Labissiere and Briscoe

[BigKari]

are better than anyone on last season's team. The only player you can make an argument for is KAT, he was outstanding through SEC and Postseason, not to mention he may be the first pick in the draft (If I know the T-Wolves like I think I do, they will screw this up and pick Jokafor). You could maybe put KAT ahead of Briscoe, but its tough to compare them.

These two paired with Ulis and Poythress will be dynamic. Beyond that we have 5 solid and unselfish role players, 4 of which are juniors.

Matthews is my dark horse player and will follow in Bookers footsteps as a 40+ ranked guard who wins SEC 6th man and gets picked in the lottery. I liken him to Jimmy Butler.

This is a Final 4 team.

 

[bookerfan66]

See if you say the same thing after we get killed at Kansas.

 

[BigKari]

Kansas? Didn't we beat them by 30 last year? I'll probably say what I said when we got drilled by UConn in 2010 in Maui...we are still a Final 4 team. Even if Kansas beats us, they'll lose in the 2nd round to a 7th seed.

 

[Aike]

See if you say the same thing after we get killed at Kansas.

Get out of here with this nonsense. Really. Leave.

 

[ukmelanie]

You don't lose 7 players to the NBA and get better.People should be patient because they are going to take their lumps early.

 

[dckala2]

Reg season means jack sht. Ending the season on a 6 game win streak means everything.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Booker was ranked a lot higher than many remember. He was a 5-star on most recruiting lists and in the top 25.

But I think Matthews could be pretty good for us. He and Mulder are going to get plenty of opportunities and with minutes comes experience and with experience you improve.

This is a golden opportunity for those two to shine. I think Matthews ends up being that fifth starter for us by March.

We could be a Final Four level team by then. I'm banking on a Sweet Sixteen appearance, with anything else being icing on the cake.

Expect a bit of a bumpy ride through the season, though. Could see us losing a few games early on.

 

[dckala2]

7 nba players almost lost in the elite 8. I'll take a 6 to 7 man rotation in March and a good tourney draw. Couple studs and guys who play hard every night.

 

[bucsrule8872]

A team is more than the sum of its parts. Ten superstars couldn't win the title in 2015. In 1998, we had a team of misfits so to speak win it with a first year coach.

Chemistry should not be overlooked.

Briscoe is the type of guy that will want the ball in his hands and will want to take the big shot. He might fare better with a role player like Matthews and/or Mulder opposite him on the wing than another guy that wants to take the big shot like Murray.

We just don't know and may never know.

This could be a blessing in disguise.

A lot of people thought we needed Jarnell Stokes to add some beef to our team in 2012, but he might have disrupted chemistry and could have cost us a title. We don't know.

I believe in addition by subtraction and in this case it might be addition by staying the same.

We don't know what the future might hold for us.

And the whole of college ball is weaker this season than last. There are no UK, Duke, or Wisconsin 2015 level teams next year. Everybody has holes to fill. And the best team on paper has a huge cloud looming over them in Chapel Hill.

 

[BigKari]

You don't lose 7 players to the NBA and get better.People should be patient because they are going to take their lumps early.

Reg season means jack sht. Ending the season on a 6 game win streak means everything.

A team is more than the sum of its parts. Ten superstars couldn't win the title in 2015. In 1998, we had a team of misfits so to speak win it with a first year coach.

Chemistry should not be overlooked.

Briscoe is the type of guy that will want the ball in his hands and will want to take the big shot. He might fare better with a role player like Matthews and/or Mulder opposite him on the wing than another guy that wants to take the big shot like Murray.

We just don't know and may never know.

This could be a blessing in disguise.

A lot of people thought we needed Jarnell Stokes to add some beef to our team in 2012, but he might have disrupted chemistry and could have cost us a title. We don't know.

I believe in addition by subtraction and in this case it might be addition by staying the same.

We don't know what the future might hold for us.

And the whole of college ball is weaker this season than last. There are no UK, Duke, or Wisconsin 2015 level teams next year. Everybody has holes to fill. And the best team on paper has a huge cloud looming over them in Chapel Hill.

