Being reported elsewhere...

JwUKFan11

Heisman
Nov 11, 2011
7,631
15,820
113
Carlson. Seriously they probably want to announce it so squash the rumor thinking everyone will be surprised. Cal is such a sly dog
Doubtful. Oscar just started promoting his draft process documentary or whatever you want to call it where they are recording his trips, workouts, etc. This seems like Oscar is taking it slow and in no hurry to make a decision while on the other hand UK needs to know to make a roster. Seems we would have a real shot at Dickenson should Oscar leave but who knows if that decision will be made too late.
 
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Jan 3, 2003
145,534
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With Oscar back, I would feel better about the center position, but Cal has to change some things.

1) He needs to play Ugo more… much more

2) He has to get Oscar to be more aggressive at the rim on defense. Yes, try your best to not pick up fouls, but you can't let guys just lay the ball in and hope they miss.

Hopefully this rumor is true and Cal gets at least one more elite shooter too. This is assuming Reeves returns, if he doesn't, he needs to get 2 elite shooters.
I agree with a lot of this.

Cal's best teams, have a good shot blocking rim protector. Ugo can give us that. Yes Ware played over him, but recall the first few games, when Oscar was out, Ugo outplayed Ware. And that was before he got any experience, and only had a month of practices. Now whether "much more" is Ugo playing 10mpg or 20mpg, I think partly depends on how he does.

Tied into all of that, I think you could play them together some, with Oscar at the 4/PF. Why not? He's not slow, has lateral quickness. He has good form on his 18' jumper. No reason he can't expand that a few more feet like PPatt did his JR year. Ugo also has nice touch on 15' jumper. So it wouldn't have to be a "clogging the lane" issue.

I do think Oscar, needs to accept that he can't be "the #1 option" on offense, for us to be our best. It has to be Edwards IMO. Maybe Wagner #2. He can get 6-8ppg just on offensive rebounds.
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
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Doubtful. Oscar just started promoting his draft process documentary or whatever you want to call it where they are recording his trips, workouts, etc. This seems like Oscar is taking it slow and in no hurry to make a decision while on the other hand UK needs to know to make a roster. Seems we would have a real shot at Dickenson should Oscar leave but who knows if that decision will be made too late.
Yeah I don’t think so. I think oscar will tell the staff rather quickley. I think they already know and someone let it slip personally. Does that mean he pulls out of the draft tomorrow? He probably wants feedback but I don’t see oscar holding the program hostage if there are players who want to come. I doubt oscar is unsure and confused at this point. There’s also been reports that he will have a decision by Friday. He’s probably told them what he intends to do but for Oscar to improve his game he’s gonna need to go through the process.
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
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I agree with a lot of this.

Cal's best teams, have a good shot blocking rim protector. Ugo can give us that. Yes Ware played over him, but recall the first few games, when Oscar was out, Ugo outplayed Ware. And that was before he got any experience, and only had a month of practices. Now whether "much more" is Ugo playing 10mpg or 20mpg, I think partly depends on how he does.

Tied into all of that, I think you could play them together some, with Oscar at the 4/PF. Why not? He's not slow, has lateral quickness. He has good form on his 18' jumper. No reason he can't expand that a few more feet like PPatt did his JR year. Ugo also has nice touch on 15' jumper. So it wouldn't have to be a "clogging the lane" issue.

I do think Oscar, needs to accept that he can't be "the #1 option" on offense, for us to be our best. It has to be Edwards IMO. Maybe Wagner #2. He can get 6-8ppg just on offensive rebounds.
Uh yeah Bradshaw is gonna be a strong rim protector. 7’ long and athletic. High motor. Ugo is nice for depth
 
Jan 3, 2003
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I still think we have entirely too many big men, especially with Oscar and/or Dickinson. That makes at least 5 (Oscar, Bradshaw, Collins, ugo, ware) bigs that Cal will feel like he has to play and there just won’t be minutes to go around. Talk me off the ledge, my ears are open. I just don’t see it being much different.
NONE of those you listed will play any at the 3/SF. So what's it matter if 5 guys split 80 minutes, or 4 guys split 80 minutes? It doesn't. Having 5 just helps if one gets hurt, or one just under-performs (then bench him).

Also we haven't heard anything from Collins. I think most think if Oscar and Ugo return, or it's Dickinson & Ugo, then Collins leaves.
 

Drcats2025

Heisman
Nov 13, 2012
8,026
16,061
93
The same Tucker that said Wheeler was absolutely going to come back a play last season?! Lulz
I think Wheeler said he was going to. Not his fault he then didn’t. Wheeler was the problem there, not Tucker, IMO. I also don’t keep up with Tucker, but it simply appears there’s zero substance to this rumor. Here’s to hoping Oscar does return, however.
 

Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,309
55,339
100
I think Wheeler said he was going to. Not his fault he then didn’t. Wheeler was the problem there, not Tucker, IMO. I also don’t keep up with Tucker, but it simply appears there’s zero substance to this rumor. Here’s to hoping Oscar does return, however.
Tucker has been wrong several times lately, though. This dude is a super reliable source.
 

numberonedad

Heisman
Sep 16, 2009
6,684
13,840
0
Lol. You are just digging yourself deeper, bud. Anyone with a brain should want Reeves back. He has excellent size for a 2, shoots it above average, can create for himself, and is more than serviceable defensively. In what world would we not want a veteran player who scored 14.4 per game back?
I never said I didn't want him back, I just wanted to point out he's in no way a savior to the team. He's a decent player, nothing more or nothing less
 

numberonedad

Heisman
Sep 16, 2009
6,684
13,840
0
Worst defender on the team besides Oscar??Oscar was SEC All Defensive Team 2022 (I even highlighted it for you). Again, did you even watch any games?

That is totally laughable. As 90% of the people that watched this team will attest Oscar's defense was lacking.
 
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DaDirtyLeb69

Heisman
Jan 4, 2022
45,304
72,542
113
Uh yeah Bradshaw is gonna be a strong rim protector. 7’ long and athletic. High motor. Ugo is nice for depth
I hope so, but watching him in some of these games, he doesn’t have good timing on his shot blocking and likes to roam around more than be stationed in the paint
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
0
NONE of those you listed will play any at the 3/SF. So what's it matter if 5 guys split 80 minutes, or 4 guys split 80 minutes? It doesn't. Having 5 just helps if one gets hurt, or one just under-performs (then bench him).

Also we haven't heard anything from Collins. I think most think if Oscar and Ugo return, or it's Dickinson & Ugo, then Collins leaves.
Yeah and ware isn’t getting many minutes. There’s just no way. If Collins returns it will be knowing he will be a limited role player. Honestly a Collins red shirt wouldn’t be a bad idea but who red shirts anymore. Ugo Bradshaw and Oscar at the 4-5 is a piece of cake to manage. You throw the others in for depth. What’s the stinkin problem?
 
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NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
13,017
20,403
113
Doubtful. Oscar just started promoting his draft process documentary or whatever you want to call it where they are recording his trips, workouts, etc. This seems like Oscar is taking it slow and in no hurry to make a decision while on the other hand UK needs to know to make a roster. Seems we would have a real shot at Dickenson should Oscar leave but who knows if that decision will be made too late.
If I'm UK I call him up tomorrow and say "we're moving on, appreciate all your hard work, let us know if we can do anything". And then you go after Dickinson or any other big who can rim protect and stuff the damn ball through the net without touching the floor first.
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
13,017
20,403
113
Yeah and ware isn’t getting many minutes. There’s just no way. If Collins returns it will be knowing he will be a limited role player. Honestly a Collins red shirt wouldn’t be a bad idea but who red shirts anymore. Ugo Bradshaw and Oscar at the 4-5 is a piece of cake to manage. You throw the others in for depth. What’s the stinkin problem?
The problem is Calipari and his obsession with NBA draft night. That is the problem. He's putting building the team on hold so that he can get as many guys into the draft as he can. The other teams out there trying to build for next year have already begun adding pieces. That's the question the media needs to be asking Cal, but they won't.
 

Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,309
55,339
100
If I'm UK I call him up tomorrow and say "we're moving on, appreciate all your hard work, let us know if we can do anything". And then you go after Dickinson or any other big who can rim protect and stuff the damn ball through the net without touching the floor first.
Lmao that’s not going to happen. You don’t kick a NPOY out of your program unless it’s due to some kind of issue outside of basketball. Something like grades, disciplinary issues, etc.
 

docholiday51

Heisman
Oct 19, 2001
22,011
26,718
0
Can’t blame you there. Dude is a reliable source and common sense tells me Oscar isn’t getting drafted. Doubt he makes a terrible business decision and missed out on NBA and NIL $. Just don’t see it.
Just don't see the rush to get rid of Oscar. He carried the team for the past 2 seasons. One bad game (Ala). If the incoming frosh are 80% of what they are hyped to be then we are good to go. Oscar will find and excel in whatever role he has with them.
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
0
The problem is Calipari and his obsession with NBA draft night. That is the problem. He's putting building the team on hold so that he can get as many guys into the draft as he can. The other teams out there trying to build for next year have already begun adding pieces. That's the question the media needs to be asking Cal, but they won't.
Well if this is Cals last year which I don’t think but if then he will do whatever he has to to win. I think he’s banking on the incoming class to carry his team but the guy hasn’t paid much attention to cbb lately bc the freshman fad is over. Teams relying mostly on freshmen it’s too difficult physically especially tournament time
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,355
72,234
113
None of those were successful campaigns. Those were some serious underachieving teams. Willis was our weak link in 2017. Sestina was a nice role player. Ppat could get out there but remember cal didn’t recruit him and the guys similar like brooks he couldn’t develop. I also think if OT and Bradshaw really worked on their outside game in the summer either of them could be as good from distance as any name you mentioned.
Correct, but we're talking about teams that didn’t meet expectations relative to the talent Cal had.

