Diallo's experience critical for young team

[IL Wildcat]

It's been well documented already- next year's Kentucky basketball team will be loaded with youth, the youngest of the Calipari era. Well, now with Diallo officially in the fold for next season, that experience he had from January to March will be critically important to such a young team. He saw the struggles. He saw the road venues. He saw what it was like to go to an Elite 8 and be right on the verge of making a Final 4. He practiced against Fox, Monk, and Briscoe everyday. He knows what it takes. He knows the pressure. He knows the struggles and the thrills. He knows what Calipari expects and wants on the floor.

To me, his experience is the most important because he will be a starter from day one and he will likely have the ball in his hands often. Now that we know he's back, that experience becomes huge for such a young team.

 

[trenupe2k2]

It's been well documented already- next year's Kentucky basketball team will be loaded with youth, the youngest of the Calipari era. Well, now with Diallo officially in the fold for next season, that experience he had from January to March will be critically important to such a young team. He saw the struggles. He saw the road venues. He saw what it was like to go to an Elite 8 and be right on the verge of making a Final 4. He practiced against Fox, Monk, and Briscoe everyday. He knows what it takes. He knows the pressure. He knows the struggles and the thrills. He knows what Calipari expects and wants on the floor.

To me, his experience is the most important because he will be a starter from day one and he will likely have the ball in his hands often. Now that we know he's back, that experience becomes huge for such a young team.

i agree i think people underestimating the experience we have in hami sacha wenyen and even tai...even tho its not much but its something.

 

[kybassfan]

There is a certain irony at play. One of our experienced players has logged zero minutes in uniform.

That doesn't happen every day.

 

[coolioo1]

Question is how much did Diallo absorb. At least we know he had to learn how to sleep, eat and study as a UK player. That is worth a lot right their. Probably the biggest shock for these kids is that routine.

We had Willis and Dom last year, but let's not kid ourselves, it was only Dom that was an example. I always laugh when people say that in 2012 UK had leaders like lamb and Jones. HA. THose two were NOT leaders. Lamb was a jokester and Jones was a head case. And then Miller had at least been around but no one wold have labeled him as a take charge kind of guy. It was ALL MKG that year dragging that team along and challenging everyone!!! THe senior that all experts say "calipari had a senior leader" nickname was Daripearous.

 

[BlueBomb]

Experience? Really?

I remember back when that word meant something else entirely.

 

[Cats192]

I think having him get yelled at by Cal, and him seeing why the others got yelled at will serve him well.

This team made huge strides at the end of the season, and I think he had a chance to see that first hand. Hopefully seeing before and after will also serve him well.

 

[KyFaninNC]

Appreciate the op's positive outlook but I don't see it. WG is basically the only one that played many minutes. So he is the only experience we really have.

 

[TysonD44]

I agree with the OP in the aspect that we have not much but some experience at every position: Hami even though he didn't play will be there to assist all guards, WG can help the wings and SKJ/Tai can help the bigs learn the system and how Cal wants them to play.

 

[YouKay]

It's going to be a lot like 2013/14 in terms of youth, but I think this group is less likely to drop the games that team did, especially later in the season. I don't think there will be chemistry issues and these guards are not the black holes the Harrisons were in their first year. That team really only had WCS and Poythress as veterans, and WCS was just a sophomore. In this respect the extra year of experience Diallo has under his belt could be extremely important.

Green, Knox, Vanderbilt, Washington, and Richards at least also played in top high school programs and leagues and in some big time games. Green and Richards played for tough coaches too and have pushed themselves hard to get better. Green is a vocal leader on and off the floor. I can't wait to see him and Diallo destroying defenses and getting after it themselves on D.

 

[ubtrapper]

I think of Harrow when you talk about being on the team and that experience being invaluable. He was with the team the whole season he sat out and Cal put the keys in his hands to run the team. We see how that turned out.
He was the worst of the Cal era in my opinion. He saw Cal yell and all those things for a year and then he couldn't handle it when it was his turn.
So I don't think that kind of experience helps much. Playing the games do.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

It's been well documented already- next year's Kentucky basketball team will be loaded with youth, the youngest of the Calipari era. Well, now with Diallo officially in the fold for next season, that experience he had from January to March will be critically important to such a young team. He saw the struggles. He saw the road venues. He saw what it was like to go to an Elite 8 and be right on the verge of making a Final 4. He practiced against Fox, Monk, and Briscoe everyday. He knows what it takes. He knows the pressure. He knows the struggles and the thrills. He knows what Calipari expects and wants on the floor.

