Should Oscar be benched?

[ConnorR]

Cal did it with Toppin and that flipped a switch in him and Toppin has been playing really well lately. I think Cal needs to do the same with Oscar and start Collins. Oscar has limitations that just hurt this team, especially defensively. Collins brings that energy and defensive ability that Cal teams usually have. Players have the adjust their shots when Collins is in the game bc of his length and that's the polar opposite of Oscar. Collins tries to dunk on everyone and I love it. I want nothing but the best for that kid.

I'd love if Cal would play Oscar 25-28 minutes a game and give Collins 10-15 and see what happens.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

[roll]

 

[RalphDaltonFan]

He simply needs to hold guys to standard. It's not a shot at a player when you play a teammate if he's playing well and Oscar for example isn't. That's why you have teammates/depth to play people when someone else is in foul trouble, having an off game, etc.....

Not sure why Cal makes this about "confidence". If you lose confidence you can't play. Period. Want to gain confidence, put in the work in the gym.

Oscar is an important player for the team and he's a great person. He's not a vocal leader. Nobody listens to him and that's not a shot at him, it's just how things go. Only thing worse then no leadership is fake leadership and this team is leaderless which is why they struggle in close games.

I'd like to see a lineup of Cason, Reeves, Livingston OR Toppin (whichever is playing better), Thiero and Collins at some point. Think you'd have size/versatility and can create some space on the court while having a good defensive group (Reeves being weakest link of the 5).

 

[Ron Mehico]

The fact that Calipari has no idea how to make Oscar more effective this year is confusing, maddening, and depressing at the same time. I mean FFS

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

Benching last years NPOY not going to happen.

 

[Cats_2010]

Benching last years NPOY not going to happen.

Benching and reducing PT are two entirely different scenarios. Oscar doesn’t need 38 minutes per game. Reduce his minutes to around 30, let him play harder not worrying about picking up fouls. Realize his limitations and when the opponent has a great inside player with length know you’re not just going to force feed Oscar as he has trouble scoring over length. I mean this isn’t that hard, it’s situational basketball and adjusting on the fly, it’s actually what coaches are supposed to do.

 

[SophiesDad]

Hard to answer but what is our record if Oscar doesn’t come back this year? Probably slightly above .500 at best. We just don’t have consistent enough guard play that would’ve got us over the hump in tight games while Collins and Onyenso developed and had growing pains along the way. Guess you could make the argument that making Oscar the vocal point has had a negative impact on the team but just don’t think the pieces were there this year specifically.

 

[TriCountyCAT]

Bob Knight says it’s the number one motivator. I’m not sure it’s an effort thing with Oscar. He just isn’t very athletic compared to some other bigs. It makes him look terrible in those games.

 

[UKat51]

The fact that Calipari has no idea how to make Oscar more effective this year is confusing, maddening, and depressing at the same time. I mean FFS

Oscar does have physical limitations and now everyone know how to play him. Oscar will just have to outplay them if he stays on the court. Collins and/or Ugonna will need to be ready

 

[Grs51]

Cal did it with Toppin and that flipped a switch in him and Toppin has been playing really well lately. I think Cal needs to do the same with Oscar and start Collins. Oscar has limitations that just hurt this team, especially defensively. Collins brings that energy and defensive ability that Cal teams usually have. Players have the adjust their shots when Collins is in the game bc of his length and that's the polar opposite of Oscar. Collins tries to dunk on everyone and I love it. I want nothing but the best for that kid.

I'd love if Cal would play Oscar 25-28 minutes a game and give Collins 10-15 and see what happens.

Small and slow isn’t helping him

 

[Gromcat_rivals]

Yes but so should Calipari so no.

 

[Burly]

No but he needs to play defense and quit worrying about fouling
Play one half of zone defense with Wheeler Wallace Reeves Livingston Oscar
Fouls will reduce on key players and the more they play it the better they will get
Don’t panic if the other team scores - play a full 20 minutes and see where you’re at at halftime

 

[IUfanBorden]

Bob Knight says it’s the number one motivator. I’m not sure it’s an effort thing with Oscar. He just isn’t very athletic compared to some other bigs. It makes him look terrible in those games.

Bobby Knight *** on the bench

 

[BBUK_anon]

Unreal.... Clueless on many counts...

