Do you think the Cats will get both or one of them. If they get both that class would be loaded.May see the platoon system come back next season.
Bamba & Knox
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Bamba. And we will never platoon again
Where's Gabriel going to go? Play with briscoe in the dleague?
The platoon worked great, until one of the top 9 got injured. What made it work was that there was so little difference between #2 & #9. That scenario is unlikely to happen again.
So I doubt we will platoon again, I am still surprised we did it then. But I don't think you can ever say never.
I'll tell yah, I'd be OK if Gabriel comes back for a 2nd year, causing Knox to go elsewhere.
Most won't think this way, but most have short memories and think all top10 freshman immediately become stars. Although Knox would be great offense, it's no gaurantee he doesn't have his own struggles.
Intrigued to see what Gabriel can become by next November and and his entire sophomore season.
Most won't think this way, but most have short memories and think all top10 freshman immediately become stars. Although Knox would be great offense, it's no gaurantee he doesn't have his own struggles.
Intrigued to see what Gabriel can become by next November and and his entire sophomore season.
I'd be on board with this. Knox isn't so transcendent that one can automatically say he would be better than Gabriel next year. I would take UK getting Bamba and Gabriel returning in a second.
Although, probably means Knox heads to Duke which kind of stinks.
I think Gabriel has alot of upside - if he can lose that nasty habit of shuffling his feet before he drives to the basket we'll see more scoring on the interior - and I think his rebounding and defense have improved as the season has progressed. He has plenty of confidence in his outside shot. I'd be excited about him returning.
Idt anyone should be discussing Gabriel leaving his a mid-late 2nd rd pick at best. I would also like briscoe to come back, but for some reason he won't. If briscoe went to any other college would he leave after 2 years? Honest question
Platoon goes 40 and 0 if Ulis was allowed to feed the Monster that is Karl Towns, Jr.
This. If Cal wasn't so in love with the Twins and let Ulis/Booker close out the Wisconsin game we are 40-0 with #9 hanging in the rafters.
Disagree, lowlife coaches who used that against Cal would have used something else if there were no platoon. Like using that 5* guys don't even play for Cal sometimes.
No but the Harrison's, Dakari, Teague, Lamb, and probably even Orton wouldn't have either.
The only advice I can offer you is to view it like I do. Be pleasantly surprised when we return anyone because if players like the ones I mentioned will leave when it's obvious more college ball would help their game then anyone will. Espeically when the family is in the financial situation Gabriels is
Agree with all you say and also like the idea of having some returning experience on the team since we will be losing so much with the loss of the three seniors and lots of incoming freshmen again. Experience is a valuable commodity at UK.
Will people please stop with the Gabriel leaving talk? Hawkins has a better shot of playing in the NBA right now.
Fans like you say this every year...lol. You really think a long 6-10 shooter is passed?
Has our fanbase figured out you don't get drafted based on the year you had (Skal, Orton....etc.) but upon your potential & just how high your ceiling may be. That's the way the NBA drafts now....not the old way of "dude had a big college year, gonna get drafted". Those days are over.
He's gone!
I have no idea whether Briscoe returns or not, but its kind of the nature of the beast at UK right now. Poythress and Liggins are a couple of players that extended their "shelf life" at UK but I think part of it is after two years you're admitting you were never OAD material - which is a sort of failure.
I think Goodwin should have come back but honestly I think he and the fans were ready for him to leave after that season.
Briscoe may be thinking staying is just another year of fighting against more balanced guards for minutes and hearing about it from the fans.
Yes, he is 6'10...weighs 10 pounds and will be passed if he enters the draft. Also he isnt "long" he has a very average at best wingspan for his height, to put it into perspective Hami Diallo is 6'6 and has the same wingspan as Gabriel. On top of that he plays below the rim and has average athleticism....what he does have going for him is a high motor and shooting touch which are a dime a dozen in the NBA
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If Gabriel goes pro it will really rub me the wrong way. Why recruit a player that no matter what only wants to stay one year. I love OAD and for the most part it has worked out for UK and all the kids that went onto the League. But if a recruit, family, etc. cannot accept they may need more time, don't recruit the kid. Two and through and whatnot can work too. Gabriel is barely hanging onto his starting position at UK, how could he even make it at ANY professional level. Heck, his lack of development is up there in why UK is not as elite as we thought we could have been. No knock on the kid, he has potential but it is clear he needs time and that is OK. If he needs the money so bad he needs to stay not go
It shouldn't. Gabriel has NBA written all over him and he's going to fighting for playing time a lot next season. If he doesn't progress in the off season, that could seriously affect his NBA career going forward.. Once you get buried on the UK bench, it's hard to come out of.
I would have NO problem with Gabriel bolting to the NBA. Hope he doesn't. But if he ever gets a whiff that he's a first rounder.. He may be gone.
Remember, Gabriel has family members to take care of. The decision may be financial, not skills based.
We've seen it before.
Would you be surprised if he left even though he's not a first round pick?
I used to be shocked, but these players are in such a hurry to get out of here, that they jump no matter what they're told.
I don't like the idea of Knox going to Duke when they are getting Carter and Trent. Knowing how K can cry and convince players to return - if Jackson, Bolden, Kennard, Gracie came back then they had Knox on top of it
That's not a good situation. That is a legit national championship favorite.
Ulis and Booker were getting absolutely abused on defense. It was not fun to watch. I honestly don't recall seeing UK players get beat the way those two were getting beat in that game.
The only thing I would have liked to see changed in that game was a timeout to get Andrew's head screwed on straight.
But all that is Monday morning quarterback bs, we know the result, Cal didn't.
Hawkins doesn't have Gabriel's size and upside.
I know, it sucks, but Gabriel will be a serviceable NBA player, Hawkins, not so much.
Be prepared to get lambasted by the torch and pitchfork crowd for not fully supporting Cal's system.
It rubbed me the wrong way years ago. All these players jumping ship to go to the D-league or 2nd round is ridiculous.
I get it if you are a guaranteed first rounder, but guys like Goodwin, Teague, the Harrison's, Lamb, Orton and Briscoe have no business jumping, but UK is in rebuild mode every year because good players leave too early.
Realistically it's not the same. Giles has no legs. It's not my fault he was over hyped. It's not my fault the class they got was over hyped. If what I stated in my post happens it won't be freshman dependent. That's the key difference. If you have a modicum of intelligence, then you will certainly see the glaring differences.
Thanks