Looks like we will have same problem as last year....

[TIE543]

I believe Willis led the team in 3 pt %, didn't he?

I'm not sure if he led, but he definitely shot over 40% lol

 

[jrpross_rivals]

Holy sh*t.

Antoine Walker
Nazr Mohammad
Jamal Magloire
Even Walter McCarty.

do some of you just have zero clue about what you're talking about.

Must be under 20.

Mark Pope was no slouch either.

 

[Bkocats]

He has work to do. But the kid seems to have the attitude and the body to make it happen.

I'm excited to watch him grow with KPs guidance.

that right there is the essence. Bam has the attitude - and seems to be willing to work his butt off as needed. I don't get the impressions, from interviews, that he's the laid back sort. AP, Lee and Skal didn't have that fire, if they did last year would have been different. Not to say that it's a bad thing to be so calm, but.....
anyway - looking forward to see him play

 

[LadyCaytIL]

Telling you guys, Zaytoven is a UL fan. no one is as effing stupid as he posts which is a dead give away he's just trolling.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

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.

You're FOS and making stuff up now. I never once said anything like that about the 2012 team.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

Telling you guys, Zaytoven is a UL fan. no one is as effing stupid as he posts which is a dead give away he's just trolling.

How much would you wanna wager on that? Let's put our PayPal accounts on the line and I'll prove that I'm a true blue UK fan.

I'm just not one that thinks Cal is perfect and that everything we do is the best. I'm glass half empty because I'm always looking for ways for us to improve. I'm also glass half empty because of the stacks teams we have had over the last 7 years and only came away with one title. So it's a bit hard not to be pessimistic.

 

[fredmanthecatfan]

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."

Uh, Nazr was horrible in 96'. Mallory was not on the 96' roster. Pope was very strong, but not an offensive threat. Walker was in love with the perimeter, but was effective off the dribble.

 

[Hoskins91_rivals]

I watched Bam several times. The main reason he didn't post up more was poor coaching.

It was unbelievable that he was not the primary option each time down the floor.

If Bam is the 5 he will not get away with playing face up and bullying his way to the basket. He needs to learn a drop step, head fake, mini hook, and fade way over the summer.

Why not? It seems like that would be very effective since many centers won't be able to handle it. Especially since it is in his best interest to improve his perimeter game because he won't be a post player at the next level.

 

[.S&C.]

Personally I think some fans are misunderstood because something gets lost in the translation. This board has ,essentially, two types of fans

1. Fans that are just happy with where we are. Not really ones to complain as long as we are competing at a high level. They don't care about what could of happened, or even should have happened. They're content and give deserved praise to Cal.

2. Fans that are, at all times, consciously aware of what's at stake for the race to the top. They see Cal as capable for being the greatest, not one of. They judge everything by it. It's like Ricky Bobby. If ya ain't first, you're last.

I fall into category 2 half the time or more. I would feel slightly disappointed if Cal didn't walk away with at least 3 big ones after 12 -15 years.

 

[.S&C.]

Uh, Nazr was horrible in 96'. Mallory was not on the 96' roster. Pope was very strong, but not an offensive threat. Walker was in love with the perimeter, but was effective off the dribble.

Anyone dumb enough to claim the 96-98 cats had no real quality bigs is too dumb to argue with. Don't go down the rabbit hole.

 

[pikespeak1]

Taller than 5'9, gotta give a little credit. There is always one prick in the crowd.

Very self aware.

 

[KumarCat]

Pretty sure for awhile 98' UK had the largest rebounding margin advantage in the country that year. Hard to do that without bigs. One could argue that was the best rebounding team in UK history.

 

[brianpoe]

Why not? It seems like that would be very effective since many centers won't be able to handle it. Especially since it is in his best interest to improve his perimeter game because he won't be a post player at the next level.

So we have no players in the paint?

Bam at the 5 on the perimeter could be an advantage one on one, however, what about vs a zone and how would this effect rebounding?

 

[Poetax]

How much would you wanna wager on that? Let's put our PayPal accounts on the line and I'll prove that I'm a true blue UK fan.

