What Does Cal Do With Hagans?

JimmyWa11

All-Conference
May 9, 2010
1,108
3,677
113
Kyle Tucker was reading my mind on Locked on Kentucky today. He said that Hagans’ decision making (4+ tos in 5 straight games) is making him look like a guy who is going to cost UK a game in the NCAA.

I couldn’t agree more. Love his determination and defense but he really hurts us on offense, especially his lack of a jump shot and bad decision making.

Does Cal take the ball out of his hands in critical stretches in the Tourney? Should he consider subbing offense and defense when the game is on the line?

i just feel as if his decision making will make or break this team in the tourney...and in the end we don’t HAVE to have him running the point.
 

Elliott Tim

All-American
Dec 10, 2005
10,122
6,290
0
Kyle Tucker was reading my mind on Locked on Kentucky today. He said that Hagans’ decision making (4+ tos in 5 straight games) is making him look like a guy who is going to cost UK a game in the NCAA.

I couldn’t agree more. Love his determination and defense but he really hurts us on offense, especially his lack of a jump shot and bad decision making.

Does Cal take the ball out of his hands in critical stretches in the Tourney? Should he consider subbing offense and defense when the game is on the line?

i just feel as if his decision making will make or break this team in the tourney...and in the end we don’t HAVE to have him running the point.
Then who? Problem, solution.
 

akaukswoosh

Hall of Famer
Jan 14, 2006
80,450
123,442
93
Kyle Tucker was reading my mind on Locked on Kentucky today. He said that Hagans’ decision making (4+ tos in 5 straight games) is making him look like a guy who is going to cost UK a game in the NCAA.

I couldn’t agree more. Love his determination and defense but he really hurts us on offense, especially his lack of a jump shot and bad decision making.

Does Cal take the ball out of his hands in critical stretches in the Tourney? Should he consider subbing offense and defense when the game is on the line?

i just feel as if his decision making will make or break this team in the tourney...and in the end we don’t HAVE to have him running the point.
How many basketball games has Dopey Kyle Tucker coached?
 

SemperFiCat

Heisman
Mar 2, 2009
14,566
30,005
0
I totally agree. Often times, we’re better when he’s not in the game whether some want to admit it or not. He’s not a top tier point guard. But no way Cal would ever pull Hagans out no matter how bad he is.
I've been thinking it, but didn't want to post it. I don't know if he just can't stay under control, or has a low basketball IQ.
 

sk73

All-Conference
Feb 16, 2013
3,183
3,234
113
Kyle Tucker was reading my mind on Locked on Kentucky today. He said that Hagans’ decision making (4+ tos in 5 straight games) is making him look like a guy who is going to cost UK a game in the NCAA.

I couldn’t agree more. Love his determination and defense but he really hurts us on offense, especially his lack of a jump shot and bad decision making.

Does Cal take the ball out of his hands in critical stretches in the Tourney? Should he consider subbing offense and defense when the game is on the line?

i just feel as if his decision making will make or break this team in the tourney...and in the end we don’t HAVE to have him running the point.

I disagree. I think Hagans is crucial to any NCAA championship hopes.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,815
60,838
113
I'm hoping IQ and Richards can carry the load a bit, and make things easier for Hagans. Honestly, almost everyone else on the team is getting better. Hagans had to carry the team in the early going, and now he needs their help.

Cal maybe just needs to tell him to limit his shooting. Focus more on facilitating the offense. Drive to the hoop, but look to kick it out if the shot isnt't there.
 

Cawood86_rivals

Heisman
Feb 20, 2005
36,711
64,715
0
I think it would help him if he could finish around the rim better like Maxey can. To me, a lot of his mistakes or turnovers happen when he is able penetrate and get to the rim, but since he has trouble finishing, he tries a pass or shot that has no chance of working, leading to a turnover or an awful shot that usually leads to an easy bucket for the other team.
 

gwjenning

All-American
Mar 6, 2017
3,735
7,670
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I think maxey is more than capable of running the point. He had 7 assists and 2 to’s Saturday.
Keep the starting lineup the same and move hagans off the ball on offense is the best solution. He cost us with 7 to’s in the elite 8 last year and will get us beat again this year.
 

