Bam is the key

[KWilt43atbuzz]

At 6'10 260 and built like a Sherman tank that can jump out of the gym and has a motor like a 1966 GTO this man is Kentucky's low post force.

For the season Bam has put up impressive numbers:

13.3 ppg
7.8. rpg
53 blocks

Yet over UKs last nine games (all wins) Bam has taken his game to an even more dominate level by avg. a double double:

14.3 ppg
10.2 rpg

What a force to be reckoned with...

 

[ReloadUK98]

Bam is definitely a major piece of the puzzle and hopefully he can keep up the solid performances. On another note, I like the fact that this group has figured out how to win without relying on Monk to go off. That type of will and fight is what leads to deep runs.

 

[musrat59]

I agree because you have to have the inside presence if you expect to make a run.

 

[Bardstown]

I agree .

 

[Catzman]

Bam being what he's been is all we need. Nothing crazy like 25 and 15 like we needed from Patterson back in the day. If he can consistently be a 15/10/2 guy that's enough combined with monk not forcing shots. Now that Fox seems to be finding his rhythm from deep and guys like Hawkins and Willis stepping up, monk and Briscoe don't need to force things. If those 2 play within themselves on the wing, Bam plays like he's been playing, and we consistently play D, I don't see us losing to too many teams.

 

[Bluesnky]

He need to continue to not foul. Seems like latley we haven't had to play much without him.

 

[jrm693]

At 6'10 260 and built like a Sherman tank that can jump out of the gym and has a motor like a 1966 GTO this man is Kentucky's low post force.

For the season Bam has put up impressive numbers:

13.3 ppg
7.8. rpg
53 blocks

Yet over UKs last nine games (all wins) Bam has taken his game to an even more dominate level by avg. a double double:

14.3 ppg
10.2 rpg

What a force to be reckoned with...

Does Bam come with the 389-360 horse engine or the 389-335 horse and does he have the manuel tranny or the turbo hydramatic tranny?

 

[jrm693]

I would love to see Bam as a college junior at UK he is getting better rapidly he could dominate with a couple years under his belt, but he will be in the NBA and I won't even watch him them.

 

[UKDC80]

One thing that drives me nuts with Bam is his help defense. I've seen countless times someone like Briscoe or Willis get caught underneath against a bigger guy and Bam just stands 3' away like he can't go help them. Or his man drifts from the paint and even though Bams' guy cannot shoot, Bam drifts away with him. He needs to own the paint and for the love of God help your team out when they are in a bad position underneath the goal.

 

[kyjeff1]

One thing that drives me nuts with Bam is his help defense. I've seen countless times someone like Briscoe or Willis get caught underneath against a bigger guy and Bam just stands 3' away like he can't go help them. Or his man drifts from the paint and even though Bams' guy cannot shoot, Bam drifts away with him. He needs to own the paint and for the love of God help your team out when they are in a bad position underneath the goal.

I've noticed that too, but I think he knows that if he tries to block every shot he's going to pick up a foul more times than not. Sometimes you have to let the guy get the bucket and box out for a rebound.
He's picking his battles and it's what is keeping him in the game.

 

[kyjeff1]

I disagree with the OP. If we were Wake Forest, we would all point to John Collins and say that he's the key, the other guys just need to not make mistakes.

But this UK team has a bunch of key guys. Why is Bam more important than Fox, Briscoe, Willis or Monk? All of them have to man their positions, stay out of foul trouble, defend like crazy and limit their mistakes.

I can go as far as to say that, starting in the second round, there is nobody that isn't THE key guy. If they want to win they have to ALL perform.

We have a team full of guys that, on any given day can go off and have a huge game. There aren't many teams that can say that.

But if you want to talk about X factors, Dom Hawkins. That guy is playing at a really high level and it's unexpected. He is not a Key, but he is certainly an X factor that will be a problem for some opposing guards.

 

[CatInNC_rivals308427]

I've noticed that too, but I think he knows that if he tries to block every shot he's going to pick up a foul more times than not. Sometimes you have to let the guy get the bucket and box out for a rebound.
He's picking his battles and it's what is keeping him in the game.

