Cal fumbling with line ups going into February

[Ron Swanson]

@Ron Swanson aka leadbelly, what is funny about this?

I'm leadbelly today? I get accused of being so many I want to keep straight who I am supposed to be portraying for the day.

I find it funny that you think that is the best 5 or that we have a set best 5. You, like many othere here, have a new best 5 every other game. When you have our depth and talent, you play the hot players at the time and don't worry about limiting yourself to 5 or 6 guys.

Also, don't be so sensitive. It's pretty clear you let people who disagree with you on a message board get under your skin. That's sad!

 

[crestcat]

Yep I want a core 5 of Shep, Dilly, Reeves, Tre and Ugo.

Thiero and BigZ off the bench for 20 minutes or more, and also can be started if they are better suited for our opponent that night.

Bradshaw, DJ and Edwards can be capped at 10mpg until they prove otherwise. DJ might be the controversial one here, but I don't think he makes us better playing the point. Our plus/minus was much better with Shep at the point to end the game.

I'm hoping Cal finally says "look I gave you guys the chances, but for now, we need you coming off the bench"

That’s the horses I would ride.

 

[sk73]

He has become notorious for this. I don’t know of any other coach who does this. Is it because he concentrates on his 5 stars draft pick status? I believe it is.
Any other coach starts their best 5 then brings the others off the bench in order of how good they are.

We just played Arkansas. The coach that many of you want at UK, plays and starts a different lineup each game. The game announcers mentioned that in one game a player played 30 minutes and then played 2 minutes the next game. Many on here claim he is brilliant. Just saying , you need to be set by tournament time, and that is weeks away.

 

[ukjenning44]

We just played Arkansas. The coach that many of you want at UK, plays and starts a different lineup each game. The game announcers mentioned that in one game a player played 30 minutes and then played 2 minutes the next game. Many on here claim he is brilliant. Just saying , you need to be set by tournament time, and that is weeks away.

Musselman has a mess on his hands right now. But over the last 3 seasons he has 2 elite 8’s and one sweet 16.
We have ONE NCAAT win in that same span.
Unacceptable at UK IMO.

 

[Cats192]

It's too much work to go back and find old threads.

But I actually feel like a lot of years, Calipari has cut the rotation in conference play. And people have often complained that we aren't giving some of these guys on the bench more run so they're ready if they're needed.

This year, he's done a little of that. But I think we've seen the last few games, the leash and the rotation are being tightened. Edwards came off the bench and played 9 minutes. Bradshaw only played 12 minutes.

 

[crestcat]

It's too much work to go back and find old threads.

But I actually feel like a lot of years, Calipari has cut the rotation in conference play. And people have often complained that we aren't giving some of these guys on the bench more run so they're ready if they're needed.

This year, he's done a little of that. But I think we've seen the last few games, the leash and the rotation are being tightened. Edwards came off the bench and played 9 minutes. Bradshaw only played 12 minutes.

Didn’t have any of the bigs, had to see how they would play and the best line up using them.

 

[qwesley]

EVERY coach in the country would have taken Edwards over all those guys one year ago. Stop playing revisionist history. It’s silly.

Maybe him alone because he was thought to be at worst a very good all purpose guy but even those decisions may be changing. OADs are not impacting CBB near as much as 10 years ago...much less 4-5 at a time. More busts each year. Guarantee UT is glad they missed on him and got Knecht. The portal is rapidly changing CFB and how the top teams recruit (smaller classes, more selective), CBB will come down to teams that mix the best of both and are best at team building. We had lots of people so enamored with the ranking of this class that they wanted Reeves gone or were at least good with him going. I hope Cal becomes "revisionist" in his approach.

 

[Jamal Mercer]

If by notorious you mean good then yes, he’s notorious for figuring it out on the fly.

And he always gets it right.

If he were to just stick with one line up cone hell or high water then you would be whining that he won’t adapt.

You are notorious for whining about everything.

