Lance Ware = DNP
Let’s be honest, that was a huge plus. (same with Allen)
Let’s be honest, that was a huge plus. (same with Allen)
GYERO ARCHIVE
- Thread starter anthonys735
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Will be rooting for Brooks to get 2 early fouls before the first TV timeout the rest of the season
Keion Brooks playing all the minutes he's getting is more concerning than Ware and Allen not getting more run when healthy.
After 15 years of GYERO, I’m stunned how much some of you still worry about what grown men f’n wear. I shouldn’t be. But I am.
I like Brooks, and he has definite value to the team, but he's easily the most maddening. He's either pretty good, or just inexplicably awful...like he was last night. Very rarely is just 'solid', which is what his role should be as a utility man. You just can't trust him, b/c it's like a coin toss what you're going to get.
Dude is an energy zapper imo. He plays 'slow', and when he's off, he lets that affect everything else. Last night he fouled a 3 point shooter, Stepped over the line on an inbounds, had a few ridiculous turnovers & defensive lapses, and generally looked like he'd never played basketball. One of the bigger enigmas of the Cal era, maybe the biggest?
He was surprisingly 2nd in rebounding and 3rd in scoring for the season heading into last night's game.
Hopefully Toppin forces him to get his **** together, or finally takes his spot.
Dude is an energy zapper imo. He plays 'slow', and when he's off, he lets that affect everything else. Last night he fouled a 3 point shooter, Stepped over the line on an inbounds, had a few ridiculous turnovers & defensive lapses, and generally looked like he'd never played basketball. One of the bigger enigmas of the Cal era, maybe the biggest?
He was surprisingly 2nd in rebounding and 3rd in scoring for the season heading into last night's game.
Hopefully Toppin forces him to get his **** together, or finally takes his spot.
Toppin floats off two feet in mid air like Poythress. It’s uncanny. Almost like he found a spring board on the court and then he’s at the rim slamming it.
Kid plays his *** off and is a willing & able
passer. More of him please.
Kid plays his *** off and is a willing & able
passer. More of him please.
Brooks is the antithesis to Oscar. Lacks effort, weak hands in the paint and everything he does looks much more difficult than it should.
The version we got after the inury last year when we thumped UT should be his goal. Excellent passer, finisher at the rim and high effort guy. The problem for him is that there's someone on the roster already doing that 10x better than him without the hot trigger from 19 feet and lackadaisical turnovers.
The version we got after the inury last year when we thumped UT should be his goal. Excellent passer, finisher at the rim and high effort guy. The problem for him is that there's someone on the roster already doing that 10x better than him without the hot trigger from 19 feet and lackadaisical turnovers.
Early Congrats to Tony & the skinny ankles for the 70 Degree Christmas this year. Hopefully he can get in a nice lil ride and take full advantage! 
The KHSAA needs to pass a rule on Global Warming, b/c that's just ********.
The KHSAA needs to pass a rule on Global Warming, b/c that's just ********.
He only played 13 minutes last night, but it felt like about 10 too many.
Like BBdK said, somehow he has done a reasonably solid job rebounding and scoring this season. But I'd much rather roll with Toppin getting the majority of the minutes at the 4.
Of course, a light bulb could suddenly switch on, but I'm not counting on it.
He needs to match the effort of the other guys, IMO.
How fun is it to watch a confident aggressive Grady?
One thing I absolutely do not want to hear (as stated by Matt Jones multiple times on the postgame show last night) is that Keion Brooks is a "better shooter" than Toppin.
Nope. Not one bit.
Brooks is 3 of 13 from 3 this year, which is about his career average. Brooks is an awful shooter. But since Brooks doesn't attack the basket, he is perfectly content to fire up 17 footers because that is an easy shot. Those shots f*** up the offense and are lazy, stupid, and awful.
Neither Brooks or Toppin are reliably hitting 3 pointers. To Toppin's credit -- he doesn't take them and that is a far better solution than Brooks firing up shots from a foot inside the line.
The midrange shots that we took last night were great. Wheeler and Washington especially picked up drives to hit shots from the freethrow line to about 8 foot, mainly because Sharp was such a force and layups were not advisable. That is exactly what we want. Those were smart shots in the flow of the offense.
Nope. Not one bit.
Brooks is 3 of 13 from 3 this year, which is about his career average. Brooks is an awful shooter. But since Brooks doesn't attack the basket, he is perfectly content to fire up 17 footers because that is an easy shot. Those shots f*** up the offense and are lazy, stupid, and awful.
