What we know...

[brianpoe]

Most posters are terrible preseason NBA draft forecasters.

Quade is terrible on defense.
SGA is terrible on offense.

PJ Washington is doubled every possession for a reason.

Richards is kind of lost and too soft at times.

SJK played well but weak hands cost us on the brilliant behind the backboard shot Knox took (Larry Bird he is not)

Knox cannot be just a jump shooter, he must drive the lane.

Diallo does not have the confidence or skill level to be a killer at this time (I hope it is confidence, the game was there for the taking)

We don't have a go-to scorer other than Knox.


Tai kept Azibuike off the glass.

We have enough raw talent to play with anyone if this crap Kansas team is #4 in the country.


Most of our issues are fixable, the question is: "Is the season long enough to get it right?"

How much runway will it take?

Not a terrible loss by no means, but so many wasted opportunities.

 

[railroadkat_1]

Agree Brian!

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

This team will ultimately live and die with Green running the show and getting better defensively.

 

[bookerfan66]

I think this will be a sweet 16 team.

 

[kyjeff1]

We need a point guard and we need an offensive identity, something other than standing around and passing the ball around the horn.
It's understandable though, Cal has had to work solely on defense. Glad he did, it's getting better.

 

[stuway]

Defense is already there if we get up for the game and play with intensity as we fid tonight.

Plenty of time for the offense to improve and roles to be figured out.

We made a ton of freshman mistakes in regards to turnovers and stupid fouls. That will get cleaned up as the season progresses.

IMO we are right there in March. I sae plenty tonight and am very happy.

 

[Schwagg]

KU is Iowa State with paid refs.

 

[Shaudylo]

We must do a better job on the defensive boards

 

[Dablueman]

Most posters are terrible preseason NBA draft forecasters.

Quade is terrible on defense.
SGA is terrible on offense.

PJ Washington is doubled every possession for a reason.

Richards is kind of lost and too soft at times.

SJK played well but weak hands cost us on the brilliant behind the backboard shot knox took (Larry Bird he is not)

Knox cannot be just a jump shooter, he must drive the lane.

Diallo does not have the confidence or skill level to be a killer at this time (I hope it is confidence, the game was there for the taking)

We don't have a go-to scorer other than Knox.


Tai kept Azibuike off the glass.

We have enough raw talent to play with anyone if this crap Kansas team is #4 in the country.


Most of our issues are fixable, the question is: "Is the season long enough to get it right?"

How much runway will it take?

Not a terrible loss by no means, but so many wasted opportunities.

Yep will point out do not underestimate the impact Vanderbilt will have. I think even Barker will give this team another element late in the season. Very much satisfied that this team will compete in March and is coachable they improve more game to game then any Cal team I have seen maybe this so called lack of stars means less ego more coachable.

Got to admit I kept thinking Cal was going to go zone just out of the blue on Kansas when we got the lead. I think we shock them take away azabuike protect our foul trouble maybe get some steals and transition buckets. We scared Cal in the first half. No way was he going to zone when we couldn't rebound man to man vs one big. the man to man was improved and eventually I think it will be devastating.

 

[Untouchables22]

Most posters are terrible preseason NBA draft forecasters.

Quade is terrible on defense.
SGA is terrible on offense.

PJ Washington is doubled every possession for a reason.

Richards is kind of lost and too soft at times.

SJK played well but weak hands cost us on the brilliant behind the backboard shot Knox took (Larry Bird he is not)

Knox cannot be just a jump shooter, he must drive the lane.

Diallo does not have the confidence or skill level to be a killer at this time (I hope it is confidence, the game was there for the taking)

We don't have a go-to scorer other than Knox.


Tai kept Azibuike off the glass.

We have enough raw talent to play with anyone if this crap Kansas team is #4 in the country.


Most of our issues are fixable, the question is: "Is the season long enough to get it right?"

How much runway will it take?

Not a terrible loss by no means, but so many wasted opportunities.

Spot on analysis...here is another one...will we seriously press once Vanderbilt comes back? The team is custom made to be a pressing team just not Cal's preferred playing style.

 

[docholiday51]

Most posters are terrible preseason NBA draft forecasters.

Quade is terrible on defense.
SGA is terrible on offense.

PJ Washington is doubled every possession for a reason.

Richards is kind of lost and too soft at times.

SJK played well but weak hands cost us on the brilliant behind the backboard shot Knox took (Larry Bird he is not)

Knox cannot be just a jump shooter, he must drive the lane.

Diallo does not have the confidence or skill level to be a killer at this time (I hope it is confidence, the game was there for the taking)

We don't have a go-to scorer other than Knox.


Tai kept Azibuike off the glass.

