Kepnang spikes Yaxel

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,841
20,193
103
While the block was indeed nasty it wasn’t smart. He could have easily just snatched the ball in mid air and headed the other way. Happens a lot in games really where a controlled block could have easily taken place to retain possession but instead the ball is swatted out of bounds. Stuff like this has to be addressed in practice.
 

UKSanders

Senior
Aug 27, 2007
354
669
93
In his highlights, he looks like everything I kinda thought we were getting from Mo Diabate…I appreciate Mo’s effort while he was on the floor, and their styles of play with intensity, physicality, etc are similar.

However, Kepnang’s extra size seems like he will be more of what the team needed from Mo…rebounder (Mo was solid), but here’s to hoping the Kepnang’s length and rim protection on defense really boosts the team.
 

VC99

Senior
Sep 16, 2025
246
570
93
While the block was indeed nasty it wasn’t smart. He could have easily just snatched the ball in mid air and headed the other way. Happens a lot in games really where a controlled block could have easily taken place to retain possession but instead the ball is swatted out of bounds. Stuff like this has to be addressed in practice.
Boooooooo
 
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CatManFromCa

Sophomore
Jan 8, 2026
82
145
32
People keep saying ‘Pope can’t recruit’ while he’s out here flipping rosters like pancakes at Waffle House at 3 AM. He’s pulling dudes from Washington and he is going to coach’em up! And don’t even get me started on the GM BATTALION! We are not DONE!
 

VC99

Senior
Sep 16, 2025
246
570
93
People keep saying ‘Pope can’t recruit’ while he’s out here flipping rosters like pancakes at Waffle House at 3 AM. He’s pulling dudes from Washington and he is going to coach’em up! And don’t even get me started on the GM BATTALION! We are not DONE!
Pope is getting so many guys from other schools, it's crazy, like Zoom Diallo from Washington and Frank Kepnang from Washington.
 
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CatsDomain

Sophomore
Oct 15, 2023
105
158
43
What is there to boo about? Swatting a ball out of bounds when it isn’t necessary allows the other team to retain possession and another chance to score. Little things like this can win or lose a game for you in a close one possession game.
It sounds like something he could work on in practice. It's hard to judge from one clip. Yaxel is super fast. Maybe Kepnang was getting frustrated. 🤔
 

anot

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2026
989
1,646
93
What is there to boo about? Swatting a ball out of bounds when it isn’t necessary allows the other team to retain possession and another chance to score. Little things like this can win or lose a game for you in a close one possession game.
What separated Anthony Davis IMO. How many times did he not only block the ball also gain possession? Definitely makes a difference but if I'm being honest I prefer smacking that thing to Jupiter if you can.
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,841
20,193
103
What separated Anthony Davis IMO. How many times did he not only block the ball also gain possession? Definitely makes a difference but if I'm being honest I prefer smacking that thing to Jupiter if you can.
AD was one of the best at controlled blocks. Certainly looks better when the ball is sent to the 5th row but the controlled block when possible is the much smarter play.
 

812scottj

All-Conference
Apr 24, 2014
1,962
3,937
113
Thanks for posting this! I've watched it at least 10 times already. That block was NASTY!! We needed a guy who can block like that, and now we've got him. The rest of the team I think will be really good offensively. But we needed a great rim defender and rebounder like I think Kepnang will be. His overall defensive rating is really good.
I’m skeptical. Yaxel wasn’t in the air and was off balance. This guy looks big and strong, but I feel he’s another guy who will miss half the season with injuries. That’s assuming he wins his appeal to get a SEVENTH year of eligibility. If he’s eligible, great. If he stays healthy, great. Otherwise…good piece to the roster.
 