I'm just not one that thinks Cal is perfect and that everything we do is the best. I'm glass half empty because I'm always looking for ways for us to improve. I'm also glass half empty because of the stacks teams we have had over the last 7 years and only came away with one title. So it's a bit hard not to be pessimistic.

So did you stroke out during Tubby's and Billy's reign?

 

[Joneslab]

Personally I think some fans are misunderstood because something gets lost in the translation. This board has ,essentially, two types of fans

1. Fans that are just happy with where we are. Not really ones to complain as long as we are competing at a high level. They don't care about what could of happened, or even should have happened. They're content and give deserved praise to Cal.

2. Fans that are, at all times, consciously aware of what's at stake for the race to the top. They see Cal as capable for being the greatest, not one of. They judge everything by it. It's like Ricky Bobby. If ya ain't first, you're last.

I fall into category 2 half the time or more. I would feel slightly disappointed if Cal didn't walk away with at least 3 big ones after 12 -15 years.

I agree and I think what you're talking about a lot of times are just people's personalities. We bash each other a lot, but really there's no changing who we are. We all root for the team in our own way and no anonymous poster is going to change that.

But I will say this about fan number 2.: I think it must cut a lot of the joy out of t. We all analyze, sometimes in obsessive ways, but if you're always looking to "improve" your team then it seems that it would ruin something that's supposed to be a hobby or a pastime.

We aren't coaches. We're passive observers. I can't imagine being so vigilant that I couldn't come to a message board and think I'm going to find good news from time to time. It seems a subsection of fans trawl for the bad.

 

[fredmanthecatfan]

Anyone dumb enough to claim the 96-98 cats had no real quality bigs is too dumb to argue with. Don't go down the rabbit hole.

I didn't say that. What I said was Nazr as a freshman in 96' was horrible. He got very little time as a Freshman, and for good reason. He was better his sophomore season, and much better his junior season. His Freshman year. He was a complete non factor.

Maglore was not even on that roster. So to include him as an example of the 96' low post prowess is completely false.

Pope did exactly what we needed. He was as strong as an ox, a good rebounder, and post defender. He wasn't a scoring threat, and on that team we didn't need him to be.

McCartey was a 6'9" guy who could shoot the 3 ball, which opened up driving lanes for other guys like Walker. He was not a low post prescience, but he was a key part of the team's success.

Walker didn't like to post up. He loved to shoot from outside, but it wasn't his strength. He was great at taking guys off the dribble.

If you saw the 96 team play, I really don't see how you could disagree with any of those points.

 

[EliteBlue]

If you feel the primary issue of last season was not having a back to the basket scorer then yes we don't have a KAT or Cousins.

However I think the bigger issue was our inside was timid last year which affected rebounding and defense. Rebounding and interior D won't be an issue next year and should be a strength. We won't be soft and finesse in the post.

 

[Aike]

Uh, Nazr was horrible in 96'. Mallory was not on the 96' roster. Pope was very strong, but not an offensive threat. Walker was in love with the perimeter, but was effective off the dribble.

He said 96-98.

 

[.S&C.]

I didn't say that. What I said was Nazr as a freshman in 96' was horrible. He got very little time as a Freshman, and for good reason. He was better his sophomore season, and much better his junior season. His Freshman year. He was a complete non factor.

Maglore was not even on that roster. So to include him as an example of the 96' low post prowess is completely false.

Pope did exactly what we needed. He was as strong as an ox, a good rebounder, and post defender. He wasn't a scoring threat, and on that team we didn't need him to be.

McCartey was a 6'9" guy who could shoot the 3 ball, which opened up driving lanes for other guys like Walker. He was not a low post prescience, but he was a key part of the team's success.

Walker didn't like to post up. He loved to shoot from outside, but it wasn't his strength. He was great at taking guys off the dribble.

If you saw the 96 team play, I really don't see how you could disagree with any of those points.

I don't care. The poster said the 96 THROUGH 98 teams had NO QUALITY BIGS.

Dumb.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

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?

Why do you think you have to have a center that plays that way to be successful?

We never had a plodding center to be successful in the 90's. Didn't have one with the '12 team as well. I just don't understand the fascination with guys who you have to play a style where you slow the game down and let the D get set. We would have won more titles if we was more adaptable on D and was able to push the pace when need be. Last year was a prime season to push the pace vs trying to get a couple of 200 lb centers soaking wet to bang down low with 270 lb guys. To me thats just stupid.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

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."