We have enough raw talent to play with anyone if this crap Kansas team is #4 in the country.


Most of our issues are fixable, the question is: "Is the season long enough to get it right?"

How much runway will it take?

Not a terrible loss by no means, but so many wasted opportunities.

You hit a lot of good points here, some of my thoughts ;

Wynyard has value for this team

I hope SKJ can continue to play with this type of effort

Green has to get better

Richards needs work but has talent to be very good,he needs to be around next year

We aren't getting enough out of Washington

Knox is the best offensive weapon we have

Vanderbilt can't get back soon enough

I see why Diallo is here and not in the NBA ( no I don't dislike the kid but he is where he needs to be.

From a team standpoint we currently have 9 guys that are somewhat interchangeable and bring something to the table.Where we go from here and how good we can be is up to the kids and how much they buy in to the team concept,the us against the world idea and how much they want it and how hard they are willing to work.

They will be aggravating as hell but fun to watch,wins and losses don't really matter to me at this point because I can already see that college basketball doesn't matter to me at all.I'm a Cat fan and that is it

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

Honestly, for this group to be in this game and have a shot to win it, speaks volumes to the coaching job Cal is doing right now. This was a big stage for these kids.
UK basically got nothing for PJ, Gabriel, and SGA at all and still had their chances. KU has a lot of experience and talent.
Way too many turnovers. Poor rebounding. SGA would not shoot for some reason. Neither PG looked good most of the game.
Richards and SKJ have to knock down that FT line jumper. Teams will give it to them all year long. SKJ has to make FT's. Good grief.
Diallo looks out of control most of the time. Gabriel disappeared. Richards just needs to rebound and defend until he can get resemblance of a post game. SKJ needs to man up and finish around the basket.
With all that said. These young freshman took the #3 team to the wire in only their 3rd college game. Lots to learn but I'm actually encouraged, because I thought this game could have been real ugly score wise.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

We all thought the game would be ugly. And it was. KU actually played worse than the Cats. Game could have gone either way.

Neither of these teams is a threat to do much in March. JV will help and maybe Preston for them.

The Cats don't have but one true offensive threat and there's not a single player who can turn his man on defense. These are not lack of experience issues.

 

[Blueflamethrower]

I think you can safely say Kentucky will be better than Kansas by years end. Not sure if that’s saying by much or even enough. I don’t know Preston’s game and what he could have contributed but what was played tonight was thoroughly unimpressive. Alonzo Trier and Allen are going to drive their respective teams a bit further I think this year. They are both going off and have plenty of length and athleticism around them. Those will be 2 of the final four teams, just don’t know the rest.

 

[Cats192]

We need a point guard and we need an offensive identity, something other than standing around and passing the ball around the horn.
It's understandable though, Cal has had to work solely on defense. Glad he did, it's getting better.

This. No offensive identity.

 

[Apoxie]

This team will ultimately live and die with Green running the show and getting better defensively.

Died at the end with Alexander running it.

 

[morgousky]

Too many possessions for Alexander right now. Rein him in.

Green must be the pg. I don't know why so many thought Alexander to begin with, Green is the pg.

Our bigs have to find a way to control the paint. Basic stuff.

Agree on Knox needing to hit the lane. Not sure he can until defenses are respecting others. If I were opposing coaches I wouldnt even guard Diallo on the perimeter.

Diallo is self explanatory.

We might be mega loaded next season. There's no way anyone minus Knox can leave as it stands.

 

[Bluegrassking]

Too many possessions for Alexander right now. Rein him in.

Green must be the pg. I don't know why so many thought Alexander to begin with, Green is the pg.

Our bigs have to find a way to control the paint. Basic stuff.

Agree on Knox needing to hit the lane. Not sure he can until defenses are respecting others. If I were opposing coaches I wouldnt even guard Diallo on the perimeter.

Diallo is self explanatory.

We might be mega loaded next season. There's no way anyone minus Knox can leave as it stands.

I have no clue what you were watching. Green puts ZERO pressure on the defense, can't get into the lane, can't create for anyone, can't dictate pace other than to pound the ball, and can't stay in front of anyone at this point. He has the instincts that SGA lacks and a shot but right now it isn't translating to this level.

If Washington wasn't turning over the ball and failing to scrap and hustle I'd say Green is playing the worst and Washington's issues seem much more likely to be correctable in the context of this season.
Maybe the light bulb turns on but I'm afraid it might take a couple years for Green to become crafty enough to overcome his physical limitations.

Honestly, I wish Briscoe had hung around another year. He would be head, shoulders, and torso ahead of our current options running the team.

We need Vanderbilt to help with playmaking badly and take the pressure off SGA so he can play without having to think so much.

