2026-2027 Roster discussion thread

[Cawood86]

Is it just me, or is Jack Pilgrim becoming more and more annoying? The times I've watched KSR after a Kentucky loss or some bad news is breaking, Pilgrim almost seems giddy and is way too upbeat while everybody else seems a bit somber. That just rubs me the wrong way. He doesn't have to be unhappy, angry or upset....but for crying out loud, at least not act like a radio DJ that's having a little party behind the mic!

I'm not a fan....his voice is grating and annoying

[Pobilly]

I'm fairly convinced at this point that Jack Pilgram makes up a lot of stuff. Not specifically disputing this information, and I agree with your 2nd paragraph.

Agree Jack is a clickbait kind of guy and puts out a ton of stuff to see what sticks. But he got real specific in that x post. But you are right.

[Pete Hogwallop]

Agree Jack is a clickbait kind of guy and puts out a ton of stuff to see what sticks. But he got real specific in that x post. But you are right.

It doesn't bother me because I realize it, but I see other people and even other media run with some of the things he puts out there and then it gets repeated enough times that it seems real/fact. It doesn't do UK or Pope any favors.

[bucsrule8872]

Honest question, why would you want to run it back with this bunch? They weren't good.

Because you can’t change personnel every season and expect to build a program. You need some continuity. Players can improve. Players can get better.

If one or two leave, that is fine, but you can’t lose the entire core of a team and expect to be markedly better the next season, unless you absolutely kill it in recruiting. So far we have one ‘26 recruit coming in, and the chances that he is a SEC level starter from day one is very slim. Pope will need to dominate the portal (doubtful) in order to put together a contender.

I hate the thought of basically starting all over from scratch for a third year in a row.

Some of these players are pretty good. Losing our only true PG (should not have been in that situation, of course) and having to rely on a Freshman big man down low (again, a bad situation brought about through poor recruiting choices) plus injuries to other key players down the stretch (Williams, Dioubate, Oweh’s toe, etc) really hurt the flow of this team.

Do we really want to throw away a young team (Chandler, Williams, Johnson, Moreno, and Jelavic are all Freshmen and Sophomores) and start over?

Florida was a 7 seed with a similar record as ours this year and lost early in the tourney in ‘24, kept their core intact, and won a title in ‘25. What if Golden would have kicked all his guys to the curb and started over? No natty without the core of that team coming back.

Now, if there were some behind the scenes stuff that happened and that caused a lot of the issues, then it is time to clean house. I can understand the whole addition by subtraction thing if that is the case.

Hopefully Chandler, Williams, and Moreno come back. I think those are the three I would target, if they weren’t cancers in the locker room. I like their potential. I wouldn’t mind getting Dioubate back, if he wasn’t a problem, but he’s not being talked about, so I figure he must be out the door. Johnson should be retained, but I doubt he wants to return. Jelavic never really seemed to fit. Noah is a non-factor either way.

So to me, if Pope is cleaning house with the roster, I hope he has a good reason, and isn’t making excuses and blaming his failure on the players.

[Pobilly]

I would also like to see Chandler, Williams, Moreno and I will add Hawthorne. I would like to see what he can do before he leaves us. Potter would be a good back up at C and can stretch the floor.

I do like the talk about if they want to stay it is at a reduced rate for these guys. They will not get the same as they got last year with what they put on the floor. So if Mo D got say 1 mil last year, in the portal this year is expected to get 350k then if you want to stay at UK as a back up player take the 350 k we offer you. If not, don't go away mad just go away.

[EKYCat]

Because you can’t change personnel every season and expect to build a program. You need some continuity. Players can improve. Players can get better.

If one or two leave, that is fine, but you can’t lose the entire core of a team and expect to be markedly better the next season, unless you absolutely kill it in recruiting. So far we have one ‘26 recruit coming in, and the chances that he is a SEC level starter from day one is very slim. Pope will need to dominate the portal (doubtful) in order to put together a contender.

I hate the thought of basically starting all over from scratch for a third year in a row.

Some of these players are pretty good. Losing our only true PG (should not have been in that situation, of course) and having to rely on a Freshman big man down low (again, a bad situation brought about through poor recruiting choices) plus injuries to other key players down the stretch (Williams, Dioubate, Oweh’s toe, etc) really hurt the flow of this team.

Do we really want to throw away a young team (Chandler, Williams, Johnson, Moreno, and Jelavic are all Freshmen and Sophomores) and start over?

Florida was a 7 seed with a similar record as ours this year and lost early in the tourney in ‘24, kept their core intact, and won a title in ‘25. What if Golden would have kicked all his guys to the curb and started over? No natty without the core of that team coming back.

Now, if there were some behind the scenes stuff that happened and that caused a lot of the issues, then it is time to clean house. I can understand the whole addition by subtraction thing if that is the case.

