AP is going to be a beast

[spotter34]

Yeah, if Poythress was really good, he'd heal faster. Probably faked the ACL injury anyway. I bet its just a hang nail. He should be better even if he just hopped around on one leg.

Well?!?!?!

Makes more sense than this stupid thread. Of all the idiotic crap I've seen posted after just one loss, I swear. Get a clue.

I think it's premature to call him a bust at this point but I don't think his play right now is due to his injury. This is the way he's always played for the most part; uninspired and lackadaisical. He's had moments when it looked as though the lights had come on but he eventually returns to his laid back approach.

Everyone understands a player needs time to come back from the kind of injury he had but he's playing like he always has so I can understand people thinking he may be over it.

Poythress is running out of time to be the kind of player Cal is coaching him to be.

 

[Notorious23]

Some of these thread are started by trailer park tornado bait. C'mon man. Dude is a senior now playing in his 8th game coming back from ACL. WTF do you mean going to be a bust. This is crap that you try to predict going into a freshman year. At this point he is who he is and if you are a fan of the team, you would want him to contribute any way he can to bring home number 9. GTFOH

 

[UKDUNK]

The Skal is a bust talk is a joke but this topic is much more valid being that Alex has been in the program a few years. I get the feeling Alex may not love basketball. We all take it as being passive and disappearing, but to him he's just out there having fun and maybe is not putting pressure on himself to be a star and to get drafted. If he ends up not getting drafted he will go down as a bust from a basketball standpoint, but he seems like a very intelligent kid and will no doubt find success in whatever field he decides to pursue.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Remember, it took Miller 3 full years before he turned it on for his senior season. These same topics created about Poythress were exactly the same for Miller... and in some ways, they were justified. Some players just need more time, and Poythress had a huge injury setback.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

I saw Alex in high school being only an hour from Clarksville. Even in high school he had a tendency to play passive but he also had many more moments during a game of making plays and being aggressive then you see here.

The guy matched up on Alex is now a starting O-lineman at Vandy and he was an above average basketball player as well, Andrew Jelks. They were basically the same height but Jelks was a bit bigger. When Alex applied himself there was nothing Jelks could do to stop him.

Remember in 2010 how Cal had Jorts hang around the free throw line and he could either pass, shoot or drive? That's how Clarksville used Alex and it was very effective. He's got a good mid range/FT line jumper, he could be a good pick roll player with our guards from there and he has the ability to finish at the rim.

I wish Cal would try using Alex there for a game or two just to see if it could work. At this point we have to find something to start working to be as good of a team as we all want.

 

[kybassfan]

I think it's premature to call him a bust at this point but I don't think his play right now is due to his injury. This is the way he's always played for the most part; uninspired and lackadaisical. He's had moments when it looked as though the lights had come on but he eventually returns to his laid back approach.

Everyone understands a player needs time to come back from the kind of injury he had but he's playing like he always has so I can understand people thinking he may be over it.

Poythress is running out of time to be the kind of player Cal is coaching him to be.

You came to these conclusions from your lazyboy or from the coaches seat? Poythress was playing well last year till he got hurt. He was performing the role the coaches had set for him on that. team and doing it well. Regardless of what you might think, the recovery time for an ACL can exceed a year if you consider recovery to be a return to pre-injury level of performance.

This thread is nothing more than a few fans taking our their frustrations and pointing fingers at players and coaches to make themselves feel better. The other driving factor is a group of fans postulating that they know the players and their abilities better than the coaches. Both of these are folly. Fortunately the coaches are neither inclined nor compelled to listen to such garbage. I think Poythress has all the time he needs.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

You came to these conclusions from your lazyboy or from the coaches seat? Poythress was playing well last year till he got hurt. He was performing the role the coaches had set for him on that. team and doing it well. Regardless of what you might think, the recovery time for an ACL can exceed a year if you consider recovery to be a return to pre-injury level of performance.

This thread is nothing more than a few fans taking our their frustrations and pointing fingers at players and coaches to make themselves feel better. The other driving factor is a group of fans postulating that they know the players and their abilities better than the coaches. Both of these are folly. Fortunately the coaches are neither inclined nor compelled to listen to such garbage. I think Poythress has all the time he needs.

