Kentucky Basketball Practice Thread
- Thread starter SosaUK
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Let this be a lesson to the lot of you. Another reason not to reply to trolls.
It just encourages them.
It brings more trolls.
It can throw off a thread.
And you might look stupid being serious to someone who was being sarcastic.
pretty impressed by ulis, brisco, murray, skal, and poythress.
want to see more from lee and mulder
want to see more from lee and mulder
Cal is showing off his team on TV and Pitino is explaining his teams sexual indulgences.
I was impressed with Briscoe and Humphries. Humphries, in particular, seemed to be far more up to speed than a 17 year old should be. Briscoe reminded me (a bit) of Michael Qualls from Arkansas in that Briscoe was aggressive and assertive and talented.
Just got thru watching and we are going be really good by Jan. We have the best guards in CBB and Humphries was a real surprise with his good shooting. We may have a few looses early but this is going to be another fun year.
Skal will only get better and has some nice move around the basket and has a good shooting form. Can't wait for the season to start.
Skal will only get better and has some nice move around the basket and has a good shooting form. Can't wait for the season to start.
I love this team's potential offensively. Ulis/Murray/Briscoe guarantee a floor or two or three on the court at all times. Matthews/Mulder will be nice in spots because of their length and skill sets (Matthews D, Mulder shooting). Poy/Lee/Skal/Humphries will be a nice rotation and guarantee we'll have quality bigs in at all times. The beat goes on with one hitch..... defense.....defense will be nowhere near what we saw and probably got used to last season.
It's all about March/April though, so they'll have plenty of time to figure it out. But I expect this team to look more like the previous Calipari teams that struggle a bit early and struggle on the road in the SEC.
Skal looks pretty smooth. He's the key for this team to be really special. He'll be able to take us to another level offensively and defensively. It will be interesting to see if Cal moves Skal to the 4 at times, and Humphries at the 5. With both of them being so good with mid-range jumpers, would be tough to defend with our potential guard lineups.
It's all about March/April though, so they'll have plenty of time to figure it out. But I expect this team to look more like the previous Calipari teams that struggle a bit early and struggle on the road in the SEC.
Skal looks pretty smooth. He's the key for this team to be really special. He'll be able to take us to another level offensively and defensively. It will be interesting to see if Cal moves Skal to the 4 at times, and Humphries at the 5. With both of them being so good with mid-range jumpers, would be tough to defend with our potential guard lineups.
Murray is going to be ridiculous. He was the best player on the floor. Skal can put it in the bucket but I need to see how he will respond to big bodies pushing him around. Humpries is a year away. He's a step slow. Air balled a freethrow. Showed some nice spot-up ability but with the pace this team needs to play at I can't see him as a big contributor this year.
Who were #31 and #5?
No, but if you want to give Jerry a donkey punch, be my guest. But please don't post any pics.
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You don't think it's possible that Vanderbilt can be a threat in the SEC because you played in the SEC over 40 years ago and their name is Vandy?
Skal's body is a work in progress.
It'll be interesting to see how he reacts to a 6' 8" 240 pound PF shoving him around. Hopefully, he glides around them and draws fouls.
The rest of his game is already special.
If he improves like KAT improved, we could have another #1 pick. That is a big "if", but he has all the tools.
Is this sarcasm?
I think what really happened was that BigRedMachine actually got you guys with his fake missed sarcasm...
Poy was just ok to me. Looked the same shooting and dribbling as last year. Just my opinion though.
CoachCal.com @CoachCalDotCom 2h2 hours ago
Six takeaways from #UKPractice: http://www.coachcal.com/35461/2015/10/six-takeaways-from-uks-open-practice/… #BBN pic.twitter.com/bMNekQ20gw
Six takeaways from #UKPractice: http://www.coachcal.com/35461/2015/10/six-takeaways-from-uks-open-practice/… #BBN pic.twitter.com/bMNekQ20gw
I get what you are saying and I guess he does lack the constant aggressiveness Tubby wanted, but Kaleena wasn't one to go in for tough rebounds and play tough defense like Poy.
My comparison would be more along the lines of Master Blaster Madison.
I agree Poy just looked OK.
He seemed a step slow, but I wasn't surprised by that given the amount of time and conditioning he has missed.
Our Strength and Conditioning coach has the chance to be the team MVP this year. Skal, Poy and Humphries can all take their games up another notch if they train effectively over the course of the season.
He seemed a step slow, but I wasn't surprised by that given the amount of time and conditioning he has missed.
