What the **** lol. Kj was another guard ? Brooks has better handles than kJ genius. Do you people actually watch these kids play or just comment on stuff hoping to pretend. Jesus Christ some of you are so diluted
Who replaces Baker?
- Thread starter HagginHall1999
- Start date
What the **** lol. Kj was another guard ? Brooks has better handles than kJ genius. Do you people actually watch these kids play or just comment on stuff hoping to pretend. Jesus Christ some of you are so diluted
I watched him get pressed against Oak Hill and turn the ball over several times.
Brooks is a great player...watched him several times, he isn't a guard.
The OP threw out names that seemed to be a good fit to replace a guy WHO WOULD play more than 5 or 10 mins a game this coming season.
Keldon was listed as a SF coming out of high school and his scouting report called him a prototypical shooting guard.
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In 2013-14, this was our rotation at guard (1-2 spots):
Andrew Harrison- 31.7mpg
Aaron Harrison- 32.6mpg
Dominque Hawkins- 8.6mpg
Jarrod Polson- 8.5mpg
(Note: James Young was listed at guard, but played almost exclusively at the 3 spot.)
That's 3 Freshmen guards (two 5-stars and a 3-star) and a walkon. On a runner-up team.
Also, we only had 3 guys listed at guard who played significant minutes in 2012 on our title team (Teague, Lamb, and Miller).
Don't get me wrong, I am all for having lots of depth, but are we really that short handed with 2 Sophomores, 1 Freshman (all three 5-stars), and a walkon as our guard rotation?
You are 100% right. Take it for what it is worth in my response though.
The Harrison twins were unique in the sense that they'd played together since birth....that counts for something.
As for 2012...AD and MKG aren't walking through the door next year...
I am not a dooms day guy....I hope you are right, would just like to see someone added to replace JB.
True on all accounts.
But a Soph Quickley as a third guard is light years ahead of a Freshmen Hawkins as a third guard.
You got me on 2012. AD and MKG as forwards were better ball handlers than most PGs.
Jeez, man, do you really want to be only one injury away from Brad Calipari being our third guard? We absolutely need to add another guard now.
It doesn't necessary have to be a "grad transfer or OAD", maybe Cal can take a chance on some lower rated conventional recruit. But get SOMEONE.
What's your infatuation with Brad? We will have Allen fully healthy by Xmas, Zan Payne couldn't be any worse than Baker was if u insist on having a 5 guard rotation. We're talking about the 9th man here, u are acting like we lost Malik Monk.
These are 18-20yrs old kids in their prime bro, they don't get tired. If so the NBA wouldn't exist playing 81 freaking games. That guy from MSU (Winston) played like 35 min a game.
Cal is the man, you should stop worrying and just trust him. We will be a contender.
It’s weird that you think you are disagreeing with me when you are pretty much saying exactly what I said. Get someone, but it doesn’t have to be a top of the line player to replace your fourth guard and ninth best player.
Cal carefully orchestrates every player's NBA announcement/transfer so there was zero chance he was caught off guard by this. It's a safe assumption he's worked behind the scenes to fill Baker's spot for a couple weeks. There's several talented grad transfer SGs that can step into his role as a shooter off the bench. I'm not concerned at all.
What about the Ky boy who broke his collarbone? He should be available and is a terrific shooter from what I have read.
Allen is a great player. I have some hesitation having torn my ACL before....it is a good 8 to 12 months most of the time depending on how severe and if meniscus or anything else was involved. He did his in December. I hope he is back and could certainly help if so!
I have a hard time responding when people don't read the context of a post.
I don't need you to tell me to not worry about Cal. I love Cal. I loved Cal when people didn't want him here before BCG. Has nothing to do with not trusting him.
This is a message board. I asked a question. Baker wasn't our 9th man at EOY....and he certainly wouldn't be next year. I didn't insist on a 5 guard rotation. Allen will help- if he is back (but even he is more of a wing), Payne isn't a guard and walk ons are for playing when you are up by 20.
If you think we are fine without replacing Baker then that's your opinion....have it, love it, enjoy it..I just don't agree.
Now hold my beer.
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Yep, in a perfect world assuming no foul trouble or injuries. Wouldn't it be nice to add quality depth though? Get a nice grad xfer with experience that has an expertise....shooting/D, whatever it may be.
Fair enough. I thought you were suggesting we don't need another guard at all. My bad.
Would be wonderful.
Where can Cal find a guy like that who is willing to ride the pine most of the time?
What happens if we have an injury which has sure affected us for several years now.Brad going to save us?
You are operating under the presumption that there will be no injuries and everything will go as planned. That is not the way things usually go.
Right now we are one injury away from Brad Calipari being our third guard. That is not a place I still want to be when the season begins.
Good question. I'd say someone similar to Sestina. Cal says there are no guarantees at UK. Sestina probably isn't starting...probably not getting more than 20 minutes a game.