The last two quotes are basically how I would've responded to the first. Also, I never said this team would be better than last year. They won't win 38 games but they will go down as the better team if they win it all. I see 7-8 losses going into the NCAA Tournament, probably a 3 seed.

 

[hotelblue]

the chemistry between ulis and briscoe is a key. if they read eachother while one penetrates the other can jab step and get open for three against slower defenders.

we are blessed with quickness up the wazoo. both guys are clutch shot makers. ulis proved that in tight games last year and sealed victories for us. i think ulis will run the show and briscoe will have it under ten seconds.

that's what i imagine anyway. they should both be solid from the line, and defend like crazy. best combo in college. maybe the the two best as individual pg's and on the same team. lee and poythress and skal should see a lot of open lobs.

 

[LineSkiCat]

7 nba players almost lost in the elite 8. I'll take a 6 to 7 man rotation in March and a good tourney draw. Couple studs and guys who play hard every night.

You realize that will NEVER happen, right? You can expect at least 1 or 2 out-of-place teams that Kentucky will have to go through to get to the title game. No chance we get a cakewalk. Selection Sunday was one of the more infuriating things of last year. I don't think it will be any different next year.

 

[Smashcat]

Reg season means jack sht. Ending the season on a 6 game win streak means everything.

Absolutely.

 

[hotelblue]

You realize that will NEVER happen, right? You can expect at least 1 or 2 out-of-place teams that Kentucky will have to go through to get to the title game. No chance we get a cakewalk. Selection Sunday was one of the more infuriating things of last year. I don't think it will be any different next year.

region of doom guaranteed. version 47.0.1

 

[Hoskins91]

Can we wait to see them play a few games first?

 

[Hoskins91]

I thought the regions were done well this year, but believe what you want to believe.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I thought the regions were done well this year, but believe what you want to believe.

The selection committee bought into all the Big East/Nova hype and put them as a 1 seed. Not just a 1 seed but the second 1 seed. Over Duke and Wisconsin. That was just asinine.

That threw everything off. It was clear to anyone who watched many games that UK, UW, Duke, and Zona were head and shoulders above everyone else. The Rutgers loss without Kaminsky lowered the Badgers, but should not have. Nova's record was inflated by playing in a crap conference. Zona was underrated because they struggled in a few games they maybe should not have.

Should have been UK and Zona on one side and UW and Duke on the other.

All four 1 seeds would have made it, because those four were a lot better than everyone else.

Two Final Four teams had to play in the Elite Eight (UW/Zona) and Duke got to play a Sweet Sixteen level game in the national semis because the committee overvalued both Nova and a limping UVA, then compounded things by putting them in the same region.

Cakewalk for Duke In the early game getting plenty of rest with a blow out, while Wisconisn fought a war against UK in the late game. Showed at the end when the Badgers lost their legs.

Should have been UK and UW in the title game. Badgers fans should be ticked, their one chance for a title taken away by having to play a highly emotional game against the best team in the country in a late game Saturday night, while Duke got to rest and relax.

I'm not saying it's a conspiracy. I don't think the selection committee set it up like that for Duke to win. I do think they wanted a Duke/UK title game for ratings and tried to set it up that way. If anyone should have a gripe, it's Wisconsin. The committee put so many obstacles in their way it's not funny. UNC, Zona, and UK in their path. They were not suppose to get to the title game, IMHO.

Just my theory, though. I think money drives all this and Duke/UK in the title game was suppose to be the big payday. Wisconsin spoiled it, though.

 

[rabidcatfan]

You see, it's posts like this that make people say that UK fans are crazy. We haven't seen Skal or Isaiah play yet and already they're better than the likely #1 pick and 3 other possible lottery picks? Not to mention 3 other players who will likely be drafted, at least one more 1st rounder. Sorry, although I think Skal and Briscoe will be phenomenal players next season, I'm not ready to say they'll be better than anyone we had last year.

Now, if you want to do a one-on-one comparison of Skal vs. Towns, then I'd entertain that. Although I feel that KAT would win a game of 21 simply because of his defense and being able to bang down low better, I think Skal would keep it close. I'd say he's slightly better than Trey and Willie (definitely offensively) and a lot better than Dakari.

