Here is what's wrong with this team
- Thread starter Ima Alien
- Start date
Been saying all season, this team is perfect for a zone defense. It’s absolutely clear that they can’t guard off the bounce or in P&R! I mean, they literally haven’t gotten ANY better this entire season on defense. Hilarious that Cal finally brought out a zone last night. A terribly coached one at that.
As far as force feeding the post, I agree wholeheartedly. For whatever reason, Cal is in love with force feeding the post, even when our bigs aren’t very good in said post. Can’t help but think that’s the only offense he knows how to coach.
IMO, that’s what killed that 2015 season. That team was amazing when they were playing a free flowing offense and moving the ball around. They beat the piss out of teams playing that way! As the year went on, Cal insisted they pounded the ball into KAT nearly every possession. He was more worried about KAT taking over the number 1 draft selection than he was capping off a perfect season! I’m absolutely convinced of that. All one has to do, is go back and watch the difference between early and late in that season. They played completely different.
My favorite UK team of all time.
Lee was an enforcer. Buy Robey had a mean streak. Macy looked soft but he wasn’t.
That team had no weaknesses. Averaged like 85+ points per game. No shot clock. No 3 point shot.
Lost only 2 games. 1 in overtime at LSU. A very good LSU team. 1 at Alabama. Probably the only bad game they played all year. Was down like 20 points at halftime. Made it respectable in the second half. Just too big a hole.
What is wrong with this team? MID MAJOR talent and lazy uninspired coaching
Indeed. My first FF. The old Checkerdome in St Louis. Bunch of us young kids made the drive over from far western Ky.
Sat in the nosebleed seats and loved it. The Goose was loose!!
I think the final margin was 6 points but it wasn’t that close. The game was never in doubt.
The best game of the weekend was our game against Ark on Saturday. That was a war. That was the two best teams. Ark would have beaten Duke had they got us.
I'm not delusional about anything. He has looked strong in limited mins after having some time after his father's death. I think he had Bama back pedaling which is more than I could say about Oscar. Bottomline 7pts 2 boards in 8 mins, but sure bench him the 2nd half.
Sometimes it's not just about how great a player is but a matchup or even just a guy feeling it. A coach with half a brain rides the hot hand. At least sees if he can help in a game that felt over with 8+ mins left.
Your first suggestion I’m on board with. Take away the ability for teams to beat us in the paint. I thought this would be the way cal goes because that’s his dna honestly. 2 bigs clog the paint. When he plays with a stretch 4 and no rim protection his defense has major holes and gets killed inside. Cal has to have 2 bigs in the system he runs. Toppin is a 3 off the bench behind Livingston.
Well he may not be but, how the hell would we know? He came in and played with heart and was trying to make something happen. Like the poster said he had 7 Points in very limited action and Oscar had 7 in 30 plus mins. I'm not saying you play Damion Collins 40 and give Oscar the axe but you ride the hot hand and let a player go do his thing until he stops doing his thing. That attitude is why the hell we are where we at and why we've been where we are the past few years. Damion was tryin to play above the rim. Who else was tryin to do that out there? He gave the crowd a lil boost of energy? Who else done that? Not very many last night from what I was looking at.
I just said almost exact same thing before I read the rest of what was said on the board. Good post.
I would go so far as to say that if Musselman had Cal's team and Cal had Musselman's team, Musselman would have hung a hundo on Cal
I believe the name "basketball bennies" is the name Cal called our fans that, in his mind, erroneously believe they know more than him about basketball. in other words, it is a derogatory term making fun of our fans basketball knowledge.
^^^100% This. You couldn’t have explained the flaws and weaknesses of this team any better. Well done!
This team? Overthinking and hesitation. I've maintained the same thought since the beginning of the season. Love the players, yet so frustrated with the chemistry and always 1/2 step behind the action.
Thanks everyone for the knowledgeable insights on the team's problems. I don't have much of an in-depth knowledge of bb myself. Although I don't care much for some of the negativity on this board, it is obvious that in general the big blue probably have the most bb knowledge of any fan base.
One thing I might say on the team's problems (and I could be wrong) is that some of it could be attributed to Cal's constant yelling at the players during game action. I have no idea why he thinks he has to do that and what positive effect it could possibly have. I think today's players have changed in temperament somewhat from what players were like in the past. Cal's yelling and screaming on the sidelines seems to have affected their concentration and maybe their confidence.
A good bb player must be aware of where the players are on the court and what they are doing in order to be most effective, and I don't see how they could do that and listen to a coach's constant instructions (loud babbling) during game play.
One thing I might say on the team's problems (and I could be wrong) is that some of it could be attributed to Cal's constant yelling at the players during game action. I have no idea why he thinks he has to do that and what positive effect it could possibly have. I think today's players have changed in temperament somewhat from what players were like in the past. Cal's yelling and screaming on the sidelines seems to have affected their concentration and maybe their confidence.
A good bb player must be aware of where the players are on the court and what they are doing in order to be most effective, and I don't see how they could do that and listen to a coach's constant instructions (loud babbling) during game play.
We celebrate Cal's amazing recruiting classes until Cal fails to prepare them to play. When they lose, the same group of young men once celebrated become a bunch of low talented players who are just not good enough to win.
This year was subtraction by addition. In the Bahamas we were without Sahvir and Oscar, and as a result, we were forced to play Collins and Theiro significantly more minutes.
Granted the competition wasn't on the same level it still proved they were players who could/should provide production.
Understandably, there were setbacks along the way bc of growing pains and unforeseen circumstances but these guys need more clock. Wheeler and Oscar should have a diminished role moving forward. They can still play a vital role in team success but their weaknesses have been highlighted if you rely on them too heavily.