He still should sag down a bit, especially if the guy he switched to isn't a 3 point threat. Bugs me to watch him 20 ft out on a non shooter with Briscoe or Fox stuck guarding a big under the basket. With him so far out, it leaves the lane open and takes him out of rebounding position

 

[trinity45_rivals378029]

At 6'10 260 and built like a Sherman tank that can jump out of the gym and has a motor like a 1966 GTO this man is Kentucky's low post force.

For the season Bam has put up impressive numbers:

13.3 ppg
7.8. rpg
53 blocks

Yet over UKs last nine games (all wins) Bam has taken his game to an even more dominate level by avg. a double double:

14.3 ppg
10.2 rpg

What a force to be reckoned with...

The Key is not to forget him, there have been games that we tend to forget about him, UofL for instance. He was killing the Cards and the last 10 minutes when we needed a basket he never touched the ball.

 

[jrm693]

I agree because you have to have the inside presence if you expect to make a run.

Al McQuire always said "you have to have the aircraft carrier in the middle".

 

[RoyKent]

Bam is playing really well offensively, defense is struggling.

If I see him switch and go 35 feet out to guard a guard and leave the lane wide open one more time I may break my TV.

 

[DerekMcPwn]

If Bam is the best big in every game we play (by more than just a single point or rebound each time), we'll win a title.

 

[Bluesnky]

Bam is playing really well offensively, defense is struggling.

If I see him switch and go 35 feet out to guard a guard and leave the lane wide open one more time I may break my TV.

I don't think that is his own idea.

By the way I think my favorite play of the entire season was against Mizzou when Bam was guarding a guard on the perimeter, with a UK guard stuck inside matched up with a big. The big moved out and set a screen allowing Bam to switch back to the proper matchup. I didn't feel good about Kim Anderson's longevity when I saw that.

 

[jackcarlson]

we MUST have Bam in the games in the last 10 minutes. He is a force, an intimidator, and a good FT shooter. So, NO foul trouble!

I would even recommend we give Hump more minutes in the first half to make sure we have Bam for the second.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

He need to continue to not foul. Seems like latley we haven't had to play much without him.

Yep. He's always been a force. Just unable to stay on the floor due to fouls, until lately

 

[BourbonBalz]

Bam is playing really well offensively, defense is struggling.

If I see him switch and go 35 feet out to guard a guard and leave the lane wide open one more time I may break my TV.

Unfortunately that's by design. We switch everything. I don't like it either.

 

[kyjeff1]

He still should sag down a bit, especially if the guy he switched to isn't a 3 point threat. Bugs me to watch him 20 ft out on a non shooter with Briscoe or Fox stuck guarding a big under the basket. With him so far out, it leaves the lane open and takes him out of rebounding position

There aren't too many guards that can't shoot and make a 3 pointer though, they might be shooting 25% for the year, but you better believe they will hit nothing but net if Bam doesn't go out and guard them.

 

[musrat59]

Maybe if Bam didn't have to deal with these awful SEC officials, he would not have been called for all those fouls earlier in the season. I welcome getting away from those clowns.

 

[Anon1636470744]

He has become more of an offensive threat as the year has progressed. He doesn't have to dunk everything. He has the baby hook and a jumper out to 15 or 16 ft. Also his free throw shooting is really consistent now.

 

[fla.cat]

I agree, with Bams importance. However, Bam can't get himself in the game, if he doesn't get the ball.
I like that he is getting more touches, i would imagine that's by design. Our guards need to keep n eye on him and get him and keep him involved......it seems to basically only have good results.

He is a very good free throw shooter, with a sweet touch, so I would love for him to take some of those 12 to 15 foot shots, when he turns around and faces the basket, but he virtually never does. I think it could have great benefit for the forwards, and even the driving guards if he would take a couple of those a game.

 

[lcp3557]

At 6'10 260 and built like a Sherman tank that can jump out of the gym and has a motor like a 1966 GTO this man is Kentucky's low post force.

For the season Bam has put up impressive numbers:

13.3 ppg
7.8. rpg
53 blocks

Yet over UKs last nine games (all wins) Bam has taken his game to an even more dominate level by avg. a double double:

14.3 ppg
10.2 rpg

What a force to be reckoned with...

Sorry, didn't see this before I made my post about Bam. I'm 100% agree with you. We will be hard to defend if we get him quality touches. If we play the same level of D we have been lately, we will have a shot at #9.