Burly

All-American
Sep 3, 2002
17,129
8,631
113
I think it would help him if he could finish around the rim better like Maxey can. To me, a lot of his mistakes or turnovers happen when he is able penetrate and get to the rim, but since he has trouble finishing, he tries a pass or shot that has no chance of working, leading to a turnover or an awful shot that usually leads to an easy bucket for the other team.
True his inability to finish at the rim is crazy - problem is Quickly isn’t much better at the rim - Quickly is dynamite with a floater and mid lane and from deep - a true two level scorer - Maxey is good mid and at the rim - Hagans IMO has the best looking stroke on the team it just doesn’t go in at the rate it should
 

uk78_rivals88018

All-American
Feb 6, 2003
12,401
8,783
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I think maxey is more than capable of running the point. He had 7 assists and 2 to’s Saturday.
Keep the starting lineup the same and move hagans off the ball on offense is the best solution. He cost us with 7 to’s in the elite 8 last year and will get us beat again this year.

Maxey is not very good running the point. He still doesn't know how to pass and put the ball in the correct position for the right player. Hagans runs the team way better even with the turn-overs. Cal has said get in the gym and work on shooting and that's what he needs to do and slow down. I thought when he played slower in the second half against LSU it was like when Montgomery had his great game, like the light bulb came on. But, for both of them the bulb turned back off for their offense. It doesn't seem that complicated.
 

HagginHall1999

Heisman
Oct 19, 2018
16,008
28,479
113
Hagans can be as good as it gets in CBB he just makes some odd decisions sometimes...almost forcing stuff that doesn't need to be forced.

To answer OP's question...Cal isn't going to do squat. He is loyal to a fault at times...definitely as loyal as he is stubborn. That isn't a knock (at least I don't mean it that way) he just has his guys and Hagans is one of his guys.

The interesting thing is does AH come back next season? It is rapidly turning into a story line. Forever I thought it would be IQ but now I am starting to wonder if AH is in mix too.

Lots of basketball left to right the ship- hopefully.

I think AH will figure it out before EOY.
 
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gojvc

All-American
Feb 5, 2005
28,744
7,273
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This team isn’t winning a title with Hagans on the bench or playing off the ball. So if you want to win a title, you play the kid, and hope his decision making is good to go come tournament time.
Because of his decision making and his inconsistent to bad three point shooting I have just never been a fan of his game. I think he got us beat in the tournament last year (although a few other guys didn’t play great either). With that said, I agree with this post. He’s the best we have at this point so we’re going to have to roll with him and hope for the best.
 

gwjenning

All-American
Mar 6, 2017
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Maxey is not very good running the point. He still doesn't know how to pass and put the ball in the correct position for the right player. Hagans runs the team way better even with the turn-overs. Cal has said get in the gym and work on shooting and that's what he needs to do and slow down. I thought when he played slower in the second half against LSU it was like when Montgomery had his great game, like the light bulb came on. But, for both of them the bulb turned back off for their offense. It doesn't seem that complicated.
Cals teams aren’t assist driven teams. It’s beating your man off the dribble first. Hagans can’t finish. I say the last 4 regular season games get Maxey more experience running the point. I know this won’t happen.
 

BourbonBalz

All-American
Mar 5, 2005
11,430
9,235
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Replacing Hagans is NOT an option. He just has to cut back on the careless mistakes. He rushes his game at times and makes mistakes, That aspect of his game just needs to be cleaned up. I think everyone that’s been paying attention knows this.
 