Our Strength and Conditioning coach has the chance to be the team MVP this year. Skal, Poy and Humphries can all take their games up another notch if they train effectively over the course of the season.
Clearly this team will go as far as their athleticism takes them. That's why the Humphries crowd needs to chill out because I don't see how he can get much floor time with the way this team needs to play.
He seemed a step slow, but I wasn't surprised by that given the amount of time and conditioning he has missed.
He's still easing himself back into the game. I'm going to wait till January-February to see if he's evolved or not.
He's still easing himself back into the game. I'm going to wait till January-February to see if he's evolved or not.
Just some observations based on a limited look-in on practice:
Jamal Murray is very talented no doubt but could go through growing pains here and there. I think come tournament time (as TJ said before) he will be the best guard in college basketball.
Skal and Alex are the most important players on the team. No other players can replace what they bring on the court. With Skal it is just his ability as a big to do multiple things on both sides of the court. With Alex it is his toughness and willingness to go get balls outside of his area as well as provide a physical presence.
Briscoe is really good with the ball in his hands. After watching him in the Peach Jam before his senior year, he is one of the guys I wanted the most in his class because of the dog he has him. At that time we weren't recruiting him yet but we all know how that story ended! It'll be interesting how he plays off the ball which we haven't really seen yet. In the practice he had the ball in his hands. He gets where he wants on the court and his ability to make pull up jumpers out of the pick and roll will be critical because we all know his ability to play through contact around the basket.
Matthews looks to be ahead of Mulder but it could be either or depending on the situation. I think it's going to be important to develop him from early in the season because he will be needed at some point in the season. He really will have to make defense his niche if he wants to get consistent playing time.
Mulder didn't necessarily shoot it all that well during the practice but you could definitely see glimpses. Looks to have a really quick release. You can tell he is still trying to get adjusted to playing at the highest level. Looked a little uncomfortable putting the ball on the deck. Also the ball placement of some of his passes were indicative of that. The good thing his, he just has to realize what he is good at and figure out how to do that to the best of his abilities. He will never be asked to be a primary ballhandler. Think he is on the outside of the rotation looking in right now but could change.
Ulis is going to be THE leader of this team. I will disagree with Seth and J-Will saying the next thing Tyler needs to incorporate in his game is picking up full court. I think one of the things we realized last season is that Tyler is a pest on the ball and a really good defender. As far as picking up full court, you can only do what your Coach asks you to do and if we are in a half court man to man defense then that is what is being asked of him. Regardless he is a really good on ball defender. Also Seth's tweet makes it seem like Tyler is not a good shooter but leave him open and he will make you pay more times than not. He is a really good college point guard and everything a coach looks for in the leader of his team. There is a reason why Cal sent him a text that said, "Get your guys, this is your team."
Humphries was pleasantly surprising in the practice. I think he was one of the players who was very nervous to begin practice (visible when he air-balled a free-throw). We all know from practice reports that he can shoot the ball from mid-range. He is the perfect player to have on the bench and I can see why Coach Cal called him a version of Josh. He has the ability to open the floor up for the guards with his shooting ability. I may have underestimated his abilities before watching him tonight. He needs to work on a post game but with how young he is and we know for sure he will be here after this year, he has time to develop. I could see him stealing a few of Lee's minutes if Marcus doesn't bring what he is supposed to.
Marcus is shooting better. I remember his freshman year before the season started, Coach Cal was saying he was like Rodman grabbing all the rebounds. If he wants to be a key contributor this season that is exactly what he needs to bring. He needs to have a little Alex in him. Hopefully he doesn't still have the habit of playing defensive with his hands. If we cut down the nets at the end of the year, he will have a solid role on the team and plays it perfectly.
On a side note, I could see Coach Cal upsizing in a crunch (end of the game with a foul-out or foul trouble to Ulis, Murray, or Briscoe) with Alex playing the 3. This would only mean that Matthews or Mulder haven't distinguished themselves in the rotation yet. I know Coach Cal talks crazy sometimes but there might be a reason why he said that Dom was in the rotation before getting hurt.
Jamal Murray is very talented no doubt but could go through growing pains here and there. I think come tournament time (as TJ said before) he will be the best guard in college basketball.
Skal and Alex are the most important players on the team. No other players can replace what they bring on the court. With Skal it is just his ability as a big to do multiple things on both sides of the court. With Alex it is his toughness and willingness to go get balls outside of his area as well as provide a physical presence.
