Poll - UK #2

Will KANSAS pass UK in All-Time Wins next season?

Our Jayhawks finished 2023-24 as they started it, 5 games back after absorbing the impact of the NCAA IARP 15 win penalty.

What say ye???




Yeah, I'm doing other things today, but I am also just waiting around for news on Alabama sophomore transfer G Rylan Griffen committing to take the 13th ride for KU for next year.

Griffen (note there is an "e", not two "i"s, in Rylan's family name) is visiting KU this weekend, and hopefully will return home a Jayhawk!

Also visiting this weekend --
Class of 2025 5* PG Darius Acuff Jr, the top PG in the class -- #9 overall in Rivals 2025 Top 150, #4 in 247Sports 2025 rankings and #10 in ESPN 2025 Top 60.
Dajuan's replacement after 2024-25? Hmmm...

Something to consider -- his dad played for Kurtis Townsend when they were both at Eastern Kentucky, which bodes well for KU. Per Michael Swain on 247Sports.com
The Detroit native previously had this to say about KU before his initial visit to campus.

"There is a coach on the staff who used to coach my dad back in college, Kurtis Townsend," Acuff said. "So it's like having some family there which is good for sure but it's mostly about what coach Self does with his guards. I've seen the development they do with their guards and Dajuan Harris who he has now, he just lets him run his team."


Other schools he is interested in -- and vice versa -- are UK, UConn, Houston, Alabama, Michigan and Michigan St.

Here's 247Sports' Director of Basketball Scouting Adam Finkelstein, writing after watching Acuff compete at the City of Palms Basketball Classic in Fort Meyers (excerpted from the previously linked 247Sports article)...

"Acuff's scoring and playmaking presence was a constant for IMG this week. He has good positional size, a strong frame to absorb contact, and a ton of craft to his game. He changes pace extremely well, has a soft floater game, good dexterity, and a ton of wrong-footed finishes and passes in his game. He was also a consistent shooting threat from behind the arc with good touch and rotation. There were times when the ball got stuck in his hands, but he showed pinpoint passing ability as times as well. He threw lobs as well as anyone and also nailed shooters in their shot-pocket around the perimeter."

Keep those Jayhawk talons crossed, y'all!

I voted NO to KU catching them next season simply because unlike Calipari, Pope is a solid game coach.

Big question will be how he rebuilds the UK roster, as UK has lost a bunch of folks after last season.

From CBSSports.com ...

Kentucky basketball roster departures
Kentucky had already lost multiple players before Calipari departed, as Adou Thiero entered the transfer portal on March 29, while Justin Edwards and Rob Dillingham both declared for the NBA draft earlier this month. Following Calipari's exit, Ugonna Onyenso entered the draft after making 14 starts last season and star Reed Sheppard just declared for the draft on Thursday. Meanwhile, Aaron Bradshaw (Ohio State), Zvonimir Ivisic (Arkansas), Joey Hart (Ball State) and D.J. Wagner (uncommitted) all entered the transfer portal.

The Wildcats were already set to lose leading scorer Antonio Reeves and fourth-leading scorer Tre Mitchell, who were both seniors last season. Reeves led the team with 20.2 points per game, while Mitchell added 10.7 points and 7.2 rebounds. Kentucky has lost five of its six 2024 commits as well, so Pope needs to make quick work to fill out a depleted roster. Join CatsPause to see the latest on all of Kentucky's roster changes.

Kentucky basketball news, roster
Every player slated to return from Kentucky's 2023-24 roster played sparingly last year, so Pope needs to add impact players quickly. One of his former signees at BYU, guard Collin Chandler, has committed to join Pope at Kentucky. The Wildcats still have one remaining player from Calipari's 2024 recruiting class -- point guard Travis Perry, the No. 73 player in the nation, per 247Sports.

Jordan Burks, Brennan Canada, Kareem Watkins, Walker Horn, Grant Derbyshire are the other players who, as of now, are expected to return, though none averaged more than 2.0 points per game in 2023-24.

With at least eight scholarships available, Pope will actively look to add to the roster. For example, Pope reportedly has been in contact with TCU transfer JaKobe Coles, and he'll be looking at all options remaining in the 2024 recruiting class and the portal to be competitive immediately in Lexington.