2026-2027 Roster discussion thread

[Pete Hogwallop]

I hope Hawthorne doesn't throw his hat in the portal ring before midnight tonight.

[bucsrule8872]

Ugh. Please, NO! Kam starting deflates any enthusiasm for next year. Off the bench, fine...starting, ugh.

Stokes, Momcilovic or some late entry top tier SF, golden....or add someone like Paul McNeil and run with a three guard lineup....but I'm not crazy about Kam as the starting SF.

Kam starting is not ideal, but might be what happens.

We miss on Stokes and we are a middle of the road SEC team trying to make the tourney. With Stokes, we are a most likely a contender. We need a superstar and he’s the most likely candidate.

We really need Stokes. He’s the most important recruit for UK in the last decade, IMHO.

Diallo, Wilkins, Stokes, Freeman, and Moreno is a good starting five. Diallo, Wilkins, and Stokes are playmakers. They can make plays for themselves and for teammates. They are double digit scorers as well. So is Freeman and if Moreno continues to progress, he could be too. Those five could be tough to stop together.

The bench would be pretty solid with Kam and Hawthorne providing some size and shooting on the wing. That’s seven deep. Just need to add backups at the 4 and 5. Then maybe another guard.

If no Stokes, then we better get Momcilovic or hope someone else enters the portal that can shoot and score. Maybe McNeil could be the answer in a 3 guard lineup.

But it could be tough to find someone this late
in the process. It might end up being Kam. He doesn’t really move the needle, but could be adequate. I just won’t expect too much with him in the starting five. Like I said, middle of the road in the SEC, most likely.

Fingers crossed we land Stokes and Freeman plus a
few role players for the bench this week and the roster will be pretty much set.

[Pobilly]

Well we are not quite at 1958 to 1978 drought of Championships. I love that we all (me included) get impatient on things but we have seen worse.

I was born 60 plus years ago, had a father that had his own companies and some of the work he did was at UK and Memorial for sure. He had in roads to practice with Rupp in charge in the 50s thru 70s. He had so many great stories. But one thing for sure is the pressure cooker every year that UK did not bring home a title. 66 was hard, 75 was hard but 78 was a great and fun year for me. The team not so much. They were business like and never really enjoyed the wins till that last win against Duke.

My dad hated Halls brand of basketball. Said it ruined UK. He did not even enjoy 78. I will not get that bad (I hope). It is close to that but not yet. I watch early games, then when they play the real teams I give them a few games to watch. If they did like last year, i quit watching. I do not quit wearing my blue and white I just choose to watch highlights or ignore the horrible losses all together. I did watch the NCAA tourney on and off for the Iowa State game (watched the first half complete) but only watched about 1/4 of the 2nd half as I and anyone else with a pulse could see we were beat. But watched the rest of the tourney pulling for some and against a bunch.

This coming year, I will be all in till they prove me wrong. Hope we get what Pope needs to win games and tons of games at that.

[UKHoops01]

Players can and do actually get better year to year. I want Stokes of course, but I think Kam could be a fine starter next year.

I guess I've just moved past wanting to root for a team and have moved on to wanting to root for a winner. And by winner, I mean a team that's chasing national championships, not just entertaining fanbases while chasing making the tourney. It's been too long to be content with the latter (entertainment/March Madness entrant)

[Pete Hogwallop]

Ugh. Please, NO! Kam starting deflates any enthusiasm for next year. Off the bench, fine...starting, ugh.

Stokes, Momcilovic or some late entry top tier SF, golden....or add someone like Paul McNeil and run with a three guard lineup....but I'm not crazy about Kam as the starting SF.

Players can and do actually get better year to year. I want Stokes of course, but I think Kam could be a fine starter next year.

[UKHoops01]

Replace Stokes with Kam Williams

Ugh. Please, NO! Kam starting deflates any enthusiasm for next year. Off the bench, fine...starting, ugh.

Stokes, Momcilovic or some late entry top tier SF, golden....or add someone like Paul McNeil and run with a three guard lineup....but I'm not crazy about Kam as the starting SF.

[bucsrule8872]

So now it sounds like Freeman at PF.

So…starting five:

G Diallo- top 40 Portal
G Wilkins- top 50 Portal
F Stokes- #1 Recruit
F Freeman- top 20 Portal
c Moreno- returnee

Replace Stokes with Kam Williams or maybe another Portal guy at SF.

Hopefully Pope starts focusing on the bench over the next few days.

[Rondo#9]

Is Matt Jones about prove again that he's clueless

[Pobilly]

Rancik committed to Fla State this morning or at least reported this morning.

[Pete Hogwallop]

Looks like we aren't getting caught without a point guard next year.

[Rondo#9]

I'm hearing that the 4 position has come down to either Freeman or Rancik. Which would be your 1st choice? Freeman would be good but I. Think Rancik has more upside.
either.one would suit me, both would be better

Edit: Nevermind , guess it's Freeman or bust now, Rancik to Florida State.

[bucsrule8872]

Current roster/rotation outlook:

G Diallo/Wilkins/M. Williams
G Wilkins/K. Williams
F K. Williams/Hawthorne
F Freeman or Rancik/Noah
C Moreno/Freeman or Rancik/Potter

Got to get Stokes.

Need to add a backup 4 and 5. McBride and Devin Williams? Would like to see us land a decent backup guard as well for backcourt depth, but I think the focus shifts to getting backups at the 4 and 5 first.

But Stokes takes this team’s potential to another level.

We need a superstar. He’s our best bet to get one:

[UKHoops01]

I'm hearing that the 4 position has come down to either Freeman or Rancik. Which would be your 1st choice? Freeman would be good but I. Think Rancik has more upside.
either.one would suit me, both would be better

Cop out. BOTH!

I know, I know....but I remember when we used to be able to do it! And other teams still do it!

[South jones]

I'm hearing that the 4 position has come down to either Freeman or Rancik. Which would be your 1st choice? Freeman would be good but I. Think Rancik has more upside.
either.one would suit me, both would be better

[Pobilly]

Add Alex Wilkins to our Roster. He is a CAT!