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If Cal runs with 7 guys like he has said...

BlueCat43

BlueCat43

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Sep 21, 2010
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...who doesn't get in the rotation out of these 8 guys:

Ulis
Murray
Briscoe
Matthews
Lee
Poythress
Skal
Mulder

That is not even considering Humphries, Hawkins, or Willis. We have AT THE VERY LEAST 8 guys that deserve minutes and probably some spot minutes for another one to three.
 
I see a lot of "situational basketball" for us this year. The minutes people play will vary widely based on who we play. For example, if we play a big, physical team that's outrebounding us by 15 at the half, you'll probably see a little more Matthews on the wing than Mulder, Murray spending more time at the two than three, and probably a lot of Lee. If we're playing a smaller team, you'll probably see us run a lot of the Ulis/Briscoe/Murray look and a little bit less Lee. Mulder will probably be our designated "go in and hit a three pointer" guy, so I look for him to be inserted when the offense is a little stymied or when we need to beat a zone. I also see Skal struggling with foul trouble early on, so I think a lot of our big guy rotation will be dependent on who is in foul trouble.

Personally, I'd like to see something like this:

Ulis: 31 mpg
Murray: 29 mpg
Matthews: 23 mpg
Poythress: 26 mpg
Skal: 28 mpg

Briscoe: 26 mpg
Lee: 23 mpg
Mulder: 10 mpg
Willis/Humphries/Hawkins: 4 mpg
 
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BlueCat43 said:
...who doesn't get in the rotation out of these 8 guys:

Ulis
Murray
Briscoe
Matthews
Lee
Poythress
Skal
Mulder

That is not even considering Humphries, Hawkins, or Willis. We have AT THE VERY LEAST 8 guys that deserve minutes and probably some spot minutes for another one to three.
Click to expand...

Mulder
 
I think we'll play 9-10 guys for most of the first part of the season. Cal doesn't even know yet what his rotation will be. I'd guess 7.5. :)
 
How nice is it to have a legit 11 guys that can play if you need them. That isn't even counting E.J. who was holding his own against the big boys last night and could fill a Polson type roll if his number got called. That is ridiculous.

For reference, can anybody name some of the 11th-12th men on other major D1 teams? (i.e. Duke, Kansas, Maryland, UNC)
 
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I think it will be somewhat different every game as well. Humphries will get more time versus bigger, slower opponents or if we need to draw their big man out. Mulder and Willis if we need threes depending on who's hot that night. etc...
 
I dont understand how everyone dismisses Mulder ao quickly. Did he not look like a great shooter last night?? He also played pretty good D and helped move the ball well on O. He looked like our most reliable outside shooter. What dis I miss that makes everyone think he doesn't see the court much?? I know that ulis, murray, briscoe and matthews all looked great too....but for my money, mulder shoots well enough to absolutely get mins every game. I juat think Cal is gonna have to go 9-10 deep again. We have the horses, use them.
 
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stuway said:
I dont understand how everyone dismisses Mulder ao quickly. Did he not look like a great shooter last night?? He also played pretty good D and helped move the ball well on O. He looked like our most reliable outside shooter. What dis I miss that makes everyone think he doesn't see the court much?? I know that ulis, murray, briscoe and matthews all looked great too....but for my money, mulder shoots well enough to absolutely get mins every game. I juat think Cal is gonna have to go 9-10 deep again. We have the horses, use them.
Click to expand...
I agree on Mulder. Don't know why people aren't very high on him. I think in the end Cal has to go 8 deep with a couple other guys getting minutes in situations. I don't think he will go with a 9-10 man rotation just because he said he wouldn't and wants to stick by that, but I do think that 9-10 guys will get minutes in probably 1/3 to 1/2 of our games this year.
 
It's a long, grinding season. There is no reason to shorten a rotation until at least February. Cal will play 9 or even 10 through the middle of the conference schedule. Then, barring injury, he'll make the tough calls on the final rotation, with four months worth of data to make the decision easier.
 
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Mulder/Matthews will split minutes IMO

It's a hard choice...by saying Mulder doesn't make the cut is not knocking on his game at all, it's just we have better talent at the guard position...and I think he ultimately goes with 8 most of the way. But he is no way playing more than 8, that is back to platooning which will never happen again.
 
havent seen much out of mulder to be honest. think we would get more out of mathews and willis for wing/guard positions
 
Mulder could very well end up playing a role like Wiltjer did in 11-12. He'll come in for 3 point shooting. If he's on, he'll get some run. If not, he'll see little time on the floor. Hopefully his game turns out to be a little more diverse, but last night, 10 of his 13 shots were 3's.

