2026-2027 Roster discussion thread

[KentuckyWild2020]

The first answers does not make him look any better so far. Stating all in on Stokes. KSR week or so ago reported they tried to contact Pope to tell him Stokes had already signed NIL paperwork with Kansas.

Interesting is that when he went to Israel he ended up going to 3 other places and then back to USA for 4 or 5 cities before getting back to Lexington.

I am guessing he will add a couple of pieces yet. Said to bulk up the Center position and such.

The whole roster Pope deal, I am not even mad about Stokes to be honest, far from it, James Wiseman 2.0, way too much drama, we already had Ringling brothers barnum and bailey circus this past year..

I just can't understand why Kentucky can't land at least one top 20 high school recruit or one top 10-15 portal player?? Should have one of each but we can't get one at all...

That's crazy....

From all reports, many of the players he hosted at Kentucky came to visit with great intentions but It all fell apart during the visit, what does that even mean????

What's he telling these kids??

if he's acting like 1996 Pitino run through a wall or else it aint happening, he hasn't earned that respect, only few coaches can get by with that type of talk. Hate to keep bringing up Calipari but he would say some things to some of these kids cringeworthy at time and yet they still believed, he's a hall of fame coach. I also think Cal missed a few good players in the bag for the exact same reason...Wiseman, Cunningham, perhaps a few others but Cal was firm on how it was going to be at Kentucky, he didn't run from all that...

[KentuckyWild2020]

I can’t believe Pioe did this whole Q&A deal.

Bill Walton Jr. done lost his mind,,,

He done opened up a whole can of whoop blank.

Didn't he have a nervous breakdown last year and now he's poking the bear adding more pressure on himself??

What's wrong with this man??

Dillusional it seems. Some of the smartest people in the world with fancy degrees and all that fancy stuff don't have a damn lick of common sense,

[UKHoops01]

Bill Walton Jr. done lost his mind,,,

LOL!!!!

That's hilarious to hear someone else say that, because I've thought that Pope sounded a lot like Walton myself and wondered if anybody else thought the same way!!!

[EKYCat]

The whole roster Pope deal, I am not even mad about Stokes to be honest, far from it, James Wiseman 2.0, way too much drama, we already had Ringling brothers barnum and bailey circus this past year..

I just can't understand why Kentucky can't land at least one top 20 high school recruit or one top 10-15 portal player?? Should have one of each but we can't get one at all...

That's crazy....

From all reports, many of the players he hosted at Kentucky came to visit with great intentions but It all fell apart during the visit, what does that even mean????

What's he telling these kids??

if he's acting like 1996 Pitino run through a wall or else it aint happening, he hasn't earned that respect, only few coaches can get by with that type of talk. Hate to keep bringing up Calipari but he would say some things to some of these kids cringeworthy at time and yet they still believed, he's a hall of fame coach. I also think Cal missed a few good players in the bag for the exact same reason...Wiseman, Cunningham, perhaps a few others but Cal was firm on how it was going to be at Kentucky, he didn't run from all that...

I don't know if he's trying the whole Pitino schtick. But really, I just think the real issue is Pioe is a strange guy who doesn't connect. The whole, "This Sacred Piece of Cloth" thing doesn't hit like it did in 1966. That may work on people like us who grew up pretending we were playing for UK in the driveway. But, it's not landing kids today. Taking his girls on recruiting trips, going all in on guys who reportedly weren't coming here in the first place, the list just goes on and on. I read somewhere that UK hosted 14 of the top 20 available players before the portal closed and landed none of them. How does that happen? Seriously. How?

[KentuckyWild2020]

I don't know if he's trying the whole Pitino schtick. But really, I just think the real issue is Pioe is a strange guy who doesn't connect. The whole, "This Sacred Piece of Cloth" thing doesn't hit like it did in 1966. That may work on people like us who grew up pretending we were playing for UK in the driveway. But, it's not landing kids today. Taking his girls on recruiting trips, going all in on guys who reportedly weren't coming here in the first place, the list just goes on and on. I read somewhere that UK hosted 14 of the top 20 available players before the portal closed and landed none of them. How does that happen? Seriously. How?

I agree,..


I feel like a A hole being towards Pope but dang, something just isn't right. I like the guy, sincerely want him to succeed but something is off...

[KentuckyWild2020]

LOL!!!!

That's hilarious to hear someone else say that, because I've thought that Pope sounded a lot like Walton myself and wondered if anybody else thought the same way!!!

My bad, I get on one sometimes, especially late at night after I done had a sip or two which isn't cool really but oh well.

I actually want Pope to be successful, I like him but man, what is UP with this recruiting stuff.

On court, wild subs and all that, almost out of his league if feels sometimes..

If he don't learn anything from this past year, I don't have to worry about it anymore, the problem will take care of itself....

[KentuckyWild2020]

LOL!!!!

That's hilarious to hear someone else say that, because I've thought that Pope sounded a lot like Walton myself and wondered if anybody else thought the same way!!!

I been thinking that for a minute. I doubt if Pope was a stoner like Walton but they both have they goofiness about them...

[ganner918]

I been thinking that for a minute. I doubt if Pope was a stoner like Walton but they both have they goofiness about them...

Somebody give Pope a heroic dose of lsd and see if it can transition his goofiness to be more Walton-like.

[WeWant9]

The overall recruiting struggles of Pope are something that I do not understand. We have had three years of watching it and I do not see any real improvements or adjustments to land the elite talent. Would love to be a fly on the wall for recruiting pitches. Guess my hope is that the new roster was built from analytics and that they have some master plan that will blow our socks off. We'll know early on what we are working with, as our ooc schedule will be brutal. Just off the top of my head:

vs. ul
Champions Classic vs. ku
SEC/ACC challenge, more than likely a road game
@iu
@Zaga (their actual small gym, not neutral site)
CBS Classic vs. either unc or Ohio St.

[Pobilly]

UK Zoom Meeting with Milan Momcilovic.

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-w...-zoom-meeting/

[South jones]

Throw the whole bag at him, or what ever is left
getting him would be better than Stokes IMO

[South jones]

I also like the euro, Houindo, 6'10 245 lb and great shooter. He would be an excellent addition.

[bucsrule8872]

UK Zoom Meeting with Milan Momcilovic.

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-w...-zoom-meeting/

If we could somehow get this guy, our ceiling is much higher. A deadly shooter to go with the Diallo/Wilkins duo’s ability to penetrate along with a solid post presence (if Moreno comes back) should be a great combo.

If Pope can use the Stokes money, we should be able to bid with the best of them. I doubt many teams still have that kind of money with their rosters pretty much built.

I hope the waiting pays off.

I think we would be better off with this experienced college player than Stokes, anyway. Stokes going to KU might be a blessing in disguise.

[UKHoops01]

UK Zoom Meeting with Milan Momcilovic.

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-w...-zoom-meeting/

When I first read this I immediately thought of the line from the old '80s movie 3 O'Clock High where the guy says "Don't F*** this up, Mitchell".. Substitute Pope for Mitchell and you get it.

[bucsrule8872]

Rumors flying that UNC has offered Momcilovic 5 million.

Doubt we can top that.