Does the Bagley news hurt? Yes. But to me, UK still has the most versatile team in the country. So many interchangeable parts it's ridiculous. To me, there are 9 guys who will see playing time to start the season. As we know, that number usually gets trimmed down to about 8, sometimes 7, by the mid point of the season and towards SEC/NCAA tourney play.
To me, I think UK's strongest, hardest to guard line up, would be small ball. Get out and run, run, run. If needed on defense, you can switch virtually the 2-5 (even though I usually hate when UK's switches on defense. Would rather see them hedge and fight through the screens). Can press on defense and run and jump/rotate quickly. So here is my starting 5, with key reserves, to start the season...
PG: Green/Alexander... (To me, who ever comes out of camp running the team more effectively, starts. I think it will be Green, but I am not counting SGA at all.) Green will be a fan favorite with the way he plays. He is a bulldog, trash talking, get everyone involved type player. He has that Philly mentality and will be the vocal leader from day 1, in my opinion. SGA is a different type of player. He is extremely long, not overly quick, but has a great change of pace to his game and can shoot over and drive on virtually any college PG because he is so big (6'6) A little bit taller than Andrew Harrison. Both can be effective/reliable college shooters.
SG: Diallo... We obviously know about the kid's freakish athletic ability. If he can be anything close to a 33-37% 3 point shooter, he will be a nightmare for defenses because they will have to respect his jumper. When they close out, that is when he is at his best slashing to the hoop. He is also a good rebounder for a guard. He can be the lock down defender that UK needs on the perimeter because he is so long and quick laterally. He just has to want to do it. He has all the physical tools you could want in a SG. He is the wild card to me. I think at times he will frustrate the hell out of us with his nonchalant attitude, but when he is locked in and focused, he will be a good one. He will have at least one highlight reel dunk a game that will put your jaw on the floor.
SF: Knox... He is our best all around offensive player. Can stretch the floor, but is most effective when driving and shooting the mid range. Plays through contact extremely well. He does not shy away from contact, but rather embraces it, and finishes through the bumps. We have a running theme here with length. He can guard the 1-4. Underrated defender, but he will shine offensively from day 1.
PF: Vanderbilt/Gabriel... This is where I am stumped. I think Wenyen starts the season off as the starting PF, but I think Vanderbilt is just too valuable/versatile to keep on the bench. I know it doesn't matter who starts, but rather who finishes, so this battle has me most intrigued. Vanderbilt will be our swiss army knife, do everything type player. He can start the break off a defensive rebound as well as our guards. From what I can see, his jumper has greatly improved, he crashes the glass very hard, and plays hard all the time. Need him to stay healthy. He can also guard the 1-4, potentially 1-5 depending on the other teams line up. Gabriel, from what we have all been reading this summer, has been the best player on the floor (I know we hear this every year with certain players). He looks to have really worked on his body which will help him bang down low. We know he can be effective from 3 because we have seen it. Just needs to be more confident. I think his on ball defense needs to improve, but he is a solid weakside defender. Needs to rebound more effectively, and I think adding the weight will help.
PF: Washington... Absolute bruiser and beast when he wants to be. We all saw what he did at during the USA games. He was the best player on the floor. Tenacious rebounder, but can be foul prone with his aggressiveness (which is fine to me, would rather have that than be soft). He can also stretch the floor, good shooter for his size. But he will be most effective playing bully ball (Think Julius Randle, but longer). Here we go with the length again. He already has a college frame, and will only get stronger. Also an excellent trash talker. Can guard the 3-5, potentially.
I love this line up because it is so versatile and can fast break the hell out of teams, but can also be effective in the half court. Only problem this line up might run in to is if a team has a dominant big. Someone who stays in the post and just bangs the hell out of us (that is why we have a bench, though)
Bench: Assuming Green, Diallo, Knox, Vanderbilt, and Washington start....
Gabriel
Richards
SKJ
Baker
Wynyard ( I am going to assume by the end of the year that Baker and Wynyard are the odd men out, unless we get in to foul trouble, or need to bust a zone with Baker's shooting)
Sorry for the long post. Bosses are out of town. I know we have these types of post all the time. Just wanted to throw in my two cents.
