Kam Williams developing some ball handling skills might be one of the key aspects to UK's success this season.

[Son_Of_Saul]

I agree with Goodman's take that UK's best chances this upcoming season could involve Kam Williams and Milan playing together on the wings with Wilkins/Diallo rotating at the 1. Even if Kam is your shooting guard backup, it helps the rotation in that it clears up Hawthorne to be your backup 3.

Rotation if Kam can actually handle the ball:

G - Diallo - Mason or Morton
G - Wilkins - Kam
F - Milan - Hawthorne
F - Mitchell - N'Diaye or McBride
C - Moreno - Kepnang

If Kam can't make the wing guard happen due to lack of ball handling skills, it backs up Hawthorne to being UK's third-string small forward. I don't like that from a developmental standpoint becuase it means we probably lose him after this year.

My hope is also that N'Diaye becomes more physical so as to eventually become a guy who can play a few minutes at the 5. Relying entirely on Kepnang as your 5 man depth piece has it's obvious downsides.

 

[BBNinSCar]

Williams and Hawthorne are not SEC caliber starting players. If we are counting on either of them for significant minutes or in critical moments, our season is cooked

 

[Yardeth]

Williams is going to surprise a lot of people this season

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I agree with Goodman's take that UK's best chances this upcoming season could involve Kam Williams and Milan playing together on the wings with Wilkins/Diallo rotating at the 1. Even if Kam is your shooting guard backup, it helps the rotation in that it clears up Hawthorne to be your backup 3.

Rotation if Kam can actually handle the ball:

G - Diallo - Mason or Morton
G - Wilkins - Kam
F - Milan - Hawthorne
F - Mitchell - N'Diaye or McBride
C - Moreno - Kepnang

If Kam can't make the wing guard happen due to lack of ball handling skills, it backs up Hawthorne to being UK's third-string small forward. I don't like that from a developmental standpoint becuase it means we probably lose him after this year.

My hope is also that N'Diaye becomes more physical so as to eventually become a guy who can play a few minutes at the 5. Relying entirely on Kepnang as your 5 man depth piece has it's obvious downsides.

I really liked how Kam was starting to play last year before he went down. Obviously his dribbling and play making must improve to be a complete player now. Too ad he needed another surgery and can’t start working early. This is a big season for his development.

 

[megablue]

Williams is going to surprise a lot of people this season

Williams averaged 18.5 minutes per game last season. When healthy, will he average more than that this year ??

Kam Williams College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Kam Williams - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more

www.sports-reference.com

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Williams and Hawthorne are not SEC caliber starting players. If we are counting on either of them for significant minutes or in critical moments, our season is cooked

Truthfully we have no idea what Hawthorne will be. Most likely he won’t be a starter level player, but he could be good enough to really contribute off the bench which is what we need. Kam on the other hand could be a starter level player if he improves.

 

[chroix]

I really liked how Kam was starting to play last year before he went down. Obviously his dribbling and play making must improve to be a complete player now. Too ad he needed another surgery and can’t start working early. This is a big season for his development.

Yep. His OOC was a no show for the most part and I wrote him off for sure but he started clicking and really looked like a great piece for us before he went down.

 

[chroix]

Damn I wish we had some summer exhibition games so we could a little sneak preview.

 

[GeraldV]

Hasn't Kam been in a cast most of the offseason? Hard to get better as a ballhandler that way,

 

[Beatle Bum]

I like Goodman’s show but don’t see him as anything more than a fan who watches the game.

 

[UKCowboys]

I thin

Williams and Hawthorne are not SEC caliber starting players. If we are counting on either of them for significant minutes or in critical moments, our season is cooked

How do you know?

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

Williams is going to surprise a lot of people this season

i dont see how. he has been out all summer with injury and unable to work on his game. sure maybe another year in the system he is more comfortable and thus more productive.....but i dont think we see any marginal improvement.

but in some recent pics it does appear he is out of the boot. so there's that.

 

[GreenCheckRex0807]

Ball handling doesn’t happen over a summer. I am sure he can improve, but Kam will not be in a place in that department to play the 2.

He just needs to hit shots (~38%) and cause problems with his length on defense. If anything is involved with the 2 spot, it will be him guarding it on the other end. I like the thought of that more than I like him at the 2 on offense.

 

[ScWildcat3]

Ball handling doesn’t happen over a summer. I am sure he can improve, but Kam will not be in a place in that department to play the 2.

He just needs to hit shots (~38%) and get cause problems with his length on defense. If anything is involved with the 2 spot, it will be him guarding it on the other end. I like the thought of that more than I like him at the 2 on offense.

The good thing is in a 5 out type offense 2-4 are all interchangeable. Especially with a Mitchell at the 4 who can handle the ball.

 

[wildcatdon]

Williams and Hawthorne are not SEC caliber starting players. If we are counting on either of them for significant minutes or in critical moments, our season is cooked

And you know this how?

