Bamba + Johnson = still 7 to 9 losses next year in a down year for college ball.
- Thread starter Son_Of_Saul
- Start date
This uk team will probably be its best defensive team since cal has gotten here if it adds bamba. That doesn't equal 9 losses. Ul at home. Osu in New Orleans. Both W's. I'll say 3-5 losses max.
If we land Bamba... then its easy for me to see our defense being able to give us the victories in those games.... Great D usually leads to easy baskets.... When they learn to play team defense together as one unit.... they may look just as good as the Davis team did defensively and like them... have some clunkers offensively but the D was able to pull them through.
Only 15 teams in all of college basketball had less than 7 losses, and very few played the schedule Kentucky did.
Cal has also taken a 9 and 11 loss team to the Final Four, so it really doesn't matter. He's also had a 2-loss miss the Final Four and an undefeated team not make the title game.
Cal has also taken a 9 and 11 loss team to the Final Four, so it really doesn't matter. He's also had a 2-loss miss the Final Four and an undefeated team not make the title game.
Wow, I am going to wait until late May when the roster is finalized. No point in making predictions until I know the team. If UK lands Johnson and Bamba they will be too talented to lose more than eight games, experience helps but damn that would be a lot of talent.
Man, this team is going to be LONG and isn't filled with elite scorers.
How long does it take Cal to convince them that their path to success is to maul the ball on defense and get out in transition?
Then how long does it take them to figure it out on the court once they accept it in their minds?
How long does it take Cal to convince them that their path to success is to maul the ball on defense and get out in transition?
Then how long does it take them to figure it out on the court once they accept it in their minds?
Teague, for all the grief he got, was a better PG than what we'll have next year, and Lamb a far better shooter than next year's options. In fact, Lamb is exceptional across the entire arc of Kentucky basketball history. This was our backcourt on a team that had AD on the block (better than Bamba) paired with sophomore Terrence Jones (better than anyone we could play at the four, except maybe Bam if he returns), and an NBA-caliber true SF in MKG (if we're lucky, Vando will break even on this position), and even that team lost twice. You can safely bet this next roster will lose *at least* five games, unless we get Bamba AND Bam, AND Vanderbilt continues his meteoric rise injury-free, AND somebody in our starting backcourt turns out to be far better than advertised. If all of those things happen, I'll have money on us for the title by December. Without all - or at least most - of those things happening, we'll have some rocky moments this season. The officials will guarantee it.
Your point is valid, but I think it's fair to add a few notes.
1. We will probably be deeper than that 2012 team, though not as talented at the top. T-Jones didn't show up at IU. MKG fouled out vs. Vandy. That's all it took.
2. I doubt we will play in an environment as hostile as Bloomington against a team as good as 2012 IU.
3. I doubt we will play anyone with as much talent as 2012 Vandy.
Bottom line: every season is different. Competition is different. Schedules are different.
But yes, even the best of the best typically find a way to lose 2-3 games.
And it would be very impressive if we lost less than 5 games next year.
I do think if UK gets Bamba that the defense has the potential to be dominant.
He doesn't have 8 titles at UK, so he's a failure. Just ask a handful of posters here.
If things follow suite as they usually do with our young teams they hit a wall bout jan and then start to put it together from there. I do think a couple of things are different with this group despite the age. If Bamba comes playing with his close friend and AAU pg will help with chemistry early and Diallo being a close friend will help there to. Diallo being there early although no game action he can still be a leader as a talented player who already knows what to expect in practice. The two most recent things that have me more optimistic than most is Vanderbilt is a much better passer and ball handler than I expected he is pg good with his handle if the reports his shot is better wow! And Alexander showing two nights in a row he can hit the 3 with baker an improved Vanderbilt and possibly Johnson this teams one weakness isn't there anymore. Very long very versatile team and Richards actually has some weight at 250 that could be 260 by the time the season starts so we have the ability to match up with everyone
In my personal view, the '11 team was his best coaching job at UK. They really struggled in the SEC road games. But by the SECT, TTTHEY were rolling. Their path to the FF may have been the toughest UK has faced. Had to beat the overall #1 in Ohio State and #2 seed in UNC that was loaded.
Those teams were very good and better on paper than UK but Cal figured it out.
Very impressive.
Thanks for the alert. I'll only dvr the games I think are winnable.![[banana]](https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/891/1682178.gif "banana [banana]")
This thread was written as a response to the 40-0 thread that was deleted earlier this morning. Some of you were apparently late to the point.
