Cal’s offensive philosophy

[yoshukai]

Draft day is what is important.

I know he thinks that way but it would probably help them if he revamped his offensive system.

 

[germuk]

I cringed when I heard him say after MSU that we needed to feed the post more. No we don’t. The only guy who needs a post touch is Sarr or Clarke against a small guard.

Jackson and Ware are energy guys and lob threats at this point offensively who need to be scoring on pick and rolls or put backs. There should almost never be a situation where two guys are on the block before a shot goes up. Jackson is thin, but he will be playing center as a rim runner at the next level spaced by four shooters. That’s where the game is and where we need to go. Play either 5 out or 4 out and that will open up driving lanes and limit doubles on post ups.

 

[kybassfan]

I don’t think this is part of the offensive philosophy. These are some bad habits of the players that grew over years of AAU basketball rearing their ugly heads. This will take time to iron out. Cal keeps it very simple at the beginning of the year offensively so as to not overload the players and progressively adds more moving parts as the season continues. If you go back and watch one of the first couple of games of any of the last five seasons you would see that ball movement is very stagnant in the beginning.

This. One word. Passing. This minute, we can’t. Soon we can.

 

[TheOtherGreatOne]

It's not just the lack of 3 pt shooters, it's also making tough 2 pt shots. We shot 36% from the field today, that is pathetic. Why are we recruiting players that can get to the rim but can't finish or make FT's when they are fouled???

Then you add on the 21 turnovers with just 5 assists(0 in the 2nd half) and you get what happened today. Cal prides himself on defense, but the Spiders shot 59% in the 2nd half. With our length and athleticism that can't happen.

Making shots is the cure for ALL of a teams imperfections. If you can't score the ball, you aren't going to win against good teams. How can Cal not see that???!!!!!

It is not going to work itself out, because Cal runs his offense just like aau, because that is what the nba wants. Coach Cal is more of an nba tallent scout than he is an actual top tier college basketball coach.

 

[DelkBowl]

What were those teams in the hunt for? What's it even mean to be in the hunt if you can't even sniff a final four, like those two teams?

Can you name me any team in the country since Cal has been here that has more final fours?

 

[KyFaninNC]

Can you name me any team in the country since Cal has been here that has more final fours?

Why are you using FF as the qualifier? How about asking the same question using National Titles as the qualifier?

 

[DelkBowl]

Why are you using FF as the qualifier? How about asking the same question using National Titles as the qualifier?

well you brought up final fours. Ok, only two teams have more championships than Cal since he has been here. Out of 350 teams.

 

[KyFaninNC]

well you brought up final fours. Ok, only two teams have more championships than Cal since he has been here. Out of 350 teams.

Sorry, I did not bring up FF.

 

[BourbonBalz]

I do think that is part of it. Cal has to break these kid’s bad habits and build them healthy habits, which takes time.

Yes but you still have to have players that can make shots. That’s about as basic as it gets. We don’t value shooters that much. We value bouncy, long athletes. You need both to win titles.

 

[DelkBowl]

Sorry, I did not bring up FF.

ah the other guy but the point is still there. Only two teams with more ships. Why the chaos here? No team with more wins. What's the issue? It's one loss in November and not even a bad lost. Picked to with the Atlantic 10. People are too emotional for no reason here.

 

[KyFaninNC]

well you brought up final fours. Ok, only two teams have more championships than Cal since he has been here. Out of 350 teams.

as a side note, did Villanova or UCONN have anywhere close to the talent that Cal has had the last 10 years?

 

[BourbonBalz]

Us not constantly feeding Sarr was the difference . It’s mind blowing he didn t get more touches on the box.

Richmond made halftime adjustments and shut Sarr down in the second half. We made zero adjustments to counter theirs.

 

[KyFaninNC]

ah the other guy but the point is still there. Only two teams with more ships. Why the chaos here? No team with more wins. What's the issue? It's one loss in November and not even a bad lost. Picked to with the Atlantic 10. People are too emotional for no reason here.

I don't think it is as much as the loss Sunday as it is the trajectory we seem to be on. Losing games like this has now become the rule rather than the exception. Plus always flaming out in the tourney to lesser talented teams is not helping.

 

[DelkBowl]

as a side note, did Villanova or UCONN have anywhere close to the talent that Cal has had the last 10 years?

yes and it was experienced. Experienced players are more talented at times than inexperienced players learning the college game.

 

[DelkBowl]

I don't think it is as much as the loss Sunday as it is the trajectory we seem to be on. Losing games like this has now become the rule rather than the exception. Plus always flaming out in the tourney to lesser talented teams is not helping.