May 30, 2008
716
945
93
People keep saying ‘Pope can’t recruit’ while he’s out here flipping rosters like pancakes at Waffle House at 3 AM. He’s pulling dudes from Washington and he is going to coach’em up! And don’t even get me started on the GM BATTALION! We are not DONE!
He beat Michigan, Michigan State, and UConn. Why no wif posts cesspool
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,274
72,035
113
While the block was indeed nasty it wasn’t smart. He could have easily just snatched the ball in mid air and headed the other way. Happens a lot in games really where a controlled block could have easily taken place to retain possession but instead the ball is swatted out of bounds. Stuff like this has to be addressed in practice.
In the moment, he obviously had no idea he would make such good contact. He was running full speed and his goal was to block the shot and he had a split second to do what he did.
Things happen fast in these games, it's not really fair to come in after the fact and say "he shoulda, woulda, coulda".
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,841
20,193
103
In the moment, he obviously had no idea he would make such good contact. He was running full speed and his goal was to block the shot and he had a split second to do what he did.
Things happen fast in these games, it's not really fair to come in after the fact and say "he shoulda, woulda, coulda".
It’s a mindset that most every player does. They want to send the ball into the stands on almost every blocked shot. You guys want good coaching or not or is that just lip service. Good coaching will reprogram a players mind to think differently. Most shots can be blocked very easily with nothing but a hand in the way without swatting at it. Sure it’s nowhere near as cool looking but it’s how defense should be taught. How many times does a defender get called for a foul on a clean block because it looked worse than it was due to how hard he swung at the block.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,274
72,035
113
It’s a mindset that most every player does. They want to send the ball into the stands on almost every blocked shot. You guys want good coaching or not or is that just lip service. Good coaching will reprogram a players mind to think differently. Most shots can be blocked very easily with nothing but a hand in the way without swatting at it. Sure it’s nowhere near as cool looking but it’s how defense should be taught. How many times does a defender get called for a foul on a clean block because it looked worse than it was due to how hard he swung at the block.
A block like that also sends a message.

But when you're playing all out, with high intensity and you have a chance to run full speed and block a shot, you do it.

You're accusing the guy of being selfish, instead of just understanding how fast he had to react to get himself into position to block the shot.

Yeah, if we lived in a perfect world, he would have grabbed the ball.
 

BigBlueGuru

All-Conference
Feb 10, 2007
1,868
3,173
103
A block like that also sends a message.

But when you're playing all out, with high intensity and you have a chance to run full speed and block a shot, you do it.

You're accusing the guy of being selfish, instead of just understanding how fast he had to react to get himself into position to block the shot.

Yeah, if we lived in a perfect world, he would have grabbed the ball.
Exactly. Some want to armchair quarterback when they havent played 1 game of organized basketball and have no idea what they are talking about.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,274
72,035
113
Exactly. Some want to armchair quarterback when they havent played 1 game of organized basketball and have no idea what they are talking about.
Yeah, anyone that has ever played ball, even just pick up ball at the local park, knows how fast the game can move and at the bigtime college level, it's sooo much faster.
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,841
20,193
103
A block like that also sends a message.

But when you're playing all out, with high intensity and you have a chance to run full speed and block a shot, you do it.

You're accusing the guy of being selfish, instead of just understanding how fast he had to react to get himself into position to block the shot.

Yeah, if we lived in a perfect world, he would have grabbed the ball.
Where did I say anything about him being selfish. He hustled on the play, clearly had the advantage as Yaxel didn’t even know he was there. It was a very good play, a great play would have been stealing the ball.
 
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BookofMormon

Senior
Mar 27, 2026
466
621
93
What is there to boo about? Swatting a ball out of bounds when it isn’t necessary allows the other team to retain possession and another chance to score. Little things like this can win or lose a game for you in a close one possession game.
Yaxel was trying to flip it up while backwards to the rim - any of us could have blocked it. Lame highlight. Agree with this - could have likely grabbed it.
 

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,987
16,350
113
I've read reports of Kepnang possibly getting an 8th year .... ?????
Covid Year
Injury Year
Regular Redshirt Year
and then ....
5 years to play 5 years
 
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Catapult44

Sophomore
Jul 19, 2025
76
154
33
What is there to boo about? Swatting a ball out of bounds when it isn’t necessary allows the other team to retain possession and another chance to score. Little things like this can win or lose a game for you in a close one possession game.
Not many Bill Russell's in the world!
 

BleedBlue747

Sophomore
Dec 5, 2025
113
116
43
I've read reports of Kepnang possibly getting an 8th year .... ?????
Covid Year
Injury Year
Regular Redshirt Year
and then ....
5 years to play 5 years
He played good D against Duane Wade. My man is like 38 years old .