Hes a Kentucky boy now.. Take it to the bank. Absolutely LOVE ITTTTTTTT
Kofi announcing Friday
- Thread starter Cats192
- Start date
I think a lot of you might be overlooking Allen this year !
If Tshiebwe starts at PF, he only plays 5 minutes or so there. Starting is more symbolic here, I think, most likely a psychological move by Cal, especially if there is any truth to Tshiebwe being a bit put off by the idea of adding Cockburn. To some kids it is important to hear your name called every night in that starting five.
Tshiebwe will play most of his minutes at the 5, most likely.
Also, Cockburn is an All-American and played 27 minutes a game, he will expect to play close to that next season.
Tshiebwe played about 22 minutes a game, he will expect to play close to that amount next season.
If both are played exclusively at the 5, the minutes don’t add up and someone is taking a major cut in minutes.
So by necessity, Tshiebwe has to get some run at the 4 or he is going to be one unhappy camper most likely, when it comes to his minutes played.
Putting him together with Cockburn for the fist few minutes of the game gives him the extra minutes he needs.
I see the 4-5 rotation looking something like this (give or take 1-2 minutes):
PF Tshiebwe(5)/Brooks(20)/Collins(15)
C Cockburn(25)/Tshiebwe(15)
I think that keeps the bigs happy.
Now that pushes Toppin to the 3, backing up Grady.
Mintz handles the 2 spot with Fredrick backing him up.
Washington and Wheeler fight for the PG spot. I’m thinking Washington starts because of his size and shooting ability, but I think that’s still up in the air.
Allen, Ware, and Hopkins are likely in “wait until next year” mode.
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Re: the Pilgrim info, I didn’t listen so my only comment would be that Oscar should love the idea of Cockburn coming here. If he has a chance at the NBA, he needs to show some other things out on the floor. I’m not talking about 5 threes a game, but being able to play from the elbow, facilitate out of the high post, rim runs out of pick and roll, etc. Kofi coming to UK gives him the perfect guy who is going to be parked under the basket (when they play together at the same time).
If they are two of the most talented players on the team (debatable but for argument’s sake I’ll say yes), then they need to be together on the court more than 5 minutes in a game. I understand and agree about a more modern offense but you have to use the players you have, and if you have two very high quality bigs I want to see the staff at least try to figure out a way to make it work for 10-12 minutes a game. If one of Cal’s biggest knocks is being stubborn, then maybe that is something else he’s seen after last year’s debacle and the offense will be made to fit the very deep team UK has this season.
I know playing them together presents challenges on the defensive end. But that is also another element Oscar can grow at UK. Can you guard a guy out in space a bit? If not, then it probably wouldn’t work. But Oscar I think can develop his quickness enough to be effective guarding a 4 out in space. Probably not great but effective enough.
With Kofi, Oscar can play looser because you have five more fouls to give. And I’m guessing fighting in the post and five fouls from Cockburn is like a UFC fight, in terms of cumulative physical pain inflicted. Softens the other guys up, body blows.
Maybe it’s dumb to play them together but I’d like to see them give it a shot and get creative.
If they are two of the most talented players on the team (debatable but for argument’s sake I’ll say yes), then they need to be together on the court more than 5 minutes in a game. I understand and agree about a more modern offense but you have to use the players you have, and if you have two very high quality bigs I want to see the staff at least try to figure out a way to make it work for 10-12 minutes a game. If one of Cal’s biggest knocks is being stubborn, then maybe that is something else he’s seen after last year’s debacle and the offense will be made to fit the very deep team UK has this season.
I know playing them together presents challenges on the defensive end. But that is also another element Oscar can grow at UK. Can you guard a guy out in space a bit? If not, then it probably wouldn’t work. But Oscar I think can develop his quickness enough to be effective guarding a 4 out in space. Probably not great but effective enough.
With Kofi, Oscar can play looser because you have five more fouls to give. And I’m guessing fighting in the post and five fouls from Cockburn is like a UFC fight, in terms of cumulative physical pain inflicted. Softens the other guys up, body blows.
Maybe it’s dumb to play them together but I’d like to see them give it a shot and get creative.
If I am not mistaken, Tshiebwe left WVU because he was unhappy being second fiddle inside to Culver.
I know they started together, but I don’t know how they were played together. I didn’t watch any WVU games.
Here is the thing, was Tshiebwe asked to play the 4 at WVU and left because he didn’t like that role?
Or was he asked to play the 5 and didn’t like that role?
If it is the former, he is probably pretty ticked that Cal is trying to bring in another big and putting him in the same position he was in at WVU with Culver.
If it is the latter, Tshiebwe has to be thrilled that he is going to have an opportunity to step out on the perimeter a little more with Cockburn manning the middle.
Just wondering about it. Anyone watch WVU much last year and have the details?
I know they started together, but I don’t know how they were played together. I didn’t watch any WVU games.