To me, his experience is the most important because he will be a starter from day one and he will likely have the ball in his hands often. Now that we know he's back, that experience becomes huge for such a young team.

I think ILW means experience in the system, which is very important. Hami understands what is required in practice and game prep. That much, at least, should serve him well.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

I think of Harrow when you talk about being on the team and that experience being invaluable. He was with the team the whole season he sat out and Cal put the keys in his hands to run the team. We see how that turned out.
He was the worst of the Cal era in my opinion. He saw Cal yell and all those things for a year and then he couldn't handle it when it was his turn.
So I don't think that kind of experience helps much. Playing the games do.

Harrow was a head case and that makes him a bad analogy.

 

[Deli owl]

I expect a lot more from all the sophs.

 

[KyFaninNC]

I think of Harrow when you talk about being on the team and that experience being invaluable. He was with the team the whole season he sat out and Cal put the keys in his hands to run the team. We see how that turned out.
He was the worst of the Cal era in my opinion. He saw Cal yell and all those things for a year and then he couldn't handle it when it was his turn.
So I don't think that kind of experience helps much. Playing the games do.

One of the first of the snow flake generation.

 

[IL Wildcat]

I think ILW means experience in the system, which is very important. Hami understands what is required in practice and game prep. That much, at least, should serve him well.

Yes, I suppose some may say I'm being too optimistic. But you're right, I'm not referring to game action, obviously. I'm talking about seeing first hand what it takes to be a success at this level. He also has seen first hand SEC road venues, what UK faces as the standard bearer of the conference, what an NCAA tournament is like, what the intensity of those big games is like, and what Calipari expects and wants from his players.

Think about it. Who else in America has an incoming freshman who was able to play and practice with the team and the coaching staff during the most critical time period of their previous season? It is unique and it is beneficial.

As for the Harrow comparison, you can't really compare that. Harrow was a very different player from any other we've seen at UK under Calipari. The spotlight and microscope didn't suit him at all. You can't compare him to Diallo. He also didn't have anywhere close to the same measurables and ability.

 

[LeonThe Camel]

It's been well documented already- next year's Kentucky basketball team will be loaded with youth, the youngest of the Calipari era. Well, now with Diallo officially in the fold for next season, that experience he had from January to March will be critically important to such a young team. He saw the struggles. He saw the road venues. He saw what it was like to go to an Elite 8 and be right on the verge of making a Final 4. He practiced against Fox, Monk, and Briscoe everyday. He knows what it takes. He knows the pressure. He knows the struggles and the thrills. He knows what Calipari expects and wants on the floor.

To me, his experience is the most important because he will be a starter from day one and he will likely have the ball in his hands often. Now that we know he's back, that experience becomes huge for such a young team.

Some of this is plain silly. SKJ brings 0 experience. What is he going to tell the new guys, if I was in the game I would do ....
Game experience is gained through playing. The one advantage we have over others is our players play and learn from their mistakes. Other teams put in young players and pull them when a mistake is made.
Diallo offers no experience either. He practiced against Monk and Fox, that is it.
Gabriel at least played int he games. But even with his time, it is hard for a player to listen to a guy that will be playing behind you.
Experience is overrated anyhow.

 

[kybassfan]

Yes, I suppose some may say I'm being too optimistic. But you're right, I'm not referring to game action, obviously. I'm talking about seeing first hand what it takes to be a success at this level. He also has seen first hand SEC road venues, what UK faces as the standard bearer of the conference, what an NCAA tournament is like, what the intensity of those big games is like, and what Calipari expects and wants from his players.

Think about it. Who else in America has an incoming freshman who was able to play and practice with the team and the coaching staff during the most critical time period of their previous season? It is unique and it is beneficial.