Things are cyclical. If a team could remain up there, the other 350 teams would also be in the final four every year.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

Brand new system for those guys as well. You can't expect 100% new guys to new system to function correctly in game two. Also have you seen Mintz in practice? I'll take the hall of fame coaches decision on this one. think about that.

Haven’t seen him in practice but I have seen Cal consistently play freshmen over players who looked better (other than in practice)

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

as a side note, did Villanova or UCONN have anywhere close to the talent that Cal has had the last 10 years?

What school is Kevin Ollie at these days?

I mean I just figure with winning two titles with the lack of talent he had he's probably coaching at some major institution right now.

Uconn winning the title twice to me isn't a knock on what Cal hasn't done but rather speaks to just how random the tournament can be in a given year.

 

[KyFaninNC]

What school is Kevin Ollie at these days?

I mean I just figure with winning two titles with the lack of talent he had he's probably coaching at some major institution right now.

Uconn winning the title twice to me isn't a knock on what Cal hasn't done but rather speaks to just how random the tournament can be in a given year.

So Ollie, the coach you are knocking out coached the HOF Cal? Not sure I would use that as a point. In fact it re-enforces our point.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

So Ollie, the coach you are knocking out coached the HOF Cal? Not sure I would use that as a point. In fact it re-enforces our point.

No it really doesn't do anything other that prove that things happen in a single game of basketball.

 

[yoshukai]

well you brought up final fours. Ok, only two teams have more championships than Cal since he has been here. Out of 350 teams.

I see what you are saying . I would feel better about things if all the final fours weren’t loaded at the front end of his Uk career . Its the trend of the program that bothers me . It coincides with him missing on his very top targets . Hopefully Jai Lucus will change that , but as of now we don’t have any top 5 commits for next year.

 

[CELTICAT]

I remember when people brought up Tubby going 8 seasons without a final four, which at the time was the longest drought in program history. We're currently sitting on 5 years without one, and it will be 6 this season unless there's a tremendous amount of growing up about to happen. And no, 2017 and 2020 don't count as final four years just because of the ifs and buts.

 

[Kaizer Sosay]

Doesn’t matter what his offensive philosophy is if we lose the turnover battle 21-10 and only have 5 assists as a “team”.

 

[yoshukai]

Doesn’t matter what his offensive philosophy is if we lose the turnover battle 21-10 and only have 5 assists as a “team”.

Are you the REAL Kaizer Sosay ? Wonder what happed to other one that used to post on here all the time . He thought it was his job to keep people in line , lol .

 

[ManitouDan_anon]

I see what you are saying . I would feel better about things if all the final fours weren’t loaded at the front end of his Uk career . Its the trend of the program that bothers me . It coincides with him missing on his very top targets . Hopefully Jai Lucus will change that , but as of now we don’t have any top 5 commits for next year.

If you need top 5 recruits to win you are not much a coach . Yea you need some studs in the top 50 but if a guy needs a lineup of future NBA 1st team all stars to win in college he must not be much of a coach .posting for a friend , he told to write that .

 

[UKChamps2012]

Doesn’t matter what his offensive philosophy is if we lose the turnover battle 21-10 and only have 5 assists as a “team”.

It does matter because Cal didn't run any set plays against Richmond which led to turnovers. Having Boston/Clarke trying to consistently beat Richmond's short but quicker and experienced guards off the dribble was a disaster and led to turnovers and breakaway layups for Richmond as well as poor shots. UK has the 2nd tallest team in UK history (next to 2015 team) and as athletic as Cal has had in 10 years. Was there one offensive set where there was a Pik N Roll with the attempt of an alley-oop dunk to the screener who probably had a height advantage of 3-5 inches? Richmond's starting guards were 5'9 and 6'0, so either Clarke/Boston had a 7" height advantage! What did Cal do to exploit that? Answer - Nothing!! The only offensive set I recall is throwing the ball into the post to Sarr.

 

[KyFaninNC]

If you need top 5 recruits to win you are not much a coach . Yea you need some studs in the top 50 but if a guy needs a lineup of future NBA 1st team all stars to win in college he must not be much of a coach .posting for a friend , he told to write that .

Your friend is very astute.

 

[TurnipDaBeet]

No philosophy imo

 

[Cat in ga]

The dribble drive is not relevant. Need some kind of offensive strategy. With the size advantage we had should have been posting them up the whole game. We run the same crap regardless of the opponent. Gotta adapt. Too much one on one yesterday. Gotta play as a team or it’s gonna be a long year.

