Please Coach Cal End the...

[kybassfan]

Let me paraphrase.

Coach, please quit trying to develop any depth on the team. We aren’t man enough to take it. Just play our top five.

Oh, when those five run out of gas, we’re going to whine like spoiled children because we don’t have depth. Don’t point out that we’re spoiled either. You make more money than us, so we we’re entitled.

Think that covers it.

 

[KyFaninNC]

I’m sure if they don’t improve

I think that ship has sailed. We are two losses away from the season being over.

 

[TheWyldKat_rivals45219]

Diallo and Richards starting and getting significant minutes experiment!! They simply need more backup experience, practice time and learnining how to play the game. We have a solid 6-7 man rotation with Vando and PJ starting along with Knox, Shai and Green—with Gabriel and Killeya Jones Off the bench. That lineup can mix man and zone defense and get to the final four!

Yes yes yes I agree. Doubtful it happens, Cal is hard headed and probably thinks it would hurt recruiting.

 

[Kentuckiddy]

Vanderbilt was awful today.

He was handcuffed from the first whistle. Hard to get in a rhythm when you can’t play good defense IMO.

 

[TheWyldKat_rivals45219]

Let me paraphrase.

Coach, please quit trying to develop any depth on the team. We aren’t man enough to take it. Just play our top five.

Oh, when those five run out of gas, we’re going to whine like spoiled children because we don’t have depth. Don’t point out that we’re spoiled either. You make more money than us, so we we’re entitled.

Think that covers it.

I think OP means to let them come off bench when best rotation needs rest. I agree they definitely shouldn't start.

 

[kybassfan]

I think OP means to let them come off bench when best rotation needs rest. I agree they definitely shouldn't start.

What’s it matter? Some cry when they start. Some cry cause they play too much. We must have depth. Vanderbilt got in foul trouble. That could happen to a guard at any time. Injuries are a threat. Cal is trying to develop some depth. Everybody is going to cry in game 4 of the tourney when we get gassed at 10 min in the second half with a player in foul trouble.

Starting is totally irrelevant in this situation.

 

[mash_24]

What’s it matter? Some cry when they start. Some cry cause they play too much. We must have depth. Vanderbilt got in foul trouble. That could happen to a guard at any time. Injuries are a threat. Cal is trying to develop some depth. Everybody is going to cry in game 4 of the tourney when we get gassed at 10 min in the second half with a player in foul trouble.

Starting is totally irrelevant in this situation.

If it's irrelevant how come he keeps running Diallo and Richards out there to start the game and forcing us to play from a hole the entire game?

 

[gojvc]

What’s it matter? Some cry when they start. Some cry cause they play too much. We must have depth. Vanderbilt got in foul trouble. That could happen to a guard at any time. Injuries are a threat. Cal is trying to develop some depth. Everybody is going to cry in game 4 of the tourney when we get gassed at 10 min in the second half with a player in foul trouble.

Starting is totally irrelevant in this situation.

We went to the Final Four in 2011 with six guys playing virtually all the minutes. You don’t need depth. I’m not saying Cal shouldn’t be developing all the guys he has. But this notion that you must have depth is mythology. If you got 6 or 7 guys that can play then you’re good.

 

[GonzoCat90]

We didn't play from a hole to start the game. Starting Richards and Diallo didn't hurt us.

It was the quick foul trouble for Washington and Vanderbilt that hurt us.

Florida is perimeter oriented so going huge against them would be stupid. We basically have 7 guys, two of them were in foul trouble. Not much you can do with the rotation from there.

In games where we have all hands on deck, anyone paying attention has seen the reduction in minutes for those guys.

Starting Richards and Diallo is a smart way to keep them engaged and their confidence high. If they struggle, you can sub them out.

Remember when Darius started over MKG because it was the way to get the most out of everyone even though MKG was clearly the better player? Cal knows his guys, and we've seen him maximize our chances in March enough times to realize that.

