Calipari says he’s settled on his rotation
- Thread starter preacher_tom
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Interesting. And logically it makes sense to me.
Keeping Briscoe and Matthews apart ensures we never have two non-shooter wings on the floor at the same time, so that defenses can't collapse to take away our spacing and driving lanes.
And there's a clear message to Willis: You're a 4, not a 3, so you better friggin REBOUND. Your PT depends on how you hit the boards.
Although keeping Skal locked in at the 5 may not please this board's "Skal should play outside" crowd.
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The one glaring thing is, he has always said you have to earn it here. I can't hide you, but he is showing me that he is protecting Skal as he doesn't earn much imo. I support Cal but some of his statements are contradicting when a player has ***** beside the name. I know he wants him to grow as a player, however when it comes at the expense of the team and UK I won't be the first or last to complain. It hasn't come to that point, hopefully it won't.
Go back to the Louisville board where you belong.
Cal is riding Skal because of his upside.
Its not like Skal has not shown glimpses of brillance v lesser comp.
He will give UK the best chance at a late March run to the FF as long as Cal dosent give up on him and continues to give him SEC experience.
Its not like Skal has not shown glimpses of brillance v lesser comp.
He will give UK the best chance at a late March run to the FF as long as Cal dosent give up on him and continues to give him SEC experience.
The kid got 10 minutes in the last game. His rating isnt getting him too many minutes.
Is Cal supposed to not give him any run at all?
Is Cal supposed to not give him any run at all?
I think the wisest part is I think he's limiting Briscoe and giving more minutes to Hawkins due to shooting deficiencies. I think we're seeing a team that needs shooters on the floor and seen the problem with too many non shooters at one time.
I agree with you. It is called development. Cal is not going to lose a game by playing Skal, but until the other bigs show they give us a better chance of winning, he has to play some. If Cal didn't play him at all, then some would be complaining about how Cal had a projected top 5 pick and never let him off the bench. He is going to bring Skal along, in the best interests of Skal, and in doing so, the best interests of the team. Wait until March, and if Skal has not improved, you will not see him, but if we are to go very far, Cal has to drag him along, over the next couple of months, until he can help this team.
But but I thought he only likes to play 6-7 lol . No coach wants to play only 6-7 ever . 10-11 is too many but you need depth. I hope this ends those silly people who say he likes to trim his rotation to 6-7 as that is pure fantasy.
Did you forget how great Skal looked in the first 5 games? LOL
Well, in fairness, he HAS demoted Skal by taking away his starting spot and making him merely Lee's backup only getting about 10 minutes per game recently.
But, yeah, I get your point, Skal's spot in the rotation doesn't exactly back up Cal's "earn it" statements, He's been showing nothing to suggest he plays the 5 any better than Humphries (or perhaps Wynyard) would.
But, let's be honest, Cal's not gonna kick the recruit projected as a top lottery pick entirely out of the rotation. Whether coaches admit it or not, there are implicit PT promises when you recruit that kind of prospect. Skal will keep getting minutes no matter what. Let's just hope he soon figures it out and starts playing better.
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Presently, Skal is Lee's backup. Either Lee or Skal must
be the rim protector. ..30/10....25/15.......whatever he earns.
At the present, Dom is the better team player. Briscoe seemed to me that he didn't value his pt. To much me ball, with Matthews pegged in as Briscoe's replacement and not getting any pg time, Briscoe will now have to earn those mins. I wouldn't mind seeing 20/20. Would be nice to see Briscoe & Matthews go full speed on defense on the opponent's best wing every game.
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I admit to being one who thinks Skal should play outside - simply because of what he's shown us so far. But, I'm going to guess (hope?) that he's shown some improvement in Camp Cal to warrant this.
Agreed on Briscoe and Matthews not being on the floor at the same time. And it should please quite a few that Willis has his shot, as does Hawkins. As of right now that's 9, how these guys contribute the next month will let us know if that is what it remains, or if Cal tightens it up.
Might sound crazy to some (ok most) - but I really would like to see Matthews get the start over Briscoe, at least for now. I think Briscoe would provide a good energy off the bench. That starting lineup against Louisville was very pleasing.
Honestly believe because Cal did that out of necessity once or twice - and it happened to work - is why that is said. I think he prefers the 8-9 as well; who wouldn't?
I think you are correct as of right now, in a months time Cal could explain to us why he is going in some other direction and that it was part of his master plan all along. He could sell ice water to Eskimos so selling us on that would be a piece of cake.
It comes down to where Skal is in a month, he is going to have to give us 7.5 and 4. If Skal's still weak Cal will tweak
One thing to consider is that we have no idea who is producing in practice. If Skal was much worse than Humphries he wouldnt play IMO.
He may be "earning" the time he does get in those practices.
I am not sure there is enough time left for him to evolve into a very solid post player and I am not sure what limitations (other than roster issues) are keeping him from playing a face up 4, which he may not have time to learn enough of either, if a switch were to be made.
He may be "earning" the time he does get in those practices.
I am not sure there is enough time left for him to evolve into a very solid post player and I am not sure what limitations (other than roster issues) are keeping him from playing a face up 4, which he may not have time to learn enough of either, if a switch were to be made.
