25 points 15 rebounds.
What a game!
What a game!
Nick Richards
- Thread starter WildMoon
- Start date
You see now why Cal continued to stick with him.
Richards showing a huge upside. He has loads of potential. Liked how he battled for position inside and grabbed the rebounds. He is starting to become a solid inside player.
We will be very good if he continues to play well. I know pg play has been the cause of much consternation, but I like our pg play, I was concerned about Richards but he looked so good tonight.
Very nice game by Richards. Glad to see progress. Will give him more confidence as the games continue. Nice touch around 10 feet away.
I saw his confidence grow in this game. Owned the paint. Big step forward for him this game. Loved it.
Also had 2 blocks, 1 assist, and was 7/7 from the FT line.
He's way ahead of where WCS was as a Fr. WCS never had a game that early, maybe ever, where he put up those kind of numbers.
Tonight was the first time that I had seen Nick smile. Hope to see more smiles. Good game Big Guy.
Don't want to be that guy, but I'll reserve judgment until he does this well against good competition. Or at least someone comparable to his height...
And this is why you stick with a guy like him. Yeah he’s going to look rough at times but if he develops the way Cal expects, he will be a force for us by March. It’s almost like Cal knows a thing or two about coaching young players.
A
anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y
Guest
Don't want to be that guy and then turn around and be that guy. Some of you people dwell in the negative. Seriously, how could any fan not be encouraged by Richards play in this game regardless of the competition? Smdh.
He knows a thing or two, cause he's seen a thing or two. [winking]
Damn straight.
My thoughts exactly. Certainly encouraged and optimistic, but would like to see him do it against someone over 6'6.
I have not been impressed with Richards or Washington to this point. Washington still has done nothing to give me hope for a turn around in his game, Richards either until last nights game. Sure the players he was going up against were undersized but so have been most of the other players he has played against with the exception of a couple of games and he was nowhere near as productive. For most college freshmen this is a process and some get it faster than others. Don't think anyone here started anointing Richards as Anthony Davis but it was great to see his potential on display, the competition aside, as it had not yet happened.
Confidence is the biggest key for any player at any level and last nights game had to boost Richards confidence level which will only allow his game to continue to progress. How good he gets and how fast it happens for him remains to be seen but last night was an extremely important part of that equation.
Why start out like that? That is BS......you ARE that guy.....pee on the parade why don't you? Everyone will hold their breath waiting for your judgement..........it is OH so important to the group............NOT!
Outstanding game and a young FT shooting master.
I am not expecting 20 + points against good competition every night. I was very encouraged by his shooting touch and especially his hands. Very encouraging game
Praise from you is worse than criticism from real Kentucky fans. Now the guy really feels bad.
That is understandable but should be balanced with plenty of really nice players have been in the same situation and not performed as well for us.
Plenty of guys never had such a performance regardless of competition. 25 and 15 is always at least little impressive and doubly so from a kid that looks as raw as Richardson has.
Maybe you are just getting caught in the same net as the overly critical "fans". There was a lengthy thread 2 games ago that was basically declaring Richards a bust (sound familiar to early Murray threads?)
Obviously, it was critical of Cals handling of players. It happens every season and mainly from the same posters.
The same crap doesn't smell any better the next day, month, season, year or even from another poster. It is actually more stench worthy.
Maybe that is why... just sayin
Richards improving will help in multiple ways. He will start drawing a double team now, especially if he continues progressing, and that will take pressure off PJ Washington as well. It will open things up for the perimeter shooters also.
I agree with others here that this illustrates why you keep going with Richards, even though he's struggled in the early season. The potential for this year's team and for Richards himself is what Calipari knows the team needs. And there is no question, he's a strong, long guy with a good shooting touch and tremendous potential. Now, in the next game he may finish with 4 points and 2 rebounds and Killeya-jones may outplay him. That's just the nature of the beast.
And I'm sure people here will be saying the same things we were hearing up until now, which is that he's not very good and is at least a year away. But you have to keep playing him and he will progress. He's looked pretty good 2 games in a row, so I'm hoping he keeps taking steps forward even if he doesn't get 25 and 15 every night.
I agree with others here that this illustrates why you keep going with Richards, even though he's struggled in the early season. The potential for this year's team and for Richards himself is what Calipari knows the team needs. And there is no question, he's a strong, long guy with a good shooting touch and tremendous potential. Now, in the next game he may finish with 4 points and 2 rebounds and Killeya-jones may outplay him. That's just the nature of the beast.
And I'm sure people here will be saying the same things we were hearing up until now, which is that he's not very good and is at least a year away. But you have to keep playing him and he will progress. He's looked pretty good 2 games in a row, so I'm hoping he keeps taking steps forward even if he doesn't get 25 and 15 every night.
I think P.J.'s problem is hes not used to playing the post. Until he is he will look pretty bad. Hopefully his FT game inproves because you can see how it is affecting his confidence.