A prediction and a confession

[4Frusciante#]

Prediction: I think Cal has assembled a nice roster and we should have a top 5 team next year. I really do believe that.

Confession: That's what I said about last year's team. I really believed it then too.

Still, I don't think that was a crazy belief last year. Between almost every new player being not as good as expected and injuries it really was a perfect storm of crap. I'm not normally the most optimistic of people(if you knew me you'd also know I'm the king of understatement) but I don't see how things are likely to go as wrong next year.

By the way I've been getting nothing but likes; assuming this thread will take care of that...

 

[BBUK_anon]

All depends on some decisions this coming team and coach/ coaches make....

 

[BBNinSC_rivals62411]

I tend to agree. I am very excited about this team as I was last year. Last year was an complete anomaly, I do believe that we had a bad combination of too much me-first players, which Cal usually does a great job of weeding out during recruiting. I think Boston set the tone early and every one quit caring about trying to play together.

That's not going to happen again

 

[akaukswoosh]

Prediction: I think Cal has assembled a nice roster and we should have a top 5 team next year. I really do believe that.

Confession: That's what I said about last year's team. I really believed it then too.

Still, I don't think that was a crazy belief last year. Between almost every new player being not as good as expected and injuries it really was a perfect storm of crap. I'm not normally the most optimistic of people(if you knew me you'd also know I'm the king of understatement) but I don't see how things are likely to go as wrong next year.

By the way I've been getting nothing but likes; assuming this thread will take care of that...

Last years team began the season with 0 percent returning experience (remember Brooks was injured the first 8 or so games). Throw in a reclassified PG who should be in high school carrying ALL the load and UK was doomed from the start.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I’m setting the bar lower this season. I’m good with a 20 win season. If Cal can’t win 20 with this team and a full offseason to prepare, then it might be time to move on. Unless something unforeseen happens, like a major rash of season ending injuries, this team should be an NCAA tourney team.

 

[Backer cutter]

I’m setting the bar lower this season. I’m good with a 20 win season. If Cal can’t win 20 with this team and a full offseason to prepare, then it might be time to move on. Unless something unforeseen happens, like a major rash of season ending injuries, this team should be an NCAA tourney team.

Not knocking you so don’t think that up front. It’s this mindset that gets my gall. 20 win seasons are for rebuilding, not reloading. And that’s the constant in the Cal era-reloading. And it’s not working. And it’s not gonna work imo. I’ll take the 3-4 year rebuild over this anytime.

 

[*CatinIL*]

It's best to just wait and see how things work out.

 

[ScottGreene22]

What worries me most about next years team is we will have very experienced players but not much when it comes to KY experience. Their is a huge difference playing at Iowa or Davidson compared to RUPP and 23000. Living in a BBN fish bowl isn’t for everyone.

 

[precipitance]

A proper confession starts with...
Forgive me Father for I have sinned. It has been 1 year since my last confession. Then you list your sins. Based on what you have told us here, I'm going to say your looking at least, an dozen Our Father's, six Hail Mary's, and one Act of contrition.

Do this and all shall be forgiven.

On a more serious note, I too always think the Cats are going to be great under Cal. More often than not we have been spoiled. Our expectations were so high last year, it was one terrible blindsided fall. With Cals track record, no one would have predicted that debacle.

This is the first year of Cal that I don't have that expectation. I'm gonna need some proof in the pudding before I get to excited. This year, I'm going to take it one game at a time.

 

[Blueaz]

I’m setting the bar lower this season. I’m good with a 20 win season. If Cal can’t win 20 with this team and a full offseason to prepare, then it might be time to move on. Unless something unforeseen happens, like a major rash of season ending injuries, this team should be an NCAA tourney team.

this

 

[bucsrule8872]

Not knocking you so don’t think that up front. It’s this mindset that gets my gall. 20 win seasons are for rebuilding, not reloading. And that’s the constant in the Cal era-reloading. And it’s not working. And it’s not gonna work imo. I’ll take the 3-4 year rebuild over this anytime.

A rebuild at UK with essentially a free agency pool (transfer portal) should not take 3-4 years of losing seasons. A 20 win rebuilding season this season is not asking for too much, IMHO.

 

[mebeblue2]

floor - E8
ceiling - National Champs

that is my thoughts on this team

 

[bookerfan66]

I see this team as top 17-20 type team with a sweet 16 possibility.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

All depends on some decisions this coming team and coach/ coaches make....