 

[wildcatdon]

Williams and Hawthorne are not SEC caliber starting players. If we are counting on either of them for significant minutes or in critical moments, our season is cooked

And you know this how?

 

[Artlaibesghost]

Cam still in a boot so I don't see him being a meaningful contributor until Christmas if all goes well with his rehab. If he returns and has to play the 2 in anything but an absolute emergency Pope will be looking for a job in off-season. To me the key sub will Kepnang. If he stays healthy to back up Moreno we should be a tough out , if not we have problems.

 

[BBNinSCar]

And you know this how?

If we had to back up our statements with facts, there would be nothing to read here.

 

[ScWildcat3]

Cam still in a boot so I don't see him being a meaningful contributor until Christmas if all goes well with his rehab. If he returns and has to play the 2 in anything but an absolute emergency Pope will be looking for a job in off-season. To me the key sub will Kepnang. If he stays healthy to back up Moreno we should be a tough out , if not we have problems.

Y’all got to get off the traditional positions. Kam can easily play the 2 if you have someone like Mitchell at the 4. Mitchell can handle the ball as can Moreno. Who is all on the on court matters not just 1 guy at 1 spot.

 

[Delk4three]

I see Williams as a 3rd stringer on this team. He's coming off 2 foot surgeries and wasn't showing much when healthy. M. Williams, Morton, and Hawthorne are the main perimeter backups imo.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Yep. His OOC was a no show for the most part and I wrote him off for sure but he started clicking and really looked like a great piece for us before he went down.

Same thoughts

 

[megablue]

Damn I wish we had some summer exhibition games so we could a little sneak preview.

Yes ... it would sure help everyone's speculation !!

 

[SandyBell'sFaxMachine]

I agree with Goodman's take that UK's best chances this upcoming season could involve Kam Williams and Milan playing together on the wings with Wilkins/Diallo rotating at the 1. Even if Kam is your shooting guard backup, it helps the rotation in that it clears up Hawthorne to be your backup 3.

Rotation if Kam can actually handle the ball:

G - Diallo - Mason or Morton
G - Wilkins - Kam
F - Milan - Hawthorne
F - Mitchell - N'Diaye or McBride
C - Moreno - Kepnang

If Kam can't make the wing guard happen due to lack of ball handling skills, it backs up Hawthorne to being UK's third-string small forward. I don't like that from a developmental standpoint becuase it means we probably lose him after this year.

My hope is also that N'Diaye becomes more physical so as to eventually become a guy who can play a few minutes at the 5. Relying entirely on Kepnang as your 5 man depth piece has it's obvious downsides.

I really really want N'Diaye to be able to play the 5. We can run some insane 5 out action with him at the 5 and is a line up I'm really g hoping we can utilize.

 

[SandyBell'sFaxMachine]

Or

Williams and Hawthorne are not SEC caliber starting players. If we are counting on either of them for significant minutes or in critical moments, our season is cooked

2nd and/or 3rd string players have to SEC starter level players?

 

[Wildcat_in_DC]

by the way....we all know pope wont do this. pope is going to revert back to his hockey subs.

rotation 1: diallo/wilkins/milan/mitchell/moreno

and around the 16 minute mark

rotation 2: morton/kam/mcbride/ndiaye/frank

then go deep into the bench at the 11 minute mark

rotation3: mason/wilkins/milan/hawthorne/moreno

then around 9 minutes left bring back all the starters

 

[ScWildcat3]

by the way....we all know pope wont do this. pope is going to revert back to his hockey subs.

rotation 1: diallo/wilkins/milan/mitchell/moreno

and around the 16 minute mark

rotation 2: morton/kam/mcbride/ndiaye/frank

then go deep into the bench at the 11 minute mark

rotation3: mason/wilkins/milan/hawthorne/moreno

then around 9 minutes left bring back all the starters

Got to be a joke

 

[Snarks]

Williams and Hawthorne are not SEC caliber starting players. If we are counting on either of them for significant minutes or in critical moments, our season is cooked

And to think Pope took Hawthornes brother just to keep him here

 

[#1 cat fan]

On

I agree with Goodman's take that UK's best chances this upcoming season could involve Kam Williams and Milan playing together on the wings with Wilkins/Diallo rotating at the 1. Even if Kam is your shooting guard backup, it helps the rotation in that it clears up Hawthorne to be your backup 3.

Rotation if Kam can actually handle the ball:

G - Diallo - Mason or Morton
G - Wilkins - Kam
F - Milan - Hawthorne
F - Mitchell - N'Diaye or McBride
C - Moreno - Kepnang

If Kam can't make the wing guard happen due to lack of ball handling skills, it backs up Hawthorne to being UK's third-string small forward. I don't like that from a developmental standpoint becuase it means we probably lose him after this year.

My hope is also that N'Diaye becomes more physical so as to eventually become a guy who can play a few minutes at the 5. Relying entirely on Kepnang as your 5 man depth piece has it's obvious downsides.

