Sestina to UK official

[502 Wildcat]

Only questions I have is, does this mean we are adding no more bigs from the 2019 class, or either Nick or EJ are going pro/transferring.

I doubt Sestina would transfer to UK to play an extremely limited role.

It's always been a long shot with Hurt and McDaniels.

If EJ and Nick come back, with Cal going to more of a small-ball style, there will be plenty of minutes for Nate.

 

[bthaunert]

He adds depth, skill and experience. There is really no downside to this addition.

Agree with this. We have scholarships open, he's a one year commitment. Why wouldn't you bring him on board.

 

[ukfan041]

Great addition! Very happy he committed so fast. GBB

 

[Cardsstink]

Happy to have him on board (I think). I'm just not convinced this is a guy who can or will be a real contributor at UK.

I know we need bodies and leadership but I hope this isn't a reaction to Cal's thoughts on EJ/Nick leaving and/or UK's chances with Hurt/McDaniels.

You diminishing or downplaying anything seemingly good for UK? Par for that course.

 

[RoyKent]

Geez man, what has he done to you? Seems like you are against this. If cal wants him you should too,

No, not against it at all. If Cal offered him and wants him I am 100% good with that.

I just don't think he's going to do much here.

 

[SpamburgerHamburger_rivals101482]

Shockingly, most people are only taking this a negative sign about other players. Just take it as a good addition and see how things work out.

 

[Comebakatz3]

He is more of a euro style big man, so you aren't completely wrong. My point was that he can bang when he needs to, particularly on the glass. And he has the body for it, even in the SEC.

Gotcha. Maybe banger was the wrong type of description for him in my original post. I moreso meant that he isn't the low post type back to the basket player that Reid was. Maybe he can be that guy, but my understanding is that he is probably more of shooter than a go to guy on the block.

 

[Cardsstink]

Couple videos

BEEEENGOOOO !

 

[MdWIldcat55]

Having a guy from Bucknell will be good if the Cats play Kansas next year.

 

[TheAnonymous13]

Very good get. Cal closed hard. Visit to Florida was on the table.
A nice job by Cal.

 

[RoyKent]

The first reaction you could muster up was negative. You’re miserable.

Click on my username - then click ignore. Pretty simple.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

 

[RoyKent]

Having a guy from Bucknell will be good if the Cats play Kansas next year.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Sestina crushed the defensive glass last year, shot 80% from the line, and made almost 40% of his threes. Not a bad addition if I must say.

Gotta figure coming from Bucknell his BBIQ is off the charts.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Bucknell played just 2 high major teams last season (SOS of 255).

Sestina's stats in those games:

Ohio St - 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 blocks, 1 TO, 5 fouls
TCU - 14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 blocks, 6 TOs, 2 fouls

Decent point totals and good on rebounds in game two. Need to cut out turnovers and fouling. A positive may be that with an entire summer and off season to work out against the likes of UK's bigs he may improve a good deal in terms of feel for the speed and length of the types of teams we will play regularly.

Sometimes if you play a lesser team and then play a better one there can be an adjustment period or a time where you are kind of shocked by it. A good player adjusts and still does pretty well. Sestina will have all off season to adjust, so we will see if he can sustain similar numbers.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

No, not against it at all. If Cal offered him and wants him I am 100% good with that.

I just don't think he's going to do much here.

I don't think Matthew Hurt would do more than 16/9 at Bucknell as a frosh. Maybe a bit more scoring, but not more rebounds.

Sestina gives us a slightly lesser skill set (obviously Hurt has more upside) but infinitely more experience.

Given that we already have Brooks/Whitney/Allen as our freshmen at the 3/4 as well, I love this pickup. He's a good experienced "ying" to Brooks/Whitney's inexperienced "yang."

 

[Mr Schwump]

What's this? A low post player who uses the backboard.

 

[UKWildcatT]

Solid pickup. You need hungry veterans if you expect to lose youth each year

 

[Cardsstink]

Geez man, what has he done to you? Seems like you are against this. If cal wants him you should too,

Have you not seen his schtick? He goes BERZERK on how bad our players are in the gamethreads and then vanishes when we play good.

 

[502 Wildcat]

For the skeptics, this is what one of the best basketball analysts in the business (Brian Snow) has to say about Sestina:

https://247sports.com/college/baske...ng-an-official-visit-to-the-school-130874610/

 

[villefan76]

BINGO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BlueintheBrew]

Surely we will need to take at least one other big guy to give us a rotation of 4 in the low post. Nick and EJ are largely more centers and don't really need to be moved away from the basket. Sestina seems as though he can score from just about anywhere in the half court, so he kind of provides a bit more of a PF feel. Add another PF to either back him up ro to split time with him and we have a pretty good rotation of 4 just like we had this year.

The problem with this is if Quickley, Baker, Hagans Nick and EJ all return, then we add the 4 freshman we have committed/signed and Sestina we are at 10 players. Now Allen may redshirt, which we wouldn't know until at least Sept/Oct when is too late to add someone, and Baker we likely won't know for a few more weeks until he has a better idea what Herro and Hagans are doing. No one legit is going to want to come be on a team that is already 9-10 deep. So I wouldn't expect to add anyone else unless more leave than expected and we find out relatively early on about it.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

I like it. Could play a stretch 4 or even a 3 imo. Can also go on the block and score. Seems to be a good rebounder and can hit 3's. What's not to like. Folks pining over others. Be excited about who wants to be a cat.

