I’m having a hard time believing we’ll be back in the mix for a national title next season with the way the roster is currently constructed. Why should I get excited?
Why will next year be any different?
- Thread starter willyclyde
- Start date
I’d say let’s see what Cal puts together first. I think he can put together a respectable roster if he can land/add/hold on to the right pieces. It also has a chance to be another underwhelming rendition of what he used to roll out, but neither are conclusive at the moment.
I’m all in on Cal fixing this, but if we don’t add a PG that can truly lead us, we’re in trouble, trouble.
I’m all in on Cal fixing this, but if we don’t add a PG that can truly lead us, we’re in trouble, trouble.
National title contender? I doubt it. It'll definitely be different. I guarantee we win double digit games next year. 
Last edited:
Oscar is gonna rip dudes’ arms off. I’m mostly looking forward to that. May not win many games, but we won’t get bullied in the paint.
don't think it will be much different
probably not a loosing record, but I expect something like 18-12
since they will probably get to play the cupcakes
probably not a loosing record, but I expect something like 18-12
since they will probably get to play the cupcakes
Your question is why will next year be different from this one.
1. We will return at least quadruple the number of players from this year.
2. More than likely the team will have the entire summer to get to know each other and find a rhythm.
3. Hopefully there will be crowds, especially at Rupp. I think fans bring a lot to the game and make it more emotional and eventful.
4. All the players should be vaccinated and able to hang out and actually do fun things and build relationships and team morale.
5. Cal has a huge ego and I think this crap year was a kick in the nuts and a wake-up call to get back to the grind and back to the mountain top. It is too early to know, but this could end up being a huge positive for Cal and UK. A learning experience and a humbling one. I think Cal is pissed and ready to get after it.
6. Cal seemed to change how we played down the stretch by spreading things out and shooting more 3s. He has already gone out and got us a top shooter and seems more worried about guards than any forwards or bigs.
7. We will have a tougher frontcourt with Oscar over Sarr and a better backcourt with Hickman, Grady and hopefully Mintz and more. I don't think it could be worse than this year.
8. Not even counting the new transfers we will be older just alone with Jr. Toppin, Soph Allen, Soph Ware, and hopefully also Jr. Brooks and 6th Sr. Mintz. Either way, we will have a much more mature team that doesn't have to depend on Freshmen for the most part.
I think there is a lot and that is just off the top of my head after reading your comment. I am trying to be positive, not everything is clear, but I do hope the changes are made and we add a few more of the right pcs.
1. We will return at least quadruple the number of players from this year.
2. More than likely the team will have the entire summer to get to know each other and find a rhythm.
3. Hopefully there will be crowds, especially at Rupp. I think fans bring a lot to the game and make it more emotional and eventful.
4. All the players should be vaccinated and able to hang out and actually do fun things and build relationships and team morale.
5. Cal has a huge ego and I think this crap year was a kick in the nuts and a wake-up call to get back to the grind and back to the mountain top. It is too early to know, but this could end up being a huge positive for Cal and UK. A learning experience and a humbling one. I think Cal is pissed and ready to get after it.
6. Cal seemed to change how we played down the stretch by spreading things out and shooting more 3s. He has already gone out and got us a top shooter and seems more worried about guards than any forwards or bigs.
7. We will have a tougher frontcourt with Oscar over Sarr and a better backcourt with Hickman, Grady and hopefully Mintz and more. I don't think it could be worse than this year.
8. Not even counting the new transfers we will be older just alone with Jr. Toppin, Soph Allen, Soph Ware, and hopefully also Jr. Brooks and 6th Sr. Mintz. Either way, we will have a much more mature team that doesn't have to depend on Freshmen for the most part.
I think there is a lot and that is just off the top of my head after reading your comment. I am trying to be positive, not everything is clear, but I do hope the changes are made and we add a few more of the right pcs.
returning players from a horrible is a positive?????
Adding Oscar, big plus only if he gets to touch the ball on offense
Adding a shooting guard in Grady, yes if he can adapt to the SEC athletes
not adding Powell big miss again as the kid is a basketball player which is much needed
Cal's ego......he's always had that ego, but it didn't keep him from playing favorites last
year even though his favorites were terrible
Adding Oscar, big plus only if he gets to touch the ball on offense
Adding a shooting guard in Grady, yes if he can adapt to the SEC athletes
not adding Powell big miss again as the kid is a basketball player which is much needed
Cal's ego......he's always had that ego, but it didn't keep him from playing favorites last
year even though his favorites were terrible
Cupcakes LOL. The SEC is grabbing tons of top transfers and it looks like it will be a tough conference next year. Already we play Dook, @Michigan, ND, UL, UNC, UCLA and I'm sure we will get one of the top teams in the Big 12 challenge like every year. Not sure if it stays Texas or they give us Baylor or KU. I hope we get some cupcakes in there, more than 1 Quad 4 game like this year, but we have some tough games on the schedule already.
Cupcakes are what we want right? All I heard on here was that we lost a bunch of games because we didn't get to play our usual cupcakes at the beginning of the season this year
I can’t imagine it being worse. I still don’t think we’ll be very good but I’m hopeful we at least make the tournament
Returning players for a horrible team is positive. I don't get it. Most on here ***** about player retention. We start getting some back and that's not good. WTF? ****** team this year had a lot to do with PG and when Mintz took over things got a lot better. You telling me you don't like getting back Toppin how wasn't even supposed to play last year but looked like he isn't far off. Allen finished on a high note and can light it up. Ware has a way to go and is a role player but fights whenever he is in there. I'm happy to get them back. Throw in Mintz who balled out to end the year and Brooks who can be a solid player getting a full year and another year.
