Momcilovic = $6M Man?

[bucsrule8872]

I do believe the backcourt should be pretty solid. But, like you, I don’t see a lot after that. Moreno will certainly be great to have back. Add Milan and I think you’re right. Sweet 16 is probably the ceiling.

Agreed. The backcourt should be solid and has the potential to be one of the best in the SEC and maybe even the nation. If Moreno continues to improve, he should be one of the top big men. Add Momcilovic and you have the nation’s best shooter on the wing.

Might come down to the fifth starter? Who will it be?

Kam Williams is the top candidate returning. He can shoot and play defense. He knows the system already. That is a good potentially deadly forward combo with Mom shooting close to 50% from 3 and Kam shooting close to 40% for his career. That would stretch the defense and help the guards get penetration. But the downside is weak rebounding. Neither guy is a monster on the boards.

McBride was supposedly brought in to start at PF. Put him beside Mom and you’ve got shooting (McBride shot 40% from 3 last year). Both are fairly good sized for forwards (both 6’8 and around 225-230). McBride has to make the step up to P5 level competition. Can he rebound and play defense at this level? Will the shooting translate to this level?

N’Diaye is an intriguing possibility. He has the length at 6’11. His shooting from range isn’t on par with Kam or McBride, though. If he can rebound, he probably gets some consideration. He is an older player with international experience. Our luck with international players hasn’t been that great lately. I wouldn’t like having to count on him as a starter.

Hawthorne is a wildcard. He has the talent and could push Kam or McBride to the bench, but it is unlikely. He probably needs time to get acclimated to the college game and I hope he is brought along slowly this season.

I think those four are your top candidates to start with Diallo, Wilkins, Momcilovic, and Moreno. I really expect it to be a Kam vs. McBride battle for the fifth starter spot.

And if we miss out on Momcilovic, I figure Kam and McBride start together. That shouldn’t be too bad, but we really won’t have a go to guy on the roster, IMHO. Wilkins might can take on that role. Diallo maybe. We will definitely have to rely on out backcourt without Momcilovic.

[ganner918]

Disagree. One guy won't make that much difference. The roster is pretty good already.

Adding a guy who's likely to be our leading scorer can make a pretty big difference. I think our roster currently is a first weekend team, sweet 16 ceiling. With Momcilovic, I think we're a second weekend team, FF ceiling. Hard to say how well the team gels (is it like 2025 where they all came together quickly or 2026 where it was a mess?), does Wilkins make a big jump and turn into an all-SEC level player, does Moreno make a big jump and end up actually one of the best bigs in the country, do we make shots or struggle like last year, can we avoid injuries this year? But without him I think we're about as good a roster as last year, with him we're about as good a roster as the previous year.

[bucsrule8872]

Adding a guy who's likely to be our leading scorer can make a pretty big difference. I think our roster currently is a first weekend team, sweet 16 ceiling. With Momcilovic, I think we're a second weekend team, FF ceiling. Hard to say how well the team gels (is it like 2025 where they all came together quickly or 2026 where it was a mess?), does Wilkins make a big jump and turn into an all-SEC level player, does Moreno make a big jump and end up actually one of the best bigs in the country, do we make shots or struggle like last year, can we avoid injuries this year? But without him I think we're about as good a roster as last year, with him we're about as good a roster as the previous year.

I agree with you.

The biggest thing is injury. We have to stay healthy. We are way overdue a healthy season.

That was the biggest issue last season. We were missing two of our best players. Take two projected starters out of the mix and most teams will struggle.

Hope that is not an issue again this coming season.

[EKYCat]

So in all seriousness, what it Pope misses on Milan?

[Tomcats1990]

So in all seriousness, what it Pope misses on Milan?

Another nail in the coffin unfortunately

[UKHoops01]

.....the fifth starter? Who will it be?

That's pretty much how I'm seeing it as well.

I see Momcilovic as more of a 3, so the fifth starter should be at the 4/Power Forward spot.

Kam Williams is the top candidate returning......the downside is weak rebounding.

Yep. I question if Kam could play the 4. Not sure he has the rebounding/interior game/ability to defend other team's 4s.

McBride was supposedly brought in to start at PF. Put him beside Mom and you’ve got shooting (McBride shot 40% from 3 last year). Both are fairly good sized for forwards (both 6’8 and around 225-230). McBride has to make the step up to P5 level competition. Can he rebound and play defense at this level? Will the shooting translate to this level?

It was only one game, but he faired well against Arkansas last year. Shot well (5 for 10 overall from the floor for 13 points), had 5 rebounds and a block. We had the same concerns with Ansley Almanor in Pope's first year, but he played pretty well and McBride should be an upgrade over Almanor. I see him as a bit of combination of Almanor and Mo Dioubate....the shooting and offensive ability of Almanor with the rebounding, toughness, physicality and defense of Dioubate. I also saw something the other day that showed him working out with Ja'mar Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals... apparently they're going to be working out together this summer.

N’Diaye is an intriguing possibility.... If he can rebound. Our luck with international players hasn’t been that great lately. I wouldn’t like having to count on him as a starter.

You and I both share the same concern with foreign players. Unfortunately, the highlights that I've seen of him ONLY focus on his perimeter shooting. I don't know if that's because that's all he can do, or if because the person putting the video together is a moron. I like to see how a player passes, defends, rebounds, puts the ball on the floor, etc. I want to see the whole package. Unfortunately a lot of times the people putting these video highlights together focus on dunking and shooting. Hopefully he has more to his game than simply a nice three point shot.

