I’m guessing 6 pts and 5 boards and 2 blocks per game and average 4 fouls a game
Brown off the board
- Thread starter Dontworryboutit23
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Don’t think he needs to be a stud and haven’t heard people say they think he will. I don’t think he will need to be great on offense. If he can give some good defensive minutes and block some shots, with some put backs on offense, Cal will not run the offense through our big man this year which is what so many have been asking for. He will be forced to modernize the offense and play faster this year with all the weapons on the wing.
Pretty much this. Be a solid defender and rebounder, block and alter some shots, and get a few put backs and lobs, and he will do exactly what this team needs him to do to be successful. He doesn't need to average 15 points a game. Just needs to be solid and stay out of foul trouble.
It's crazy how they are rebuilding their entire roster. I guess the Hardaway boys are considered walk-ons? Is that how that works?
Not counting them, Memphis brought in 7 transfers and 4 recruits so far:
Brown (Louisiana)
Mills (Florida St)
Jones (St Johns)
Lenard (MTSU)
Jourdain (Temple)
Young (UCF)
Pierre (Nova SE - DII)
Those last 4 are likely non-factors. Then Williams, Taylor, Cherenfant, and Forrest as recruits. DeAndre Williams may get a waiver.
Plus Memphis is linked to Quinerly. So a top 5 of Quinerly, Mills, Jones, Williams, Brown would be a stout starting 5.
Not counting them, Memphis brought in 7 transfers and 4 recruits so far:
Brown (Louisiana)
Mills (Florida St)
Jones (St Johns)
Lenard (MTSU)
Jourdain (Temple)
Young (UCF)
Pierre (Nova SE - DII)
Those last 4 are likely non-factors. Then Williams, Taylor, Cherenfant, and Forrest as recruits. DeAndre Williams may get a waiver.
Plus Memphis is linked to Quinerly. So a top 5 of Quinerly, Mills, Jones, Williams, Brown would be a stout starting 5.
We'll have not one player close to as good as PJ Washington was in Sophmore year. We need to slow down a bit.
On paper last year's team was with Oscar back, Toppin in over Brooks, 2 time SEC assist leader in Wheeler, Reeves/Frederick were snipers, Wallace was a bit better replacement over TyTy, Livingston, Collins was due for a break out, etc....
This roster
- All kinds of inexperience all over the place....at least Reeves is back now
- Not dependable shooters at the guards and wings
- PF....happy to have Mitchell but Bradshaw is hurt and we know how Cal lets these things play out
- Ugo didn't beat out ole Lance Ware.....
I won’t say Cyril would be an improvement over Onyenso, but I want him because we need another option with Onyenso at the 5.
If we get Cyril, at least we aren’t putting all our eggs in the Onyenso basket so to speak. We will have another option to play when we need a true 5 man at Center.
Now, if we could get a veteran like Dante, that is a different story.
If we get Cyril, at least we aren’t putting all our eggs in the Onyenso basket so to speak. We will have another option to play when we need a true 5 man at Center.
Now, if we could get a veteran like Dante, that is a different story.
All talent is not the same. I think Tre Mitchell could be the same exact player pj was.
I'd be shocked if he approaches anythning like PJ. I see a Jacob Toppin-ish clone.
This squad will at least make the second weekend of the tournament unlike those "experienced" teams we've had recently.
Give me skilled basketball players with a will to win over those who quit or roll over against adversity.
Cal was right about one thing, this place ain't for everybody, especially underachieving transfers from Georgia or the Rhode Island rejects.
The most I could find him playing after SEC season started was Alabama. His box score was:
11 minutes
0 points
4 rebounds
1 block
1 turnover.
Oh lord....so was this place for Livingston, Collins, TyTy, BJ Boston, Terrance Clarke, etc..?
Was Oscar one of those transfer rejects that couldn't hack it at UK?
You don't think he needs to be a stud? What's your hope for UK basketball in 23/24? Are we shooting for a sweet 16, or a title?
Do you think any team vying for a title is going to count on a starter that is just okay?
No man, if you want to win a title, Ugo, or whomever is starting at the 5, needs to be a stud.
This idea that "we don't need so-and-so to be great, he just needs to be okay" is just wrong. This is UK, we should have elite players at all 5 positions. The fact that we have a project set to start at the 5, with no backup, in June, is just poor roster management by Cal. He can rescue it, but it won't be easy.
