2025-26 Roster Chatter (UPDATE: Oweh Returns, Roster Complete)

[Matt Dillon]

My feelings, for what they're worth, are these. I don't think coach Pope shoved him out the door. I think he could have stayed and full filled his role if he had so desired. I think he wanted to go somewhere to get more playing time. It's his life and his decision. No one should fault him for leaving.

[40bill]

My feelings, for what their worth, are these. I don't think coach Pope shoved him out the door. I think he could have stayed and full filled his role if he had so desired. I think he wanted to go somewhere to get more playing time. It's his life and his decision. No one should fault him for leaving.

Amen!

[KentuckyWild2020]

Whatever the situation with Perry was/ is, he (or him with the advice of family) made it. If he were to go to Louisville, that would be a natural: Mr Basketball, all time leading scorer staying in state. Same deal with any in state school. Since 74 I've seen a Lotta kids leave. Usually for playing time. Sometimes bad fit, other times....well...they just go. There USED to be a demand that UK give EVERY Mr Basketball an automatic free ride. That was and is an awful idea.

Perry could do one thing really good...shoot. BUT towards the end of this season even that seemed to leave him.

And to be honest guys if the kid ever read some of the crap on social media he would have run off a long time ago. He had a great amount of early expectation on him. If I recall, Reed S was supposed to be a bench warmer according to most of our base until he exploded. It was the reverse for Perry.

Once more with feeling, I appreciate him coming to UK and I hope he gets stronger and a bit quicker. I think he has a spot someplace, and it just might not be in D3 ball the way some folks think.

Just didn't work. Good luck man!

Now that he's off the roster, I think we need another PG that can handle the ball.

Lowe, Johnson,Chandler.

If someone get's hurt, we need another PG IMO, Travis was that guy, I don't see another Williams on this team...

[Lighthouse]

My feelings, for what their worth, are these. I don't think coach Pope shoved him out the door. I think he could have stayed and full filled his role if he had so desired. I think he wanted to go somewhere to get more playing time. It's his life and his decision. No one should fault him for leaving.

I agree with this. I realize I'm thinking outside the box, but in this day of the Portal and NIL, anything could happen. Just suppose, Perry's family realized Perry was not going to get much PT this year which would hurt his growth and improvement. So, remember his Dad is a HS Coach, they decided to transfer where he will get PT and work hard, and after a year or two transfer back to UK if there's a spot.

[KentuckyWild2020]

I agree with this. I realize I'm thinking outside the box, but in this day of the Portal and NIL, anything could happen. Just suppose, Perry's family realized Perry was not going to get much PT this year which would hurt his growth and improvement. So, remember his Dad is a HS Coach, they decided to transfer where he will get PT and work hard, and after a year or two transfer back to UK if there's a spot.

As far as we know, Pope may had advised him to go get PT work hard develop and then come back, you never know. Still, I don't think Pope pushed him out the door..

[Joneslab]

The line between "pushing out the door" and recruiting over somebody is pretty thin.

All over the country right now, players are being recruited right over...and then they themselves are hitting the portal and becoming the guys at other programs who are pushing others into the portal. It's a weird cycle.

In the Perry family's mind, I'm sure they saw what was going on with Chandler at the end of the season and knew what the situation was shaping up to look like for next season. Pope has shown that he'll play 10 or 11...but playing 13 players in a 40-minute game is pretty tough. Perry would've had to beat Chandler out to get into that rotation. Would've been tough.

But it's tough everywhere. He'll have to grind it wherever he ends up. However the portal has shown that getting a fresh start does do wonders for some players.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Who's going to handle the ball if Lowe is injured or in foul trouble ?

If freshman Jasper can't handle the pressure or gets injured or is foul trouble, all of the above, then what?

Chandler running point?

Still need another ball handler and good news on Oweh...

[Joneslab]

Who's going to handle the ball if Lowe is injured or in foul trouble ?

If freshman Jasper can't handle the pressure or gets injured or is foul trouble, all of the above, then what?

Chandler running point?

Still need another ball handler and good news on Oweh...

Doesn't look like they've been looking at a back-up PG through this whole cycle. Suggests they think Johnson can handle it. Chandler looked pretty good playing point last season at the end.

Personally I liked Chandler way better than Perry at PG.

[40bill]

I thought Chandler had a bigger upside as a chance at point. More athletic. Better size. BUT....who knows?

[justford]

I thought Chandler had a bigger upside as a chance at point. More athletic. Better size. BUT....who knows?

Coach Pope

[Joneslab]

Another thing about the back-up point guard: on the national championship team last year, a guy that spent a good deal of time playing back-up point guard was...Denzel Aberdeen.

So I don't think Perry moves the need a'tall as far as a back-up. We've several players who are capable.

You would HOPE though that at some point this freaking decade, at some point, Kentucky will stay healthy through a season. No program is due like we're due as far as that goes.

[KCKUKFan]

I was about to say: isn't the plan for Aberdeen to backup Lowe when he's not in, and play off ball when he is?

[Joneslab]

I was about to say: isn't the plan for Aberdeen to backup Lowe when he's not in, and play off ball when he is?

I guess it depends on where Johnson fits best. I assume Johnson will be the back-up because Aberdeen has shown that he's versatile on the perimeter, but it might be a by-committee thing.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Another thing about the back-up point guard: on the national championship team last year, a guy that spent a good deal of time playing back-up point guard was...Denzel Aberdeen.

So I don't think Perry moves the need a'tall as far as a back-up. We've several players who are capable.

You would HOPE though that at some point this freaking decade, at some point, Kentucky will stay healthy through a season. No program is due like we're due as far as that goes.

Good to know Aberdeen can play point. That gives us 4 players at that spot, should be good.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Am I the only one who wishes we could of had another year of a healthy Butler?

He showed flashes but was just never the same after the injury.