3 guard lineup not working for this team

[UK3K_rivals379203]

However there is a lot of potential for a traditional lineup

Pg: Fox/Briscoe
SG: Monk/Briscoe
SF: Mulder/Gabriel
PF: Willis/SKJ
C: Bam/Humphries

And as with every other year Cal's single worst coaching quality is favoring his big name players. Briscoe is not a 35min guy on this team. Cal is making the Harrison twins mistakes with Briscoe. Mulder produces when he is on the floor and most impressively, he charges hard for rebounds from the edges. Gabriel isn't developing. I see shades of Lee. And even though Hawkins is not a big name player he doesn't have a role on this team. He's not Liggins and that's how Cal tries to use him.

 

[megablue]

However there is a lot of potential for a traditional lineup

Pg: Fox/Briscoe
SG: Monk/Briscoe
SF: Mulder/Gabriel
PF: Willis/SKJ
C: Bam/Humphries

And as with every other year Cal's single worst coaching quality is favoring his big name players. Briscoe is not a 35min guy on this team. Cal is making the Harrison twins mistakes with Briscoe. Mulder produces when he is on the floor and most impressively, he charges hard for rebounds from the edges. Gabriel isn't developing. I see shades of Lee. And even though Hawkins is not a big name player he doesn't have a role on this team. He's not Liggins and that's how Cal tries to use him.

1) Mulder deserves minutes, but is not a starter.
2) Willis is too inconsistent and can vaporize in big games.
3) If defense is important, Hawkins has to play.
4) I think Gabriel is developing, but slowly.
5) I would like to see more of SKJ
6) Humphries has been a disappointment, thus far.
7) The jury is still out on Bam being effective in zone situations, which are coming.
8) Briscoe is solid, should play, but has been struggling to the rim lately.
9) Fox and Monk simply HAVE to play much better defense.

I think we might lose as many as six (6) games and will end up a#2 seed.
I will be disappointed if we do not beat Kansas here at home.

 

[bluedog79]

1) Mulder deserves minutes, but is not a starter.
2) Willis is too inconsistent and can vaporize in big games.
3) If defense is important, Hawkins has to play.
4) I think Gabriel is developing, but slowly.
5) I would like to see more of SKJ
6) Humphries has been a disappointment, thus far.
7) The jury is still out on Bam being effective in zone situations, which are coming.
8) Briscoe is solid, should play, but has been struggling to the rim lately.
9) Fox and Monk simply HAVE to play much better defense.

I think we might lose as many as six (6) games and will end up a#2 seed.
I will be disappointed if we do not beat Kansas here at home.

yea we are a 2 seed talented team right now and maybe a 3 if we dont change from the current lineups.
I prefer to see Tai play over SKJ. I think SKJ should transfer before the 1st of the year. He ain't playing here. You can tell.

 

[Comebakatz3]

This team is missing a small forward. I think Briscoe is fine as a pretty decent point guard who can drive and make things happen, but he doesn't need to be playing and guarding an opponent's 3. Mulder could possibly be that guy, but he does really struggle on defense. I think he hustles and he gives a ton of effort, but he just isn't that athletically talented and Louisville went after him last night with multiple guys.

Willis and Gabriel are stretch 4s at best. It would be great if we could get SKJ to speed to play against teams who have a thicker 4 that has some offensive skills.

My problem with Hawkins is that he often replaces Briscoe. That means that we have a three guard lineup and we're asking a relatively thin 6'3 player to guard the opposing team's small forward. If that SF has some talent then it is a mismatch, especially if Hawkins gets switched on them.

Still, guarding screens continues to be the biggest issue. If we switch then Willis and Gabriel do not have any ability to stay in front of guards and we don't really have the shot blockers on this team to help them out. So, we have to start hedging and stop switching because we just don't have the athletic ability to switch all 5 players.

 

[uk78_rivals88018]

Briscoe calmed the Freshman down against UL. Plus, he was hitting free throws. Silly to have him sit, the problem is at 4 and no back up for Bam. Hump has regressed.