I really expect it to be a Kam vs. McBride battle for the fifth starter spot.

That's how I'm viewing it as well.... and I hope that Pope is open minded about it and the best man wins. I hope he doesn't feel the need to be loyal to a returning player from the previous year over a more deserving player, IF the other guy is the better option.

And if we miss out on Momcilovic, I figure Kam and McBride start together.

And there's the irony. We both agree that Kam is better suited at the 3 rather than the 4 (which applies to Momcilovic as well) and that McBride is capable of starting at the 4.

[ganner918]

You and I both share the same concern with foreign players. Unfortunately, the highlights that I've seen of him ONLY focus on his perimeter shooting. I don't know if that's because that's all he can do, or if because the person putting the video together is a moron. I like to see how a player passes, defends, rebounds, puts the ball on the floor, etc. I want to see the whole package. Unfortunately a lot of times the people putting these video highlights together focus on dunking and shooting. Hopefully he has more to his game than simply a nice three point shot.

N'Diaye shoots more 3s than 2s. It's pretty close, he doesn't ONLY shoot 3s, but a little concerning to have a PF who focuses on 3s while making only 30% of them. Some are arguing that Italy's league is better than the Adriatic league (though still not top tier), but N'Diaye had similar numbers in rebounding and shot blocking as Jelavic. Seems like NBA scouts see potential in him due to physical tools, just is raw. I'm hoping he's a slight upgrade over Jelavic and McBride is an upgrade over Mo D in terms of fit and offensive ability. PF isn't going to be the teams' strength, but I'm hoping it's better than last year.

[bucsrule8872]

So in all seriousness, what it Pope misses on Milan?

Then I think the roster is set. Pope might add another wing/guard, but probably a project/young player. All the portal guys are pretty much signed.

I think the rotation is set.

Rotation without Momcilovic:

Starters

G Diallo
G Wilkins
G K. Williams
F McBride
C Moreno

Bench

G Morton- sub at the 1/2(15-20mpg).
F B. Hawthorne- sub at the 3(15-20mpg).
F N’Diaye- sub at the 4(12-15mpg).
C Kepnang- sub at the 5(12-15mpg).

Emergency subs

G/F Noah- at the 2, 3, and 4.
C Potter- at the 5.
G M. Williams- at the 1.
G Z. Hawthorne- redshirt.

Floor(if healthy)- bottom half of the SEC, bubble team.
Ceiling- top half of the SEC, Sweet Sixteen finish.
Most likely- middle of the pack in the SEC, first round exit.

Rotation with Momcilovic:

Starters

G Diallo
G Wilkins
G Momcilovic
F McBride
C Moreno

Sixth Man

G K. Williams- starter minutes.

Bench

G Morton- sub at the 1(10-12mpg).
F N’Diaye- sub at the 4(10-12mpg).
C Kepnang- sub at the 5(12-15mpg).

Early season sub

F B. Hawthorne- at the 3(5-7mpg).

Emergency subs

G/F Noah- at the 2, 3, and 4.
C Potter- at the 5.
G M. Williams- at the 1.
G Z. Hawthorne- redshirt.

Floor(if healthy)- middle of the SEC, first round exit.
Ceiling- top four SEC, Elite Eight finish.
Most likely- Fifth or sixth in the SEC, Sweet Sixteen.

Just my opinion.

[UKHoops01]

So in all seriousness, what it Pope misses on Milan?

I think Tomcats pretty much nailed it Pope hasn't done a very good job ever since the Louisville loss. From not knowing when to keep things in-house to not bragging about the amount of $$$ he has invested in the Ferrari to using the tired excuse (no pun intended) to hot mic comments to Mitch on his way out of press conferences to not bringing in a single recruit until he added that recruit's dad to replace a coach that left to not filling existing coaching vacancies and on and on and on. The hits just keep on coming. That would simply be the latest one in a long list of them.

[Cawood86]

I think Tomcats pretty much nailed it Pope hasn't done a very good job ever since the Louisville loss. From not knowing when to keep things in-house to not bragging about the amount of $$$ he has invested in the Ferrari to using the tired excuse (no pun intended) to hot mic comments to Mitch on his way out of press conferences to not bringing in a single recruit until he added that recruit's dad to replace a coach that left to not filling existing coaching vacancies and on and on and on. The hits just keep on coming. That would simply be the latest one in a long list of them.

I expect it not to happen...and I don't expect too much next year right now

[Tomcats1990]

On a positive note multiple players on next years team have started following Momcilovic on social media and Hawthorne is switching from #22 to #2.

[EKYCat]

He just pulled out of the draft. When does he reveal his destination?

[Pete Hogwallop]

He pulled out and is definitely transfering. I'm more interested in what the next made up complaint of Pope will be, though.

[Pete Hogwallop]

I think Tomcats pretty much nailed it Pope hasn't done a very good job ever since the Louisville loss. From not knowing when to keep things in-house to not bragging about the amount of $$$ he has invested in the Ferrari to using the tired excuse (no pun intended) to hot mic comments to Mitch on his way out of press conferences to not bringing in a single recruit until he added that recruit's dad to replace a coach that left to not filling existing coaching vacancies and on and on and on. The hits just keep on coming. That would simply be the latest one in a long list of them.

All that matters is wins. If he'd gone to Final Fours the last 2 years, you wouldn't care about those petty, catty complaints.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Offer 7 million and call it a day,time for UK and all that old money to flex..