The roster is set!
- Thread starter bucsrule8872
- Start date
Cal tends to go 8-9 guys and it’s hard to see Allen getting much PT at the 2 and 3 spots with Mintz, Grady, and Fredrick there. Their experience alone will be make it hard to keep them off the floor. I also think Washington is going to play off the ball at times.
Allen is a shooter, but so are all those other guys and they can do other things. I really like Allen (he’s a Kentucky boy after all), but those guys in front of him are really good and experienced. Just look at those guys:
Mintz- 122 games, 100 starts
Grady- 115 games, 113 starts
Fredrick- 52 games, 52 starts
It is going to be tough for Allen (22 games, 1 start) to stay in the rotation with those guys around.
I wouldn't be surprised if Brooks is the 21/22 version of 18/19 PJ Washington. This is year #3 for him and he certainly has the athletesism to pull it off. If he does, our frontcourt is going to be in great shape.
As far as Kofi, I will not play the "I told you so" game there, I understand why Cal didn’t land him. He just wasn't a good fit and Cal can't assume Oscar will get hurt.
Kofi runs the court better than most bigs. Still need someone to rebound the 60-65% misses on threes.
I understand the concern of not having a can’t miss elite talent, but at the same time there are four or five guys on this team who I know can play like all conference players (Wheeler, Fredrick, Grady, Brooks, Tshiebwe) and at least two others with strong potential to have that kind of performance this year (Washington, Toppin). And that leaves unmentioned a sixth year point guard who can shoot 38% from three (Mintz), another 40% three point shooter (Allen), and the maybe the best pro prospect on the roster (Collins).
If this team can play defense, it’s going to have a very high floor.
I get it, but how is he going to play Tshweibe, Collins, Toppin, Ware, Brooks, Hopkins AND Cockburn when the thought is that he is moving to a 4-out-one-in style offense? It’s already going to be extremely difficult to find pt for all the front court guys.
Not to mention, Kofi was an extremely bad fit and I'm not even talking about his lack of shooting from 8' and out, no, I'm talking about the simple fact that he already convinced Hopkins, Collins and Oscar to come to UK and convinced Brooks, Toppin and Ware to return. All that was done with the thought that nobody else was coming in to steal minutes. It’s already hard enough to please today’s players.
There was no way two A players (Oscar and Kofi) were going to be happy splitting time at UK. Cal talks about the reasons why he will never platoon again, well, that's the main reason.
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We’ve all said we like the roster as it allows up to play a more open offense like we’ve been begging for for 5 years. Adding Kofi or Duren would’ve given us another big for a 2 post player offense that none of us want. Duren is a freshman that would’ve joined the middle of august and thrown a lot of the chemistry off and given him a steep learning curve anyway. I just don’t see the dramatic doomsday posts with these guys not coming aboard
I really like the experience on this team, even though most of these guys played at another school, the experience will still be helpful. Look at the experience:
Mintz- 122 games, 100 starts
Grady- 115 games, 113 starts
Wheeler- 57 games, 43 starts
Toppin- 54 games, 5 starts
Fredrick- 52 games, 52 starts
Brooks- 47 games, 9 starts
Tshiebwe- 41 games, 41 starts
Allen- 22 games, 1 start
Ware- 21 games, 3 starts
Total- 531 games, 367 starts.
That’s a lot of games played and a lot of games started. Probably the most for a Cal team since he came to UK.
The key is chemistry. Can these guys gel together into a unit? That remains to be seen.
Mintz- 122 games, 100 starts
Grady- 115 games, 113 starts
Wheeler- 57 games, 43 starts
Toppin- 54 games, 5 starts
Fredrick- 52 games, 52 starts
Brooks- 47 games, 9 starts
Tshiebwe- 41 games, 41 starts
Allen- 22 games, 1 start
Ware- 21 games, 3 starts
Total- 531 games, 367 starts.
That’s a lot of games played and a lot of games started. Probably the most for a Cal team since he came to UK.
The key is chemistry. Can these guys gel together into a unit? That remains to be seen.
He does not look like a 5. But it's par for the course that we have players in roles that don't fit them.
6’9, 210 lbs. That’s pretty typical for a college 5. Anywhere from 6’8-6’11 and 210-240 lbs.
5’s do not have to always be back to the basket, can’t score outside of 5’ from the rim type players. They don’t have to be bruisers (look at AD and Noel in college).
Now, would he be better suited at the 4? Definitely.
Can he play 10-15 minutes as the backup 5? I think so.
Remember, this is not a Labissierre situation where there is really no other option at the 5. The kid just needs to be able to play 10-15 minutes a game inside. Tshiebwe will be our starter at the 5, barring injury.