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Do upperclassmen improve under Cal?

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Rod Crandler

Junior
Mar 30, 2007
875
321
0
Just wondering because if you are starting over with five or more freshman every year, isn't the majority of your time spent teaching the exact same thing you taught the year before and the year before that to the new guys?

It would be kind of like taking Algebra one four years in a row.
 
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UKGrad93

Heisman
Jun 20, 2007
17,437
22,789
0
Terrance Jones added a 3 pt shot, Seems like Patterson did too. But those guys wanted to improve and were given a longer leash. I'd say Briscoe has improved from last year (even though his last few games have been bad).
 
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Panthur

Heisman
Aug 5, 2008
9,225
12,782
0
DeAndre, Josh, and Darius are among the biggest senior-year improvements I've seen regardless of coach. I would have expected to see Charles Matthews follow a similar curve had he stayed.
 
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RDCat07

Junior
Mar 26, 2014
514
355
0
development has more to do with the position coaches, and the kids willingness to go to the woodshed IMHO
 
K

kydmb99_rivals103809

Heisman
Jan 9, 2007
15,353
13,412
0
Are you serious? Yes. Willis has been a better player than I could have ever dreamed of. Hawkins has become a solid role player. Miller and Liggins were both vital pieces to Final Four/Championship teams. Josh Harrellson went from a 3 star JUCO recruit to NBA draft pick. The only issue I have with Cal is some of his in-game coaching. Other than that, he is pretty phenomenal in every aspect of being a college basketball coach.
 
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K

kybassfan

Heisman
Jul 1, 2005
20,032
16,368
113
I'm trying to think of an upper classman that didn't improve. No luck.

Granted, some didn't turn into NBA Allstars, but all seemed to get better.
 
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Lukasz0brzut

All-Conference
Oct 3, 2011
7,111
3,437
90
UKWildcats#8 said:
This shows you're not really a Kentucky basketball fan
Click to expand...

Answer it then. the way people talk Marcus Lee didn't stand a chance to improve If he had stayed. Briscoe still sucks according to all the posters. WCS improved if so in what way.

Been to the last three national championship appearances. What a stupid response.
 
DelkBowl

DelkBowl

Heisman
Oct 4, 2015
10,774
11,836
101
jman3715 said:
Just wondering because if you are starting over with five or more freshman every year, isn't the majority of your time spent teaching the exact same thing you taught the year before and the year before that to the new guys?

It would be kind of like taking Algebra one four years in a row.
Click to expand...
What the hell is wrong with you people. Please go root for any other of the 300+ teams.
 
S

Slowwalker

All-Conference
Nov 10, 2015
2,555
3,974
0
LukaszObrzut said:
Answer it then. the way people talk Marcus Lee didn't stand a chance to improve If he had stayed. Briscoe still sucks according to all the posters. WCS improved if so in what way.

Been to the last three national championship appearances. What a stupid response.
Click to expand...
If you don't think WCS improved at all then I just don't know what to say. He was an absolute monster on defense and his offensive game while not elite, improved immensely. Had he not gone down with an injury during his sophomore season, we likely hang another banner. WTF is wrong with you people.
 
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UKnCincy_rivals

All-Conference
Aug 2, 2008
3,504
4,024
0
StubbornPenny said:
It's easier two list the two that didn't progress much or as expected: poythress and lee.
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I'll say two things in defense of Poythress.

One, I don't think people appreciate how solid of a defender he was. If you look at the FG% of players he defended, especially his Junior year before the injury, he's very impressive. I think people get caught up with some of the frustrating aspects of his game (myself included) and that can blind them to some of the things he did at a pretty elite level.

Two, I usually stick around after the home games to listen to the player of the game interview and Cal come out to talk and sign a billion basketballs. Whenever Poythress was selected his final year, he'd come out with bags of ice taped to both knees walking like my grandfather. I think his knee injuries took more of a toll on him than he ever let on, and he simply fought through without a complaint. Could be wrong on that, but I really think that was the case.
 
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Lukasz0brzut

All-Conference
Oct 3, 2011
7,111
3,437
90
Slowwalker said:
If you don't think WCS improved at all then I just don't know what to say. He was an absolute monster on defense and his offensive game while not elite, improved immensely. Had he not gone down with an injury during his sophomore season, we likely hang another banner. WTF is wrong with you people.
Click to expand...

