Where do you stand on this team?
- Thread starter JRowland
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I'm torn between option 2 and option 3. Coach Cal has pulled miracles before..but this one is a mind ****.
I'm in the middle of option 2 and 3. I picked the second one but at the same time I feel like this season could be lost. Our defense is very bad. And i just don't see how a defense this freaking bad makes a run.
I don't know if flawed is right word,but they can't play defense,they seem to lose focus or interest during games.The seem very immature.compared to just about any of Cal's previous teams.
I voted #3 and here's why. Cal always talks about how the rising tide lifts all boats (or something like that). Basically, when guys do well on the floor, it helps their stock and it helps the team.
With the 2011 team, Brandon Knight put them on his shoulders. At this point in the season, there were real questions about his NBA stock, particularly whether he could play PG. He knew he had to turn it up to reach his dreams and he did.
Same with the 2014 team. Randle was a lock. But the Harrisons and James Young certainly weren't. Again, they had to pick it up to improve their individual stock, and they did, with Aaron Harrison going on an epic run.
But what's the motivation for Fox and Monk? They are lottery picks almost no matter what. The only thing that could stop that now would be an injury. Fox hasn't been the same player since he turned his ankle. Is he still hurt or is he playing it safe? Monk hasn't had a rebound in two games. Rebounds don't get you drafted as a guard, but they could get you hurt. This team is only going to go as far as those two guys take them, and I'm not sure they have the motivation to do that at this point. I hope I'm wrong.
With the 2011 team, Brandon Knight put them on his shoulders. At this point in the season, there were real questions about his NBA stock, particularly whether he could play PG. He knew he had to turn it up to reach his dreams and he did.
Same with the 2014 team. Randle was a lock. But the Harrisons and James Young certainly weren't. Again, they had to pick it up to improve their individual stock, and they did, with Aaron Harrison going on an epic run.
But what's the motivation for Fox and Monk? They are lottery picks almost no matter what. The only thing that could stop that now would be an injury. Fox hasn't been the same player since he turned his ankle. Is he still hurt or is he playing it safe? Monk hasn't had a rebound in two games. Rebounds don't get you drafted as a guard, but they could get you hurt. This team is only going to go as far as those two guys take them, and I'm not sure they have the motivation to do that at this point. I hope I'm wrong.
Long way to go until the Tournament but I don't foresee I deep run unless they magically turn it on when it matters
We have some who are incapable of playing good defense and others who are unwilling. There is no good excuse for players with the quickness and athleticism some of ours have to constantly to be beaten off the dribble and our help defense is nonexistent. This might be the worst defensive team Cal has had here.
That's the problem. There's NOT a long way to go. We have 7 regular season games left. We've played 24. What makes anyone think a team that has been going backwards for three weeks will magically turn it around in 7 games? If we were just shooting poorly or struggling a bit on the boards, I wouldn't be as concerned. Those things, especially shooting, come and go. But the issues are much deeper with this team. Way too many turnovers, many of which are unforced and careless. That's a lack of discipline and an inability to remain focused. The biggest problem without ant doubt is the total lack of defense. I just don't believe our defense can be fixed in three weeks. I certainly hope I'm wrong.
I picked No. 2.
I think we have a puncher's chance and could go a long way with improved effort and a good draw. We could also tank and lose first round.
I think we have a puncher's chance and could go a long way with improved effort and a good draw. We could also tank and lose first round.
We COULD win the whole damn thing. We're discussing what we THINK will happen. I'm going to have to see much better play the rest of the season before I get my hopes up. Right now, at this moment, I see us winning two games at most, with a possible three depending on who we play.
Can we now do a poll on who the two people are who think everything is going to be just fine?
I like that Cal was ticked off and wanted to go practice tonight. I just hope he follows through with what he said. If he doesn't, will be a short tourney for UK.
I guess I'm just old but if I were the coach and a player wasn't doing what I said to do, he's coming out and if it continues, he ain't playing. There have to be consequences for your actions.
