It all comes down to the Freshmen + 2

[HagginHall1999]

It seems barring us adding the kid from Louisiana that this season is pretty much going to come down to the Freshmen + Thiero/Ugo. We are at a point now where it is highly unlikely anyone we add is going to make a significant impact minus adding a little depth and injury insurance.

So we have to look at it this way...

Are these Freshmen capable of being as good as fellow Freshmen of the past? Can Ugo and Thiero take massive leaps?

Can Wagner be as good as Knight or Fox?

Can Dillingham be as good as Bledsoe or Shai?

Can Reed be as good as IQ or Booker?

Can Edwards be as good as James Young or Keldon Johnson?

Can Bradshaw be as good as PJ Washington or Julius Randle?

Can Thiero produce like Liggins or pre-injury Poythress?

Can Ugo take a Jr Nick Richards leap?

This is it. Full blown desperation mode. If these guys can be as good as above we will have a grossly inexperienced but good team by tournament time. Otherwise we are toast.

 

[JerseyCat84]

I predict the freshmen will be very good not transcendent. Like most Cal teams they will go through November-February growing pains and lose 7-8 games. That's if no one gets injured or transfers. I say we make it to the Sweet 16.

 

[UK90]

It seems barring us adding the kid from Louisiana that this season is pretty much going to come down to the Freshmen + Thiero/Ugo.

And, to think, we also came perilously close to losing Ugo too. As you'll recall, he also entered the transfer portal and had to be begged and coaxed into changing his mind.

Thiero is the only guy from last year's team that didn't try to leave.

 

[WeWant9]

Got to hope that the freshman exceed their hype and ball out, with the two sophomores taking a crazy leap. Also hope the new assistant delivers with player development and game planning (probably need Cal to stay out of the way, too).

I don’t have much hope at this moment, but if those can work out maybe something decent can happen next year.

 

[mcnicKY91]

I predict the freshmen will be very good not transcendent. Like most Cal teams they will go through November-February growing pains and lose 7-8 games. That's if no one gets injured or transfers. I say we make it to the Sweet 16.

This is where my mind is, as well. I worry more about lack of depth than talent/experience. As presently constructed, UK is literally one injury away from disaster.

And if recent seasons are any indication, we will most definitely have an injury or two.

But yes, in a perfect world with no injuries, with this current roster, I think the Cats go 22-9 and bow out in Sweet 16. Definitely a talented bunch, though.

 

[Jjohnb5393]

We all would’ve been freaked out this time last year with San Diego State or Florida Atlantic’s roster ( talent -wise ) ….So, anything can happen. These guys definitely have a high ceiling and athleticism won’t lack.

 

[cornbreadnmilk]

Unless one of these guys is Anthony Davis we are screwed.

 

[JonathanW]

It seems barring us adding the kid from Louisiana that this season is pretty much going to come down to the Freshmen + Thiero/Ugo. We are at a point now where it is highly unlikely anyone we add is going to make a significant impact minus adding a little depth and injury insurance.

So we have to look at it this way...

Are these Freshmen capable of being as good as fellow Freshmen of the past? Can Ugo and Thiero take massive leaps?

Can Wagner be as good as Knight or Fox?

Can Dillingham be as good as Bledsoe or Shai?

Can Reed be as good as IQ or Booker?

Can Edwards be as good as James Young or Keldon Johnson?

Can Bradshaw be as good as PJ Washington or Julius Handle?

Can Thiero produce like Liggins or pre-injury Poythress?

Can Ugo take a Jr Nick Richards leap?

This is it. Full blown desperation mode. If these guys can be as good as above we will have a grossly inexperienced but good team by tournament time. Otherwise we are toast.

I believe:
- Wagner to Knight/Fox is a good comparison
- Dillingham to Bledsoe may be a good comparison, not sure about to SGA
- Sheppard won't be what Booker was, but IQ, yes
- Edwards will be > Young or KJ (or Knox), will be best FR Cat since Murray
- No way will Bradshaw be as good as Randle was, and doubt he can be the FR version of PJ. I just hope he is better than Gabriel
- Theiro could be Liggins or Poythress, the key will be how much will he play
- UKO will be > FR or SOPH Richards, but < JR Richards, I think FR WCS may be a closer comp.

