Decourcy(TSN) ranks Cats #1; Can be great w/ Oscar & no Sharpe

[JST390-2]

The Sporting News’ Mike DeCourcy has Kentucky in the No. 1 spot. ESPN has Arkansas No. 1 in its early rankings with Kentucky at No. 7. The 247Sports rankings have Arkansas No. 1 with Kentucky No. 2 — the same prediction that Sports Illustrated has. CBS Sports has John Calipari’s team No. 3 behind UCLA and North Carolina.

“Having Oscar is the difference between Kentucky being preseason No. 1 and a team that will still be very, very good,” DeCourcy said. “With Oscar in the lineup, Kentucky is as good a pick as anyone to win the national championship with what we know about rosters now.”


“There are a lot of unknowns,” DeCourcy said. “If you put Oscar with Sahvir, you have your point guard-post intact for next season. You have young wings (Cason Wallace, Chris Livingston) coming in. Daimion Collins says he is coming back. There is a lot of opportunity there to field a terrific team.”

“What was missing last year for Kentucky were great wings, guys who can guard on the perimeter and also shoot and make shots. (National champion) Kansas has two NBA wings. Kentucky had no one like they did. Next year’s group is supposed to be better and add Oscar to that and Kentucky will not miss a beat. I think they will be good next year even if Oscar is not back, but Kentucky has a chance to be great if Oscar is in the middle.”

Mike DeCourcy says Cats have chance to be great if Oscar Tshiebwe returns

National player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe will decide soon between turning pro or playing another season for Kentucky. (Photo by Vicky Graff)Should Kentucky basketball fans feel better because the way too early polls for the 2022-23

www.yoursportsedge.com

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Did he say anything about what UK will do with Oscar “and” Sharpe?
Asking for a friend.

 

[JST390-2]

Did he say anything about what UK will do with Oscar “and” Sharpe?
Asking for a friend.

He said we gotta fill some spots …but the key was getting Oscar back …potential for greatness with his return

 

[Wonky]

So he’s comparing Livingston and... who? To a senior Agbaji and a junior Braun?

 

[G-PIP]

So he’s comparing Livingston and... who? To a senior Agbaji and a junior Braun?

You're right, that would be a tough equivalency comparison to make.

 

[Dubya C Dubya]

The Sporting News’ Mike DeCourcy has Kentucky in the No. 1 spot. ESPN has Arkansas No. 1 in its early rankings with Kentucky at No. 7. The 247Sports rankings have Arkansas No. 1 with Kentucky No. 2 — the same prediction that Sports Illustrated has. CBS Sports has John Calipari’s team No. 3 behind UCLA and North Carolina.

“Having Oscar is the difference between Kentucky being preseason No. 1 and a team that will still be very, very good,” DeCourcy said. “With Oscar in the lineup, Kentucky is as good a pick as anyone to win the national championship with what we know about rosters now.”


“There are a lot of unknowns,” DeCourcy said. “If you put Oscar with Sahvir, you have your point guard-post intact for next season. You have young wings (Cason Wallace, Chris Livingston) coming in. Daimion Collins says he is coming back. There is a lot of opportunity there to field a terrific team.”

“What was missing last year for Kentucky were great wings, guys who can guard on the perimeter and also shoot and make shots. (National champion) Kansas has two NBA wings. Kentucky had no one like they did. Next year’s group is supposed to be better and add Oscar to that and Kentucky will not miss a beat. I think they will be good next year even if Oscar is not back, but Kentucky has a chance to be great if Oscar is in the middle.”

Mike DeCourcy says Cats have chance to be great if Oscar Tshiebwe returns

National player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe will decide soon between turning pro or playing another season for Kentucky. (Photo by Vicky Graff)Should Kentucky basketball fans feel better because the way too early polls for the 2022-23

www.yoursportsedge.com

Can't be true. The people that think they are actually our best fans (laughable) say Wheeler needs to either beat it or come off the bench.

