Worst Case Scenario: Skal = Harrow

[DaveUK4life]

Skal's body language on the bench during the ASU game stood out to me more than his poor play. Slumped in his chair, head hung. He looked like he is wilting, not struggling, which naturally reminded me of Ryan Harrow.

The general feeling after the ASU game for Skal was "Well, it can't get much worse. Nowhere to go but up." I disagree. He hasn't played real basketball for two years, but if he isn't resilient, he will struggle to survive here, let alone thrive.

Thoughts?

That said, even if were we to be without Skal, I still like this team's chances in March. We will always be a tough out because of our guard play. The shooting will come around; just a matter of time.

 

[EvilMD]

We can't make him a physical presence, in my opinion. Just not in his DNA. So why not let him be Tayshaun?

 

[WCBcats]

use him at the high post. start pick and pop. if he has an open 15 footer, he has to shoot it. Has great touch. Need Something to get such a good kid going.

 

[W_Heisenberg]

:flush:

 

[Wall2Boogie]

Please no more! Skal=sheray Thomas

 

[caneintally]

Holy crap people . Just stop. Kid will be a top 3 pick and be averaging 15 and 7 here every game in a month or so . Patience . Geez . He is just down on himself right now and understandably so.

 

[trueblujr]

Skal just is lacking confidence now. He is going to come around. He has shown signs of what he is capable of, he just needs something positive to go his way to regain his confidence. Cal is a master at getting the most out of guys. He's not one to tear somebody down and demoralize them. He knows what he's doing.

 

[DaveUK4life]

Skal just is lacking confidence now. He is going to come around. He has shown signs of what he is capable of, he just needs something positive to go his way to regain his confidence. Cal is a master at getting the most out of guys. He's not one to tear somebody down and demoralize them. He knows what he's doing.

I agree that he lacks confidence, but I don't think Cal can instill resiliency if (big if) it's not there. That's why I brought up Harrow. He imploded on Cal.

 

[bigc45157]

Not resilient? He survived the Earthquake in Haiti!!

He's just a boy, he was upset and probably frustrated with all of this.

I think we need to support him like Cal and his teammates are. Because in end end, he's ours.

 

[UKani]

I feel sorry for Skal. He came in with a lot of expectations but didn't play a whole lot of basketball before now. That usually means it will take multiple years to get where he needs to be. He's trying, but its just not happening. I think Skal is frustrated right now, and rightfully so, he's just not ready to play at this level. When he develops then college basketball better watch out. hopefully he doesn't try to jump to the NBA pre-maturely.

 

[WCBcats]

Weird to say, but there are some kids you genuinely feel bad for and I feel bad for skal. Seems as if he's an unbelievable kid and I'm sure he wants as bad as any of us for himself to succeed. He's got all the talent in the word. I hope it comes alive for his sake and ours. He's gotta start taking some shots.

 

[irishcat1965]

The chicken littles on this forum are pathetic. It's fricking December 13. Not everyone is Cousins,Davis or Towns. How about giving the kid until at least the middle of January before busting his balls?

 

[NCukcat62]

Skal is just going through a major freshman slump. It has happened to several of boys since ca) has been here. It isn't the end of the world. He'll be fine.

 

[UK90]

We can't make him a physical presence, in my opinion. Just not in his DNA. So why not let him be Tayshaun?

What exactly do you mean by "let him be Tayshaun"?

Tayshaun was a tough as nails shutdown defender, there was nothing soft about his game. Other than both being skinny I see nothing similar between he and Skal thus far.

 

[LowCountryCat]

I don't get the Skal hate - he's a freshman. He'll be fine. Remember Towns and the 'slow walk?' Number 1 draft pick.

I also don't get the Harrow hate. He had his issues but he wasn't all that bad. That team was 17-7 when Nerlens went down. Anybody remember what the 2014 team's record was after 24 games? You know, the team that went to the title game?

 

[mkasten25]

We can use him to block free throws.

 

[STL_Cat]

I don't get the Skal hate - he's a freshman. He'll be fine. Remember Towns and the 'slow walk?' Number 1 draft pick.

I also don't get the Harrow hate. He had his issues but he wasn't all that bad. That team was 17-7 when Nerlens went down. Anybody remember what the 2014 team's record was after 24 games? You know, the team that went to the title game?

I don't think anyone hates Skal. Seems to me like everyone likes Skal as a person. There has been a lot of disappointment with Skal's demeanor and game so far. It's fair to say. You want to not talk about how our center and projected top 5 pick in the draft isn't rebounding the basketball AT ALL? How he looks completely mentally defeated on the bench? That's fine if you don't want to talk about it, but this is a fine conversation to have.

One bozo made a comment about Towns "slow walk" before the season started last year. He got properly crushed for it. Towns didn't get off to a blazing start last year, but it was clear how good Towns was going to be from the beginning. I don't think you can say the same for Skal.

