What does a best case roster look like next year?

[ganner918]

I know it's early and we have plenty of this season left. But I'm sitting here thinking of how we can build on the positives we're seeing while addressing the major weaknesses of this roster. Roster construction is a big part of the problem we've had this year and we've got to do better next year. We absolutely can't have only one PG. We've got to be able to have 2 or 3 good to great shooters on the court at all times. We need a couple of reliable go to scorers more than we need 10 equal guys. And with it looking like we're not going to get any impact freshmen (or maybe any freshmen at all), we're going to need to rely on some substantial continuity along with very targeted portal additions. Let's say we definitely lose Quaintance along with Oweh and Aberdeen. I would also let Garrison walk away unless he takes a pay cut - he's not worth what he costs. And I'd let Dioubate walk away, he's just not a good fit for Pope and for what we need on the roster. That frees up a lot of money.

Take that available money and spend whatever we have to on two main targets - a stud scorer to replace Oweh (who can shoot) and a stud stretch 4. I'd bring back Lowe instead of trying to go for THREE homeruns in the portal, but bring in a backup point guard out of the portal. Start Lowe, Portal stud, Kam, Portal stud, and Moreno. Your backups are Portal pg, Chandler, Noah, Jelavic, Garrison/Portal C. Hawthorne and Potter add depth. If JJ will come back cheap enough, do it, but don't spend too much when we can't count on him to back up the PG and is at best 2nd reserve wing behind Chandler.

Lowe with 3 shooters/scorers around him can be good enough at point, and I'm really high on Moreno's future. Kam can be a very good role player starter. The key here is we need two portal additions to be our two best players. That's the only way I see that this works, and to me it's worth it to go all in on getting those 2 guys and then budget out what you have left. What I don't want to see is lots of guys leaving and us again trying to piece together an entire team out of the portal without any true studs. Give up on the broad distribution of minutes and play a few great players as much as they can handle. Sell them this in the recruiting pitch - see how much Oweh and Aberdeen are playing now? That's your role, 30+ mpg, go to guys on offense. A pass first pg to set you up and role players to spot up from three around you.

Thoughts? Can we make this work? Can we keep together enough of this roster to have the continuity we need?

[blueheretic]

It looks like he's planning on having try outs to me.

[Catsrock]

Well you’ve put nice thought into all this so my main thought probably doesn’t add a lot. But I really don’t think the best case for next year can be envisioned at all until the portal fills up. Yes I think we can hang onto some nice pieces from our current team. But next year’s team will have to be built from the portal—once again. And pieces you mention above WILL be available in the portal. Pope & Co have to find the recipe for closing on the right ones. Obviously we need more shooting and it’s more important than raw athletic ability for the way Pope wants to play. Must have a couple PG’s—but don’t forget we had Butler and Kriisa last year. Which brings up perhaps the biggest point— bring in guys who can pass a physical and hope they stay healthy.

A bunch of guys will be in the portal that no one currently has any idea they will be looking to move on. Also will be Europeans available we’ve never heard of.

Good luck Pope! Get it right one time and see what can happen.

[Cawood86]

I think Moreno and Noah and Chandler are back for sure. Not sure about JJ. since there are no recruits signed yet, it's hard to go much further.

Would be great if Williams returned. Not sure if Lowe has more eligibility or not. Oweh, Aberdeen, Jelavic, Garrison, and JQ will be gone imo.

If Coach Pope can get a couple of elite freshmen that would really encourage this fanbase.

Forgot about Hawthorne.

[ganner918]

I think Moreno and Noah and Chandler are back for sure. Not sure about JJ. since there are no recruits signed yet, it's hard to go much further.

Would be great if Williams returned. Not sure if Lowe has more eligibility or not. Oweh, Aberdeen, Jelavic, Garrison, and JQ will be gone imo.

If Coach Pope can get a couple of elite freshmen that would really encourage this fanbase.

Forgot about Hawthorne.

