Bamba + Johnson = still 7 to 9 losses next year in a down year for college ball.

[Son_Of_Saul]

* Perhaps one transcendent player.
* No veteran leadership.
* At least four freshmen starters.
* UK would have tons of talent, and be in the discussion for a Final Four, and have a shot to make some noise in the tournament, but still...

Edit: some of you missed the fact that this thread was started this morning after a 40-0 thread was created (one that has since been deleted by the mods).

In that context, I was merely trying to point to reality. Before any other late-comers pile on, please understand that no where in my initial point did I negate UK's chances at a title. I merely countered the naïve thread someone else started with a more realistic thread.

 

[EliteBlue]

With Bamba+Johnson/Knox I think it's 4-6 L's. I think this team surprises some people especially if SKJ puts in work in the offseason and can find consistency.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Assuming we get Bamba (in my scenario at least).. We're closer to 40-0 than we are to 31-9.. Bank on it..

 

[WildMoon]

Disagree.

But this is too much of an opinion for me to go discussing.

 

[Willy4UK]

Between 4-10 losses

 

[Bobcat94]

* Perhaps one transcendent player.
* No veteran leadership.
* At least four freshmen starters.
* UK would have tons of talent, and be in the discussion for a Final Four, and have a shot to make some noise in the tournament, but still...

Let me guess, your one of the vocal members on here that's not happy with being in the discussion for final 4's every year?

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Fox/Bam/Monk weren't exactly transcendent players, keep in mind.

Bam - Never got the ball until the 2nd half of the season, and because of that had many struggles. It was only the last few weeks did he figure out how to body people for rebounds.
Monk - Turns out he WAS streaky.. Seemed to lose his confidence.
Fox - Probably the closest to being truly elite for the year.. but he did have injury troubles along with pretty poor mid-long range game. Also didn't defend until late in the season.

 

[DerekMcPwn]

It is very easy for me imagine this team having an off night shooting, where Vando, Gabriel, Washington, and Diallo are just bricking one after another, and our usual post game is disrupted by foul trouble. Very easy for me to imagine the circumstances in which this team loses.

 

[WildMoon]

Fox/Bam/Monk weren't exactly transcendent players, keep in mind.

Bam - Never got the ball until the 2nd half of the season, and because of that had many struggles. It was only the last few weeks did he figure out how to body people for rebounds.
Monk - Turns out he WAS streaky.. Seemed to lose his confidence.
Fox - Probably the closest to being truly elite for the year.. but he did have injury troubles along with pretty poor mid-long range game. Also didn't defend until late in the season.

Fox would be pretty close, especially how he ended the season. However, he wasn't good at passing like Wall/Ulis was. That's the only knock, but he was making them at high clip. After his last injury, i believe he shot like 40+% from the three.

 

[AnarchoNeoLuddite]

SEC might warrant more loses than we think, should be tougher all around. Dont care too much, just keep it under 10 and win the last one in April.

 

[BlueBomb]

Between 4-10 losses

Wow, you've really covered your bases there.

 

[MadaboutBlue]

With Bamba and Johnson, we won't be undefeated but we'll be pretty good. I would guess we might be sweet 16 team. even an elite 8 team, with an outside shot at a Final Four.

What gives me a little hope, is that with Bamba, Richards, Vanderbilt, et. al., we will have something we haven't had in a couple of years: length and athleticisim in the frontcourt in more than one player. The year before last, our frontcourt was almost nonexistent (although they're sure tearing it up in the pros) Last year, Bam held his own, but didn't get a lot of help. Willis played well at the end of the year, but even at his best, he wasn't really huge muscle guy that could give us much presence inside. As well as Bam acquitted himself, he wasn't really a rim protector, and it didn't take teams very long to realize that double teaming him was a decent gamble.

 

[rodserling]

SEC might warrant more loses than we think, should be tougher all around. Dont care too much, just keep it under 10 and win the last one in April.

This.
The SEC teams have added some good players to some already underated squads. Our league will get more respect next year and rightfully so. So much improved, it concerns me just a little bit.

 

[The_Answer1313]

We are like a few weeks from the previous season and people are already putting 7 to 9 losses next season lol

We don't even know our complete team yet.

And if we did so what. How many losses did unc have this season?