Here here bassfan. Luckily these fans aren't the ones coaching. The guy comes off of a major surgery and he's a bust. He will prove you all wrong I say! All of you doubters will owe Poy a huge apology when he's named MOP for the regional in the tourney this year. This will happen!

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

This thread is full of suck.

 

[spotter34]

You came to these conclusions from your lazyboy or from the coaches seat? Poythress was playing well last year till he got hurt. He was performing the role the coaches had set for him on that. team and doing it well. Regardless of what you might think, the recovery time for an ACL can exceed a year if you consider recovery to be a return to pre-injury level of performance.

This thread is nothing more than a few fans taking our their frustrations and pointing fingers at players and coaches to make themselves feel better. The other driving factor is a group of fans postulating that they know the players and their abilities better than the coaches. Both of these are folly. Fortunately the coaches are neither inclined nor compelled to listen to such garbage. I think Poythress has all the time he needs.

Calm down. I didn't say Alex was fully recovered from his knee surgery. I merely suggested people may have come to that conclusion due to the fact he's playing the way he has for most of his 3 years here, lackadaisical and uninspired. Yeah he played pretty well early last season (primarily in the preseason in the Bahamas) but he wasn't asked to do a whole lot on that team. This team needs him to be a beast inside. We don't have another guy on the team that can do the things he's capable of doing.

i just hope this conversation goes from what Alex is capable of doing to what he actually is doing. If you can't see how much more Alex is capable of then I don't know what to tell you. That's not slamming him I just want to see him play to his full potential and so far I don't think he has. Cal has said as much himself saying "we've got to get more out of Alex".

I forgot to add that I came to these conclusions from my lazyboy.

 

[spotter34]

Here here bassfan. Luckily these fans aren't the ones coaching. The guy comes off of a major surgery and he's a bust. He will prove you all wrong I say! All of you doubters will owe Poy a huge apology when he's named MOP for the regional in the tourney this year. This will happen!

I hope Alex does get MOP of the regional but I won't have to apologize to him because he isn't playing good right now, nor has he for most of his 3 years here when he wasn't recovering from an injury. I know he's still recovering this year from his knee injury but I can't see a lot of difference in his play.

Did I say he's a bust? No. I merely stated he's not playing the way this team needs him to play or the way Cal is wanting him to play.

 

[kybassfan]

Calm down. I didn't say Alex was fully recovered from his knee surgery. I merely suggested people may have come to that conclusion due to the fact he's playing the way he has for most of his 3 years here, lackadaisical and uninspired. Yeah he played pretty well early last season (primarily in the preseason in the Bahamas) but he wasn't asked to do a whole lot on that team. This team needs him to be a beast inside. We don't have another guy on the team that can do the things he's capable of doing.

i just hope this conversation goes from what Alex is capable of doing to what he actually is doing. If you can't see how much more Alex is capable of then I don't know what to tell you. That's not slamming him I just want to see him play to his full potential and so far I don't think he has. Cal has said as much himself saying "we've got to get more out of Alex".

Yeah, its real easy to say a player is lackadaisical and uninspired from that Lazyboy. I think Alex was on a trajectory to achieve his potential last year and right up to his last game. He kept his opponent to an insanely low shooting percentage and against very good competition. He scored when he was called upon to do so. His loss was crippling as we needed his services against Wisconsin. Even this year, he's providing leadership and valuable minutes while getting back full strength. Then we have a few unscrupulous fans ambush the guy while he is clearly in the process of recovery.

This is nothing more than a minority of Kentucky fans falling into that age old tradition of "eating their own". From my seat, you are just trying to be subtle about getting your turn at the table.