 

[KentuckyWildcatDC]

I believe:
- Wagner to Knight/Fox is a good comparison
- Dillingham to Bledsoe may be a good comparison, not sure about to SGA
- Sheppard won't be what Booker was, but IQ, yes
- Edwards will be > Young or KJ (or Knox), will be best FR Cat since Murray
- No way will Bradshaw be as good as Randle was, and doubt he can be the FR version of PJ. I just hope he is better than Gabriel
- Theiro could be Liggins or Poythress, the key will be how much will he play
- UKO will be > FR or SOPH Richards, but < JR Richards, I think FR WCS may be a closer comp.

Spot on!

Just curious, do you think Bradshaw can produce the 11 and 6 provided by PJ as a FR?

I have my doubts, I think he’ll surprise some people though.

 

[Smashcat]

As presently constructed, UK is literally one injury away from disaster.

Sad but true and considering the endless injuries we've had the last few years I'm not encouraged.

 

[Ron Mehico]

5 freshman plus 2 sophomores? AYE CARUMBA!!!

 

[bookerfan66]

Trouble is that college basketball is a whole new game since then.We will be little boys going against grown men.

 

[JonathanW]

Spot on!

Just curious, do you think Bradshaw can produce the 11 and 6 provided by PJ as a FR?

I have my doubts, I think he’ll surprise some people though.

I doubt it. I think he's too weak. I think he will be more like 9 & 5, not bad, but a disappointment to what many expect. I guess 9-5 isn't far from 11-6.

 

[bnewt]

And, to think, we also came perilously close to losing Ugo too. As you'll recall, he also entered the transfer portal and had to be begged and coaxed into changing his mind.

Thiero is the only guy from last year's team that didn't try to leave.

probably the only reason that Ugo came back was that he was promised the starting center spot

 

[Sejonesy]

It seems barring us adding the kid from Louisiana that this season is pretty much going to come down to the Freshmen + Thiero/Ugo. We are at a point now where it is highly unlikely anyone we add is going to make a significant impact minus adding a little depth and injury insurance.

So we have to look at it this way...

Are these Freshmen capable of being as good as fellow Freshmen of the past? Can Ugo and Thiero take massive leaps?

Can Wagner be as good as Knight or Fox?

Can Dillingham be as good as Bledsoe or Shai?

Can Reed be as good as IQ or Booker?

Can Edwards be as good as James Young or Keldon Johnson?

Can Bradshaw be as good as PJ Washington or Julius Handle?

Can Thiero produce like Liggins or pre-injury Poythress?

Can Ugo take a Jr Nick Richards leap?

This is it. Full blown desperation mode. If these guys can be as good as above we will have a grossly inexperienced but good team by tournament time. Otherwise we are toast.

Somto Cyril is a real possibility and will be a bigger get than most think. Although he will be another Freshman, he sure doesn’t look like one.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

It seems barring us adding the kid from Louisiana that this season is pretty much going to come down to the Freshmen + Thiero/Ugo. We are at a point now where it is highly unlikely anyone we add is going to make a significant impact minus adding a little depth and injury insurance.

So we have to look at it this way...

Are these Freshmen capable of being as good as fellow Freshmen of the past? Can Ugo and Thiero take massive leaps?

Can Wagner be as good as Knight or Fox?

Can Dillingham be as good as Bledsoe or Shai?

Can Reed be as good as IQ or Booker?

Can Edwards be as good as James Young or Keldon Johnson?

Can Bradshaw be as good as PJ Washington or Julius Handle?

Can Thiero produce like Liggins or pre-injury Poythress?

Can Ugo take a Jr Nick Richards leap?

This is it. Full blown desperation mode. If these guys can be as good as above we will have a grossly inexperienced but good team by tournament time. Otherwise we are toast.

Too many questions marks equals likely disaster.