 

[kybassfan]

We went to the Final Four in 2011 with six guys playing virtually all the minutes. You don’t need depth. I’m not saying Cal shouldn’t be developing all the guys he has. But this notion that you must have depth is mythology. If you got 6 or 7 guys that can play then you’re good.

And just who do you think the 6th and 7th guys are?

 

[carolinacat]

Start Green, SGA, Vanderbilt, Knox and PJ. The other guys might benefit from coming off the bench and having a little pressure taken off them. We're so thin, everyone's going to get some minutes though.

 

[gojvc]

We didn't play from a hole to start the game. Starting Richards and Diallo didn't hurt us.

It was the quick foul trouble for Washington and Vanderbilt that hurt us.

Florida is perimeter oriented so going huge against them would be stupid. We basically have 7 guys, two of them were in foul trouble. Not much you can do with the rotation from there.

In games where we have all hands on deck, anyone paying attention has seen the reduction in minutes for those guys.

Starting Richards and Diallo is a smart way to keep them engaged and their confidence high. If they struggle, you can sub them out.

Remember when Darius started over MKG because it was the way to get the most out of everyone even though MKG was clearly the better player? Cal knows his guys, and we've seen him maximize our chances in March enough times to realize that.

One difference though. MKG, if you recall, was actually the one who suggested starting Miller to get him going. I’m not sure that kind of dynamic exists with this team.

 

[UK90]

Remember when Darius started over MKG because it was the way to get the most out of everyone even though MKG was clearly the better player?
.

Umm ...NO. And I'm not sure what you're remembering.

MKG started every game except one that season. 39 out of 40. There was never any sustained stretch when Miller started "over" him.

Sometimes I think you guys just imagine things that never happened.

 

[kyjohn]

I have no idea why Richards and Diallo get so much clock, they are both pitiful.

Well stated and welcome to the club.

 

[gojvc]

And just who do you think the 6th and 7th guys are

I think when it’s win or go home time you’ll see SGA, Quade, Kevin, PJ, Vando, and Wenyen getting the lion’s share of the work.

 

[gojvc]

Umm ...NO. And I'm not sure what the hell you're remembering.

MKG started every single game except one that season. 39 out of 40. There was never any sustained stretch when Miller started "over" him.

Sometimes I think you guys just imagine things that never happened.

It was a one game thing but I remember it. I agree though that it’s a whole different situation than you have wIth this year’s team IMO. Not a great comparison.

 

[katwest]

What concerns me is that we have two McDonalds all Americans in Jones and Richards and one is sophomore and the other a freshman and we are not getting much from either. The gafford kid from Arkansas is putting up better numbers than either one of them. WHY aren't they developing more?

 

[UK90]

One difference though. MKG, if you recall, was actually the one who suggested starting Miller to get him going. I’m not sure that kind of dynamic exists with this team.

Agreed. Plus, again, that was for ONLY ONE GAME. After that game, MKG went right back to starting, and he started 39 out of our 40 games this year.

That situation is in no way comparable to this, where for a whole season Cal has been starting two players who are clearly worse than their backups.

 

[Chuckinden]

I actually agree with the exception of SKJ. That kid can’t do anything and isn’t even a strong dude like Richards.

He can't be worse than Richards. I would play the hell out of SKG in the SEC Tourney and see what happens. These are meaningless games anyway.

 

[eppsfan]

I blame miscommunication. In his pre-game comments, Cal said some kids were trying to do too much and he had talked to them about how sometimes less is more. Apparently, they understood him to mean they should come out and do absolutely nothing.

 

[Xception]

I think that ship has sailed. We are two losses away from the season being over.

You only need them to have a good game when it’s needed in the NCAA, they’ve played well at times. Maybe it won’t happen but you don’t completely give up, no benefit to having fewer players to contribute as we will fatigue and lose anyway.

 

[gojvc]

I blame miscommunication. In his pre-game comments, Cal said some kids were trying to do too much and he had talked to them about how sometimes less is more. Apparently, they understood him to mean they should come out and do absolutely nothing.