Not sure what you would want. Blow it all up and bring in an all-new team again just like last year when we started with not a single guy who had played together before. No thanks.
Yeah, I hope we do get some mixed in early between Dook, Michigan and UL. We were like the only team in the country who played only 1 Quad 1 game and that team won their conference. I don't want a crap schedule, but early on I do want them to get some cupcakes to build confidence and find a rhythm. I mean Dook and Michigan are early so not sure how many we can get in before. Dook s Nov. 9th and at Michigan is like 3 weeks later so hopefully squeeze some in there then.
He already has his second foul of the half.
Seriously though, he'll lead the country in fouls. Our bigs always do.
We haven't been in the mix for a N.C. for years and most likely won't be unless Cal makes some changes to his game.
Elite 8 isn't in the mix? That was just the year before they shut down the season for COVID. My how we forget.
How many losing seasons does Cal or UK have? We will never see another year like this past season.
Our 2 biggest recruits were BOTH busts and probably detrimental to the team chemistry. I believe Kentucky would have won more games if Boston were not on the roster.
I like what the staff is doing to put next year's team together. If we can bring in Marcus Carr and bring back Mintz and Jackson, that is a roster capable of winning it all.
Our 2 biggest recruits were BOTH busts and probably detrimental to the team chemistry. I believe Kentucky would have won more games if Boston were not on the roster.
I like what the staff is doing to put next year's team together. If we can bring in Marcus Carr and bring back Mintz and Jackson, that is a roster capable of winning it all.
What does Brooks bring to the table? Seems like another Marcus Lee to me. Athletic, but minimum basketball skills.
Last edited:
If for nothing else and the talent was similar just having practice time and individuals that we did not get this year would make a huge difference. People do not realize I guess but the individual skill training is extremely important for these young recruits. Not to mention the continuity being together and playing pick up games brings.
They'll give us Baylor, we always play the hot program in the SEC/BIG12 challenge
We won’t be s strong contender. But we are bottom barrel, right now. We got nowhere to go but up.
Sadly, I’ll be happy with a top 20 and 2nd weekend.
I think if Brooks committed himself to being a blue collar, hustle guy he could be a big impact player for Kentucky as an upperclassman. He’s not an extremely skilled guy but I think if he stays humble and works hard he can be a key ingredient to a good team. I’ve been clamoring for roster continuity, so it would be pretty hypocritical of me to say I don’t want Brooks back.
That being said, I will be in no way surprised if he either transfers or just leaves. OP counting some chickens here.
Brooks is not a big deal. IMO, veteran leadership would be great and a pinch of continuity...
Mintz is the keystone...we may just be slightly better if we lose him. (As the team currently stands)
I agree. Mintz is the key. My optimism for the team in 2021-2022 hinges a lot on him
Matt Jones is already saying that his well connected sources are ranking next year’s team just below 2010, 2012, and 2015 teams and Ryan Lemond agreed 110%
I agree , and so many here think he cant run the Point , even though he was very very good the last few games as Benny finally realized Devon couldnt do it .
I hope man I would love to have a 1 seed year win about 33-36 games, get back to the final 4 and possibly win the whole thing.
Yep and we got beat by a team we should have beat by 15 points. Just like K state beat us with an inferior team as well, the only game I give Cal a pass on since 2015 is maybe losing to UNC on that last second shot.
The biggest issue is that we will have the same head coach and same assistants running the same ****** offense!
We have no superstars coming in or returning and Cal can’t win without a loaded roster.
I think we may manage to sneak in the NCAAT because we will have more wins due to a loaded schedule against cupcakes!
Finish 5 or 6 in the SEC.
Lose the 2nd round of NCAAT.
We have no superstars coming in or returning and Cal can’t win without a loaded roster.
I think we may manage to sneak in the NCAAT because we will have more wins due to a loaded schedule against cupcakes!
Finish 5 or 6 in the SEC.
Lose the 2nd round of NCAAT.
Matt Jones also ranked last years team with the 2015 team before the season started.
I’m kind of 50-50 about it myself regarding next season.
Cal could be the washed up gas bag I fear he is and have very little true desire to change despite what he says. He could be convinced this was a fluke and in no way should be taken too seriously. He could fail to land an impact pg transfer. If that’s the case, then we will go 19-12 before SEC tourney and be in a 8/9 game...
Or
Cal could be utterly humiliated by this season. Get the chip he lost off his shoulder in 2015 when he went 38-1 and entered the HOF. He could be hungry and put together a more offensively skilled roster. We could turn those 8 losses by a possession into mostly wins and add some easy non conference wins. We could end up 24-7 and in contention for a 2/3 seed and a player. Heck, he may even change defenses or run an out of bounds underneath play that doesn’t involve the high lob to the big in the corner! A play designed to score an easy basket. Ok... that went too far. There’s no way he’ll do that!
It’s tough to know.
Hope for the latter!
Cal could be the washed up gas bag I fear he is and have very little true desire to change despite what he says. He could be convinced this was a fluke and in no way should be taken too seriously. He could fail to land an impact pg transfer. If that’s the case, then we will go 19-12 before SEC tourney and be in a 8/9 game...
Or
Cal could be utterly humiliated by this season. Get the chip he lost off his shoulder in 2015 when he went 38-1 and entered the HOF. He could be hungry and put together a more offensively skilled roster. We could turn those 8 losses by a possession into mostly wins and add some easy non conference wins. We could end up 24-7 and in contention for a 2/3 seed and a player. Heck, he may even change defenses or run an out of bounds underneath play that doesn’t involve the high lob to the big in the corner! A play designed to score an easy basket. Ok... that went too far. There’s no way he’ll do that!
It’s tough to know.
Hope for the latter!