Skal has plenty of time on the season to get better. Right now he looks like a project. Generally speaking there's nothing wrong with that. But when we expect a guy who looks like a project to only stay one year, it's disconcerting.

 

[DaveUK4life]

Every time I think I've seen the worst thread possible on this board somebody tops it.

I'd like to hear your take. Why are you confident there is no possibility that Skal will not end up melting down like Harrow?

 

[CatsIndy2010]

I think we are a little too harsh on skal. I think he is better than he is playing. He has to be with being a top recruit in the nation. Am I right?

 

[Xception]

 

[STL_Cat]

I think we are a little too harsh on skal. I think he is better than he is playing. He has to be with being a top recruit in the nation. Am I right?

It's definitely safe to say he's better than that 0 point 0 rebound 5 foul performance from yesterday.

 

[Barry MuCockinher]

There's something a lot of posters are missing. Some say freshman slump, others say he's weak mentally like harrow, some say it's the lack of playing in high school. I pose this question ( not a Skal hater , love the kid); how can some not see this as lack of effort or fight? Yes he has some fight. But my concern is a 7 footer getting zero rebounds. He had a total of 3 over a 2 game span. That screams lack of fight and effort. If Tyler shoving him in the chest on national tv doesn't motivate him it creates genuine concern!

Before you blast me again I'm not hating on Skal, but you have to take off your blue tinted glasses and see the concern. Heck as effed up mentally that Harrow was he could at least rebound. I wish the kid the best but man if you're not showing at least fight to help your team on the boards. Jmo. Blast away

 

[Orange Soda King]

Remember Towns and the 'slow walk?'

Yes, but that was just one poster who said that, and it was so hilarious that StubbornPenny (I believe) made that his signature for a while. Good times, though!

 

[EvilMD]

What exactly do you mean by "let him be Tayshaun"?

Tayshaun was a tough as nails shutdown defender, there was nothing soft about his game. Other than both being skinny I see nothing similar between he and Skal thus far.

I meant offensively. Skal is a very gifted shooter. Quit asking him to beat and bang inside. Let him be fluid offensively, like Tayshaun.

 

[CELTICAT]

The actual worst case scenario is that Skal is literally Ryan Harrow on stilts wearing a trench coat, pretending to be a seven footer for another crack at playing for UK. It would not only be criminally illegal but could mean we have to forfeit games he's played in.

 

[EvilMD]

The actual worse case scenario is that Skal is literally Ryan Harrow on stilts wearing a trench coat, pretending to be a seven footer for another crack at playing for UK. It would not only be criminally illegal but could mean we have to forfeit games he's played in.

AND he's in Katina Powell's next book "Wildcat Strike: Bringing the Sex to Lexington"

 

[WildmanWilson_rivals]

I don't think it a slump. I think he is just overwhelmed at this level and style of play. The kid has the ability to be great but I see him as a 3 year type player to develop into a great player. We as fans push expectations on them that may not be realistic. Let him grow at the pace that's right for him and let's see how it works out.

 

[hoggwildcat]

I agree that he lacks confidence, but I don't think Cal can instill resiliency if (big if) it's not there. That's why I brought up Harrow. He imploded on Cal.

Big difference, Skal is a good kid trying to learn how to play against players his size or bigger. Harrow was a head case, a trouble maker, a locker room divider, that caused trouble behind the scene that derailed that team. And, he had already showed he was talented enough to play big time college basketball in his third year.

 

[Allan Brewer]

You guys with your pick and pop make me laugh....put a seven-footer out on the perimeter and make him into a fourth guard? LOL

That is so wrong I can't even begin to enumerate how unhelpful that is for a team that needs production in the paint

Not to mention Skal can't guard the pick'n'roll at the elbows or top of the key worth a darn...you might as well put a lamp-post out there for his man to blow by

Letting Skal continue to play like he was able to in church league will not serve him well at all. He has to learn how to rebound and defend, just like Willie did. That's the gift this kid needs from the staff, and when he starts following instructions he will reap the benefits. Let that staff sports psychologist work with what's between his ears and Cal work with his arms (which need to be up, not flailing around like big wings) and his feet (which a fake takes him way way off-balance time after time)

 

[hoodro]

There's something a lot of posters are missing. Some say freshman slump, others say he's weak mentally like harrow, some say it's the lack of playing in high school. I pose this question ( not a Skal hater , love the kid); how can some not see this as lack of effort or fight? Yes he has some fight. But my concern is a 7 footer getting zero rebounds. He had a total of 3 over a 2 game span. That screams lack of fight and effort. If Tyler shoving him in the chest on national tv doesn't motivate him it creates genuine concern!

Before you blast me again I'm not hating on Skal, but you have to take off your blue tinted glasses and see the concern. Heck as effed up mentally that Harrow was he could at least rebound. I wish the kid the best but man if you're not showing at least fight to help your team on the boards. Jmo. Blast away

Nobody should really be missing that or surprised by it, though. If people would just pay attention and listen, Cal has been saying that Skal has zero fight in him since day one. Matter of fact, he even said it again last night.