Looksbetterinblue

All-Conference
Mar 25, 2018
1,084
1,412
98
We need AH in the game!!! You live with the bad for all the good he can do. Besides that, you have no better choice and 99% of coaches would love to have this dilemma. This is the ultimate overreaction. You work on decision making and coach him up, you don’t not play the top defensive guard in the country and top assist man on your team.
The idea this is Cal being “loyal to a fault” or ‘stubborn” is a pretty ridiculous leap.
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
0
I disagree. I think Hagans is crucial to any NCAA championship hopes.
Crucial bc we need talent on the floor but if he’s turning it over early you gotta bench him thats just the way things are if you want a title. Maxey is the typical Calipari pg not hagans. It would be nice to have a true wing player. It might be time to get brooks more minutes at the 3 with maxey and quickly. We will need that lineup at some point in the tournament
 
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BourbonBalz

All-American
Mar 5, 2005
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We need AH in the game!!! You live with the bad for all the good he can do. Besides that, you have no better choice and 99% of coaches would love to have this dilemma. This is the ultimate overreaction. You work on decision making and coach him up, you don’t not play the top defensive guard in the country and top assist man on your team.
The idea this is Cal being “loyal to a fault” or ‘stubborn” is a pretty ridiculous leap.

I don’t think Cal is being too loyal because Hagans starts at the point. I do, however, think he heaps too much verbal praise on him sometimes when it’s not deserved, but maybe Cal knows he needs that.
 

Kingslayer07

Heisman
Jan 23, 2020
8,525
10,392
113
One big problem is that Cal keeps stroking Hagans ego. He will make 5 bad plays then one good and start flexing.
This best PG in America bs has went to Hagans head. Time for cal to bring him down a few notches or things will not change.
Yeah that was a head scratching comment..hes played worse ever since
 
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3kidsandme

Heisman
Jan 12, 2013
7,345
10,353
113
I'm hoping IQ and Richards can carry the load a bit, and make things easier for Hagans. Honestly, almost everyone else on the team is getting better. Hagans had to carry the team in the early going, and now he needs their help.

Cal maybe just needs to tell him to limit his shooting. Focus more on facilitating the offense. Drive to the hoop, but look to kick it out if the shot isnt't there.
The problem is early in the year teams would crash on him and leave shooters open. Ashton needs to put it on the rim when he drives not kick it out to covered shooters.
 

Blueaz

Heisman
Jul 7, 2009
28,071
30,261
113
I totally agree. Often times, we’re better when he’s not in the game whether some want to admit it or not. He’s not a top tier point guard. But no way Cal would ever pull Hagans out no matter how bad he is.
often times we are better with Maxey out, Nate out, EJ out etc...
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,815
60,838
113
The problem is early in the year teams would crash on him and leave shooters open. Ashton needs to put it on the rim when he drives not kick it out to covered shooters.

IF he has a shot.. not if he has 2 forwards in his way where he shoots behind the rim.

Also, kicking it back out isn't necessarily so that guy can take the shot, it's to keep the offense going.
 

Backer cutter

Heisman
Jul 8, 2019
7,707
20,355
0
I think both Cal and Hagans know he isn’t coming back next year, so Cal is pretty much turning him loose on offense hoping he will improve enough to improve his stock. And Hagans is pressing too hard to do so. Like others have said, he just needs to slow down a bit. We absolutely need his defense, so he has to be out there.
 

pauled#1

All-American
Feb 11, 2003
5,875
5,561
96
We gave a ten point lead away at LSU with Hagans on the bench, then did the same thing with Florida with him on the floor, we need him playing well to succeed. Most of his turns were going to the rim and not shooting, getting off his feet with nowhere to go with the ball.
 

JC CATS

Heisman
Jun 18, 2009
23,517
12,221
0
He’s Cals favorite player and has no consequences for his play. We have nobody else to play so just like last year we will have to endure a 6 or 7 turnover game and a plethora of missed layups and bad shots in a tournament game.
Cal plays favorite's? No wonder we never win
 
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sk73

All-Conference
Feb 16, 2013
3,183
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Crucial bc we need talent on the floor but if he’s turning it over early you gotta bench him thats just the way things are if you want a title. Maxey is the typical Calipari pg not hagans. It would be nice to have a true wing player. It might be time to get brooks more minutes at the 3 with maxey and quickly. We will need that lineup at some point in the tournament

Maxey currently has one less turnover per game than Hagans. Hagans runs the point very effectively and has control of the ball 2 to 3 times more than Maxey. If Maxey ran the point? Do the math. Cal watches every day and if Maxey was the best point guard for the team, he would be playing that position.
I like Brooks. To be a positive at the three, he needs to prove he can make the shot and that he can handle the ball. I think he has a ways to go. JMO