I think the issue most people have with EJ so far is from what he has shown us in 2 exhibition games, there does not seem to be any improvement from last year to this year; he doesn't have to be a 20-10 guy but at least show some kind of improvement- hopefully this will happen during the year
EJ making me nervous
- Thread starter Cats192
- Start date
Yeah If he had 0 points and 8 rebounds, I'd be less concerned.
People want to preach "run your own race" but if you're not able to grab more than 4 rebounds, you're going to be on the bench.
Yeah I never give up on a player. I’m sure that the staff can show him film on how he goes half speed sometimes. He might not think it’s half speed but compared to others on the team he is. And it’s hard to teach aggressiveness to someone they either have it or they don’t. So he can see that he can be a better energy player on the floor because that just takes effort.
Exhibition games represent a very small sample. If I got down on a player whenever he had a bad game, I wouldn't like any of them. Our coaches know how to develop players. Cal chose to recruit Montgomery. Was he wrong? Maybe, but Montgomery also appears on multiple preseason all-SEC teams. Were all those voters wrong too? Not likely. To downgrade a player because of an exhibition game makes less sense to me than being hopeful because the player played well at times late last year in games that actually counted. Either way, Montgomery is just beginning his sophomore season, so there is no doubt that his best games are still ahead. I don't assume any player is without flaws, but I am happy when they make progress. Trust our coaches.
So you think you are giving Montgomery that feedback now? You can't be serious. You say "the lack of patience by fans isn't because they can't accept that it takes some players longer to develop." I beg to differ.
I trust the coaches.
Spect, as much as I disagree with him there are some points that he is right about. Some of our fans still get butt hurt over them leaving after one year and then even though some stay, the fans are disappointed in that they are not playing like OADs in their second year, which they hated originally, lol.
The thing that makes this harder on EJ than others is the inflated image he has of his game at this point. It’s EJ that says he was close to declaring for the NBA Draft. If a player is going to proclaim that, his effort and ability better back it up!!
As Cal notes constantly, “I can’t hide you here”.
Yes, it is extremely early, so I hope he can take the criticism as motivation to work harder. We really need him to play well to reach our goals.
As Cal notes constantly, “I can’t hide you here”.
Yes, it is extremely early, so I hope he can take the criticism as motivation to work harder. We really need him to play well to reach our goals.
I’m not giving EJ feedback. EJ couldn't and shouldn’t give 2 f*cks about what I have to say. You can beg to differ all you want. I might not be speaking for every fan, but I can certainly speak for myself. I love watching high potential guys come in and develop at their own pace. I just start giving some message board equivalent of side eyes to guys like EJ that talk like they were two steps from staying in the NBA draft and then turn around and can’t even be a factor against an NAIA team.
I want EJ to live up to his potential, I wish nothing but the best for the kid. And if it takes 4 years that’s awesome, too. That won’t be about my patience though, it’ll be about his.
Jesus, what an outrageous take. EJ has been less than impressive but you’re a turd.
Saying “one of the top prospects” in his class, from rankings 2-3 years ago when they were all in high school doesn’t really mean much in the sense of this conversation.
Bolden was one of the top prospects in his class just 3-4 years ago...
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Why would anyone be nervous.
There's only 2 scenarios here........
1) EJ plays well and gets minutes
2) EJ doesn't play well and gets very little minutes. Nick is just day to day.....he'll be back soon.
He's going to dictate how much we see him. Either he figures it out or doesn't.
There's only 2 scenarios here........
1) EJ plays well and gets minutes
2) EJ doesn't play well and gets very little minutes. Nick is just day to day.....he'll be back soon.
He's going to dictate how much we see him. Either he figures it out or doesn't.
Cal will have to get used to playing small ball until Nick comes back. If EJ starts on Tuesday, he will be on the bench before the first TV timeout with 2 fouls. Right now he is bringing nothing to the floor. He does not play hard, does not run the court with urgency, does not move his feet on defense and has shown he does not have any kind of inside moves and is as soft as a tissue. Unless the switch is flipped between now and game time, I am not expecting EJ to give us much against the Spartans..
What skills are you seeing in EJ? I've heard this for 2 years but have yet to see one skill beside bring 6'10
Quade was bad at defense but at least looked like a ball player to me, he could be a usefull piece in some lineups. EJ just looks like he doesn’t know what to do out there, frustrating because he looks great in flashes. I’m afraid he doesn’t have the IQ and mentality to be what we need him to be. I hope he proves is all wrong though, I’ll be rooting for him again every game.
id say the lack of full effort leads to fan’s impatience and ridicule of EJ.
Also we need him or Richards to step up this year..... and fans are seeing their hopes of a great season diminish some when EJ looks lost out there
Also we need him or Richards to step up this year..... and fans are seeing their hopes of a great season diminish some when EJ looks lost out there
it's not outrageous it all it's fairly obvious. it's not his fault but he's not cut out for this level. He was about on par with naia competition the other night if I understand correctly
that doesn't make him a bad person with sestina brooks and Richards getting in over him he's probably gonna transfer to a smaller school
I’m not a basketball super genius that can read minds and predict the future like the rest of you. That said there is a chance EJ is still transitioning to a lack of Travis. Also possible he has some nagging injury that even those of you that have bleated you entitlement to the complete family medical history of each player may not know. It’s possible he started in a slump, though some of you will insist that a player with the vast experience of a 20 year old never slumps. I won’t go into the many other dozen things it can be since the super geniuses have written him off as hopeless since the first grade.