 

[RunninRichie]

Dude said Cason is a wing. Dead

 

[WhosInTheHouseTonightUK]

I think Oscar should play the three. Cal will develop his dribbling and perimeter skills. Jai Lucas will help develop Lance Ware and Collins down below too.

 

[billCgmx]

Not even worth discussing until we know who stays and who goes.

 

[Catclass15]

Is he aware that Cal is still the head coach?

 

[TankedCat]

with no Oscar or Sharpe, I don't see us in the top 15.

We may start out ranked high but we'll drop

 

[SosaUK87]

Yeah I don’t know about all that. At this moment, even with Oscar and Sharpe, the roster has way too many holes. IMO.

 

[SosaUK87]

So he’s comparing Livingston and... who? To a senior Agbaji and a junior Braun?

I thought he was comparing them to our wings this year. Saying we didn’t really have an elite one, they had two. He said Livingston and Wallace will or should be better. Who knows. I think Wallace is an absolute dog so I am pumped to see him. Livingston is an athletic freak, him and Collins should be dunking all over people.

 

[270to615]

“Kentucky had nobody like Kansas did” and yet UK beat their ass, at their gym, by how much?

 

[JonathanW]

IMO KU is the weakest/sorest champ since 2014 UCONN, maybe since much longer.

Before injuries hit we were playing the best in the Country. And if Oscar returns we could be that good or better.

 

[1Catmantoo]

Can't be true. The people that think they are actually our best fans (laughable) say Wheeler needs to either beat it or come off the bench.

Well, we have a lot of stupid fans who think they know way more than they actually do.

 

[playmorezeppelin]

We’ve been ranking preseason #1 more times than we haven’t over the last 12 years. It’s becoming more of a point of shame than pride.

 

[JC CATS]

Is he aware that Cal is still the head coach?

The same Cal who is in the hall of Fame? What have you accomplished in basketball again? I mean are we ever going to be able to discuss basketball again without asses highjacking the conversation. Yes I'm talking about you

 

[WhosInTheHouseTonightUK]

Yeah I don’t know about all that. At this moment, even with Oscar and Sharpe, the roster has way too many holes. IMO.

I was thinking the same thing. If I was this guy’s boss he’d be peeing in a 10-panel cup.

 

[dl51344]

Well, we have a lot of stupid fans who think they know way more than they actually do.

How do you know that you are not the one that doesn't know as much? Usually the word of many out weighs the word of one.

 

[kybassfan]

Is he aware that Cal is still the head coach?

Yup. But not everyone is a biased hater like you so they objectively see that as a positive and not a negative.

 

[Pulaski Cat Fan]

I'll have some of what Decourcy is smoking.

 

[JHannibalSmith]

I thought he was comparing them to our wings this year. Saying we didn’t really have an elite one, they had two. He said Livingston and Wallace will or should be better. Who knows. I think Wallace is an absolute dog so I am pumped to see him. Livingston is an athletic freak, him and Collins should be dunking all over people.

Depends on what he means by wings. I highly doubt Wallace & Livingston will be a better 2-3 combo than TyTy & Grady. At least, offensively. Wallace might be solid on the perimeter but Livingston is a work in progress. He’s more of a MKG type of 3 who will look to attack the basket, but, probably wont be a huge help from 3. If SW is starting at PG, we’re gonna need 3 reliable shooters on the floor most of the time or next year will end much like this season did. If he can stay healthy, Fredrick will be a ton of help. Assuming Cal will play him.

Personally, I’d love to see an upgrade at PG from the portal. A good shooting PG completely changes the dynamic & would make it easier to have 3 shooters on the floor while still playing Toppin, Collins or Livingston at the 4. I would also like to add a good shooting wing from the portal after Sharpe announces that he’s staying in the draft. If we don’t add a cpl more consistent shooters I just can’t see next season being much different than this one. Especially, if SW is getting 30+ mpg.

