Richards is a 7 foot big man with lots of potential. I can see why Cal went in that direction. if Richards could have turned a corner we would have been in the final four.
Skj transferrin
- Thread starter WCS15UK
- Start date
Richards is a 7 foot big man with lots of potential. I can see why Cal went in that direction. if Richards could have turned a corner we would have been in the final four.
I'm in agreement that Sacha was somewhat overhyped here, though I obviously wanted him back. More players, more experience is always a good thing. But people kept declaring him obviously better than Richards, despite producing at a significantly lower level then Richards with similar playing time. Richards was bashed for being turnover and foul prone (which he is) but Sacha turned it over and fouled MORE frequently. Richards rebounded better. Richards could actually hit free throws. I'm not sure what Cal should have done to keep SKJ - he gave him equal PT as our other big man who produced more points/rebounds/blocks in similar time. I guess he could have stopped recruiting?
Best wishes to Sacha. I wanted to see what you could do here in the next couple years, but it's entirely possible, maybe likely, he'd have stayed at his ~15 mpg and never really broke out. Hopefully none of our other front court players leave - SKJ would have ranked last on my list of priorities to return.
Best wishes to Sacha. I wanted to see what you could do here in the next couple years, but it's entirely possible, maybe likely, he'd have stayed at his ~15 mpg and never really broke out. Hopefully none of our other front court players leave - SKJ would have ranked last on my list of priorities to return.
Fair enough and I wasn't actually questioning his fandom as I can tell he is passionate. Just hope when we are succeeding he is giving props as well.
I dont mind EVERY player being over recruited, I'd like to have seen SKJ improve over the summer and fight for that Center spot. Give me a solid 7 footer over a 6'7 guy any day.
Alas, it wasnt in him.
Back when playing time was brought up to Cal in February
"“So, again, this team, I love the fact -- PJ didn’t care that he’s not starting. Hasn’t said one word, and he’s playing his best right now. I didn’t start Wenyen in the second half, he didn’t say anything. These guys are all right now bought into what we have to do. We’ve got a couple guys thinking they should play more. But look at the guy in front of you. If I really think that, I’ll say who do you think you should be playing in front of? Tell him to his face, and that dude would probably laugh at him. You’re out of your mind. Lucky you played at all.""
Think he was referencing SKJ?
"“So, again, this team, I love the fact -- PJ didn’t care that he’s not starting. Hasn’t said one word, and he’s playing his best right now. I didn’t start Wenyen in the second half, he didn’t say anything. These guys are all right now bought into what we have to do. We’ve got a couple guys thinking they should play more. But look at the guy in front of you. If I really think that, I’ll say who do you think you should be playing in front of? Tell him to his face, and that dude would probably laugh at him. You’re out of your mind. Lucky you played at all.""
Think he was referencing SKJ?
"If". Did you see any sign of improvement? Any? I sure didn't.
i think the shock is that coming in most thought SKJ would be a pick and pop guy that could make 12-15 jump shots. just never happened. really like the kid, wish he stayed. gave us a spark at times.
i'd take richards too. has too much upside. but now its on him to develop it.
Why would Wenyan want to go to Gatlinburg.
Quit playing freshman ahead of soph's that dont deserve it ????
Thats not fair.
I mean how could you tell? He dropped every pass and rebound he put his hands on, we will never know what he could have been last season....
HOLD ON TO THE DANM BALL SON!!!!!!!!
sorry about that rant.... damn flashbacks...
The frustration from Richards starting despite poor played created a blind spot regarding SKJ's performance. SKJ was generally given benefit of the doubt because he wasn't bestowed with the title of "starter."
If Cal thinks the frosh is more talented and will help more in March that aint happening.
Regardless if we like it or not.
Apparently Richards potential was much greater than the little bit SKJ had on him....?
It's a fair point. But I'm just saying I know why Cal went in that direction. We got beat as soon as we faced a decent team because we had no JV and no NR. We depended on SKJ to play a lot of those minutes. And we flamed out.
He's simply not that good, at all. He's been at UK a while and little changed.
He's been recruited over. I'll take the better player.
I'm all for returnees and guys sticking around, but SKJ is what he is. I'm not at all concerned with him.
@gracetoyou I have a feeling too many people skipped over your link. I think it clears up a lot of misconception on the Richards/SKJ debate.
We'll be fine without Junior SKJ.
We'll be fine without Junior SKJ.
So Wynyard, SKJ, Knox gone. That’s three. Likely SGA tonight for four
Washington (soft declared), Vanderbilt, Gabriel, Green the next question marks.
Really expect Richards to be here next year.
We replace three with Quickley, Johnson, Herro, and Montgomery so we can “absorb” one more among those listed above. Add in Hagans and we have two we “can lose”.... and I would expect we will since I’m counting SGA in that who is a sure bet.