 

[MSU129]

Some of these thread are started by trailer park tornado bait. C'mon man. Dude is a senior now playing in his 8th game coming back from ACL. WTF do you mean going to be a bust. This is crap that you try to predict going into a freshman year. At this point he is who he is and if you are a fan of the team, you would want him to contribute any way he can to bring home number 9. GTFOH

I don't understand what is so hard to see. He was one of the top ranked players in the country coming out of high school, had a hell of a game against Duke as a freshman and appeared to be the hype that we thought he was going to be. Well here we are at the end of his career at UK and he isn't on any draft boards. Now I will say when it comes to draft boards that age does play into it. I mean some of the boards have Valentine on down the rankings and he may be one of the best in college ball this year, but he is a senior. So AP being older and also not playing the way he is capable (injury has nothing to do with it...he has only given hints of being elite his whole career at UK) is why I said bust. He went from top player to possibly not drafted. I think several people on here called Xavier Henry a bust and there are a few others that I just can't think of at this time who have been called busts on here when they weren't wearing UK uniforms.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

He's averaging 8 points and about 7 rebounds per game. He is never going to be some great scorer for UK. If he averages 10 points and 7-8 rebounds for UK this year that would be a great season IMO.

 

[spotter34]

Yeah, its real easy to say a player is lackadaisical and uninspired from that Lazyboy. I think Alex was on a trajectory to achieve his potential last year and right up to his last game. He kept his opponent to an insanely low shooting percentage and against very good competition. He scored when he was called upon to do so. His loss was crippling as we needed his services against Wisconsin. Even this year, he's providing leadership and valuable minutes while getting back full strength. Then we have a few unscrupulous fans ambush the guy while he is clearly in the process of recovery.

This is nothing more than a minority of Kentucky fans falling into that age old tradition of "eating their own". From my seat, you are just trying to be subtle about getting your turn at the table.

This is ludicrous. Ambush? Eating their own? Exaggerate much? I realize now you're not worth discussing this any further. I'm not saying anything more than the coach himself has said. Does that also mean Cal "ambushed" Alex?

Just for kicks I went back and checked Poy's stats for the games he played in last year. I thought maybe I missed something. Well he averaged 5.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, in 20.25 minutes. 9 points and 9 rebounds were his highs in those categories last season. Sorry, but I think (from my lazyboy) that Alex is better than that. He wasn't coming off knee surgery then.

Although I am a fan of Alex that doesn't mean I think he does no wrong. He needs to step it up. You might want to step it up too, you're a better poster than that crap above.

 

[spotter34]

He's averaging 8 points and about 7 rebounds per game. He is never going to be some great scorer for UK. If he averages 10 points and 7-8 rebounds for UK this year that would be a great season IMO.

I agree. Right around 10 ppg and 7-8 rpg is what we need from Alex but if he stepped up his intensity and aggressiveness he could be a 12 and 10 guy. But you're right, he'll never be a big time scorer.

 

[donkat]

He is a Bust. His skill set is the same as it was day one. No improvement in four years shows the same lack of effort off court that he exhibits on court.

 

[Kerry Kat]

Grown man writing paragraphs upon paragraphs about a UK player being a bust 7 games into the season = needs another hobby.

 

[JwUKFan11]

I'm not sure why the surprise. Alex is basically the same player this year as he's always been. JMO

This. He's been the same player every year and yet people still think he's about to breakout this year, it honestly blows my mind. He's one of the least talented players on the entire team, he can jump and that's it.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

He is a Bust. His skill set is the same as it was day one. No improvement in four years shows the same lack of effort off court that he exhibits on court.

Tell us how you really feel!

 

[Chuckinden]

Anything that Alex gives us is a bonus. We all have hoped he would have that breakout year at the beginning of every season and he still could this year, but I don't look for it anymore. What we get from him is just gravy.

I like Alex and just want him to be successful in whatever he does. He really seems like a good guy.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Yes. Agreed. Alex seems like a great kid. I love the guy, but he's just not going to be the player I thought he would be after Duke his freshman year. High hopes for sure. However, I still think he will be the MOP of the regional final this come NCAA tourney time. I do.

And spotter34 - I ain't mad at ya. I know what you were saying, and I'm not saying your not partly right. I was more so taking to a group of people that were ragging on Alex. I never thought you were being any more critical than you are entitled to be; and in a respectful way. You're good with me (not like you probably care anyway, but I pretty much respect your posts). All good brother! We are all BB fans (well, except CUT-NETS that is).

