Cal ruined this team.

[Aike]

I understand wanting to establish Bam. Problem is, Bam isn't KAT or Randle.

I honestly don't think we have the personnel to play the way Cal wants to play.

As for our defensive issues - some of that is scheme but most is effort. We don't have to trap all over the court, but I would like to see us get up in people and force tempo that way.

It's a chicken and egg thing. Greater intensity on defense leads to transition opportunities and scores which raises energy levels and should lead to better defense.

It's easier to act your way into a feeling than to feel your way into an action. They need to get after it.

 

[kyjeff1]

Uh....I played college basketball in the 60's (played against Cotton Nash). I think I am qualified for this discussion as older than 9 and insightful about our issues.

In my humble opinion...It is defense, first and foremost. Rebounding is effort, which did not exist last game.

Okay, that's cool, I didn't know that about you, but you said it's the worst defense you can recall watching, but I think we can both agree that that statement is not accurate. I bet if I check KenPom I will find that UK has a top 20 defense. I haven't checked it in a while, so I could be way off, but I highly doubt the true numbers show that our defense is that bad.
But the numbers have shown all year that we are a terrible rebounding team. I mean, we were outrebounded by 25 last Saturday. Yeah, Florida scored on us, but that was because they absolutely crushed us on the glass, we gave them way more possessions than we should have. Even that up and the game is VERY close.

 

[caneintally]

DUMBEST OP MESSAGE EVER.

 

[kyjeff1]

Just curious...what is your age and resume?

I didn't know that was a requirement. I can tell you I've never played cbb, but I really thought someone that had played would know more about the inner workings of the game than me. I'm not saying I'm right, but you put an absolute statement out there, you said it's the worst you had ever seen, I disagree with that and pointed towards the 08/09 season.
But look at the numbers, defense is a problem, but not to the level you think it is, rebounding is a really bad problem, giving the other team more possessions is something that is more of a fatal problem. But again, I didn't hoop it up with Cotton. Not even the one that is an analyst for the Ocho.

 

[Graves51]

Okay, that's cool, I didn't know that about you, but you said it's the worst defense you can recall watching, but I think we can both agree that that statement is not accurate. I bet if I check KenPom I will find that UK has a top 20 defense. I haven't checked it in a while, so I could be way off, but I highly doubt the true numbers show that our defense is that bad.
But the numbers have shown all year that we are a terrible rebounding team. I mean, we were outrebounded by 25 last Saturday. Yeah, Florida scored on us, but that was because they absolutely crushed us on the glass, we gave them way more possessions than we should have. Even that up and the game is VERY close.

I don't know anything about KenPom, but I stick to the old (like me) statement "statistics are for losers". If anyone or any system says this is a top 20 defense that is a mistake. Name one player that plays good defense and is a reliable stopper. Just one.

 

[TankedCat]

IMO, Briscoe is a finisher - At the start of the year he was option #3 in scoring even ahead of Bam (that might not have been what Cal wanted but that's how it played out on the court) - if Fox and Monk didn't create their own shot, Briscoe did some finishing move underneath the basket. Sometimes Briscoe takes a 3 pointer or leads the transition but more often than not he's the relief valve in the offense.

Again, my opinion, but that changed for two reasons - one, coaches realized his role as the finisher and two, the offense flowing thru Bam has thrown the backcourt game off.

In the past 5 or so games, think about how many times you have seen Briscoe dribbling at the top of the key taking instruction from Cal instead of that transition offense that attacked and scored in only a few seconds. Is that to setup the offense to go thru Bam? I have no idea, but I doubt Briscoe has enough rope to change the style of play, regardless of how much Cal likes him.

so I'm not sure the OP is completely off base in his post - but Cal is the coach and if he thinks this is what needs to happen in the bigger picture then who am I to say its not. If we tank in March, then we can revisit this thread and the opinions.

 

[kyjeff1]

I don't know anything about KenPom, but I stick to the old (like me) statement "statistics are for losers". If anyone or any system says this is a top 20 defense that is a mistake. Name one player that plays good defense and is a reliable stopper. Just one.

LOL, okay, but how often do we give up more that 75ppg? Find me another team that does the same. If you can find a bunch of teams, like UVA, that are holding more teams below 75ppg I'll simply point to the points per possession numbers. Trust me, you won't win.

Name me 19 teams that are better defensively in your opinion. Because that's all you are using is your opinion. The numbers on KP take into account our strength of schedule and a host of other criteria that would blow your mind.

So basically, those using the numbers are just plain smarter, using your opinion and stating it as fact is something I would say is a losers or a biased mentality.

But you do you.

 

[Whatsup]

Back in November and December we looked like the best team in the country. The guys were having a blast on the court. Now we look like an NIT team full of miserable players who spend most of the game arguing with the refs and each other.

I don't know what Cal did to them but i wish he had left them alone.

You Sir need to tweak more. You have Tweak build up, so see your doctor. How often do you tweak.

 

[uky8unc5]

I didn't know that was a requirement. I can tell you I've never played cbb, but I really thought someone that had played would know more about the inner workings of the game than me. I'm not saying I'm right, but you put an absolute statement out there, you said it's the worst you had ever seen, I disagree with that and pointed towards the 08/09 season.
But look at the numbers, defense is a problem, but not to the level you think it is, rebounding is a really bad problem, giving the other team more possessions is something that is more of a fatal problem. But again, I didn't hoop it up with Cotton. Not even the one that is an analyst for the Ocho.