 

[jackcarlson]

I think you guys are being a little too tough. NO ONE but the best team in America could have beaten UNC last week, and we did. The season is young and this team has not yet found its footing, but it will. Willis, Briscoe, and Hawkins are stabilizing influences. They may not be the best players on the team, but they keep the other guys settled down. Try to be optimistic. Or, think like a coach. Teams evolve during the season, and this one will get MUCH better.

 

[Icecoldbrewdoggy]

yea we are a 2 seed talented team right now and maybe a 3 if we dont change from the current lineups.
I prefer to see Tai play over SKJ. I think SKJ should transfer before the 1st of the year. He ain't playing here. You can tell.

Dude your "Monky Poo" and SKJ transfer posts and pretty much all of them are garbage. Terrible poster. Awful.

 

[WildMoon]

Why do we overreact like this...

#10 at their place, our first road game.

 

[UK3K_rivals379203]

Why do we overreact like this...

#10 at their place, our first road game.

I thought about that before posting this and my post wasn't specifically about last night's game. The 3 guard lineup has hurt us even in in our wins. Our 3 spot is getting abused against any opponent of quality. And I think the team has the pieces for a normalized lineup.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

However there is a lot of potential for a traditional lineup

Pg: Fox/Briscoe
SG: Monk/Briscoe
SF: Mulder/Gabriel
PF: Willis/SKJ
C: Bam/Humphries

And as with every other year Cal's single worst coaching quality is favoring his big name players. Briscoe is not a 35min guy on this team. Cal is making the Harrison twins mistakes with Briscoe. Mulder produces when he is on the floor and most impressively, he charges hard for rebounds from the edges. Gabriel isn't developing. I see shades of Lee. And even though Hawkins is not a big name player he doesn't have a role on this team. He's not Liggins and that's how Cal tries to use him.

Cal played the Harrisons 25 mins per game their last season...and they played well in those minutes. The revisionist history on this board is disgusting at times.

 

[WildMoon]

I thought about that before posting this and my post wasn't specifically about last night's game. The 3 guard lineup has hurt us even in in our wins. Our 3 spot is getting abused against any opponent of quality. And I think the team has the pieces for a normalized lineup.

Mulder is still a guard... :-/ You actually went form 3 guard line up to 3 guard line up. SO if you want to propose traditional line up...please do first.

second point is that Mulder doesn't have any proof that he can contribute against top level team. Most of his stats and F/G% is based off scrub teams after getting huge lead. Yesterday, he DID make 2 threes. However, NO ONE mentions the fact that he got 0 reb, 0 assist, 0 STL, 0 BLK in 9 minutes.

I'm okay to maybe test him 5-8 minutes to see what he can do...however that's just it. Yesterday, he proved he wasn't qualified to play.

 

[jackcarlson]

I think one thing you guys might want to keep in mind is that, in the NCAAT, guards are the most important. Teams with good guard play almost always win the tournament. Right now, I wouldn't trade our guards for anyone else's.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I would start...

G Fox
G Monk
F Gabriel
F Willis
F Adebayo

Bring in...

G Briscoe
G Hawkins
G Mulder
F Killeya-Jones
F Humphries

Briscoe and Mulder play well together. SKJ needs a little more run.

Play that second unit a 5-6 minutes per half together, then rotate the top 5-7 guys the rest of the game.

But that's just what I would do, but it's not my team and I am not a Hall of Fame coach, so it's probably a good thing I am not the coach.

 

[Jakarii]

Wenyen at the three and Willis at the four? You're just asking he opposing three and four to have career highs in points huh. Wenyen can't even stop power forwards from driving past him so what do you think a small forward is going to do?

 

[Fresh Start]

Cal played the Harrisons 25 mins per game their last season...and they played well in those minutes. The revisionist history on this board is disgusting at times.

Yes, the Harrison twins, Aaron in particular, willed us to the 2014 title game. The following year they both made big plays down the stretch of the ND game to get us to the Final 4. The best thing to happen to the twins is Briscoe. Now he gets blamed for every loss.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

I would start...

G Fox
G Monk
F Gabriel
F Willis
F Adebayo

Bring in...

G Briscoe
G Hawkins
G Mulder
F Killeya-Jones
F Humphries

Briscoe and Mulder play well together. SKJ needs a little more run.

Play that second unit a 5-6 minutes per half together, then rotate the top 5-7 guys the rest of the game.