Briscoe is really good with the ball in his hands. After watching him in the Peach Jam before his senior year, he is one of the guys I wanted the most in his class because of the dog he has him. At that time we weren't recruiting him yet but we all know how that story ended! It'll be interesting how he plays off the ball which we haven't really seen yet. In the practice he had the ball in his hands. He gets where he wants on the court and his ability to make pull up jumpers out of the pick and roll will be critical because we all know his ability to play through contact around the basket.
Matthews looks to be ahead of Mulder but it could be either or depending on the situation. I think it's going to be important to develop him from early in the season because he will be needed at some point in the season. He really will have to make defense his niche if he wants to get consistent playing time.
Mulder didn't necessarily shoot it all that well during the practice but you could definitely see glimpses. Looks to have a really quick release. You can tell he is still trying to get adjusted to playing at the highest level. Looked a little uncomfortable putting the ball on the deck. Also the ball placement of some of his passes were indicative of that. The good thing his, he just has to realize what he is good at and figure out how to do that to the best of his abilities. He will never be asked to be a primary ballhandler. Think he is on the outside of the rotation looking in right now but could change.
Ulis is going to be THE leader of this team. I will disagree with Seth and J-Will saying the next thing Tyler needs to incorporate in his game is picking up full court. I think one of the things we realized last season is that Tyler is a pest on the ball and a really good defender. As far as picking up full court, you can only do what your Coach asks you to do and if we are in a half court man to man defense then that is what is being asked of him. Regardless he is a really good on ball defender. Also Seth's tweet makes it seem like Tyler is not a good shooter but leave him open and he will make you pay more times than not. He is a really good college point guard and everything a coach looks for in the leader of his team. There is a reason why Cal sent him a text that said, "Get your guys, this is your team."
Humphries was pleasantly surprising in the practice. I think he was one of the players who was very nervous to begin practice (visible when he air-balled a free-throw). We all know from practice reports that he can shoot the ball from mid-range. He is the perfect player to have on the bench and I can see why Coach Cal called him a version of Josh. He has the ability to open the floor up for the guards with his shooting ability. I may have underestimated his abilities before watching him tonight. He needs to work on a post game but with how young he is and we know for sure he will be here after this year, he has time to develop. I could see him stealing a few of Lee's minutes if Marcus doesn't bring what he is supposed to.
Marcus is shooting better. I remember his freshman year before the season started, Coach Cal was saying he was like Rodman grabbing all the rebounds. If he wants to be a key contributor this season that is exactly what he needs to bring. He needs to have a little Alex in him. Hopefully he doesn't still have the habit of playing defensive with his hands. If we cut down the nets at the end of the year, he will have a solid role on the team and plays it perfectly.
On a side note, I could see Coach Cal upsizing in a crunch (end of the game with a foul-out or foul trouble to Ulis, Murray, or Briscoe) with Alex playing the 3. This would only mean that Matthews or Mulder haven't distinguished themselves in the rotation yet. I know Coach Cal talks crazy sometimes but there might be a reason why he said that Dom was in the rotation before getting hurt.
Me either I had the ACL and meniscus go playing church basketball league in 2009..... I will not play basketball again...... Straight line running no prob but I will not trust it ever again to cut or pivot. Now I was 38 when it happened so that is prolly a big part of it (old guy lol) but it is a bad deal.
my takes from today ( and what does 2 hours really matter anyway in the long run ) but Ulis will be THE man on this team . The guy to make the game winning plays and the best pg in college. Skal will be a top 2 pick and Murray a top 10 pick but who surprised me the most was Humphries . He is damn good and would be a first rounder this year if he could . He is a NBA starter one day at that size with that skill it is almost a given. More then anything I drooled thinking about having him for 2 years.
yeah, no need to get excited over a 7 footer that looks ready-made for 8-10 ft jumpers from the baseline and soft hooks in the lane.
He has a nice mid-range touch and the comparison to Josh by Cal is a good one... but on a team of thoroughbreds I just don't see him as much of a factor this year. Things can change with Skal or Poy and push Humphries into a larger role, but if not then he is going to be odd man out IMO.
I don't really think Poy is anywhere ready to how all out yet. It's only been 9 months. Let's see when conference play starts.
You seem determined to control the perception on Humphries. Not sure why that is. Most of the comments about his performance were factually based. He did shoot well, and he did show decent fundamentals. I never saw him bent over with his hands on his knees. He is the ONLY legit center on the roster. You label a "Humphries Crowd" after just a few comments about him . . .
You're right. What am I thinking. Humphries is a perfect fit into a fast paced up and down team running up and down the floor in waves. You got me.
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