It's not a requirement. But you called me an idiot 9 year old. 90 year old is closer to the truth!

I stand by my opinion (and Cal seems to agree): defense solves our problem. Sad to say, I doubt it gets fixed because we have a hole at the 4 (defensively). Our rebounding problems CAN get fixed if Cal lets the guards crash the boards. But that slows us down, which creates another problem.

 

[Stu_Padaso_rivals383274]

I made a comment early in the year about how unimpressed I was with Bam and I got roasted. The fact of the matter is that we are not a very good basketball team.

1. We start 3 guards and 2 of them cannot shoot it.

2. Our 2 alleged 4's are both better suited to play on the perimeter than they are down low.

3. We don't rebound very well. I believe this is a product of trying to be a fast paced transition scoring team. Nobody crashes boards. Shots go up and players immediately try to leak out for a fast break or fall back into a defensive set.

4. I don't think the young guys have the respect for Briscoe that people lead you to believe. I've now seen Malik & Bam both screaming at him on the floor this year. I don't think he has command of this team.

5. I cannot for the life of me figure out why Killeya-Jones gets absolutely no clock. And before anybody gives me that "He can't play defense" crap, the fact of the matter is nobody is playing defense. Killeya-Jones has a silky smooth jumper and would be an awesome fit in a high-low scheme with Bam and having Malik on one wing, and Briscoe on the other.

6. I'm just a fan and have zero coaching experience and zero experience as a collegiate player. These are simply my opinions.... which happen to be spot on.

 

[Aike]

I made a comment early in the year about how unimpressed I was with Bam and I got roasted. The fact of the matter is that we are not a very good basketball team.

1. We start 3 guards and 2 of them cannot shoot it.

2. Our 2 alleged 4's are both better suited to play on the perimeter than they are down low.

3. We don't rebound very well. I believe this is a product of trying to be a fast paced transition scoring team. Nobody crashes boards. Shots go up and players immediately try to leak out for a fast break or fall back into a defensive set.

4. I don't think the young guys have the respect for Briscoe that people lead you to believe. I've now seen Malik & Bam both screaming at him on the floor this year. I don't think he has command of this team.

5. I cannot for the life of me figure out why Killeya-Jones gets absolutely no clock. And before anybody gives me that "He can't play defense" crap, the fact of the matter is nobody is playing defense. Killeya-Jones has a silky smooth jumper and would be an awesome fit in a high-low scheme with Bam and having Malik on one wing, and Briscoe on the other.

6. I'm just a fan and have zero coaching experience and zero experience as a collegiate player. These are simply my opinions.... which happen to be spot on.

All due respect, with SKJ getting less clock than walk-ons, there is something behind the scenes that we aren't privy to.

If it were as simple as plugging in Jones, it already would have been done.

 

[kyjeff1]

It's not a requirement. But you called me an idiot 9 year old. 90 year old is closer to the truth!

I stand by my opinion (and Cal seems to agree): defense solves our problem. Sad to say, I doubt it gets fixed because we have a hole at the 4 (defensively). Our rebounding problems CAN get fixed if Cal lets the guards crash the boards. But that slows us down, which creates another problem.

Okay so hang on. I called you "an idiot 9 year old"??? Where and when?

You're definitely a fabricator. You took what I said and fabricated a false accusation.

You said this is the worst defense you'de ever seen. I said "surely you're older than 9 years old".

You are posting absolute statements that are false and quite frankly you deserve to be corrected.

I hate these stupid "worst ever" statements. The only thing in the Cal era that MIGHT qualify for worst ever would be graduation percentages.

 

[akaukswoosh]

I'd say Cal has the team where he wants them.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Yeah I'm not sure the team is ruined just yet

 

[TankedCat]

2. Our 2 alleged 4's are both better suited to play on the perimeter than they are down low.


5. I cannot for the life of me figure out why Killeya-Jones gets absolutely no clock. And before anybody gives me that "He can't play defense" crap, the fact of the matter is nobody is playing defense. Killeya-Jones has a silky smooth jumper and would be an awesome fit in a high-low scheme with Bam and having Malik on one wing, and Briscoe on the other.

 

[nookam]

Stupid thread. Idiots who think Cal ruined anything.
Ever notice a hotshot QB in the NFL for one season then they flame out? It's called scouting and film room work by opponents. Of course it gets harder.

 

[Elliott Tim]

I made a comment early in the year about how unimpressed I was with Bam and I got roasted. The fact of the matter is that we are not a very good basketball team.

1. We start 3 guards and 2 of them cannot shoot it.

2. Our 2 alleged 4's are both better suited to play on the perimeter than they are down low.

3. We don't rebound very well. I believe this is a product of trying to be a fast paced transition scoring team. Nobody crashes boards. Shots go up and players immediately try to leak out for a fast break or fall back into a defensive set.

4. I don't think the young guys have the respect for Briscoe that people lead you to believe. I've now seen Malik & Bam both screaming at him on the floor this year. I don't think he has command of this team.

5. I cannot for the life of me figure out why Killeya-Jones gets absolutely no clock. And before anybody gives me that "He can't play defense" crap, the fact of the matter is nobody is playing defense. Killeya-Jones has a silky smooth jumper and would be an awesome fit in a high-low scheme with Bam and having Malik on one wing, and Briscoe on the other.

6. I'm just a fan and have zero coaching experience and zero experience as a collegiate player. These are simply my opinions.... which happen to be spot on.

What appears to be, usually isn't.