Next year: Rebuild or contend?

[Brando Mac]

Somehow, he's supposed to challenge for a title every year and do so with guys who aren't good enough to go pro after one season.

That's the perfect summation of the conundrum you face when you're the Kentucky basketball coach.

We demand top talent, we demand guys that'll stay, and we demand to win every season. Usually you can do 2 out of 3 of those, it's not that easy to do all 3.

 

[Madcat62_rivals113839]

I know a lot will depend on whether Briscoe returns....Not sure if there are any instant impact type guys like AD or Randall or Towns...

So are we going to have to wait 2 years before we compete for # 9?

make a run next year yes but to have a real shot championship need 4 or 5 out of the 8 or 9 recruits this season to come back for sophomore season

 

[Catfan2226]

The thing that's not being mentioned is that all the good teams are losing guys.North Carolina,Duke,Kansas,UCLA are losing talent and basketball looks to be way down next season.If we get Bamba and either Cam Johnson or the Baker or Smith kid we can contend.

With all due respect to Baker and Smith as I'm sure they are each great kids but if I'm choosing just one I go all out for Cam Johnson.The kid can help us.He has good range,can hit free throws and can help us at not only the shooting guard spot but at small forward but I trust Cal will get what we need

 

[Montana81]

'98 Cats, if you include losing DA.

Good one. Lost 1718 out 3325 total points scored For 51.5ish percent.

Florida lost a ton before the 2006 title. I think Walsh and Roberson left early and Lee graduated....


Okay so they lost 1465 out 2438 points scored for an almost even 60%.

They came from unranked preseason to win it.

This Kentucky teams is probably gonna be preseason top 5 even though 15ish is more realistic. The CBB media loves to set cal up to tear him down though.

 

[WildMoon]

That's the perfect summation of the conundrum you face when you're the Kentucky basketball coach.

We demand top talent, we demand guys that'll stay, and we demand to win every season. Usually you can do 2 out of 3 of those, it's not that easy to do all 3.

I don't think that's 100% true.

We do demand top talent.
We win a title, if not multiple title in short span.
Marketing. (We are 24/7)

Max Kellerman said it, when i saw one of his clip. He was arguing SAS, and asked "who said winning with OAD talent is easier? I think it's harder."

Coach Cal is trying to win everything at UK, which is extremely difficult. If he had won 2015...It would be chaos for other school. or 2014. Had he won one of those, it would have been complete UK take over. Other fan base would completely disappear.

 

[YankeeCpt_rivals378522]

we are way to early preseason ranked #1... tied for 1st in vegas odds to win it all next year

 

[YankeeCpt_rivals378522]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...ketball-way-too-early-top-25-rankings-2017-18

 

[track42]

so, i agree with everything but...

people keep mentioning Cam Johnson, baker, or smith... Like they are going to play any.

Maybe Cam Johnson, but Baker and Smith are long term guys, most likely. They probably have no impact or very marginal impact.

Well I agree with the high schoolers but Johnson would play a lot.He shot 41% from 3 and I think about 82% on free throws.IMO I think if Cal sees that Knox won't come he will go hard after Cam.

 

[Brando Mac]

We can absolutely be a contender next season, but we're going to need a few variables to go our way in order to make that a reality. I think at least two more roster additions (Bamba and a guard) are necessary, and at least 2/4 of Briscoe, Gabriel, Hump, and SKJ would be helpful.

 

[WildMoon]

Well I agree with the high schoolers but Johnson would play a lot.He shot 41% from 3 and I think about 82% on free throws.IMO I think if Cal sees that Knox won't come he will go hard after Cam.

yeah, we'll see. You bring up these numbers but few things you need to keep in mind.

1. You are completely ignoring big chunk of basketball, which is defense.

2. Those percentage is based around when he was playing at Pittsburgh. You never really know whether or not he can put that kind of number when other team is trying to beat you as badly as teams tries to against UK.

3. His minutes will restrict, and his opportunity will be restricted as well.

I don't mind, since he is redshirt sophomore (it looks like). We'll see.

 

[Catfan2226]

Well I agree with the high schoolers but Johnson would play a lot.He shot 41% from 3 and I think about 82% on free throws.IMO I think if Cal sees that Knox won't come he will go hard after Cam.

44.6 field goals..81.5 free throws...41.3 from threeland.....11.8 points a game...4.6 rebounds....2.3 assists....

 

[Brando Mac]

The 2011 team lost Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, Patterson, and Orton from the prior season, replaced them with Knight, Jones, and Lamb, and made it 1 round further from a murderers row region. You can never be certain how things will play out.

 

[Anon1658882690]

So if this team ends up winning 27 games and loses in the Sweet 16 what percentage of the posters here start the "FARR CAL"! movement?

Thats where I'm figuring is our ceiling..

 

[bucsrule8872]

We need Briscoe back, plus Bamba, and add an experienced shooter like Johnson or Brown. I prefer Johnson with his size and experience playing in a major conference.