Hopefully Chandler, Williams, and Moreno come back. I think those are the three I would target, if they weren’t cancers in the locker room. I like their potential. I wouldn’t mind getting Dioubate back, if he wasn’t a problem, but he’s not being talked about, so I figure he must be out the door. Johnson should be retained, but I doubt he wants to return. Jelavic never really seemed to fit. Noah is a non-factor either way.

So to me, if Pope is cleaning house with the roster, I hope he has a good reason, and isn’t making excuses and blaming his failure on the players.

I get what you're saying. But, for UK to be competitive we need to attract studs. I know these guys can improve and be better. By and large, though, guys are what they are. Relying as much as we did on Chandler shows where we are on the talent spectrum. Keeping a few of the guys like Chandler, Moreno, and Kam would be great. But you have to put those guys with actual studs to have what Golden had. Do we think Pope can find a Walter Clayton, Jr.?

[UKHoops01]

I get what you're saying. But, for UK to be competitive we need to attract studs. I know these guys can improve and be better. By and large, though, guys are what they are. Relying as much as we did on Chandler shows where we are on the talent spectrum. Keeping a few of the guys like Chandler, Moreno, and Kam would be great. But you have to put those guys with actual studs to have what Golden had. Do we think Pope can find a Walter Clayton, Jr.?

I agree. I think retaining SOME (key word) players is essential. But there are a number that need to be replaced/upgraded from. If you can replace a Mo Dioubate with a Yaxel Lendeborg type player this off-season, you do it! Lowe's already out, so hopefully we're adding a Silas Demary, Jr. type player to replace him. And if you can add Tyran Stokes and that means Kam Williams is coming off the bench, so be it! It's all about upgrading the talent level. Doesn't mean the entire roster needs to be turned over, there's a need for bench/role players, but standing pat and "hoping for improvement" is a losing proposition.

[Pete Hogwallop]

I agree. I think retaining SOME (key word) players is essential. But there are a number that need to be replaced/upgraded from. If you can replace a Mo Dioubate with a Yaxel Lendeborg type player this off-season, you do it! Lowe's already out, so hopefully we're adding a Silas Demary, Jr. type player to replace him. And if you can add Tyran Stokes and that means Kam Williams is coming off the bench, so be it! It's all about upgrading the talent level. Doesn't mean the entire roster needs to be turned over, there's a need for bench/role players, but standing pat and "hoping for improvement" is a losing proposition.

There's also player development. Having some of the same players back doesn't mean they will play at exactly the same level as they did the year before. You should expect and develop improvement in some of them. Moreno surely isn't always going to play exactly how he did this year, for example.

I do agree with some of the others, if you're turning over basically your whole roster each year - or at least all the core best players - then you are doing something wrong.

[bucsrule8872]

Just read that Brett Decker, Jr is entering the portal. He needs to be a priority as a backup off the bench shooter. 47% from 3 on 7 attempts per game. 17ppg. Instant offense off the bench. He’s from E-Town. Hope Pope brings him home.

[bucsrule8872]

Also, saw that Jasper is considering returning. I really hope he does, as long as he knows he has to earn his PT.

If he hits the weights and gets stronger, he can be a key part of the team next season. He has a good looking stroke, just needs to tighten his handles and get stronger.

Watching him was like watching a middle school kid out there against D-1 competition. I think it was all because he was not physically ready for SEC/D-1 competition.

[bucsrule8872]

So it looks like the top priorities are:

Return Chandler and Moreno.

Add Stokes and Pate.

Looks like Bizjack from Butler is a priority in the portal.

If Johnson wants to come back, you keep him and try to develop him (hit the weights young fella).

Kam Williams says he wants to return, let him come back.

Hawthorne and Potter already said they are returning.

Mason Williams is committed (with Mo as assistant coach).

I am hoping Decker becomes a priority as a reserve guard.

If that all goes our way, then where does that leave us:

G Bizjack/Johnson/M.Williams
G Chandler/Decker
G Pate/K.Williams
F Stokes/Hawthorne
F Moreno/Potter

Need another backup Center, IMHO.

Moustapha Diop is a decommit from GT, he might be someone to look at.

We were after Sayon Keita from Spain (7’0, 215). He would be a good get.

The portal opening is still over a week away, I hope Pope can get some really good players, especially if some of those guys don’t sign with us.

[WeWant9]

I might just be jaded, but I feel whenever a recruitment extends and extends, like this one with Stokes, UK rarely seems to land them.

[bucsrule8872]

I might just be jaded, but I feel whenever a recruitment extends and extends, like this one with Stokes, UK rarely seems to land them.

Agreed.

I just really want to believe we will land this kid.

He would at the very least, re-energize the fanbase a bit.

[Pete Hogwallop]

I might just be jaded, but I feel whenever a recruitment extends and extends, like this one with Stokes, UK rarely seems to land them.

I feel like when a kid drags it out this long it might be a bit of a red flag for a character issue or over involved handlers.