I guess I'm just old but if I were the coach and a player wasn't doing what I said to do, he's coming out and if it continues, he ain't playing. There have to be consequences for your actions.
It all boils down to how HUNGRY our players are to keep this season going and WINNING.
Some players have a desire to win. Anthony Davis, MKG, Brandon Knight, John Wall, Aaron Harrison, Tyler Ulis, etc all had it inside of them. I've yet to see that REQUIRED want to win more than any individual achievement in this team, YET.
Hope it comes within the next 3 weeks!!
Some players have a desire to win. Anthony Davis, MKG, Brandon Knight, John Wall, Aaron Harrison, Tyler Ulis, etc all had it inside of them. I've yet to see that REQUIRED want to win more than any individual achievement in this team, YET.
Hope it comes within the next 3 weeks!!
I would be somewhere between option 2 & 3. I believe a deep run is possible, but not "very possible." I probably lean more towards unlikely though.
However, I disagree that this team is deeply flawed. This team has shown the potential to be an elite team. I think the issue more than anything is that they're simply not a very mature team.
One of the biggest issues this team has is that they can't handle prosperity. When they get a lead up to double digits, they back off the intensity and get sloppy. That's a maturity issue. Not all freshmen will come into school with the same maturity level, and unfortunately, this is a team that plays very young.
Now, if that's true, it also offers the potential for why this team might play well in March. The pressure of the tournament may actually help keep them focused. Similar to how some intelligent kids with ADD will get bad grades but then score very highly on standardized tests. The pressure of the moment is a stimulant that helps them focus. In that sense, the environment of the tournament may help keep them focused on the task at hand. I don't know if that will be the case with this team, but I suspect the potential for that to occur is there.
However, I disagree that this team is deeply flawed. This team has shown the potential to be an elite team. I think the issue more than anything is that they're simply not a very mature team.
One of the biggest issues this team has is that they can't handle prosperity. When they get a lead up to double digits, they back off the intensity and get sloppy. That's a maturity issue. Not all freshmen will come into school with the same maturity level, and unfortunately, this is a team that plays very young.
Now, if that's true, it also offers the potential for why this team might play well in March. The pressure of the tournament may actually help keep them focused. Similar to how some intelligent kids with ADD will get bad grades but then score very highly on standardized tests. The pressure of the moment is a stimulant that helps them focus. In that sense, the environment of the tournament may help keep them focused on the task at hand. I don't know if that will be the case with this team, but I suspect the potential for that to occur is there.
I can't bring myself to write this team off because I keep thinking about our 2014 team, 97 Arizona, our 2011 team, the fab five and any other young but talented teams that struggled throughout the season and turned it on in the tournament. We compare pretty favorably to all of those teams.
I think the fact that this conversation is totally centered around a draft is part of the main problem. I said a few days ago, the "players first" slogan is fine, no problem at all with it, until the individual players you're recruiting actually buy in to that philosophy during the season.
On the OP I voted 3, and will be right here if I'm wrong to take whatever comes my way, and be less quick to form an opinion in the future as well. That's a guarantee.
I think this team is playing for too many different reasons and it shows by the dysfunction that's been prevalent on the court. Calipari doesn't lose home games. I believe he's lost 6 in his career here and this team owns 2 of them. 8 years =4 losses : this year = 2? Cal dominates his home courts. It's apparent this team isn't cohesive enough and further has too many holes on the court to make a run.
Elite 8? if a path opens. No way do I see a final four.
We also have a slight issue of Bam. He's better than Skal, I'll give him that.
I picked option 3. This team resembles the NIT team. Just waiting for the season to be over at this point.
Very obvious.
1 We have 2 very good offensive minded guards
2 Briscoe plays good but does not fit in well with our guards.
3 NO inside game
4 Bam can dunk that's it.
5 4 spot nonexistent
Same team as last year, Cal has tried to force ball inside to Labisierre & Bam with NO results.
End result is they will have to rely on 3 pointers to win.
Monk would have to have 6 games in a row like he did against N.C. for Cats to win it all.
