2026-2027 Roster discussion thread

[UKHoops01]

Problem with Pope and KY now is they have very few assistant coaches at the moment. Need to hire some good ones ASAP.

I'd like to see them hire the actor Bill Murray's son, Luke Murray, away from UCONN. And bring back Orlando Antigua from Illinois. I'd be fine with those moves.

[Tomcats1990]

Saw some more specifics on X from jack pilgram. Per Jack: Pope had a very short meeting with Lowe, told Lowe they are going in a different direction and Lowe was fine with that.
Also said that if guys want to stay it will be at reduced $$$. The production from the year does not warrant the $$$. If they want to go pursue other avenues Pope is fine with that.

I would say Pope was not happy at all with the players this past year and is not putting up with it. Good on Pope. Now he and the staff has to go out and get guys that will play for him. He cannot be these guys best friends. He has to be their coach.

Problem with Pope and KY now is they have very few assistant coaches at the moment. Need to hire some good ones ASAP.

[Pobilly]

Saw some more specifics on X from jack pilgram. Per Jack: Pope had a very short meeting with Lowe, told Lowe they are going in a different direction and Lowe was fine with that.
Also said that if guys want to stay it will be at reduced $$$. The production from the year does not warrant the $$$. If they want to go pursue other avenues Pope is fine with that.

I would say Pope was not happy at all with the players this past year and is not putting up with it. Good on Pope. Now he and the staff has to go out and get guys that will play for him. He cannot be these guys best friends. He has to be their coach.

[Pobilly]

Agreed with zero expectations. UK could get the top 10 players available 2 at each position and I would have no expectations. It would take proof on the court for me to start enjoying the season. Pope has a ton of work to do no matter whom is on this team.

[KentuckyWild2020]

One thing is for sure,my expectations this year compared to last year are zero. I am interested in seeing if Pope can keep his job...

[Tomcats1990]

Saw where Chandler is leaning coming back he has unfinished business. Chris Washington Junior ex Bama commit 6”9 and 200 is in negotiations with Pope and KY.

[WeWant9]

The team never clicked with each other or Pope it seemed, so I can get going in a different direction. But I do find it odd he talked about retention and wanting to bring everyone back during the season. It won’t be a slow off-season with assistants and players going and coming.

[Pobilly]

Not the best course of action, IMHO.

You don’t build stability without retention.

Programs aren’t built by bringing in new faces every year.

This team must have had some major locker room issues for Pope to clean house like this.

Or maybe the coach is looking for scapegoats?

Scapegoats I would think are the asst coaches. There was smoke all year about issues with players. Someone trying to steal someone else's girl and so forth. The disjointed play pretty much made that rumor look very real early on. If I am a coach and I have to deal with off court issues more than on court issues I am getting rid of the on court issues. Do i clean house, no. Do I sit down with all the guys and then 1 at a time and see where their heads and hearts are, yes. Then no matter if the issue is Lebron James, I am getting rid of the issue. There wes a Rashad Carruth on this team or maybe 2 or 3.

[bucsrule8872]

Go check out KSR Rapid Reaction to Lowe leaving. Stated there that UK does not want to keep many from our roster. Pope wants a roster turnover.

Not the best course of action, IMHO.

You don’t build stability without retention.

Programs aren’t built by bringing in new faces every year.

This team must have had some major locker room issues for Pope to clean house like this.

Or maybe the coach is looking for scapegoats?

[UKHoops01]

So we heard roster retention was key for Pope and KY now they are saying turnover sounds like they have no plan at all.

Sounds to me like Pope got an earful from boosters, alumni and the fan base that wanted to see a different roster next year, not the same one.

They'll likely keep some of the roster, but I'm guessing they're more bench/role players and not primary ones.

[Matt Dillon]

Kentucky Mr. Basketball was released from his Belmont commitment. His name is very recognizable by KY fans. (FELDHAUS)

There's an article about that on the Recruiting Forum if anyone's interested.

[Pobilly]

So we heard roster retention was key for Pope and KY now they are saying turnover sounds like they have no plan at all.

"They" say a lot. It is hard to know what is fact, what is fact with point of view read into it and what is just plain fiction. Actions will show. We are seeing coaches leave and 1 player leave as of 4:15pm Saturday the 28th of March. We will see over the next 9 days or so.

[Tomcats1990]

Go check out KSR Rapid Reaction to Lowe leaving. Stated there that UK does not want to keep many from our roster. Pope wants a roster turnover.

So we heard roster retention was key for Pope and KY now they are saying turnover sounds like they have no plan at all.

[Pobilly]

Chandler is torn between KY or heading home to Utah and BYU. If Pope can’t keep Chandler we are in deep trouble.

Go check out KSR Rapid Reaction to Lowe leaving. Stated there that UK does not want to keep many from our roster. Pope wants a roster turnover.

[Pobilly]

Jack Pilgrim stated on Rapid reaction of Lowe leaving that he is hearing a couple of things.

1. UK is looking to bring in a big 3 (players) meaning will spend most of the money on these 3 guys and will be stud players. Then build roster around them.
2. Moreno and Pope have been in discussions all week trying to work out money and expectations to keep MM. Meaning summer strength and conditioning type of stuff.
3. I guess 3 things: will be a big roster turnover and UK will bring in other guys to fill up the other spots. Said Pope wants to distance himself from all the issues of this past year.

Might be more coaching turnover as well.

No names given but if we listen to the names out there we have a few, Stokes / Pate / PG from Europe. I am sure there are names that have not declared to enter portal and such.

If we keep MM and maybe have Potter as a back up and get a big 3, who else from the team will stay? Hawthorne / Williams ? Will be interesting.