Diallo and Richards starting and getting significant minutes experiment!! They simply need more backup experience, practice time and learnining how to play the game. We have a solid 6-7 man rotation with Vando and PJ starting along with Knox, Shai and Green—with Gabriel and Killeya Jones Off the bench. That lineup can mix man and zone defense and get to the final four!
Please Coach Cal End the...
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I have no idea why Richards and Diallo get so much clock, they are both pitiful.
I actually agree with the exception of SKJ. That kid can’t do anything and isn’t even a strong dude like Richards.
His best 5 seem to be
Green
Shai
Knox
Vanderbilt
PJ
Green
Shai
Knox
Vanderbilt
PJ
I know in the grand scheme of things who starts doesn't make a lot of difference however Richards has no business starting nor does Diallo. I would like too see quade, SGA, Knox, Vandy and PJ get the start and see how we start off. Gabriel should be 6th man in with SKJ and Diallo in the 7 and 8 spots. Richards might see 5-6 minutes per game and might be some games he doesn't play at all.
Start your best lineup and complete the game with your best lineup depending on how the game has played out and whose bringing it and who isn't.
Start your best lineup and complete the game with your best lineup depending on how the game has played out and whose bringing it and who isn't.
Well Vandy and PJ were in foul trouble most the way. Who do you want him to play?? Do agree thou, enough with Diallo/Richards starting. Start the guys that earn it. Rewards for playing well.
I want him to play Quade who was the only one hitting his *** with a bass fiddle today...not leaving Hami in for extended minutes to shoot clanker after clanker up when we were trying to make an attempt at a run...
I agree with the Diallo and Richards not starting, but Cal won't do it. In the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter this year anyway. This team isn't winnIng it all anyway.
Be lucky to get past the first weekend of the tournament.
Be lucky to get past the first weekend of the tournament.
Diallo can occasionally have a good game but his inconsistency and bad shooting more than not just takes your team out of games or allows the other team to keep their momentum!
Even in the 4 game winning streak he still started Diallo and Richards. Then after the first 16 and under timeout he brings in PJ/Vanderbilt/Green. Today Green goes 4/7 and 3/3 from three for 11. He was hitting his 3 point shot but I guess Diallo played better 'D' but went 0-8 and 0-3 from 3 and couldn't hit a FT but lets play Diallo over Green??? We have to play Green/SGA/Knox/ PJ/Vanderbilt and have Gabriel/Diallo/Richards off the bench.
Vanderbilt was awful today.
Preaching to the choir.
Why are they starting? They bring nothing.
Let them come off the bench
PJ.. Vanderbilt and Green all start game on bench.
We can’t afford starting Gabriel, Richards , Diallo, in the tournaments.
You do not want to come out slow and let the other team set the tone starting next week.
Knox.. Green..SGA... Vanderbilt..PJ seems to be most effective lineup.
Why are they starting? They bring nothing.
Let them come off the bench
PJ.. Vanderbilt and Green all start game on bench.
We can’t afford starting Gabriel, Richards , Diallo, in the tournaments.
You do not want to come out slow and let the other team set the tone starting next week.
Knox.. Green..SGA... Vanderbilt..PJ seems to be most effective lineup.
Diallo had 31 games to get it together. It's time to stop sacrificing team goals just to get him drafted. Simple as that on the Diallo situation.
He was also in foul trouble pretty quickly after he entered the game. Likely played a factor. Overall, these 5 when in the game together have played the best basketball over this last couple of weeks.
Well, Diallo has parents and works out in the gym late at night, so it's pretty obvious that he has to start.
Note to Hami:
If you're in the gym for hours upon hours working on your shooting, yet you are still jacking up bricks and air balls, you're doing something wrong.
Note to Hami:
If you're in the gym for hours upon hours working on your shooting, yet you are still jacking up bricks and air balls, you're doing something wrong.
