Agreed. I love his game and I the fact he's only going to be Sophomore. Adding him and Bates and maybe Justin Powell will give Kenny a really solid first team.
potential player additions (part 2)
- Thread starter JonathanW_rivals
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Justin Powell might be a problem but if he can’t make it work at Louisville he isnt going to work anywhere
I'm a little skeptical of Powell as well. He's reached out to Louisville's staff but I'm hoping there's mutual interest between Malachi Smith and Louisville and Powell is just a backup plan.
Justin Powell would have to sit out. He's already used up his immediately eligible transfer year. Doubt he would get a waiver.
It's a bunch of misfit toys that have never played together. Bates and Hunter can't shoot. 3 point shooting, and low post scoring will be huge weaknesses. I doubt it's a tourney team, but the postseason ban hammer will make sure of it anyway.
For the love of god i hope we dont get another 3/4 tweener. Just straight up give me a pure 3 for once.
Perfect season? Maybe when it comes to health. The talent is there, although another playable addition would be welcome on the wings.
Yeah I meant perfect season as far as health and the development of Wallace and Toppin specifically. Wallace needs to be one of the top 5 Freshman in the country and a solid two-way threat. I like Toppin a lot more than Collins and think he can develop into a solid, versatile 4 who can keep defenses honest with his shooting - IF Cal starts him and develops him more over the Summer. Its going to be nearly impossible for Oscar to be better than he was last year and I think I would expect Reeves to be more along the lines of Mintz than Grady (as far as impact, not style) . Frederick's a wildcard. 23 year Junior who's played 52 games in the 5 years since he graduated - he has to stay healthy and give UK a very solid season. There's absolutely talent there, I agree. I think Cal adds one more piece - don't think it will be a major, major piece but I'm betting he adds another solid body.
That hurt uk's team more than the injury's in my thought's as well
Lol, never had anyone try to predict over / under for games missed due to injury. Points, games won, and a lot of other stays, never injury games missed. Quit trying so hard. Maybe they got their allotment of injuries out of the way, maybe they miss ZERO games. Nostradumbass give us the over / under for the whole roster, walk on players included. I'm waiting on pins and needs to see it.
Powell has transfered to much and seems like he expects to be the guy wherever he goes when in reality he is a role player or decent starter who can get 12 points a game and be a good defender
2 injury prone players on a team with 9 scholarship players and you're bitching at me?
I won't even mention we will be breaking in a new strength and conditioning coach. Maybe we get a break and have no injuries ,but I wouldn't bet we get thru practice and the Bahamas trip without one. So hoot and holler to your little hearts content but don't whine when we are down to 6 or 7 healthy players in late January or before.
Not that is matters because Kentucky probably wasn’t going to get him but another good piece that Kentucky seems to not be interested in at all
At this point I think he is going back to old ways. He and the staff believe that injuries were the main reason for last year ending badly, not a insider saw a article about it. But if they believe that then that shows that they are going to run back the same philosophy. Because they have passed on to many good players, and more importantly scorers and shooters
Cal can't be bothered with minor details like putting together a roster. He is way too busy ending generational poverty, finding enough chairs for players to sit and watch games and making reservations for the NBA draft. He will get around to coaching in November or December
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Since it is pretty obvious that next years team is "on the floor " I can only say I hope BOTH freshmen are as good as advertised. Saw Wallace play a couple of times , didn't come away very impressed BUT what can you really tell from one of those all star games I was much more impressed with Livingston, like his motor has some dog in him and a decent handle for a guy his size
Injuries aren't an excuse. Use all your scholarships and play your bench players. Cal doesn't do that and we have injuries almost every year and it bites us in the ***. Now were' going into this year with 9 scholarship players it looks like (don't count Thiero because he's not ready to help us for a couple years-if he doesn't transfer). If injuries happen again then Cal better not say he doesn't have enough players to practice, his guys are tired, etc. USE YOUR SCHOLARSHIPS CAL!!
They don't stick around because Cal won't play them and then puts them in the doghouse where they can't get out, if they make a mistake. And Cal has shown he doesn't want to develop a bench or develop a player over several years. Cal's system is built to develop players in a year and then start over, so he doesn't have time to develop the older kids on the team.