Lowe is a Junior, has another year. I'm hoping that Lowe and Kam both WANT to be back - and I'd imagine coming off injuries this year they won't have as high a market value as they might otherwise, could help encourage them to stay. Gotta get two elite guys, whether it's portal or freshmen. I just don't think we're getting any elite freshmen.

[blueheretic]

Honestly, best case scenario is a team full of what we have now.

Pope can't seem to recruit high school guys (Elite or otherwise) to Kentucky this year.

Pope goes deep in the portal for transfers again.

Impossible to tell what that might look like until:

1. ours transfer out
2. others start to enter the portal from other teams.

What we have now looks like this:

Return:
Moreno
Noah
Chandler
Williams
Lowe
Hawthorne
Potter

Transfer Portal Out:
Johnson
Dioubate

Transfer Portal Question:
Garrison ( I think he goes )
Jelavic ( I think he goes )

Transfer Portal IN:
???

Graduate:
Oweh
Aberdeen

Draft:
Quaintance

High School Recruits:
An unfathomable GOOSE EGG


This is my opinion based on what I've heard throughout this and last year and player utilization.

[Pete Hogwallop]

I think we'll be stacked next year. A bunch of returners and 2-3 portal guys and we'll be strong. Don't care about freshman much.

[Trueblujr]

Lowe is a Junior, has another year. I'm hoping that Lowe and Kam both WANT to be back - and I'd imagine coming off injuries this year they won't have as high a market value as they might otherwise, could help encourage them to stay. Gotta get two elite guys, whether it's portal or freshmen. I just don't think we're getting any elite freshmen.

They’re trying to get Lowe a medical redshirt so he would have two years left.

we need to go and find a Kobe Brea type shooter. I’d be surprised if Garrison returns next year. He was almost out the door this year and I can’t think this is how he envisioned his junior year going and he’s not going to want to play behind Moreno. When we signed Jelavic, I thought he would be that Andrew Carr type player. While he is getting some better, he’s still got a ways to go to get there. I’m hoping Potter’s redshirt is helping him and he can be a productive role player, but we will need another big from the portal. I hope we can keep Johnson at the 2 and I think Williams was coming into his own before the injury, he could be a starter next year. I’m indifferent on Mo D. Not sure if he hasn’t been part of the chemistry issues, but we will need his rebounding. Hawthorne should play a significant role next year. Maybe he becomes that Brea type. A lot of people comparing him to Tayshaun Prince.
What I hope Pope does is what he did his first year, build a team more suited to his system, instead of what he did this year by trying to respond to the physicality of the SEC by recruiting too many defensive minded dudes to the detriment of his offensive system. That and a lack of PG depth.

So, if we can keep
Lowe
Johnson
Chandler
Noah
Moreno
Williams
Jelavic
Diobate
Potter
Hawthorne
thats a lot of returning guys and a decent nucleus to supplement. Go get three guys from the portal. A stud shooter, another solid PG and a Big. To heck with the high schoolers.

[KentuckyWild2020]

One thing for sure. I sincerely hope Moreno Noah and Jasper is back. Moreno has played above my expectations, he's a keeper. Jasper has played freshman like this year but has shown flashes, I think he will be okay.

Noah, can't see him leaving.

Chandler, Williams, Jelavic, Potter, Hawthorne, Dioubate either way for me.

Does Lowe come back or does he even want too??

Not happy about no recruits coming in but if we retain what we have and add a DINK PATE, i think we are still good regardless.

[bthaunert]

I agree with a lot of what you say. I would let Garrison and Dioubate walk and I'm not even sure it would be a conversation. The two guys you build around are:

Malachi Moreno
Jaland Lowe

The group of guys that I would target next:

Jasper Johnson
Kam Williams
Collin Chandler
Trent Noah

Then, the next couple of guys, can be based on what their cost is:

Jayden Hawthorne
Andrija Jelavic

After that, you focus on the transfers. You will definitely need elite shooters and you will need some rebounding and a back up PG. We need to get a guy like Kerr Kriisa again as a backup. Lots of experience starting at power programs and willing to take a lesser role. I think a starting 5 of Lowe at the 1, Williams at the 3 and Malachi at the 5 with an elite scorer/shooter at the 2 (think Antonio Reeves) and strong 4 can be good. Then if you can have Johnson, Chandler and Noah as part of your bench core, with a few other transfers, I think it could be a decent squad.