 

[RunninRichie]

The dribble drive is not relevant. Need some kind of offensive strategy. With the size advantage we had should have been posting them up the whole game. We run the same crap regardless of the opponent. Gotta adapt. Too much one on one yesterday. Gotta play as a team or it’s gonna be a long year.

this

 

[Kaizer Sosay]

Are you the REAL Kaizer Sosay ? Wonder what happed to other one that used to post on here all the time . He thought it was his job to keep people in line , lol .

There are two of us. The other guy may have been annoying but at least he was smart enough to spell his username correctly.

 

[Woodrow24]

well you brought up final fours. Ok, only two teams have more championships than Cal since he has been here. Out of 350 teams.

Actually it’s three teams. Duke, Villanova and UConn. You still make a good point though. I understand it when people criticize how he builds rosters, but I’ll never understand how anyone can say Cals a bad coach.

 

[Kaizer Sosay]

It does matter because Cal didn't run any set plays against Richmond which led to turnovers. Having Boston/Clarke trying to consistently beat Richmond's short but quicker and experienced guards off the dribble was a disaster and led to turnovers and breakaway layups for Richmond as well as poor shots. UK has the 2nd tallest team in UK history (next to 2015 team) and as athletic as Cal has had in 10 years. Was there one offensive set where there was a Pik N Roll with the attempt of an alley-oop dunk to the screener who probably had a height advantage of 3-5 inches? Richmond's starting guards were 5'9 and 6'0, so either Clarke/Boston had a 7" height advantage! What did Cal do to exploit that? Answer - Nothing!! The only offensive set I recall is throwing the ball into the post to Sarr.

I’m not defending Cal’s lack of ability to install a decent offense. That ineptitude is on full display and is blatantly obvious. Has been for quite some time.

I’m simply saying that those guys have been practicing whatever it is that he calls that nonsense that they do in half court sets...so they should be sharper. And they are playing major D-1 basketball...so they should be motivated and not lazy. And they have certainly all been playing basketball long enough to know that you can’t just stand there holding the ball in one spot away from your body. You protect the ball. That’s Basketball 101 which was taught long before those kids stepped on campus in Lextown.

So regardless of the stagnation of the offensive sets...the players are the ones making the turnovers. I’m not talking about the turnovers you mentioned above...the ones made while driving to the basket. Those are forgivable...especially this early in the season. I’m talking about the kind of turnovers that really bad MS teams make. We had about 12 of those yesterday.

 

[wildcatdon]

Cal just is not a good bench coach or strategist. Our guys just standing around while someone dribbles the seams off the ball is becoming more common place. Wish he would put a whole new offense in. But it just won’t happen.

 

[yoshukai]

There are two of us. The other guy may have been annoying but at least he was smart enough to spell his username correctly.

lol, I’ll take you over him any day brother.

 

[yoshukai]

If you need top 5 recruits to win you are not much a coach . Yea you need some studs in the top 50 but if a guy needs a lineup of future NBA 1st team all stars to win in college he must not be much of a coach .posting for a friend , he told to write that .

lol, I can’t argue with that.

 

[Blue_2_the_bone_rivals]

Cal’s half court sets have always been trash. If you can’t get to the basket off the pick and roll or knock down a tough shot at the end of the clock it’s a struggle. We’ve always had great transition offense because we had guys who could drive and finish. We have no top tier guards right now. We have a high school senior running the offense against grown men.

 

[BourbonBalz]

It does matter because Cal didn't run any set plays against Richmond which led to turnovers. Having Boston/Clarke trying to consistently beat Richmond's short but quicker and experienced guards off the dribble was a disaster and led to turnovers and breakaway layups for Richmond as well as poor shots. UK has the 2nd tallest team in UK history (next to 2015 team) and as athletic as Cal has had in 10 years. Was there one offensive set where there was a Pik N Roll with the attempt of an alley-oop dunk to the screener who probably had a height advantage of 3-5 inches? Richmond's starting guards were 5'9 and 6'0, so either Clarke/Boston had a 7" height advantage! What did Cal do to exploit that? Answer - Nothing!! The only offensive set I recall is throwing the ball into the post to Sarr.

True. Why did we not post up their much smaller guards hardly at all. You bring Sarr out to the free throw line or to the top of the key to drag his man with him, opening up some postups against their smaller guards. Since Sarr can shoot, his man would have to come out with him (when they’re in man defense). Did we ever run anything similar all game? I don’t remember seeing it.