With the roster finally set..

[Justwar]

I've read a lot on this board lately about "Elite 8 ceiling" or "can't win it all" with this group because of the disappointment in not getting Blackshear, McDaniels, or N'Faly.

Get a grip. Look at the talent on that roster and realize it's more loaded than most of the final four teams of the last few years. They just have to put it together and play as a team and they're as good as any team in the country.

Stop looking at everything in a vacuum. Go analyze everyone's pre-season #1 Michigan State team and tell me why they are so much better, on paper, than this roster. I'll wait.

Winston is a national player of the year candidate, Josh Langford was a starter prior and I believe he had 15ppg. Aaron Henry is a super athlete, defender and can get to the basket. Some really decent guards off the bench and tillmon is a good center. Kansas front line however is much better but guard play I think is more above average. Ncaa this year is top heavy, I feel like there's only 6 or 7 teams that's even possible to win it.

 

[Runnin'Ramel]

Winston is a national player of the year candidate, Josh Langford was a starter prior and I believe he had 15ppg. Aaron Henry is a super athlete, defender and can get to the basket. Some really decent guards off the bench and tillmon is a good center. Kansas front line however is much better but guard play I think is more above average. Ncaa this year is top heavy, I feel like there's only 6 or 7 teams that's even possible to win it.

Sounds to me like they're in the same grouping as UK.

 

[d2atTech]

Starters

Hagans
Maxey
Whitney
EJ
Nichards

Next in order off bench

IQ
Brooks
Sestina
Juzang
Allen

no choice but to play semi-small ball when Nick gets into foul trouble. I think EJ slides into the traditional 5 postion and Sestina plays stretch four. Brooks could be the 4 and Sestina the 5 is EJ needs rest/foul trouble. 1-3 will interchange often and hopefully not see much of a drop off at all.

Dude you are drunk if you thick IQ is coming off the bench. Nick sits and we run a guard heavy line up

 

[bucsrule8872]

Dude you are drunk if you thick IQ is coming off the bench. Nick sits and we run a guard heavy line up

Agree that Richards sits, but I can't see us running 3 guards much with the wing forwards we have.

I wouldn't mind seeing it happen, but just can't believe Cal will do that with this roster.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Early reports are that Allen, Maxey and Juzang are the best offensively. What if we are better with those three starting?

 

[bucsrule8872]

Early reports are that Allen, Maxey and Juzang are the best offensively. What if we are better with those three starting?

Maxey will be in there. Juzang has a good shot. I don't see Allen starting, though, not with him coming off an ACL tear/surgery.

Hagans, Maxey, Whitney, and Montgomery are likely starters. Juzang might be the best bet as the fifth starter.

 

[OSOK]

Starting lineup by SECT time

PG IQ Offense
SG Maxey
WF Whitney
PF Allen
F Brooks

6th man Juzang Defense
7th EJ
8th Hagans
9th Sestina
10th Nick

 

[Canned Heat]

Dude you are drunk if you thick IQ is coming off the bench. Nick sits and we run a guard heavy line up

Well, I was a little tipsy. I am just trying to predict what Cal will do to start the season. IQ does have experience, so you are probably correct in that Cal may go to him before a freshman. I believe Cal will try to begin the season as he always has and see if this team can have an inside-outside.

 

[d2atTech]

Well, I was a little tipsy. I am just trying to predict what Cal will do to start the season. IQ does have experience, so you are probably correct in that Cal may go to him before a freshman. I believe Cal will try to begin the season as he always has and see if this team can have an inside-outside.

If we get going I think this is our best chance at number 9 since 2015!

 

[bucsrule8872]

Starting lineup by SECT time

PG IQ Offense
SG Maxey
WF Whitney
PF Allen
F Brooks

6th man Juzang Defense
7th EJ
8th Hagans
9th Sestina
10th Nick

Sorry, my friend, but that lineup is all kinds of wrong, IMHO.

I'm all for going small, but Allen at the 4 and Brooks at the 5?

I am a firm believer in positionless basketball, and an advocate of small ball, but that lineup is way beyond anything I have ever imagined.

You are definitely thinking outside the box on this one.

 

[arenk]

Starters

Hagans
Maxey
Whitney
EJ
Nichards

Next in order off bench

IQ
Brooks
Sestina
Juzang
Allen

no choice but to play semi-small ball when Nick gets into foul trouble. I think EJ slides into the traditional 5 postion and Sestina plays stretch four. Brooks could be the 4 and Sestina the 5 is EJ needs rest/foul trouble. 1-3 will interchange often and hopefully not see much of a drop off at all.

That gives us one reliable outside shooter with that starting team. I don't see Cal sticking with that. As I have said before, Juzang will be needed just as Tyler was last season and it wouldn't surprise me if IQ became our primary PG for the same reason.

 

[Canned Heat]

That gives us one reliable outside shooter with that starting team. I don't see Cal sticking with that. As I have said before, Juzang will be needed just as Tyler was last season and it wouldn't surprise me if IQ became our primary PG for the same reason.

I agree to a point but Cal loves him some defense. Hagans has potential to be all defensive team at the end of the season. But can he last through the grind of the season? If he plays like he did that stretch mid last season, then he will be on the court.

I’m hopeful that we run fast and player smaller lineups more often. Hagans distributing to IQ and Juzang would be ideal, with Maxey interchangeable with any of them.

 

[bucsrule8872]

That gives us one reliable outside shooter with that starting team. I don't see Cal sticking with that. As I have said before, Juzang will be needed just as Tyler was last season and it wouldn't surprise me if IQ became our primary PG for the same reason.

Hagans is going to start, most likely.

I could see Juzang starting at the 3, though. We are going to need some shooting.

 

[arenk]

I agree to a point but Cal loves him some defense. Hagans has potential to be all defensive team at the end of the season. But can he last through the grind of the season? If he plays like he did that stretch mid last season, then he will be on the court.

I’m hopeful that we run fast and player smaller lineups more often. Hagans distributing to IQ and Juzang would be ideal, with Maxey interchangeable with any of them.

I was thinking more like Maxey at PG, Juzang at the 2G, and maybe Whitney, Brooks and EJ. Hagans, Quickley, Richards and Sestina play major minutes too.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Let's just say that Cal see's that it obvious our best five for winning would be Maxey, Juzang, Allen, Brooks and Montgomery. Would he tell the others this is our best five that has proven as the best five starters? Or does he go with their ranking and just pure athletic ability and their need mentally to start?

 

[bucsrule8872]

Let's just say that Cal see's that it obvious our best five for winning would be Maxey, Juzang, Allen, Brooks and Montgomery. Would he tell the others this is our best five that has proven as the best five starters? Or does he go with their ranking and just pure athletic ability and their need mentally to start?

He'll play the best five. Wouldn't you, if you're the coach? You don't get into coaching at this level unless you have an extremely strong desire to win. You win by playing your best.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Sestina will start
EJ 6th man

 

[bucsrule8872]

Sestina will start
EJ 6th man

Anything can happen. There's a better chance that Montgomery starts with Sestina as 6th man or that both start together.

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

Two players are a lock to start - Hagans and EJ. It's what Calipari does.

 

[Justwar]

Anything can happen. There's a better chance that Montgomery starts with Sestina as 6th man or that both start together.

I apologize to them both but if ej can't even start then I'm not sure if we are sweet 16