Why does that equal a sweet 16 ceiling and when did I say I was good with that? Ugo isn't all of a sudden going to be an offensive powerhouse. He never was, and never will be. He doesn't have to be on this year's team, either. He needs to be a superstar at what he is good at which is blocking shots, rebounding at a good clip, and getting 8-10 ppg. If our other players play to their potential, he doesn't have to put up Oscar numbers.
Who did you see on the floor for Uconn last year that was not elite?
Who did you see on Kansas' squad 2 years ago that was just okay?
Who did you see on Baylor's '21 squad that was's sound at all aspects of their game?
No, this is UK, there is no "he doesn’t need to be good at this, or that", we need to be elite at all 5 positions, if we aren't, we aren't going much farther than the sweet 16.
Ugo needs to be elite if he is going to be our starting center, if he isn’t, Cal will have made a really bad mistake again.
How Cal thought we were good enough with Wheeler at pg last year, still boggles my mind. So many times last summer I read "Wheeler doesn’t need to be a good shooter… .". That is 100% wrong and it's wrong every time someone says a player doesn't NEED to be good at something.
David McCormack (Turkish professional) was the starting center for KU when they won the title in 2022, so your point is mute. No, you do not have to be elite at every position as proven by my point above.
Seems like KYJeff thinks we need to have the 1992 Dream Team to win a title.
Just an absolutely absurd post.
You obviously didn't look at his stats. You picked out a random white dude and figured he sucked.
McCormack only played 21 mpg, he shot 51% from the field, averaged 7 rpg and 10.6 ppg. What exactly was his weakness that makes you think he was an average player? Again, he only played 21 mpg, he was not what Ugo is going to be asked to be.
Kansas ran a spread offense that year, they brough McCormack in to spell one of 3 players. If Cal wants to use Ugo that way, I'm in, that’s a great plan, but we know better than that.
Well, sjonesy was wrong and nice exaggeration with your dream team comment.
Just don't come on here once the season starts and claim you called it back in June that Ugo wasn’t ready.
The fact that you think David McCormack is a "random white dude", tells me all I need to know about your basketball IQ and how much you actually watch the game.
Maybe sit this one out.
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Well for one, McCormack is not white, so you are off to a bad start. And I didn’t just pick him out. I actually watch games, which seems you don’t do.
McCormack wasn’t white, but the rest of his comment was spot on.
If we get 10ppg and 7rpg a game out of Onyenso, then we have Final Four/title potential.
It’s highly doubtful he gives us anywhere near that production, though.
Yeah that's a lot to expect of a kid who barely played last season.I think he will be good his junior year but just don't see him as ready for a starter role this season.
You're telling me, he's going to average 4 fouls a game and only give us 2 blocks a game?
You don't know basketball at all? Do you?
Okay, so debate my take though. What part of McCormack's game was a weak point that could be attacked? At 21mpg, he was simply a backup player, but he had exceptional stats.
It is Lightfoot that was the white guy, I had that wrong, but my point still stands.
This doesn't really make any sense. I don't know what your point actually is. Do you mean he is undervaluing Ugonna? Are suggesting 2 bpg is pathetic? Are you implying fouls committed somehow equals lots of blks?
Not pathetic but yup
But we are guaranteed what 33 games next year and he plays in all 33 and has 132 fouls, I will bet my house he has more than 66 blocks.
No I wouldn't. But what evidence do you have to make that claim? He didn't play last year
We have had a lot of very good big men over the years who did not avg. over 2 bpg. I like your optimism but 2 per game sounds like a fair over/under if he gets 25 minutes per game imo.
Based on what? Ugo has much better touch on his jump shot. Hell he has a shot. He's bigger.
Somto is the guy that looks to be a project. Has he ever made a basket that wasn't a dunk?
Based on what? Ugo has much better touch on his jump shot. Hell he has a shot. He's bigger.
Somto is the guy that looks to be a project. Has he ever made a basket that wasn't a dunk?
Agree with this 100%. Ugo just needs to be a presence inside, particularly on defense and boards. Doesn't need to be a star and I don't expect that from him. Biggest problem I see is, can he stay out of foul problems?
Ok. I can admit when I'm wrong
I just watched some things on that kid I hadn't seen. He's bigger than I thought and a wcs type athlete. That dude is going to be a lot of fun to watch
You just going off workout videos? Please tell me you're not going off workout videos, because every frontcourt player goes through those and they don't show the misses in highlight videos.
Did you see him shoot free throws? Not good.
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