 

[HagginHall1999]

I predict the freshmen will be very good not transcendent. Like most Cal teams they will go through November-February growing pains and lose 7-8 games. That's if no one gets injured or transfers. I say we make it to the Sweet 16.

I don't think the season is a lost cause but the depth is very concerning as is thefact that Cal cannot seem to or want to retain anyone.

If I said our team of was the below, I'd bet that was an EE or FF team...

PG- Knight
SG- Shai
SF- Johnson
PF- Randle
C- Richards (Junior version)

Bench- Poythress, Booker

 

[HagginHall1999]

Too many questions marks equals likely disaster.

Oh, I agree. Very much a half glass full way of thinking.

 

[HagginHall1999]

Somto Cyril is a real possibility and will be a bigger get than most think. Although he will be another Freshman, he sure doesn’t look like one.

Hope that is the case!

 

[Catman100]

15 losses minimum.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I don't think the season is a lost cause but the depth is very concerning as is thefact that Cal cannot seem to or want to retain anyone.

If I said our team of was the below, I'd bet that was an EE or FF team...

PG- Knight
SG- Shai
SF- Johnson
PF- Randle
C- Richards (Junior version)

Bench- Poythress, Booker

That''s also a #7 pick, a #7 pick, a #14 pick, another #14 pick, a #29 pick, a 2nd round pick, and a three year NBA player.

This team might have two top tens, a top 30 guy, and maybe two 2nd rounders. We're still two lottery picks short in order for Jonathan's comparison to work.

 

[JonathanW]

I don't think the season is a lost cause but the depth is very concerning as is thefact that Cal cannot seem to or want to retain anyone.

If I said our team of was the below, I'd bet that was an EE or FF team...

PG- Knight
SG- Shai
SF- Johnson
PF- Randle
C- Richards (Junior version)

Bench- Poythress, Booker

Yeah, but Dillingham won't be SGA, Bradshaw will be no where close to Randle, I like UKO but he won't be the JR Richards, and Sheppard won't be Booker.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

probably the only reason that Ugo came back was that he was promised the starting center spot

That's 100% bs.

If that was true UK wouldn't have tried to get Oscar back so badly at the end.

 

[BigCat241]

If 2 of Edwards, Wagner, Bradshaw, and Dilly are Stars, then the team is going to be pretty decent with a high ceiling. I think the chances of that happening are pretty good as well. I would for sure prefer more veteran talent then just rolling with 8 freshman, but I still think they have the potential to be very good.

 

[JonathanW]

This team is looking a lot like the 17-18 team, or a little less than the 13-14 team (which recall was a big disappointment until the NCAA-T)

 

[Lukeslaw]

It seems barring us adding the kid from Louisiana that this season is pretty much going to come down to the Freshmen + Thiero/Ugo. We are at a point now where it is highly unlikely anyone we add is going to make a significant impact minus adding a little depth and injury insurance.

So we have to look at it this way...

Are these Freshmen capable of being as good as fellow Freshmen of the past? Can Ugo and Thiero take massive leaps?

Can Wagner be as good as Knight or Fox?

Can Dillingham be as good as Bledsoe or Shai?

Can Reed be as good as IQ or Booker?

Can Edwards be as good as James Young or Keldon Johnson?

Can Bradshaw be as good as PJ Washington or Julius Randle?

Can Thiero produce like Liggins or pre-injury Poythress?

Can Ugo take a Jr Nick Richards leap?

This is it. Full blown desperation mode. If these guys can be as good as above we will have a grossly inexperienced but good team by tournament time. Otherwise we are toast.

I saw this coming about a month ago. That Tampacat guy gave me hell, but I didn't see any way that Cal's half-hearted efforts in the portal were going to work. Guys with one season left do not want to come in and try to compete with freshmen that are guaranteed to start. And some of the freshmen also threatened to leave if we got anyone from the portal.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

One of the reasons Anthony Davis blocked so many shots is because he had grown men veterans like TJ and Darius who could stand a man up and keep him from backing into the paint. AD came over the top to clean up. We don't have any of that. We'll be dunked on a LOT this season.