What you have to look at, is the teams that have been winning titles and getting to final 4's. When you see what those teams did to win, you see that they spread the floor with good shooters at all positions.

Even UConn's big man, who was a post player, stepped out and hit two 3's in the title game.

Spreading the court with effective outside shooting is what is winning games in today’s game.

Having a great defense is a big help too.
 

Wildcats1st

Heisman
Sep 16, 2017
18,949
28,911
0
He needs to make a decision now though one way or the other.
I think he probably already has. They said it was coming this week. I’m sure he’s told the staff what he intends to do. I don’t see oscar being a dick and making cal wait unless he knows and notified cal what he intends to do. Oscar probably told someone what he’s doing then we get some leaks today.
 

UK-Chulo

All-American
Mar 22, 2007
3,472
5,005
98
I suspect $2M+ per year as a college student helps with his level of satisfaction, but who knows.
Aside from the money, or maybe because of it, Oscar has developed a bit of an ego. Not sure how satisfied he will be taking the fourth or fifth most shots on the team next year, especially if it is freshmen getting those shots.
 

UK-Chulo

All-American
Mar 22, 2007
3,472
5,005
98
I agree with a lot of this.

Cal's best teams, have a good shot blocking rim protector. Ugo can give us that. Yes Ware played over him, but recall the first few games, when Oscar was out, Ugo outplayed Ware. And that was before he got any experience, and only had a month of practices. Now whether "much more" is Ugo playing 10mpg or 20mpg, I think partly depends on how he does.

Tied into all of that, I think you could play them together some, with Oscar at the 4/PF. Why not? He's not slow, has lateral quickness. He has good form on his 18' jumper. No reason he can't expand that a few more feet like PPatt did his JR year. Ugo also has nice touch on 15' jumper. So it wouldn't have to be a "clogging the lane" issue.

I do think Oscar, needs to accept that he can't be "the #1 option" on offense, for us to be our best. It has to be Edwards IMO. Maybe Wagner #2. He can get 6-8ppg just on offensive rebounds.
Ugo will have to be on the floor for extended minutes for his shotblocking to be a factor. Is Oscar going to play half as many minutes than he did this year? Really interested how Cal handles this.
 

Drcats2025

Heisman
Nov 13, 2012
8,026
16,061
93
Can’t blame you there. Dude is a reliable source and common sense tells me Oscar isn’t getting drafted. Doubt he makes a terrible business decision and missed out on NBA and NIL $. Just don’t see it.
Man if common sense hadn’t got got me hurt SO many times with Cal and his players decisions, I’d be ecstatic right now. Oscar has a good head on his shoulders though, and I’m remaining cautiously optimistic, for sure
 

Oboro3_rivals101424

All-Conference
Apr 15, 2005
5,123
1,931
0
Ugo will have to be on the floor for extended minutes for his shotblocking to be a factor. Is Oscar going to play half as many minutes than he did this year? Really interested how Cal handles this.
With Bradshaw on the floor at the 4 spot and a proven shot-blocker in high school, Ugo will be Oscar's backup to the 5 spot...Oscar can get down to around 25 minutes a game and Ugo will be getting 15 to 20 minutes...
 

Lempface

Heisman
Feb 16, 2009
12,159
20,638
98
I'd prefer Reeves back over Livingston. Give me another guy who can just go score.
I never really liked Chris' attitude or game. I don't think he was a bad teammate or anything, but aside from a few stretches he never looked like he belonged.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,355
72,234
113
If I'm UK I call him up tomorrow and say "we're moving on, appreciate all your hard work, let us know if we can do anything". And then you go after Dickinson or any other big who can rim protect and stuff the damn ball through the net without touching the floor first.
The issue there is, Cal is the one telling Oscar to go have fun going through the process. He can’t turn around and now tell him we can't wait for him and are moving on.

None of us knows all the details of what each player is told though, for all we know, Cal and Oscar hage an understanding, or a plan in place. They both know Oscar isn’t getting drafted, so it would be odd if they don’t have a deal to return worked out.

Everything is a huge secret under Cal, but then we are told we're ******** because we speculate.
 
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