We don't have a true wing or a big that can do anything with their back to the basket. Shall be an interesting season. What are your thoughts BBN?
Looks like we will have same problem as last year....
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Gabriel would create nightmares for wings and we added serious beef down low. We lost some shooting but gained a ton of strength and athleticism. Lots of length that can step out, a returning Humphries who was VERY young last year, and a freak in Bam
I think this team.... Success aside, actually looks quite a bit different on paper compared to last year. Just IMO
Lee / Skal /////////Gabriel/SKJ
Poythress / ///////Bam
Besides experience I say you go with the right
Poythress / ///////Bam
Besides experience I say you go with the right
I use to think you were just miserable but nowI can tell you are a master at baiting.
With the athleticism that runs in your blood why don't you step out and be the wing. I'm sure coach cal can find a spot for 5'9 white guy. Heck do you have any brothers?
I don't think anybody trusts your basketball opinion after what you thought of Malik Newman tbh
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Lololololol we just lost our feeble and pathetic bigs from last year and you think we'll have the same problems? I guess you haven't seen bam or a returning humphries have you?
Monk isn't a true wing? Bam isn't a physical presence? I don't think we are a lock for the final four, but I also don't think we'll have the same issues.
Taller than 5'9, gotta give a little credit. There is always one prick in the crowd.
I never thought wing play was an issue last year.
Inside play was, but it was more about consistent intensity than anything else. I think we will have that with Bam.
On paper, we look like a much better defensive and rebounding team, with less sharp shooters.
Actually don't think we will resemble last year's team much at all.
Inside play was, but it was more about consistent intensity than anything else. I think we will have that with Bam.
On paper, we look like a much better defensive and rebounding team, with less sharp shooters.
Actually don't think we will resemble last year's team much at all.
Not sure the lack of a true wing is an issue because of how Briscoe can guard that position.
The frontcourt remains to be seen. I tend to think that you need, more than anything, consistency in the college game. Can't have guys who will come to play one night and then disappear the next.
Last year it wasn't that Poythress and Skal were terrible players, it's that you never knew what you were going to get from them. Poythress would follow 22 and 10 games with a whole lot of nothingness.
I think Bam will be the consistent anchor down low. If you don't buy UK's frontcourt you probably don't buy Bam, but I think he'll be an AA candidate by the time it's said and done. I also like Willis (a lot) as a stretch. Depth is going to be the issue, but Wenyen Gabriel has colossal upside and I think SKJ and Humphries will both contribute.
Nothing like last year IMO. Still think Kentucky is clearly the second most talented team behind Duke.
The frontcourt remains to be seen. I tend to think that you need, more than anything, consistency in the college game. Can't have guys who will come to play one night and then disappear the next.
Last year it wasn't that Poythress and Skal were terrible players, it's that you never knew what you were going to get from them. Poythress would follow 22 and 10 games with a whole lot of nothingness.
I think Bam will be the consistent anchor down low. If you don't buy UK's frontcourt you probably don't buy Bam, but I think he'll be an AA candidate by the time it's said and done. I also like Willis (a lot) as a stretch. Depth is going to be the issue, but Wenyen Gabriel has colossal upside and I think SKJ and Humphries will both contribute.
Nothing like last year IMO. Still think Kentucky is clearly the second most talented team behind Duke.
True 3s have just not flocked to Cal. He's got a great rep with PGs and Centers, but not with 3s for some reason.
When you say a "true wing" you mean someone that can score both inside and out. I think Willis and Gabriel might fill that criteria. Or do you mean be able to defend the other team's "wing". I also think Gabriel can fill that, as can often Briscoe.
As for scoring w/ their back to the basket, I think Humphries will be able to do that some, as will also Bam.
Nothing is more overrated than having someone who can score with their back to the basket. In fact, I think it can become counterproductive. UK's offense in 2015 became progressively more unimaginative, as it seemed to devolve down to "let's try to stuff Karl Towns down their throat" at the end of the year.
You need guys who can score in the paint. Bam can do that, and hopefully Wenyan Gabriel can too. Neither AD or Terrence Jones was really a back to the basket guy, and that worked great.
The missing wing is a bigger issue, as again UK will play a lot of 3 guards (not bad, except one of them is a highly questionable shooter), or try to use someone who might be better-suited as a 4 at the 3. However, there is at least one forward who can stretch the D, so UK isn't totally missing in that area.
You need guys who can score in the paint. Bam can do that, and hopefully Wenyan Gabriel can too. Neither AD or Terrence Jones was really a back to the basket guy, and that worked great.
The missing wing is a bigger issue, as again UK will play a lot of 3 guards (not bad, except one of them is a highly questionable shooter), or try to use someone who might be better-suited as a 4 at the 3. However, there is at least one forward who can stretch the D, so UK isn't totally missing in that area.
HOw many quality big men were on the team for the 96-98 run? Pretty much zero. This team has much more quality depth up front than last year. Anyone that can't see that is furthering their own agenda.