As for the Harrow prediction, you can't really compare that. Harrow was a very different player from any other we've seen at UK under Calipari. The spotlight and microscope didn't suit him at all. You can't compare him to Diallo. He also didn't have anywhere close to the same measurables and ability.

I don't think you are wrong at all. To make one point, Booker was once asked about the biggest change when he moved up to college bb. His response was the speed of the game.

Diallo has been playing against Fox, who has a tiny bit of speed himself. According to Fox, Diallo was very competitive. Bringing that in early practice to beginning freshmen can only have a positive effect.

 

[shaolin style]

I think of Harrow when you talk about being on the team and that experience being invaluable. He was with the team the whole season he sat out and Cal put the keys in his hands to run the team. We see how that turned out.
He was the worst of the Cal era in my opinion. He saw Cal yell and all those things for a year and then he couldn't handle it when it was his turn.
So I don't think that kind of experience helps much. Playing the games do.

The fact is that Harrow was and is not at the same talent level as almost all other players Cal has recruited. All the experience in the world isn't going to make him better than Wall / knight / Bledsoe / Murray / Ulis / Fox the list goes on and on.

The same can be said at other positions.

 

[shaolin style]

Experience is overrated anyhow.

Yes.

 

[caneintally]

I think of Harrow when you talk about being on the team and that experience being invaluable. He was with the team the whole season he sat out and Cal put the keys in his hands to run the team. We see how that turned out.
He was the worst of the Cal era in my opinion. He saw Cal yell and all those things for a year and then he couldn't handle it when it was his turn.
So I don't think that kind of experience helps much. Playing the games do.

How he turned out had nothing to do with experience or lack thereof . It was about his attitude and lack of . Like Skal he was a wilting flower and Cal will burn down those types. You have to either let stuff role off you like Monk does or you have to attack back like Briscoe did .

Diallo's experience next season will be huge IMO . He knows what goes into game day and prep and that is a big transitition for young guys.

 

[Blueathletics]

Give me the guys who actually got in games and had to endure the wrath of Cal first

 

[WildMoon]

Experience?

What experience...

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Harrow was a head case and that makes him a bad analogy.

Exactly. Trapper needs to try thinking harder IMO.

 

[UKGrad93]

His semester of practice will be a benefit no doubt. But I'm not sure how much that will translate to game situations. I will be pretty nervous if this team gets down by 10 pts in the first half. How will they respond?

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

I think you are overvaluing the "experience" of one semester's practice and sitting on the bench knowing that you will never enter a game.
He does have a significant advantage in maturity over the other freshman by being a almost sophomore by August and by participating in the combine.
Maturity will definitely give him a heads up on being a leader but game experience can only be gotten by, well, playing in a game.

 

[hotelblue]

i think diallo is going to be a leader on the floor. it will be green's team to run and i expect some leadership from our too returning bigs. i can see gabriel providing leadership on the floor too.

i really like the dynamic for possible team chemistry. this reminds me of '14. our freshman will get all the minutes and we have a couple sophomore returning with limited experience. without upperclassmen this team will have to find itself and come together as a complete group. it happened in '14 and we went to the final four. and this team has one thing that team didn't, major depth in talent. i can see this group becoming tight and therefore playing great as a team by season's end. in an era of "star" players we have a group where everyone has something in common (youth, high expectations). i think this team will bond.

 

[BBUK]

I see it has gone from the worry about who's on the roster to the worry about the experience on the roster. Talking about it is great if it doesn't leach into worry. Trust Cal a little bit he's got this....what a ride...again...Go CATS..

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

It can't hurt. This will probably be one of those years we lose a few more games early in the season while our players are adjusting to the speed of the college level. I never worry when we're dealing with young players with Cal as coach. The dude knows what he is doing. Our young players are not the type to think they will come off the bench and learn behind older players before starting. Our guys come here while thinking of starting from day 1 and destroying college basketball from day 1. When you have kids with talent that think like that with Cal as coach, it usually means you don't want to face Kentucky come March. Losing games early on really means nothing. March is what most fans remember most. This should be one of Cal's longest while still being quick teams ever. We have to wait and see what happens, but I'll just say I love the way our roster looks going into next season.