And I think Humphries could end up playing more than expected, because I think rebounding is a question mark with this team. Skal should be OK, but it's not his strength. You never know with Alex, and you still don't know with Lee. Cal's never had a team at that really struggled on the boards (though he's had some that went through stretches of allowing far too many offensive boards), and if this one does, I suspect he'll turn to Humphries to get some bulk in the lane.
 
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MdWIldcat55 said:
By the way, most teams don't use a tight seven-man rotation, even in the Final Four when its all on the line. Duke played eight guys more than 10 minutes, Michigan State played TEN guys more than ten minutes. Kentucky played eight. Only Wisconsin played fewer than eight guys double digit minutes.
Click to expand...

From 2010:

"Wooden apparently had watched Kentucky play this season. Word got to Calipari that Wooden had seen the Cats play. And Calipari, who incessantly searches for confirmation in what he's doing, sought council in the most recognized name in the sport.

"He told me I was playing too many guys,'' Calipari said. "I told him the best team I coached, I only played six guys at UMass [in 1996]. The problem is that I've got a lot of guys who deserve to play.''...

"The option is to tell everyone to be ready and if one guy is playing well then accept that,'' Calipari said. "In the NCAA tournament, as you know, you really only play seven or eight. But Wooden's point was to do that now. He's probably right. I try to make too many people happy."

He's always said this - that he prefers a rotation of 7 or 8. Then again, even though he's always said it, we've had at least 2 teams where more than that played.....
 
My reason on Mulder is as follows:
1 Ulis
2 Murray
3 Briscoe
4 Matthews
5 Mulder

it's a numbers game and not a slight on Mulder.

But Matthews will play some at the 4... Tell that to Poy and Lee and Willis.
 
mj2k10 said:
Mulder could very well end up playing a role like Wiltjer did in 11-12. He'll come in for 3 point shooting. If he's on, he'll get some run. If not, he'll see little time on the floor. Hopefully his game turns out to be a little more diverse, but last night, 10 of his 13 shots were 3's.

And I think Humphries could end up playing more than expected, because I think rebounding is a question mark with this team. Skal should be OK, but it's not his strength. You never know with Alex, and you still don't know with Lee. Cal's never had a team at that really struggled on the boards (though he's had some that went through stretches of allowing far too many offensive boards), and if this one does, I suspect he'll turn to Humphries to get some bulk in the lane.
Click to expand...
All of this is spot on . Humphries is way too good not to play alot , just the fact of the matter. Mulder will have a very simliar role to the one Kyle in 12' in that he will come in for 3-5 minutes a half and make a 3 or 2 and then go back to the bench .
 
BlueCat43 said:
How nice is it to have a legit 11 guys that can play if you need them. That isn't even counting E.J. who was holding his own against the big boys last night and could fill a Polson type roll if his number got called. That is ridiculous.

For reference, can anybody name some of the 11th-12th men on other major D1 teams? (i.e. Duke, Kansas, Maryland, UNC)
Click to expand...
Ehhhh... I am not sure how many fans of other teams could name anyone outside of our top 6. Many may not even be familiar with Matthews/Humphries/Wilis, Let alone E.J.
 
7 are obvious, from there it will be situational as others have said or someone really steps up as someone he really trusts. It's going to be fun and lots of debate.
Willis is the biggest wildcard. I need to see Mulder more. Humphries is a year away to have the strength for consistent minutes. I am very biased with Hawkins, love his energy, athleticism, and bball IQ.
 
From my chair: Murray and Ulis should play as much as their bodies allow. After that, the perimeter minutes will revolve with the others.
 
There is absolutely no way Willis doesn't deserve to play. I don't want to hear this crap about his quickness and athletic ability. You saw it last night. It is a freaking joke if he doesn't get to play. Hawkins I can understand. There are superior players at his positions.
 
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I don't think Calipari is going to trim the rotation to 7 or 8 until sometime in February, most likely. I'd guess it will be at least midway through the SEC before he knows for certain about that rotation.

So we're not even close to that yet. Early in the season he's gonna give all these guys their shot. Now they may not all play in the big games but they'll have their chances in the rest. That's my 2 cents.
 
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weused2luvhim2 said:
There is absolutely no way Willis doesn't deserve to play. I don't want to hear this crap about his quickness and athletic ability. You saw it last night. It is a freaking joke if he doesn't get to play. Hawkins I can understand. There are superior players at his positions.
Click to expand...
So there isnt superior players in front of Willis?

A joke? If a HOF coach doesn't play a player, ill trust his judgement over weused2luvhim2.
 