Hey......Diallo threw up 7 bricks. That’s not nothing.

 

[gojvc]

You only need them to have a good game when it’s needed in the NCAA, they’ve played well at times. Maybe it won’t happen but you don’t completely give up, no benefit to having fewer players to contribute as we will fatigue and lose anyway.

You will not fatigue in the tournament playing six guys. There’s a timeout every four minutes of game clock and in the tournament they’re about a half-hour long. You have halftime. Plus no telling how many video replays in any given game. These guys are young and there’s plenty of time to rest. Six guys can do it.

 

[kybassfan]

I think when it’s win or go home time you’ll see SGA, Quade, Kevin, PJ, Vando, and Wenyen getting the lion’s share of the work.

Of that 5, at best 3 of them can keep up the defensive intensity to be effective for 36 - 38 min. More likely 2. Depending on fouls, you’ll need 20 - 25 min a game from Diallo or more and 15 - 20 min from Richards.

 

[Xception]

You will not fatigue in the tournament playing six guys. There’s a timeout every four minutes of game clock and in the tournament they’re about a half-hour long. You have halftime. Plus no telling how many video replays in any given game. These guys are young and there’s plenty of time to rest. Six guys can do it.

It’s irrelevant as we are not going to abandon two players no matter how much some want to.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Umm ...NO. And I'm not sure what you're remembering.

MKG started every single game except one that season. 39 out of 40. There was never any sustained stretch when Miller started "over" him.

Sometimes I think you guys just imagine things that never happened.

Right. And Cal started Darius over MKG to get him going for the tournament run because we needed him. It boosted his confidence and he played well.

Therefore, sometimes starting a lesser player is important to the team dynamic and it isn't as simple as starting your best five players. I don't see what's confusing you.

 

[GonzoCat90]

I think when it’s win or go home time you’ll see SGA, Quade, Kevin, PJ, Vando, and Wenyen getting the lion’s share of the work.

You've been seeing it for three weeks until we had two of those guys in foul trouble the entire game.

 

[gojvc]

You've been seeing it for three weeks until we had two of those guys in foul trouble the entire game.

During the previous four games at least one of the two other guys had 20 minutes in three of the four games. Interestingly, the one game they were both under 20 was the Arkansas game. And four guys were over 30 minutes in that game. We rode our best horses the whole way and it was arguably our best performance of the year.

 

[Dr. H Lecter]

Hami has a 44" vertical leap. He should start based on that fact alone.....no?

 

[mash_24]

Just a question? What are you guys seeing in Diallo that makes him so vital to our tournament chances? More vital than SKJ for instance? I just don't see it. Richards I do see it even though I see no reason for him to start ahead of JV and PJ. He has started every game. It's not helping his confidence. In fact, it's hurting him.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Just a question? What are you guys seeing in Diallo that makes him so vital to our tournament chances? More vital than SKJ for instance? I just don't see it. Richards I do see it even though I see no reason for him to start ahead of JV and PJ. He has started every game. It's not helping his confidence. In fact, it's hurting him.

We have three guards and one of them is 6 feet tall. If you completely bury Diallo you have no margin for error, injury or foul trouble.

 

[GonzoCat90]

During the previous four games at least one of the two other guys had 20 minutes in three of the four games. Interestingly, the one game they were both under 20 was the Arkansas game. And four guys were over 30 minutes in that game. We rode our best horses the whole way and it was arguably our best performance of the year.

I don't disagree that their minutes should be significantly less than our best (only good?) five.

I'm just in favor of still starting them and giving them the chance to play well and earn more minutes in the game instead of writing them off and hoping five guys can win a title.

 

[mash_24]

We have three guards and one of them is 6 feet tall. If you completely bury Diallo you have no margin for error, injury or foul trouble.