I actually think UK has the makeup for a potential title team next year. Nothing negative about it, unless you guys think a realistic view toward a potential title team is negative.
UNC just won the national title. They had 7 losses. Nothing about projecting a few losses has anything to do with negating UK's title hopes. I actually think UK will be one of the top 10 teams next season, maybe top 5 with Bamba.
Some troll early this morning. I started this thread as an obvious response to that one for those who around earlier.
What about my point was fallacious? What about my initial point negated UK's chances at a title next season?
Can't believe more problem aren't higher on this team.
Possibility of having that 3 spot that's killed us for years now.
A killer point guard who wants to win and get his team involved. Isn't concerned with the NBA.
**johnson is a veteran sharp shooter with a 6'8 body and 3 years experience in the ACC**
Returning Gabriel who would be much improved.
Washington is underrated as hell.
***bamba is another mold of AD, kid won't let a ball get near the rim***
I think we'll be top 5 all year.
Possibility of having that 3 spot that's killed us for years now.
A killer point guard who wants to win and get his team involved. Isn't concerned with the NBA.
**johnson is a veteran sharp shooter with a 6'8 body and 3 years experience in the ACC**
Returning Gabriel who would be much improved.
Washington is underrated as hell.
***bamba is another mold of AD, kid won't let a ball get near the rim***
I think we'll be top 5 all year.
UNC was top 5 most of the season, ended up winning it all, despite 7 losses.
I like the makeup of next year’s team. I think they’ll have a shot at the title. That doesn’t mean I have to buy real estate in “5 losses or less land.”
Again, if you had been around this morning, perhaps you would have understood why I started this thread. Mods did a disservice deleting the other thread and nullifying my overall response to that one.
The last two days, only two things on my mind:
1) Vanderbilt needs to be healthy
2) We need to lock in Bamba
If both happen, I'm optimistic about next season.
Your guess is horribly askew. I’m quite content with Final Fours, quite content with Elite Eights, etc. I love the OAD system, and have defended it for at least the last 6 years.
Perhaps - and I mean this in sincerity and respect - you should pay more attention before making guesses, especially when your statement/inference has nothing to do with the point of this thread.
Wasn't speaking to you directly. This board has been wierd lately. Wants Bam instead of the OAD 7 foot rim protector top 5 pick. Higher on last years team even though this team is clearly better defensively and has way more balance etc.
Just strange. This team is shaping up to be one of the best of we land Johnson and Bamba. If we lose them, and Bamba goes to Duke, we are in some trouble.
Good points. I think the team will blossom by March, with some bumps along the way. The bumps shouldn’t bother us, either.
The SEC will probably be better next year. UK might drop 3 or 4 on the road. Depending on the OOC schedule, things could get interesting.
My only regret with this thread was not in giving next year’s team a chance at losing less than 7. I have no right to write in a definitive, but only did so as a result of the 40-0 thread.
Maybe 5-6 losses bc the SEC is/has improved immensely. However, I'll take those losses bc I think that roster wins #9.
With Bamba, I think the only issue is experience. We will have every position covered with a backup.
Yea kind of makes it look like some are down on the team. I haven't been happier since '15 (because I'm banking in Cam and BamBA
Next year's team could easily be better than this year's team, especially if we get Bamba. You have the right to post negativity but you want to argue that nobody can respond to your post unless they agree to be negative with you? Get outta here.
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The happy banana in my post should have told you there was an air of levity in what I said. I take about 95% of what's said on this site with grain of salt.
OOC losses to KU and maybe UofL, both will be very good next season.
Losses to UF, USC, and Bama.
Then a couple more surprise losses.
Losses to UF, USC, and Bama.
Then a couple more surprise losses.
I STRONGLY disagree, but respect your opinion. With Cam and Bamba I expect a better record than last year, #1 seed, and a title.
Go watch Pittsburgh @ UNC. Focus on Cam Johnson...
This team would be very special in a year that college basketball wasn't down at all.
Go watch Pittsburgh @ UNC. Focus on Cam Johnson...
This team would be very special in a year that college basketball wasn't down at all.
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Go watch UNC @ Pittsburgh and focus on Cam Johnson.......... I'll wait here for you to realize that Johnson's game depends on his shot...... if he's not hitting then he's playing like sh*t.
He made 78 threes, so I'll take that. 4.5 reb and 2.3 assists is ok too. Not great, but enough to keep him on the court shooting like that.
you also missed us winning the 2019 national championship. Oh man it was a great day!
Don't buy it. Bamba is coming to UK but if not Duke. Texas is the token option because they like Shaka. It's just for show imo.