 

[Emarc]

 

[Wildcats1st]

He simply needs to hold guys to standard. It's not a shot at a player when you play a teammate if he's playing well and Oscar for example isn't. That's why you have teammates/depth to play people when someone else is in foul trouble, having an off game, etc.....

Not sure why Cal makes this about "confidence". If you lose confidence you can't play. Period. Want to gain confidence, put in the work in the gym.

Oscar is an important player for the team and he's a great person. He's not a vocal leader. Nobody listens to him and that's not a shot at him, it's just how things go. Only thing worse then no leadership is fake leadership and this team is leaderless which is why they struggle in close games.

I'd like to see a lineup of Cason, Reeves, Livingston OR Toppin (whichever is playing better), Thiero and Collins at some point. Think you'd have size/versatility and can create some space on the court while having a good defensive group (Reeves being weakest link of the 5).

How about playing Oneyenso or Collins at the 5 and Oscar at the 4? I mean take some pressure off oscar get a guy at center who can stay at home and rim protect. Play the rock fight like he does instead of uptempo nba no defense style ?

 

[Randy Bob]

Wow, benching Oscar where does these people come from?

 

[SPECT imaging]

Cal did it with Toppin and that flipped a switch in him and Toppin has been playing really well lately. I think Cal needs to do the same with Oscar and start Collins. Oscar has limitations that just hurt this team, especially defensively. Collins brings that energy and defensive ability that Cal teams usually have. Players have the adjust their shots when Collins is in the game bc of his length and that's the polar opposite of Oscar. Collins tries to dunk on everyone and I love it. I want nothing but the best for that kid.

I'd love if Cal would play Oscar 25-28 minutes a game and give Collins 10-15 and see what happens.

You want to bench the national player of the year? That is flat out crazy. Cal does not always use his players correctly, and that goes double for Tshiebwe. Put Tshiebwe on the back line of a matchup 2-3 defense and he would be player of the year again because he would be pulling down 25 rebounds a game.

 

[Rick Honcho]

Unreal.... Clueless on many counts...

How the hell do you bench a dude averaging 13.3 rebounds per game along with 15.5 points?! Seriously, how do you come up with that kind of stuff?

 

[bluedog79]

I'm playing Oscar 40 minutes a game if I can.
He came back. .

Nobody ever does that for us. Zero players. Respect that and keep him in the game.
I don't care if he can guard or can't guard. Rebound the ball Oscar. Damn everything else.


The only thing Kentucky fan should do when it comes to Oscar T is feel bad that he ain't got better teammates around him and a better coach. He deserves better. Just like Chuck Hayes did.

 

[BBUK_anon]

How the hell do you bench a dude averaging 13.3 rebounds per game along with 15.5 points?! Seriously, how do you come up with that kind of stuff?

No one, none posting even mention his "knee" surgery. Fully healed? Nope, no...

Twisting and cutting/ turning hard on defense....nah. He should be playing all out...yeah, right...

 

[megablue]

Hard to answer but what is our record if Oscar doesn’t come back this year? Probably slightly above .500 at best. We just don’t have consistent enough guard play that would’ve got us over the hump in tight games while Collins and Onyenso developed and had growing pains along the way. Guess you could make the argument that making Oscar the vocal point has had a negative impact on the team but just don’t think the pieces were there this year specifically.

No Oscar, we probably have Johni Broome.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

Will Oscar be able to play in the league or will be have to go to Europe?

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

The fact that Calipari has no idea how to make Oscar more effective this year is confusing, maddening, and depressing at the same time. I mean FFS

It really is, I don’t buy that Oscar was the NPOY and still puts up great numbers most games but can’t be effective. Like what is Cal doing. Him forcing Oscar in bad situations makes it even worse.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

No one, none posting even mention his "knee" surgery. Fully healed? Nope, no...

Twisting and cutting/ turning hard on defense....nah. He should be playing all out...yeah, right...

I don’t think so either, he was out longer than expected and while never explosive he was serviceable and has lost a step and some jump.

 

[catzfanjim]

No one, none posting even mention his "knee" surgery. Fully healed? Nope, no...

Twisting and cutting/ turning hard on defense....nah. He should be playing all out...yeah, right...

Cal said it was a simple procedure to clean some things up and Cal never lies unless his mouth is moving.

