I think CMP has adopted an NBA approach

[Kybluedude]

Chandler said he noticed CMP’s ability to change. He adjusted when unfortunately the injury bug got us last year. At first I thought his recruiting reflected that potential problem but now…

Looking at our roster I think Mark sees the 2 NBA finalist successfully using their depth as more of a weapon than the rest of the league. Therefore our stacked roster. We are going to see that multiple player aggressive approach using a lot or most of the bench.

And why not. Have about 7 or 8 guys averaging 7 or more points and it certainly makes morale and practices better when a player knows he’s getting in. I like it.

 

[MegaBlue05]

I’m with you. I always preferred to use depth to grind teams down like we did in the Pitino days. To me, that’s better than rolling with 7 guys, riding them into the ground and literally praying for no injuries.

The key to using depth as an advantage is quality depth, and I think Pope is taking that approach. I also think it fosters competitiveness in practice and also allows for multiple contingency plans when someone has an off night or foul trouble.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

I hope he uses the bench.

But the players last year didn’t appear to be in good shape.

 

[Fox2monk]

I’m with you. I always preferred to use depth to grind teams down like we did in the Pitino days. To me, that’s better than rolling with 7 guys, riding them into the ground and literally praying for no injuries.

The key to using depth as an advantage is quality depth, and I think Pope is taking that approach. I also think it fosters competitiveness in practice and also allows for multiple contingency plans when someone has an off night or foul trouble.

That’s why Auburn was so tough last year, they had quality depth all along the roster.

 

[catfan220]

Chandler said he noticed CMP’s ability to change. He adjusted when unfortunately the injury bug got us last year. At first I thought his recruiting reflected that potential problem but now…

Looking at our roster I think Mark sees the 2 NBA finalist successfully using their depth as more of a weapon than the rest of the league. Therefore our stacked roster. We are going to see that multiple player aggressive approach using a lot or most of the bench.

And why not. Have about 7 or 8 guys averaging 7 or more points and it certainly makes morale and practices better when a player knows he’s getting in. I like it.

Nice observation and I’d love to hear someone in the media ask him to comment on that at the next press conference. His answers tend to be thoughtful on bball strategy questions

 

[Aike]

The other part is that these guys are all pros now. Part of being a pro is that some nights you are a DNP, but you’re still getting paid so you wait your turn.

With a roster this deep, mindset may be the difference between an elite run and breaking down due to bruised egos.

 

[davekersey]

Coach is a Pitino disciple and so I'm thinking with this depth that there will be the full court press utilized

 

[SemperFiCat]

I think there's very little worry about Pope using our depth. The bigger questions are, 1) are guys going to live up to their biling, and 2) can we maintain good chemistry. Now, I'm not saying I have worries about the last two. Just that to me, those are bigger questions than if Pope will aim to utilize depth as a weapon.

 

[Bungalow Bill]

I think there's very little worry about Pope using our depth. The bigger questions are, 1) are guys going to live up to their biling, and 2) can we maintain good chemistry. Now, I'm not saying I have worries about the last two. Just that to me, those are bigger questions than if Pope will aim to utilize depth as a weapon.

Pretty sure as long as Pope is the coach there won't be chemistry issues. He seem like a person that unites players. Great attribute as a coach. Get everybody rowing the same direction to achieve the team goals. He recruits those type players. Love it.

 

[WildcatNC]

The primary part of the game that is exhausting is Defense. The advantage of having a deep versatile lineup is absolutely dogging teams on the defensive end. Helps a lot with all of our offball motion on offense as well, but I'd like to demoralize teams like those mid 90s teams did.

 

[TucsonCat]

I agree he wants depth. I don't know if it has to do with pro mentality. Not to be too critical, he thinks too much and wants to do everything. I think that's why he was making some bad substitutions last season. I sort of wouldn't mind if some of his toys got taken away and he was forced to stick with his best lineups.

 

[awf]

I think there's very little worry about Pope using our depth. The bigger questions are, 1) are guys going to live up to their biling, and 2) can we maintain good chemistry. Now, I'm not saying I have worries about the last two. Just that to me, those are bigger questions than if Pope will aim to utilize depth as a weapon.

I just don't envision chemistry problems with our teams under Pope........he just seems like the kind of guy that makes you want to give more than you got no matter what.....

 

[UKBB4Ever]

I agree he wants depth. I don't know if it has to do with pro mentality. Not to be too critical, he thinks too much and wants to do everything. I think that's why he was making some bad substitutions last season. I sort of wouldn't mind if some of his toys got taken away and he was forced to stick with his best lineups.

He does over coach at times. Too much analytics and not enough feel.

But he was limited last season.

He’s not limited now.

We see the real coach Pope this season.

I think he will be excellent.