It sucks not being telepathic.
It sucks not being telepathic.
I understand the mindset of not filling scholarship spots so kids aren't stuck on the bench. However, I disagree bc it typically hinders team development.
If you don't have 10-11 available scholarship players on the roster then practices become limited. I'm not suggesting using all scholarships as it could negatively effect recruiting cycles, but a team needs adequate numbers to cover in game scenarios.
If you don't have 10-11 available scholarship players on the roster then practices become limited. I'm not suggesting using all scholarships as it could negatively effect recruiting cycles, but a team needs adequate numbers to cover in game scenarios.
I feel like Montgomery is guy who is too soft to play in the post and not skilled enough to play on the perimeter.
He either has to get tougher to play inside or improve his skills so he can play on the perimeter.
Right now he just doesn’t excel in either role.
He either has to get tougher to play inside or improve his skills so he can play on the perimeter.
Right now he just doesn’t excel in either role.
When Quade Green has a better collegiate career than Ryan Harrow get back to me. John Hood wasn't a Cal guy. So, yea, there's that.
EJ aint no PJ. Gotta use Brooks. Need a healthy Nick. Cessna will cover all of’m catdammit we better make shots.
You don't think Quade gave us as much as Harrow? Ok Jon Hood signed Cal's first year did he not?
I have watched a lot of people on this thread hammer some of our players as soft and untalented in the past, only to disappear from the board or suddenly change their posting tune when the player in question has a good game. Recurring theme here. Hagans and Quickley were hammered last year. Washington was hammered the year before. Some people here wouldn’t recognize developing talent if it bit them in the ***.
I don’t know how well Montgomery will play by March, but I am glad he is on our team. There is no reasonable case for doubting his talent or his upside. 6’10 guys with long arms who run the floor hard and challenge shots don’t grow on trees. I was at the Kentucky State game. Montgomery played reasonably well in the second half, but he spent too much of the first half on the bench with fouls. Montgomery’s problem is avoiding fouls so he can stay on the court long enough to get into the flow of the game and establish some continuity. This happens to a lot of young bigs. It isn’t a question of talent. It is about learning to play smarter.
I don’t know how well Montgomery will play by March, but I am glad he is on our team. There is no reasonable case for doubting his talent or his upside. 6’10 guys with long arms who run the floor hard and challenge shots don’t grow on trees. I was at the Kentucky State game. Montgomery played reasonably well in the second half, but he spent too much of the first half on the bench with fouls. Montgomery’s problem is avoiding fouls so he can stay on the court long enough to get into the flow of the game and establish some continuity. This happens to a lot of young bigs. It isn’t a question of talent. It is about learning to play smarter.
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CLASS OF 2009
Player Hometown Committed Rivals Scout ESPN RSCI Draft At UK
Eric Bledose Birmingham, Ala. 5/6/09 23 37 — 52 18th 1yr
DeMarcus Cousins Mobile, Ala. 4/8/09 2 3 4 3 5th 1yr
Jon Hood Madisonville, Ky. 5/8/08 40 45 92 64 None 5yrs
Daniel Orton Oklahoma City, Okla. 10/13/08 22 17 13 19 29th 2yrs
John Wall Raleigh, N.C. 5/19/09 1 2 5 2 1st 1yr
McDonald’s All-Americans (1): Cousins
Class rankings: 1st by Rivals | 1st by ESPN | 1st in RSCI
Other notes: Jon Hood and Daniel Orton committed to former UK head coach Billy Gillispie, but Calipari honored those commitments after taking over as the Wildcats’ coach.
-Quade was a better shooter. Harrow in his one year though had more points per game and assists than Quade. Harrow was a better defender. Anyone is really. Quade is a turnstile. Good riddance(Quade, not you).
EJ needs to show up tomorrow. Time to take the bull by the horns and use his skill set to go to the next level.
I doubt he'll be back for a third year no matter what. Remember he tried to leave last year, he declared for the draft, and waited until the last day in the last minute before the deadline to reluctantly announce he'd return.
I suspect EJ will be one of those Briscoe/Humphries/Gabriel types who are ready to leave after two years even if not gonna be drafted.
I think a lot of us have that feeling, which I think probably explains the impatience with his development.
What concerns me about EJ, and obviously it's based on a very small sample size, are lack of intensity/toughness, indecisiveness, and lack of evidence of year-over-year improvement. He's already had a full year to work on and improve these things.
Most college basketball players work on those things for four years. Not everyone is a first team All American. I just want to see Montgomery learn to play smarter, select his shots patiently in the flow of UK’s offense, and stop reaching on the defensive end.