 

[DaveUK4life]

Big difference, Skal is a good kid trying to learn how to play against players his size or bigger. Harrow was a head case, a trouble maker, a locker room divider, that caused trouble behind the scene that derailed that team. And, he had already showed he was talented enough to play big time college basketball in his third year.

Head case, yes. Derailed the team, yes. Trouble maker (bad kid stuff)? Locker room divider? I wasn't aware of that. I remember him being a good kid who folded when the pressure got on him.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Skal's body language on the bench during the ASU game stood out to me more than his poor play. Slumped in his chair, head hung. He looked like he is wilting, not struggling, which naturally reminded me of Ryan Harrow.

The general feeling after the ASU game for Skal was "Well, it can't get much worse. Nowhere to go but up." I disagree. He hasn't played real basketball for two years, but if he isn't resilient, he will struggle to survive here, let alone thrive.

Thoughts?

That said, even if were we to be without Skal, I still like this team's chances in March. We will always be a tough out because of our guard play. The shooting will come around; just a matter of time.

He's a little taller than Harrow.[winking] Kenny Payne said give him a month. If it takes long, it takes longer. Frank Kaminski averaged 4 ppg at UW as a soph and did okay (unfortunately for us last year).

 

[WeWant9]

I've never really said this before, but I think Skal would benefit a lot more by playing a couple seasons in the D-League. The kid has a lot of potential, but he needs to be able to devout a ton of time to bulking up his body and learning how to play through contact. I think he'll be a top pick just based on his potential, but I'm trying to see where I should temper my expectations as to where he's ceiling is at for this year.

 

[hoodro]

Patience follows good judgement. So does impatience.


Head case, yes. Derailed the team, yes. Trouble maker (bad kid stuff)? Locker room divider? I wasn't aware of that. I remember him being a good kid who folded when the pressure got on him.

I'm not aware of him doing anything specifically in the locker room to divide it, but I am aware of him quitting on his teammates and leaving school before being talked into coming back because he was UK's only option at the time and left them in a bad spot.

I wasn't part of that locker room, but I can only imagine how the rest of the team felt when their starting PG bitched out and left them hanging three games into the season. Pretty sure that would cause some sort of divide.

On top of that, for the rest of the season everyone (staff and teammates) probably felt like they had to tiptoe around him, so that they didn't hurt his fragile feelings and he up and quit again, leaving them hanging for a second time. I'm assuming that's what Cal was referring to when he said the team was held hostage.

 

[Allan Brewer]

I've never really said this before, but I think Skal would benefit a lot more by playing a couple seasons in the D-League. The kid has a lot of potential, but he needs to be able to devout a ton of time to bulking up his body and learning how to play through contact. I think he'll be a top pick just based on his potential, but I'm trying to see where I should temper my expectations as to where he's ceiling is at for this year.

He's in the functional equivalent of the D-league at UK, if not actually better from just about every respect from travel to competition to personal growth

 

[DaveUK4life]

My take is that comparing Harrow to Skal is like comparing my Toyota Van to Stonehenge. Besides the fact that they are both physical objects existing in the universe, there is no comparison. But I suppose if I strained hard enough I can make one: "I've leaned against both on rainy days."

That's as workable a comparison as, "Harrow and Skal are both young men who played basketball for Kentucky who had some bad games in November and early December." That's literally the only comparison I can see between Skal and Harrow.

Didn't address the question, but I think adding Harrow's name caused confusion. Let me rephrase:
Why are you confident there is no possibility that Skal will not end up melting down?

 

[Teachable Moe]

Worst case scenario? A superbug emerges that infects all mammalian life with a disease that causes death by rotting over a period of weeks. While in the background, all the world over, loudspeakers blare "What's New, Pussycat?" on infinite replay. Then, with just over 10 days remaining in our collective morbidity, the several music players start to get out of synch and everyone realizes that they'll never be alive to hear them all get together again but that they'll spend the rest of their days mentally noting the infinitesimal changes.

 

[BlueWorldOrder]

Skal may also be going through something similar to what happened with Terrence Jones. Didnt he have a long stretch of games where he had awful games back to back where he was struggling with his confidence? Was like his freshman or sophomore year. I am almost positive I remember that happening. We were wondering what the hell had happened to him.

 

[DaveUK4life]

Let's be honest. The worst case scenario is that Cal is paying all these kids to come play at UK. I'll take a superbug over that any day of the week. :beer:

 

[DaveUK4life]

Skal may also be going through something similar to what happened with Terrence Jones. Didnt he have a long stretch of games where he had awful games back to back where he was struggling with his confidence? Was like his freshman or sophomore year. I am almost positive I remember that happening. We were wondering what the hell had happened to him.

True and a good point.