I get it you’re unhappy because your Razorbacks lost.

Or more precisely, you’re unhappy because UK won.

Cal is doing exactly what he should be doing and letting the play of the players determine who should play.

You can continue to perpetrate the lie of playing time decided on promises supposedly made. But it’s still a lie.

Troll

 

[Cats192]

Didn’t have any of the bigs, had to see how they would play and the best line up using them.

Sure.

I think a lot of people decided they were done with Calipari before the season. And if they disagree with anything he does or says: There's a confirmation bias that he's an awful coach or being awful.

I was on the fire Calipari bus after last year. I didn't want to wait to see what these recruits could do. I actually think he's done everything he needed to do. He put emphasis on shooters. He's modernized the offense. We use timeouts. We've drawn up inbounds plays.

We're not perfect in January. And everything that isn't perfect is a reflection on how awful of a coach he is. And I just disagree. I think with a team that uses a lot of freshmen, there's a growing process. I think we're actually a lot further along in January than a lot of Calipari teams.

 

[crestcat]

Sure.

I think a lot of people decided they were done with Calipari before the season. And if they disagree with anything he does or says: There's a confirmation bias that he's an awful coach or being awful.

I was on the fire Calipari bus after last year. I didn't want to wait to see what these recruits could do. I actually think he's done everything he needed to do. He put emphasis on shooters. He's modernized the offense. We use timeouts. We've drawn up inbounds plays.

We're not perfect in January. And everything that isn't perfect is a reflection on how awful of a coach he is. And I just disagree. I think with a team that uses a lot of freshmen, there's a growing process. I think we're actually a lot further along in January than a lot of Calipari teams.

I don’t like Cal, I do understand why without the bigs a lineup cannot be determined. The jewels of the recruiting have not shown either so it’s going to take longer.

 

[BobbyBlue32]

As clear as it can get with the new realities of NIL and portal but I think Cal is too enamored with the NBA star element that he is associated with.

Watching Knecht, Shannon, DJones and others tear it up at SF while JE looks lost is painful.

What are their records? I would love to compare. Arkansas had the best portal class, why are they so bad if the portal is the answer?

 

[Easternkybb]

Old man yelling at clouds

Lol you don’t know what side you are on dude. I like to win basketball and then there’s a side that defends the bull crap we call losing.

 

[Bigblueamdyou]

He has become notorious for this. I don’t know of any other coach who does this. Is it because he concentrates on his 5 stars draft pick status? I believe it is.
Any other coach starts their best 5 then brings the others off the bench in order of how good they are.

bruce is still playing 12 guys.

 

[KAB Cats]

OP keeping his streak of worst thread ideas going strong. Dude wokeup on a Sunday morning and this was his first post.

"Get Z back!"

"Play Adou Thiero!"

But don't adjust the lineups!

 

[cats2010]

You look like a complete idiot saying this after last night. Look who actually played the most.

Wow, one game and cal has finally seen the light? At least let’s see this take place two games in a row before jumping to this conclusion. My guess is both will play around 30 minutes the next game. (Combined, not each)

 

[cats2010]

What he does from here on out will determine how far this team can go.

Shep
Dillingham
Reeves
Mitchell
Ugo

That’s the best 5 right there, with a lot of great weapons to rotate in off the bench

I like this but I’m replacing Ugo with Z. A good Z takes us to another level that Ugo just can’t do. We won’t get a good Z with him as a spectator.

 

[Wonky]

Cal will still rotate players 8-9 a game but the last 5 minutes, you will see who he trusts

Let’s just hope we’re not in too deep of a hole by then.

 

[Wonky]

I like this but I’m replacing Ugo with Z. A good Z takes us to another level that Ugo just can’t do. We won’t get a good Z with him as a spectator.

Absolutely. A dude cannot come in and hit 4 treys and have a behind the back pass for another trey and block 2 shots and then almost finish a spinning dunk on some dude’s head… and then sit behind Aaron Bradshaw.

