hate to tell the Debbie downers, but I think this team is going to be a contender this year. I can see small improvements each game. The biggest positive of this team is the attitudes of each player. They truly want to be better. Washington/Richards/SKJ will be hard to keep off the glass in the near future. I believe Knox and green will become go to scorers when we need it.
Just wanted to throw out some positive vibes in the midst of all the negative nancies
You know I think highly of you my friend, but on this we will have to agree to disagree.
I know Cal's teams improve as the season progresses but, IMO, we don't have a "team" as much as we have a collection of athletes, most of whom can't shoot a lick. (I'm looking at you Diallo). P.J acts like he'd rather be anywhere than on a basketball court, that's the impression I get by watching him. I know we've made fun of a few certain posters here about the need for shooters, but in this case, with this team, they're right, again, IMHO. The name of the game is to put the ball through the basket, period, and we just don't have those type of guys, sans maybe Knox and Greene at this point. Vanderbilt when he returns perhaps?
We seem far too disjointed than would normally be expected of any team, even at this early stage. Cal can't teach anything but the most basic of plays to them because they ARE so young and he doesn't want to overwhelm them. I get that, I do, but having at least a few juniors or seniors is, again...IMO, a must if you're going to rely on a bevy of 18 year olds to carry the lions share of the team.
To me our biggest flaw is the obvious: we're nothing but freshmen who aren't far out of high school. Why do you think the analysts, at least the ones I've heard, say the very same thing? We have no upperclassmen who have played at this level, who have developed and grown, who know what's expected of them and, most importantly perhaps, how to lead the youngsters.
I'm never one to be "down" on any UK team in my 55 years, but this one, at least to me, just simply doesn't have the necessary pieces to be a very good, to great team.....but I hope like hell they prove me wrong; I'll GLADLY eat crow, lol. I fully realize I may be overreacting, and I truly hope that the discombobulated looking team I see now improves to the point they can compete for a title. As of right now, I just don't think we have the "formula" to be that team, but I pray like hell they prove me and others wrong and make a deep run in March.
Peace, WW.