Here is the thing, was Tshiebwe asked to play the 4 at WVU and left because he didn’t like that role?
Or was he asked to play the 5 and didn’t like that role?
If it is the former, he is probably pretty ticked that Cal is trying to bring in another big and putting him in the same position he was in at WVU with Culver.
If it is the latter, Tshiebwe has to be thrilled that he is going to have an opportunity to step out on the perimeter a little more with Cockburn manning the middle.
Just wondering about it. Anyone watch WVU much last year and have the details?
"Before I pick this hat, here's a brief message from Window World"
nah..insiders that are more highly connected are with Illiniguys. different story over there. and they are VERY connected on the Illinois side.
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anon_ce2llurbpkli4
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Very connected or not, If Kofi was so enamored with Illinois, why would he even put his name in the portal in the first place? ,
Those "very connected" guys are batting pretty terribly when UK is the competition.
Let’s just hope it’s not an “every dog has its day” “even I blind squirrel…” situation.
This. Plus, expecting them to change the numbers announcement for Kofi’s announcement requires at least one of two nearly impossible things:
—UK has the numbers press release planned but calls it off because they hear Kofi’s going to announce. Can you imagine what a little ***** we’d be if we did that and he declared for somewhere else?
—Someone in Kofi’s camp who knows for sure he’s coming here—not just an orbiter—says hey woah we better call UK and tell them to slow their roll on announcing the jersey numbers.
Imo silly to think either of those things could ever happen in the real world.
Gonzo, stop comparing these unknown 5 star freshmen to NBA HOF. First Cam Fletcher was Deandre Hunter, now this?
He left because Culver was better than him and took his spot. He’d be fine with Kofi at the 5 and him at the 4 i’m sure.
not that simple. those ones are connected to the staff. sometimes staff's are wrong.
Hahaha, remember when ya'll said UK paid $250k for Davis? Hahaha. That was stupid.
The reason I'm not concerned about fit with Kofi is simply because Cal loves players like that.
We've all gnashed our teeth about it over the years. But it hasn't changed in a decade. Cal is super traditional when it comes to bigs (and really the game as a whole).
If that's the way he prefers it, and it has been effective for us in the past, then we might as well have the personnel that fits Cal's ideology. We saw how useless Sarr was last year, which makes sense: Sarr was essentially a seven-foot shooting guard.
Also, it isn't like we have burners out on the perimeter who need driving lanes. This is a backcourt comprised of shooters for the most part. Given that that's the case, you need guys down low who can chase rebounds. Having positionless bigs who can roam out around the perimeter and give space to drivers is probably not what this team needs.
Kofi just followed Kentucky on Twitter.. it’s happening
Couple things. I do not speak for Illinois fans or message boards or their insiders and I have no idea about Davis and $250k etc... All I was telling you was the truth, Illiniguys insiders are connected to the staff at Illinois and, in this case, some other folks at UK (don't ask). That is all.
I love the state of Kentucky (I went to grad school at Asbury) and I like Lexington. No pissing match from me or anything with regards to Kentucky or whatever.
save away man. My guess is he (or his camp) is/are telling folks what they want to hear. However, I do not know the dude or his "camp", never met the dude etc... He VERY WELL may end up at Kentucky.
I remember, a few years back, Illinois was recruiting a kid out of Chicago. Moments before the announcement he called the coach at the time (Bruce Weber I believe) and said he was coming. He sits down at his high school at a table in the school gym...next to his dad. He has a few hats on the table. One is Illinois. He picks up the Illinois hat, acts like he is gonna put it on, then quickly puts it down and picks up the Kansas hat and puts it on.
That was Cliff Alexander. He literally told the coaches minutes before he was going to Illinois.
That is just one of many crazy stories. My point is, you can be connected to Assistant Coaches and even the head coach himself, and you can all still be wrong....especially with recruiting.
Antigua recruited him, was his primary big man coach i believe (Alexander was the other and he is still at Illinois) and Antigua is at Kentucky now. Kentucky is a school globally known for basketball and it has a long and storied tradition etc... Frankly, i have begun to prepare myself that he is going to Kentucky. I will then support the players that play at Illinois as I always do.
In the end, I wish Kofi the best with whatever way he goes in his life.
That he is. He's also a Cal/UK hater but he is also super connected in college basketball.
This morning on the radio, the same Illini insider I referenced yesterday said he was doubling down on his Kofi to Illinois prediction. He said yesterday he was mostly guessing, today he says he has been told by someone close to Illinois staff it's happening.
The guy who admitted to guessing is now doubling down on his guess, that’s a weight off my mind.
The lizard part of my brain really believes that Cockburn following UK on Twitter is a great sign.
That said, I believe somebody did that recently that we were after and then didn't come to Kentucky. For the life of me I can't remember who it was.
That said, I believe somebody did that recently that we were after and then didn't come to Kentucky. For the life of me I can't remember who it was.
I think it has happened several times to us so I wouldn't put much stock in that.
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