Why was Skal not effective?
- Thread starter CATonFIRE
- Start date
If Dakari comes back and Skal isn't needed to play in the post and him being able to rebound crucial, I believe Skal's experience is much more positive in UK fan's eyes.
Cal wanted him in the low post and college players were easily pushing him aside. Cal lost confidence in him. Skal lost confidence in himself.
He was way to weak his one year of College ball. There was no fight in him. I also think NBA regular season defense is pathetic for the most part on a nightly basis. Watch regular season games and unless it's a marquee matchup the intensity isn't there.
He didn't play organized basketball for almost 2 years and he was a lot more raw than other players with similar rankings. His HS ranking and draft position were based entirely off potential. Now that he can focus full-time on that and because of the long *** NBA season to adjust, he is finally showing the skills most people always new he possessed.
Only one word and I'm gonna spell it out..... S-A-W-F-T....
Skilled but wasn't physically or mentally ready for the college game.... My 2 cents.
Would have loved to see him develop over a few seasons at UK.
Skilled but wasn't physically or mentally ready for the college game.... My 2 cents.
Would have loved to see him develop over a few seasons at UK.
For a board that rarely allows for room the idea that Cal makes some big mistakes, this thread will be full of "out of position" post.
Skal couldn't play anywhere here. He was God awful in most aspects. Moving him around wouldn't have done much. I guess he would have hit a few shots.
Cal tried to make the game as simple as possible for Skal here, trying to turn him into Marc Gasol wouldn't have helped contrary to popular opinion. It would have killed UK actually. Skal couldn't hardly rebound in position, move him away from the goal constantly and it would have been even worse.
Skal couldn't play anywhere here. He was God awful in most aspects. Moving him around wouldn't have done much. I guess he would have hit a few shots.
Cal tried to make the game as simple as possible for Skal here, trying to turn him into Marc Gasol wouldn't have helped contrary to popular opinion. It would have killed UK actually. Skal couldn't hardly rebound in position, move him away from the goal constantly and it would have been even worse.
There aren't enough Pop Tarts in the world
college game sucks but each kid is on their own path. some kid it just takes longer and skal didnt play much basketball in a few years and just couldnt get up to speed in time to help to win games. it is what it is.
going to be the steal of the draft, kid has major skills.
sadly this will be a reoccurring topic on this board for a long time especially if he continues to have success. fans will just continue to blame him and cal.
going to be the steal of the draft, kid has major skills.
sadly this will be a reoccurring topic on this board for a long time especially if he continues to have success. fans will just continue to blame him and cal.
Confidence, very soft, and we wanted him banging down in the paint and getting rebounds. Something he just couldn't get the grasp of here. But when you have a 7 footer on the floor he needs to get some freaking rebounds.
Point #2 by the OP seems pretty valid. The college game is congested, and certain guys seem to have issues with it. Poythress was pretty similar to Skal in that he often seemed hesitant when he was in a crowd.
I'll still never understand why Skal was such a terrible rebounder, though. How many times did he just seem glued to the floor while an offensive player went right past him to snag a board?
I'll still never understand why Skal was such a terrible rebounder, though. How many times did he just seem glued to the floor while an offensive player went right past him to snag a board?
He wasn't used correctly here. Cal didn't have the luxery to play him off the block. And history with Cal, he's able to make all bigs a back to the basket player i.e Karl Towns.
Skal has gotten to the NBA and has been used correctly and his confidence has soared. Cal has admitted he used him incorrectly here.
Skal has gotten to the NBA and has been used correctly and his confidence has soared. Cal has admitted he used him incorrectly here.
Plus they don't call fouls for blinking in the NBA. That shuts a lot of good college players down. They foul, they get yelled at, they get benched and then they play tender, limp wristed flower sniffing ball from then on.
Because he was 6'11 and couldn't outrebound our 5'8 point guard
He wasn't misused. Cal was doing what he does - trying to force a young player to be what he has to be in order to be his best. Skal was just too timid, weak and inexperienced to be what he needed to be in just one year. Until he developed the ability to rebound and hold position, he was never going to be of great value.
He was very green and weak and not ready for prime time. As someone else said it was all about his potential and he definitely has potential in the NBA given time. One year at UK was not even near enough for him to contribute. But that's what Cal does so that's the way it's going to be.
Soft as cotton.
I think Cal said it best on the 30 for 30...Screaming at Skal saying you don't rebound cause you don't give an ish about winning!
I always got the impression that Skals timidness was intentional. Sorta like he played in order not to get hurt all year with such half *** effort. Never bought into the whole he just wasn't ready idea...
Take the last LSU game for example...dude looked like a first team all American out there with all those scouts in attendance to see Ben Simmons. Now he's doing well the league etc...Cal is great motivator, but for some...only money will do.
Another player that held Cal hostage imo.
I think Cal said it best on the 30 for 30...Screaming at Skal saying you don't rebound cause you don't give an ish about winning!
I always got the impression that Skals timidness was intentional. Sorta like he played in order not to get hurt all year with such half *** effort. Never bought into the whole he just wasn't ready idea...
Take the last LSU game for example...dude looked like a first team all American out there with all those scouts in attendance to see Ben Simmons. Now he's doing well the league etc...Cal is great motivator, but for some...only money will do.
Another player that held Cal hostage imo.
Last edited:
Cal only said that pre draft for Skals benefit. Cals been doing this a long time. He saw him everyday...he didnt all of sudden at seasons end have this epiphany and decide he misused him all along, he knew what he was doing with Skal...he was leading a horse to water that just wouldnt drink.
This is correct. Move Skal away from the basket, and now you have a wing player that can't make threes, dribble, pass, or guard the position.
It all boiled down to his utter unreliability in snagging defensive rebounds. He was effectively a ghost on that glass. Offensive players and the ball passed right through him. If he rebounded as well as Willis on that end, he would have been a decent player.
Hadn't learned the game yet...hadnt developed completely. Not everyone is ready to blow it out immediately...thats why the nba drafts on potential
We tried to play him in the post when he was a jump shooter. Also wasn't strong enough to rebound or defend in the post.
I don't agree with what you say about him not movitivated and timid, but I agree with you on the rest of your post.
1. He's a role player with the combination of size and skill that the NBA is looking for - a big that can shoot and block shots. That inflates his stock, but 2. He was not that good, in part because he was raw. 3. Sort of related to 1, but he fits better in the NBA than in college, where a guy like Kennedy Meeks can dominate (college is more physical, less athletic, and far less skilled on the inside, hence bigger guys like Meeks, Sullinger, Sean Mays, etc... take over).