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

[George]

We've reached the week Oweh will have to make a decision. The deadline is Wednesday at midnight.

You'd think some replacements' names would've leaded by now if there were anything to worry about.

[Joneslab]

You'd think some replacements' names would've leaded by now if there were anything to worry about.

It would be wild to see Kentucky sweep in and get one of the big draft drop-outs like RJ Luis. I mean it'd be possible, but I'm not sure I would've ever seen Kentucky accomplish something like that, even with Cal.

I tend to think it's probably Oweh or bust.

[teamchemistry15]

Probably right. And I love the IDEA. Just hope it works. Hopefully such players have accurate expectations. Say a guy comes in, works his tail off, then gets no time AND sees himself as just as good as the guys who are getting the minutes—in this day and age does he stick around hoping to crack the rotation in the next year? The staff will undoubtedly be going for the best players in the portal again in the next cycle.

Hopefully those left out will enjoy their paycheck, work hard and get better, and stick around. Even an in state guy didn’t. Of course Hawthorne and Potter have the size for a higher ceiling. Potter probably knows he won’t become an all-SEC player. Probably knows what to expect.

I have the same concern. There's a lot of mouths to feed this year. I think if we have a few guys who don't get many minutes but are close that Pope can sell them on returning like he did with Garrison this year. I'm also assuming he was straight forward with some of this year's team, as well. I don't think he went to Hawthorne and gave him false hope of playing over Williams and Oweh unless he's just flat out better than them. I don't think Potter expects to get much time over Garrison or JQ. It has to be a combination of the staff being honest about plans and the kid being honest with himself.

[teamchemistry15]

Matt Sak BBN
@MattSakR2NG
2h

4 Years of Eligibility remaining
Jasper Johnson
Malachi Moreno
Braydon Hawthorne
Andrija Jelavic

3 Years
Collin Chandler
Kam Williams
Trent Noah
Jayden Quaintance

2 Years
Jaland Lowe
Brandon Garrison
Mouhamed Dioubate
Reece Potter

Last Year
Otega Oweh
Denzel Aberdeen

Imagining a world where we only lose Oweh, Aberdeen, and JQ. I know that won't happen, but Pope has put together an incredibly balanced roster from a talent AND age perspective.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Mark Sears says Mouhamed Dioubate is “a skilled Dennis Rodman”


Dioubate has been compared to Draymond Green and now NBA legend Dennis Rodman.

​

[Joneslab]

Oweh is in New York today working out for the Brooklyn Nets.

[Joneslab]

I remember the Hamidou Diallo situation going until after midnight, IIRC.

You wouldn't think Oweh will be that close, but you never know.

[dcaudle68]

Mark Sears says Mouhamed Dioubate is “a skilled Dennis Rodman”


Dioubate has been compared to Draymond Green and now NBA legend Dennis Rodman.

Thats a good thing. Every team needs an "enforcer".

[KentuckyWild2020]

Thats a good thing. Every team needs an "enforcer".

I think so. I don't know a lot about Dioubate but that's a good take..

[EKYCat]

Mark Sears says Mouhamed Dioubate is “a skilled Dennis Rodman”


Dioubate has been compared to Draymond Green and now NBA legend Dennis Rodman.

Did Sears ever watch Rodman? That dude was really skilled! Best rebounder I've ever seen. I've always thought had they played in the same era, Rodman would have lived in Draymond's head, rent free.

[Joneslab]

Some really big names withdrawing from the draft today.

Michigan's Yaxel Lendebourg and Florida's Alex Condon just in the last hour or so.

Condon is one of those players who could challenge for SEC POY next season.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Did Sears ever watch Rodman? That dude was really skilled! Best rebounder I've ever seen. I've always thought had they played in the same era, Rodman would have lived in Draymond's head, rent free.

Doubtful, Sears is what like 22, Rodman is like 60, I don't know the ages. Probably just a knee jerk comment from Sears but either way, good know we have a talented player on the roster coming in.

[Joneslab]

Sears could have to do what I have to do for players from the past I didn't watch, which is dial up a YouTube video or four.

My friend had an old Sports Illustrated VHS tape that had a bunch of NBA players' highlights on it. One was called something like "The Rebounders," and Rodman was on there, Kevin Willis, and Michael Cage. It was just five solid minutes of those guys doing nothing but rebounding. Rodman was unreal in how he'd just attack the ball at any cost.

When I saw Dioubate in Rupp, the first thing that jumped out to me is that he had a knack for just charging after the ball wherever it was. Kentucky was badly missing that type of player last season.

[KentuckyWild2020]

If Sears wanted to compare him to a rebounder in the modern day, should have said OSCAR T.

The college version of OSCAR may have been the closest thing I have ever seen in comparison to Rodman...

[teamchemistry15]

If Sears wanted to compare him to a rebounder in the modern day, should have said OSCAR T.

The college version of OSCAR may have been the closest thing I have ever seen in comparison to Rodman...

My thoughts exactly. If Dioubate grows a couple of inches and puts on 45 pounds, then learns a new position, you're spot on.