I know there are a lot of folks here that watch a lot more film than myself so I was wondering. I know he can pass and shoot but guys that like to trash talk usually take defense seriously; defensive sieves get trash talked to them.
How good is Kriisa on defense?
- Thread starter ukfan1622
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I hope Coach MP put a lot emphasis on defense but haven't heard much from him about his defensive philosophy. Hopefully Kriisa and team will bring it on the defensive end. Some nights the outside shot will not go down. I hope this doesn't derail what they need to do on the defensive end to win the game.
I think what I am most excited about regarding Kriisa, other than his shooting, is the attitude he brings. We would hate him if he played against us, but the last few teams Cal has here lacked a dawg didn’t give a shit what the other team thought or did. Kriisa is that guy. Pairing him with Butler is going to be a major headache for opposing point guards.
I am basing off of 2nd hand information but read he is a bit of a defensive liability. Hopefully we have enough good defenders to off set any inadequacies he may have.
Yep, I've read this same thing. I believe the article I read was on KSR, so I'm sure many would dismiss that outright. But anyway, they referenced Kriisa's reputation- said he was known as a great facilitator and a great shooter/scorer (a clutch shooter) but on the negative side he was somewhat turnover-prone and also a bit of a defensive liability. But even weighing those negatives, he was still seen as a net positive. The other thought was that in Pope's style of offense, he would be ideal. Pope has apparently been trying to recruit Kriisa since he was still a kid, so it's clear Pope thinks very highly of him, despite any deficiencies. I think Kriisa is not exactly "Mormon material" if you know what I mean. Pope was trying to recruit him to BYU and their honor code likely kept that from happening.
My nephew is an ordained minister and he's the most competitive person I know!
Yeah, I'm a very competitive guy myself. I hope my comment about Kriisa not being "Mormon material" didn't come off as judgmental. I'm not Mormon material, either. My reasons are mostly related to Mormonism itself, not the moral code. And actually, though I was going into ministry while I was in college from 1990-95, I would have struggled keeping that Mormon code of conduct. I had a similar, unwritten, code of conduct myself, and still do, and I failed keeping it then and still struggle with some of that today. So, I don't look down on Kriisa at all. I just think that was likely part of the reason Pope never was able to sign him to BYU. I'm glad it has worked out now for them to get together and work together on this team. I'm expecting some good things from Kriisa.
He’s definitely a good passer. He’s definitely not a clutch player. Witness Arizona getting bounced as a 1 seed a couple of years ago as he played hero ball and laid brick after brick.
His history has shown that he will make some plays during the course of a game. But when it’s crunch time he won’t come through. Hopefully that changes at UK, but he wouldn’t be one I would count on to come through.
he'll throw some into the blue hairs but can also microwave, so should be a hell of a ride.
Whatever he lacks physically he will make up with his mouth.
I don't think he starts either but I don't see him getting much less than 20 mpg(he averaged about 33 mpg last year for a weak WVU team).
Yeah, he'll play. I wouldn't be surprised if he starts. I would be surprised if he gets more than 25 minutes per game, though. Pope likes to play a lot of guys, just like Pitino did back in the 90s. The real question will be- who ends the game? I would bet it depends on whether we have a lead or need to catch up. Kriisa would be in if we need scoring. Others would be in if we need to hold a lead and defend.
Is AC the player who Bird told, while in the middle of lighting him up, that he should've stayed in preaching?
So you're saying Bird might have trash talked him that politely because he was a preacher? lol
I’ve read similarly that Brea is not known for his defensive ability. Hopefully, both can step up and play adequate defense.
Green claimed to be celebate. I'd bet my left nut Bird told him at least once "nobody will ever want to &^%* you now"...
He was the second worst defensive PG in 2023-24 among the top 28 PGs in the portal:
| First Name | Last Name | DRtg |
| Freddie | Dilione | 96.9 |
| Kadary | Richmond | 98.6 |
| Kylan | Boswell | 100.1 |
| Lamont | Butler, Jr. | 100.3 |
| Tre | Donaldson | 100.5 |
| AJ | Hoggard | 101.1 |
| Deivon | Smith | 101.4 |
| Myles | Rice | 101.6 |
| Milos | Uzan | 102.6 |
| Garwey | Dual | 102.8 |
| Posh | Alexander | 103 |
| Ja'Kobi | Gillespie | 103.3 |
| Chucky | Hepburn | 104.4 |
| Tyrese | Hunter | 104.5 |
| Jordan | Sears | 104.8 |
| Aden | Holloway | 105.4 |
| Javian | McCollum | 105.4 |
| Sean | Pedulla | 105.8 |
| Elijah | Hawkins | 107.3 |
| Malik | Mack | 107.4 |
| Javon | Small | 107.5 |
| JP | Pegues | 108 |
| Tony | Perkins | 109.6 |
| DJ | Wagner | 113.6 |
| Jordan | Pope | 114.7 |
| Skyy | Clark | 114.8 |
| Kerr | Kriisa | 116 |
| Dug | McDaniel | 116.4 |
The good news is Lamont Butler was #4.
That's what she said.
so Butler is top 4 defensive and Kriisa is 27th. We know who will be in the game at the end from this right here. Lamont will be starting PG. Kerr will get tons of minutes. Playing against each other every day in practice will be key for Kerr getting better. He will get better or realize he will lose minutes.
Those numbers are strictly portal players.....which is pretty much everyone at this point.
I believe Butler and Oweh are our starting backcourt and the best defensive duo in the country
You mean even more of a defensive liability than our entire team was last season?
You need a new joke. It makes you look dumb to be the last person still using an old punch line
Statistically speaking, Kriisa's defense last year was worse than everyone on the UK roster in 2023-24, except for Walker Horn, Grant Darbyshire, and Joey Hart.
DJ Wagner was the fourth worst, his DRtg was 113.6. Kriisa's was 116.
Yeah but Lamont Butlers numbers are legit for defense last year as well. He as defense player of the year in his conference. Dude can shut a guy down.
Krissa was on a very bad WVU team last year. I doubt any of the guys on the floor had faith in the other and probably tried to do way to much on D. I wonder if Krissa had just as bad defense numbers at Zona.
If our guys buy into what CMP is selling and with the free spirt style on offense, we could see guys get better on defense.
If our guys buy into what CMP is selling and with the free spirt style on offense, we could see guys get better on defense.
Hope not!
That would mean we missed on Lanier and Robinson, because I think Brea is starting for sure.
Would like to see:
Butler
Robinson/Lanier (either one)
Brea
Carr
Williams
Then we go:
Kriisa
Oweh/Perry/Noah
Chandler
Almonor (FDU Transfer on campus right now, averaged 16.5 PPG)
Garrison
Ridiculously deep team.