But that's just what I would do, but it's not my team and I am not a Hall of Fame coach, so it's probably a good thing I am not the coach.

Briscoe is starting. Period. I would start Hump or SKJ instead of Willis/Gabriel. Bring Gabriel or Willis in to replace Briscoe or Hump/SKJ.

 

[WeepNoMore]

However there is a lot of potential for a traditional lineup

Pg: Fox/Briscoe
SG: Monk/Briscoe
SF: Mulder/Gabriel
PF: Willis/SKJ
C: Bam/Humphries

And as with every other year Cal's single worst coaching quality is favoring his big name players. Briscoe is not a 35min guy on this team. Cal is making the Harrison twins mistakes with Briscoe. Mulder produces when he is on the floor and most impressively, he charges hard for rebounds from the edges. Gabriel isn't developing. I see shades of Lee. And even though Hawkins is not a big name player he doesn't have a role on this team. He's not Liggins and that's how Cal tries to use him.

Your post got me to thinking: Coach Cal has not had much success in recruiting the small forward position.

Since he has been at UK, IMHO, we've had only 2 quality small forwards, MKG and Darius Miller and Miller was recruited by Coach Gillespie. Arguably, one could consider Trey Lyles a small forward.

Other than the three noted above, the small forward position has been manned by a shooting guard, e.g. James Young, or a point guard, e.g. Isaiah Briscoe.

 

[UKcatXXXL]

agree with those saying SKJ needs to get more playing time

also think the ball isn't going inside to Bam enough. Monk has to recognize he won't be on fire from the perimeter every night.

I'd like to see how the 5 frosh out there together would go........forgive if they have - I missed it

 

[Comebakatz3]

Your post got me to thinking: Coach Cal has not had much success in recruiting the small forward position.

Since he has been at UK, IMHO, we've had only 2 quality small forwards, MKG and Darius Miller and Miller was recruited by Coach Gillespie. Arguably, one could consider Trey Lyles a small forward.

Other than the three noted above, the small forward position has been manned by a shooting guard, e.g. James Young, or a point guard, e.g. Isaiah Briscoe.

Poythress was a small forward, but was not effective because his skill set was more suited to be a power forward than a scoring/driving small forward.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

The next step is getting the ball to Bam. Everyone knows it.. Bilas said it about 7,800 times.

First it was getting the ball to Monk and not so much to Fox/Briscoe.. Now you'll start to see more touches for Bam. That's going to create high percentage shots, draw fouls and open up the shooters. Yes, it's going to take time to perfect. Yes, there will be times it gets stripped out of Bam's hands. But it will progress.

Seriously.. when you guys took Spanish, were you fluent after one day? Cal can't change their entire playing styles overnight. Even Cal is learning what this team can and can't do.

It's. A. Process.

 

[5iveStarRecruit]

It isn't even three guards. Briscoe game resembles a PF.

He's such a drag on the halfcourt when paired at Fox. IB is better off running a unit without Fox and vice versa. Two complete non shooters in the back court + non shooters in the frontcourt = PLEASE MALIK MONK HIT EVERYTHING.

 

[ManitouDan_anon]

I would start...

G Fox
G Monk
F Gabriel
F Willis
F Adebayo

Bring in...

G Briscoe
G Hawkins
G Mulder
F Killeya-Jones
F Humphries

Briscoe and Mulder play well together. SKJ needs a little more run.

Play that second unit a 5-6 minutes per half together, then rotate the top 5-7 guys the rest of the game.

But that's just what I would do, but it's not my team and I am not a Hall of Fame coach, so it's probably a good thing I am not the coach.

Its a REAL GOOD THING you are not the coach , starting DW and Gabriel together ? Dang dude. One lineup that cant defend and one that cant score . No balance at all.

 

[BlueRunner11]

However there is a lot of potential for a traditional lineup

Pg: Fox/Briscoe
SG: Monk/Briscoe
SF: Mulder/Gabriel
PF: Willis/SKJ
C: Bam/Humphries

And as with every other year Cal's single worst coaching quality is favoring his big name players. Briscoe is not a 35min guy on this team. Cal is making the Harrison twins mistakes with Briscoe. Mulder produces when he is on the floor and most impressively, he charges hard for rebounds from the edges. Gabriel isn't developing. I see shades of Lee. And even though Hawkins is not a big name player he doesn't have a role on this team. He's not Liggins and that's how Cal tries to use him.

