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

[dcaudle68]

Supposedly our roster cost $20.6 Million.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Goodman says nobody will touch UK’s NIL payroll, not even BYU.

Begs the question: where did it all come from? The Crafts?

It wasn’t long ago that it was commonly believed Kentucky couldn’t keep up with other big programs. It appears that isn’t the case.

they definitely have the money...

[justafan]

There would still definitely be incentive from those camps to fudge those numbers.

That's my issue: Its everyone's incentive to fudge the numbers.

In the end it doesn't matter. It gives people something to discuss.

UK has $12M (supposedly) but let Dickinson go to Kansas. Just because you have the money, doesn't mean you want to pay the player's demands. So far I am very happy that Pope seems to be choosy with NIL money.

[40bill]

One funny thing, I read across other boards people talking about a hugely improved Kentucky team....

That will have four new starters and two thirds of a team that have never played together, much less the system.

Don't expect much do we?

[Spiritof96]

One funny thing, I read across other boards people talking about a hugely improved Kentucky team....

That will have four new starters and two thirds of a team that have never played together, much less the system.

Don't expect much do we?

This is how basketball is now. We appropriately expect a top 5 team.

[George]

One funny thing, I read across other boards people talking about a hugely improved Kentucky team....

That will have four new starters and two thirds of a team that have never played together, much less the system.

Don't expect much do we?

As will every other school, and as was the case for the bulk of Cal’s tenure.

The difference these days is we have a considerable body of evidence for every new player we bring in. So, yeah, I think it’s probably easier than ever to predict some degree or another of improvement (or, God forbid, regression).

[Joneslab]

One funny thing, I read across other boards people talking about a hugely improved Kentucky team....

That will have four new starters and two thirds of a team that have never played together, much less the system.

Don't expect much do we?

I expect more from this team than I did last year. This roster is simply better.

But as the posters said above, the turnover Kentucky had is the case with everybody. Last year in the SEC, the reason it was so tough is that teams got large chunks of players back...plus they *added* good transfers (and in Auburn, Alabama, Texas, and Oklahoma's cases, had four elite freshmen).

This SEC will be different. It'll still be tough, but we won't have to deal with what that team did last year. Plus we're deeper, should be substantially better in the frontcourt, and will be also be significantly more athletic.

I think this will all add up to a situation where a fan should expect a Final Four type team. Last year? No, that team absolutely maxed out. This team is built to make a run imo.

HOWEVER, the teams generally that are going to make runs in college basketball are still those like Florida, Houston, Auburn: teams that have that foundation that's been there. This team won't have that...but should have four key players returning and a guy who could be the SEC POY. That *should* be enough to get the pieces in place to do something pretty magical.

[Lighthouse]

So:

Lowe/Johnson
Aberdeen/Chandler/Johnson
Oweh/Williams/Chandler
Dioubate/AJ/Noah
Garrison/JQ/Moreno

A kid like Chandler as our 10th guy? We will likely have the deepest team in the country this year.

With Garrison the projected starter next year, and us knowing how he played this year, it's great to have a player like JQ the next man up.

[justford]

I think the amount of NIL money being reported for UK will help next year’s recruiting. Potential players, high school or portal, will be aware that UK has plenty of money so we should be high on their list.

[justafan]

I think the amount of NIL money being reported fir UK will pay help next year’s recruiting. Potential players, high school or portal, will be aware that UK has plenty of money so we should be high on their list.

Or, they’ll be asking for so much more UK can’t accommodate the top recruits wanted $10M/yr, or whatever.

See Tennessee QB situation! I’m very happy they cut ties with him.

[George]

Travis Perry is entering the portal.

[teamchemistry15]

Travis Perry is entering the portal.

Can't really blame the kid. He would need to grow about six inches to really compete at this level. With the guards we have next season there were no minutes for him. I can see him staying close to home at a school like WKU, Bellarmine, or a lower level.

[Joneslab]

Kind of interesting that he waited almost until the deadline to call it.

[KCKUKFan]

Perry was never going to play meaningful minutes at Kentucky.

Good luck elsewhere!

[KCKUKFan]

With Garrison the projected starter next year, and us knowing how he played this year, it's great to have a player like JQ the next man up.

If Quaintance is healthy, he will not only start, but probably be the best player on our team.

Big "if," though.