Find a guy that was at a mid major that wants a chance at a title.
You guys keep posing the problem and aren't offering a plausible solution.
Once again, who will come in and sit the bench behind our three guards in hopes that one gets hurt and they get the opportunity to play?
None of the players that are being talked about are going to do that. We aren't getting a 5-star to do that. A grad transfer isn't coming in to ride the pine.
Is Cal even recruiting someone for that role?
Yeah, I think there was some misunderstanding there. It isn't that I think Baker is Monk as someone else suggested...it is just that he had experience and system knowledge, played good D, could shoot, etc. Just need a decent player, doesn't have to be a world beater.
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I agree, but a grad transfer who is good enough to play here isn't likely to want to come and sit the bench behind Hagans, Maxey, and Quickley.
Of the grad transfer options, I'd certainly think Camron Justice would be a legit possiblity. As a former Kentucky Mr. Basketball raised in about the most fanatically pro-UK spot in the state, I think the lure of UK in exchange for fewer minutes might be seen as an acceptable trade.
And, if you can't get a grad transfer, maybe it's time for Cal to take a chance by offering some lower rated 2 or 3 star type prospect. Surely some are still available who'd be thrilled to get a UK offer. And we have extra schollies we don't use anyways, so he wouldn't be taking a spot away from a higher rated guy. So why not?
Just for point of reference, our 5th backcourt/wing player on our last championship team played 44 minutes all season.
It would be nice to have the added depth, but there’s a lot of value in a tight rotation, if it’s the right rotation.
It would be nice to have the added depth, but there’s a lot of value in a tight rotation, if it’s the right rotation.
I love Baker for wearing the Blue/ white, but Let's be clear. The kid averaged 2ppg, played decent defense in about 3 games, played about 9min per game, missed tons of wide open threes, had only 13 assist with 10 turnovers.
"Who's gonna replace that (Baker) ? " LOL. Cal has until the FALL to give some kid in Lexington a scholarship who can easily duplicate Bakers production (which wasn't much).
"Who's gonna replace that (Baker) ? " LOL. Cal has until the FALL to give some kid in Lexington a scholarship who can easily duplicate Bakers production (which wasn't much).
I’d love to pick another guard as well, but we did win a championship playing only two guards with Teague and Lamb. Fortunately we didn’t have to deal with any injuries that year.
Would a 2 or 3-star Freshmen be able to come in and play big minutes if one of our 3 main guards goes down?
Is a 2 or 3-star Freshman going to be that much better than Calipari as a fourth year player?
I'm trying to wrap my head around how we could lose a 5-star guard and feel comfortable with anyone moving into their spot, whether it be Calipari or some 2 or 3-star Freshman. Either option makes me cringe.
Aike, I agree...but that team also had AD and MKG. This team doesn't have that. Those two guys hid a lot of flaws or were crutches. Also, Lamb may have been the best shooter in the Cal era.
You really think Baker's ppg were indicative of the type player he was? Sure he had some screwups but what player doesn't in their first year actually playing with limited minutes. His defense against Wofford was outstanding. He was starting to turn the corner. I for one hate he's leaving but understand the decision.
Agreed.
I'm bummed about Baker leaving, because I think he showed real potential to become far better. He really was a damn good perimeter defender (maybe the best we had), had good size, his shooting was spotty, but that's hardly surprising for someone who joined the team mid-season after missing a year with injury. I expect he'll develop into a damn good player for whoever gets him.
Those basing their posts on ppg or mpg are missing the point. What he was last year ain't what he's gonna be. Baker's well equipped to become a far better player in the future.
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I never one time last year thought " Man, we need to play Baker more! " , and I don't know anybody else that thought that either. It's hard to miss what you never had.
Don't know yet but likely west coast. Put name in transfer portal...
They didn’t hide flaws. The team didn’t have flaws, basically.
Back up a year to 2011 and our 5th backcourt/wing player was Jon Hood playing 5 minutes a game.
Look at 2016. Murray/Ulis/Briscoe got almost all of the minutes at 1-3. Hawkins and Matthews got around 20 minutes a game combined as backups.
I agree that we are playing with fire if we don’t add any depth. I figure we will. But the truth is that, barring injury, Hagans/Maxey/Quickley/Whitney will get almost all of the minutes at the 1-3. It’s the way Cal usually does it.
Ex Virginia Tech recruit/ commit........................
https://247sports.com/Player/Anthony-Harris-45572938/
https://247sports.com/Player/Anthony-Harris-45572938/
Disagree. Three is plenty (and I would assume perhaps Whitney can play some SG in a pinch).
Our 2012 title team really only had 2 "guards". Teague and Lamb.
That team only went 7 deep total. Miller played 26 mpg and Wiltjer 11. The 8th guy was Vargas at 6 mpg. You don't need to be 10 deep, and you don't need any more than 3 guards.