Good to see you brother!

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

It's best to just wait and see how things work out.

 

[Backer cutter]

Good to see you brother!

I agree!

 

[Yardeth]

Prediction: I think Cal has assembled a nice roster and we should have a top 5 team next year. I really do believe that.

Confession: That's what I said about last year's team. I really believed it then too.

Still, I don't think that was a crazy belief last year. Between almost every new player being not as good as expected and injuries it really was a perfect storm of crap. I'm not normally the most optimistic of people(if you knew me you'd also know I'm the king of understatement) but I don't see how things are likely to go as wrong next year.

By the way I've been getting nothing but likes; assuming this thread will take care of that...

This is what we all thought as well! Life is like a box of chocolates.

 

[GonzoCat90]

We had every reason to be excited last season. The elite talent and potential was there even if they had virtually no experience.

I feel the opposite about this season. We have tons of proven guys, but the elite talent feels more uncertain.

Of course, the elite talent proved to not really be that elite/healthy last season.


Hopefully having an actual offseason and not trying to play in a pandemic will help cohesion and give the potentially elite freshmen time to get their bearings before being thrown to the wolves.


I don't think the ceiling is as high, but the floor is considerably higher. Last year's ceiling was a 37-3 type of year at best, but we saw everything go wrong. I think this year's ceiling is more of a 32-8, but the worst case scenario is probably a second round tournament exit.

Think we're probably a 3-4 seed that peaks at the right time and that we feel good about making a run in March. But like you, I thought we had a top 3 squad last year, so what do I know?

 

[catsjets]

Last season was a perfect storm for our failure being a team completely dependent on freshmen with much less practice and preseason time for cal to lay the groundwork for their success. But here’s the kicker cal evolved now he has a team that is mature can bang with the best of them shoot with the best of them and run with the best of them! these are players who have proven it at the D1 level not some B.S. highschool mixtape hyped by our then underachieving recruiters and oh yeah he fixed that too! I’m super excited about this years team they will be fun to watch and I have faith in cal

 

[RunninRichie]

We had every reason to be excited last season. The elite talent and potential was there even if they had virtually no experience.

I feel the opposite about this season. We have tons of proven guys, but the elite talent feels more uncertain.

Of course, the elite talent proved to not really be that elite/healthy last season.


Hopefully having an actual offseason and not trying to play in a pandemic will help cohesion and give the potentially elite freshmen time to get their bearings before being thrown to the wolves.


I don't think the ceiling is as high, but the floor is considerably higher. Last year's ceiling was a 37-3 type of year at best, but we saw everything go wrong. I think this year's ceiling is more of a 32-8, but the worst case scenario is probably a second round tournament exit.

Think we're probably a 3-4 seed that peaks at the right time and that we feel good about making a run in March. But like you, I thought we had a top 3 squad last year, so what do I know?

37-3....

 

[GonzoCat90]

37-3....

?

 

[EliteBlue]

I think we win the SEC, lose the SECT CG, and are a top 8 team entering the tournament as a 2-3 seed. play the tournament 10 times and E8-F4 is the peak of the bell curve with the slopes being S16 or Title potential.

Probably something like:
Rd 32: 1
S16: 2
E8: 3
F4: 2
CG: 1
Titile: 1

 

[LowCountryCat]

We'll go 24-10 and make the SS. SEC tournament doesn't matter, right Cal?

 

[*CatinIL*]

That's what I'm saying...cut the noise and get right to the ALIEN BOOGIE! Lets see what these Felines do when they hit the hardwood in November!

 

[MakinMusic_rivals]

I say keep expectations in check. I expect 22 wins or more. That’s about it.

 

[true-blue1]

I say keep expectations in check. I expect 22 wins or more. That’s about it.

22-12

 

[KyFaninNC]

A rebuild at UK with essentially a free agency pool (transfer portal) should not take 3-4 years of losing seasons. A 20 win rebuilding season this season is not asking for too much, IMHO.

Why is UK always rebuilding? What’s wrong with maintaining a roster? If you are happy with 20 wins, then you are part of the problem.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Why is UK always rebuilding? What’s wrong with maintaining a roster? If you are happy with 20 wins, then you are part of the problem.

LOL! In no way am I happy about a 20 win season. However, given that the team is coming off a 9 win season, I think it is a realistic goal to win 20 this season. Expecting a title, while possible, is not being realistic.