I've been saying the same as far as the lineup goes. You cant throw 3 guards out there when two of them can't shoot. WAY too easy for any top 10 team with a halfway decent coach to defend.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

Mulder is still a guard... :-/ You actually went form 3 guard line up to 3 guard line up. SO if you want to propose traditional line up...please do first.

second point is that Mulder doesn't have any proof that he can contribute against top level team. Most of his stats and F/G% is based off scrub teams after getting huge lead. Yesterday, he DID make 2 threes. However, NO ONE mentions the fact that he got 0 reb, 0 assist, 0 STL, 0 BLK in 9 minutes.

I'm okay to maybe test him 5-8 minutes to see what he can do...however that's just it. Yesterday, he proved he wasn't qualified to play.

And most of his minutes correct?

If most of his minutes do not come against top-level teams (didn't play against UCLA) then I'm guessing you're right. Little production against top-level teams. You want to give him 5-8 minutes. Is that a minute or two here and there with coming out after any mistake or as last night even without a mistake? I don't in my wildest dreams think Cal will give him 8 consecutive minutes in any game. "Shooting the P out of the ball" is just not worthy of PT for a guy not going to be drafted.

 

[LeonThe Camel]

However there is a lot of potential for a traditional lineup

Pg: Fox/Briscoe
SG: Monk/Briscoe
SF: Mulder/Gabriel
PF: Willis/SKJ
C: Bam/Humphries

And as with every other year Cal's single worst coaching quality is favoring his big name players. Briscoe is not a 35min guy on this team. Cal is making the Harrison twins mistakes with Briscoe. Mulder produces when he is on the floor and most impressively, he charges hard for rebounds from the edges. Gabriel isn't developing. I see shades of Lee. And even though Hawkins is not a big name player he doesn't have a role on this team. He's not Liggins and that's how Cal tries to use him.

Since we do not see the players at practice, we do not know who should/should not play.
But it appears we certainly need another shooter in the lineup. I think we would be better served having Briscoe either be the starting PG or the backup PG. He needs to feel his place is important. I think he is simply lost on his role with Monk and Fox dominating the ball so much.

 

[wkycatfan7]

Charles Matthews may have been able to find a niche on this team, simply because he was a 6'5" SF.

 

[WeepNoMore]

Poythress was a small forward, but was not effective because his skill set was more suited to be a power forward than a scoring/driving small forward.

Agee that Poythress played out of position most of his career, probably because Coach Cal saw the small forward position as Poythress' most likely path to the NBA.

My point is that Coach Cal's rosters for whatever reason have been filled with 1s, 2s, 4s and 5s, with relatively few players having the skill set needed to effectively play the 3.

 

[LeonThe Camel]

Briscoe is starting. Period. I would start Hump or SKJ instead of Willis/Gabriel. Bring Gabriel or Willis in to replace Briscoe or Hump/SKJ.

If Gabriel is not starting and used as a defensive freak, then he has no position in the floor. He has no offensive game. Willis is a role player, shoot the ball and do not hurt us on defense.
Again though, Bam and Hump cannot play together. In an era of small ball, they would get destroyed guarding the perimeter.

 

[3 fan_rivals214492]

yea we are a 2 seed talented team right now and maybe a 3 if we dont change from the current lineups.
I prefer to see Tai play over SKJ. I think SKJ should transfer before the 1st of the year. He ain't playing here. You can tell.

Tai over SKJ???? You don't know basketball at all. No respect for anything else you say

 

[3 fan_rivals214492]

No big secret Cal has had trouble recruiting the 3 spot. He has tried for sure

Gabriel is awful offensively. Same for Humphries who was noticeably out of breath last night.