That makes some sense I guess. I would also argue that Vanderbilt has better guard skills than Diallo. We're into positionless basketball right? He's a minus player when he's on the floor. I don't think he's a bad kid, I don't want him to leave, I just think he's been given every opportunity to play heavy minutes in the rotation and has failed. It's past time to give those minutes to others. Our best lineup is SGA- Green- PJ- Knox- Vanderbilt. Primary subs should be Gabriel and Jones with Richards and Diallo getting minutes if we have serious foul trouble. It's pretty plain to see that.

 

[Burly]

Only chance this team has is to play zone - stay out of foul trouble - play the other 4 guys the 45 seconds or so before TV timeouts
We cannot guard elite guickness
In tourney that's plenty of blow

 

[GonzoCat90]

That makes some sense I guess. I would also argue that Vanderbilt has better guard skills than Diallo. We're into positionless basketball right? He's a minus player when he's on the floor. I don't think he's a bad kid, I don't want him to leave, I just think he's been given every opportunity to play heavy minutes in the rotation and has failed. It's past time to give those minutes to others. Our best lineup is SGA- Green- PJ- Knox- Vanderbilt. Primary subs should be Gabriel and Jones with Richards and Diallo getting minutes if we have serious foul trouble. It's pretty plain to see that.

I mostly agree but Vanderbilt is our best player at the 5 so using him as another guard puts him out of position to do what he does best for us.

I think Hami is actually best when he's at the 3 with the other two guards. When PJ or Vanderbilt picks up two fouls, I'd like to see Cal go SGA, Green, Diallo, Knox and whichever of PJ/Vanderbilt doesn't have foul trouble.

It's our fastest lineup and if Knox will go to the boards, we still rebound well.

 

[C5matt_rivals373900]

We didn't play from a hole to start the game. Starting Richards and Diallo didn't hurt us.

It was the quick foul trouble for Washington and Vanderbilt that hurt us.

Florida is perimeter oriented so going huge against them would be stupid. We basically have 7 guys, two of them were in foul trouble. Not much you can do with the rotation from there.

In games where we have all hands on deck, anyone paying attention has seen the reduction in minutes for those guys.

Starting Richards and Diallo is a smart way to keep them engaged and their confidence high. If they struggle, you can sub them out.

Remember when Darius started over MKG because it was the way to get the most out of everyone even though MKG was clearly the better player? Cal knows his guys, and we've seen him maximize our chances in March enough times to realize that.

Don’t give me all this “reverse psychology” ********! Start the best 5 players - and Diallo and Richards a8nt it!!

 

[Dreklie]

And even more frustrating is it's OBVIOUS what guys should be starting in their place. There's no damn mystery to it whatsoever---this team's best lineup is CLEARLY when Vanderbilt and Green are in the spots where Richards and Diallo start--it's been obvious for weeks now.

Why Cal so stubbornly refuses to start our best lineup is beyond me.

gotta get diallo drafted bro! that is someones son!

 

[GonzoCat90]

Don’t give me all this “reverse psychology” ********! Start the best 5 players - and Diallo and Richards a8nt it!!

I'll let Cal know but only if you get more angry for us.

 

[RonEJones]

Vanderbilt was awful today.

Agreed that he didn't play great but he was getting held on every other rebound. I was wondering why a guy who usually rebounds with 2 hands suddenly was going up with 1 hand and notices that "Igor" had his off arms wrapped up on every other board.

 

[UK90]

That makes some sense I guess. I would also argue that Vanderbilt has better guard skills than Diallo. We're into positionless basketball right?

Honestly, I think Vanderbilt might be best example yet of this "positionless" concept Cal is pushing. It's really hard to define what position he plays, because:

On defense, he's essentially a Center. He's by far our best rebounder. He's our best post defender. He's our best inside banger.

But, on offense, he dribbles and passes almost like a point guard. So what exactly is the position you say that guy plays ....maybe point center?

I'm kinda fascinated by JV's unusual skill set. I think he has the potential to become something really special in the future, especially IF he can fix his messed up jumpshot. I suspect a decade from now Vanderbilt, and not Knox, may be the guy on this team who's made the biggest mark at the next level.

And then people will ask "why did he never start at Kentucky"?