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We need them to be the best we could be, if you don’t play them then they won’t improve. You don’t just give up on them, especially in the regular season when you need to be teaching. I’m sure if they don’t improve then their time in the NCAA will be reduced.
Understand but the only way Hami is going to really help this team is with better effort, defense and hustle plays—starting immediately and forget the jump shots!!!! He needs to provide those limited minutes coming off the bench!!!
It’s Cals call, I get why he’s doing it. I know you want it changed and I’m not saying you’re wrong because it’s not something that can be proved. I think you might get what you want in the NCAA but not until then.
This times 1,000. I don't care that he's somebodies kid. This is about winning and the good of the whole team not just one guy.
By starting them now I am afraid has hurt UK’s seeding in the tournament because UK probably wins a few more games during the season with the others starting. With a poorer draw you won’t get to play as many games because you will lose sooner. It is obvious who the harder working, most productive players are on this team and they should be getting the playing time.
I totally agree with you. He's a stud. Today was not good. It happens to the best of them.
Don’t worry about a poor draw, the NCAA has that covered.
To show he believes in them, confidence is a precious commodity when things aren’t going well. If there’s any chance of improvement they need to believe in themselves, Cal knows what he’s doing.
Your premise shows that you aren’t paying much attention. Actually, Richards has not played much the last several weeks. He played a little more today because Vanderbilt got into foul trouble. When your best players get into foul trouble, that forces you to play the others. As for Diallo, we only have 3 healthy guards. So Hami has to play. Last but not least, I always try to give the benefit of the doubt to the Wildcats. But if you think this team can get past the Sweet Sixteen by any means, and that includes your lineup suggestions, you haven’t been watching them very closely.
Yes, he certainly does. By now, you would think our fans would be aware of this. Right?
And even more frustrating is it's OBVIOUS what guys should be starting in their place. There's no damn mystery to it whatsoever---this team's best lineup is CLEARLY when Vanderbilt and Green are in the spots where Richards and Diallo start--it's been obvious for weeks now.
Why Cal so stubbornly refuses to start our best lineup is beyond me.
When asked in the pre-Florida press conference why he was still starting Diallo and Richards...Cal said "well we are still winning." Can't use that excuse anymore. Richards I understand because if we play a team like Texas A&M or Duke with multiple good bigs Richards HAS to play or we get dominated inside. However I got no excuses for Hami
This is nonsense. When we've been "dominated inside" this year it's usually been when Richards is on the floor. But when we've been the ones dominating inside, it's usually been when Vanderbilt is playing the five spot.
I don't care if he is a couple inches shorter, Vanderbilt is much more of an inside force, especially on the boards, and we're clearly better inside when he's playing the five spot instead of Nick.
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I get Vanderbilt has energy and gets rebounds so at least something compensates for not being able to shoot and even make chippys with consistency. I'm sorry, but Richards and Diallo need limited minutes at best because I do not see the positives that compensate for their negatives. It is time those two sit and get ready to return next year.
It is nearing crunch time and Coach Cal has to decide what is his priority: getting Diallo and Richards drafted or going deep into the NCAA tournament. We will exit early if those two play as many minutes as they have been getting. Neither can be counted on to score when we need some baskets.
He’s a Hall of Fame coach and no one disputes that he knows what he is doing. And he may have reasons for doing some things that we may never know. On the other hand, it doesn’t take a HOF coach to see we have six guys, and only six guys, who can/will play winning basketball at this point in their careers. So it’s obviously going to be a point of discussion. But I bet we’ll be seeing that rotation pared down starting next week. I don’t see Cal getting sent home in March with his best options sitting beside him on the bench. I just don’t see it.
Cal prioritizes the tourney over everything else. I agree with all you guys about who deserves what but Cal is hoping a "light comes on" or they "turn the corner" etc, for these guys before the tournament starts. I do think the draft plays a role in this as well though. I think you will see a difference once the ncaa tourney starts.