Cals getting it.

[Wildcats1st]

this team is at its best with three guys who are a 3 pt threat. I feel like cal is beginning to realize he cannot play that 3 tweener bigs line up. Oscar/brooks or toppin is the extent of it. As soon as vandy made a first half run cal fixed it. Here’s the thing. We need another guard. He’s not gonna play Allen probably for good reason and with Fredrick never being available we are actually thin on legit shooters. We have 3 basically unless brooks takes off. I think cal will realize we need sharpe even if it’s as a 15 min a game role player. I know some folks are upset with how the game ended but honestly it was never in doubt and if it was our players wouldn’t have let up.

cal I have no doubt will fix that. Cals post game interview on espn gave some insight into why oscar has become a great player and cal gets the credit for running drills that foster competition that have pushed oscar to get up and down the floor. Many coaches don’t realize the psychological affects of drills and how that translates to the game. They run stuff just to get the reps and not necessarily to modify behaviors. It’s always better to instill positive work habits through training than meerly telling players to work hard. Modifying a players behaviors through physical training is very good coaching and oscar is becoming a dominant beast. The majority of coaches will talk a player like oscar through playing tougher but this staff has instilled it. Made it a habit for oscar. They deserve credit for developing what appears to be the most dominant big man in college. Forget the end of game stuff they will fix that. We got a road win for the first time in a long time. I think we ll get several more.

 

[willyclyde]

I’m afraid Cal will never fully “get it”.

 

[bkingUK]

If it was a cold shooting night, he wouldn’t have got it.... I guess

 

[seccats04]

I know we have injuries but I saw Hopkins, Toppin and Collins/Oscar on the floor together at times and that's when Vandy would make a run. We can't play 3 bigs on the floor at once. They can't shoot or handle the ball and the offense gets stagnant.

 

[4Pinocchios]

If it was a cold shooting night, he wouldn’t have got it.... I guess

That’s how it works. When we win, it’s ONLY because Cal visited this board and pilfered the game plan off of Enos in Richmond or Harriet in Glasgow and when we lose it’s because he went rogue and tried to do his own thing and he “sucks”. smh

 

[turkeywildturkey]

I’m sure Cal’s really happy that you think so.

 

[chroix]

Bold statement

 

[bigsmoothie]

I know we have injuries but I saw Hopkins, Toppin and Collins/Oscar on the floor together at times and that's when Vandy would make a run. We can't play 3 bigs on the floor at once. They can't shoot or handle the ball and the offense gets stagnant.

I think he knows this. But there will be a couple of games, maybe one the tournament, where he needs to go big. I think him doing that now is just practicing for that situation.

 

[BlueBomb]

Well, we've all known for a long time that we needed at least three shooters on the floor. That often doesn't happen with Cal because he prefers tall, long, athletic guys that generally speaking don't shoot as well as a 6'4" guard. But this team is best with TyTy, Mintz and Grady on the floor. Cal knows that, of course.

But what will Cal do when Wheeler returns? It's almost a given that Wheeler will be inserted back into the lineup as the starting PG, moving Mintz do the bench. Then we're back to two shooters. I'm not saying that's right or wrong. Only saying that's what's getting ready to happen.

Mintz is shooting better because he's getting clock. His minutes will go down with Wheeler back. Will be interesting to watch that play out.

 

[bigsmoothie]

That’s how it works. When we win, it’s ONLY because Cal visited this board and took pointers from Enos in Richmond or Harriet in Glasgow and when we lose it’s because he went rogue and tried to do his own thing and he “sucks”. smh

Enos.

 

[bigsmoothie]

Well, we've all known for a long time that we needed at least three shooters on the floor. That often doesn't happen with Cal because he prefers tall, long, athletic guys that generally speaking don't shoot as well as a 6'4" guard. But this team is best with TyTy, Mintz and Grady on the floor. Cal knows that, of course.

But what will Cal do when Wheeler returns? It's almost a given that Wheeler will be inserted back into the lineup as the starting PG, moving Mintz do the bench. Then we're back to two shooters. I'm not saying that's right or wrong. Only saying that's what's getting ready to happen.

Mintz is shooting better because he's getting clock. His minutes will go down with Wheeler back. Will be interesting to watch that play out.

Here’s what everyone overlooks. Wheelers defense. Is can be elite at times.

 

[BlueBomb]

Here’s what everyone overlooks. Wheelers defense. Is can be elite at times.

Agreed. But let's face it, he can't shoot. I'm not saying that doesn't mean he should be in there. I'm just saying it changes our offense, somewhat significantly.

Here’s what everyone overlooks. Wheelers defense. Is can be elite at times.

 

[bigsmoothie]

Agreed. But let's face it, he can't shoot. I'm not saying that doesn't mean he should be in there. I'm just saying it changes our offense, somewhat significantly.

I agree I had higher hopes for him shooting the ball. But before he got hurt the team was rolling and I’d bet my car they beat LSU if he doesn’t get hurt. What I am getting at is his defense doesn’t show up in the stats. But I’m getting more and more excited about this team.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I know we have injuries but I saw Hopkins, Toppin and Collins/Oscar on the floor together at times and that's when Vandy would make a run. We can't play 3 bigs on the floor at once. They can't shoot or handle the ball and the offense gets stagnant.

Mintz, TyTy & Grady cannot all be on the floor together for all 40 minutes.

This is why we play those bad lineups as due to CJ's injury, Allen's ineptness, Wheeler out hurt and the mystery of Sharpe...we only have 3 guards. Cal is just trying to buy minutes when they are out to give them a breather.

I think the issue is we let the wrong people get the ball on offense when this happens. If TyTy is out, Mintz or Grady should be shooting...and the big guys should be crashing the boards or trying to get lobs.