 

[HenryMuto]

How the mighty have fallen. Everyone loved Oscar last year and he was player of the year and now people want him benched.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Benching and reducing PT are two entirely different scenarios. Oscar doesn’t need 38 minutes per game. Reduce his minutes to around 30, let him play harder not worrying about picking up fouls. Realize his limitations and when the opponent has a great inside player with length know you’re not just going to force feed Oscar as he has trouble scoring over length. I mean this isn’t that hard, it’s situational basketball and adjusting on the fly, it’s actually what coaches are supposed to do.

Cal adjusting on the fly?!

 

[IUfanBorden]

I'm playing Oscar 40 minutes a game if I can.
He came back. .

Nobody ever does that for us. Zero players. Respect that and keep him in the game.
I don't care if he can guard or can't guard. Rebound the ball Oscar. Damn everything else.


The only thing Kentucky fan should do when it comes to Oscar T is feel bad that he ain't got better teammates around him and a better coach. He deserves better. Just like Chuck Hayes did.

I love Oscar....But lets be real here----Where was he going to go? With NIL, coming back was really the only choice he had.

 

[James Arington]

Cal did it with Toppin and that flipped a switch in him and Toppin has been playing really well lately. I think Cal needs to do the same with Oscar and start Collins. Oscar has limitations that just hurt this team, especially defensively. Collins brings that energy and defensive ability that Cal teams usually have. Players have the adjust their shots when Collins is in the game bc of his length and that's the polar opposite of Oscar. Collins tries to dunk on everyone and I love it. I want nothing but the best for that kid.

I'd love if Cal would play Oscar 25-28 minutes a game and give Collins 10-15 and see what happens.

Are you nuts?

 

[WE WANT RICK!!!]

How about playing Oneyenso or Collins at the 5 and Oscar at the 4? I mean take some pressure off oscar get a guy at center who can stay at home and rim protect. Play the rock fight like he does instead of uptempo nba no defense style ?

I totally agree been screaming it all season

 

[rabbitTown]

CCC can't get the top class of freshman if he isn't sending guys to the NBA. And he lives for that top class of freshmen.
Freshmen don't care about winning national championships. Freshman don't care about the college. They go to. Freshman, only want to live the dream they've had since they were a little kid, to play in the NBA.
Case in point, why would we have the current top class w/ our recent lack of winning success... Freshmen aren't coming to win games.
CCC will showcase them at the cost of us winning games. That is why Oscar will continue to get major minutes. (I realize he's not a freshman but same idea).

 

[jc2010]

Hard to answer but what is our record if Oscar doesn’t come back this year? Probably slightly above .500 at best. We just don’t have consistent enough guard play that would’ve got us over the hump in tight games while Collins and Onyenso developed and had growing pains along the way. Guess you could make the argument that making Oscar the vocal point has had a negative impact on the team but just don’t think the pieces were there this year specifically.

What's our record if Reeves and Fredrick shoot the ball like expected?

 

[rabbitTown]

*** meets bench.... Bench retains ***... *** transmits signal to brain... Brain transmits signal to body.. Body gets *** off bench and plays better.
- BK, on the the greatest motivator

 

[AllBall]

Wow, benching Oscar where does these people come from?

Check our opponents pick n roll numbers. They are killing us with Oscar defending at the top of the key. Besides that he's limited offensively, and playing against physically bigger competition is making it even more difficult.

Last year he outran people in transition for easy baskets. This year that isn't happening and he's become a focal point for opposing defenses.

We need rim protection if Cal insist on playing man to man.

 

[KentuckyMildCats]

no but his minutes need to be reduced for sure, especially if Collins can keep it up

 

[ConnorR]

Wow, benching Oscar where does these people come from?

He cannot guard a pole and cannot score over length. That's not an opinion, that's a cold hard fact. No saying bench him rest of season. One game to send a message like Cal did with Toppin.

 

[Randy Bob]

He cannot guard a pole and cannot score over length. That's not an opinion, that's a cold hard fact. No saying bench him rest of season. One game to send a message like Cal did with Toppin.

Oscar is average double double if he has a bad game people are ready to bench him.

 

[Blue Bigfoot]

Oscar doesn't need to be benched. We just need a coach who recognizes match up issues and that a 6' 8" Oscar isn't a one size fits all.

 

[Blue Bigfoot]

He cannot guard a pole and cannot score over length. That's not an opinion, that's a cold hard fact. No saying bench him rest of season. One game to send a message like Cal did with Toppin.

Huge difference. One is a motivation effort issue. One is not. Is Oscar supposed to grow 3 inches and get lateral quickness on the bench?