I think they are a carbon copy of last years team.
1 We have 2 very good offensive minded guards
2 Briscoe plays good but does not fit in well with our guards.
3 NO inside game
4 Bam can dunk that's it.
5 4 spot nonexistent
Same team as last year, Cal has tried to force ball inside to Labisierre & Bam with NO results.
End result is they will have to rely on 3 pointers to win.
Monk would have to have 6 games in a row like he did against N.C. for Cats to win it all.
I think they are a carbon copy of last years team.
its so clear that a few of these guys have checked out and are just playing for the draft. its the first time in cals tenure that this has been a problem. if anybody can get them straightened out, he can. but i think this team is toast, and i think after we lose to bama on saturday it will be obvious to all.
36% come on. i think for all our immaturity, when the lights come on our guys could shine. you never know with these freshman folk. fox and monk could/should be stars on the next level. they both could be 20+ a night a few games in a row easy and we all know it. we seem to suck right now despite this capability. who knows if any tweaks will help our defense at all. but i can see a run. it'd be close games. but our biggest game of the year on a neutral floor they couldn't be stopped. for all the immaturity with today's top freshman, they play different when the lights come on. and to our surprise as we've seen it for years, they seem to play way better than freshman. sometimes like all-american. will it be enough. it's possible imo, for a run. 
I'm amazed on how many people suffer through a season and can't wait for it to end.
if everyone else can just step up and yes i believe briscoe could be a good half court offensive threat if he can face and attack a defense early in the shot lock while they're use to being on their heels trying to stop our transition game, then we could start getting double digit wins again. i know lol but we haven't heard the last of willis and hawkins on the year. no reason we can't go out with a bang. and hopefully not go out at all.
I want to see how we react to the big game with the Gators on the 25th. If our boys aren't really fired up and ready for this game after their debacle at Florida, I will be disappointed.
They have to get a lot better defensively.
Offensively they're going to be hard to stop come March, but if they don't at least improve some on the other end, then they're a bad shooting game away from being knocked out early.
I will say I think this team has more talent than last years.
I'm not sure what to take from the win against LSU. We will know more about this team come Saturday against the Tide.
Offensively they're going to be hard to stop come March, but if they don't at least improve some on the other end, then they're a bad shooting game away from being knocked out early.
I will say I think this team has more talent than last years.
I'm not sure what to take from the win against LSU. We will know more about this team come Saturday against the Tide.
Sounds to me as if this team has tuned CAL out...they have chosen to not play DEFENSE or play hard...and at this point...nothing the coach can do about it.....true character seems to be coming out
Cal keeps throwing the same old cliches at us praying it's going to work out like some of his other teams did.
This team doesn't need a tweak or a reboot, it needs a change in philosophy and I think our coach is too stubborn to make the changes that are necessary.
This team doesn't need a tweak or a reboot, it needs a change in philosophy and I think our coach is too stubborn to make the changes that are necessary.
I'm hoping you're wrong, but unfortunately I'm not sure you are.
I voted 2, but 3 is a strong case also. I'm hoping that the team will relent and decide that they need to put out the defensive effort. Well, they need the effort on offense also. It is too often 1 on 5 offense lately, but the defense has lacked effort. It could be like Joe B Hall's teams January slumps but we are getting pretty late in the season to decide to turn on the effort. It has to happen in practice and then show up in big games. This jogging back on a turnover because it looks like a made layup only to give up a put back because you didn't bother getting back and block out anyone.
The main reason that I'm starting to give up, is that Cal will continue to try and fit a square peg into a round hole.
At this point, this team needs to commit to playing an aggressive zone, and practice nothing else going forward.
It may not work, but it may help stop the straight line drives that are this team's fatal flaw.
If it doesn't work, then we're screwed anyways.
At this point, this team needs to commit to playing an aggressive zone, and practice nothing else going forward.
It may not work, but it may help stop the straight line drives that are this team's fatal flaw.
If it doesn't work, then we're screwed anyways.