 

[Ron Mehico]

Look OP, you have Burrow, De La Cruz, and mark stoops. I mean cmon, don’t get greedy.

 

[qwesley]

One of the reasons Anthony Davis blocked so many shots is because he had grown men veterans like TJ and Darius who could stand a man up and keep him from backing into the paint. AD came over the top to clean up. We don't have any of that. We'll be dunked on a LOT this season.

Yep. And the freshman team that made a run had some really physical dudes for their age. This team is really skinny at every position.

 

[HagginHall1999]

Yeah, but Dillingham won't be SGA, Bradshaw will be no where close to Randle, I like UKO but he won't be the JR Richards, and Sheppard won't be Booker.

I get it. Point being if these guys live up to billing.

 

[mebeblue2]

we are going to have a very very good team
mark it down

 

[Runnin'Ramel]

Unless they are all-world talented, they will struggle against 23/24-year old men who have played college ball for 4 or more years and been through wars.

Cal is going to leave the cupboard empty, to say the least, when he is gone after the season. I imagine 10+ depart the program after this coming season.

 

[HagginHall1999]

That''s also a #7 pick, a #7 pick, a #14 pick, another #14 pick, a #29 pick, a 2nd round pick, and a three year NBA player.

This team might have two top tens, a top 30 guy, and maybe two 2nd rounders. We're still two lottery picks short in order for Jonathan's comparison to work.

Possibly, possibly not. You truly don't know until they get on the court. We can listen to all the talking heads that the class isn't as good as others we've had or that in general '23 is weaker than most...or we can see it on the court. I will at least say from an all star game competition I don't know that I've ever seen a group compete harder than this class did in McD game.

Still a lot of concern and questions so I get the point but IF they live up to billing it may be a special group.

 

[dl51344]

probably the only reason that Ugo came back was that he was promised the starting center spot

Or at least a certain no of mins.

 

[Fox2monk]

And, to think, we also came perilously close to losing Ugo too. As you'll recall, he also entered the transfer portal and had to be begged and coaxed into changing his mind.

Thiero is the only guy from last year's team that didn't try to leave.

Can you imagine? He was basically gone at one point and we would have lost 10 players of last years team with not a single transfer to replace them.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Ill ride with the Mag’s all day.

 

[Ron Mehico]

Possibly, possibly not. You truly don't know until they get on the court. We can listen to all the talking heads that the class isn't as good as others we've had or that in general '23 is weaker than most...or we can see it on the court. I will at least say from an all star game competition I don't know that I've ever seen a group compete harder than this class did in McD game.

Still a lot of concern and questions so I get the point but IF they live up to billing it may be a special group.

You know I love you buddy, but we’re in circa 2006 Tubby category. We’re a year away from me being pumped about BCG and trying to bang a black chick with a wig. Cal is washed.

 

[IH8BlueDevilsandUNcheat]

12 to 14 losses inc.... book it

 

[jauk11]

Unless one of these guys is Anthony Davis we are screwed.

 

[jauk11]

It seems barring us adding the kid from Louisiana that this season is pretty much going to come down to the Freshmen + Thiero/Ugo. We are at a point now where it is highly unlikely anyone we add is going to make a significant impact minus adding a little depth and injury insurance.

So we have to look at it this way...

Are these Freshmen capable of being as good as fellow Freshmen of the past? Can Ugo and Thiero take massive leaps?

Can Wagner be as good as Knight or Fox?

Can Dillingham be as good as Bledsoe or Shai?

Can Reed be as good as IQ or Booker?

Can Edwards be as good as James Young or Keldon Johnson?

Can Bradshaw be as good as PJ Washington or Julius Randle?

Can Thiero produce like Liggins or pre-injury Poythress?

Can Ugo take a Jr Nick Richards leap?

This is it. Full blown desperation mode. If these guys can be as good as above we will have a grossly inexperienced but good team by tournament time. Otherwise we are toast.

Perfectly reasonable to expect all those things to happen..

And if they don't, with all the talent that he let go to other teams in this class then he should be fired.

What ever happened to BCG anyway, too bad he isn't available.