Kara Lawson giving an honest opinion about Skal

[KY Long Rifle]

I agree with her. I hated to admit, but early on you could tell he didn't understand certain things. I remember one play in particular I saw him try to block a guy out with his back to the basket. Now, the good news is he can learn the things he does not currently possess. The bad news is it might take a little while. All we can do is be patient and wait. Hopefully, he will figure it out by March.

 

[Samwise Ganjee]

Samwise Ganjee needs to get laid. But outside the family this time.

REPORTED

 

[Samwise Ganjee]

So what's your point Sammy?

Those of us that have been here just as long know you wouldn't have but maybe 10 more likes if we had them since 96...

You're next BP

 

[ShadowFromHomewardBound]

No. No. I'm pretty sure she is supposed to be making a man a sandwich. That is, if the rest of the house is clean.

Now that they can twit and tweet and post on lipbook things are getting confusing. That's why Bruce Jenner wears his nuts in a handbag now.

Bottom line is if she was doing what she is supposed to be doing then we don't have to address her silly comments. This line of thinking gave us chickball and the Hallmark Channel.

3/10

 

[kennywalker34]

The thread on the board that shows Skal's highlights against NJIT is such a stark contrast to what we see right now. Yes, the level of competition is different,but how much different than Auburn. NJIT could play with Auburn.

I don't think the level of competition is the end all to be all as the answer to the Skal question.

I agree. Skal can't even get off a shot or grab a easy rebound anymore it seems. Auburn is not that much better if any than NJIT.

 

[BlueSince92]

I never saw Skal as the superman some did. Best scouting I saw of him was a highschool game against Thon Maker's team, where Maker pretty clearly got the best of him in every relevant way. Just my opinion, and it was so long ago that I could even be wrong and it was not Maker but someone else with similar ranking. But regardless I personally feel like Skal has not underachieved here, rather expectations for him were entirely unrealistic. I like him, he seems like a nice kid and he has real sooh or junior potential that we'll probably never see. Just kind of a shame to see him living in his own shadow. Kara Lawson is the shiznizzle.

 

[Samwise Ganjee]

Kara Lawson is the shiz-nipplez.

Fixed it for ya'

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Fixed it for ya'

If there's ANY sort of sexual connotation there, that's NASTY. Rekindling the earlier posts between her and Dickie V, I'd have to think long and hard about who to take home......(if forced at gunpoint).

 

[shutzhund]

Don't have any idea what's wrong with Skal but he appears lost, plays lost and I feel sorry for him. Not just for UK but I hope there is a light and it gets turned on.

 

[TIE543]

No. No. I'm pretty sure she is supposed to be making a man a sandwich. That is, if the rest of the house is clean.

Now that they can twit and tweet and post on lipbook things are getting confusing. That's why Bruce Jenner wears his nuts in a handbag now.

Bottom line is if she was doing what she is supposed to be doing then we don't have to address her silly comments. This line of thinking gave us chickball and the Hallmark Channel.

4chan is ----> that way

 

[brianpoe]

I have Kara Lawson posting and dropping AndOnes on Skal at will...

 

[MakinMusic]

Competence is certainly a problem for Skal. That said, I believe his lack competence compounds into a lack of confidence. They go hand in hand.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

WCS wasn't that competent as a freshmen either

 

[wildcatglenn]

Some of his issues are not his fault. I don't think he is being used correctly. Skal is not a true inside player. He is too thin and cannot bang down low. He is a pick and pop big man who can grab some offensive rebounds.

 

[MychalG]

Well what do you know. Someone gives an opinion about a UK player and that person suddenly is horrible at their job and flat out sucks. Now if she would have said, Skal has the potential to be the next Anthony Davis, then that same person who dissed her would be calling her the best in the business.. Go figure..

 

[KyFaninNC]

Some of his issues are not his fault. I don't think he is being used correctly. Skal is not a true inside player. He is too thin and cannot bang down low. He is a pick and pop big man who can grab some offensive rebounds.

RACK

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Well what do you know. Someone gives an opinion about a UK player and that person suddenly is horrible at their job and flat out sucks. Now if she would have said, Skal has the potential to be the next Anthony Davis, then that same person who dissed her would be calling her the best in the business.. Go figure..

False.

 

[BBUK]

She knows her stuff basketball-wise....that's good but all I picture when she starts talking is Will Smith in MIB2 "lower your weapon.....No...."

 

[zannmann]

She knows basketball, but is unbearable to listen to.

 

[BBUK]

She knows basketball, but is unbearable to listen to.

Think of her as a huge Michael Jackson....

 

[EvilMD]

At first, because it was obvious she is female, I didn't like having her on the broadcast. But she has proven over and over she knows her stuff, so now I much prefer her to some of these male broadcasters who do token glanceovers of each player's profile and thus we hear every game how Willie Cauley-Stein used to be a receiver.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Some of his issues are not his fault. I don't think he is being used correctly. Skal is not a true inside player. He is too thin and cannot bang down low. He is a pick and pop big man who can grab some offensive rebounds.

