranking imo

 

[Runt#1969]

I concur. That is a very difficult list to crack the top 5, that's a solid list.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I've got him at #6 in terms of potential fan enthusiasm for a returning player.

#1. Jamal Mashburn returns for junior year.
#2. Tony Delk returns for senior year.
#3. Ron Mercer returns for sophomore year.
#4. Terrence Jones returns for sophomore year.
#5. Tayshaun Prince returns for senior year.
#6. Otega Oweh returns for senior year.

It’s gonna be exciting! I sure hope he returns.

 

[mcwildcats04]

I've got him at #6 in terms of potential fan enthusiasm for a returning player.

#1. Jamal Mashburn returns for junior year.
#2. Tony Delk returns for senior year.
#3. Ron Mercer returns for sophomore year.
#4. Terrence Jones returns for sophomore year.
#5. Tayshaun Prince returns for senior year.
#6. Otega Oweh returns for senior year.

He's such an important piece for us. Great to have such a tough player that can attack and get to the rim like he can. Pairs perfectly with our shooters (and he's been shooting pretty good of late in his own right).

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I know that 2023 season didn’t go great but NPOY Oscar Tshiebwe returning had us in conversation of being #1 preseason. Huge fan of all those guys but Oscar is a gaping hole in that ranking imo

Yeah we can’t forget Big O! Prob 2nd to Jones/Lamb in Cal era.

 

[kywildcat1021979]

I've got him at #6 in terms of potential fan enthusiasm for a returning player.

#1. Jamal Mashburn returns for junior year.
#2. Tony Delk returns for senior year.
#3. Ron Mercer returns for sophomore year.
#4. Terrence Jones returns for sophomore year.
#5. Tayshaun Prince returns for senior year.
#6. Otega Oweh returns for senior year.

4A.Terrance Jones and 4B.Lamb both returning helped propel that team to a title in 2012. Don't get me wrong Davis and MKG were beasts but if it hadn't been for those 2 mentioned I think we'd still be talking like Cal having 0 Championships! Thank you to the NBA lockout that season.

 

[ukfan041]

Up there with Jones, Prince, and Oscar coming back! At 17, I don’t remember it ever being considered for Delk to leave for the draft after the UNC loss in 1995. With Oweh having the chance to be the face of Kentucky, one of the faces of college basketball, and make a bunch of money has got to be a no brainer for him. He’ll get draft feedback but I believe he ultimately returns.

 

[Aike]

I've got him at #6 in terms of potential fan enthusiasm for a returning player.

#1. Jamal Mashburn returns for junior year.
#2. Tony Delk returns for senior year.
#3. Ron Mercer returns for sophomore year.
#4. Terrence Jones returns for sophomore year.
#5. Tayshaun Prince returns for senior year.
#6. Otega Oweh returns for senior year.

I don’t remember being surprised by Delk or Mercer coming back. Maybe I just forgot?

I think you have to put the twins/WCS returning in 2015 VERY high on this list.

 

[storm1507]

Oscar is probably #1. I'd put Oweh right behind him. I said early on that he may end up being my favorite player of this century.

 

[trueblujr]

What about Patrick Patterson coming back for his Junior Season after declaring for the draft?

What about Randolph Morris and the "lost fax" that allowed him to come back?

 

[kywildcat1021979]

Oscar is probably #1. I'd put Oweh right behind him. I said early on that he may end up being my favorite player of this century.

I sure wish Oscar could've had a year with Pope man that guy was a BEAST! I just wish we would had some tournament success with him he's just another one in the long list of wasted talent on Cal's lists!

 

[storm1507]

4A.Terrance Jones and 4B.Lamb both returning helped propel that team to a title in 2012. Don't get me wrong Davis and MKG were beasts but if it hadn't been for those 2 mentioned I think we'd still be talking like Cal having 0 Championships! Thank you to the NBA lockout that season.

I was going to say you had to lump both of them together. The lockout was an important piece of the #8 trophy.

 

[richbrookstomato]

The Harrison twins returning was a big one too.

Sam Bowie returning after sitting 2 years injured was a HUGE thing but slightly different than an Oweh return.

 

[Crawfords Corner]

I like your list

We need him back tremendously. Talking about a guy who could be an even better scorer next season. 17.5-19 ppg. A dog defensively most of the time. Developing into a killer. Most important piece for next season.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

The Harrison twins returning was a big one too.

Sam Bowie returning after sitting 2 years injured was a HUGE thing but slightly different than an Owen return.

I remember the day the Harrison twins announced. Everyone at my job was going insane. I think most everyone had assumed they were moving on. They didn’t exactly have a smooth sailing freshman year to say the least but that tournament run changed everything

 

[Phil_The_Music2]

Just for fun, if Sheppard had come back and wasn't a turn coat, where would you rank him?

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I don’t remember being surprised by Delk or Mercer coming back. Maybe I just forgot?

I think you have to put the twins/WCS returning in 2015 VERY high on this list.

I'm not measuring surprise. I'm measuring fan enthusiasm. Twins coming back was huge..

 

[ukcatz12]

The Harrison twins returning was a big one too.

