Lance Ware won't get loads better until he gets real PT with the other starters. Same for most other backups outside of Cal's "7"
Lance Ware
- Thread starter jessieshorts8
- Start date
Tentative is how I'd put it. They're still scared to make mistakes. That's the coaching. Too many players have been the same way for years to think it isn't the issue
I think Ware plays with good energy, I think he’s a high effort player, he has weak hands, he’s getting to the ball on rebounds and getting stripped on the way down by guards, likewise everytime he coaches the ball in a crowd on offense, he immediately fumbles into the crowd.
I've seen enough of him to last me a lifetime. There are thousands of players with his exact game. Surely we could have found someone a little better?? Play Collins more, throw him into the fire and make him develop or sink. Ware has hit his ceiling. For the people who think he was a 5 star, he wasn't. He was a 4.
Oscar should have stayed in. I don’t know who started the trend of sitting a guy with 2 fouls. I remember when it used to be 3, hell I’ve seen guys get 4. When your backup is limited in his abilities offensively, you keep your guy in.
A lot of “interesting” coaching maneuvers last night. But anytime you go 11 minutes not scoring you are not going to win.
On any of Cal's good teams at UK, Ware never sees the floor. Possibly doesn't even get recruited.
To me, other than the free throw shooting which is problematic of course, is how you choose to utilize a player. i actually put more focus on Mintz and to a lesser degree TyTy for where they were passing the ball to Ware. You want to throw ahead to him in the guarded paint? Ok, fine it will be a turn-over. You want to send him a bounce pass? Fine, it will be a turnover. You want to pass it to him on the low block and expect an offense move? OK, fine it almost always will be the ball being taken away and a turnover. Yet, that's what they were doing. Lob, fine, Rebound, fine. Screen, fine. That's it. None of this should be a surprise to anyone on the team.
Yes he’s a good kid who does some good things and some not so good things, like everyone. He’s not our problem nor the solution. Frankly I think the problem is Cal. The game has passed him by and all the old stuff he used to run at UMass isn’t working
Free throws are in him. That is a little instruction and a lot of practice.
otherwise I notice that he got the ball in some bad positions last night. Don’t throw it to him on a break. Don’t give it to him on the elbow. Alley oop or low block or don’t throw it in to him.
I like his toughness and effort though. You say you want 4 year players. He is that.
otherwise I notice that he got the ball in some bad positions last night. Don’t throw it to him on a break. Don’t give it to him on the elbow. Alley oop or low block or don’t throw it in to him.
I like his toughness and effort though. You say you want 4 year players. He is that.
I Just posted a poorly worded version of this. Totally agree.
He needs to develop a post game before trying to add a face up game, other than practicing free-throws.
True...but given he looks to have added nearly zero muscle in the offseason....I doubt a low post game is ever going to come aorund with him. He's still looks like a lanky PF by college standards with his body.
Disagree about the no depth at PG...1st and 2nd string are a notch (or two) above Mintz, but no team is playing their 3rd string at any position and getting the same production as the starter. Without looking at other P5 teams' rosters, I'd wager that our 3rd stringer is in the 90th percentile range when compared to their's.
Yea I wanna know who scouted that kid. Or did they just look at his rank and offer him because he has zero skills.
He's definitely not bulling through anybody. But if he's stout enough to hold his position on the block, at least, a little hook shot, up and under, drop step game (ala Kevin McKale) could do wonders for him and the team. Having said that: the free throw thing has to get straightened out first.
You want a big body just to stand out there why don’t we recruit a sumo while we’re at it. He could just stand there and stick his butt and tummy out at everyone, might even have better hands
Feminism is a bad thing for men. We are raising pussies for men these days
You realize you just suggested he should be more like one of the most skilled low post scorers in history?
I’m just hopin he learns to make free throws and hold onto the ball better. Be like Kevin McHale seems way too tall of an order. Gotta master those baby steps before thinking about leaping.
Last edited:
I mean, he picked us over Michigan and Ohio State and had offers from all kinds of major programs. Sometimes "potential" doesn't pan out, or takes longer than expected.
Come on now. Nobody's suggesting Ware is gonna become Kevin McHale. I'm just saying he should try adding a few elements to his game that McHale used to GREAT effect. He doesn't have to reach the expertise of KH to make a positive impact.
But, again, we’re talking about a guy who right now can’t make free throws (44%) and struggles simply to hold onto the ball and make layups.
I think we need to improve those very basics before we start talking about adding McHale-like “elements”.
Last edited:
Good Lord some of you have to reset your expectations for a backup. Four bricked freed throws were not his only contribution Tuesday night. He had essentially the same stat line as Brooks, who IS supposed to be an offensive contributor.
Ware was never going to be an offensive threat. He averaged 10.2 ppg in HIGH SCHOOL. I was disappointed in him last year, but he has vastly improved his understanding of his role this year.
He is a backup to Tshiebwe, not a replacement. He plays hard, rebounds adequately, and plays good D. You could make an argument that he kept UK in the game Tuesday night.
Ware was never going to be an offensive threat. He averaged 10.2 ppg in HIGH SCHOOL. I was disappointed in him last year, but he has vastly improved his understanding of his role this year.
He is a backup to Tshiebwe, not a replacement. He plays hard, rebounds adequately, and plays good D. You could make an argument that he kept UK in the game Tuesday night.
Yeah, that’s exactly what several of us said, but I guess it’s only applicable when YOU post it. Get over yourself.
Do we not have a asst coach on this team now who is suppose to be great at helping big guys get better??
It used to be fun watching guys like this develop and contribute their junior and senior year. We all could name many many players who followed that path. Not under cal. He will likely be gone
Just so we are on the same page here..I agreed with you and re-enforced your opinion with mine, and now you are pissed?
The internet is a weird place, man.
No, you were preaching. You were telling posters to “reset their expectations” when most had already said the same thing you posted.
No he's not. He was a high rated 4 star recruit that many here bitched about wanting as opposed to one and does. Everyone wanted players they are here for years and play behind stars until they're upper classmen. He's 12 games into his sophomore career and is on pace with most back ups at this stage in his career. He's the type of player you'd hate to play against as a junior or senior on a team like Tennessee or Auburn who never did much his first 2 years. Be patient guys...