 

[AndreHoldingMyRearend]

Most posters are terrible preseason NBA draft forecasters.

Quade is terrible on defense.
SGA is terrible on offense.

PJ Washington is doubled every possession for a reason.

Richards is kind of lost and too soft at times.

SJK played well but weak hands cost us on the brilliant behind the backboard shot Knox took (Larry Bird he is not)

Knox cannot be just a jump shooter, he must drive the lane.

Diallo does not have the confidence or skill level to be a killer at this time (I hope it is confidence, the game was there for the taking)

We don't have a go-to scorer other than Knox.


Tai kept Azibuike off the glass.

We have enough raw talent to play with anyone if this crap Kansas team is #4 in the country.


Most of our issues are fixable, the question is: "Is the season long enough to get it right?"

How much runway will it take?

Not a terrible loss by no means, but so many wasted opportunities.

I think the additions of Vanderbilt (who I believe is our best player) and baker (our best outside shooter) will fix a lot of these problems come march and make our team the contender people are saying we are not but when we get Vanderbilt and baker back there's no way anyone can convince me this team isn't a title contender and a top 3 team. As is we might not be (tho very well could be considering we'll be a million times better come march), but when Vanderbilt and baker play this team is going to be tough to beat and outside of duke will be the best team in the land. I like this team a lot and at first I thought we might suck this year and be far from a contender. But the more I see them the less I think we'll suck and the more I think a title is within reach especially with Vanderbilt and baker. Vanderbilt is the most versatile player in the country and best offensive rebounder we'll have ever had. And everyone will see that soon enough. He would've been a top 3-5 recruit if not for the injuries. Add him to the lineup and we'll be damn near unstoppable. I truly think with Vanderbilt this team will be a one seed and nasty as all hell.

 

[Dablueman]

We all thought the game would be ugly. And it was. KU actually played worse than the Cats. Game could have gone either way.
Vanderbilt can turn his man. And right now may be the best pg on the team
Neither of these teams is a threat to do much in March. JV will help and maybe Preston for them.

The Cats don't have but one true offensive threat and there's not a single player who can turn his man on defense. These are not lack of experience issues.

 

[kevcat]

Most posters are terrible preseason NBA draft forecasters.

Quade is terrible on defense.
SGA is terrible on offense.

PJ Washington is doubled every possession for a reason.

Richards is kind of lost and too soft at times.

SJK played well but weak hands cost us on the brilliant behind the backboard shot Knox took (Larry Bird he is not)

Knox cannot be just a jump shooter, he must drive the lane.

Diallo does not have the confidence or skill level to be a killer at this time (I hope it is confidence, the game was there for the taking)

We don't have a go-to scorer other than Knox.


Tai kept Azibuike off the glass.

We have enough raw talent to play with anyone if this crap Kansas team is #4 in the country.


Most of our issues are fixable, the question is: "Is the season long enough to get it right?"

How much runway will it take?

Not a terrible loss by no means, but so many wasted opportunities.

Yeah, it's way too early to tell.

Don't get me wrong, it pissed me off something awful when they lost to Kansas, but I'm only 51.
I'll grow up and mature one of these years.

 

[Catman100]

I think the additions of Vanderbilt (who I believe is our best player) and baker (our best outside shooter) will fix a lot of these problems come march and make our team the contender people are saying we are not but when we get Vanderbilt and baker back there's no way anyone can convince me this team isn't a title contender and a top 3 team. As is we might not be (tho very well could be considering we'll be a million times better come march), but when Vanderbilt and baker play this team is going to be tough to beat and outside of duke will be the best team in the land. I like this team a lot and at first I thought we might suck this year and be far from a contender. But the more I see them the less I think we'll suck and the more I think a title is within reach especially with Vanderbilt and baker. Vanderbilt is the most versatile player in the country and best offensive rebounder we'll have ever had. And everyone will see that soon enough. He would've been a top 3-5 recruit if not for the injuries. Add him to the lineup and we'll be damn near unstoppable. I truly think with Vanderbilt this team will be a one seed and nasty as all hell.

Put me in the corner that thinks Baker may not see the floor this year. Knee injury and Cal has a tendency to let players vanish. Will he be so far behind that it doesn't happen for him this year? Mulder barely knew what a rim looked like and he had been here 2 years?

 

[UK2005_24]

Vanderbilt could end up being the point guard by march. .. So many are sleeping on this kids play making skills and the only reason his HS rankings dropped were due to injury...

 

[Cats192]

Vanderbilt could end up being the point guard by march. .. So many are sleeping on this kids play making skills and the only reason his HS rankings dropped were due to injury...

Lol stop.