 

[irishcat1965]

Great pickup by Cal. I think he plays a major role for UK next year. I really think the team next year will be fun as hell.

 

[nolla17]

He's about to be a bucket with the ladies lol!

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

No, not against it at all. If Cal offered him and wants him I am 100% good with that.

I just don't think he's going to do much here.

Why?

 

[RoyKent]

I don't think Matthew Hurt would do more than 16/9 at Bucknell as a frosh. Maybe a bit more scoring, but not more rebounds.

Sestina gives us a slightly lesser skill set (obviously Hurt has more upside) but infinitely more experience.

Given that we already have Brooks/Whitney/Allen as our freshmen at the 3/4 as well, I love this pickup. He's a good experienced "ying" to Brooks/Whitney's inexperienced "yang."

Yeah, you may be right.

I think he is going to be (unfairly) compared to Travis being a grad transfer and all. Travis was an All-Conference, Player of the year type guy in a major conference. Sestina has only played against 2 (that I could find, not in their conference, at a quick glance) NCAA tourney teams in his 4 years.

Hopefully he provides leadership, some outside shooting and can be a contributor next season. I'm just not convinced he's a guy you can rely on for anything major and be a NCAA title contender, that's all.

 

[TBCat]

Great addition. I know this kid won't be PJ Washington but we really need him for the leadership. I still maintain that freshmen develop better and faster when paired with upper classmen. We need to replace what we had this year with Reid. This team would have fell apart in December if it weren't for Reid. I truly believe that.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

HOLY HELL!

When .. how.. wait. ..

 

[Farsight]

So Sestina is like 4? 6'8 or so?

 

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

Nice to see a nice coherent tweet from a basketball player with all the words spelled correctly. I’m excited

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

For the skeptics, this is what one of the best basketball analysts in the business (Brian Snow) has to say about Sestina:

https://247sports.com/college/baske...ng-an-official-visit-to-the-school-130874610/

Best grad transfer out there. I really like hearing that.

 

[fatguy87]

So Sestina is like 4? 6'8 or so?

And 245 pounds.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Yeah, you may be right.

I think he is going to be (unfairly) compared to Travis being a grad transfer and all. Travis was an All-Conference, Player of the year type guy in a major conference. Sestina has only played against 2 (that I could find, not in their conference, at a quick glance) NCAA tourney teams in his 4 years.

Hopefully he provides leadership, some outside shooting and can be a contributor next season. I'm just not convinced he's a guy you can rely on for anything major and be a NCAA title contender, that's all.

He won't have to be one of our top options though. Assuming Herro and KJ join PJ in the draft, the offense will flow through Maxey (14-16/game)/Whitney (11-14/game)/EJ (9-12/game)/Brooks (8-12/game). I expect Quickley to be in the 7-10 ppg range, as well as Hagans. We should have 6 to 7 guys hovering somewhere between 8 to 15 points/game next year. Good balance, but not much star power.

Sestina is precisely the type of guy who makes up the frontlines of schools like Virginia and Michigan State. He's not going to bust anyone's NBA radar, but he's going to give UK 8 to 10 points/game with a pretty competent rebounding total.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

So Sestina is like 4? 6'8 or so?

Try 6’9

 

[HerrosHeroes]

He won't have to be one of our top options though. Assuming Herro and KJ join PJ in the draft, the offense will flow through Maxey (14-16/game)/Whitney (11-14/game)/EJ (9-12/game)/Brooks (8-12/game). I expect Quickley to be in the 7-10 ppg range, as well as Hagans. We should have 6 to 7 guys hovering somewhere between 8 to 15 points/game next year. Good balance, but not much star power.

Sestina is precisely the type of guy who makes up the frontlines of schools like Virginia and Michigan State. He's not going to bust anyone's NBA radar, but he's going to give UK 8 to 10 points/game with a pretty competent rebounding total.

Will he start at the 5?

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Best grad transfer out there. I really like hearing that.

It's a trend most of us are enjoying. We need more of these guys.

 

[502 Wildcat]

Yeah, you may be right.

I think he is going to be (unfairly) compared to Travis being a grad transfer and all. Travis was an All-Conference, Player of the year type guy in a major conference. Sestina has only played against 2 (that I could find, not in their conference, at a quick glance) NCAA tourney teams in his 4 years.

Hopefully he provides leadership, some outside shooting and can be a contributor next season. I'm just not convinced he's a guy you can rely on for anything major and be a NCAA title contender, that's all.

A little off base. If he is your best player, you won't win a title. I concur with that point.

However, he is the type of guy you have to have to win a title, in my opinion. A 12/6 kind of contributor, experienced, tough, and willing to do the dirty work. That's who he will be, and that is what we need out of him. He won't be our leading scorer, he won't be our best player, but he will be an important player and will hold his own in terms of stats.

I'll say it again. Everyone talks about Matt Hurt...do you see him putting up numbers north of 12/6 in his one year? I don't. When you consider that both Hurt and Sestina are one and done, I'm not sure Cal doesn't come out with the better end of the deal here with Nate.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Will he start at the 5?

I doubt it. Another summer of EJ improving probably means Montgomery is our 5 next year. I think EJ breaks through and takes a massive step forward. I hope Nick does as well, but I'm not counting on it at this point.

 

[fatguy87]

EJ and Richards could really have a chance to shine playing along Sestina if we use him to stretch the floor.