 

[cal=8]

Wheelers speed is elite. When Ty Ty and Grady were healthy we were deadly in transition. I love Wheelers game as long as he's not in a position where he feels he needs to shoot the 3 ball. That's certainly not his strength. His strength is his speed and creating for others. Really love what he brings when he's used properly. Kid gets a bad rap. He's a very good player.

 

[saxonburgcat]

Not even worth discussing until we know who stays and who goes.

Should we shut down the board? Posters have been discussing this since the season ended.

 

[HagginHall1999]

I have seen very little of Livingston but he looks really big with a good handle basing off JBC.

 

[billCgmx]

Should we shut down the board? Posters have been discussing this since the season ended.

That was directed towards the media guys who are making these predication without knowing who's going and who is staying.

 

[Runnin'Ramel]

Last thing we want to see is UK preseason #1 ... just leads to unreasonable expectations and opportunities for media to bash when expectations are unrealized. Oscar will be a great centerpiece, but he needs a lot more around him to warrant anything near a top 5 for UK with what other teams will boast for next season.

Without Oscar, UK isn't even top 25.

 

[MakinMusic]

😂

Calipari’s media buddy.

 

[FatestCat]

UK needs a back court star with Oscar. You saw it in the St. P loss. An extraordinary effort from Oscar wasn’t enough. Maybe Wallace is that guy but I really don’t want to go all in on a freshman come tournament time. We’ve seen it fail time after time with a few notable exceptions.

 

[JoeSwag]

Delusional. There’s no final four team for next year.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

We seem to see this often. UK #1. It has to be to get clicks or sell magazines because history has shown us we seldom start #1 and win it all. Few teams do.

My goal now as a UK fan is to get in the NCAA tournament and win the first game. Do that and we can talk about winning the second one.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

“Kentucky had nobody like Kansas did” and yet UK beat their ass, at their gym, by how much?

18 big uns. Game was over at half as we bossed by 20.

 

[Oboro3]

Having something positive to say about the Cats is like holy water on demons...I knew it would bring out the haters...

 

[oldsports_]

18 big uns. Game was over at half as we bossed by 20.

If we played KU again tomorrow, we win by 15+. Book it

 

[fatguy87]

Oscar is so good. He can drag most any team with halfway competent players around him into the top 10.

 

[saxonburgcat]

That was directed towards the media guys who are making these predication without knowing who's going and who is staying.

And, to be honest, my comment was directed toward RR making "these predication without knowing who's going and who is staying" and who is coming. I am actually glad the media are offsetting some of the negative Nancy's on this board.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

“Kentucky had nobody like Kansas did” and yet UK beat their ass, at their gym, by how much?

This is true. However, we didn’t have an elite wing that could get to the rack consistently. Not even Ty could drive the ball effectively. He couldn’t really play through contact, didn’t possess a great first step and wasn’t real athletic.

 

[Padsfs07]

The Sporting News’ Mike DeCourcy has Kentucky in the No. 1 spot. ESPN has Arkansas No. 1 in its early rankings with Kentucky at No. 7. The 247Sports rankings have Arkansas No. 1 with Kentucky No. 2 — the same prediction that Sports Illustrated has. CBS Sports has John Calipari’s team No. 3 behind UCLA and North Carolina.

Beyond UK and Tshiebwe's potential return, Arkansas should drop quite a bit if Jaylin Williams declares for the draft. They've lost 8 players from last years' team already and, while they are bringing in Nick Smith and some solid frontcourt transfers, they aren't Notae and Williams.

UCLA also has a lot of decisions coming this week. Bernard and Riley could decide not to use their covid eligibility year, while Juzang and Jaquez could still go pro. With everyone back and Bailey coming in, they are very good, but not if 4 starters bolt. My guess is Juzang and Riley are leaving though with Bailey and Adem Bona coming in. They would still be top 5 if that's the case.

Also, how is Duke not considered #1 with the top 3 overall recruits coming in?

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

If we played KU again tomorrow, we win by 15+. Book it

People said similar things like this following the WVU loss in 2010 and the Wisconsin loss in 2015.

It's s shame that our teams rarely finish the job when the games actually matter.