Kentucky Searching the Globe for 1 More Big Man

[Wildcats1st]

If everyone is 100%, then it becomes a question of positions and fit when it comes to Thiero.

Cal likes to rotate four bigs at the 4 and 5 spot. We essentially have four bigs if Ivisic joins the team: Mitchell, Bradshaw, Onyenso, and Ivisic. Burks isn’t expected to be ready to get into the mix this season.

So Thiero, who is listed as a guard, is probably the odd man out up front, though he seems to fit very well as a small ball 4.

So that leaves Thiero to compete for minutes in the backcourt.

Wagner, Reeves, Edwards, Dillingham, and Sheppard look to be better backcourt options at this point.

Thiero has the size/physique for the 3 spot, but Edwards is getting 30 out of the 40 minutes there and Cal will likely play small with Reeves at the 3 the rest of the time to free up minutes for the guards we have.

So Thiero is really going to have to bring it to break into the main rotation, if everyone is healthy.

But I figure health will be an issue, especially up front, and Thiero is going to be the guy that has to step up because one or both of Onyenso and Bradshaw aren’t 100% all season.

I like your perspective. Thiero is odd man out today but with the depth cal has created and the certainty of injuries I think he will get plenty of all purpose type minutes. And the other unknown with Thiero. Has he become a liggins type defender? If so he might get alot of clock at guard. He’s well positioned and has experience. Granted taking any 1-3 we have off the floor will result in an offensive drag but if we have bigs that can stroke it we may be able to sacrifice a guard spot to use Thiero to lock down a dominant physical pg. I don’t know if he’s at that level yet defensively but I could see him getting there pretty fast.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Okay, so if we do get this kid, it’s going to be interesting to see how the minutes play out.

Cal usually goes 9 deep, with the top 6 or 7 getting big minutes, then 8 and 9 getting limited but regular minutes.

So 10-12 are going to basically see mop up minutes.

So who will be our top 7, our 8 and 9 guys, and 10-12 guys?

Assuming everyone is healthy, this is what I envision:

1. Wagner
2. Reeves
3. Edwards
4. Mitchell
5. Ivisic
6. Bradshaw
7. Sheppard
8. Dillingham
9. Onyenso
10. Thiero
11. Burks
12. Hart

Looks spot on with the starters. Five guys that can shoot from everywhere. Perfect size and defensive ability. Would be hard to draw up a more perfect starting five than that anywhere. A 7-2 shot blocker hard to deal with.

 

[reggis1]

& if UGO and Thiero are on the floor at the same time it will be 3 on 5 when we are on offense- seems shooting has become a lost art

thiero didn't make three's but he can score, rebound and guard with the best of them.

 

[blue cincy]

No so sure about UGO, but Thiero does the things you need at the college level. You cannot have 5 scorers in the game (no one will want to do the dirty jobs of rebounding and defending).

 

[bucsrule8872]

I don’t think this guy starts. Bradshaw will start over him for his length. I think this guy is a 15 mpg player. When healthy I expect bradshaw at the 5. The wide open style with no interior defense works in international bb but not college. Could the dude surprise me and garner more minutes? Possible but I haven’t seen anything defensively to lead me to believe he’s an interior game changer on D or on the boards. I see this guy backing up Mitchell. Now if ugo and Bradshaw are out for a longtime this guy will play a lot but I think when Bradshaw makes it back which I’m not sure about well he’s gonna start with Mitchell.

I think it all boils down to defense. Cal wants a shot blocker inside. If Ivisic can be the rim protector he looks to be in the clips we have seen, then it’s going to be tough for Cal not to play him.

 

[travisbickle]

I think it all boils down to defense. Cal wants a shot blocker inside. If Ivisic can be the rim protector he looks to be in the clips we have seen, then it’s going to be tough for Cal not to play him.

I’m picturing a lineup with Ivisic, Bradshaw, and Ugo subbing in throughout the game. How many blocked shots would those three have?

 

[bucsrule8872]

I’m picturing a lineup with Ivisic, Bradshaw, and Ugo subbing in throughout the game. How many blocked shots would those three have?

Here’s the thing, I keep hearing that Bradshaw isn’t a shot blocker/rim protector despite his length. I’m not sure what he will bring to the table defensively.

I think Ivisic might be the best option of the three, because he is probably better offensively than Onyenso and probably better defensively (with his shot blocking) than Bradshaw.

It would be nice to have all three. Always good to have options. Hopefully, we get a commitment from Ivisic soon and both Bradshaw and Onyenso return 100% healthy.

 

[kywildcats8]

thiero didn't make three's but he can score, rebound and guard with the best of them.

if you are talking about layups and dunks, I agree but in the limited action from last yr and the games in Canada I don't have a lot of confidence in his outside shot- hope I am wrong

 

[SosaUK1987]

Here’s the one the other guy mentioned. Reading the article will make you sick though because it’s the same story. “Late add might save UK bb blah blah blah.” Granted Murray could have been a game changer if we had a big. I know Skal but he was awful and when cal figured that out he scrambled for the woodchopper who was also hyped. We ended up landing Murray and were a second round out. That’s how close we were to a disaster in 2015-16.

This article is mid may discussing his visit but the talk about cal pursuing Murray started after the school wore off after the 2015 season. So what mid April maybe a tad later because cal was emotionally reeling not to mention 2015 team had a huge roster that hadn’t turned yet.

https://www.courier-journal.com/sto...ive-star-canadian-visiting-kentucky/27572571/

Murray/TU combo was wasted without a true big that year. Awful roster construction, again.