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Ceiling for this team...

smackcats

Blue Chip Prospect
Dec 14, 2005
682
10
18
for better or worse, is tied to Skal's development. IMO he's the only player with the potential to take this team to a different level.
 
It is getting late in the day for Skal to lead us to a higher level. I am not sure it will happen this year and even with his below average season it looks like some NBA team will take him in the draft. So he may be a non achiever in college. But if he gets a big pay check someday that will fulfill his dream.
 
I think it's tied to Humphries and Skal. I'd rather see two competing to be serviceable by March than one.
 
Not necessarily. What would people have called the ceiling for 2011 after the fourth straight SEC road game loss? Or 2014 after the South Carolina game?

There are alternative paths that get you to a high ceiling. Here's the most plausible one: Ulis-Murray-Briscoe mesh into a killing machine on both ends of the court, shutting down opposing guards and ripping through opposing defenses. In a one-and-done tournament, if that trio got hot, they could carry you a long way. An ADEQUATE front court anchored by Lee and Poythress playing just to their ability, along with something from Skal, Humphries and Willis would be enough if that happened.

Look at UConn in 2014 with their guards. Was their front court any better than Kentucky's would be with just normal improvement between now and March? Feast on these stats: Nolan, zero points. Daniels, 8 points. Brimah, zero points. Those are the only players who are listed in the box score of the final game as playing forward or center for UConn. Surely Lee, Poythress and SKal can match that.

You could say, well, UConn was a fluke. There are better teams this year. There were supposed to be better teams THAT year, which is why a 7 and 8 seed matched up in the finals. No teams this year are close to unbeatable. No team this year is as good as ANY of the top four last year: UK, Wisconsin, Duke and Notre Dame.
 
It would help but we've got the guards to go deep if our path opens if Poythress would just play as a respectable senior should.
 
Not necessarily. What would people have called the ceiling for 2011 after the fourth straight SEC road game loss? Or 2014 after the South Carolina game?

There are alternative paths that get you to a high ceiling. Here's the most plausible one: Ulis-Murray-Briscoe mesh into a killing machine on both ends of the court, shutting down opposing guards and ripping through opposing defenses. In a one-and-done tournament, if that trio got hot, they could carry you a long way. An ADEQUATE front court anchored by Lee and Poythress playing just to their ability, along with something from Skal, Humphries and Willis would be enough if that happened.

Look at UConn in 2014 with their guards. Was their front court any better than Kentucky's would be with just normal improvement between now and March? Feast on these stats: Nolan, zero points. Daniels, 8 points. Brimah, zero points. Those are the only players who are listed in the box score of the final game as playing forward or center for UConn. Surely Lee, Poythress and SKal can match that.

You could say, well, UConn was a fluke. There are better teams this year. There were supposed to be better teams THAT year, which is why a 7 and 8 seed matched up in the finals. No teams this year are close to unbeatable. No team this year is as good as ANY of the top four last year: UK, Wisconsin, Duke and Notre Dame.
Briscoe won't get hot
 
I think the Sweet 16 is our ceiling. I think Skal has to make major improvement for us to breach that ceiling and Cal has to make some personnel changes. Not sure either is happening.
 
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