nikeman49

1 hour ago, bugatti said:

 

 

For the record, I'm not griping. As I've said for multiple years, unless you have a surefire NBA stud coming from the high school ranks, your better gamble is with the portal. This is just how the game works now.

I do get a kick out of every transfer that signs, we act like UK (or insert another team) struck gold. In reality, nobody could identify 95% of these guys.

Evidently you watch very little college hoops, every player Pope has gotten thru the portal are recognizable by this guy.

Told you guys when Shep was a Senior in high school that he could play in the NBA and got laughed at, not so funny right now huh?

Very, very sad time for college athletics, for those who have money, great!! For those average schools that struggle with NIL funding, just suffer!! Never, ever thought that this would be the case with amateur athletics.

5 hours ago, bugatti said:

I know the recruiting game is different with transfers, but it’s a struggle to see the final Freshman recruiting rankings and UK does not have anyone in the top 30.

Let’s see what playing without top freshman is like, couldn’t be any worse than playing with a bunch of top 20 freshman and failing badly the past few seasons.

20 hours ago, futurecoach said:

I don’t think Noah Trent is necessarily that guy in regards to going to make a play for you really need it, at least not as a freshman. Great shooter, and good basketball player. However, IMO what they are missing is a guy that can truly go create his own shot when things may be breaking down. I don’t think that is Trent next year. With that said I absolutely hope he comes here, because I do think he can help this year and will be a big time player for us over the next few years. 

Don’t sleep on this kid, heart of a warrior and will back down from nothing, great catch for Pope!!

13 hours ago, Oldercoach said:

Oh, my.  Thanks nikeman49.  Cocktail hour or fat fingers….not sure.

I’m the person caught up in confusion!! 🤣😂

21 minutes ago, Oldercoach said:

Pope was loving on his team in the Herald this morning, but said he needed one more piece.  Specifically a big guard that could make a play when it was really needed.  Sounded like Noah Fant could fit that need perfectly.  Really exciting to watch him for the first time during Sweet Sixteen.  Noah checks a lot of needs for either UK, Tennessee or Louisville.  Hope you can get him Coach.

Noah Trent

2 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

@nikeman49

Anything Theiro would do next year at UK, he would be "Cal's guy". If Theiro has a great year next year and the team has success, some people would want to give credit to Cal for getting Theiro to UK, for coaching Theiro up for 2 years, and even for UK having a good season, etc. The same way people said Tubby Smith did it with Pitino's players but on a smaller scale. 

Does that help you understand the point I was inferring? No Theiro means Cal has nothing to do with next year at UK.

It’s all good, I fully understand.

1 hour ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

Not sure if it is just Cal. I just saw that Thiero is ranked No. 27 in ESPN's 2025 NBA draft rankings. I was a little surprised he was that high, but I was surprised by how high they had Sheppard as well so who knows.

I can’t find Thiero in any top 100 selections for 2025 draft?

1 hour ago, Oldercoach said:

So disappointed, Adou Thiero announced he is following Cal to Arkansas.  I had suspected this warrior felt under utilized and under appreciated by Cal as Z, O, and Bradshaw combined led to a reduction of his court time.  In the announcement on ESPN he spoke directly to Cal’s record of putting guys in the NBA that stayed there and he mentioned Kenny Payne’s rep with big men.  Hats off to Cal, he might have just landed the best the Razorbacks will have and the best BBN could have hoped to have had.

Thiero is miles away from playing at the next level, no part of his game can be considered NBA worthy and Cal probably just blowing smoke at him.

12 minutes ago, Oldercoach said:

Still got Wagner, Thiero and Burke to make decisions.  Would be wonderful to see all three staying in Lexington.  Any chance.

I would certainly hope at least two of the three would stay, we shall see.

1 hour ago, TheDeuce said:

And the point that I’m making is you can’t pretend to be happy about an unproven coach with zero post season success while having complained about a guy who won more at UK, regular and post season, than Mark Pope ever will. 

And how do you know this for sure?

1 hour ago, futurecoach said:

I wouldn’t necessarily say loaded with talent. But they do have a lot of experienced players, which is an important thing in todays college basketball world. 

Why do you say they aren’t loaded with talent?

8 hours ago, TheDeuce said:

I think what would speak more to that is asking players that actually played for him... 

Don’t really see anyone except Z fleeing to Arkansas so that speaks for something.

On 4/29/2024 at 10:26 PM, Jumper_Dad said:

Only 3 of Cals signed Class of 24 recruits will be following him to Arkansas now that Cyrill chose UGA/NBA and Quaintance chose Arizona state. So far only Big Z has followed from last years UK roster.

On the up side for Cal that gives him more flexibility in the portal to get some older players.

Should speak volumes about Cal’s real relationships with players!!

42 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

I would hope not, since we only have about 7 players on the roster currently. 

Contacting 20-25 more quality players in the portal, hopefully be able to land some of the better ones.

More good players coming, Pope isn’t even close to being finished.

Sure am glad Cal is gone!!

On 4/14/2024 at 6:09 PM, nikeman49 said:

Shep is going to return for next season, just feel confident with that.

Yeah, I know you can have a laugh on me, was just hoping for a return but didn’t happen.

2 hours ago, 98NCCalum said:

That's great for the fanatics. Not going to work with recruits. Like it or not, they don't care. 

I guess I’m one of those fanatics then because I have always had very strong feelings for sustaining success and success at a very high level and that hasn’t been happening, so let’s leave it up to those recruits to make a smart decision.

Just now, mcpapa said:

Hopefully the hardcore side of BBN will give him a chance  

He will earn his trust with good Ky fans.

Cal is gone, Pope is the new coach at Ky.

Good luck young man!!

1 hour ago, Voice of Reason said:

I listened to the whole thing last night. Pope spent a 3-5 minute segment talking about the NBA and played up his NBA history, how NBA guys talk in the locker room about their college years, etc. 

Talking about his personal experience, not about how he is going to make everyone that plays for him an NBA player.

17 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

 

Not to mention that Mitch played up Pope's NBA career and connections when he introduced him.

And let's be real, every college player dreams of playing in the NBA.

That’s Mitch speaking about Pope, didn’t say anything about players not wanting to play at the next level, sure they do.