 

[Short-Dawg-69]

Coach is a Pitino disciple and so I'm thinking with this depth that there will be the full court press utilized

Agreed

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Coach is a Pitino disciple and so I'm thinking with this depth that there will be the full court press utilized

Doubt that will be used a whole lot. As was pointed out recently on Sources Say, the press is used very differently today than it was in the early-mid 1990s, largely due to the changes in the sport. Back in the 1990s, presses were used to speed up the game. Today, presses have the opposite effect —- they are now used as a change of pace and typically slow the game down. Teams that want to increase pace will not rely on pressing. It’s interesting because we do have a team that could wreak havoc with defensive pressure but is Pope willing to decrease pace as a sacrifice? Personally, I don’t think that’s in his philosophical approach but we will see.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Doubt that will be used a whole lot. As was pointed out recently on Sources Say, the press is used very differently today than it was in the early-mid 1990s, largely due to the changes in the sport. Back in the 1990s, presses were used to speed up the game. Today, presses have the opposite effect —- they are now used as a change of pace and typically slow the game down. Teams that want to increase pace will not rely on pressing. It’s interesting because we do have a team that could wreak havoc with defensive pressure but is Pope willing to decrease pace as a sacrifice? Personally, I don’t think that’s in his philosophical approach but we will see.

Yes. Things are different and rules are different.

Pitino doesn’t coach the way he did then now.

Just comparing Pitino and Cal because the preference is stark.

Cal prefers a containment defense. He loves the blocked shot. He’s about first shot defense and then rebounding. He doesn’t want gambling for steals. His last few teams here lacked rebounding, excepting Oscar, so the foundation fell apart.

Pitino prefers a disruptive defense. He charted deflections. He wanted you out of rhythm. He used the press more to wear teams down too.

He wanted his teams in superior condition so that once the other team hit the wall we were still fresh.

And it worked. A lot of teams stayed close for 30 minutes then got blown out.

Pope seems to fall somewhere in between the two.

We really don’t know exactly what Pope wants to do. He threw a team together on the fly last season.

And did great with it. Now he has team made up the way he wants and has a foundation laid with returning players and coaching staff that all know the blueprint.

I think it will be exciting to watch it come together.

Pope is much more of an offensive coach too. He wants to average in the 90 point per game area.

I like that too. 🏀

 

[FilsonCat]

Coach is a Pitino disciple and so I'm thinking with this depth that there will be the full court press utilized

I don't see us pressing, outside of the rare situations where a press makes sense. There are too many players who can handle well and pass these days for a press to work well consistently.

You can play physically and at a higher tempo on both ends with the kind of depth that we have. I think you'll see more utilization management and fewer gimmicks with this team. We don't have as many bad defenders to hide either.

 

[un4getables]

I hope he uses the bench.

But the players last year didn’t appear to be in good shape.

🤣🤣🤣🤣😳

 

[dckala2]

Pope will become a better coach along with the better players he can get here. Gonna be a fun 5 years. fanbase wants an sec championship and a final four bad.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

🤣🤣🤣🤣😳

😁

 

[It'saDoneDeal]

CMP likes BBW like OP’s mom. And my mom TBH.

 

[Kybluedude]

Thunder with quality depth. One superstar plus another very good player. The rest are good role players with specific individual skills that blended in perfectly.

I think, more than ever, think Mark is going to emulate the Thunder NBA style.
The Pacers do the same with their roster.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

With the quantity of highly skilled players on the roster we should be able to wear most teams down. Who else matches our overall one through 14 roster?

 

[Kybluedude]

Big key is will our guys accept a specific defined role. Might be a coming off the bench, defensive stopper, spot up shooter, rim protector, tempo changer, enforcer, etc.

 

[WallMashKyBall]

I'm kinda what. Thunder played SGA and Williams into the ground, but it worked. Hawthorne went down and Pacers couldn't deal with loss of superstar. So don't know why y'all are saying those teams are all about platooning.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Pope bringing in plenty of tough, physical and high intensity guys and building the high quality depth he has he looks serious backing up his words of wanting to dominate and win everyday and win everything forever. Wanting to put us not only at the top of college basketball but do it every year in a dominating fashion.

 

[Kybluedude]

I'm kinda what. Thunder played SGA and Williams into the ground, but it worked. Hawthorne went down and Pacers couldn't deal with loss of superstar. So don't know why y'all are saying those teams are all about platooning.

Must have missed Hawthorne going down.

Both teams subbed a ton. Sure the superstars played more minutes like on every team but both were 2 and 3 deep at all positions.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

He does over coach at times. Too much analytics and not enough feel.

But he was limited last season.

He’s not limited now.

We see the real coach Pope this season.

I think he will be excellent.

I disagree. How does one judge a coach not using enough"feel". As for analytics how many of his in-game decisions were based on them and how would we have any way of knowing.