2026-2027 Roster discussion thread

[UKHoops01]

Who’s next as a backup 5?

What happened to Devin Williams? One of the best shot blockers in the nation, but only at 210 pounds. He would be solid as a backup.

I've been wondering this for a while. Talk cooled down almost immediately. Went from fairly warm to cold as ice quick! I can't help but think that ship may have sailed.

[Pobilly]

So some are saying Graves leaving the Draft and others saying he is staying. These reports out there are useless. You might as well wait to actually see what the player does. We keep calling these guys kids but heck they are grown. Heck I had my first job at 10, my first above board at 14. I played sports and kept a job all through high school. These 20 plus year old people are no longer kids. Yes they will make many bad and good decisions. But we have to stop with that stuff. These people are millionaires. These people are making crazy money.

They have their cake and are eating it too. I am young and confused / oh pay me more / oh I like option a or b today b or a tomorrow. Horse crap.

We will get who we get. It will be guys that came to Kentucky. We will play with those guys on the floor. Can we win. Have to wait and see.

[bucsrule8872]

I wonder if maybe we are underestimating Potter? He might be able to give us 12-15 minutes as a stretch 5. Dude can shoot the ball. 40% career 3 point shooter. Gives us a totally different look offensively than Moreno.

He may struggle defensively, but on offense, he could be a floor spacer for us. Diallo and Wilkins are guys that can get to the rim. If you have a 5 that can pull the opposing 5 man away from the rim, that greatly helps drivers.

Put Diallo or Wilkins out there with Morton(40% last season from 3), Kam (39% career from 3), McBride (40% last year from 3), and Potter (40% career) and there’s no way teams can pack it in. Diallo/Wilkins should have a field day with their abilities to drive and their size. That lineup might not be able to stop anyone defensively, but it could be fun to watch on the offensive end.

And if we could somehow add Momcilovic (49% from 3 last season), then we would really have a dangerous shooting team.

[Trueblujr]

It's clear, the top players really aren't lining up to play for Pope. I get it, players want the safer route, the branded route, a coach who is proven with a reputation. Look at Purdue, good coach, good players, still no star power really, still no Championship, I don't want to be another Purdue.

To solve this problem, Pope has to win with so so players the old fashioned way. If he can consistently win and get a reputation within the ranks, maybe he will be able to land those top freshman and portal players down the road? For now it's the old fashioned way, everyone on the same page, everyone knowing the role, no egos', great x's and o's gameplan, 110% effort. Is it good enough, time will tell....

I can kinda sorta understand the lack of 2027 commits and losing out on high level guys for that class, mainly because he's in lame duck territory. nobody wants to commit to a Coach who may not be there a year from now. But I have a harder time understanding portal guys for this coming season and what's driving them away at the rate we've seen. I'm not happy about Louisville owning us in recruiting right now.

[WeWant9]

I can kinda sorta understand the lack of 2027 commits and losing out on high level guys for that class, mainly because he's in lame duck territory. nobody wants to commit to a Coach who may not be there a year from now. But I have a harder time understanding portal guys for this coming season and what's driving them away at the rate we've seen. I'm not happy about Louisville owning us in recruiting right now.

All I can think is that last year was so messy behind the scenes that the word got to players and agents to avoid Pope. I really have no other explanation in my head. With the supposed money we have, along with loads of playing time, you would have to think a top talent would've landed in our laps. Instead we have been turned down by almost all the top players- HS or portal.

[bucsrule8872]

All I can think is that last year was so messy behind the scenes that the word got to players and agents to avoid Pope. I really have no other explanation in my head. With the supposed money we have, along with loads of playing time, you would have to think a top talent would've landed in our laps. Instead we have been turned down by almost all the top players- HS or portal.

Is it possible that the NIL money dried up a bit after last season’s debacle? If you are a booster, do you want to keep giving millions of dollars to a coach that couldn’t get anything accomplished with a (supposedly) 22 million dollar roster?

I have heard rumors that the money just isn’t there this time around. The word is the Stokes money was for Stokes and Stokes only. Not sure if that is true, but it might explain why we couldn’t lure at least one big time guy to Lexington.

[WeWant9]

Is it possible that the NIL money dried up a bit after last season’s debacle? If you are a booster, do you want to keep giving millions of dollars to a coach that couldn’t get anything accomplished with a (supposedly) 22 million dollar roster?

I have heard rumors that the money just isn’t there this time around. The word is the Stokes money was for Stokes and Stokes only. Not sure if that is true, but it might explain why we couldn’t lure at least one big time guy to Lexington.

It's entirely possible, but I also do not think Pope is working with peanuts here. I wish I knew the answer, because it has been something to watch guy after guy tell UK "no thanks."

[UKHoops01]

All I can think is that last year was so messy behind the scenes that the word got to players and agents to avoid Pope. I really have no other explanation in my head. With the supposed money we have, along with loads of playing time, you would have to think a top talent would've landed in our laps. Instead we have been turned down by almost all the top players- HS or portal.

I guess Diallo keeps it from being literally all, but he barely cracks the top 35 portal players overall.

[bucsrule8872]

I guess Diallo keeps it from being literally all, but he barely cracks the top 35 portal players overall.

Diallo and Wilkins are both top 40-50 in the portal. That’s not bad for a backcourt tandem.

[bucsrule8872]

If there’s a way we can get Momcilovic, I would feel a lot better about the roster. If the money we had slated for Stokes is still available, that might be enough to get him.

[Cawood86]

Diallo and Wilkins are both top 40-50 in the portal. That’s not bad for a backcourt tandem.

Backcourt is pretty set....not sure they have good shooters and a dude at PF

[UKHoops01]

Backcourt is pretty set....not sure they have good shooters and a dude at PF

At this point, I think getting EITHER Milan Momcilovic (SF) OR Allen Graves (PF) would be a HUGE blessing! Years past, we'd be thinking they should easily get BOTH! But today, I'd be thrilled with just one of them!