Point guard: who did we miss.

[brianpoe]

I know he had some stupid Mistakes but I feel by the end of the year he will correct them. Don't get me wrong I love green but mainly in the half court rather than bringing it up the floor he's better in set plays than shai that's for sure

He cannot run the offense. No instincts, awful passer...things a PG does naturally.

Love his defense. Green's defense is just awful.

 

[kyjeff1]

Green and Shai both were backup plans and you can see why. My issue is why Cal didn’t go after Newman when he left MSU. I don’t care that he didn’t pick us the first time. He’s better than any guard on our roster.

I disagree. Newman has played a year in college and has worked with the KU staff for a year, but I didn't see a damn thing tonight, or ever, out of him that tells me he's any good at all.
Meanwhile, our two guys just got started.
Nice comparison… .NOT.

 

[UK90]

Did you watch the game?

Shai had 6 turnovers almost all of them unforced. Terrible point guard. And he is not that athletic, just tall. He is a better defender, that is why he plays.

Green cant play defense in a phone booth right now.

Exactly. Right now it looks like we have NO point guard. For differing flaws, both guys ain't really up to the task expected of a UK starting point guard.

Which, again, makes the Briscoe story so sad. Dude doesn't get his chance because we had too much point guard when he was here (ie. Ulis/Fox), but then he leaves right before the season when we don't have enough point guard. Bloody shame how that worked out, his timing screwed him.

 

[kyjeff1]

Anyone, and I repeat anyone that doesn't think Briscoe would have made this team a lot better is smoking something...and probably picked and bet ucla to destroy us last year.

I agree with you, but I don't know why it matters.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Green and Shai both were backup plans and you can see why. My issue is why Cal didn’t go after Newman when he left MSU. I don’t care that he didn’t pick us the first time. He’s better than any guard on our roster.

Wait... You watched that game and want Newman on this team? That guy is a straight cancer, I loved when he got the ball in transition because I knew he wasn't passing it.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

While there might be better PGs some of you folks just don't understand basketball. When you have exactly one offensive option you are not going to look great at PG no matter who you are.

You can run the offense perfectly but if you don't have anyone who can score the ball it will be futile

This team is just offensively challenged. JV may help a little so there's that.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Ftfy..but hopefully im wrong. Really happy with rest of team. Skj needs to work on free throws.

Also, hasn't Vanderbilt been discussed as running the offense or did I just dream that?

Yes, it has been mentioned in the past. I firmly believe he will play quite a bit of PG when he returns. JMO.

 

[TheAnonymous13]

While there might be better PGs some of you folks just don't understand basketball. When you have exactly one offensive option you are not going to look great at PG no matter who you are.

You can run the offense perfectly but if you don't have anyone who can score the ball it will be futile

This team is just offensively challenged. JV may help a little so there's that.

Ok.
But not having guys to throw assists to doesn't default to chucking airballs and 6 turnovers.

 

[kevcat]

You can't tell me that his defense, strength and ball handling wouldn't have helped this team. Dude averaged almost 4 assist a game being the third option at guard last year. I know for a fact he'd be playing better than Quade

Quit. Briscoe sucks. He's a liability.

 

[UK90]

While there might be better PGs some of you folks just don't understand basketball. When you have exactly one offensive option you are not going to look great at PG no matter who you are.

Dude, did you not notice how many inexcusable unforced backcourt turnovers we had tonight, quite a few of which were committed attempting to perform just the simplest tasks like initiating the offense and bringing the ball up court?

Turnovers of that nature are not about a lack of scoring options as much as just a lack of a competent primary ballhandler/QB to run the offense. Anyone who can't see that this team has a glaring point guard issue (at least right now) is in delusion.

 

[TBCat]

Sexton I guess is the only answer. This was a very weak class for point guards. Green is still potentially good but he wasn't tonight.

 

[PhattyJ4UK_rivals309166]

While there might be better PGs some of you folks just don't understand basketball. When you have exactly one offensive option you are not going to look great at PG no matter who you are.

You can run the offense perfectly but if you don't have anyone who can score the ball it will be futile

This team is just offensively challenged. JV may help a little so there's that.

LeBron James would not have made our PG spot look better tonight

 

[chattanoogawildcat]

It's game #3 chill the hell out

Dude is bipolar.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

Wait... You watched that game and want Newman on this team? That guy is a straight cancer, I loved when he got the ball in transition because I knew he wasn't passing it.

That cancer hit the dagger 3 late and also 2 clutch free throws at the end. Hate if you want but he’s better than Diallo.

 

[KyFaninNC]

As much as I hate to say it I think Briscoe would've been the guy.....

ummm, NO!

 

[1991greywildcat]

That cancer hit the dagger 3 late and also 2 clutch free throws at the end. Hate if you want but he’s better than Diallo.

Newman sucks dude, 5-14 from the field, had multiple turnovers and missed shots because he was forcing all night, he reminds me of watching a freshmen play still..

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

Trae Young .

But it’s early give it time . All of our PGs since Cal arrived have went through some kind of growing pains .

Exactly, fans were saying the same about Marquis Teague after his first few games as well.

 

[Jazzycat]

I thought Sexton was ineligible....

 

[theGspot_rivals384545]

opcorn:

 

[JwUKFan11]

That cancer hit the dagger 3 late and also 2 clutch free throws at the end. Hate if you want but he’s better than Diallo.

Wow you're actually just an idiot.

 

[megablue]

During the last few minutes, he chose to play Shai over Quade and I think that was mistake. Shai will improve, but his ball-handling, decision-making and overall play-making ability were shaky during that important period. It seems that Quade has a more settling, leadership effect. The situation reminded me of going with Harrison over Ulis down the stretch against Wisconsin. Cal will not admit it, probably, but he's like Joe Hall in that he seems to have a bias against the little guys ... probably because of defense.