Yeah, I feel like everyone is forgetting the Harrisons returning. That turned things from legitimate excitement for 2015 to actual discussions of of 40-0 was possible.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I'll add a wildcard of Harrison twins, wcs, dj, poy, etc before 2015 season. This place was bananas when they all came back. Sad ending but amazing journey for that group.

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

I've got him at #6 in terms of potential fan enthusiasm for a returning player.

#1. Jamal Mashburn returns for junior year.
#2. Tony Delk returns for senior year.
#3. Ron Mercer returns for sophomore year.
#4. Terrence Jones returns for sophomore year.
#5. Tayshaun Prince returns for senior year.
#6. Otega Oweh returns for senior year.

Be 2 for me behind the Harrison twins

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Yeah, I feel like everyone is forgetting the Harrisons returning. That turned things from legitimate excitement for 2015 to actual discussions of of 40-0 was possible.

I had a 50$ to 500$ bet with a coworker that we were going 40-0 after they announced. My coworker agreed to settle and I let him off the hook for $100 after the S16 game vs WVa

 

[Tampa_cat54_rivals112262]

It'll be exciting for sure, but not sure it even cracks my top-10 to be honest.

Totally agree with your 5 that you listed, plus some others that come to mind:

1. Patrick Patterson returning to join the John Wall team
2. Harrison twins returning for the 2015 super team
3. Oscar announcing his return after being NPOY
4. PJ Washington coming back to join Herro and company
5. Antonio Reeves announcing his return
6. The Randolph Morris fax machine debacle had people pretty hyped

I'm sure there are others, but Oweh returning will be massive if/when it happens!

 

[PhattyJ4UK_rivals309166]

Just for fun, if Sheppard had come back and wasn't a turn coat, where would you rank him?

Would have been absolutely massive and top 3- undeservedly.

Reed benefited more from Kentucky than Kentucky benefitted from Reed and it’s absolutely hilarious when people claim Cal held Reed back. They don’t even think that. Anyone who has any basketball sense knows that.

 

[BlueBomb]

I'm re-ranking!
1 -- Mash (and it's not close)
2 -- Jones/Lamb (no championship in '12 without those guys)
3 -- Oscar (player of the year returning? Unheard of!)
4 -- The Twins (should've had #9)
5 -- Anyone else

Also, there was actual talk of Rex going pro after his freshmen year. And Bowie!

 

[BGCATFAN2012]

00 can return and be a lotto pick after next season

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

00 can return and be a lotto pick after next season

If he returns I think he’s a day one preseason AA. Still don’t see NBA lottery pick, hate to say

 

[jeffky]

The anointed one said he is hearing double o loves Kentucky and has been a life changer for him and will be coming back next year

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

The anointed one said he is hearing double o loves Kentucky and has been a life changer for him and will be coming back next year

That would be huge. He gives you an instant All-SEC level player who knows Pope's system.

 

[rivercatinfl]

It’s gonna be exciting! I sure hope he returns.

Pay him!! We need him back!!

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

I'm not knocking Oweh at all, but just a few that rank higher to me...that weren't on your list.

PPat
Andrew Harrison
Aaron Harrison
Lamb
WCS
Oscar

 

[Cats192]

There's Oweh excitement is going to be boosted by the general excitement around the program.

New coach. Back to winning tournament games in March. Everyone feels like we're FINALLY Kentucky again. And then you get your breakout guy back.

 

[pauled#1]

4A.Terrance Jones and 4B.Lamb both returning helped propel that team to a title in 2012. Don't get me wrong Davis and MKG were beasts but if it hadn't been for those 2 mentioned I think we'd still be talking like Cal having 0 Championships! Thank you to the NBA lockout that season.

Yep! Jones and Lamb had the biggest impact of returning players in a long time!

 

[mcwildcats04]

4A.Terrance Jones and 4B.Lamb both returning helped propel that team to a title in 2012. Don't get me wrong Davis and MKG were beasts but if it hadn't been for those 2 mentioned I think we'd still be talking like Cal having 0 Championships! Thank you to the NBA lockout that season.

Yes, for sure! And I'm still so thankful we got Jones after he initially committed to UW. I remember watching his commitment live and being so depressed he picked UW over us. Never could have imagined he would change his mind after and commit to us.

 

[bbnkat02]

4A.Terrance Jones and 4B.Lamb both returning helped propel that team to a title in 2012. Don't get me wrong Davis and MKG were beasts but if it hadn't been for those 2 mentioned I think we'd still be talking like Cal having 0 Championships! Thank you to the NBA lockout that season.

Cal would've be disgraced had he not won a single title here. That's an alternative history I don't even want to think about.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

The anointed one said he is hearing double o loves Kentucky and has been a life changer for him and will be coming back next year

Double O is a stud BBN loves him too! such an amazing find by Pope and staff.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

4A.Terrance Jones and 4B.Lamb both returning helped propel that team to a title in 2012. Don't get me wrong Davis and MKG were beasts but if it hadn't been for those 2 mentioned I think we'd still be talking like Cal having 0 Championships! Thank you to the NBA lockout that season.

Not only that they already helped us get a final 4 the year before. Getting 2 of those guys back was so key for us. By far the 2 most Importsnt returnees I’d Kentucky basketball in my life.

The Harrison’s and WCS were up there as well. Another championship runner up guys who helped us go undefeated. I wish they finished that year off the way they deserved.