 

[Teachable Moe]

His SATs (so I've heard) were good enough for him to have considered pre-med. Really smart people rarely make great athletes.

My $.02.

 

[kybassfan]

This is ludicrous. Ambush? Eating their own? Exaggerate much? I realize now you're not worth discussing this any further. I'm not saying anything more than the coach himself has said. Does that also mean Cal "ambushed" Alex?

Just for kicks I went back and checked Poy's stats for the games he played in last year. I thought maybe I missed something. Well he averaged 5.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, in 20.25 minutes. 9 points and 9 rebounds were his highs in those categories last season. Sorry, but I think (from my lazyboy) that Alex is better than that. He wasn't coming off knee surgery then.

Although I am a fan of Alex that doesn't mean I think he does no wrong. He needs to step it up. You might want to step it up too, you're a better poster than that crap above.

I'm not the one exaggerating. You however are grossly overstating the magnitude of any problem with Poythress. I see you left out any defense related stats, like what percentage the guys he defended shot. Like so many on here, low score = big suck from your lazy boy. However, one of the best coaches in the business saw fit to start him on a team which had one of the deepest front lines in the history of college basketball last year. That decision was NOT made on his scoring stats.

Alex is doing fine, even while he's recovering. Playing perfect? No, but we've got a few guys that have more potential that haven't shown it yet. If you evaluate him on simple stats like scoring, then you may as well give up on him. I'll wait till he seems confident that he is physically 100% and see how he handles defense and scoring in a safety valve role. Those are the main functions he serves on the team.

Listen, I'm really sorry we lost too. Trashing the team, players and coaches is no way to deal with that. That is precisely what I think you are doing. The standard Poythress has to meet is established by his coaches, not by some foolish high school rating system. I'm surely not going to assign any credibility to some standard devised by a lazy boy coach.

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

Yeah, if Poythress was really good, he'd heal faster. Probably faked the ACL injury anyway. I bet its just a hang nail. He should be better even if he just hopped around on one leg.

Well?!?!?!

Makes more sense than this stupid thread. Of all the idiotic crap I've seen posted after just one loss, I swear. Get a clue.

I get your point but I think you're a little too fired up. Bust is not the right word. It has a negative connotation and there's nothing negative about Alex. He'll be fine whether it's basketball or business. Great young man that will be a huge success. But....... you have to admit that he looked like a lottery pick in his Freshman year against Duke and then he just kind of has great moments, good moments, then some very average moments. Any way you look at it he is NOT a 'bust'.

 

[poppycat]

His SATs (so I've heard) were good enough for him to have considered pre-med. Really smart people rarely make great athletes.

My $.02.[/QUOTE

Have you heard about those boys over in N. Car. making the dean's list
with limited studying and attendance.....would need to be really smart
to accomplish that...doncha think?

 

[Xception]

Everybody doesn't have to be an elite player , it's ok . Besides I wonder how many in this thread bemoan not having seniors and complain that Alex didn't reach his full potential . I'm all for Alex , I wanted him to be more than he has been so far but that's my problem and not his . Think about that

 

[kybassfan]

I get your point but I think you're a little too fired up. Bust is not the right word. It has a negative connotation and there's nothing negative about Alex. He'll be fine whether it's basketball or business. Great young man that will be a huge success. But....... you have to admit that he looked like a lottery pick in his Freshman year against Duke and then he just kind of has great moments, good moments, then some very average moments. Any way you look at it he is NOT a 'bust'.

I responded to the original post. You'll find it uses the word 'bust'. It was an absolutely insulting concept to apply to Poythress. I replied using the contempt appropriate to such pathetic terminology. As I stated before, Poythress started on a team with one of the deepest front lines in history. His defense was outstanding till he was injured. There is MUCH more to this game than scoring. I find it hysterical that the stat every Poythress basher leads with is his ppg.

 

[poppycat]

AP is likely to make few million in the NBA or abroad, That and a Masters Degree should serve him well for many years.. Here's to Alex!!

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

I responded to the original post. You'll find it uses the word 'bust'. It was an absolutely insulting concept to apply to Poythress. I replied using the contempt appropriate to such pathetic terminology. As I stated before, Poythress started on a team with one of the deepest front lines in history. His defense was outstanding till he was injured. There is MUCH more to this game than scoring. I find it hysterical that the stat every Poythress basher leads with is his ppg.