G Briscoe/Green
G Diallo/Alexander
G Johnson/Vanderbilt
F Bamba/Washington
F Richards/Killeya-Jones

That is definitely a team that could win a title.

 

[UKCAT5FAN]

I know a lot will depend on whether Briscoe returns....Not sure if there are any instant impact type guys like AD or Randall or Towns...

So are we going to have to wait 2 years before we compete for # 9?

How bout we wait and see what our roster is going to look like first? Impossible to say until we know who we have. There are way too many IFs in play at the moment.

 

[kybassfan]

This plus do we get a flavorable tourney draw.

What was it Fox Mulder (pun intended) said? I want to believe.

 

[docholiday51]

I think Bamba and the kid from Pitt give us a chance to contend.This is new territory for even Cal,he is likely to have almost nothing to start with.How fast do the new kids adjust to college ball,do we have any SKJ's or Gabriel's in the new class?

Everyone who comes in has to give us something we won't have any Willis' or Hawkins' walking thru the door.If we get no one else(we probably will) then we are looking at two years ago without Murray.We have the #1 class but do we have what we need? This is the yearly question about OAD,do we get what we need and are they what we(and Cal) think they are?

Cal rolls the dice every year and we go along for the ride.

 

[Great Grandson of All American]

I know a lot will depend on whether Briscoe returns....Not sure if there are any instant impact type guys like AD or Randall or Towns...

So are we going to have to wait 2 years before we compete for # 9?

We rebuild every year and contend every year since Cal has been here excluding '13

 

[Jakarii]

UNC shot 29% from three in the dance and won it all. Does that help

Is there any recent example of a team proving this proposition?

 

[Jakarii]

Not true. UL will return everyone unless Mitchell leaves and even if he does they return everyone else

Kansas will be stacked even though they lose Frank

Arizonia losses Lauri but replaces him with Ayton

Oregon potential returns everyone and gets Troy Brown

Duke likely returns Kennard and Grayson

MSU loses Bridges but returns everyone else and adds OAD big man Jackson

UCLA will be better than the team two seasons ago that beat UK

CBB will be pretty good next year

The thing is, no one will be very good. If our guys are as advertised and we stay healthy, we'll have the size, length, versatility and defense to contend.

Plus, it'll be fun to watch everyone who cries about Cal's one and done "not working" fly into a fit of rage when we lose several games and claim that he has to go, when in reality, next year will be laying the foundation like they've whined about for years.

Somehow, he's supposed to challenge for a title every year and do so with guys who aren't good enough to go pro after one season.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

If UK gets Bamba and Diallo is what most say he is with a decent shot, UK is in the hunt as much as anyone. If by some miracle Bam or Briscoe comes back, UK will be lethal. Richards at the 5 and Bam and Bamba at the 4. Goodness, what a front line.

 

[docholiday51]

UNC shot 29% from three in the dance and won it all. Does that help

Interesting word there," help" UNC did get some help,not saying it was intentional or by design but a lot of things went their way that could have gone another way in multiple games and it wasn't anything they did to cause it.

 

[1war_rivals62997]

I can't remember a team ever losing more than 50% of their scoring and winning a title. If Briscoe leaves we're losing about 90%.

I could be wrong but you have a short memory. Duke lost Jabari Parker , Rodney Hood , Andre Dawkins, Tyler Thorton , I'm pretty sure that's over 50 % of their scoring without doing the math and that's before counting Sulamain (sp?) who got dismissed from the team. They won the title after losing all that in 2015.

 

[kevcat]

Way too many unknowns as of now.

My guess is Bam and Briscoe leave, and we get Bamba and another guard.

Depending on how good that guard turns out to be, that could be the difference in a good year or a contending year.

 

[natchezrule]

I know a lot will depend on whether Briscoe returns....Not sure if there are any instant impact type guys like AD or Randall or Towns...

So are we going to have to wait 2 years before we compete for # 9?

Given the OAD climate, each year is mysterious

 

[jcmc225]

If Briscoe returns, the same ones wanting him back will be the same ones complaining about him after every game. Cant blame him if he leaves, but really hope he stays

 

[jcmc225]

Arizonia losses Lauri but replaces him with Ayton

Assuming everyone qualifies AZ will be very good. So good that idk if even Sean Miller can screw up next season.

 

[Jmeeks54thebest]

I think the absolute best case scenario for next season would be: Briscoe comes back, Bam comes back, and CJ and Bamba become wildcats.

I will always take someone who has proven they can shoot at this level or a relative unknown like Knox. Even without Bam that team would still be lethal come March.

At this point Briscoe needs to stay and get his degree. He's going to go undrafted whether it's this year or after his junior/senior year (not sure if he's on track to graduate early). If you're going to go undrafted, it's honestly smarter and better for your future to do so with a degree in your back pocket.

 

[Whatsup]

I know a lot will depend on whether Briscoe returns....Not sure if there are any instant impact type guys like AD or Randall or Towns...

So are we going to have to wait 2 years before we compete for # 9?

Contend and Win We UK Fans Want It ALL.