Neither Brooks or Toppin are reliably hitting 3 pointers. To Toppin's credit -- he doesn't take them and that is a far better solution than Brooks firing up shots from a foot inside the line.
The midrange shots that we took last night were great. Wheeler and Washington especially picked up drives to hit shots from the freethrow line to about 8 foot, mainly because Sharp was such a force and layups were not advisable. That is exactly what we want. Those were smart shots in the flow of the offense.
Even if that is TRUE, Toppin gets better shots for EVERYONE else. Which is much more valuable.
Hank, Brooks is a much better shooter than Toppin.
But Toppin makes us a better team when he is out there. We're not playing H-O-R-S-E.
But Toppin makes us a better team when he is out there. We're not playing H-O-R-S-E.
False.
Both suck as shooters. Toppin doesn't shoot and does other things to compensate. Brooks chucks up stupid shots. Calling Brooks a better shooter than anyone or anything is stupid. He sucks and yet continues to take those shots -- which is much worse than not taking them at all.
Brooks is no doubt a good piece to have...off the bench spelling Oscar or Toppin...
Toppin is the perfect 4 for this team makeup though. His vision and passing when he plays in control is excellent, then when teams sag on him or double his pass, he has the athleticism to get behind the defense for a big play.
Zone killer playing at the free throw line extended.
Seems like he's stopped hunting his shot and letting **** come to him.
Brooks on the other hand constantly looks for any shot, rarely passing out. Mucking up our offense. Also doesn't run to the rim when a defense breaks down.
Toppin is the perfect 4 for this team makeup though. His vision and passing when he plays in control is excellent, then when teams sag on him or double his pass, he has the athleticism to get behind the defense for a big play.
Zone killer playing at the free throw line extended.
Seems like he's stopped hunting his shot and letting **** come to him.
Brooks on the other hand constantly looks for any shot, rarely passing out. Mucking up our offense. Also doesn't run to the rim when a defense breaks down.
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Brooks reminds me of when Tubby said Azubuike, “looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane.” He looks like he would be a beast and has the athleticism just seems like he doesn’t have the motivation or will power to become a dominate player. You would think in year 3 he would realize his opportunity to make the NBA is quickly closing if he doesn’t assert himself, rev the engine and develop ANYTHING resembling a jump shot.
I think the problem is, he's just dumb at basketball, within a team concept.
Also, kind of a blessing we didn't get Duran. As talented as he is, would be a better Brooks, still not syncing with the offense.
There will be games where Brooks is better than Toppin and so he'll play more. There will be games where Brooks is hitting the foul line jumper and it will help us. And of course there will be games where he looks like he has no interest in playing. Brooks is a role player. We don't need him to be a star. I loved what he did against UNC. He hit a foul line jumper, drove for a layup, followed up a miss with an offensive rebound putback and had a baseline dunk off a nice dish. That's what we need from him. But to suggest he shouldn't play at all is just stupid.
He's not dumb at basketball, at all. He's fundamentally sound. Which is why Geese worshipped. You just can't install aggressiveness in players. They either got it or don't.
I'm just so happy we're playing Toppin/Brooks at the 4. We don't really need scoring at that spot. You just can't turn the f*cking ball over, miss the bunnies, or play **** D. Toppin played it about as well as we've seen all season.
Fwiw, I thought Keion played really well 1st half of ND. I just hate his long jump shots, tbh.
I'm just so happy we're playing Toppin/Brooks at the 4. We don't really need scoring at that spot. You just can't turn the f*cking ball over, miss the bunnies, or play **** D. Toppin played it about as well as we've seen all season.
Fwiw, I thought Keion played really well 1st half of ND. I just hate his long jump shots, tbh.
Brooks is a much better shooter than Toppin, but Toppin puts himself in position to make much easier shots than Brooks.
This really isn’t that complicated, Hank.
This really isn’t that complicated, Hank.
Brooks is an absolute key piece to the team...and has a major role. That role should just be that though, a role. He doesn't make anyone better, which he is fine giving Toppin and Oscar a rest 15-20mins off the bench.
Night/day how Tyty, Wheeler, and Grady look when Brooks isn't hunting midrange jumpers though...and that's who we'll ride or die with.
Night/day how Tyty, Wheeler, and Grady look when Brooks isn't hunting midrange jumpers though...and that's who we'll ride or die with.