True. But KAT was much the same early on, although a much better player. He wanted to float and play soft. We couldve still been a great team and he a high draft pick had Cal allowed it. But for the player to fully realize his potential, Cal had to force Kat to do the hard work. Post hard, post early. Play strong. Play inside out. As a result, we almost had a historic run; and KAT was selected #1 overall.

Skals issue is toughness and confidence. He was playing well until teams figured out they could just rough him up. That made him lose confidence. Now soon as he gets on the floor, opposing teams goad him into a confrontation where officials now hit him with quick techs. Although, somehow they never seem to see the initial instigator in those exchanges.

Good news is Skal has all the physical tools he needs. Toughness and confidence is just a mindset. If hed just get back to playing instead of thinking, hed be fine. I really think the kid is a handful of good plays from really turning this whole thing around.

 

[gamalielkid]

Says it's not "confidence" that's the problem with Skal on Tom Leach's show this morning

It's "competence"

Discuss

I agree about competence. I don't think he will ever be a big time factor at UK or the NBA unless he adds 30 plus pounds minimum. He is afraid to mix it up - and probably with good reason. Reminds me of Pimbrooke Burrows at Jacksonville as to size. Probably a great kid, but I feel comfortable believing that someday he will be considered Cal's biggest recruiting mistake. I hope he proves me wrong - but I think Cal playing him so much is trying to prove Cal didn't make a mistake.

It's time to move on and Cal needs to change the rotation and go with a different game plan. With as many "guard" like players as we have we need to go all in with pressing and pressure and play 4 guards and one big. Rotate Poythrese and Lee in the middle to protect the basket and let the guards run and slash. Briscoe and Murray are both good rebounders as well as Matthews. You still have Tyler, Hawkins, Mulder and Floreal to keep the guys fresh. Time to copy Pitino's style and let our guards prove how good they really are.

It's time to make this change, it is obvious that playing 2 bigs with the talent we have is not going to get it done unless the twin down under towers can contribute this year. To play the four guards then you have to commit to pressing and trapping.

Go Big Blue!

 

[CharlieT71059]

Skal is very raw and very skinny

 

[BBUK]

Skal is very raw and very skinny

His lower body may be weak but his upper body is not. (Unless photo-shopped...)

 

[bcox13]

True. But KAT was much the same early on, although a much better player. He wanted to float and play soft. We couldve still been a great team and he a high draft pick had Cal allowed it. But for the player to fully realize his potential, Cal had to force Kat to do the hard work. Post hard, post early. Play strong. Play inside out. As a result, we almost had a historic run; and KAT was selected #1 overall.

Skals issue is toughness and confidence. He was playing well until teams figured out they could just rough him up. That made him lose confidence. Now soon as he gets on the floor, opposing teams goad him into a confrontation where officials now hit him with quick techs. Although, somehow they never seem to see the initial instigator in those exchanges.

Good news is Skal has all the physical tools he needs. Toughness and confidence is just a mindset. If hed just get back to playing instead of thinking, hed be fine. I really think the kid is a handful of good plays from really turning this whole thing around.

KAT and Skal have very little in common. Yes Karl wanted to float away from the basket, but that's somewhat natural coming out of high school.

KAT is much stronger than Skal may ever be. Karl was unstoppable down low by the end of the year and it wasn't just because he wasn't scared. He had the body to bang down low.

 

[BBUK]

KAT and Skal have very little in common. Yes Karl wanted to float away from the basket, but that's somewhat natural coming out of high school.

KAT is much stronger than Skal may ever be. Karl was unstoppable down low by the end of the year and it wasn't just because he wasn't scared. He had the body to bang down low.

He had Karlito too!

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

She knows basketball, but is unbearable to listen to.

Thank you. I was starting to think I was going crazy.

Her voice reminds me of this Jim Carrey Mad TV Character.

 

[JohnnyGentle]

If you would rather listen to Dicky V sound like a senile old man than Kara Lawson then you are what is wrong with your basketball watching experience.

i know this is like the third post and the thread has gone to two pages, but i have to endorse this sentiment

lawson is fine. not great, but fine. vitale is a screaming distraction who is usually wrong when he deigns to make a point about the game in front of him. he's obviously wrapped up in his own persona and image, so i don't buy all the nice guy stuff. he's just a cheerful egomaniac. i hate him and i think it's a disgrace that they put him in the hall of fame

he spent the entire sec tourney semi against auburn last year screaming about how bruce pearl deserves a second chance. firstly, he didn't, and secondly, it was patently clear that pearl already had his "second" (ask deon thomas) chance from his being on the sideline and coaching in that game

also i once had a dream that i was throwing a frisbee to my dog in some competitive tournament and kara lawson interviewed me for the tv. weird

 

[JohnnyGentle]

If there's ANY sort of sexual connotation there, that's NASTY. Rekindling the earlier posts between her and Dickie V, I'd have to think long and hard about who to take home......(if forced at gunpoint).

gee it's almost as if your real issue here is a woman being involved in a broadcast in a non-eye candy capacity

 

[Blueaz]

Rafters will bitch on anybody. You can drop any announcer's name and someone is gonna hate on em.

