If EJ and Hagans had come back,

[ScottGreene22]

You wouldn’t have Sarr, Mintz and or Askew what’s this team look like. I’d guess 10-3 and ranked.

 

[DerekMcPwn]

With Ashton Hagans at PG, this team could easily be undefeated. Our biggest weaknesses are all tied up in one position. Hagans solves all of these problems.

1. No effective on-ball defender

2. Turnovers

3. No dribble penetration

4. No floor general

 

[Bratkartoffeln]

And that, probably more than anything, is the source of my frustration and that of many others. Kids leaving the outstanding facilities, opportunities, and the rest that this program offers when they are marginally or NOT qualified is putting us in this quandary and we don't like it. We spend money on kids and it equates to neither a degree nor a sustained pattern of success on the floor. Couple that with various transfers and even a Hagans' episode of last year and you can easily realize that you're in the "House of Cards." Are we spoiled? Hell yes. Do we expect more? Absolutely. Do we deserve better? I would hope so. We could easily not figure this out and lose every game the rest of the year. I vote for (hope for) a pause. Finally, yes, if Hagans were still here, he would make this team into a top five team.

 

[Orange Soda King]

This team could really use Hagans and EJ.

 

[Trinity45]

You wouldn’t have Sarr, Mintz and or Askew what’s this team look like. I’d guess 10-3 and ranked.

Maybe, still can't shoot but no offense to Askew Hagans is a better pt guard and definitely has a quicker step to the basket.

 

[fatguy87]

Because Hagans was so dreadful during conference play last season, it’s difficult to imagine him being the star level player this team would need to just be a top 30 team, much less top 10.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

I have said this a few times now, but I’ll say again. I think JC has tried to change his strategy. I believe this started couple years ago, just has not went according to his plan. He probably believed Hagans, EJ, and Quick would be back this season. He had to scramble for Sarr, have Askew reclass, pulled in Toppin and Mintz transfer. He surely didn’t think IQ would blow up and win SEC player of year and bolt. Didn’t see AH losing his mind, and no way he thought EJ would be out. Add that to this crop, minus Sarr, Toppin - we may be looking at on or two losses right now. He has tried, just didn’t go as planned. Anyway, just conjecture.

 

[fatguy87]

Last year's team had Richards and IQ, high level performers who would have been one of the best players on many Kentucky teams of the last 10 years, and they still were only 29th in Kenpom.

Given what we know about the ability of the players on this year's team, I'm not sure how one could figure adding 1 or 2 competent players would vault them into the upper echelon of teams. Hagans and EJ would have to be better than IQ and Richards for that to even be a possibility. One of them being the level of a Tyler Ulis or Karl Towns is a rather ambitious expectation.

 

[Yardeth]

If and but's

 

[gamecockcat]

Adding EJ to this team adds what, exactly? A 4 who wants to be a PG and shoot 3s? A mediocre defender and rebounder? 6 PPG? I mean, what makes you think EJ was all of a sudden going to be good?

Hagans definitely a better ball handler than Mintz or Askew. But, not a great shooter, by any means. Evidently, an attitude problem which this team does not need. Good defender but, even so, often got beat by smaller, quicker guards. He would be an improvement, for sure. But, even so, we still wouldn't have any scorers on the team.

We'd be marginally better (maybe .500) but not good. Hagans and EJ just weren't that good or has everyone forgotten that?

 

[Big Blue Daddy 98]

We would be better simply bc of a penetrating guard and good defender in Hagans.

EJ would help some but never impressed much by him.

 

[fatguy87]

I have said this a few times now, but I’ll say again. I think JC has tried to change his strategy. I believe this started couple years ago, just has not went according to his plan. He probably believed Hagans, EJ, and Quick would be back this season. He had to scramble for Sarr, have Askew reclass, pulled in Toppin and Mintz transfer. He surely didn’t think IQ would blow up and win SEC player of year and bolt. Didn’t see AH losing his mind, and no way he thought EJ would be out. Add that to this crop, minus Sarr, Toppin - we may be looking at on or two losses right now. He has tried, just didn’t go as planned. Anyway, just conjecture.

Those guys are liable to leave early because we still market ourselves as the mecca of OAD. Players who find our recruiting pitch appealing are the ones who are most inclined to leave early. In other words, we select for the players who are the most eager to leave.

I find the shift towards second and third tier recruits and grad transfers not to be an intentional change in strategy or approach, but rather those players are more like plan B and C when we miss out on guys like Cunningham, Bamba, and Williamson. We don't need a large cadre of players when we know that certain guys are going to be studs. When you don't get the studs, you increase the odds for finding good players by getting additional dice rolls.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

I personally believe that most of our issues revolve around point guard trouble. Just having a guy like Hagans - who could drive, pass, guard - would make a huge difference. Of course, he would have to have his head on straight, and no guarantees there.

 

[willievic]

Why do some of you keep saying, "If Hagans had come back, and EJ and Quick. If the COVID hadn't happened, if Sarr was the player we thought he was. How about Allen not being to play defense."
In life, it's always easy to say, "What If." I learned a long time ago, you play with the hand your dealt. Good coaches, just as good business people, don't make a bunch of excuses. That's the easy way for a loser. A winner will just make adjustments, and continue to win. In life, very few things are easy, especially when it comes to winning, or making money. I learned a long time ago, winning can be tough, but it can be accomplished with hard work. Sometimes you have to adjust, and I think Cal is incapable of adjusting. It appears it's his way, and that's it. The heck of it, his only way is the "Dribble Drive." Without pulling the players away from the basket, the "Dribble Drive" is very tough to execute.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[FirewithFire]

Anyone know what happened to Hagans last year when he freaked out? Until I know the real answer to that question I would consider him a liability to any team.

If he was the Hagans of old then yes he is a major upgrade over Mintz and Askew. The leadership alone would make him a very valuable asset.

There seems to be a problem with team chemistry over the last few years. To have so many transfers from a prestigious program is odd. Even with the playing time issue, it is still odd considering that some of these guys knew coming in that they would be three or four year players all along. Something is just very wrong in Lexington.

 

[rick64]

Hagans definitely an upgrade at PG.

 

[fearthebluecat_rivals377069]

With Ashton Hagans at PG, this team could easily be undefeated. Our biggest weaknesses are all tied up in one position. Hagans solves all of these problems.

1. No effective on-ball defender

2. Turnovers

3. No dribble penetration

4. No floor general

agree ...............pg is killing us

either one

rather use Clark at the point if get back before seasons over

 

[ManitouDan_anon]

A severely over rated 3 and a crybaby selfish PG .. 40-0

 

[ManitouDan_anon]

Hagans three pt shooting is really missed .

 

[loublue22_rivals308424]

Hagans is certainly better than Askew. There are 4 or 5 EJs on this roster already.

 

[crashtestdummy_rivals61973]

if we were 9-4...we wouldn't be 4-9. that being said, pg is the glaring weakness on this team. how will this get fixed next year? doubt Askew will get any quicker offensively/defensively!

 

[Doc4UK!]

We need shooters! Hagan’s was not a shooter

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

Last year: Hagans, Maxey, IQ

This year: Askew, Boston, Mintz

Enough said

 

[Eastkybball]

Funny how I wanted Hagans back and was ridiculed for it. Was told he was a quitter and nobody wanted a player who quits on his team.
I would take Hagans back over any player on this years roster!

 

[AnthonyDavisMVP]

This is the main problem Cal has right now. Not recruiting or even coaching, it’s that the whole team leaves every year.

 

[TortElvisII]

Hagans three pt shooting is really missed .

Man that got me.