It’s all starting to take some shape expect for the PF position
Washington (soft declared), Vanderbilt, Gabriel, Green the next question marks.
Really expect Richards to be here next year.
We replace three with Quickley, Johnson, Herro, and Montgomery so we can “absorb” one more among those listed above. Add in Hagans and we have two we “can lose”.... and I would expect we will since I’m counting SGA in that who is a sure bet.
It’s all starting to take some shape expect for the PF position
Let's all be honest for a moment.
Richards started for one reason and one reason only.
The same reason Dakari started over WCS in 2014.
Cal wanted/hell he needed a starting five of all freshmen to win it all and to shut everybody up.
All a ploy by Cal to aid in recruiting and boost his legacy that much more.
Last edited:
Pretty much.....SKJ averaged 3 points and 3 boards in 13.7 minutes. He shot 58% from the field, 56% from the line, had 19 blocks, 8 assists, 7 steals, 23 turnovers and committed 72 fouls.
He competes for PT with Richards, who.....averaged 5 points and 4 boards in 14.7 minutes. He shot 62% from the field and 72% from the line, had 33 blocks, 9 assists, 3 steals, 26 turnovers and committed 76 fouls.
Yet there are people here who act as though we've lost a key cog. I wish SKJ the best, but people need to really get a grip. [laughing]
I agree with your point. Just not convinced NR will be anything better than what SKJ was giving us with far fewer min.
Damn, it's been a long time since there were 6 pages on a thread before I even read the first post.
I'd prefer a solid SKJ over PJ at the 5 is what I meant, didnt come across very well, but I'm a little slow...
Just couldnt get SKJ to be solid enough.
Here's my first thought on this just from a fan of the basketball program. I'm not a fan of quitters. SKJ, you really had a chance to make a name for yourself next season. Now, you tuck tail and run.
Here's my thoughts on this from a basketball perspective for him. This is a great move. This is the, basically, redshirt year that he desperately needs. He can now work on his body. This kid greatly lacks strength. He can use this time to work strictly on gaining 10-15-20 pounds of muscle. I disagree that he doesn't have the talent to be here. It's the physical nature of the game he needs to address. If he doesn't start to do it during this next year, he will never realize his potential.
Here's my thoughts on this from a basketball perspective for him. This is a great move. This is the, basically, redshirt year that he desperately needs. He can now work on his body. This kid greatly lacks strength. He can use this time to work strictly on gaining 10-15-20 pounds of muscle. I disagree that he doesn't have the talent to be here. It's the physical nature of the game he needs to address. If he doesn't start to do it during this next year, he will never realize his potential.
His name said Grafenburg. Small town in Shelby County beside me in Waddy. Get it right.
Best lineup will probably be with Vanderbilt at center like it was last year, at least that’s what I hope we do.
[roll]
I wish SKJ had stayed but he had done nothing until the SECT to justify more pt. If he was getting it done in practice, Cal would have play him. And SKJ is one example.
Maybe you've never played sports before. Everyone wants to be a starter. Coaches however BS everyone who comes off the bench into thinking that they are the 6th man starter...or that the 9th batter is just the additional leadoff batter or countless other coach-speak nonsense to make the reserves feel good about not starting.
Certainly we can all say...it aint who starts...its who finishes.... But that is game to game dependent on a lot of factors. At least, in this case, Richards started over a couple guys who were better than he is. Wenyan Gabriel first of all and then at times SKJ. Richards started IMO in order to create the youngest starting lineup in the country and to create that narrative. That narrative feeds the exit door too when you are a lightly used soph.
Agree. Don't expect a true 5 to start next year. IMO, we will play an extremely fast up and down pace.
I've got news for you. If you are playing any sport at the college level, coaches are always trying to recruit over you. If they aren't, they are on their way to being fired.
Trying to. I have hope, but was his progress was less than inspiring.
I'm always there bro, through the good and not so good. GBB!
Hard to decipher... so you're asking if this should be a positive stance for our players to take?
And fans need to realize kids want to play and if there is another place for them to play more then it makes sense to transfer. Seems to have worked out nicely for Mitchell and Wiltjer. Like Cal said “UK isn’t for everyone. THat doesn’t apply for just those who don’t pick UK
Wasn't questioning your fandom at all. Hope I didn't come across that way. Just questioning your take, which is why we are all here lol.
Hope Cal brings in Carey or Wiseman .
Don't really care too much about SKJ leaving.
Dude's efficiency dropped like mofo after his freshman year. He obviously didn't put his time in the gym and get better .
Btw NR's Per was almost 20 and SKJ was almost 13.
Don't really care too much about SKJ leaving.
Dude's efficiency dropped like mofo after his freshman year. He obviously didn't put his time in the gym and get better .
Btw NR's Per was almost 20 and SKJ was almost 13.