 

[Jaredky88]

Actually with the SEC getting better talent, this wouldn't surprise me at all. We're going to be so very young next year. The SEC was obviously under valued this year and will definitely be getting better. It's only going to help us come March.

I also believe that we're in better shape down low in the post than some realize. Nick Richards looks to me like he could really be a star for us. His body is mature for a high school kid he's strong and crazy athletic. The Jordan game showed me a lot from him. I think he will be one of the if not the best player on this team next season. We all know what Vanderbilt is capable of and I love his game but if we get Bamba, we'll have a chance to be special defensively. I hope we get him and the Johnson kid. Get us some shooters and shot blockers and we know what can happen.

 

[Elliott Tim]

* Perhaps one transcendent player.
* No veteran leadership.
* At least four freshmen starters.
* UK would have tons of talent, and be in the discussion for a Final Four, and have a shot to make some noise in the tournament, but still...

Thanks for the alert. I'll only dvr the games I think are winnable.

 

[wromanp7]

The pendulum has fully swung.
From off-season threads of 40-0... to off-season threads of woe is me.

As much as I hate the 40-0 threads, they are preferable to the neggies.

 

[Blue Decade]

Assuming we get Bamba (in my scenario at least).. We're closer to 40-0 than we are to 31-9.. Bank on it..

Bamba is an interesting prospect with tremendous length, but far from being a finished product. He has skinny legs and his offensive game needs a lot of work. I would like to see Bamba at Kentucky, and I know Kenny Payne could help his game. But I have been an observer of recruiting long enough to see some warning signs. Our fans are too confident about a recruitment that is not a sure thing. Nobody knows what Bamba will decide, and I think the chance of him picking Texas or even Duke is significantly higher than zero. I also think Kentucky will be a top 10 team with a shot at the FF with or without Bamba. But the 40-0 talk is nuts.

 

[UKcatXXXL]

* Perhaps one transcendent player.
* No veteran leadership.
* At least four freshmen starters.
* UK would have tons of talent, and be in the discussion for a Final Four, and have a shot to make some noise in the tournament, but still...

It would be a little bumpy in the first half but I truly believe that by Mid Feb it would become a well-oiled machine..........and San Antonio-bound

 

[bucsrule8872]

It will be a down year nationally, but the SEC is another story.

We will lose a few more games than usual in the SEC. It's really improving. UF and USC are coming off E8 and FF seasons. Bama just added two JBC guys to a very young, but talented squad. Mizzou is getting better fast under Martin. As a league, the SEC is on an uptick.

I say we lose 6-7 games in the regular season next year (with Bamba or Bam back and Johnson).

 

[drainthatub]

Nobody ever truly knows what Cal's teams are gonna be like until they play some games.

 

[MadaboutBlue]

CBB in general might be down, but it looks to me like the SEC is going to be pretty good.

Watching Sexton and Petty play in the Jordan Brand Classic, it' dawned on me, that depending on who they have returning, and the stability of their frontcourt, Alabama might be a force. The SEC in general brought in a ton of talent, and considering the landscape of CBB where the best players generally don't stay very long, experience isn't quite as significant as it was several years ago.

 

[Cawood86]

Cal has averaged 31 wins and 6 losses in 8 seasons at UK.
He seems pretty good at his job.

 

[Drcatfan]

Keep in mind that we could have Bam and Gabriel as sophomores and Diallo and a freshman and a half. Vanderbilt and Washington look ready to play college basketball (not projects). I think Bamba is probably more of a project than Vandy or Washington but has greater upside. I think a lot of our success will depend on how Quad plays/develops.

I doubt Bam returns and that does change things. We will get pushed around inside without Bam in the SEC and take a few more losses.

 

[caneintally]

I think we lose 1-2 non conference games and 3-5 conference games so around 6 games going into the dance . We will be the last 1 seed or the first 2 seed. Same old same old - dominating college.

 

[docholiday51]

Way too early to have any idea what we will or won't have next year.I think Richards could grow into a really good player but that will be a process and how fast/slow that goes will be a major factor.We will need another player at the center or power forward spot,if that turns out to be Bamba then things change from the get go.If we get Johnson then there will be some sorting out to be done at the 3.I think Washington,Vanderbilt and Gabriel make it a bit too crowded for Knox

If we get neither Bamba or Johnson then the dynamics of the team changes significantly.It is not a sure thing or even a probable thing that Gabriel or SKJ can give us what we need to be at the level of this years team.If Bam returns (which I doubt) the what ever we get from Gabriel or SKJ is a bonus instead of a necessary component.