This is not Bradshaw hate. I like him, and I like his determination and I think he’ll be very good some day. But Z’s skillset is miles ahead of his right now and anyone arguing that just isn’t watching the games.

 

[kywildcats8]

What he does from here on out will determine how far this team can go.

Shep
Dillingham
Reeves
Mitchell
Ugo

That’s the best 5 right there, with a lot of great weapons to rotate in off the bench

I would sub Thiero and Z in for Ugo and Dillingham to start- love having DIlly coming off the bench and I think Z can rebound. shoot way better and block shots almost as good as Ugo does if given the chance- IMO all Ugo give us is a non-offensive threat, slow footed but can block shots - if we play a big bully low post player then Ugo can play more

 

[chroix]

As clear as it can get with the new realities of NIL and portal but I think Cal is too enamored with the NBA star element that he is associated with.

Watching Knecht, Shannon, DJones and others tear it up at SF while JE looks lost is painful.

He could maintain it if he polished some diamonds in the rough and got them from fringe first round to lottery lock/top pick range.

 

[NociHTTP]

He has become notorious for this. I don’t know of any other coach who does this. Is it because he concentrates on his 5 stars draft pick status? I believe it is.
Any other coach starts their best 5 then brings the others off the bench in order of how good they are.

It's one of the reasons why the team is never prepared for the tournaments. He's too worried about his precious draft picks late in the season. It's pathetic that he would even need to be told that.

 

[the stat man]

Had we had a full lineup since day 1 it wouldn't be happening. Bradshaw has been back for 12 Games, Big Z for 3, Ugo for 10 and Thiero finally back. Injuries and the NCAA are the reason we don't have a solid rotation yet. Not that hard to figure out. Cal has been here for a decade and a half and he has always had a set rotation by February, this season is an outlier due to circumstances. Anyone with out an agenda can see that.

You are correct , this is just a poster that has a daily agenda against any and everything that Cal does, he is really pathetic!

 

[bbncal02]

Seriously? You're still playing the covid card? That's a weak ass hand...who won it that year?

What about the other seven years? I'll wait.

ONE tourney game ONE in four years. And what only like 3 or 4 post season wins in that time frame? Anyone else would’ve been fired already. This class saved Cal’s ass. Period. And how he performs with them should be a serious footnote in his legacy here.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

ONE tourney game ONE in four years. And what only like 3 or 4 post season wins in that time frame? Anyone else would’ve been fired already. This class saved Cal’s ass. Period. And how he performs with them should be a serious footnote in his legacy here.

Not defending any of this but why count a year when there was NO tournament.

 

[cats2010]

Not defending any of this but why count a year when there was NO tournament.

No different than some of you who like to point to that year and say we most likely make a final four or least elite 8 which skews Cals tournament results in the last 10 years.

 

[JFCats22]

Z had an amazing 3-4 minutes in one game. Everyone, including him, said they didn’t see it coming. All reports are he has some things to work on to be a contributor.

Besides his insane few minutes he has looked totally lost and very weak. He deserves some time but to act like he should be starting and playing 20+ minutes is dumb.

 

[STL_Cat]

Z had an amazing 3-4 minutes in one game. Everyone, including him, said they didn’t see it coming. All reports are he has some things to work on to be a contributor.

Besides his insane few minutes he has looked totally lost and very weak. He deserves some time but to act like he should be starting and playing 20+ minutes is dumb.

He's still got some work to do. Pretty big delta between 2 and 20 minutes, though. Especially considering one of the guys ahead of him really isn’t playing any better.

 

[CatPhight]

Not defending any of this but why count a year when there was NO tournament.

Actually I didn't count it...we had 3 wins from the Herro led squad in 2019 and one since...those are the 4 years.

