I like that you pointed out how Florida had a mediocre year, returned most of the players and won a championship. Also, Golden had a very bad record at Florida 2 years before the championship as well.
Lots of people can only look at our mediocre year this year and not envision any way we won't be the same or worse next year.
I'm not all in on returning everyone, but I'd be fine if most returned. Add in a few REALLY good players from wherever and we'll be fine as long as we have competent back-ups at PG and C.
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Right now, with Pope coming back, he is going to want to retain most of the team. There is nothing more difficult for a coach than having to start from scratch every year. Retention is a huge key.
Look at Florida as a model (24-25), they returned most of their key players from the season before and was a 1 seed and won the title. The team the year before was mediocre: 24-12, 11-7 in the SEC, a 7 seed, and lost in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney. Similar to us this season. They brought most everyone back, didn’t sign any HS studs, brought in a couple of portal players and won a title.
This is how Pope should approach next season. Bring as many of the core players back (Chandler, Williams, Moreno, Garrison, and Dioubate) as he can. Then mix in a few portal guys. Maybe a couple of HS kids. Maybe an international kid. But retaining the core is critical at this juncture.
My guess is Chandler (shot at a starring role, loyalty to Pope), Williams(already said he wants to return), Dioubate (always dreamed of playing for UK), and Lowe (has something to prove here) will be back. Hawthorne has already said he will be back and is probably a key reserve. Potter also said he would be returning, but he won’t play meaningful minutes. Noah probably returns. Eastern Kentucky kids don’t give up on UK dreams very easily. He won’t play much, though, unless there are injuries again.
Sounds like Garrison might be going with Hart. Wouldn’t mind having him back, though.
Johnson is gone. Impatient kid with unrealistic parents. He will bolt.
Jelavic is likely gone as well. He just didn’t quite seem to fit in. Hope he comes back, but I doubt it. Never seemed comfortable.
I think Pope is desperate enough that he will throw as much money as he can at Stokes. That will give us a legitimate shot at him.
We need a backup PG. Mo Williams’ kid could be a nice start there, but I think we need another, in case Lowe ends up being fragile. I’m penciling in Williams as the backup and hoping we find a little better option to split time with Lowe.
A name I keep hoping to see pop up in the transfer portal discussion is Brett Decker, Jr from Liberty. He is from E-Town and was their leading scorer. He was 2nd in D-1 in 3-point percentage at 47% (on about 7 attempts per game), 11th in 3-pointers made on the season. He’s the kind of sniper that could really flourish coming off the bench at a P5 school.
Dink Pate probably goes to SMU to play for Hart. I think we are out on him.
Need to find a good backup for Moreno.
To me, the best case scenario for a starting five is:
G Lowe
G Chandler
G Williams
F Stokes(fingers crossed)
C Moreno
Need a backup PG, SG(dreaming of Decker here), and Center to go with Hawthorne and Dioubate off the bench. Then Noah, Potter, and Marvin Williams to round out the roster. Maybe add one or two more long-term options.
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The bottom line with Johnson is that he was too weak to play major minutes for a D-1 program as a Freshman. He needs to live in the weight room over the summer and add weight and get stronger. He has tons of potential, but was not physically ready to play at this level, especially in the SEC.
Now he will transfer and hit the weights at UNC or somewhere else and come back as a Sophomore and play very well on a stronger frame and his family will be pointing fingers at UK’s staff and saying he wasn’t used right. All because they weren’t patient and realistic enough to know that Jasper needed a year of college to mature and get stronger. Instead of staying the course he will do what most immature people will do, blame everyone else and go somewhere that will give them instant gratification. And his relatives are enabling him by blaming the staff when it was abundantly clear that Jasper was not physically ready to play at this level. They should be saying that Jasper had a successful season as a Freshman, adjusting to college basketball and is looking forward to improving his body in the offseason, instead of whining that he wasn’t used correctly or that the staff wouldn’t give him a chance to shine, or other such nonsense. Delusional parents are worse than delusional fans.Leave a comment:
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Agree.
Before mobile phones and internet you had what was referred to as Telephone Tough Guys. Guys that would just be really hard core over the phone. When you meet them no matter the issue they were not nearly as tough.
Late 90s early 2000's that moved over to online tough guys. Thing is they are all over the world and they know they can be a tough as they want without much recourse. Then you have fan bases acting like a person from another fan base just to muddy up the mix. Was much easier back in the 70s and 80s. You had an issue with someone and you would discuss and if it escalated it was person to person and it was settled and over before you knew what was what. Then everyone went about their way. A friend of my still today when we were in 5th or 6th grade had a scuffle in the library. We to the principal office, took our licks and walked home together laughing like nothing had happened. It was a simpler time.Leave a comment:
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I know nothing about him, but have seen it mentioned he had a hand in identifying players for Pope to pursue in year 1. I was somewhat worried he'd be coming on a little late for that this offseason, but there was some chatter that he has already been involved in looking for the right system players. That at least seems like a step in the right direction.Leave a comment:
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The uncle said that the "fans" were nasty to Jasper online and in social media. And I don't disagree with him. He's just a freshman with a small body. Probably played more than he should have due to the injury situation. And fairly quickly, people were calling him garbage and worse.Leave a comment:
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I agree, he forced a few shots every time he got in the game. And I am sure he could score 20-30 points a game on a mid major college team, but not against elite competition. I don't know what his uncle said but if he's trying to say he's NBA ready, someone should tell him to compare his nephew to Acuff. That is the difference between a stud PG and a twig running around jacking up shots.
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In today's lovely age of social media, players get roasted and called trash for any subpar performance. I wish there was a way to change that.Leave a comment:
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Derrick Johnson, Jasper's Uncle just went full nuclear today over his nephew..
I get it but here is the reality, he's not as good as those think he is, never was in my opinion.
Sounds like he may be gone but I am absolutely 1000% good with it, don't need him trying to showcase and prove that he belongs in the NBA at Kentucky.
Maybe it was the pressure, maybe it was just being a freshman who knows?
All I know is every time he was on the floor he wanted to prove to everyone that he could score. Good shot, bad shot, this and that, it was very clear what he was all about.
Maybe another summer getting bigger and stronger helps him out but with all the hype, I expected more.
One of the most selfish players I have seen in some time to be frank.
in today's age of social media etc, he brought a lot of negative on himself trying to do too much...Leave a comment:
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Know it's been a spell since I posted but fact is the money thing has burnt bridges for me. As far as playes getting booed...if I'm making hundreds of thousands or millions to half ass a game and not follow pretty basic defense and offense I'd expect to be booed.
If you can't give it from love of school and team at least act like youre a professional.
As far as players coming or going...up to them. UK can throw money all day but didn't deserve to beat Santa clara. If oweh hadnt had a pro level effort they wouldnt have.Leave a comment:
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Seen UK many times live. Good and bad games. But not in the last 2 years except exhibition. Anyway. Do not care how bad the team plays I will not boo. I have left early 1 time in a game where there was little effort on one of Cal's last teams (last year or 3).. But that is it. I have booed the other team on a bad foul, bad play and of course I have booed the refs. Now if you want to count 77-78 season where we started each game with GOOOOOOOOSe that is the closest thing to booing the team, lol.Leave a comment:
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