Kam Williams developing some ball handling skills might be one of the key aspects to UK's success this season.

#1 cat fan

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That’s why I said if Mitchell is at the 4 the need for a ball handling 2 isn’t as needed. It’s not like Kam would play a ton of mins at the 2 but he could easily play 5-7 a game at the 2 if Mitchell is at the 4 and zoom or Wilkins is at the 1. And we struggled for a lot more reasons than a 2g who couldn’t dribble good.

You saying Kam didn’t give effort? The same guy who rushed back from surgery to help the team when he didn’t have to.
Man you need t players that can dribble. You are sounding like you know very little about basketball. Did you not see us get trapped every trip against iowa st. It's because we had 1 ball handler. Mitchell is a decent enough ball handler for a 4 but I need that level at all 5 positions. I swear our fans think Standing still at the 3 point line is gonna turn into great offense. Smh
You can't have a 2 or a 3 that can't dribble and you are asking for both
 

#1 cat fan

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A lot of you guys must have watched a different season than I did last year. All I remember from Williams was him shooting more airballs than makes. And that was when he was healthy as a horse.
Some of you think he is going to develop a handle in the offseason when he is coming off an injury and is still not 100%? That just does not happen. If Kam Williams is needed to be a big contributor this season, it will be Pope's last as UK coach.
Spot on
He will be 10th man if that
 
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theBlues

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Truthfully we have no idea what Hawthorne will be. Most likely he won’t be a starter level player, but he could be good enough to really contribute off the bench which is what we need. Kam on the other hand could be a starter level player if he improves.
I think Hawthorne will be a star. Not this year, but a couple years down the road.
 

#1 cat fan

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Well, we also struggled because our designated 2G was playing PG. Chandler was probably a backup 2G or a starting WF if we had true PGs (Lowe hurt and Lewis bolted). Aberdeen was good at PG in reserve but he does not set up others as well as Zoom and Lex should be able to.
Yea all of that is true but that's hypothetical.
We hat really happened was we had2 guys that could even dribble with a man 5 ft from them. Oweh and Aberdeen. Lowe changed the whole season, but our genius fans think he sucked because he was forced to do something when his teammates stood in concrete.
Pope learned a lot from that iowa st thumping and got better playmakers. However, milan won't score 100 points inside the arc all year. Theres not a 3 in the sec on a decent team he can guard and putting him at the 4 kills rebounding.

I'm optimistic about this season but I'm very concerned in other areas. 4 months ago Moreno couldn't be put in the game against tournament teams and now some expect him to be great. It wouldn't surprise me if kepnang starts over him later on if he stays healthy. You have to be physical and there's no Garrison or Diabate to lean on this season. I love our 3 guards of m Williams, wilkins and zoom. Morton looks good too. The forwards of Milan, Mitchell and McBride are solid and the 2 centers. That's gonna be the bulk of the playing time
 

ScWildcat3

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Man you need t players that can dribble. You are sounding like you know very little about basketball. Did you not see us get trapped every trip against iowa st. It's because we had 1 ball handler. Mitchell is a decent enough ball handler for a 4 but I need that level at all 5 positions. I swear our fans think Standing still at the 3 point line is gonna turn into great offense. Smh
You can't have a 2 or a 3 that can't dribble and you are asking for both
Haha that explanation tells me you don’t know alot about high level basketball. I can promise you Kam can dribble the ball plenty good enough. Is he a pg absolutely not. You still living in the old days of thinking they got set positions. We didn’t have a pg last year or a secondary reliable ball handler. We have that this year. I guess according to you Milan should sit the bench as well since he’s not a dynamic dribbler. And you say I have no basketball knowledge. That’s funny.
 

FilsonCat

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Williams needs to get some healthy months behind him before we start putting expectations on him. I think he might get a few minutes here and there just to get the feel of game speed until we get to SEC play. I think that's a more realistic timeline.
 

ScWildcat3

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Yea all of that is true but that's hypothetical.
We hat really happened was we had2 guys that could even dribble with a man 5 ft from them. Oweh and Aberdeen. Lowe changed the whole season, but our genius fans think he sucked because he was forced to do something when his teammates stood in concrete.
Pope learned a lot from that iowa st thumping and got better playmakers. However, milan won't score 100 points inside the arc all year. Theres not a 3 in the sec on a decent team he can guard and putting him at the 4 kills rebounding.