I guess people assume Humphries won't improve...imagine his name is willis..then you'd believe he was amazing.
Would rather have guys that can turn and face...back to the basket big men are a thing if the past.
Would rather have guys that can turn and face...back to the basket big men are a thing if the past.
Antoine Walker was highly skilled inside and out.
Nazr and Magloire were among the better big men we've ever had.
Even Mark Pope was "quality."
We need to REBOUND the basketball and defend the middle of the floor and basket better this season. Giving up points in the paint and multiple offensive rebounds KILLED our team last year. A true "back to the basket scorer" is not a necessity. Can our newcomers and returning players defend the paint, provide scoring off of offensive rebounds and attack the basket?
I am of the opinion that they most definitely can.
I am of the opinion that they most definitely can.
Are you kidding here? I look at our roster and can't see a better team in the NCAA (even without my blue-tinted glasses)
Won't be like 14-15 front court, but should be an upgrade from last year, if Bam is as beastly as it sounds like he is.
Problem wasn't that none of the bigs could score back-to-the-basket. It's that they couldn't rebound or guard and wouldn't fight. Anthony Davis wasn't a great back-to-the-basket scorer but he'd kick your *** for a board and he had more blocks than a square mile in Manhattan.
Anyway the post this year will be vastly improved.
Anyway the post this year will be vastly improved.
Ha. You think that was Kentucky's problem last season? You don't think that Kentucky's huge issue was rebounding and size? Well alright then.
My thoughts are you are wrong except for it will be an interesting season.
No offense but you always look at the glass half empty. You will always try to find something negative and run with it. Your constant negativity is exhausting and ridiculous. I understand some critique but thats all you do, constantly criticizing the team and program. You've completely past the point of constructive criticism and gone the extreme of constant bitching.
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None of those guys was a dominating center and that was what I was saying. Antoine was more of a three than a four most of the time and Nazr was good but not great. The bigs for this year's team have the potential to be better, if they will be or not remains to be seen.
I have but haven't seen any post game....I hope we don't have the same problems.
A lot of what goes into rebounding is effort and desire to get that rebound. I think this last team was lacking in those areas. I don't think this team will be.
The answer to the interior is, first of all, Bam Adebayo. I really believe this kid will average a double-double.
As for the wing position, it's looking like we're gonna be running 3-guards quite a bit, but it's also possible we could put Willis or Gabriel at the 3 spot.
I agree with your assessment of the 3-spot more than the interior.
As for the wing position, it's looking like we're gonna be running 3-guards quite a bit, but it's also possible we could put Willis or Gabriel at the 3 spot.
I agree with your assessment of the 3-spot more than the interior.
This boards obsession with the "lack of a true wing" year in and year out is comical.
Major problem last year was we were soft on the inside. It appears Cal has made moves to fix that.
Major problem last year was we were soft on the inside. It appears Cal has made moves to fix that.
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Your basketball knowledge never ceases to impress. You nailed the same issue with the 2012 team. All they needed was a back to the basket center. We coulda been great.
I'm not too worried about a true wing: Willis/Gabriel can handle it. If Willis learns some defensive discipline, I'm not worried about guarding them either. What will really set us apart is 3 point percentage. We need two guys who can shoot it near 40. Three and we're golden.
Willis showed it last year, but can he keep it up? Fox looks like a 33-35% guy... can he improve? Does Monk come in around 38-40? Can Briscoe be respectable? Who else on this team can develop a shot? Gabriel? We need to stretch the floor to open it up for BAM/SKJ/Hump and give us better shots at rebounding. Teams will zone and collapse on Bam until we prove to them they can't.
Willis showed it last year, but can he keep it up? Fox looks like a 33-35% guy... can he improve? Does Monk come in around 38-40? Can Briscoe be respectable? Who else on this team can develop a shot? Gabriel? We need to stretch the floor to open it up for BAM/SKJ/Hump and give us better shots at rebounding. Teams will zone and collapse on Bam until we prove to them they can't.
Not correct. Last year's team lacked balance. That was that team's biggest problem. When our inside game disappeared, which was often, we were easy to defend and beat. It took heroics from Ulis and Murray, and to a lesser extent Briscoe, to win many of our games. This year's team, I believe, will prove to be much more consistent inside with an improved Humphries and the addition of Bam, SKJ and Gabriel. At least consistent enough to provide more balance than we had last year. Our guards are so good, we don't have be be dominant inside to be a very good team. Just need some balance and I think we'll have it. At least more of it than last year.
I worry if we play a 3 G lineup with Willis in the line up that we cant rebound well enough . Yeah Bam makes us better , but I'm not sure its enough to be strong enough against the other top 4-6 teams in the country . How we do against the best is what determines how good a year we have .
Yes he did. It's a luxury though not really a necessity out there and it's a versatile position unlike some others where square pegs just won't fit in round holes.
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