Crazy to suggest the Sec assist leader and POY shouldn't play the bulk of the mins but they are two of the primary contributors from last yrs 1st round flameout still struggling today.
Granted the competition wasn't on the same level it still proved they were players who could/should provide production.
Understandably, there were setbacks along the way bc of growing pains and unforeseen circumstances but these guys need more clock. Wheeler and Oscar should have a diminished role moving forward. They can still play a vital role in team success but their weaknesses have been highlighted if you rely on them too heavily.
Crazy to suggest the Sec assist leader and POY shouldn't play the bulk of the mins but they are two of the primary contributors from last yrs 1st round flameout still struggling today.
Trying to be optimistic.
Next season, Cal will have a team more like what he had when he first arrived. An athletic, defensive-minded, shot-blocking team. If Livingston and Collins return, we are looking at 6 5-stars and 6 McD’s AA’s on the roster, plus a high upside 4-star and a high upside 3-star coming back. Lots of length and athleticism. Not much experience, mostly Sophomores and Freshmen, but plenty above the rim type players. That looks more like a pre-2018 roster.
Not saying I want this, but I could see Cal staying for one more year to see what he can do with a talented, athletic group that uses their athleticism defensively.
Our current roster is heavy on experience, but low on athleticism. Fredrick, Reeves, Wheeler, and Tshiebwe are tough, hard nosed experienced players, but they don’t set the world on fire with their athleticism/measurables and that’s four of our rotation players.
Next year guys like Wagner, Dillingham, Edwards, and Bradshaw should give us a little more athleticism.
Next season, Cal will have a team more like what he had when he first arrived. An athletic, defensive-minded, shot-blocking team. If Livingston and Collins return, we are looking at 6 5-stars and 6 McD’s AA’s on the roster, plus a high upside 4-star and a high upside 3-star coming back. Lots of length and athleticism. Not much experience, mostly Sophomores and Freshmen, but plenty above the rim type players. That looks more like a pre-2018 roster.
Not saying I want this, but I could see Cal staying for one more year to see what he can do with a talented, athletic group that uses their athleticism defensively.
Our current roster is heavy on experience, but low on athleticism. Fredrick, Reeves, Wheeler, and Tshiebwe are tough, hard nosed experienced players, but they don’t set the world on fire with their athleticism/measurables and that’s four of our rotation players.
Next year guys like Wagner, Dillingham, Edwards, and Bradshaw should give us a little more athleticism.
I have said from the start. Several of these young men played softer than they should. Toppin in particular is obviously trying to improve in that area.
Would live to see Livingston as a Soph, or Jr. Hope we get that chance. Also agree that Thiero really should be seeing more floor. He could become special over a couple seasons IF he is allowed to develop. In Cal's defense, I understand its hard at KY to let players "play" into their game because you may have to sit guys that are better today at some things (defense, rebounding, ball possession, screens, etc) that coaches value as much as scoring (what some fans get fixated on).
Lastly, the easiest fix to help Oscar & our pick&roll defense would have been to install a zone. Not that passive, 6th grade zone that we put no heart into vs. Arkansas. One we actually practiced and played with a little heart.
Cal has a boatload of talent coming next season. I hope at least 1 of those guys has an attitude like Gimel Martinez or Boogie Cousins or even Tyler Ulis.
This team (and frankly the last few) play their games like AAU players. A couple good games, a bad one. No big deal. Next game. Maybe the NBA suffers from a little of that too. But most college kids, especially when playing a Blue Blood ..... they play like their hair is on fire, your best player tried to steal their girlfriend, and you slashed their tires. If you don't get your back up, they gonna bloody your nose and take your date money.
Would live to see Livingston as a Soph, or Jr. Hope we get that chance. Also agree that Thiero really should be seeing more floor. He could become special over a couple seasons IF he is allowed to develop. In Cal's defense, I understand its hard at KY to let players "play" into their game because you may have to sit guys that are better today at some things (defense, rebounding, ball possession, screens, etc) that coaches value as much as scoring (what some fans get fixated on).
Lastly, the easiest fix to help Oscar & our pick&roll defense would have been to install a zone. Not that passive, 6th grade zone that we put no heart into vs. Arkansas. One we actually practiced and played with a little heart.
Cal has a boatload of talent coming next season. I hope at least 1 of those guys has an attitude like Gimel Martinez or Boogie Cousins or even Tyler Ulis.
This team (and frankly the last few) play their games like AAU players. A couple good games, a bad one. No big deal. Next game. Maybe the NBA suffers from a little of that too. But most college kids, especially when playing a Blue Blood ..... they play like their hair is on fire, your best player tried to steal their girlfriend, and you slashed their tires. If you don't get your back up, they gonna bloody your nose and take your date money.
What’s wrong is;
Coaching
Player Development
Game prep
Opponent film prep and game breakdown
Game time adjustments
Athletic Director allowing such a large leash for poor performance and poor results without accountability.
Coaching
Player Development
Game prep
Opponent film prep and game breakdown
Game time adjustments
Athletic Director allowing such a large leash for poor performance and poor results without accountability.
All of the player criticism and nothing about the coach?? Do you not know who picked these particular players and who is responsible for their development?
Cal shoulders the blame because he recruited this class. If they aren't good enough that's on him.
That being said, this team just doesn't have the talent to make a serious run here
That being said, this team just doesn't have the talent to make a serious run here
Of course the buck stops with Cal....he recruited them and is responsible for their development. With a better bench coach we'd have at least a couple fewer losses ...probably MSU and SC.
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