They are ranking us low because they know what our coach has done with so much talent the past 8 years ...a no brainer so to speak.
Are we drinking the Koolaid?
- Thread starter davekersey
- Start date
This team should have a 7' rim protecter on the floor for 40 mpg since we have 3 of them, so I expect a
slightly better defensive team than we've seen the past few years. As far as offense, this could be Cal's
best offensive team with everybody on the team but Thiero and Ugonna being decent to good
perimeter shooters and those two being able to score at the basket.
slightly better defensive team than we've seen the past few years. As far as offense, this could be Cal's
best offensive team with everybody on the team but Thiero and Ugonna being decent to good
perimeter shooters and those two being able to score at the basket.
We've looked like crap recently. We've got a young roster that hasn't proven anything. You only get to bank on jersey equity for so long before you actually have to prove yourself.
Well - Cal’s teams have either performed to expectations or grossly under-performed. Seriously, can anyone anyone remember a UK team that turned out to be better than expected?
Guess you are ok with UKs performance the past few seasons. I'm not. Calipari hasn't done jack in years and years.
Noci, Big cat fan and Ukwildcats87 are the same person.
There’s no way that 3 people are like that. 😬🤦🏻♂️
There’s no way that 3 people are like that. 😬🤦🏻♂️
I think Reeves could be a 18-20ppg scorer this year. It’s hard because Cal’s teams usually have depth and spread out the scoring load but the efficiency that he shot over the summer and the green light he will have this year I can see it.
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It doesn’t make sense either that Self continually proves they have good teams year after year. I don’t doubt Cal with legit young freshman though. Guys on Wagner, Bradshaw, and Edwards talent level almost always pan out. Sheppard has already proven to me that he’s not a typical fringe top 25 kid that may or may not play. He’s legit.
Self does seem to do better with less. But it's not like he's getting it done in the tournament, either. For as much as Cal's last 6 years have been completely throw-away, he STILL has overall better results than Kansas since 2010.
I don’t even buy the weak class argument. I think it’s a class full of competitors.
This team will RUUUNNN(!) better than those of the last few years due to more and better talent and no gaping holes at any one position. It will have little to do with coaching.
Did they predict pre-season that UConn would win it all? Or that San Diego State would make the final game? All I need to know.
I'm sure UK fans are drinking the kool-aid a bit, of course. That is in our nature. I'm still in a wait and see frame of mind. I'm glad we've got BigZ on the roster now, but there are still some question marks. And I agree with some others- recent history says you can't count on Kentucky to be there in the end. And there is no question, we have a lot of youth. We have some key veterans but ultimately how far this team goes is up to this freshman class. How will they handle the pressure? How will they handle the physicality of the SEC?
Now, the other side of this coin is that some of the prognosticators making their predictions just don't like UK and especially not Calipari. So, some of what they're saying may be wishful thinking. I don't think all of these mediocre predictions fit into that category, of course, but some do.
Now, I think having Reeves, Mitchell, and Thiero will win us some games while the freshmen are getting up to speed. But I think the ultimate question is this: how elite are these freshmen? I think there are a couple guys here, Edwards and Wagner, who can be elite this season. And then the question is Bradshaw. He could be another elite guy if he's healthy. Then there's a couple wild cards in Shepherd and Dillingham. And what will we get from the center position? There are several unknowns. I'm sure some will say that is the main reason for not ranking this group higher or predicting a high finish.
I'm wanting to see this team to start the season. I want to see them against Kansas in the United Center. Kansas is probably coming in as the #1 team, so a win would be a tall order. I just want to see how this team faces that adversity. To get the seed we want, you've got to beat some of these name opponents. We shall see. I do have high hopes, but my expectations aren't as high yet.
Now, the other side of this coin is that some of the prognosticators making their predictions just don't like UK and especially not Calipari. So, some of what they're saying may be wishful thinking. I don't think all of these mediocre predictions fit into that category, of course, but some do.
Now, I think having Reeves, Mitchell, and Thiero will win us some games while the freshmen are getting up to speed. But I think the ultimate question is this: how elite are these freshmen? I think there are a couple guys here, Edwards and Wagner, who can be elite this season. And then the question is Bradshaw. He could be another elite guy if he's healthy. Then there's a couple wild cards in Shepherd and Dillingham. And what will we get from the center position? There are several unknowns. I'm sure some will say that is the main reason for not ranking this group higher or predicting a high finish.
I'm wanting to see this team to start the season. I want to see them against Kansas in the United Center. Kansas is probably coming in as the #1 team, so a win would be a tall order. I just want to see how this team faces that adversity. To get the seed we want, you've got to beat some of these name opponents. We shall see. I do have high hopes, but my expectations aren't as high yet.
IDK ... maybe the pundits are the ones tired of drinking Cal's Kool-Aid. I think I agree with you on this year's team and think they may make some noise this year and could very well be legit contenders. Big Z will add some nice and needed cushion to the front court. I really am looking forward to watching this team develop, hopefully for a deep run in the tournament.