 

[megablue]

Lol. Some of you same posters were saying Brandon Knight was a 2 with no point skills whatsoever after UConn beat Kentucky decisively in Hawaii.

Brandon was an excellent PG, but tried to do too much against UConn and should've gotten to the ball to Lamb, who was hot (8 points in key 2 minute catch-up run in second half) and getting open for shots. All he needed was the ball. Knight, in that game, drew ... but did not dish.
I blame this on Calipari for not calling for the team to spot up Lamb and let him score.

 

[Rupp94]

See marquis Teague.

Green reminds me of Teague. Give the guy some time, he'll come into his role. And Cal will get him to play defense.

 

[Bluegrassking]

It's game #3 chill the hell out

Yeah we really need another sub 25% shooter

Basketball is a hell of a lot more than a 3 point shooting contest.

Briscoe could push tempo, defend, rebound, create for others, get to the middle of the floor and create action, pass, finish at the hoop, and is one of less than a handful of guys that has put together a triple double in a Kentucky uniform.

Hell yeah, give me a Briscoe or pretty please a Rondo right now.

 

[UK90]

That cancer hit the dagger 3 late and also 2 clutch free throws at the end. Hate if you want but he’s better than Diallo.

He had those moments, but you're nuts if you liked what you saw overall from Newman last night. The guy was out of control and making dumb mistakes all game. And he's no point guard, his game is all me-first shooting-guard mentality, he has piss poor instincts as a passer/distributor.

The truth is that (other than Mykhailuk), almost everybody on Kansas had a bad night last night. Their best player (Graham) had about the coldest shooting night of his entire career, Vick was also missing everything, Newman was a mess, etc. Kansas had a bad game too, but their bad game was still enough to beat us.

 

[UK90]

Quit. Briscoe sucks. He's a liability.

You know, we would've won that game last night with Briscoe. He certainly would've given us more at point than what the combo of turnover-machine-Shai and no-defense Quade did in that game.

 

[Whatsup]

Overall, I think we played a decent game for literally playin 5 freshman..but that position is scary. I just don't see it clicking there. Who did we miss? What is the solution?

We did not miss anyone it's just early in the year. Try and be patient. I swear I've never seen so many new posters on RR. Don't know what hole all of you crawled out of but sure wish you would just crawl your sorry butt's back into the hole and make sure you cover it. Please return to your sewing circle now, please.

 

[Pizza Slice]

Quit. Briscoe sucks. He's a liability.

if he sucks why is he in the NBA........

 

[hotelblue]

Seems like I remember someone named Fox struggle mightily in November...

knight wasn't strong with the ball early in the year either. or teague. not saying green will end up the same with the ball. i think the pg by committee thing can't last. it could work but we haven't seen it with a ff.

 

[Jmeeks54thebest]

if he sucks why is he in the NBA........

He’s not in the NBA buddy

He’s at the world mecca of basketball known as Estonia

 

[UK90]

Green reminds me of Teague. Give the guy some time, he'll come into his role. And Cal will get him to play defense.

There is one huge difference. Teague was ALWAYS a bulldog tough defender. Even when he was struggling early on the offensive end, he still always brought it defensively. When he finally got the offensive issues figured out, we had a mighty fine all around point guard on both sides.

Green, on the other hand, is probably always gonna be one of those "asset on one side, liabilty on the other" type players. He does show real offensive potential, but man, he's so lost defensively that it's hard to believe he'll ever be a net-plus on the D end of the floor (or at least not this season).

 

[JwUKFan11]

Basketball is a hell of a lot more than a 3 point shooting contest.

Briscoe could push tempo, defend, rebound, create for others, get to the middle of the floor and create action, pass, finish at the hoop, and is one of less than a handful of guys that has put together a triple double in a Kentucky uniform.

Hell yeah, give me a Briscoe or pretty please a Rondo right now.

Why did you quote me?

 

[PhattyJ4UK_rivals309166]

Lol. Some of you same posters were saying Brandon Knight was a 2 with no point skills whatsoever after UConn beat Kentucky decisively in Hawaii.

Not me, curious who these same posters are as they would be idiots.

Did you see any glimmers of Brandon knight? How about Marquis Teague ?

I think they will be fine eventually, just not the point guard we are used to.

 

[DelkBowl]

Duval

 

[UKxWildcats]

Quade Green is our guy. He has the mentality to win. We just need more time to build team chemistry, its only the third game. BTW, their guard play wasnt amazing either, Graham shot awful.

 

[Cardsstink]

Seems like I remember someone named Fox struggle mightily in November...

Yep. Green will be very good when we make the stretch run.

 

[EliteBlue]

During the last few minutes, he chose to play Shai over Quade and I think that was mistake. Shai will improve, but his ball-handling, decision-making and overall play-making ability were shaky during that important period. It seems that Quade has a more settling, leadership effect. The situation reminded me of going with Harrison over Ulis down the stretch against Wisconsin. Cal will not admit it, probably, but he's like Joe Hall in that he seems to have a bias against the little guys ... probably because of defense.

He went with the 6'5 guard who was battle tested and led a team to the championship game the year before over an undersized freshman who had been getting beat on defense everytime he got in that game.

Year 1 Ulis was not Sophomore Ulis. Revisionist hindsight aside, it was the right move.

The difference in that game was a team who shot 17 threes to our 5 managed to shoot 22 (made 18) free throws to our 10 (9). Add that to a "blown" no call shorclock in crunch time by a Higgins led crew and we come up short.