2024 Roster (Enter Antonio Reeves & Tre Mitchell)

[DA#23]

The portal plus NIL have certainly combined the create uncapped free agency. I don’t see how that can continue going forward, and the manner in which the current state gets reeled in (or, doesn’t) will probably have an impact on the sport going forward. I don’t see how this is sustainable.

It would be interesting to see how ratings, merchandise sales, attendance have been influenced so far and even after a couple more years of this chaos. Is there a tangible harm to college basketball or is it more just whining from fans?

[DA#23]

Hunter Dickenson is on campus today through Tuesday. And so we enter: commit watch

[Joneslab]

Hunter Dickenson is on campus today through Tuesday. And so we enter: commit watch

I'm going to say here that the idea that Kentucky might get Dickinson is truly surreal to me.

[Matt Dillon]

And, yet, I believe we will.

[Joneslab]

And, yet, I believe we will.

It looks like it.

It's just a really bizarre turn of events. It's the sort of thing that had it happened seven years ago, we'd be ready to throw Cal a parade. Now it'll elicit a bunch of shrugs.

[Matt Dillon]

It looks like it.

It's just a really bizarre turn of events. It's the sort of thing that had it happened seven years ago, we'd be ready to throw Cal a parade. Now it'll elicit a bunch of shrugs.

There's some, on Twitter, that are really unhappy. They had their hearts set on Oscar returning.

[Joneslab]

There's some, on Twitter, that are really unhappy. They had their hearts set on Oscar returning.

Looks like Oscar is trying to do what's best for him. We can't stop the program because of that. If it turns out that we passed on Dickinson and Oscar left that wouldn't be good at all.

[Matt Dillon]

Looks like Oscar is trying to do what's best for him. We can't stop the program because of that. If it turns out that we passed on Dickinson and Oscar left that wouldn't be good at all.

I agree completely. I feel we waited too long as it is.

[DA#23]

It's the sort of thing that had it happened seven years ago, we'd be ready to throw Cal a parade.

I don’t know about that, 7 years ago we were still squarely Big Man U and didn’t have to patch so many holes with the free agency thing.

We missed on Harry Giles and my personal reaction was surprise because we did so much better with players like him vs Duke. Today we can hardly recruit players out of HS like Giles, and if we do it’s a crapshoot whether they will even play.

So while this might be a real safety net of sorts for a program that has been taking a lot of proverbial body shots lately, I’m not out here preparing the float for a drive to Avenue of Champions.

Back then I expected to land the best of the best.

[George]

I don’t know about that, 7 years ago we were still squarely Big Man U and didn’t have to patch so many holes with the free agency thing.

We missed on Harry Giles and my personal reaction was surprise because we did so much better with players like him vs Duke. Today we can hardly recruit players out of HS like Giles, and if we do it’s a crapshoot whether they will even play.

So while this might be a real safety net of sorts for a program that has been taking a lot of proverbial body shots lately, I’m not out here preparing the float for a drive to Avenue of Champions.

Back then I expected to land the best of the best.

I know this wasn’t your point, but missing on Giles wasn’t really a miss. Guy’s knees never worked.

[Joneslab]

Back then I expected to land the best of the best.

I see your point here but still, we were by and large more excited when we got those players. Or at least we acknowledged it more even if we expected it to happen.

Now there's more trepidation than excitement, which makes sense given the state of the program recently.

I'm one who thinks this is a pretty big deal (if it happens). Dickinson is an elite player individually in a way that Oscar wasn't. Remains to be seen if he can be an elite team player.

[DA#23]

Sure, as we’ve seen team needs and fit are crucial. More recently we’ve having to fill so many holes, and quickly, that we’re not always getting players that fit so well with the plan here.

[Catsrock]

Really hope we can sign Dickinson. He’d be a great addition—especially if Oscar is gone. Young guys could use some leadership. But…like Reid Travis and Tshiebwe—there is a reason he’s not going to the draft. Actually similar transfer resume to Travis. Both 4 stars out of high school. Travis was McD’s but not Jordan Brand. Hunter was Jordan Brand but not McD’s. Both with couple years of all conference at 1st college. Hunter better offensively but Travis better defensively. Hope he signs on willing to make some NIL and be a part of a real team. Not expecting one year in blue to magically make him a lottery pick. Got to accept that under Cal the 5 star freshman will get 1st shot to shine.

That said—if Oscar is out and we don’t get Dickinson we’re probably a big piece short of contending. And even with him every single player better buy into the team concept. Hope they all show up and with the right mentality.

Side note: Michigan didn’t make the tourney last season. But they were the only Power 5 team we beat outside conference as I recall. In that game Oscar had 13 and 14. Hunter had 23 and 9. Very different strengths.

Also—showing how scouts are often wrong—Lance Ware was ranked above him incoming out of high school.

[justford]

With all the rumors concerning the amount of NIL money being offered would someone please explain how this works? I thought it couldn’t be used to recruit players and the amount was determined by the businesses wanting players to advertise for them once the player was a member of the team. Maybe I have this wrong?? Thanks

[Joneslab]

Rob Dillingham has been certified eligible by the NCAA.

IIRC there have been cases where the NCAA has certified a player but the school has found things afterward that interfered with eligibility, but this is a good step for a player we (IMO) really need to suit up for us.

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/kentuckys-rob-dillingham-certified-as-academic-qualifier-by-ncaa/