I can't tell if you're pissed at me but I'm on your side. I can't go all in with you because I don't think Alex will necessarily be a solid NBA player if he goes that route but he's certainly not a 'bust'.

 

[CharlieT71059]

AP will come around

 

[kybassfan]

I can't tell if you're pissed at me but I'm on your side. I can't go all in with you because I don't think Alex will necessarily be a solid NBA player if he goes that route but he's certainly not a 'bust'.

No, not pissed at you at all. I take great exception to the OP's phrasing and those jumping on the band wagon.

As far as the NBA goes, I don't know. Alex is not your normal NBA rookie. He's got options outside of basketball. I think the potential is there. I doubt he will tolerate the d league very long simply because he has those options. So if he doesn't catch on quickly he could simply walk away.

 

[kb22stang]

Come on people.......Whats with this crap? We are about mid ways through the season and Poythress is a bust?

We got a lot more games to play.....He's done some great things already this season on the court.

This. This dude is a success no matter what happens with basketball.

 

[spotter34]

Listen, I'm really sorry we lost too. Trashing the team, players and coaches is no way to deal with that. That is precisely what I think you are doing. The standard Poythress has to meet is established by his coaches, not by some foolish high school rating system. I'm surely not going to assign any credibility to some standard devised by a lazy boy coach.

Trashing the team, players, and coaches? How do you come up with this stuff? The loss to UCLA was warranted. I haven't even mentioned it. A loss like that will end up helping this team. My opinion on Alex has nothing to do with how many points he scored. His rebounding numbers though should be higher. That's an effort stat and that's my biggest complaint with him and has been for three years, he doesn't play as aggressive as he needs to. Cal has said the exact same thing. You must really be upset with our coach because I've said nothing that he hasn't already said regarding Alex.

After all that has been said I want to agree with those who have commented on what a great character kid Alex is. He has been an outstanding citizen and student while he's been at UK. He will be successful in life no matter what he does and he's been one of my favorites since he's been here. That's probably why I won't him to succeed so badly on the floor.

 

[crawfords corner]

He's obviously still not 100%. Just look at his lack of explosiveness. It's not there consistently yet. Also, he's never going to be a star, but he can definitely be an integral part of a championship team. Let's give him more than just the first month of the season to get in to the swing of things.

 

[EvilMD]

I thought he could be another Patrick Patterson. Who knows? Maybe he'll show marked improvement as this season goes on. He's still got time.

 

[nmbr1uk]

Yeah, if Poythress was really good, he'd heal faster. Probably faked the ACL injury anyway. I bet its just a hang nail. He should be better even if he just hopped around on one leg.

Well?!?!?!

Makes more sense than this stupid thread. Of all the idiotic crap I've seen posted after just one loss, I swear. Get a clue.

This...

 

[sluggercatfan]

Coming back from a torn ACL is more mental than physical at this stage of his recovery. I wouldn't go "bust" right now but he has certainly not met most expectations being his SR year.

A huge fan of Alex... But I'm not worried about him because I think Alex will be successful in life no matter what he decides to do

 

[kybassfan]

Trashing the team, players, and coaches? How do you come up with this stuff? The loss to UCLA was warranted. I haven't even mentioned it. A loss like that will end up helping this team. My opinion on Alex has nothing to do with how many points he scored. His rebounding numbers though should be higher. That's an effort stat and that's my biggest complaint with him and has been for three years, he doesn't play as aggressive as he needs to. Cal has said the exact same thing. You must really be upset with our coach because I've said nothing that he hasn't already said regarding Alex.

Never heard Cal refer to Poythress as a bust. A concept to which you clearly seem to subscribe. You also haven't been paying attention to what Cal says about Poythress. Among other things:

Calipari: "I'm allowed to be hard on Poythress. You're not."