Then this is Cal's last year. We're going to lose the top 7 or 8 on this team so next year's team will be brand new and most likely another struggle. It will be time for Cal to go.
I agree Matthew Mayer should be a priority- he’s a triple threat player
Toppin and Collins are not but it’s clear Collins has been promised significant time as has Toppin
Mayer can shoot pass & dribble - things that Cal unfortunately does not really look for in a player
you mean he is a basketball player that has the fundamentals, not just some one that can run & jump & not much else
I think Cal is happy with Toppin and Collins at the 4, Collins also backing up Oscar at the 5 some.
Oscar 31mpg, 16 & 12 and 0.5-1.6 from 3
Collins 23mpg, 12 & 6 and 2.5blk and 0.8-2.2 from 3
Toppin 23mpg, 9 & 5 and 0.7-2.0 from 3
Ware 3mpg, 1 & 1
Total 80mpg, 38 & 24, 4blk, 2-5.8 (34%) from 3
That's not it. They are simply impatient. They want to play now, they hoped they would be in the top 7-8 when they get here, and if they aren't, they aren't willing to wait until next year. And some of them did play (Matthews, Juzang). Allen did not play much this year, because when he did play he was not good (a designated shooter making 17% from 3). How can you play that? You can't! Except he could have played Allen the 2 games we played with only 2 guards, perhaps risking those 2 games, but maybe seeing better play from Allen and rest those 2 guys.
I guess we'll see if this goes over your head...
2011 Final 4: 6 man rotation
2012 National champs: played 6 guys, Darius Miller off the bench.
2014 Final 4 team: Played 7 guys, 8 in a pinch
2015: Platoon, and he said it'll never happen again
2017 Elite 8 loss to UNC: Used a 7-man rotation, IF he was giving Humphries minutes
2019 Elite 8 Auburn: Again, 7-man rotation, IF being generous to a struggling EJ Montgomery/Richards
I just don't understand the fascination that some of BBN has for maxing out all scholarships. You really think the Platoon system can be implemented again in this era?
Only 5 UNC players played 10+ mins against Duke in the Final 4 - ONLY FIVE!!!! Coach K only used a 7-man rotation, and lost.
Villanova, 6-man rotation. Kansas had 7 players play 10+ mins - and that was with Lightfoot right at 10 mins. So sure, they might have some scrubs at the end of the bench getting a scholarship, but that doesn't impact the rotations at all BECAUSE THOSE PLAYERS ARENT GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY!
And had any of those teams suffered an injury or two to any of their key players,I doubt they are even in the final 4.Look,you can be for a 5,6 or 7 player rotation all you want,but I dont favor it.Id rather use my 12th or 13th scholarship on a couple of seniors from the portal that wont cost us nothing because they are using those scholarships for 1 season only.It doesnt hurt our recruiting at all and we benefit by having enough....Different points of view here.
I agree...would not bet much on 3 years, but would go all in with the house on a 5 year bet
In a small sample size, didn’t Toppin make like 40% this year. Collins was reportedly a solid 3pt shooter a year ago, and unlike Wheeler all 3 have good form.
Also Patterson was something like 0 for 2 his first 2 years from 3, and made around 35% as a JR and had a career making nba 3’s.
I also watched McCarty shoot 3’s many days at Seaton Center his Prop-48 year, and he was beyond horrible (making 10-20% unguarded), then was a 40% 3pt shooter his 3 years at UK.
What SRs want to be 12th 13th man on any team and rarely see the floor? Very few even with NIL!!! Those spots are for projects who maybe contribute in 2-3 years.
Oh,I believe we would have no problem at all filling those 11th,12th,and 13th scholarship spots.
But since Cal only wants 6 or 7 why even recruit for spots 8 thru 13.Just get 6 and roll out the ball.
Yeah I think we could get a couple Seniors to have more depth but I assume most of them want a chance to show out their last year as well. But shouldn’t stop us from trying to grab anyone we can to at least field a good practice squad.
I’m not arguing that they shouldn’t try to get some guys to fill the spots that are developmental players, but the idea you’re going to get more players that would make any kind of serious difference is fools gold. Especially big name transfers. They want to play and most want to start. I agree about the risk that presents with injuries, but not sure what you can really do about it other than be lucky.