Who knew Johnny Cochran was a cat fan.
Being in the rotation does not mean a prescribed pt mins. It will change with each game. If Poy and Willis are to play the 4 only, you may see Willis 5 mins then next game 20 mins unless Poy brings it every game and stays out of foul trouble. Same for Briscoe/Matthews. Really like the trio at 1 & 2. Maybe Dom can earn 15/20 mins leaving about 32 ea for Murray & Ulis.
Of course; my comment was for depth purposes only.
Cal likes to tell the story about talking to John Wooden during the 09-10 season, and Wooden telling him that he (Cal) was playing too many guys.
In my opinion, Cal has no problem only playing 6-7 guys when the rubber meets the road.
In my opinion, Cal has no problem only playing 6-7 guys when the rubber meets the road.
Or could it be Cal doesn't coach his team to be the best now, but in march and april? For us to be the best team in march/april, we will need Skal to be a big contributor. Sure he might not "deserve" it now, but what is Cal to do? Bench him for the rest of the season and never play him? He's already seeing fewer opportunities
To reach our potential, Skal HAS to improve. We still have 3 months. Not hard to understand.
Someone has to back up Lee and let him rest and play when he is in foul trouble.
You people don't get it...UK isn't going anywhere if Skal does not get better. We are not getting to a Final Four with Lee, Poy and Willis leading the charge down low and in the front court.
Briscoe has done more in his first 10 games than Hawkins has done in 3 years, yet gratefully Hawk has a good game and you all think he surpassed Brisoce? Briscoe plays good d, drives passes,handles better, finishes better. And if DH keeps up with the shooting call me surprised.
Good point. If DH goes back to his normal shooting (aka terrible shooting) he won't play much each game at all.
Basically my take also. And furthermore my take is that Cal has demanded what Willis must do to play, but has given Skal a pass. Sure takes on the appearance that Cal gives special leniency to his top recruits. However, you have to yield to Cal. This is his team he built it from nothing and has every right to do it his way. Else we got another Tubby of Billy in charge. But as fans we have every right, and it is tradition to critique the coach.
This lineup is one that minimizes our exposure instead of taking advantage of our strengths. Cal could move Skal to the backup 4 spot and allow Humphries to backup the 5. This would allow a big bodied rebounder to come in when we need to stop the bleeding on rebounds and put Skal in his natural position. The only one hurt in that scenario is Willis (However, if he doesn’t rebound correctly he doesn’t deserve the pt in the first place).
The downside to that is there will be times we will have Skal and Lee on the floor at the same time and we could potentially get eaten alive by bigger bodied teams that will push them around. Even worse we could end up with Humphries and Skal on the floor at the same time and our interior defense will suffer from missed assignments. So Cal’s lineup while not being the most potent offensively does offer stability.
Plus this allows Skal and Briscoe time to settle down and learn while not having the pressure of being the starter weighing on their shoulders. Hopefully this helps them to learn and progress.
The downside to that is there will be times we will have Skal and Lee on the floor at the same time and we could potentially get eaten alive by bigger bodied teams that will push them around. Even worse we could end up with Humphries and Skal on the floor at the same time and our interior defense will suffer from missed assignments. So Cal’s lineup while not being the most potent offensively does offer stability.
Plus this allows Skal and Briscoe time to settle down and learn while not having the pressure of being the starter weighing on their shoulders. Hopefully this helps them to learn and progress.
How have you earned the right to be that judge? I would say that I trust Cal's judgement over yours.
I like the rotation.
Cal is trying to make sure we have two guys capable of shooting from the perimeter on the floor at all times by rotating Ulis, Murray, and Hawkins in at the 1 and 2 spots. Good move. Hopefully, they continue to shoot well. We have to have two shooters on the floor all the time.
Matthews or Briscoe gives us a good defender on the perimeter, and (as mentioned above) keeps us from having two non-shooters on the floor together.
Poythress and Willis could play together some, but both are best suited at the 4, so that it a pretty good move.
Rotating Lee and Labissiere will hopefully keep a shot blocker in at all times as well. Lee should get most of those minutes right now, until Labissiere learns the ropes and makes significant improvement.
This simplifies things for the staff, too. You don't have to think about combinations too much.
It also bodes well for next year with Matthews, Hawkins, and Willis getting some crucial minutes. The other six probably leave, so we will need some experience coming off the bench.
Cal is trying to make sure we have two guys capable of shooting from the perimeter on the floor at all times by rotating Ulis, Murray, and Hawkins in at the 1 and 2 spots. Good move. Hopefully, they continue to shoot well. We have to have two shooters on the floor all the time.
Matthews or Briscoe gives us a good defender on the perimeter, and (as mentioned above) keeps us from having two non-shooters on the floor together.
Poythress and Willis could play together some, but both are best suited at the 4, so that it a pretty good move.
Rotating Lee and Labissiere will hopefully keep a shot blocker in at all times as well. Lee should get most of those minutes right now, until Labissiere learns the ropes and makes significant improvement.
This simplifies things for the staff, too. You don't have to think about combinations too much.
It also bodes well for next year with Matthews, Hawkins, and Willis getting some crucial minutes. The other six probably leave, so we will need some experience coming off the bench.