I'm optimistic about this season but I'm very concerned in other areas. 4 months ago Moreno couldn't be put in the game against tournament teams and now some expect him to be great. It wouldn't surprise me if kepnang starts over him later on if he stays healthy. You have to be physical and there's no Garrison or Diabate to lean on this season. I love our 3 guards of m Williams, wilkins and zoom. Morton looks good too. The forwards of Milan, Mitchell and McBride are solid and the 2 centers. That's gonna be the bulk of the playing time
You really are lost. Moreno was worn down at the end of the year having to do more than he ever expected. He’s reportedly in way better shape and I know you won’t believe it but players do get better. Also just because Milan plays the 3 on offense doesn’t mean he has to guard the 3 on defense. This isn’t middle school were you guard who has you. Iowa state defense was pretty solid and he played the wing for them. In no world will kepnang start over Moreno either.
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

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I agree with Goodman's take that UK's best chances this upcoming season could involve Kam Williams and Milan playing together on the wings with Wilkins/Diallo rotating at the 1. Even if Kam is your shooting guard backup, it helps the rotation in that it clears up Hawthorne to be your backup 3.

Rotation if Kam can actually handle the ball:

G - Diallo - Mason or Morton
G - Wilkins - Kam
F - Milan - Hawthorne
F - Mitchell - N'Diaye or McBride
C - Moreno - Kepnang

If Kam can't make the wing guard happen due to lack of ball handling skills, it backs up Hawthorne to being UK's third-string small forward. I don't like that from a developmental standpoint becuase it means we probably lose him after this year.

My hope is also that N'Diaye becomes more physical so as to eventually become a guy who can play a few minutes at the 5. Relying entirely on Kepnang as your 5 man depth piece has it's obvious downsides.
If Hawthorne were good enough, he'd carve out a role.
 

Eagles_Ball_69

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Y’all got to get off the traditional positions. Kam can easily play the 2 if you have someone like Mitchell at the 4. Mitchell can handle the ball as can Moreno. Who is all on the on court matters not just 1 guy at 1 spot.
Wait...wut...MORENO can handle the ball? Jesus man. That's optimistic.
 

ScWildcat3

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Wait...wut...MORENO can handle the ball? Jesus man. That's optimistic.
Have you not seen Moreno at the top as the 5 handling the ball? We ran offense through him up top last year. Some of you guys can’t articulate the difference between someone who can handle it and get where they want to someone who can handle it and initiate offense. You don’t have to be zoom or Alex to do that.
 

Reggie Noble

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Mark Pope says Kentucky has started moving away from the traditional 1-through-5 positional system.
“We’re kind of playing a format with two lead guards, two wings and a big.”
Instead of calling players 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s, Pope says Kentucky is now identifying them as lead guards, wings and bigs.
The modern era of positionless basketball has officially reached Lexington
👀

(via Jeff Goodman / The Field Of 68)
 

megablue

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I think we have enough fire power. The concern everyone should be worried about is rebounds and defense. That is the lineup that’ll work best.
I agree with you 1000% ... rebounding and defense will help win the tough games ... especially on the inevitable shooting off-nights.
 
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ScWildcat3

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Mark Pope says Kentucky has started moving away from the traditional 1-through-5 positional system.
“We’re kind of playing a format with two lead guards, two wings and a big.”
Instead of calling players 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s, Pope says Kentucky is now identifying them as lead guards, wings and bigs.
The modern era of positionless basketball has officially reached Lexington
👀

(via Jeff Goodman / The Field Of 68)
Yea some people on here have yet to realize that. They still think it’s 1990. Also this will be the most top heavy talent wise team pope has had. I expect him to ride that talent gap.
 

Eagles_Ball_69

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Haha that explanation tells me you don’t know alot about high level basketball. I can promise you Kam can dribble the ball plenty good enough. Is he a pg absolutely not. You still living in the old days of thinking they got set positions. We didn’t have a pg last year or a secondary reliable ball handler. We have that this year. I guess according to you Milan should sit the bench as well since he’s not a dynamic dribbler. And you say I have no basketball knowledge. That’s funny.
Mom isn't expected to a playmaker. Kam at the 2 would be. Think about how frustrated, and rightly so, some got at Otega last season for his lackadaisical handles on drives. Otega is worlds more of a handler and playmaker than Kam. Especially a Kam that's been on the shelf since essentially January.
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

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You really are lost. Moreno was worn down at the end of the year having to do more than he ever expected. He’s reportedly in way better shape and I know you won’t believe it but players do get better. Also just because Milan plays the 3 on offense doesn’t mean he has to guard the 3 on defense. This isn’t middle school were you guard who has you. Iowa state defense was pretty solid and he played the wing for them. In no world will kepnang start over Moreno either.
Mom was by far their worst defender, statistically speaking. He just defended the other teams worst offensive player. And was still the worst they had. Dude can shoot the lights out, but he's not defending anyone. He's a typical Euro player.
 