Thoughts?
To me, I think UK's strongest, hardest to guard line up, would be small ball. Get out and run, run, run. If needed on defense, you can switch virtually the 2-5 (even though I usually hate when UK's switches on defense. Would rather see them hedge and fight through the screens). Can press on defense and run and jump/rotate quickly. So here is my starting 5, with key reserves, to start the season...
PG: Green/Alexander... (To me, who ever comes out of camp running the team more effectively, starts. I think it will be Green, but I am not counting SGA at all.) Green will be a fan favorite with the way he plays. He is a bulldog, trash talking, get everyone involved type player. He has that Philly mentality and will be the vocal leader from day 1, in my opinion. SGA is a different type of player. He is extremely long, not overly quick, but has a great change of pace to his game and can shoot over and drive on virtually any college PG because he is so big (6'6) A little bit taller than Andrew Harrison. Both can be effective/reliable college shooters.
SG: Diallo... We obviously know about the kid's freakish athletic ability. If he can be anything close to a 33-37% 3 point shooter, he will be a nightmare for defenses because they will have to respect his jumper. When they close out, that is when he is at his best slashing to the hoop. He is also a good rebounder for a guard. He can be the lock down defender that UK needs on the perimeter because he is so long and quick laterally. He just has to want to do it. He has all the physical tools you could want in a SG. He is the wild card to me. I think at times he will frustrate the hell out of us with his nonchalant attitude, but when he is locked in and focused, he will be a good one. He will have at least one highlight reel dunk a game that will put your jaw on the floor.
SF: Knox... He is our best all around offensive player. Can stretch the floor, but is most effective when driving and shooting the mid range. Plays through contact extremely well. He does not shy away from contact, but rather embraces it, and finishes through the bumps. We have a running theme here with length. He can guard the 1-4. Underrated defender, but he will shine offensively from day 1.
PF: Vanderbilt/Gabriel... This is where I am stumped. I think Wenyen starts the season off as the starting PF, but I think Vanderbilt is just too valuable/versatile to keep on the bench. I know it doesn't matter who starts, but rather who finishes, so this battle has me most intrigued. Vanderbilt will be our swiss army knife, do everything type player. He can start the break off a defensive rebound as well as our guards. From what I can see, his jumper has greatly improved, he crashes the glass very hard, and plays hard all the time. Need him to stay healthy. He can also guard the 1-4, potentially 1-5 depending on the other teams line up. Gabriel, from what we have all been reading this summer, has been the best player on the floor (I know we hear this every year with certain players). He looks to have really worked on his body which will help him bang down low. We know he can be effective from 3 because we have seen it. Just needs to be more confident. I think his on ball defense needs to improve, but he is a solid weakside defender. Needs to rebound more effectively, and I think adding the weight will help.
PF: Washington... Absolute bruiser and beast when he wants to be. We all saw what he did at during the USA games. He was the best player on the floor. Tenacious rebounder, but can be foul prone with his aggressiveness (which is fine to me, would rather have that than be soft). He can also stretch the floor, good shooter for his size. But he will be most effective playing bully ball (Think Julius Randle, but longer). Here we go with the length again. He already has a college frame, and will only get stronger. Also an excellent trash talker. Can guard the 3-5, potentially.
I love this line up because it is so versatile and can fast break the hell out of teams, but can also be effective in the half court. Only problem this line up might run in to is if a team has a dominant big. Someone who stays in the post and just bangs the hell out of us (that is why we have a bench, though)
Bench: Assuming Green, Diallo, Knox, Vanderbilt, and Washington start....
Gabriel
Richards
SKJ
Baker
Wynyard ( I am going to assume by the end of the year that Baker and Wynyard are the odd men out, unless we get in to foul trouble, or need to bust a zone with Baker's shooting)
Sorry for the long post. Bosses are out of town. I know we have these types of post all the time. Just wanted to throw in my two cents.
Thoughts?
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