BlueCat43 said:
...who doesn't get in the rotation out of these 8 guys:

Ulis
Murray
Briscoe
Matthews
Lee
Poythress
Skal
Mulder

That is not even considering Humphries, Hawkins, or Willis. We have AT THE VERY LEAST 8 guys that deserve minutes and probably some spot minutes for another one to three.
Click to expand...

I think he goes with 8 man rotation not 7. All of those guys will get minutes. Of that group though Matthews probably gets the least. Terrific athlete but I don't see him fitting into the offense anywhere yet. He'll have to develop some sort of skill.
 
weused2luvhim2 said:
Who is better in front of him?
Click to expand...

Well it depends if he plays the 3 or 4

If he plays the 4 he will be taking away time from Skal, Poy or Lee. All three of these players will see time at the 4 at some combo

A: Skal and Poy
B: Skal and Lee
C: Humphries and Skal

You want Skal to get as many mins as possible and the only way to do that is play him at some 4 or Lee at the 4. If you want to make an argument Willis>Humphries ill listen but Humphries is our only big/strong presence

At the 3: This is the spot I believe he could play the best but You have Matthews/ Mulder/Murray and you want Matthews and Murray locking down that spot.

Cal isnt going to play 10 guys again. I could see Willis playing some during foul trouble.
 
Cal has a hard job. I don't see how it's possible to ONLY play 7 guys when you have 10 studs and you are claiming you are a "player's first program".
Just because you play 10 guys doesn't mean it's a platoon either. You don't have to sub 5 for 5. Sub when needed. 1 or 2 at a time. But from what I saw last night Willis, Mulder, Mathews, Lee and Humphries all deserve some court time. They all bring a particular skill to the table that others don't.
 
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If we're talking about Willis, I do think he can contribute this season. He's been behind guys who were significantly better than him in the last 2 years, so there's no shame in his not playing much. But this season, the guys ahead of him aren't far ahead of him. I think Willis is likely to play the 3 spot when he gets in the game. So, who's better? Well, in my opinion, Matthews is clearly more talented, perhaps even a better rebounder. And Mulder is a proven shooter who may have an edge over Willis in that category. If Calipari goes with the 3-guard line-up, Murray is playing the 3, and I don't think anyone would put Willis ahead of Murray. Now, Willis does have something those other guys lack, and that's size. We saw Willis make some plays last night, grab some rebounds, block a jump shot cleanly. And the other edge Willis obviously has over any of these guys is experience and physical maturity.

So, what if Willis comes out and shoots 40+% from 3pt range and shows he belongs on the floor? He's going to make Calipari's job a bit more difficult. In my opinion, that's a good thing all the way around. I agree that Willis deserves a shot. I think he will get that shot. We will see what he does with it. The one thing about Willis that we've seen is that he plays great when there is no pressure but he seems to crumble when the lights come on (or when he smells the popcorn, as Calipari has been saying). If he comes out and gets the deer in the headlights look while turning the ball over and going 0 for whatever from 3, then he's back on the bench. Basically, he's gonna get his shot, and I hope he takes full advantage and makes Calipari's decision very difficult.
 
We are at least 9 deep but can't take a single long term injury to any frontcourt player. We need them all. He could run platoon if he wanted too. The talent is there. You got the guard combo's to make it work.
There are 13 players on a team so play them. I endorse the return of platoon. It works.
 
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I also believe it will depend on situations on who plays and who doesn't get to play as much. Don't get me wrong, all of our main guys will see plenty of Playing time. It's just in some games some guys will play more than others. With Matthews and Moulder being as talented as they are, they are going to play a lot. When we play a team with a huge frontcourt, the big Aussie kid will get to play more than if we are playing a smaller faster team. I'm so happy Cal took Matthews. That kid is going to be in the NBA in the future. I love the fact he's big enough to play sf and quick enough to play some at guard.
 
whatchoo-willis.jpg
 
What the hell guys? Didn't y'all see Mulder hit what 4 threes last night? I mean come on. He's a excellent 3pt shooter. He's gonna be in the dat gum rotation man. We'll roll with 8. Simple. And Humphries will get some mins too. Hell. If you got a kid who's what 6'5? who's athletic as hell, and can shoot over 40% from 3 do you really think he ain't gonna play.
 
Last edited:
Main Rotaion:

Ulis
Murray
Briscoe
Poythress
Labissiere
Lee
Matthews

Situational players:

Humphries- foul trouble fill-in, beef inside.
Mulder- zone buster, offensive boost.

Spot duty:

Hawkins
Willis
Floreal
 
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