Kara Lawson is one of the better analysts ESPN has doing the job for college basketball. Doesn't trip over her words, knows the game, breaks it down, explains things. Doesn't have some stupid gimmick. She's great.

is she the one that said Briscoe is a GREAT finisher?

 

[JohnnyGentle]

KAT and Skal have very little in common. Yes Karl wanted to float away from the basket, but that's somewhat natural coming out of high school.

KAT is much stronger than Skal may ever be. Karl was unstoppable down low by the end of the year and it wasn't just because he wasn't scared. He had the body to bang down low.

KAT deserves most of the credit for his own improvement, but you can't say cal didn't do right by him. he transformed his body and went from a finesse offensive player to a force on the low block

davis seemed to get physically stronger over his one year at uk as well

both of those guys are going to the basketball hall of fame, so i suppose it really is super unfair to have just expected the same kind of impact/trajectory from skal. and he may not have the core strength or frame to add weight that they do

 

[Blueaz]

He becomes a 6'4 weak post player...

on a good day...as someone posted a couple of days ago...Ulis could easily block him

 

[JohnnyGentle]

is she the one that said Briscoe is a GREAT finisher?

yeah and i agree with her

i hate to refer to my own past posts, but right away i likened briscoe to an even worse shooting (people killed me for that) rod strickland mostly because of how he uses his body to make below-the-rim finishes inside

 

[bcox13]

KAT deserves most of the credit for his own improvement, but you can't say cal didn't do right by him. he transformed his body and went from a finesse offensive player to a force on the low block

davis seemed to get physically stronger over his one year at uk as well

both of those guys are going to the basketball hall of fame, so i suppose it really is super unfair to have just expected the same kind of impact/trajectory from skal. and he may not have the core strength or frame to add weight that they do

No question Cal helped that progress. I simply meant the two players are really not similar physically.

I also agree that when you follow great players, the expectations become greater, and even players highly ranked out of HS are less likely to live up to those expectations

 

[ThroughBlue]

WCS wasn't that competent as a freshmen either

He started and finished his career the same way. He had some pretty good moments in between though.

How ya doing STL

 

[JohnnyGentle]

No question Cal helped that progress. I simply meant the two players are really not similar physically.

I also agree that when you follow great players, the expectations become greater, and even players highly ranked out of HS are less likely to live up to those expectations

completely agreed with your post and was just piggybacking off of it

i do think there are plenty of coaches that would have let KAT float around the perimeter, and plenty of kids who would have gone for that kind of arrangement

i know cal wouldn't have let okafor loaf on defense, for instance, and i doubt he would have put up with the dad's act either. still recruited the kid past the point where his duke commitment was a foregone conclusion, though

 

[Blueaz]

he IS a great finisher. He's the best layup shooter UK has on the team and that includes Poythress, Lee, Murray, etc. Just can't shoot worth a damn outside much more than that.

gotta agree to disagree on his "greatness"

 

[Blueaz]

yeah and i agree with her

i hate to refer to my own past posts, but right away i likened briscoe to an even worse shooting (people killed me for that) rod strickland mostly because of how he uses his body to make below-the-rim finishes inside

again, gotta agree to disagree...

 

[Gary4UK]

Totally agree...Lawson is really good (and fair) with her analysis. She does a very nice job.

Regarding her comment on Skal - probably fair, you can see that he is lost on the court. However, I also think it's confidence, ability, skills, AND competence.

I have to agree with you and the rest that think she is good at what she does... I don't like for anyone to throw a woman in sports , just to see her pretty face, or whatever affect they wish it to have... If that woman is skilled, and is knowledgeable on the game, like I think Lawson is, then I don't think anyone should have a reason to gripe... This woman clearly knows basketball... She knows the ins and outs of basketball and even adds some great incite into the game that most announcers don't know, or have forgotten... She speaks her mind and tells the truth... If that is against us, then it's against us.. She doesn't have a reason to dislike us... So, anyone that doesn't have a fork to stick in you, like a lot of announcers, talking heads and the media, then I'm all for them... Just like Jay Bilas, he is about as good as it gets, but even he has a Duke bias, but he clearly hides it well... He's knowledgeable and tells it like he sees it.... Lawson and Bilas don't go overboard like some of the others, they stick to the game and the inner workings of the game that is going on... We have those that are clearly bias, like Clark Kellogg, etc, etc.....