Maybe a 4 guard lineup with Mulder or give SKJ a shot at the 4. Hawkins is a waste of minutes. Look at his stats from last night

 

[anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y]

We've lost 2 games by single digits to 2 top 10 teams (and could have won both) and all you armchair experts are tweaking the lineups? Smh

 

[awf]

Mulder is still a guard... :-/ You actually went form 3 guard line up to 3 guard line up. SO if you want to propose traditional line up...please do first.

second point is that Mulder doesn't have any proof that he can contribute against top level team. Most of his stats and F/G% is based off scrub teams after getting huge lead. Yesterday, he DID make 2 threes. However, NO ONE mentions the fact that he got 0 reb, 0 assist, 0 STL, 0 BLK in 9 minutes.

I'm okay to maybe test him 5-8 minutes to see what he can do...however that's just it. Yesterday, he proved he wasn't qualified to play.

But, but, but he can shoot threes.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

If Gabriel is not starting and used as a defensive freak, then he has no position in the floor. He has no offensive game. Willis is a role player, shoot the ball and do not hurt us on defense.
Again though, Bam and Hump cannot play together. In an era of small ball, they would get destroyed guarding the perimeter.

How's this 3-guard line-up working so far against good teams? Teams would have to also account for Hump and Bam on the other end. Gabriel is a little better than he is showing right now IMO, but he has to start producing more with the minutes he is getting.
Bam can guard a 4 I believe. At least give it a try.

 

[Lukasz0brzut]

Did not read any comments but OP are you serious? Lol.

Mulder does need to play more but start? Willis start? No. No.

A team can't change their identity when they lose to a solid team on the road by only 3 pts with a mediocre performance by players who have proven themselves.

** especially coming off a win to a top 5 team in the country.

Joke of a thread

 

[Primedfor9]

Mulder is still a guard... :-/ You actually went form 3 guard line up to 3 guard line up. SO if you want to propose traditional line up...please do first.

second point is that Mulder doesn't have any proof that he can contribute against top level team. Most of his stats and F/G% is based off scrub teams after getting huge lead. Yesterday, he DID make 2 threes. However, NO ONE mentions the fact that he got 0 reb, 0 assist, 0 STL, 0 BLK in 9 minutes.

I'm okay to maybe test him 5-8 minutes to see what he can do...however that's just it. Yesterday, he proved he wasn't qualified to play.

Complete trash.

 

[Primedfor9]

But, but, but he can shoot threes.

Which is what we need because no one else can consistently, even Monk is streaky.

 

[Yahtzee43]

Problem is that we are really playing with 4 guards. Willis is not a 4.

Call me crazy but I would like to see us play Humphries at the 5 and Bam at the 4. We might be a little slower and less shooting but we would be stronger up front, and more rebounds and second chance points.

Then, I would put Mulder or Willis at the 3, Monk at the 2 and Fox at the 1. Think of the length, strength and rebounding.

 

[LeonThe Camel]

How's this 3-guard line-up working so far against good teams? Teams would have to also account for Hump and Bam on the other end. Gabriel is a little better than he is showing right now IMO, but he has to start producing more with the minutes he is getting.
Bam can guard a 4 I believe. At least give it a try.

I do not think either Bam or Hump could guard anyone on the perimeter. It showed last night when Bam switched onto Snider, one of the slower guards we will face.
The issue s more about the offense will completely go stagnant. No coach would guard either more than 10 feet from the basket. It would simply clog the lane.

 

[UK90]

Problem is that we are really playing with 4 guards. Willis is not a 4.
.

Utter nonsense. There is nothing guard-like about Willis. He can't defend small quick guys out on the perimeter. Can't stay in front of elite ballhandlers. And he doesn't have the ballhandling skills for it either.

Willis is exactly what Cal is using him as--a pick and pop stretch 4--and that is all he is. He can still be quite effective when he's hitting his outside shot, considerably less so when he's not. But, the fact is, he's a limited player who can't really be used well in other ways. Some of y'all are deluding yourselves imagining his skill set is broader than it actually is. He's never gonna be our 3 or play any other position or role other than where Cal already has him now.

 

[yoshukai]

yea we are a 2 seed talented team right now and maybe a 3 if we dont change from the current lineups.
I prefer to see Tai play over SKJ. I think SKJ should transfer before the 1st of the year. He ain't playing here. You can tell.

I thought you were crazy when you said you'd rather have Tubby in another thread , now I KNOW it .