He’s really turned in to that 3rd option and threat along with Aberdeens consistent play. I also think popes willingness to be adjustable with how we play vs stubbornness to play the 30 3s/game has also been a key factor. Playing to this teams strengths vs forcing them to play a game that’s not what they can do but we gotta start making fts and then be competitive on the boards.
Chandler coming on as a 3rd scorer has changed this team
- Thread starter TTTblue24
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Anybody hitting 3's transforms this team. We really need Jelavic to be a 3 point threat.
They were asking Chandler to handle the ball too much after Lowe went down. He is not a PG. Everyone is settling into their role and getting comfortable. For me the biggest difference is Moreno on both ends. Not only a rim protector but a legitimate low post scorer. The fact that they went to him late in the Tenn game with the game on the line says a lot. Also I can’t say enough about Dioubate’s toughness and he just seems to be in the right place at the right time.
Junior Collin Chandler
Junior Kam Williams
Sophomore Malachi Moreno
^Enough to give coaches across the country nightmares. We would be extremely lucky to return those three.
Junior Kam Williams
Sophomore Malachi Moreno
^Enough to give coaches across the country nightmares. We would be extremely lucky to return those three.
Or taking zero threes and crashing the boards..
His 2nd half defense on Ament is being overlooked. However, at times, we also doubled him in the 2nd half.
Actually, I feel like we have 4 elite scorers
DA
OO
CC
MM
Also, JJ is elite too, issue is, he forces it too much, if he could ever figure out how to play team ball, he cpuld be deadly. He can score from all 3 levels.
DA
OO
CC
MM
Also, JJ is elite too, issue is, he forces it too much, if he could ever figure out how to play team ball, he cpuld be deadly. He can score from all 3 levels.
Everyone is really rounding into form as we get closer to march.
Hes been shooting 40+ percent in the SEC!
He's been one of our best shooter's in SEC play!! Plus just him being out there opens up the whole floor on his side ,alot can happen when you have a threat to knock it down out there on one wing!
Don't think they will scare many teams. Too many good players out there.
I disagree. I hope we get to see it.
Those three will be studs next year. I actually think Jr Noah will provide a lot off the bench. He is smart and can shoot the ball. And while I agree we need another legit PG, I would love to have Lowe back. Finally, if BG plays the rest of the season the way he has the last fee games, he would be a great returnee
We have to do better job on boxing out and giving up so many 2nd and 3rd shots to our opponent. If we take care of that, we will be pretty damn good.
How about knocking down threes and crashing the board
And hit them damn free throws, would sure be nice also
I've felt that we are a much better three point shooting team IF we could get the right players to step up and get into the mix - depending on the game situation.
JJ, Jelavic and Noah could make HUGE contributions if they can hit even one or 2 a game each, grab a rebound or two, stay ultra engaged and with maximum effort for the few minutes they will get, but very valuable and productive.... perfect role players and a true weapon - all above and beyond our three best scorers.
And then you have Oweh, Aberdeen and Chandler ... all are better outside shooters than what they get credit for.
Identify those "favorite shots" and areas on the court we can expect a play to be made from, like Oweh's sharp pass to Chandler... they knew something exactly like that would be money. And it was.
Make the case for Aberdeen and Oweh to attack via slashing , dare I say it ??? VIOLENT cuts....
har har hardy har har
Chandler, Jelavic, Noah or JJ outside to give a legitimate threat spread across the floor
MM, MoD or Garrison terrorizing the paint, and making themselves targets for a pass or to be there for the expected shot, crashing the boards hard. Coming out setting the hard pick or set a wall and away we go.
That's been a winning formula for them. Getting better at just that, and not trying to do the impossible, or ask themselves to do the impossible, just stay focused, connected in the game, and always maximum effort.
and if they find themselves in the "impossible" moment, they've been in enough of those situations this year to know it ain't over until the last shot. Stay engaged and connected, they do what they know they can do, and they can beat anyone.
That's my .02
... and yes, the team as a whole has really developed into a true team that knows its' roles. Let's go shock the Gators.
Go Big Blue !
This! He only scored 10 in the second half, and I believe at least 4 of those was from BS calls and FTs. CC did a great job on him.
