"Who's Coming to Kentucky?" Thread (UPDATE: Kentucky Lands Jaxson Robinson!)

[Spiritof96]

I’d love to hear the initial reasoning for formation of the Transfer Portal.

Everytime I hear that term or hear the phrase “entered the portal”, I can feel my stress hormone levels rise a bit. It’s such a joke.

After the NCAA lost the NIL case I think they took the view that any effort to restrict player rights was going to be challenged and lost in court.

[George]

I've seen that Lanier might be a Tennessee lean. Would be a heck of a piece if Pope can find a way to get him.

It’s been all Tennessee since he entered the portal. I’d love to find a way to make it work because he reminds me a heck of a lot of Reeves, but if you land him, there probably aren’t enough minutes left for Robinson.

[DA#23]

You know what's way worse? "Gone portaling."

Whoever says this phrase deserves to be swarped with a switch that’s still nice and green.

[JFCats22]

It’s been all Tennessee since he entered the portal. I’d love to find a way to make it work because he reminds me a heck of a lot of Reeves, but if you land him, there probably aren’t enough minutes left for Robinson.

I don’t totally agree. They both may not want to be on the same team but they would absolutely fit. This team has a major hole and need for a scorer. I have no clue where we are going to get any points from. I don’t think this roster can regularly get to 70-75 points.

I think Pope has done a good job (B to B+) but UK fans (like my fellow Cardinals fans always do) seem to be vastly overrating this roster.

I like the roster but KSR and others are seriously hyping this team. Maybe I am wrong but I just don’t see it with what they have right now.

Bubble NCAA team right now

[Joneslab]

^ I think we have to work under the assumption right now that he's not done. So the grade has to be an I.

if he misses on Robinson and some of these others...yeah, I don't think this team goes to the NCAA Tournament. But we're not at the end of anything.

I do like the fact that he targeted some tough, defense-first guys. I mean given how bad we've looked here for years on that end.

[DA#23]

I have no clue where we are going to get any points from. I don’t think this roster can regularly get to 70-75 points.

Bubble NCAA team right now

It’s the 3rd of May

[JFCats22]

It’s the 3rd of May

Your point? The team has 9 players and (unless it's Robinson) is only likely to add bench pieces.

[mavman1968]

We are just going to have to be patient. Withdraw from draft is a few weeks away and Pope really only needs a couple additions. I'm of the opinion he's working something already. Just hang tight he's got this!!

[DA#23]

Your point? The team has 9 players and (unless it's Robinson) is only likely to add bench pieces.

The deadline to withdraw from the draft is May 29th. There’s still a ton of players “in the portal”.

We still have time to bring in some scoring punch.

[Realist2]

^ I think we have to work under the assumption right now that he's not done. So the grade has to be an I.

if he misses on Robinson and some of these others...yeah, I don't think this team goes to the NCAA Tournament. But we're not at the end of anything.

I do like the fact that he targeted some tough, defense-first guys. I mean given how bad we've looked here for years on that end.

He's got some quality shooters and he's got some defenders. Plus, the majority of them are mature. We might be pleasantly surprised. I sure hope so.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I like the fact that these players all have experience...we are use to freshmen every year

Sometimes those freshmen looked like a deer in the headlight in NCAA TOURNAMENT games

I'm just gonna sit back and see how the roster unfolds

Cal always said Talent over Experience...sorry but I never bought into that

[Joneslab]

He said he had something like 29 players on the board in the Jones interview. So I highly doubt it's Robinson or bust.

I also don't have super high expectations for next year. I think he can field an NCAA Tournament team, maybe even win a game...and given what's happened here in the recent past when we've had A LOT more freakin talent than Mark Pope is going to be able to get this spring, that would be a really big accomplishment in year one.

[Lighthouse]

He's got some quality shooters and he's got some defenders. Plus, the majority of them are mature. We might be pleasantly surprised. I sure hope so.

I agree. What's wrong with the players Pope has assembled? When they each committed, we were glad to have them, but now it seems we need more and better. We haven't even seen them together yet and, We have a Coach who has an offense they will run. The ego is gone from the sidelines. I don't expect this team to win it all but they will be winners, and our program is on its way back.

[Spiritof96]

^ I think we have to work under the assumption right now that he's not done. So the grade has to be an I.

if he misses on Robinson and some of these others...yeah, I don't think this team goes to the NCAA Tournament. But we're not at the end of anything.

I do like the fact that he targeted some tough, defense-first guys. I mean given how bad we've looked here for years on that end.

Assuming the players we have gel, do you really think this isn't a top 5 SEC team and certainly make the tournament?

[JFCats22]

Assuming the players we have gel, do you really think this isn't a top 5 SEC team and certainly make the tournament?

I don't think they are. They would be competitive but, IMO, probably a 5th-6h place SEC team with a record of 19-12, 18-13 something like that. I don't think this roster is competing with Duke, not beating Gonzaga, probably have to play UNC in the SEC/ACC deal, the SEC will be strong again.

All of these guys are solid pieces but a) I don't see an elite elite guy amongst them, b) there is a serious scoring issue and c) maybe Williams was but none of these guys have ever been the dude or shown they can be the dude at even low level places.