You are arguing that a guy with a 23% career shooting average is superior at a skill that another player doesn't do -- you bylaw researching mouth-breather. Toppin may or may not be able to hit long range shots at the same rate but thankfully we don't have to know because he doesn't take idiotic shots.
Brooks is going to be an important part this year and it is too easy to get seduced by the last game and bury the kid. With that said, Toppin is a much better offensive component and I hope that this spurs Brooks to get his **** together, hustle his *** off, and stop taking terrible shots going forward.
Yes, but both skills are valuable. Which is also the fvcking point.
I love Toppin for the same reason that I love Mintz. Their energy isn't affected by what they're doing on offense. They're going to defend aggressively, hustle, move without the ball, etc. I know Mintz has struggled a bit but I have no doubt that he will bounce back. Both are low maintenance players who are perfect compliments to our 4 best players.
Agree...and Brooks isn't a great compliment most of the time. However, he still has a major role.
I think Brooks should identify as a woman and go play for Coach Elzy. That is going to be his best shot at pro ball here in the US and he would be a badass against the women.
-brooks needs spot minutes. Toppin should start, period.
God bless this kid man. Not many more lovable characters have come through here.
Is there any update on if/when he will be NIL eligible? I know attorneys are working on a waiver or something, right?
Kid will be a millionaire on Day 1, and he deserves it.
Is there any update on if/when he will be NIL eligible? I know attorneys are working on a waiver or something, right?
Kid will be a millionaire on Day 1, and he deserves it.
-Maybe I’ll start believing again in the bball team. I’ve been hesitant after the Duke/ND games, I might not fully believe until after the Kansas game though. Battered woman syndrome after last year.
-Signed up for audible today, no idea why I waited so long with as much as I read. Plus, my commute to KW will be 30 minutes both ways now so I’ll be able to listen much more in the car than when I lived in KW.
Just worried that I’ll zone out like I do with podcasts sometimes and miss 2-3 minutes at a time.
-Lunch at Zimm’s with 80 yesterday. Always a great fella, could listen to his college stories for days.
-Signed up for audible today, no idea why I waited so long with as much as I read. Plus, my commute to KW will be 30 minutes both ways now so I’ll be able to listen much more in the car than when I lived in KW.
Just worried that I’ll zone out like I do with podcasts sometimes and miss 2-3 minutes at a time.
-Lunch at Zimm’s with 80 yesterday. Always a great fella, could listen to his college stories for days.
Julian Tackett hates this.
"I got a lot of problems with you people and now you're gonna hear about it!"
-The "I hope this email find you well" people. GFY.
-The cancel all student loan people. Hey sorry your ****** degree from a $50K/year college didn't get you a 6 figure job out of college. GFY.
-The losers that stand out in front of the Kroger Liquor store every single day. Hey get a job and GFY.
-The same people that call into KSR everyday with nothing new. Hey quit calling. Better yet KSR is better without callers. GFY.
-The play by play every single thing during the game. Hey toots I watching the same game as you. Give it a rest. GFY.
-Pronoun people-hey I see your linked in profile. It's obvious that you are female. GFY.
Now I'm done.
-The "I hope this email find you well" people. GFY.
-The cancel all student loan people. Hey sorry your ****** degree from a $50K/year college didn't get you a 6 figure job out of college. GFY.
-The losers that stand out in front of the Kroger Liquor store every single day. Hey get a job and GFY.
-The same people that call into KSR everyday with nothing new. Hey quit calling. Better yet KSR is better without callers. GFY.
-The play by play every single thing during the game. Hey toots I watching the same game as you. Give it a rest. GFY.
-Pronoun people-hey I see your linked in profile. It's obvious that you are female. GFY.
Now I'm done.
That's a *****, defeatist attitude. This is Kentucky basketball. It's provided a lifetime of great moments for us all. You sound like a Detroit Lions fan. Buck up, *****!
Yeah, if we don't wax a Top 5 team on arguably the toughest home court in College Basketball, we suck again.
In all fairness to Brooks, Cal basically told him to go out there and play like a 3 with the leash he's given him. Same thing happened with Trey Lyles when it was obvious he was going to be a stretch 4 in the NBA. Sometimes it just takes Cal 3 years to figure it out.
^is she supposed to be hot? She’s as mediocre as your apparel choices…
Oh she’s the chick that hit that shot for the kids, got it.
Oh she’s the chick that hit that shot for the kids, got it.
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