He's also indicated Poythress needs to be a "beast again", in reference to his recovery. Also suggesting that he's been one in the past. Hardly consistent with your assertion that Cal has been down on him anywhere close to your admitted three year trashing of Poythress. Now I'm sure you can dredge up some out of context statement where you've deluded yourself into thinking you are in lockstep with Calipari. But it would be just that. Delusions. In future I suggest you take the time to read the entire article before you grab stuff out of context.

Also, your assertion that rebounding is an 'effort' stat is laughable. For example, Poythress was fronting his man in the paint in the UCLA game. Ever tried to get rebounding position doing that? Thought not. That was a key factor in his fouling out. Rebounding does require effort, but it is vastly more complicated than that. If you want to see who his coaches thought would come away with that clutch rebound, you should have watched the 2014 tourney. Poy saved our ass with clutch rebounds more than once.

If you are insistent on trashing a Cat, then stopping whining when you encounter rebuttal, particularly when it's the finest student athlete we've seen in a decade.

 

[spotter34]

Never heard Cal refer to Poythress as a bust. A concept to which you clearly seem to subscribe. You also haven't been paying attention to what Cal says about Poythress. Among other things:

Calipari: "I'm allowed to be hard on Poythress. You're not."

He's also indicated Poythress needs to be a "beast again", in reference to his recovery. Also suggesting that he's been one in the past. Hardly consistent with your assertion that Cal has been down on him anywhere close to your admitted three year trashing of Poythress. Now I'm sure you can dredge up some out of context statement where you've deluded yourself into thinking you are in lockstep with Calipari. But it would be just that. Delusions. In future I suggest you take the time to read the entire article before you grab stuff out of context.

Also, your assertion that rebounding is an 'effort' stat is laughable. For example, Poythress was fronting his man in the paint in the UCLA game. Ever tried to get rebounding position doing that? Thought not. That was a key factor in his fouling out. Rebounding does require effort, but it is vastly more complicated than that. If you want to see who his coaches thought would come away with that clutch rebound, you should have watched the 2014 tourney. Poy saved our ass with clutch rebounds more than once.

If you are insistent on trashing a Cat, then stopping whining when you encounter rebuttal, particularly when it's the finest student athlete we've seen in a decade.

This is my last post to you because it is clear that you have a reading comprehension problem. In none of my posts have I said Alex was a "bust". Not once. The statement you have up from Cal is directed toward the media but I would find it hard to believe that any comment I've made in this thread would fall under the scrutiny Cal was hinting about with that quote. Even so, as great a coach as Cal is I've never believed he had the power to control what did or didn't come out of my mouth. So I'll speak my mind about whatever I feel necessary. Saying that, nothing I've said regarding Alex could in any way, shape, or form, be seen as me trashing him. It's clear that you don't grasp that and don't really want to grasp it. I don't mind a difference of opinion but I do mind someone putting words in my mouth and exaggerating what I've said.

I don't post on rafters much because of little pricks like you that have comprehension issues and just make up anything to support their agenda. ive only used the ignore button once, now twice.

 

[kybassfan]

This is my last post to you because it is clear that you have a reading comprehension problem. In none of my posts have I said Alex was a "bust". Not once. The statement you have up from Cal is directed toward the media but I would find it hard to believe that any comment I've made in this thread would fall under the scrutiny Cal was hinting about with that quote. Even so, as great a coach as Cal is I've never believed he had the power to control what did or didn't come out of my mouth. So I'll speak my mind about whatever I feel necessary. Saying that, nothing I've said regarding Alex could in any way, shape, or form, be seen as me trashing him. It's clear that you don't grasp that and don't really want to grasp it. I don't mind a difference of opinion but I do mind someone putting words in my mouth and exaggerating what I've said.

I don't post on rafters much because of little pricks like you that have comprehension issues and just make up anything to support their agenda. ive only used the ignore button once, now twice.

Speaking of reading comprehension problems, did you ever bother to read the title of this thread? Your drivel clearly falls into that same Poythress bashing vein. You just aren't man enough to own up to it. Putting me on ignore is probably best as you can't handle exposure of your thinly veiled Poythress trash fest. Pardon those of us that take exception to lazy boy coaching wannabes that think they can evaluate a player better than those around that player for hours and are paid millions for the task. What nerve!!