 

[BlueSince92]

You know what, this whole experience question makes me very thankful for Tai. He may not have skills or finesse but he can lay it down on Richards in practice--legal or otherwise. Timewise that's 90% of the opportunities Richards will have to grow and our whole season may just come down to that.

 

[IL Wildcat]

I think some of responses to this thread have taken what I've said to a bit of an extreme. I never said that Diallo's experience of practicing with the team and seeing first hand of the things last season's team endured down the stretch is equivalent to having played in those games and experienced those things himself.

What I'm saying is that Diallo is not like any other freshman coming in from high school. I'm saying that he has practiced against some of the best and knows what Calipari expects. He knows what Cal wants and he understands Calipari's system.

Answer this simple question: which is better, a kid coming to UK straight from high school being asked to lead UK or a guy with Diallo's experience from last winter and spring? The answer is simple and obvious. That's what I'm saying. We have the youngest team Cal has had. It helps that Diallo has had a unique experience with last year's team.

By the way, if anyone here is being critical of this thread because you think I'm advocating Calipari trying to sign mid-term guys every season, you're wrong. I'm simply addressing the positive impact Diallo's unique experience could have on next year's team.

 

[westerncat]

I agree with IL Wildcat on this. Was it Fox who said that practices were harder than the games. Diallo, Gabriel & even Tai knows what practice is like and what Cal wants. Be thankful for that.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

I think some of responses to this thread have taken what I've said to a bit of an extreme. I never said that Diallo's experience of practicing with the team and seeing first hand of the things last season's team endured down the stretch is equivalent to having played in those games and experienced those things himself.

What I'm saying is that Diallo is not like any other freshman coming in from high school. I'm saying that he has practiced against some of the best and knows what Calipari expects. He knows what Cal wants and he understands Calipari's system.

Answer this simple question: which is better, a kid coming to UK straight from high school being asked to lead UK or a guy with Diallo's experience from last winter and spring? The answer is simple and obvious. That's what I'm saying. We have the youngest team Cal has had. It helps that Diallo has had a unique experience with last year's team.

By the way, if anyone here is being critical of this thread because you think I'm advocating Calipari trying to sign mid-term guys every season, you're wrong. I'm simply addressing the positive impact Diallo's unique experience could have on next year's team.

Actually it would be best to have a sophomore who had played in all those games. Plenty of other schools have that and more. It's a rarity at UK.

HD has a lot of things to draw on from last year. He also will be under a lot of scrutiny/pressure because if what's happened since. That's also unique.

 

[Fawrules]

Bit random, but watching videos of his game play, you know, for a kid that supposedly struggles with shooting, he seems to have pretty nice form on his jump shot. Gives me hope that he can find it in college and be at least a serviceable 3-Point/Mid-range shooter.

 

[kyups01]

People are acting like Diallo is 5th year senior just because he practiced with the team for a couple of months.

 

[Bryo72]

It's been well documented already- next year's Kentucky basketball team will be loaded with youth, the youngest of the Calipari era. Well, now with Diallo officially in the fold for next season, that experience he had from January to March will be critically important to such a young team. He saw the struggles. He saw the road venues. He saw what it was like to go to an Elite 8 and be right on the verge of making a Final 4. He practiced against Fox, Monk, and Briscoe everyday. He knows what it takes. He knows the pressure. He knows the struggles and the thrills. He knows what Calipari expects and wants on the floor.

To me, his experience is the most important because he will be a starter from day one and he will likely have the ball in his hands often. Now that we know he's back, that experience becomes huge for such a young team.

Absolutely agree!

 

[Bryo72]

I think of Harrow when you talk about being on the team and that experience being invaluable. He was with the team the whole season he sat out and Cal put the keys in his hands to run the team. We see how that turned out.
He was the worst of the Cal era in my opinion. He saw Cal yell and all those things for a year and then he couldn't handle it when it was his turn.
So I don't think that kind of experience helps much. Playing the games do.

All do respect Trapper...Ryan Harrow compared Diallo terrible comparison.... Harrow had no self confidence to begin with. .

 

[poppycat]

I'm saying that he and knows what Calipari expects. He knows what Cal wants and he understands Calipari's system.


What you just said describes a majority of all poster on this board, or
so they claim