If he can develop a power game he would be a nice replacement for Oweh. For us to make a FF it’s with Kam being consistent every night. Kam being a defensive difference maker. And with a better ability to get to the basket. There are some other paths with other guys being the X factor. Who you got?
Kam Williams is the X factor?
- Thread starter Goingfor9
- Start date
I like Kams game a lot. If he is hitting it’s over. Hope he has a successful year. Agree about his defense too. Hopefully our guards can defend somewhat this year.
I feel like he'll benefit from actually having a point guard this year
I think Brandon Hawthorne will be surprisingly good contributor. He’s a ball player. Noah should mature into a more confident player and Potter helped Miami. He can shoot it for a 7 footer and adds depth in the post.
Isn’t that the little brother? Hopefully he doesn’t play at all. Except maybe cigar minutes.
Also, Noah and Potter better not play either if we are doing anything. You picked the 3 worst players we have and said they need to contribute? Alrighty then.
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Kam will now have a tougher time seeing the court, even though he may be our best defender (& is a good shooter).
I think the guy who might have the biggest chance, certainly the highest ceiling is N'Diaye.
I think the guy who might have the biggest chance, certainly the highest ceiling is N'Diaye.
Kam was a good shooter last year I think he will be a very good shooter and great size and another year of experience.
Hes never going to develop a power game. He's basically a 0 on the boards, so its tough to play him at the 4.
He really needs to work on the handle all off-season. That's something he can improve which will pay dividends and get him more time since he can more competently play the 3.
I hope Kam takes a big step forward, but outside of one game where he was on fire, the guy didn’t exactly light it up. He shot 36% from 3 on the season. That’s not bad, but that’s also not great. Unless he gets much better from outside or discovers another facet of his game we didn’t see, we may want to temper our expectations.
McBride might be a pleasant surprise
I couldn't agree more... I've said many times the best thing he can do for his basketball future is to upgrade his handle significantly enough that he can attack off the bounce not just as a straight line drive but also with change of direction. With his length & perimeter shooting ability, that would make him pretty lethal.
For me it’s Wilkins. I think he has the largest range of outcomes on the roster(not including the complete unknown with an international like N’Diaye). Analytics models are very down on him and you can see why, bottom 5 in TO per game in the country, 33% 3 point shooter, and separately he’s very skinny. But when you watch him cooking…he cooks.
He’s played one major conference team in his career and they had to play a backup PG that game. (Furman didn’t play any buy games against power conference teams last year)
He’s played one major conference team in his career and they had to play a backup PG that game. (Furman didn’t play any buy games against power conference teams last year)
No might to it. I think we are going to love this guy and he's going to be big time
I'm hopeful but cautiously optimistic. He kinda has that tweener size/skillset at 6'7 230-240ish with outside range to where it COULD be an advantage (quick enough to take larger PF off the bounce, thick enough to post up smaller defenders), but I've also seen so many guys his size that are liabilities b/c larger/longer PF defenders give them trouble by overpowering him when he's on defense while making it difficult for McBride to shoot over them.
So, I am HOPEFUL that he can be a PJ Washington type player as he appears to have a similar build and skillset to him, but I am tempering that the realization that there are many, MANY guys his size/skillset who do not pan out like PJ or a Draymond Green type versatile PF.
I see you didn’t watch the NCAA tournament huh?
Edit: Sorry, I didn’t realize that’s the game you were talking about.
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His observation was actually fairly astute - a he did, since he cited the one major conference team (UConn).I see you didn’t watch the NCAA tournament huh?
I like him as a player - he was a freshman last year. He's basically a Wagler profile. Tall guard with good stop and go.
Kam has a better shot at playing the 2 than the 4. Doesn't hit the boards. But he has excellent range, and is an above-average defender. We REALLY missed him when he was injured last year. I look for him to have a BIG season. Go Cats.
ah I missed that was the game he’s talking about. I don’t remember a backup PG being a thing but maybe I just focused on Wilkins and House shooting for the upset.
I thought his defense was really coming on late last season before the injury. He's quicker than he looks and he showed he could guard 1-4 really well. He was also getting to the rim some and finishing, shedding that "shooter only" label. Now he's got Milan with him and slashers in Zoom and Wilkins which will open up even more wide open looks. I think Kam's set up for a really good season and he's my X Factor for the season.
Kam can shoot 3's and defend but nothing from last season tells me he can drive the ball, create his own shot or score in the post.
Kam is definitely more a 3 and D wing guy than a creator. He's more "smooth" and deliberate (read that as slower but controlled) offensively than guys who can get downhill. I like him as a cutter without the ball, backscreen and down screen guy. He has to move without the ball (which he started to do towards the end of the season before his injury). I don't think he's fast and quick direction change enough to play the 2 defensively, but I expect him to be the first guy off the bench and get heavy minutes between the 2-3-4 spots as the main first sub. I think his run on the floor will largely be determined by his motor and willingness to lock in defensively and rebound physically. I don't think he's the X-factor (I think it's Wilkens), but Kam playing well, being comfortable in the system, and staying hungry and aggressive will make everyone else better. Especially if Milan draws a ton of attention on the floor, Kam will have his chances to shine.
Totally - team is going to average minimum 120 points a game, easy. Lol.
This place. 40-0, NC or bust!!
I don’t see it with Williams. I still don’t believe he is an SEC caliber player.
The player that must be better than expected for us to be good is Diallo. This whole team will look the part getting off the bus, but I really don’t expect much from the Hawthorne brothers, Potter or even Noah or Williams.
Diallo
Wilkins
Momcilovic
N’Daiye
Moreno
This starting 5 better be successful or Pope will be a lame duck coach before Christmas.
* and Kentucky coaching staff- roll with the hot hand(s) this season. Don’t start substituting in Kam Williams and company when things are going well.
The player that must be better than expected for us to be good is Diallo. This whole team will look the part getting off the bus, but I really don’t expect much from the Hawthorne brothers, Potter or even Noah or Williams.
Diallo
Wilkins
Momcilovic
N’Daiye
Moreno
This starting 5 better be successful or Pope will be a lame duck coach before Christmas.
* and Kentucky coaching staff- roll with the hot hand(s) this season. Don’t start substituting in Kam Williams and company when things are going well.
I honestly don't see Williams being in our top 7 come March. I see Morton and Kepnang off the bench along with our starters (McBride at PF), as the rotation come March. Any other player I see only getting a few minutes at most.
Never seen anything like this bunch. It was Mope City 72 hours ago. Lucky to make the tourn. Bum players. Bum coach. Now everyone else is playing for 2nd. Our 2nd team is S16 level. An embarrassment of riches and Pope is King. Looniest bunch of people anywhere. Wait til "Milan" shoots 4/14 in a loss and it'll be FARRRRRRR Milan
It’s pathetic and he’s talking to himself in a thread again.
If Kam is having a hard time getting minutes on this team, we’re the best team in the country. I don’t doubt Momcilovic is going to get all the minutes he wants, but it’s not going to be one or the other! Kam Williams needs to play as much as he can. He’s a great defender who plays with heart and energy and can hit tough shots. He’s going to be a big part of the team this year.
We only need one of Kam, NDiaye or Wilkins to be better than expected to be a top 10 team. If 2 of them are we will be really good and if all 3 are then look out. They all have very high ceilings.
I also believe McBride will be better than advertised as well but his ceiling is much lower than those 3 guys.
I also believe McBride will be better than advertised as well but his ceiling is much lower than those 3 guys.