His defense was always elite bc of his size and mobility. . He always was unreliable on offense.
 
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UKWildcats#8

All-American
Jun 25, 2011
30,327
9,338
0
LukaszObrzut said:
Answer it then. the way people talk Marcus Lee didn't stand a chance to improve If he had stayed. Briscoe still sucks according to all the posters. WCS improved if so in what way.

Been to the last three national championship appearances. What a stupid response.
Click to expand...

You are the stupid one. Read the thread buddy...you have been proven to lack basic knowledge that UK fans possess. The other intelligent posters in this thread have no issues naming multiple examples.
 
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lkc1021

All-Conference
Apr 12, 2007
6,985
1,650
0
jman3715 said:
Just wondering because if you are starting over with five or more freshman every year, isn't the majority of your time spent teaching the exact same thing you taught the year before and the year before that to the new guys?

It would be kind of like taking Algebra one four years in a row.
Click to expand...
I would like to see you improve your posting.
 
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Lukasz0brzut

All-Conference
Oct 3, 2011
7,111
3,437
90
UKWildcats#8 said:
You are the stupid one. Read the thread buddy...you have been proven to lack basic knowledge that UK fans possess. The other intelligent posters in this thread have no issues naming multiple examples.
Click to expand...

Oh the irony. I ask you since you were quick to judge. Many of the ones named never even reached the "upperclassmen" level. You're right I'm not a UK fan because I disagree with you.

When I made the post I considered the purpose of thread being: Guys who are upperclassmen that progressed under Cal after two years. Since the third year would be consider an upperclassmen.
 
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UKnCincy_rivals

All-Conference
Aug 2, 2008
3,504
4,024
0
WildMoon said:
Alex POYTHRESS!

oh wait...i probably shouldn't go there.
Click to expand...

Don't have the full season stats, but through the first 20 games last season, Poythress held the players he guarded to a 12.8% field goal percentage. That's almost unfathomably good defense.

While he had insconsistencies in certain aspects of his game, there were others where he improved dramatically. He really was one of the best defensive players we've had under Cal.
 
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W

WildMoon

Heisman
Apr 7, 2009
78,693
11,120
0
UKnCincy said:
Don't have the full season stats, but through the first 20 games last season, Poythress held the players he guarded to a 12.8% field goal percentage. That's almost unfathomably good defense.

While he had insconsistencies in certain aspects of his game, there were others where he improved dramatically. He really was one of the best defensive players we've had under Cal.
Click to expand...

I agree with this.

Its one of the reason why losing him in 2015 was effing dire. 6'8" athletic and mobile player.
 
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Hoskins91_rivals

All-Conference
Jun 12, 2011
6,750
1,619
50
LukaszObrzut said:
His defense was always elite bc of his size and mobility. . He always was unreliable on offense.
Click to expand...
No he wasn't. He was definitely not a good defender his freshman season. He got better but I'd still he wasn't great his sophomore season. He definitely improved significantly. Now if you don't want to give Cal any credit that's your perogative. Just know it makes you look silly.
 
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JonathanW_rivals

Heisman
Jan 3, 2003
145,534
15,709
0
jman3715 said:
Just wondering because if you are starting over with five or more freshman every year, isn't the majority of your time spent teaching the exact same thing you taught the year before and the year before that to the new guys?

It would be kind of like taking Algebra one four years in a row.
Click to expand...

I don't think basketball is like math. There is a limited amount to learn in basketball. The key is mastering those limited skills by repetition.
But the players do get some individual practice time with the coaches. Jordan wasn't great because he knew more skills, he was great because he mastered more skills at a level beyond most others.

Also, we have a small sample size (Miller, Harrelson, Liggins, Hood, WCS, Poythress, Willis, Hawkins, Mulder), but I think most of those improved.
 
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bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
29,352
0
I have seen improvements in:

Patterson
Harrellson
Miller
Liggins
Vargas
Cauley-Stein
Mulder
Willis
Hawkins

Probably forgetting a few, but those are guys off the top of my head that got better, IMHO, as upperclassmen.
 
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