One of the dumbest things I've seen on here honestly
It's unbelievable how many of our fans have no idea who can play what position.
Listing 2 guys that are pfs (based on how they move) and putting them at 2g lololol
Good Lord

Yea let's put 4 guys out there that can stand still and not dribble a basketball

 

[#1 cat fan]

i dont see how. he has been out all summer with injury and unable to work on his game. sure maybe another year in the system he is more comfortable and thus more productive.....but i dont think we see any marginal improvement.

but in some recent pics it does appear he is out of the boot. so there's that.

He was talking about mason Williams
He's 100% correct too
I could see him starting at the 2 alot more than kam Williams

 

[#1 cat fan]

Y’all got to get off the traditional positions. Kam can easily play the 2 if you have someone like Mitchell at the 4. Mitchell can handle the ball as can Moreno. Who is all on the on court matters not just 1 guy at 1 spot.

Lol you realize last season the reason we struggled was because our 2g couldn't dribble a basketball
He was 100 times more capable than kam Williams at playing 2

Delusional. A role player that might have made 2 effort plays a game and volume shooter has somehow turned into a 2g lol

 

[#1 cat fan]

I see Williams as a 3rd stringer on this team. He's coming off 2 foot surgeries and wasn't showing much when healthy. M. Williams, Morton, and Hawthorne are the main perimeter backups imo.

Agree

 

[ScWildcat3]

Lol you realize last season the reason we struggled was because our 2g couldn't dribble a basketball
He was 100 times more capable to ban kam Williams at playing 2

Delusional. A role player that might have made 2 effort plays a game and volume shooter has somehow turned into a 2g lol

That’s why I said if Mitchell is at the 4 the need for a ball handling 2 isn’t as needed. It’s not like Kam would play a ton of mins at the 2 but he could easily play 5-7 a game at the 2 if Mitchell is at the 4 and zoom or Wilkins is at the 1. And we struggled for a lot more reasons than a 2g who couldn’t dribble good.

You saying Kam didn’t give effort? The same guy who rushed back from surgery to help the team when he didn’t have to.

 

[CRZ4UK]

Williams is going to surprise a lot of people this season

That’s exactly what was said by many, many people about Williams and Noah last year.
Noah was unplayable all year.
Kam was unplayable the first 20 games. Finally started to hit some shots and was hurt.
Im not counting on either.

 

[Catman100]

A lot of you guys must have watched a different season than I did last year. All I remember from Williams was him shooting more airballs than makes. And that was when he was healthy as a horse.
Some of you think he is going to develop a handle in the offseason when he is coming off an injury and is still not 100%? That just does not happen. If Kam Williams is needed to be a big contributor this season, it will be Pope's last as UK coach.

 

[Beatle Bum]

Lol you realize last season the reason we struggled was because our 2g couldn't dribble a basketball
He was 100 times more capable to ban kam Williams at playing 2

Delusional. A role player that might have made 2 effort plays a game and volume shooter has somehow turned into a 2g lol

Well, we also struggled because our designated 2G was playing PG. Chandler was probably a backup 2G or a starting WF if we had true PGs (Lowe hurt and Lewis bolted). Aberdeen was good at PG in reserve but he does not set up others as well as Zoom and Lex should be able to.

 

[BBNinSCar]

Or

2nd and/or 3rd string players have to SEC starter level players?

I like Williams, but he should not be more than a bench player for us this season. I hope he has his shooting touch as he and Noah could hit some 3’s off the bench

 

[BBNinSCar]

That’s why I said if Mitchell is at the 4 the need for a ball handling 2 isn’t as needed. It’s not like Kam would play a ton of mins at the 2 but he could easily play 5-7 a game at the 2 if Mitchell is at the 4 and zoom or Wilkins is at the 1. And we struggled for a lot more reasons than a 2g who couldn’t dribble good.

You saying Kam didn’t give effort? The same guy who rushed back from surgery to help the team when he didn’t have to.

It would be a luxury if Kam can play SG minutes.
Our overall size is going to be a big advantage for us. I would hope if Kam is at the 2, Pope posts him up against smaller guards.

 

[ScWildcat3]

It would be a luxury if Kam can play SG minutes.
Our overall size is going to be a big advantage for us. I would hope if Kam is at the 2, Pope posts him up against smaller guards.

He could definitely play what some call the 2. In a 5 out offense there really doesn’t have to be designated 2-4 spots. A 1 and a 5 who can run the top like Moreno solve a lot. Also Mitchell can handle and make plays. Defensively kam can guard 1-4. That’s why I hope he can come back healthy and contribute. What he did to Caleb Wilson last year was what most couldn’t.

 

[Beatle Bum]

In an interview, Kam was asked about the 2G position and he said he would play wherever but his response seemed clear that he is expected at the WF/PF positions.

 

[JwUKFan11]

The obsession with Kam having huge potential is strange to me. I’ll still take Hawthorne over him based on what I saw in HS.