There is much to be sorted out in the coming few weeks.We could be anything from top 20 to top 5.The addition of Baker and what we saw from SGA last night makes me feel better about the back court but I still think Cal will try to add a player other than Bamba to the mix

 

[doc4UK]

Keep in mind that we could have Bam and Gabriel as sophomores and Diallo and a freshman and a half. Vanderbilt and Washington look ready to play college basketball (not projects). I think Bamba is probably more of a project than Vandy or Washington but has greater upside. I think a lot of our success will depend on how Quad plays/develops.

I doubt Bam returns and that does change things. We will get pushed around inside without Bam in the SEC and take a few more losses.

Having seen SGA in two games I am not at all sure that he is not a starter from Day 1 and may be the second best recruit. He scored 29 and had 6 assists in Derby Classic and had double figures in Nike Hoop Summit. Only Vanderbilt had better numbers and also be a starter next year.

 

[dckala2]

I'm a big fan of what I've seen from sexton, but am definitely waiting for a couple real games to see what he does.

Have no doubt that he could go off against uk

 

[brianpoe]

Probably depends on how long it takes us to become an elite defensive team.

And before one of you that continually pumps this class as so athletic... keep in mind that this past year's squad was supposed to be the best defensive team we have ever had...

Took most of the year for us to become really good on defense.

 

[docholiday51]

Having seen SGA in two games I am not at all sure that he is not a starter from Day 1 and may be the second best recruit. He scored 29 and had 6 assists in Derby Classic and had double figures in Nike Hoop Summit. Only Vanderbilt had better numbers and also be a starter next year.

One has to like what we have seen from SGA so far,but I'm not so sure what we saw last night tell us much.That game didn't seem to me to have anywhere near the talent level of the other games I have seen,if you could make a lay up then you were good for at least 12 to 15.SGA did play under control and was clearly the best on the floor.

 

[brianpoe]

Having seen SGA in two games I am not at all sure that he is not a starter from Day 1 and may be the second best recruit. He scored 29 and had 6 assists in Derby Classic and had double figures in Nike Hoop Summit. Only Vanderbilt had better numbers and also be a starter next year.

Diallo may have gone for 40 vs that competition.

I'm proud that our guy was head shoulders above the 2nd tier players.

 

[Blueaz]

Nobody ever truly knows what Cal's teams are gonna be like until they play some games.

Even then...
Cal really showed, especially last year, he can change style, attitude and players.

 

[Jakarii]

7-10 losses

 

[brianpoe]

Even then...
Cal really showed, especially last year, he can change style, attitude and players.

Cal did a great job with this bunch.

17, 14, and 11 may have been his best coaching.

 

[lkc1234]

* Perhaps one transcendent player.
* No veteran leadership.
* At least four freshmen starters.
* UK would have tons of talent, and be in the discussion for a Final Four, and have a shot to make some noise in the tournament, but still...

So

 

[jedwar]

Somewhere between 0 and 40 losses. We shall see.

 

[Blueaz]

Cal did a great job with this bunch.

17, 14, and 11 may have been his best coaching.

Yep, it's just a shame for UK and BBN that he is too stubborn to change his style or play only his favorites. It is so easy to amalgate 5-8 new, super talented, freshman, players every year into a cohesive, contending unit.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

There are a lot of IFs for next year and very few, if any, sure bets. Growing pains but should be a lot of fun to watch. This board will be all over the place once the season starts.

2019 should be a title.

 

[IndyCat1995]

Lol pointless thread. Won't know the extent of the roster for another month.

 

[Smashcat]

CBB in general might be down, but it looks to me like the SEC is going to be pretty good.

Watching Sexton and Petty play in the Jordan Brand Classic, it' dawned on me, that depending on who they have returning, and the stability of their frontcourt, Alabama might be a force. The SEC in general brought in a ton of talent, and considering the landscape of CBB where the best players generally don't stay very long, experience isn't quite as significant as it was several years ago.

Alabama has the talent and coaching to win the SEC.