Calipari on team

[STL_Cat]

Kentucky could be starting Davion Mintz, a very capable grad transfer PG with three years experience in a solid Big East, Sarr, with three years against ACC competition, Brooks in his second year at Kentucky, along with two extraordinarily gifted freshmen. That would be more experience in the starting line-up than the 2012 championship team or some of Cal's other Final Four teams. Especially given Cal's track record with producing with freshmen (Final Game in 2014 with an all-freshman starting five) I'm not sure experience is that big of an issue.

And, no, I don't buy the lament "if we're starting Mintz, we're in trouble." I saw him in person against Georgetown, where he dominated their guards. Watching him live, he's more impressive than in clips. And he's performed well against teams like Villanova. To me, if Askew clearly wins the starting job from him, then it is more a sign of the team's strength than a weakness.

While I appreciate the fact that Mintz and Sarr are bringing experience to the program, it’s not the same as returning players that know the system and have spent time TOGETHER playing in the system.

It’s good to have guys like Mintz and Saar that understand what it’s like to compete at this level.

To your point about this team having “more experience than the starting lineup of the 2012 team” ... well, okay, but you’d be disingenuous to say that this team is more experienced as Kentucky basketball players than a team that returned SENIOR Darius Miller, along with Sophomores Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb. Miller was essentially a 6th starter (and you know it). That team had a tremendous blend of returning talent AND transcendent freshmen. These are things you know, but you’re doing a little mental gymnastics to put an extra positive spin on this squad. Which is fine, but don’t expect everyone to be on board with that one.

 

[EastCoastYoungCat]

To be fair, we were a "good shooting team" with regards to three pointers only because of 2 guys - Quickley and Sestina. Maxey was disappointing from three, Hagans was bad, Brooks didn't take many and didn't make many of the ones he took (hoping 2/2 in his last game wasn't a fluke), and Juzang was a thoroughly disappointing 27% before hitting 4/6 over his last two games. I wouldn't call us a good shooting team so much as a team with 2 really good shooters. Now, yes, somehow we were an EXCELLENT free throw shooting team despite those guys knocking down 15 footers not being able to hit a 21 footer.

Yes but we all know when Cal mentions shooting he isn’t just talking about 3’s barely 3’s period lol

 

[EastCoastYoungCat]

I'll take my boys at KU in this match-up.

Eh if Starr’s eligible I like UK by 8

 

[EastCoastYoungCat]

Just think we have too much experience and talent to lose this one be it first game of the season or in March. Our biggest question mark will be in the post, but even there with McCormack, De Sousa, Lightfoot and 5 fouls out of Muscadin the advantage tilts to KU.

And all of those girls are nowhere near as good as Sarr. I love Brooks as a 4 over all of those guys as well. We don’t know what Ware and Jackson can/will bring. That can be a very big disadvantage. And you’re not necessarily an advantage on the wing either.

 

[STL_Cat]

I’m much more on board with the 2014 comparison, yes.