2026-2027 Roster discussion thread

[Pobilly]

Now Lowe saying behind the scenes stuff going on. Well if that is the case then bye. Pope should clean house. You never know how a group of 12 to 15 young people will existing or co-exist together. Sometimes you put people together to make a team and all you get is a few people that hate the thought of being a team of 12 or 15 and want to be a team of 2 or 3. I got a feeling you had 3 or 4 of that type on this past team. A guy like BG that likes to start crap on game day, does not turn that off during practice. Not saying he is one of the 3 or 4 but his attitude is division. We hear all the smoke early on this year about guys stealing girlfriends, guys not getting along. That will just tear that thing (TEAM) down when you are talking about 10 to 15 guys. Easier to absorb on a football team as those guys get rooted out during summer practice and you have 3 to 5 at that position and you see really good players down on the depth chart. Basketball you do not have that ability. You might have 1 behind that is always going to be behind. Not sure if it was Mo and Moreno, Mo and Aberdeen, or all the other rumors but when we see who is thinned out in the portal we will know it was part of that group. You might have others leave for other reasons but I bet the issues will be out the door before we know if UK will play oversees that summer.

[Uncle Dave]

It's good to see Pope has the cajones to clean house a bit. Last years record speaks for itself. UK was little or no threat to win either a conference or national championship. Last years team wasn't in the same universe talent wise as 2012, 1998, 1996, or 1978. Hopefully Pope and his staff can land some guys who can ball out.

[TrueblueCATfan]

They cannot come back. I get it but not in the 26-27 roster thread as they could not be on the roster.

Sorry ...You can delete it

[Pobilly]

well I was including Oweh and Aberdeen

They cannot come back. I get it but not in the 26-27 roster thread as they could not be on the roster.

[bucsrule8872]

Anyone heard anything on Dioubate or Jelavic? Would like to retain one or both.

[bucsrule8872]

A disappointing season plus an impatient fanbase plus a NIL budget cut equals a mass exodus.

Probably only have 3 or 4 returnees again this time around.

Not a very good strategy, IMHO, but I guess since the staff obviously made some poor personnel decisions last go around, Pope has very little choice.

Hopefully, he can make some better choices this time around and get some guys that actually fit the program.

[Pobilly]

WOW...that's already 5 players leaving

Lowe, Johnson and Garrison. Whom else?

[Pobilly]

Brandon Garrison also hit the portal.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Jasper has entered the portal

ugh...I hate this...was really hoping he would stay

[Pobilly]

I'm somewhat disappointed. I was hoping he'd work on the things he needed to work on during the off-season and return next Fall prepared to contribute more than he did this year. Best wishes to the young man wherever he ends up.

You hate it for both Jasper and UK that it was such a horrible fit this year due to PG issues. But Jasper was not strong enough with the ball as the off guard either and he has tons of work if he wants to play in SEC, BIG 10 or BIG 12. Maybe ACC or lesser schools. He just did not try to gain strength which happens to freshman. Even Moreno did not gain the strength he really needed to be the starter but ended up playing very well for a freshman center.

[Matt Dillon]

Jasper has entered the portal

I'm somewhat disappointed. I was hoping he'd work on the things he needed to work on during the off-season and return next Fall prepared to contribute more than he did this year. Best wishes to the young man wherever he ends up.

[WeWant9]

Jasper has entered the portal

[KentuckyWild2020]

The friendship angle might actually work against us. If coach Pope believes Chandler really wants to leave, he might not try to persuade him to stay.

A player like Chandler finally develops and comes into his own then walks away from the almighty University of Kentucky basketball program. That right there is a problem in itself. What does that say about our program when we can't even keep a 3-4 star recruit and convince them to stay, not to mention the friendship aspect of it all.

I for one hope Billy Donovan takes off a year and if Pope doesn't work out this upcoming year, hopefully UK goes out and lands the best of the best whoever that may be...

[Matt Dillon]

I get it but the bigger issue and question is this.

If we can't retain or convince someone like Chandler to stay, then what does that really say about our whole situation?

Chandler has excelled, no denying that. Still, he's no Reed Sheppard, he's good but he's not elite, still many holes in his game.

He and Pope go way back, a friendship, a coach. If this doesn't hold any merit and you can't convince someone like that to stay, that's a problem.

Is it Pope or is it the whole whispers of the entire Kentucky program, fans, expectations, all of the above.


Reality is this, feels like no one is beating down the doors to stay or play at Kentucky these days, that sucks!!!

The friendship angle might actually work against us. If coach Pope believes Chandler really wants to leave, he might not try to persuade him to stay.

[KentuckyWild2020]

I won't fault Chandler if he goes back to Utah. He's a devout Mormon, Utah is his home and it wouldn't exactly be like he'd be leaving a NC contender (UK) for a nothing program (BYU).

I get it but the bigger issue and question is this.

If we can't retain or convince someone like Chandler to stay, then what does that really say about our whole situation?

Chandler has excelled, no denying that. Still, he's no Reed Sheppard, he's good but he's not elite, still many holes in his game.

He and Pope go way back, a friendship, a coach. If this doesn't hold any merit and you can't convince someone like that to stay, that's a problem.

Is it Pope or is it the whole whispers of the entire Kentucky program, fans, expectations, all of the above.


Reality is this, feels like no one is beating down the doors to stay or play at Kentucky these days, that sucks!!!