Has any previous incoming class received this much praise?

[Wall2Wall]

For the past few years going into a season I've always asked myself "does this team feel more like 2012 or 2013?" That's what it comes down to. Essentially the two extremes during Cal's tenure at UK. More like a title team or more like a disaster. Obviously every team will fall somewhere in the middle. But I remember talking with friends after the title team when we got Nerlens, had Archie Goodwin coming in, Uncle Julius transferred over and there was a ton of hype around Harrow who supposedly was the best point guard on the floor when practicing with the 2012 team the year before. We also had Alex Poythress who had the build of an NBA player coming out of high school and some tall, lanky kid named Willie Cauley Stein. Did any of you all know that he played football in high school?!?!?!

Last year's team with the trio of Monk/Fox/Bam felt like a title team. And honestly the title game could have been UK/UNC in terms of the quality of basketball teams that were remaining in the tournament. The year before however, even with a great backcourt of Ulis/Murray I'm still pretty sure that not many of us were expecting a championship after watching Skal become such a disappointment (all to him for killing it in the league though).

This team, while extremely long and athletic unfortunately feels more like 2013 than it does 2012 for me. I think there are some great pieces on this team that could stick around for the following season to build another one of Cal's super teams like we've seen in the past. Obviously I don't think they're going to have to play in the NIT, but it feels like a year that has a sweet 16 ceiling. And nobody hopes that I'm wrong more than myself.

 

[wcc31]

We'll struggle a bit early and in conference but by March we'll be a bear to play as usual.

This team is tough and physical. We'll rebound the ball. That 2013 team was soft. We won't have that issue. Offense will be ugly at times but Washington and Vanderbilt's interior passing should help.

 

[white10]

I think as a whole this team is very, very good and if a couple players step up their outside shooting, they could very well challenge for title. They'll put a lot of pressure on other teams defense trying to keep them from transition offense. Teams last year slowed Fox and Monk down on fast break offense. With this years team with it's speed, length and size will create a lot of mismatches for other teams defense in fast break offense. I think this years team will just ware teams down over a 40 min game. This years team doesn't drop off in talent when they sub like last years team.

Final 4 team!

 

[Grs51]

Another group of kids- some will be good some not so much. Just like every other year