I am not condoning this being the norm, just that we need to scale back our expectations a bit until our revamped coaching staff has a chance to get some better players.

Why do I feel like I am always in the middle between the two extremes?

One side is convinced we are winning #9 this time and going 40-0 in the process. That’s unrealistic most years, but especially this one.

Meanwhile, some think we are doomed from the start and will be lucky to win a game.

The truth, as usual, will likely be somewhere in between. I expect a decent season in a rebuild year, but I am not happy with that. Just being realistic.

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

I’m setting the bar lower this season. I’m good with a 20 win season. If Cal can’t win 20 with this team and a full offseason to prepare, then it might be time to move on. Unless something unforeseen happens, like a major rash of season ending injuries, this team should be an NCAA tourney team.

I’m not good with a twenty win season at all. Barring unforeseen issues UK basketball should never be happy with a twenty win season. Especially after the total **** show Cal brought us last year.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I’m not good with a twenty win season at all. Barring unforeseen issues UK basketball should never be happy with a twenty win season. Especially after the total **** show Cal brought us last year.

That total crap fest last season is exactly why I am not expecting anything better than a 20 win season. Not happy about it, but I understand the circumstances. Got to give this staff some time to fix the problems within the program.

 

[ukdesi]

LOL! In no way am I happy about a 20 win season. However, given that the team is coming off a 9 win season, I think it is a realistic goal to win 20 this season. Expecting a title, while possible, is not being realistic.

I am not condoning this being the norm, just that we need to scale back our expectations a bit until our revamped coaching staff has a chance to get some better players.

Why do I feel like I am always in the middle between the two extremes?

One side is convinced we are winning #9 this time and going 40-0 in the process. That’s unrealistic most years, but especially this one.

Meanwhile, some think we are doomed from the start and will be lucky to win a game.

The truth, as usual, will likely be somewhere in between. I expect a decent season in a rebuild year, but I am not happy with that. Just being realistic.

I get what you're saying regarding expectations, but IMO with Cal, I just don't think one season translates to the next. Basically I don't think 9 wins last season translates to anything this upcoming season. We pretty much have brand new teams every year. I think he's built a stronger roster and staff than what we've had in a while, and I expect a return to the mean (the mean of the last 5-6 years that is). Last year was an outlier, an aberration.

 

[UKfan2151]

Last season was a complete oddity. It will not be repeated this season. Last season was the perfect storm of everything going wrong at the same time. Our star recruits weren't as good as advertised. We didn't have the usual plethora of cup cake games in November and December to help us get our act together before conference play. And COVID reduced early practice which is critical for a youthful team. When you add to that one of the better players and recruits having to sit out most of the season with an injury, it is no wonder last season was a disaster.

I'm not going to predict we'll win the national championship or go to the Final Four. Such things are very difficult to predict even during the very best of times. But I think we'll be vastly better than we were last season, will have a much more respectable record and at least be in the conversation for a Final Four appearance. Rupp will be ready and rocking come November, after fans have endured all of this COVID **** and the restrictions that came with it. Having that incredible atmosphere to play in (rather than the empty area of last season) alone will provide the team with extra wins. And of course having some good shooters finally will work wonders too.

This will be a good UK team. They may or may not be Final Four and national championship level good. But we'll be in the conversation I believe. And as a fan, that is really all I can ask for. If you can consistently be a contender, sooner or later the law of averages will work in your favor. We should have won it all in 2015, but we didn't. Our next championship may come when we aren't the odds on favorite to win it. Things average out. It has always been that way.

 

[KyFaninNC]

LOL! In no way am I happy about a 20 win season. However, given that the team is coming off a 9 win season, I think it is a realistic goal to win 20 this season. Expecting a title, while possible, is not being realistic.

I am not condoning this being the norm, just that we need to scale back our expectations a bit until our revamped coaching staff has a chance to get some better players.

Why do I feel like I am always in the middle between the two extremes?

One side is convinced we are winning #9 this time and going 40-0 in the process. That’s unrealistic most years, but especially this one.

Meanwhile, some think we are doomed from the start and will be lucky to win a game.

The truth, as usual, will likely be somewhere in between. I expect a decent season in a rebuild year, but I am not happy with that. Just being realistic.

