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Posted by Trey Ball (Member # 332) on 04-13-2026, 02:34 PM:

Obviously Kentucky and Pope are doing something wrong as it seems no one is interested in coming to Kentucky or even staying at Kentucky.

I mean Mike Malone is hired at UNC and kids are flocking their immediately. Two of the players that UK had interest in have chosen PROVIDENCE of all places over Kentucky.

Brandon Garrison is going to Alabama
Colin Chandler to BYU
Sounds like Diabate may be going to St. Johns.
Denzel (if eligible) back to Florida.

So even UK's transfers are going to schools who will be competing for a National Title next year. I thought maybe they would all be lucky to end up at mid-tier power 5 schools.

Louisville has already landed two of the top 5 players in the portal and yet UK sits here at zero and it doesn't really seem like any of the better recruits are really even interested.

I feel like they mention UK to just drive up the price for where they really want to go.

I am beginning to believe that Pope is as bad as people say about building relationships. Sometimes that is very hard for very intellectual individuals.

Just weird.

Posted by Bigcatdaddy (Member # 21) on 04-13-2026, 05:42 PM:

The silence is deafening.
My tinnitus is making up for it though.

Posted by Trey Ball (Member # 332) on 04-13-2026, 11:43 PM:

Nothing from the guys that visited today. It is looking more and more like UK will end up with guys from San Francisco, Hofstra, etc vs players from other Power 5 schools.

It is looking like a Mid-Major roster at best with Potter/Hawthorne/Noah/Kam Williams/the freshmen Williams leading the way. Next year may be really ugly.

Posted by PaulCat (Member # 513) on 04-14-2026, 08:57 AM:

Not sure if I can believe there's a problem with Pope. Now that college basketball is professional basketball, I don't think the coach matters to 99% of kids in the portal.

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 04-14-2026, 07:11 PM:

The problem may not be ALL Pope, but he is the CEO of Kentucky Basketball, Inc.

Whether it is the JMI contract causing issues, or Pope unable to build relationships, or his truly unimpressive assistant coaches, or NIL money, or simply Kentucky's recent irrelevance on the national scene, there is SOMETHING WRONG.

Think about it. The kids coming out of high school grew up without Kentucky really being much of a factor. Why would they want to come here? Heck, even a true-blue Kentucky boy fled from UK to a rival SEC school.

Pope has to change something, or as Trey says, next year will be U-G-L-Y. There is an outside chance that UK could have a lineup of:

Moreno -- if he doesn't go pro.
Quaintance -- if he doesn't go pro.
Murauskas (from St. Marys)
Oweh -- if they adopt the "5 in 5 rule"
Tryon Stokes -- if he gets how much he wants and if we want him (locker-room toxicity possible).

But... not likely.

[ 04-14-2026, 08:29 PM: Message edited by: Tiptree ]

Posted by blue hoot (Member # 398) on 04-15-2026, 02:43 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by Trey Ball:
Obviously Kentucky and Pope are doing something wrong as it seems no one is interested in coming to Kentucky or even staying at Kentucky.

Trey Ball,

I am not an expert, however, I heard it explained that JMI has a contractual agreement with UK that allows them a say in players NIL deals.
It's hurting recruiting with players as it restricts players income potential as opposed to non-restrictions at other teams and recruits are walking away from UK.

What it does to a recruit is that if they sign with one of the 200+ affiliates with UK and JMI they get guaranteed money but they can’t sign any deals outside of UK‘s affiliates for extra money. They can sign with other deals and still come to UK but they don’t get the guaranteed money that JMI would give them. I think all of this is hurting the recruiting. I mean, we are struggling signing low mid major players.

[ 04-15-2026, 02:44 PM: Message edited by: blue hoot ]

Posted by Trey Ball (Member # 332) on 04-15-2026, 03:30 PM:

Rob Wright staying at BYU. This pretty much confirms what I said earlier from the article where it says he loved playing in Provo and for Kevin Young…..

“but his camp wanted to test the waters to see if they could get a bigger NIL payday.”

He used Kentucky to get more from BYU.

Posted by Trey Ball (Member # 332) on 04-15-2026, 05:04 PM:

blue hoot,

It is interesting on the JMI front. I have heard both sides of it. Matt Jones is perpetuating that it is hurting UK.

However, other schools are quickly moving to a JMI type of model and saying Kentucky was far ahead in the movement. I just read an article on it last week. I will see if I can find it and post here.

So, who knows. The truth lies somewhere in between.

I still say it comes down to the Coach. Recruits want to play for coaches and obviously Pope is not connecting with players.

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 04-15-2026, 08:02 PM:

If 80 and have followed UK as long as I can remember. I’ve never been as concerned about an upcoming season. I have no idea who or what the problem is. Without walk ons, I don’t believe we have a starting lineup to put on the floor. Time is running out.

I may end up being a Duke fan.

Posted by FairfieldCat (Member # 2897) on 04-15-2026, 08:23 PM:

Does anyone really care anymore

Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 04-15-2026, 09:37 PM:

I don’t suppose this is possible but I saw on another site where someone suggested we move all NIL basketball money to the football program. I would be ok with that.

Posted by Bama Cat (Member # 153) on 04-19-2026, 06:20 PM:

With the addition of Diallo and Wilkins Pope is headed to a good team again. I haven't checked their proneness to injuries yet.