After watching the Jordan game.

[TNCatfanforever]

Skal along with Diallo were the two best bigs on the floor. Briscoe was the best point guard but there were some other great ones also. It appears that this class as a whole is weak in the shooting guard and the three guard spot. Newman has a mans body and could be a stud at 3 but evidently he thinks he is a point guard. Of course Ingram and Brown didn't play. Kennard says he has knee problems (soreness). Diallo has a high speed motor and I like that. Briscoe makes everyone around him better. If I were any of these guys I would kill to play with Ullis and Briscoe. They would
Set the table and feed you all night long.

 

[KendallCat]

Agree on both Skal and Briscoe. Skal has a lot of AD's game in him and a nice shot for a big man. Briscoe is a thick bullish PG who can get to the rim. Overall this is one of the weakest classes talent wise I have seen in a long time - very few impressive players. Zimmerman would never be a McD's AA in a normal year - being 7 foot does not make one an automatic AA - see Jared Carter.

 

[UKDUNK]

I think there's a bit of fools gold with Diallo. His dominance in these all-star games kind of reminded me of Kenneth Faried's dominance for Team USA. Real basketball is not that wide open. He did not look near as great in the more half-court oriented Hoop Summit game.

If Diallo goes to Kansas, he will probably have a year similar to Cliff Alexander's last year. Pedestrian numbers at best due to the slowed pace. If he comes to UK, I think Cal maximizes and showcases his defensive abilities. He would also benefit from the faster pace afforded with playing with Ulis and Briscoe.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

My thoughts after watching were high school basketball is totally lacking in solid fundamentals. For all of the AAU ball these kids play it seems they do not understand the game, maybe the coaching is suspect. Of course defense is not played in the All Star games so that has a lot to do with the product on the court. There is no question the kids have the physical skills but physical skill only do not translate into championships. It takes fundamental solid basketball to hang banners.

I have seen Newman a few times now and still don't understand what all the fuss is about. He is not a can't miss pro prospect. If he is, God help pro basketball. I would like to pick up Diallo and see what he could do when Cal teaches him some defense. He would develop nicely in my opinion.

I hope 2016 has more to offer than 2015. It is depressing.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Originally posted by UKDUNK:
I think there's a bit of fools gold with Diallo. His dominance in these all-star games kind of reminded me of Kenneth Faried's dominance for Team USA. Real basketball is not that wide open. He did not look near as great in the more half-court oriented Hoop Summit game.

If Diallo goes to Kansas, he will probably have a year similar to Cliff Alexander's last year. Pedestrian numbers at best due to the slowed pace. If he comes to UK, I think Cal maximizes and showcases his defensive abilities. He would also benefit from the faster pace afforded with playing with Ulis and Briscoe.

Agree on Diallo.

He would fit much better at UK than at most other places, with guards that can get the ball into the teeth of the defense and dish to him close to the rim or get it up on the rim for him to rebound.

He doesn't need to go to a team that is going to try to feed him in the low post, he is not that kind of player.

Diallo is perfect for a "team built around Ulis."

We get him and then add at least one more shooter from the perimeter and we are good to go.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Posted a guess a few days ago that Zimmerman did not have a committable offer and that he wasn't elite. I was vilified. After watching clips of the game, I feel more comfortable than ever with my guess. He's a good player in a down class.

Diallo is similar, except he's the sort of big Cal loves on defense. His offense is terrible with most all his points coming from set ups/garbage/hustle.

I still think Newman and Maker are the only committable offers. Maybe Diallo too.

Just a guess.

 

[How Blue Can You Get?]

So yer sayin fast paste could really make a difference!

 

[Rhavicc]

Originally posted by bigblueinsanity:
Posted a guess a few days ago that Zimmerman did not have a committable offer and that he wasn't elite. I was vilified. After watching clips of the game, I feel more comfortable than ever with my guess. He's a good player in a down class.

Diallo is similar, except he's the sort of big Cal loves on defense. His offense is terrible with most all his points coming from set ups/garbage/hustle.

I still think Newman and Maker are the only committable offers. Maybe Diallo too.

Just a guess.

As far as shooting goes (and that can be fixed), Diallo certainly has his issues. That said, in every game I watch with him in it, he makes 3 - 5 really impressive plays. I also do like that little spin move he makes when he puts it on the floor.
I wish Poythress played with that energy all the time. Good lord.

 

[brianpoe]

Originally posted by bigblueinsanity:
Posted a guess a few days ago that Zimmerman did not have a committable offer and that he wasn't elite. I was vilified. After watching clips of the game, I feel more comfortable than ever with my guess. He's a good player in a down class.