Pope, McCarty, Walker all roamed the perimeter and ran just as good as a guard.
Magloire was no chump in his ability to run the floor. He was a very docile player.

Nazr was a huge project but had good feet. Many questioned why he had brought such a fat guy in the program. Nazr never contributed on the '96 team as he played on the JV squad. Was very serviceable in '97 and proved to be a talent in '98. Nobody will forget his ability to go from one end of the court to the other in a short time.. just ask Vandy.

The main theme is that their is more than one way to skin a cat. You do not need a lumbering center to be dominant.

 

[Orionorl]

The worst of last season was no rebounding. It was like any other team just knew that you could take the ball away from the bigs. It was like a church league playing the NBA, and almost painful to watch sometimes. How many games did our guards out rebound the inside players? Those guys are gone. Anything would be an improvement.

 

[LadyCaytIL]

So is that Zaytoven's way of just admitting to being God awfully stupid on an epic level?

If Zay is a UK fan .... with as much as he's taken up for UL and their fans while hating on everything UK...... let me speak for everyone here...... become a ******** UL fan and get the hell out Zaytoven. We dont want you or Cut-Nets and all your misery.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

You're FOS and making stuff up now. I never once said anything like that about the 2012 team.

Wow, sailed right over your head.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

You're FOS and making stuff up now. I never once said anything like that about the 2012 team.

Just checking back in to see if you figured out the irony in all this yet.

 

[Aike]

Pope, McCarty, Walker all roamed the perimeter and ran just as good as a guard.
Magloire was no chump in his ability to run the floor. He was a very docile player.

Nazr was a huge project but had good feet. Many questioned why he had brought such a fat guy in the program. Nazr never contributed on the '96 team as he played on the JV squad. Was very serviceable in '97 and proved to be a talent in '98. Nobody will forget his ability to go from one end of the court to the other in a short time.. just ask Vandy.

The main theme is that their is more than one way to skin a cat. You do not need a lumbering center to be dominant.

Don't really care what your "main theme" is.

I originally replied to a poster who said we didn't have quality bigs from 96-98.

If you want to have a different conversation, have it with someone else.

 

[jb1010]

Say what? This team will be much better.
The big difference will be defense. Cal takes pride in defense and we didn't have it last year. Bam, Fox, Monk, Gabriel are solid defenders. Murray was great, but defense was not his speciality. Skal was too soft. Bam is not soft. The kid is relentless.

You will see a different team this year!

 

[mattadam]

I'm way too excited about the news of Briscoe deciding to return for another run at Kentucky to worry about our lack of frontcourt players. It seems to me we're going to do pretty well in the frontcourt. Adding Bam to our roster instantly stopped our potential team from having rebounding problems. That kid is going to be a beast on the boards and just by adding him alone will be a huge improvement from last year's bunch who couldn't grab a board if the ball landed in their hands. I'm not even kidding about that. Last year if the ball would have landed in Skal's or Poythress's hands, they would have fumbled the ball away out of bounds. Once the ball is anywhere near Bam's mits, you might as well count it as a defensive rebound. Most Kentucky fans are forgetting how well Humps could rebound the ball when he actually got playing time. You know you're dealing with a tough bunch when fans are willing to just write off a kid like Hump's potential after just one year of college basketball, being his freshman year mind you, when the kid wasn't even considered an elite prospect. He didn't come in as highly rated as Skal and flopped. Give the kid a chance and i bet you after this next season, you will be a believer in our frontcourt teachers we have here at Kentucky. We are not dealing with a Skal/ Poythress and Lee frontcourt this next season. No offense to those kids, but you couldn't ask a softer bunch of kids to play in the post as those 3. I guarantee our next frontcourt won't be as soft as our last frontcourt. I wouldn't say we're loaded in the frontcourt, but more times than not, it's better to just be really good in the frontcourt than actually loaded. When you are loaded in the frontcourt, you run into problems with playing time. We know who will get the minutes this coming year. I even think a kid like SJK will be a lot better than many wanna give credit to. It's problably true the kid is another yea away from being his best, but when you are talking about beating Poy/Lee and Skal's frontcourt production, you are not exactly asking him to set the world on fire. We will be fine.