I do t expect a title this year and have not expected one since 2015. I get what your saying, but no way in hell should we have a 9 win season, other than rules violations. No excuse for it at all, so now we have resigned ourselves to accept 20 wins and be happy about it.

 

[LowCountryCat]

LOL! In no way am I happy about a 20 win season. However, given that the team is coming off a 9 win season, I think it is a realistic goal to win 20 this season. Expecting a title, while possible, is not being realistic.

I am not condoning this being the norm, just that we need to scale back our expectations a bit until our revamped coaching staff has a chance to get some better players.

Why do I feel like I am always in the middle between the two extremes?

One side is convinced we are winning #9 this time and going 40-0 in the process. That’s unrealistic most years, but especially this one.

Meanwhile, some think we are doomed from the start and will be lucky to win a game.

The truth, as usual, will likely be somewhere in between. I expect a decent season in a rebuild year, but I am not happy with that. Just being realistic.

Don't take this as though I'm being argumentative, but the 40-0 crowd seems to have disappeared.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I get what you're saying regarding expectations, but IMO with Cal, I just don't think one season translates to the next. Basically I don't think 9 wins last season translates to anything this upcoming season. We pretty much have brand new teams every year. I think he's built a stronger roster and staff than what we've had in a while, and I expect a return to the mean (the mean of the last 5-6 years that is). Last year was an outlier, an aberration.

I hope you are right about it being an aberration. I think so too. But it’s going to take a little time to get the pieces in place to truly be back to the level we want to be... Final Fours on the regular, truly competing for a title.

I just don’t see us having the pieces to be at that level next season. Next year, I am fine with improvement, but I am not expecting a Final Four. But another sub .500 season is unacceptable.

 

[Elliott Tim]

All depends on some decisions this coming team and coach/ coaches make....

Doin' ok?

 

[BBUK_anon]

Doin' ok?

I am. I am thankful. I have been keeping up a little with the goings on. I do hope you and yours are well.

 

[Elliott Tim]

I am. I am thankful. I have been keeping up a little with the goings on. I do hope you and yours are well

I am. I am thankful. I have been keeping up a little with the goings on. I do hope you and yours are well.

I always try to keep my glass half full.
That way when good times come there's
always room to fill the glass.

 

[Captain_Kentucky]

They still need to be coached up. Therein lies the rub...as they say. Collecting talent is critical but will the Xs and Os complement the talent? Will Cal run plays for the shooters...or rely solely on Wheeler to break the defense down and kick out? Will he still insist on switching on defense in man to man? Just some questions I will have

 

[catsfanbgky]

I hope you are right about it being an aberration. I think so too. But it’s going to take a little time to get the pieces in place to truly be back to the level we want to be... Final Fours on the regular, truly competing for a title.

I just don’t see us having the pieces to be at that level next season. Next year, I am fine with improvement, but I am not expecting a Final Four. But another sub .500 season is unacceptable.

The team we have this year is a whole lot better balanced and has more depth. Last year not having a PG (or guards in general) that could get us into the offense and get penetration killed anything we tried to do. UK will be very good this year, 24-25 wins or more is the norm, so that is what I predict and expect. We have not just depth, but veterans who have performed on the big stage before, and most importantly, a PG (actually 2) that can get the offense going. The 21-22 UK team will be very good, now I do not EVER predict banners or making to the final game, as they are very tough to achieve, but a deep tournament run is very likely. There is not one weakness for this years team, and most importantly, we DO NOT have to rely on 4-5 freshmen to carry the load. IF TY TY is not ready day 1, fine, Wheeler is. Same for the other stud freshmen they have veterans ahead of them. This year, actually the freshman are not expected to dominate the starting lineup. If Ware, Toppin, Brooks, and Allen show any improvement at all, this team will be a very tough, we know what we are getting out of Oscar, Kellan Grady, CJ Frederick, and Wheeler. Damian Collins, Ty Ty Washington, and Hopkins do not have to burden the bulk of the load. They can progress like a normal freshman and come on at the end of the year. Get Mintz back he just adds to the amount of riches this team will possess. By the way, I expect Ty Ty to be a special PG along the lines of previous elite guys. Maybe not Fox, Ulis, or Wall good, but very much Hagans, IQ, or Brandon Knight good. We are literally two deep at every position. Why some of you are not excited about this team, I just do not understand. Save the "well we are coming off of a 9-16 year", blah, blah, blah. You know damn well that WILL NOT happen again.