Sestina to UK official
- Thread starter Cats192
- Start date
I like this pickup. Size, experience and shooting ability is some things you can always use. He does look a little bit hefty around the middle. Something that the conditioning at UK should take care of. Who knows where his game may go with proper nutrition and conditioning.
Your post just sits wrong with me.
Last edited:
Hi BBN,
I'm a Bucknell Alum that watches most, if not all the Bucknell games and wanted to give you some background on Sestina's game. I also watch a decent amount of Kentucky games, so thought I could give some perspective for you gus.
As many of you know Nate is kind of a clone bodywise to Reid Travis. 6'9 245, and it's legit size. He's a strong guy. He's a guy that has some post moves but is a better shooter than a post player. Travis was more of a post guy, but wasn't much of a shooter. So Sestina will add that shooting element.
His 3 point shooting and free throw shooting was very good. You look at his shooting numbers last year and like them....well those numbers are worse than they appear. For most of the season he was a +40% free 3 point shooter and a 85% free throw shooter. He ended up in a weird slump at the end of the year, and I think it was because he was banged up. I believe at the end he went 1 for 16 in one stretch that dragged his his 3 pt average down during that stretch. He also missed a bunch of free throws that dragged that percentage down. So in reality his shooting numbers are better than that...he's a very good shooter.
He's a strong rebounder and can body up most bigs. Last year Roy Williams called him "a house" when Bucknell played UNC. His one thing that drove me crazy was his terrible habit of getting into foul trouble. A lot of the times, the fouls were unnecessary. I figure Cal will really stress that with him. Other than that there isn't a lot to complain about with him.
He's a humble guy, so I wouldn't say he's looking to be the focal point. In fact at Bucknell he wasn't our "go-to" scorer. He was our second best scorer and he seemed perfectly comfortable with that. I'll definitely be following Kentucky more next season, but wanted to let you guys know what kind of player he is. Feel free to reach out with questions.
I'm a Bucknell Alum that watches most, if not all the Bucknell games and wanted to give you some background on Sestina's game. I also watch a decent amount of Kentucky games, so thought I could give some perspective for you gus.
As many of you know Nate is kind of a clone bodywise to Reid Travis. 6'9 245, and it's legit size. He's a strong guy. He's a guy that has some post moves but is a better shooter than a post player. Travis was more of a post guy, but wasn't much of a shooter. So Sestina will add that shooting element.
His 3 point shooting and free throw shooting was very good. You look at his shooting numbers last year and like them....well those numbers are worse than they appear. For most of the season he was a +40% free 3 point shooter and a 85% free throw shooter. He ended up in a weird slump at the end of the year, and I think it was because he was banged up. I believe at the end he went 1 for 16 in one stretch that dragged his his 3 pt average down during that stretch. He also missed a bunch of free throws that dragged that percentage down. So in reality his shooting numbers are better than that...he's a very good shooter.
He's a strong rebounder and can body up most bigs. Last year Roy Williams called him "a house" when Bucknell played UNC. His one thing that drove me crazy was his terrible habit of getting into foul trouble. A lot of the times, the fouls were unnecessary. I figure Cal will really stress that with him. Other than that there isn't a lot to complain about with him.
He's a humble guy, so I wouldn't say he's looking to be the focal point. In fact at Bucknell he wasn't our "go-to" scorer. He was our second best scorer and he seemed perfectly comfortable with that. I'll definitely be following Kentucky more next season, but wanted to let you guys know what kind of player he is. Feel free to reach out with questions.
I imagine Travis said, “after Stanford, you can get a masters in about 3 weeks. Should be the same from Bucknell.”.
Cal has definitely changed his recruiting approach the last few years. Seeing more high profile transfers come over more and more.
Herro going or returning is gonna be the biggest story of the spring. Him on the team next season could completely change the outlook.
Could easily be a 20 point scorer on a loaded team, go in the lottery.
Thank you very much for that insight. Great to know from someone who closely follows the Bucknell program.
Exactly, got nothign to do with other players, just look at this one and see if you like or dont' like, theres tape. Clearly Cal agrees with me :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:that he's a real nice addition that will help.
He looks like a decent player. But anything more than 8 and 6 is about too far to expect.
Somewhere Dan Issell is smiling
Not sure what to expect of him just yet.
I don't think he's as strong as Travis. He's not a freak athlete, but neither was Travis.
My guess is Richards does take a step up and starts. I think Montgomery improves a lot.
A 5th year Senior Sestina is probably more reliable/productive off the bench than what Richards has been this past season. His ability to make shots may help him eat into the minutes of the starters.
I don't think he's as strong as Travis. He's not a freak athlete, but neither was Travis.
My guess is Richards does take a step up and starts. I think Montgomery improves a lot.
A 5th year Senior Sestina is probably more reliable/productive off the bench than what Richards has been this past season. His ability to make shots may help him eat into the minutes of the starters.
You realize we need 2 pf . So yes we won't get Hurt and Mcdaniels . Probably just Mcdaniels.
I actually see Sestina putting up better numbers than Travis did this year. I think the role we will have him in with his shooting and the guards we will have will free up some good looks for him. Very good addition.
This is great because we needed 2 things to finish out this class - a banger forward and a skill forward. Got the banger who can shoot. Now we need a Mcdaniels type and I think cal will close the deal just like he did with EJ last May.
8 and 6 will be lovely. And, considering his current shooting percentages, will likely be very efficient offensively.
I have much more faith in EJ taking a step forward than I do with Nick. I saw zero improvement from Nick from year 1 to year 2. That was disheartening. I have no doubt he is putting the work in and wants to be great, I just don't think it is there. I hope like hell I am wrong because physically/athletically, he is a freak. Just don't think he has the skill.
Sestina seems to be a much more skilled basketball player, just not the physical specimen that Nick is. I think is Sestina can shoot the ball with some consistency and stretch the floor, I think you start him at the 4 and EJ at the 5. This is all assuming we don't land Hurt or McDaniels.
That being said, we will need all three bigs to contribute in order to make a run next year.
Haha...is this another one of your guarantees? I hope not because nothing you ever guarantee seems to actually happen.
I thought Nick improved quite a bit.
As a freshman, was scared of the ball. Couldn't catch it for anything.
This year, he could catch it. He showed some offensive ability. His rebounding improved.
He just lacks toughness. He gets lost on defense at times.
Last year, he was like a high school kid that maybe wasn't ready for college basketball. This year he made freshman mistakes. The improvement is coming
He is more of a just in case type of guy. Someone that can be a player coach for EJ and Richards.
It shows how much belief he has in his centers.
I hope you are right. Statistically, he declined in every important category where you usually see a big jump from freshman to sophomore year. Trust me, I hope someone can pull that "dog" out of him. Just not going to hold my breath.
Edit: his blocks increased by .4 percent.
A
anon_013cn8yrfncx2
Guest
It doesn't take GOD long to make up his mind. He works at the speed of light and beyond.
I don't think he is really being brought in to play center. He his 6'9 with little hops and a below the rim type player. Cal values length and athleticism far more. I think Cal has a lot of belief in Richards and Montgomery. Both have shown flashes of being really good players and need to develop strength and confidence. This Sestina guy will play mostly at the 4, if he plays much. I just don't see what he brings other than potential leadership.
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