 

[Allcats08]

I’m afraid Cal will never fully

I’m afraid Cal will never fully “get it”.

Lol

 

[Tim Higgins]

Cals always had it. You all think he woke up one day after about 40 years of coaching ball, forgot how to do it, then later remembered again? Come on now I never seen something so ridiculous in my life.

He making a lot of you change your tune I can tell you that right now. Whether some of you are man enough to admit it now that’s another story

 

[Jamal Mercer]

Someone still needs to tell him that it’s ok and perfectly legal to run inbounds plays under the basket.

When that is straightened out he will officially “get it”.

The Bennies have been saying all year that it’s stupid to have those 3 bigs on the floor together. He got it a month later than the rest of BBN, but he got it.

Good work Cal!!!!

 

[kl40504_rivals]

I’m afraid Cal will never fully “get it”.

You need to drain the tub of all those negative comments.

 

[AuburnMike86]

It's the game today. You have to have shooters and you have to space the floor to open it up against good teams. UK has the shooters without Sharpe, add him in and UK becomes insane. Put a solid defender/rebounder in at the 4 with the ability to strech the defense a bit, have Oscar holding it down inside, and 3 true shooters on the floor and UK is easily a favorite for the title.

There is a ton of talent on UK's roster. I really can't imagine how good you will be if/when Sharpe starts playing.

 

[WallMash]

Yeah, Cal clearly really liked the Mintz, Tyty, grady, brooks, Oscar line up. With Oscar putting up player of the year numbers and Mintz hitting his 3's and Tyty starting to groove, that's an awesome line-up. When Wheeler comes back does he disrupt it? I'd still like to see TyTy run point 15 minutes a game.

 

[Wildcats1st]

Here’s what everyone overlooks. Wheelers defense. Is can be elite at times.

Elite? At 5’7”? He works hard but he gives up 6 inches. If his man wanted to post him up every time down the floor wheeler cannot stop that. For what he gives in ball pressure he gives up in size.

 

[bigsmoothie]

Elite? At 5’7”? He works hard but he gives up 6 inches. If his man wanted to post him up every time down the floor wheeler cannot stop that. For what he gives in ball pressure he gives up in size.

Just tell us why you hate him? I’ve never seen a grown man dislike a 20 year old so much.

 

[kybassfan]

this team is at its best with three guys who are a 3 pt threat. I feel like cal is beginning to realize he cannot play that 3 tweener bigs line up. Oscar/brooks or toppin is the extent of it. As soon as vandy made a first half run cal fixed it. Here’s the thing. We need another guard. He’s not gonna play Allen probably for good reason and with Fredrick never being available we are actually thin on legit shooters. We have 3 basically unless brooks takes off. I think cal will realize we need sharpe even if it’s as a 15 min a game role player. I know some folks are upset with how the game ended but honestly it was never in doubt and if it was our players wouldn’t have let up.

cal I have no doubt will fix that. Cals post game interview on espn gave some insight into why oscar has become a great player and cal gets the credit for running drills that foster competition that have pushed oscar to get up and down the floor. Many coaches don’t realize the psychological affects of drills and how that translates to the game. They run stuff just to get the reps and not necessarily to modify behaviors. It’s always better to instill positive work habits through training than meerly telling players to work hard. Modifying a players behaviors through physical training is very good coaching and oscar is becoming a dominant beast. The majority of coaches will talk a player like oscar through playing tougher but this staff has instilled it. Made it a habit for oscar. They deserve credit for developing what appears to be the most dominant big man in college. Forget the end of game stuff they will fix that. We got a road win for the first time in a long time. I think we ll get several more.

Fair enough post. That said, the title suggests to me that you and some of the worst Cal badgers miss a point. The players are 90% of the results. Things are looking up. I don’t credit Cal for that. It’s the players. They are executing and improving their team skills.

Similarly when things go bad, 90% of it falls on the players shoulders. Like I have heard many athletes say, ‘Coach can’t help what we don’t do’. Coaches know this. Players know this. Most fans don’t know this.

This isn’t Cal. He and the other coaches provide a framework. This is Oscar, Ty and all the others. It looks like they are working to be a better team. Their team skills still suck. They know it. But damn, they are getting it. Ty is learning to take his guys and beat the crap out of the other guys. They do this. It’s getting fun to watch them grow.

 

[megablue]

I like our 3-point threats, of course, but we only took 12 last night, hitting 6.

 

[e56]

You need to drain the tub of all those negative comments.

gets him attention.

 

[BlueGlasses12]

Well, we've all known for a long time that we needed at least three shooters on the floor. That often doesn't happen with Cal because he prefers tall, long, athletic guys that generally speaking don't shoot as well as a 6'4" guard. But this team is best with TyTy, Mintz and Grady on the floor. Cal knows that, of course.

But what will Cal do when Wheeler returns? It's almost a given that Wheeler will be inserted back into the lineup as the starting PG, moving Mintz do the bench. Then we're back to two shooters. I'm not saying that's right or wrong. Only saying that's what's getting ready to happen.

Mintz is shooting better because he's getting clock. His minutes will go down with Wheeler back. Will be interesting to watch that play out.

Or Mintz is shooting better because he has had a month of practice now. His earlier struggles were due to missing a month of practice due to an illness. He was getting plenty of shots up during games.

 

[kybassfan]

I like our 3-point threats, of course, but we only took 12 last night, hitting 6.

Yes. The push was made in the middle. The 3 was used as relief. High percentage basketball. Well executed.

Jacking 3’s Willy Nilly will get you beat.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

I honestly don't know how on earth Cal won all those games at Umass and Memphis without the help of this board lol.