We should all be glad they have ranked us so low considering how wrong each of them have been in the past when they ranked us high. This will obviously be our year. Lol
I think Coach Welch is running a lot of the offense based in the dribble drive but modernized in its spacing and movement.
Some of you are worrying about preseason rankings as if it impacts what happens in March. At least we won't have to worry about young players acting like they have won a national title before winning their first game. They will have to work for a top 5 ranking, what a novel concept.
We had some good moments in the 2022 season but it wasn’t just the First Round upset .After beating Florida on 2/15 we finished out the season 5-4 . We faded hard at the end of the season.
I like being under the radar with the lineup we've got this year and the changes that appears to be made so far. Plus, we've got a schedule that will allow us to impress and play our way into a high national ranking, which I think we will. By the time the selection show airs, I cannot help but think that with this lineup, a little bit of luck along the way, and a good showing, we will be primed for a deep run with one of the number one seeds in the tournament. If not THE TOP number one seed in the tournament.
At any rate, I expect that by the time it's all said and done, that target is going to be awfully big on our young team's shoulders by the time the dance comes around. I hope the pressure doesn't become something too big for them, but they signed up to play for us, so ......
I'm quietly optimistic even with CCC at the helm. Surely to GOD the man can get this team to a final four. If not with this year's team, he never will again at this university (of that, I'm convinced) . Needless to say, a LOT of people's confidence and optimism has been severely damaged with the way he has run things the past several years.
Here's to hoping he can change the dynamic with what appears to be a great squad this year.
Go Big Blue !
At any rate, I expect that by the time it's all said and done, that target is going to be awfully big on our young team's shoulders by the time the dance comes around. I hope the pressure doesn't become something too big for them, but they signed up to play for us, so ......
I'm quietly optimistic even with CCC at the helm. Surely to GOD the man can get this team to a final four. If not with this year's team, he never will again at this university (of that, I'm convinced) . Needless to say, a LOT of people's confidence and optimism has been severely damaged with the way he has run things the past several years.
Here's to hoping he can change the dynamic with what appears to be a great squad this year.
Go Big Blue !
After the last few years, I am not ready to say much about a Calipari team until January at best.
If the talking head is under 40, any comments is about getting clicks instead of how they really feel. Most on internet lie for a living now.
I think the media doesn't believe we have transcendent freshmen. If we ended up having multiple guys who are top 5-10 picks in the draft, we will win 30+ games. If we don't, we'll win somewhere between 25-30.
There's still some unanswered questions in regards to our ceiling. From a pure talent perspective, we are in really good shape. NBADraft.net currently has Edwards and Bradshaw in the lottery, plus DJ and Big Z in the first round, and Reeves in the 2nd round. This isn't even considering Rob Dillingham, who many believe can break his way into the draft as well. We are loaded. Only Duke really comes close to us in terms of pro prospects on the roster.
The questions that remain are in the frontcourt. All we know right now is that we have Tre Mitchell. He's really good, but you need size and depth against some of the teams on our schedule.
We need to get production from at least one of Bradshaw, Big Z, or Ugonna. As long as one of those 3 pan out, and we take our usually slow and steady build towards March, we will be in the conversation.
I am a firm believer in our guard play this season. Something that really hasn't been there at this high a level since Fox/Monk IMO.
The questions that remain are in the frontcourt. All we know right now is that we have Tre Mitchell. He's really good, but you need size and depth against some of the teams on our schedule.
We need to get production from at least one of Bradshaw, Big Z, or Ugonna. As long as one of those 3 pan out, and we take our usually slow and steady build towards March, we will be in the conversation.
I am a firm believer in our guard play this season. Something that really hasn't been there at this high a level since Fox/Monk IMO.
I agree our guard play will be much-improved, but let's not overlook that 2019-2020 team. Quickley, Maxey and Hagans was arguably the best backcourt in America.
Has he though? Summer doesn't count, because he cut them loose last summer too and then tightened up like a bull's a** in fly season once games started to count.
I’m not crazy about kool-aid, so I’m not drinking it.
This team has to prove it on the court.
Am I excited about this season? I’m excited about every season.
I am curious to see if having better talent (on paper) than we have had in a long time makes a difference.
Will our elite Freshmen live up to expectations?
Is Cal still able to coach talent to win the big games?
We shall see.
This team has to prove it on the court.
Am I excited about this season? I’m excited about every season.
I am curious to see if having better talent (on paper) than we have had in a long time makes a difference.
Will our elite Freshmen live up to expectations?
Is Cal still able to coach talent to win the big games?
We shall see.
The whole "do something significant before celebrating" is one of the problems the Reds had this season. On every single homerun you've got Elly De La Cruz inserting himself into video in the dugout of whoever actually hit the homerun. Someone needs to tell him to shut up and sit down, and act like a professional.