Eagles_Ball_69

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Have you not seen Moreno at the top as the 5 handling the ball? We ran offense through him up top last year. Some of you guys can’t articulate the difference between someone who can handle it and get where they want to someone who can handle it and initiate offense. You don’t have to be zoom or Alex to do that.
I have seen it...which was why I questioned it.
 

Eagles_Ball_69

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Yea some people on here have yet to realize that. They still think it’s 1990. Also this will be the most top heavy talent wise team pope has had. I expect him to ride that talent gap.
You have to have playmakers on the court. Kam can't be your second best handler/playmaker, no matter where you put him. If he's out there with Zoom, Mom, Mitchell and Moreno...that lineup is going to be seriously challenged to get any type of depth on offense.
 

PastorofMuppets82

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Mom was by far their worst defender, statistically speaking. He just defended the other teams worst offensive player. And was still the worst they had. Dude can shoot the lights out, but he's not defending anyone. He's a typical Euro player.
Are you saying he "plays like a typical Euro" or that he is a Euro? Because he was born and raised in Pewaukee, Wisconsin and won three state titles in high school in the US. His parents are of Serbian descent though. His Dad actually played D1 Volleyball at Milwaukee.
 

ScWildcat3

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Mom isn't expected to a playmaker. Kam at the 2 would be. Think about how frustrated, and rightly so, some got at Otega last season for his lackadaisical handles on drives. Otega is worlds more of a handler and playmaker than Kam. Especially a Kam that's been on the shelf since essentially January.
If kam is at the 2 I said u would need Moreno and Mitchell along with a pg out there. That’s 2 ball handlers and a big who can make plays making Kam a shooter and 4th option essentially. Just because he would be at the 2 don’t mean he’s 2nd option.
 

ScWildcat3

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Mom was by far their worst defender, statistically speaking. He just defended the other teams worst offensive player. And was still the worst they had. Dude can shoot the lights out, but he's not defending anyone. He's a typical Euro player.
And that’s what he will do at Kentucky. Guard their worse perimeter guy.
 

ScWildcat3

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You have to have playmakers on the court. Kam can't be your second best handler/playmaker, no matter where you put him. If he's out there with Zoom, Mom, Mitchell and Moreno...that lineup is going to be seriously challenged to get any type of depth on offense.
That means Kam is a spot up shooter in that lineup and cutter along with MOM. Zoom Mitchell and Moreno are your creators. And that’s not an offensively challenged lineup at all. Did u watch the best teams last year? Didn’t have 4-5 playmaker ball handlers on the floor at all times.
 

theBlues

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That means Kam is a spot up shooter in that lineup and cutter along with MOM. Zoom Mitchell and Moreno are your creators. And that’s not an offensively challenged lineup at all. Did u watch the best teams last year? Didn’t have 4-5 playmaker ball handlers on the floor at all times.
I think Momcilovic is more than a guy that catches the ball and shoots if he's open. He has a high, quick release and from what I've seen I think he's one of those guys who can just rise and shoot with a defender on him.
 
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ScWildcat3

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I think Momcilovic is more than a guy that catches the ball and shoots if he's open. He has a high, quick release and from what I've seen I think he's one of those guys who can just rise and shoot with a defender on him.
Agreed. He has way more to his game than just catch and shoot.
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

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That means Kam is a spot up shooter in that lineup and cutter along with MOM. Zoom Mitchell and Moreno are your creators. And that’s not an offensively challenged lineup at all. Did u watch the best teams last year? Didn’t have 4-5 playmaker ball handlers on the floor at all times.
You view Moreno as a playmaker far more than I do. Agreed though, that lineup can score. Zoom and Mitchell should be able to get things done off the bounce.
 

ScWildcat3

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You view Moreno as a playmaker far more than I do. Agreed though, that lineup can score. Zoom and Mitchell should be able to get things done off the bounce.
In terms of a 5 man in popes offense yes Moreno can make the reads and passes. That’s all he needs to do when at the top.
 

RunninRichie

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Kam is at best a 3 and D player off the bench. I think Morton will double his (Kam) performance from last year.
 

Eagles_Ball_69

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In terms of a 5 man in popes offense yes Moreno can make the reads and passes. That’s all he needs to do when at the top.
He’s barely a 2 assist per 30 min player. Maybe he can do it, but he didn’t really do it last season. At least not with any regularity.
 

Beatle Bum

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i dont think standing or sitting in one place and just dribbling are the drills you do to improve your handle.....
There are plenty of ballhandling skill activities that don’t require you to move. Most involve a ball for each hand.
 
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