2024 Roster; or, The Waking Nightmare That is UK Basketball

[justford]

Is it lack of NIL money, our coach, our offense all of these or a combination of these that is not appealing to recruits?? Other schools seem to be getting players to sign but not us🤷♂️

[Matt Dillon]

Is it lack of NIL money, our coach, our offense all of these or a combination of these that is not appealing to recruits?? Other schools seem to be getting players to sign but not us🤷♂️

My opinion is that most of the players that are transferring are looking for more playing time. They don't want to come here and have to compete with a bunch of all-stars, who are probably better than the players they played with last year, for playing time.

[matt colvin]

We also still have 3 players’ of roster uncertainty looming.

[justford]

We also still have 3 players’ of roster uncertainty looming.

I agree so this is another version of being held hostage plus players considering coming here won’t commit due to this uncertainty. Anyone have a answer to this situation??

[Matt Dillon]

I agree so this is another version of being held hostage plus players considering coming here won’t commit due to this uncertainty. Anyone have a answer to this situation??

Cal should, in my opinion, have told Oscar, Livingston and Reeves if I can get someone, I want, at your position I'm taking them. If you decided to come back, you'll have to compete for playing time.

[Will Lavender]

I agree so this is another version of being held hostage plus players considering coming here won’t commit due to this uncertainty. Anyone have a answer to this situation??

I'm not gonna say Oscar is holding anybody hostage. Guy did all he could here. He was flawed...but dang that guy's the Naismith Award Winner. He deserves to chase whatever he can chase.

Livingston is part of the failed experiment. There have been others. Maybe "hostage" is too strong a word, but he's definitely symbolic of a larger problem with Kentucky basketball that's been looming for quite some time. (More than "looming," in fact. It's been here for a few seasons.)

Reeves is probably even more complicated. Guy has played a career. He doesn't owe anybody anything. It's disappointing because we all know he's not a pro, but when you play a full college career it's hard to begrudge anybody for looking for a new opportunity.

And really, coaches all over the country have been in a similar boat to UK. They've gone out and filled positions (for the most part). We're different but not that different. Which means Cal either really dropped the ball or something's gonna happen here that surprises us all. If I had to bet I'd say it'll be the first one.

[lilproUK98]

I'm not gonna say Oscar is holding anybody hostage. Guy did all he could here. He was flawed...but dang that guy's the Naismith Award Winner. He deserves to chase whatever he can chase.

Livingston is part of the failed experiment. There have been others. Maybe "hostage" is too strong a word, but he's definitely symbolic of a larger problem with Kentucky basketball that's been looming for quite some time. (More than "looming," in fact. It's been here for a few seasons.)

Reeves is probably even more complicated. Guy has played a career. He doesn't owe anybody anything. It's disappointing because we all know he's not a pro, but when you play a full college career it's hard to begrudge anybody for looking for a new opportunity.

And really, coaches all over the country have been in a similar boat to UK. They've gone out and filled positions (for the most part). We're different but not that different. Which means Cal either really dropped the ball or something's gonna happen here that surprises us all. If I had to bet I'd say it'll be the first one.

Meanwhile, Scheyer is returning everyone, including potential lottery picks. AND no players lost to the portal. Unreal lol

[matt colvin]

^ It's difficult to read that. Meanwhile we had an NBA agent mucking with two of our players (Livingston and Bradshaw).

[Lighthouse]

I'm not gonna say Oscar is holding anybody hostage. Guy did all he could here. He was flawed...but dang that guy's the Naismith Award Winner. He deserves to chase whatever he can chase.

Livingston is part of the failed experiment. There have been others. Maybe "hostage" is too strong a word, but he's definitely symbolic of a larger problem with Kentucky basketball that's been looming for quite some time. (More than "looming," in fact. It's been here for a few seasons.)

Reeves is probably even more complicated. Guy has played a career. He doesn't owe anybody anything. It's disappointing because we all know he's not a pro, but when you play a full college career it's hard to begrudge anybody for looking for a new opportunity.

And really, coaches all over the country have been in a similar boat to UK. They've gone out and filled positions (for the most part). We're different but not that different. Which means Cal either really dropped the ball or something's gonna happen here that surprises us all. If I had to bet I'd say it'll be the first one.

Will, I appreciate you trying hard to soften things up and I agree with what you say about Oscar and Reeves. I also agree that the Livingston issue is a major part of the problem. But the total problem lies with our Head Coach. Somehow I still have hope that next season will be a special one, but a whole lot has to change for anything other than another disaster happening.

[Will Lavender]

I think it's mostly Cal being washed up/on the brink of being washed up, but also believe there's more at play. We've got an AD for instance who's poo-poo'd the whole NIL thing in public. So when people say Kentucky refuses to get into bidding wars, one has to wonder if the problem is more systemic at UK and not completely on Cal.

Not that it matters in the long run. If this team goes out and has a dud of a season Cal will, and should, get the blame. But say Cal jumps after next season...UK has to look at how they're doing things in this new landscape and make the next coach's life a little easier. If not we're going to be having these same exact conversations for a long time to come.

[Downes Van Zandt]

I think it's mostly Cal being washed up/on the brink of being washed up, but also believe there's more at play. We've got an AD for instance who's poo-poo'd the whole NIL thing in public. So when people say Kentucky refuses to get into bidding wars, one has to wonder if the problem is more systemic at UK and not completely on Cal.

Not that it matters in the long run. If this team goes out and has a dud of a season Cal will, and should, get the blame. But say Cal jumps after next season...UK has to look at how they're doing things in this new landscape and make the next coach's life a little easier. If not we're going to be having these same exact conversations for a long time to come.

It’s probably time for Mitch to go. He’s been a great AD in many respects, but I don’t think he’s built for success in the NIL era.

I can’t help but wonder what Cal would be like today if, say, Peevy we’re in charge.

[Lighthouse]

It’s probably time for Mitch to go. He’s been a great AD in many respects, but I don’t think he’s built for success in the NIL era.

I can’t help but wonder what Cal would be like today if, say, Peevy we’re in charge.

I'm a Mitch supporter, but you're probably right.

[Will Lavender]

I'm not opposed to Mitch staying because he's done a really good job with other sports. However Kentucky needs to do what Duke has done and hand the basketball program over to a basketball-specific AD. If Mitch balks at that--and there are rumors that he has--then he needs to go yesterday.

The basketball program, like Duke's and Kansas's and a couple others, is too complex to have the guy who gets on the radio and talks about the success of the tennis team also be the guy that runs the basketball program.

[lilproUK98]

I'm not opposed to Mitch staying because he's done a really good job with other sports. However Kentucky needs to do what Duke has done and hand the basketball program over to a basketball-specific AD. If Mitch balks at that--and there are rumors that he has--then he needs to go yesterday.

The basketball program, like Duke's and Kansas's and a couple others, is too complex to have the guy who gets on the radio and talks about the success of the tennis team also be the guy that runs the basketball program.

Which is what Peevy was. Losing him has really hurt the bball program.

[Spiritof96]

It’s probably time for Mitch to go. He’s been a great AD in many respects, but I don’t think he’s built for success in the NIL era.

I can’t help but wonder what Cal would be like today if, say, Peevy we’re in charge.

I think I would trade Mitch for Peevy today. BUT...

The Mitch/Football thing has been pretty good and I'll take happy Stoops and competitive Football over basketball not being an embarrassment any day of the week.