Diallo is similar, except he's the sort of big Cal loves on defense. His offense is terrible with most all his points coming from set ups/garbage/hustle.

I still think Newman and Maker are the only committable offers. Maybe Diallo too.

Just a guess.

Zim was not a committable offer?

You think we only have two committable offers?

You think Ingram doesn't have one? Brown? Or Diallo?

If Mulder commits next week what kind of offer did he have?


What is the thought process on this line of thinking?

 

[bigblueinsanity]

I think if Mulder commits, it will mean we've moved on from Newman.

My logic also could explain why Thorne pulled the trigger today. Dominos are starting to fall and recruits are starting to take open slots.

If we don't land Maker or Diallo, this class will still be good; just not great.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Pretty sure Diallo's #7 ranking wasn't due to these All-Star games, and that all the other games on which he was evaluated were not as "wide open". Sometimes I think it would take a perfect player to impress some people.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Originally posted by bigblueinsanity:
I think if Mulder commits, it will mean we've moved on from Newman.

My logic also could explain why Thorne pulled the trigger today. Dominos are starting to fall and recruits are starting to take open slots.

If we don't land Maker or Diallo, this class will still be good; just not great.

Why would it mean UK has moved on from Newman?


There is a massive hold at the 2 and 3 positions. Matthews is a long term project, and Hawkins is a role player. If Mulder comes to UK, I could see him getting some minutes at the 3 while Newman plays on the other wing, with Cal rotating a Briscoe/Ulis/Newman combo at the 1 and 2.


We just lost Andrew, Aaron, Devon, and Trey. We are replacing them with Briscoe and a long-term Charles Matthews (who I've seen play in person and who is not currently capable of doing what some expect next year).



We need wing players, and probably at least 2 of them at this point.

 

[bookerfan66]

Originally posted by Son_Of_Saul:

Originally posted by bigblueinsanity:
I think if Mulder commits, it will mean we've moved on from Newman.

My logic also could explain why Thorne pulled the trigger today. Dominos are starting to fall and recruits are starting to take open slots.

If we don't land Maker or Diallo, this class will still be good; just not great.

Why would it mean UK has moved on from Newman?


There is a massive hold at the 2 and 3 positions. Matthews is a long term project, and Hawkins is a role player. If Mulder comes to UK, I could see him getting some minutes at the 3 while Newman plays on the other wing, with Cal rotating a Briscoe/Ulis/Newman combo at the 1 and 2.


We just lost Andrew, Aaron, Devon, and Trey. We are replacing them with Briscoe and a long-term Charles Matthews (who I've seen play in person and who is not currently capable of doing what some expect next year).



We need wing players, and probably at least 2 of them at this point.

Better watch what you say about Matthews.You have to agree he will be great right away or people will get angry with you.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Originally posted by bookerfan66:


Better watch what you say about Matthews.You have to agree he will be great right away or people will get angry with you.

Most of those same people have probably never seen him play live multiple times.


It's one of the perks on actually living 40 minutes from where Matthews attends school at Rita's and teaching in the Chicago Archdiocese with friends on the coaching staffs at Mount Carmel and Plainfield East. He's a high potential player, but he's not a scoring threat in his first year; and that's coming from a guy who is probably more excited about Matthews than most on this message board. I love his game, but I'm also a realist.





This post was edited on 4/18 2:07 PM by Son_Of_Saul

 

[FHAZCat]

UK currently has, what, 8 scholarship players, 3 of whom are not likely to log minutes in critical game situations. So, I think the team needs people capable of playing sooner rather than later at 2, perhaps 3 positions. In others words, bodies with skills, position less important than recent years.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Originally posted by Son_Of_Saul:

Originally posted by bigblueinsanity:
I think if Mulder commits, it will mean we've moved on from Newman.

My logic also could explain why Thorne pulled the trigger today. Dominos are starting to fall and recruits are starting to take open slots.

If we don't land Maker or Diallo, this class will still be good; just not great.

Why would it mean UK has moved on from Newman?


There is a massive hold at the 2 and 3 positions. Matthews is a long term project, and Hawkins is a role player. If Mulder comes to UK, I could see him getting some minutes at the 3 while Newman plays on the other wing, with Cal rotating a Briscoe/Ulis/Newman combo at the 1 and 2.


We just lost Andrew, Aaron, Devon, and Trey. We are replacing them with Briscoe and a long-term Charles Matthews (who I've seen play in person and who is not currently capable of doing what some expect next year).



We need wing players, and probably at least 2 of them at this point.

Yes we do. But I don't see Newman being someone who's willing to share more minutes, since there seems to be questions about whether or not he'll share the minutes that exist right now.