Whatever happens, Pope has got to do a better job of putting together a roster and knowing what the value of players are. That's what killed us this year.

[ganner918]

I agree with a lot of what you say. I would let Garrison and Dioubate walk and I'm not even sure it would be a conversation. The two guys you build around are...

Yeah, sounds like we have pretty much the same ideas. Hopefully the pile on money freed up from JQ, Oweh, Aberdeen, Garrison, Dioubate could be put into getting a couple of star levels guys.

[Jload]

Alot of the roster will depend on money. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone but Noah Moreno and Chandler left. I think Hawthorne is 50 50 depends on if we pay him. I think JJ is gone. Lowe will depend on the money offered as will Williams. Garrison and Mo are gone. Can't see Jelavic staying .The fact that we have no high school recruits is criminal and the main reservation I have about Pope as a coach here. As for the portal pretty much boils down to money, how much will we have and how does he spend it.

[BJD]

We will have to get scraps from the portal to even field a team.


They are all getting the hell out of this mess. Only Noah is a sure returner.


Players do not get better playing for Pope. That’s a major reason for no high level recruits.


Now even JQ’s father says JQ was used wrong.

There is no offensive identity. There is no defensive identity.

Pope can’t sit a guy down and show him a plan for how he will be used.

He can’t even put a game plan together for any opponent.

He’s in so far over his head he needs a snorkel to breathe.

[blueheretic]

I just don't see Johnson coming back.

I don't understand why Pope can't recruit Elite dudes to Kentucky.

He seems to want to take the Billy Gillispie route with lower level dudes.

Is he scared of the Elite level recruits? Does he not understand them?

Does he not comprehend NIL and how it affects recruiting?

I think that his handling of Jasper is going to scare off potential star players that are necessary to move the program back to an Elite level.

[bucsrule8872]

I don’t see us getting a stud recruit. Stokes is pretty much a Jayhawk. Collins isn’t coming, IMHO.

Our best case scenario, realistically is getting everyone that can come back to come back. Retention is the key. And Pope has made no bones about it. He has basically said he wants everyone back that is willing to come back.

So 12 guys are eligible to return. Quaintance isn’t coming back, but the other 11 could. I think that is what Pope wants.

So best case scenario is we get all 11 back.

The only big time recruit I could see us landing is Dink Pate, if the NCAA allows him to play. Pope is playing the system right now. He is siding with the NCAA, because Mitch is a company man and has told him that he can only get guys that the NCAA clears. So, Pope is going to hope that the NCAA rule Pate eligible, and that will be our star that replaces Oweh (he hopes).

That will give us our main 12 man roster. He will then do his best to get a portal player or two, but with limited playing time and limited funds, his hands will be tied.

So, this is the best case scenario, IMHO:

Projected Starters

PG Lowe
SG Johnson (I see a major jump from him)
SF Pate (he’ll run some Point too, like JRob)
PF Jelavic
C Moreno

Key Reserves

G Chandler (could be a starter over Johnson)
G Williams (could be a starter over Johnson)
F Hawthorne
F Dioubate
C Garrison (I know most fans want someone else, but Pope is loyal and would probably rather has a third year in his system guy over a new backup Center)

Deep Bench

F Noah (could be a rotation player over Hawthorne)
C Potter
G Portal or Recruit PG (no idea who this could be)
G Portal or Recruit Shooter (maybe the Decker kid from Liberty, he’s from E-Town and can really shoot the ball)

A lot rests upon whether Lowe comes back 100% and if we can get a stud like Pate (and if Pate is as good as advertised).

Now keep in mind, this isn’t necessarily what I want, but what I think Pope wants to do and what he is able to do. Pope would probably rather have Stokes (and so would I), but I think that ship has sailed.