The main difference I see in this team is that we are getting downhill and driving the ball. The points in the paint the last few games tells the story.
Great post and spot on. Really just want to see Dioubate focus on those winning plays like fighting for those key rebounds. Get some garbage buckets here and there and play tough defense. It's when he gets the ball and tries to go 1-on-1 and force bad shots where he doesn't play to his strengths and hurts us. Just do all that other stuff we need.
Exactly! Having that core group return would be massive. Under Pope, player retention has been priority rather than a 'wait and see' situation, mass exodus with Cal. If UK can keep those guys, grab a PG from the portal, and a knockdown shooter, I like where things stand with the roster.
If we don't get a top talent in the portal or convince a top HS to commit ky fans will be disappointed with the season we will have next year.
If we do get a top talent in the portal or convince a top HS to commit ky fans will be satisfied with the season we will have next year.
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Listen , we aren’t going to get better with our players from this season. If noah plays significant minutes it’s because we didn’t land the elite players. We need to shed some and add what we haven’t had with pope. Elite players that will keep us top 5 all season. Let’s see how we do in March to determine who should comeback. We don’t get to choose to have the season end now when we are playing our best. The most important test is coming soon.
I couldn't disagree with you more.
Tony Delk Fr- 4.5/1.9. Sr 17.8/4.2, AA
Jeff Sheppard Fr 3.7 Sr 13.7
Reggie Hanson Fr 1.3 Sr 14.4
Travis Ford Fr 3.5/1.1 Sr 11.3/5.8A
Nick Richards Fr 5.1 Jr 14.0
Jamaal Magloire Fr 4.9/4.4 Sr 13.2/9.1
Jacob Toppin Fr 5.1 Sr 12.4
Deron Feldhaus Fr 3.7 Sr 11.4
Wayne Turner Fr 4.5 Sr 10.5
Chuck Hayes Fr 5.9/4.5 Sr 10.9/7.8
Amari Williams Freshman 1.1 Sr 10.9
Nazr Mohammed Fr 2.3/1.5 Jr 12.0/7.2
Oscar Tshiebwe Soph 8.7/7.8 Sr 16.5/13.7AA
Kyle Wiltcher Fr 5.0 Sr 20.4
I know Cal cycling through kids in one season has led a lot of folks to forget, but kids improve over time.
Last point...many folks here wet themselves for McDonald's All Americans. How many did Cal sign during last 5 brutal years? Also, how many McDonald's All Americans started on the last 5 National Champs?
2025 Florida - Zero
2024 UConn - Zero
2023 UConn - Zero
2022 Kansas - 1 David McCormick
2021 Baylor - None
So we have folks firing the coach for not bringing in Burger Boys huh? Sad times in BBN
We have a coach who is middling. He needs some elite talent to put him over the top. In order for pope to compete for titles he has to bring some elite talent. Pope doesn’t have the coaching abilities of golden or Hurley. Not in their stratosphere. This is what you guys don’t get. Pope has a lot to prove. He came with a thin resume. Pope absolutely needs studs to compete in March. Comparing him to golden or Hurley is ridiculousness.
Pope is polishing up the season but we don’t know what the outcome will be. We are 28th in net and un ranked in most polls except the AP that has us at 25. This is substandard. I just start to think about this debate. I mean we are debating whether pope needs more juice to get over the top. It’s his second year how much have we been ranked in his two years? Half the time? Much less actually.
We are in the thick of year 2 and we are average by our standard. We look to be a 5-9 seed depending how we finish. This is pretty bad. All this winning is overshadowed by the blowouts and losses. It’s great to beat UT twice and beat cal ark teams but that isn’t it. UK basketball has been suppressed the last 2 years. We ll see in year 3 but I promise he isn’t making that required final four run without studs and they don’t have to be burger boys. Garrison is a burger boy, Moreno. We have some burger boys. That doesn’t mean elite. It means you were really good in high school. Elite is a mentality matched with talent. It’s something that every coach has to evaluate and determine.
One last thing. You put a bunch of guys up there who developed along the way. We don’t have a staff who is lauded for developing players. Mark Fox? UK basketball is somewhere in the 28 range there is still a whole lot wrong. This discussion is proof of deterioration in expectations thank you Mitch Barnhart