2019 - 3 W's
2020 - Covid
2021 - didn't make the tourney
2022 - 0 W's
2023 - 1 W

 

[STL_Cat]

1 NCAA tournament win in the last 3 years is a wild stat.

Worst 3 year post-probation stretch we’ve had in the NCAA tournament.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

No different than some of you who like to point to that year and say we most likely make a final four or least elite 8 which skews Cals tournament results in the last 10 years.

Nobody counts it as a win bitbplenty count as a no win tournney

 

[WeWant9]

1 NCAA tournament win in the last 3 years is a wild stat.

Worst 3 year post-probation stretch we’ve had in the NCAA tournament.

Also only 1 SECT win in that time. It needs to change this post season.

 

[crestcat]

Also only 1 SECT win in that time. It needs to change this post season.

Not much hardware lately.

 

[catben]

Sure.

I think a lot of people decided they were done with Calipari before the season. And if they disagree with anything he does or says: There's a confirmation bias that he's an awful coach or being awful.

I was on the fire Calipari bus after last year. I didn't want to wait to see what these recruits could do. I actually think he's done everything he needed to do. He put emphasis on shooters. He's modernized the offense. We use timeouts. We've drawn up inbounds plays.

We're not perfect in January. And everything that isn't perfect is a reflection on how awful of a coach he is. And I just disagree. I think with a team that uses a lot of freshmen, there's a growing process. I think we're actually a lot further along in January than a lot of Calipari teams.

You do realize if Cal ACTUALLY starts Ugo next game that DJ will be the ONLY Freshman in the starting lineup if he goes with the same starters as yesterday. He could start Reed or Dillingham in place of Theiro, but Cal LOVES starting a SF over a 3rd Guard.

DJ
Reeves
Adou
Mitchell
Ugo

Hard to use the young excuse when you lose confidence( I don't care what he says publicly) in your 5 star recruits and go to your most experienced players.

If the One-And-Done kids aren't good enough to start here, how are we going to win another championship TOTALLY depending on them to perform???

My problem with Cal's model now is that nearly ALL of the One-and-Done's over the past few seasons are WAY better in the NBA than they were during there one year here. Heck, even Nick, PJ and Quickley are better in the NBA and they were here 2 or more years.

The "development" part in the Cal model is TOOOOO SLLLOOOWWWW!!!! It's what has kept us out of the Final 4 or even close for the last few seasons.

 

[rick64]

John Calipari has important rotation decisions to make

It's time for John Calipari to tighten Kentucky's rotations, which means hard decisions need to be made.

247sports.com

 

[Cats192]

You do realize if Cal ACTUALLY starts Ugo next game that DJ will be the ONLY Freshman in the starting lineup if he goes with the same starters as yesterday. He could start Reed or Dillingham in place of Theiro, but Cal LOVES starting a SF over a 3rd Guard.

DJ
Reeves
Adou
Mitchell
Ugo

Hard to use the young excuse when you lose confidence( I don't care what he says publicly) in your 5 star recruits and go to your most experienced players.

If the One-And-Done kids aren't good enough to start here, how are we going to win another championship TOTALLY depending on them to perform???

My problem with Cal's model now is that nearly ALL of the One-and-Done's over the past few seasons are WAY better in the NBA than they were during there one year here. Heck, even Nick, PJ and Quickley are better in the NBA and they were here 2 or more years.

The "development" part in the Cal model is TOOOOO SLLLOOOWWWW!!!! It's what has kept us out of the Final 4 or even close for the last few seasons.

Surely you're not telling me that this team isn't young.

Guards: DJ (Fr), Reed (Fr), Dilly (Fr), Reeves (SR)
Forwards: Edwards (Fr), Thiero (Soph that didn't start or play a ton last year), Mitchell (Sr)
Centers: Bradshaw (Fr), Z (Fr), Ugonna (Sophomore that didn't start or play a ton last year.

This team is young. Cal going to the sophomores doesn't mean that we're not young. Sophomores that didn't play a ton last year aren't the same as battle tested juniors and seniors.