Nice post, man! Poy and Marcus are great kids but agree on them being mentally challenged to be consistent hard-nosed bball players! I think Marcus has a great future in professional beach volleyball and Poy can make it eventually in the NBA if he's willing to go overseas and work hard on his consistency!!

 

[mattadam]

The front court will be the strength of UK. Hopefully, the backcourt will be able to hit some long balls. This could be the achilles heel of next season, but I hope not. Murray and Ulis kept defenses honest with their three point shooting. If Willis and Briscoe work on their outside shooting over the summer and get it in the 35% and over range, UK will be set.

Disagree as really believe this will be the best back court Cal has ever had.

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

Balance. Balance is the key. A respectable inside game (rebounding AND scoring) balanced with an outstanding outside game (which we will have) is the key. Many of you are getting buried in the minutia of things.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Many of you are getting buried in the minutia of things.

But we like whining about minutes.

 

[skinnyman]

Kenny Payne is soo OVERRATED

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

This thread is very illuminating. It's basically showing us who all the ignorant fans are who doubt Bam/SKJ/Humphries (and even Gabriel to some extent) as interior scorers.

No, the '96 team did not have a "back-to-the-basket" five man. Neither did the '12 team. We did just fine in both of those seasons from what I remember. Some of you are apparently into passing off bad opinions as fact.

 

[Aike]

Kenny Payne is soo OVERRATED

Nice first post. Sober up and try again.

 

[Hoskins91_rivals]

So we have no players in the paint?

Bam at the 5 on the perimeter could be an advantage one on one, however, what about vs a zone and how would this effect rebounding?

Your center usually isn't just standing in the paint, and even if he does, that doesn't help floor spacing either. It would just make playing a zone even easier.

 

[bucsrule8872]

We got almost nothing from the post last season.

Bam probably comes close to single-handedly matching the production of Poy, Skal, and Lee.

I am not worried about our inside play with Bam in there.

I am a little concerned about our shooting. We need Fox, Monk, and Gabriel to be able to knock down some shots from the perimeter, since Willis can't do all the shooting.

Defensively, we will be much improved, especially inside. I can't see Bam getting abused by a guy like Thomas Bryant like last year's bunch was.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

So did you stroke out during Tubby's and Billy's reign?

Actually no. There was times I was highly pissed during Tubby and Billy's time but my expectations were so much lower then that it didn't feel like a failure if we didn't win a title like it did in 2015.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

So is that Zaytoven's way of just admitting to being God awfully stupid on an epic level?

If Zay is a UK fan .... with as much as he's taken up for UL and their fans while hating on everything UK...... let me speak for everyone here...... become a ******** UL fan and get the hell out Zaytoven. We dont want you or Cut-Nets and all your misery.

I have never once taken up for UL or their dumbass fans. You're just as big of a dumbass as they are for making crap up to fit your agenda. I gladly invite you to look thru my posting history to find a single pro UL post.

Btw it's funny that you call me out for things I say when you're regularly called out for being negative all the time yourself.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

We got almost nothing from the post last season.

Bam probably comes close to single-handedly matching the production of Poy, Skal, and Lee.

I am not worried about our inside play with Bam in there.

I am a little concerned about our shooting. We need Fox, Monk, and Gabriel to be able to knock down some shots from the perimeter, since Willis can't do all the shooting.

Defensively, we will be much improved, especially inside. I can't see Bam getting abused by a guy like Thomas Bryant like last year's bunch was.

In reference to your comment about Willis, UNC had one shooter last year, and they were a possession away from a national title.

Villanova had one big man, with virtually no front court depth.

I mean, last year's title game pretty proved all the remaining stereotypes false when it comes to what a team needs in order to win a championship.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

Just checking back in to see if you figured out the irony in all this yet.

You're no where near as smart as you think you are. I get your "irony" but you evidently can't read. I never said anything about needing a back to the basket player in my post. All I've said is that our frontcourt is weak again and that we don't have hardly any interior offense outside of just dunks and lay ups.