 

[JonathanW]

This time it is understandable that he is tinkering with lineups, given that we’ve not had many games with the same guys available, and not yet 1 game with everyone available.

 

[cats2010]

Z had an amazing 3-4 minutes in one game. Everyone, including him, said they didn’t see it coming. All reports are he has some things to work on to be a contributor.

Besides his insane few minutes he has looked totally lost and very weak. He deserves some time but to act like he should be starting and playing 20+ minutes is dumb.

His insane 3-4 minutes is way more than Bradshaw has ever brought. It’s also a glimpse into what he can bring to the team on a consistent basis. I’m not talking about going 4-4 from deep rather being that type of presence on the court and helping to extend the defense. It’s easy to look lost when you come into the game play a few possessions and immediately get pulled but that’s what cal has done to him the past 2 games. Z is going to be the odd man out as there is no way cal is going to allow two of his prized recruits be left out and we will all look back to this year and play the If game with Z.

 

[yes_takeaside]

Clear as day, JE and AB should be the odd men out. They give us nothing. I know AB has looked decent in a few games, but he looks lost. Doesn’t impact the game whatsoever on either side. JE hasn’t done jack shit all season.

Go back to McDonalds game. I’d never seen any of them but had read numerous comments about them on this board.

Edwards was a surprise as he was being touted as highNBA pick. In MD game he was hardly noticeable and that hasn’t changed.

AB was touted as a stretch 4 but Cal plays him at the 5. In MD game it seemed he was not strong and not a good rebounder. Still the same. Can hit shots out to the arc.

DJ hyped as driver with average shot who could take over a game. In MD game he shot poorly until the end when he actually did take over the game. At UK still the same. Average shooter at best and against the right opponents can get to the rim. Will try to take over games but can’t do it often at this level.

RD was a mixed bag with both positive and negative comments going in. Mostly a plus in actual game and has been the best of them this year.

Comments on Reed imo I took with a grain of salt because he’s white. Some, at least a few on here, just knew he couldn’t be that good. In MD game he looked like he belonged. Still looks that way. Some of the comments now still a bit extreme on both sides indicating the black/white thing still colors some folks opinions.

Does anyone see these things changing the rest of the year? I don’t.

IMO
Dilly should start and play about 30 minutes. Reeves/Tre 30 minutes. O start at center with AB and Z getting plenty of opportunities. May the best one get most of the PT. Anyone who thinks Z should sit because he’s way behind is just one of Cal’s useful idiots. Tre could also get some of his minutes at the 5 with the small ball lineup say about 10.

That leaves 80 minutes to split between Reed, DJ, and Adou.

Reed 25+
DJ 20+
Adou 20+
JE 10+ (15,max)

Repeat JMO and for those wondering, No, I have never coached.

The old saying about porn applies here I think.

Altho I’ve never coached I know good/bad when I see it.

 

[bbncal02]

1 NCAA tournament win in the last 3 years is a wild stat.

Worst 3 year post-probation stretch we’ve had in the NCAA tournament.

Worst in everything we’ve win maybe three seed tourney games in that time frame too. That’s what really pisses me off. Sometimes you take an unexpected L in the big tourney. It does happen. But the pitiful showing lately in the SEC Tourney on top of that is truly infuriating.

 

[Aike]

Had we had a full lineup since day 1 it wouldn't be happening. Bradshaw has been back for 12 Games, Big Z for 3, Ugo for 10 and Thiero finally back. Injuries and the NCAA are the reason we don't have a solid rotation yet. Not that hard to figure out. Cal has been here for a decade and a half and he has always had a set rotation by February, this season is an outlier due to circumstances. Anyone with out an agenda can see that.

2019 - Is PJ going to play? He’s in a boot.
2020 - Ashton Hagans melts down
2022 - Shaedon Sharpe
2023 - what’s going on with Wheeler?

Just a few off the top of my head that bled into February or beyond.