As for Briscoe, he is a hell of a PG, but I think he'd lose a (close) game of 21 vs. either of the twins or Booker, and I think he'd play even (if not pull ahead slightly) in a game against Ulis.

That being said, I think they're both amazing prospects and will do well in Cal's system.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

I am looking at Marcus Lee as the surprise of this year's team.

 

[jrpross]

The last two quotes are basically how I would've responded to the first. Also, I never said this team would be better than last year. They won't win 38 games but they will go down as the better team if they win it all. I see 7-8 losses going into the NCAA Tournament, probably a 3 seed.

As disappointed as I will be if we do not Get Murray this is true. And how many teams have won the championship is a three seed or lower? Quite a few.

 

[Ben101er]

are better than anyone on last season's team. The only player you can make an argument for is KAT, he was outstanding through SEC and Postseason, not to mention he may be the first pick in the draft (If I know the T-Wolves like I think I do, they will screw this up and pick Jokafor). You could maybe put KAT ahead of Briscoe, but its tough to compare them.

These two paired with Ulis and Poythress will be dynamic. Beyond that we have 5 solid and unselfish role players, 4 of which are juniors.

Matthews is my dark horse player and will follow in Bookers footsteps as a 40+ ranked guard who wins SEC 6th man and gets picked in the lottery. I liken him to Jimmy Butler.

This is a Final 4 team.

You might put Towns ahead of Briscoe? Really? KAT is going to be one of the best players to ever come out of UK. Don't get me wrong, I really like Briscoe, but to say that he is equal with Towns, especially when he has yet to put on a UK uniform, is just wrong.

 

[dckala2]

I

You realize that will NEVER happen, right? You can expect at least 1 or 2 out-of-place teams that Kentucky will have to go through to get to the title game. No chance we get a cakewalk. Selection Sunday was one of the more infuriating things of last year. I don't think it will be any different next year.

Yea, I agree with you. What's funny that in my mind a "good draw" is where the selection screws themselves. Puts an iowa state type team ahead of us. But we will never get the cakewalk like duke.

Hell I'm pretty sure the selection committee were licking their chops putting wvu and Huggins record against cal in the s16.

 

[eRUPPtion78]

I don't think it's far-fetched to say Skal will be better than KAT, but not sure about Briscoe. He's a bulldog who attacks the rim and can get his own shot, and he'll be the best PG we've had here since Wall IMHO, but not sure I'd put him above (or even on par) with KAT's talent/ceiling.

 

[fatguy87]

The selection committee bought into all the Big East/Nova hype and put them as a 1 seed. Not just a 1 seed but the second 1 seed. Over Duke and Wisconsin. That was just asinine.

That threw everything off. It was clear to anyone who watched many games that UK, UW, Duke, and Zona were head and shoulders above everyone else. The Rutgers loss without Kaminsky lowered the Badgers, but should not have. Nova's record was inflated by playing in a crap conference. Zona was underrated because they struggled in a few games they maybe should not have.

The Selection Committee seeds the bracket based on quality of resume, not by a team's strength. Thus, discrepancies between seed and skill of the team are to be expected. Because a resume based ranking system is merely an indirect measure of strength, seeding performs poorly compared to other systems in predicting tournament results.

 

[Dakota25]

Based on talent this team is final four potential. The tournament is crazy and is called March madness for a reason as two and three seeds have lost in the round of 64 while seven and eight seeds made the final four. This team can make the final weekend or lose in the sweet sixteen it just depends on match ups and how they are playing.

 

[Dakota25]

See if you say the same thing after we get killed at Kansas.

I disagree. I don't expect a win at Kansas by any means but this team is too talented to get blown out. I expect to lose by around 8 to 12 with Kansas hitting garbage free throws at the end.

 

[bookerfan66]

I disagree. I don't expect a win at Kansas by any means but this team is too talented to get blown out. I expect to lose by around 8 to 12 with Kansas hitting garbage free throws at the end.

I don't think we will be blown out either and was just frustrated with recruiting.We are going to have some very tough games next season and I think we might struggle early but will get better as the season goes along.

 

[Dakota25]

I don't think we will be blown out either and was just frustrated with recruiting.We are going to have some very tough games next season and I think we might struggle early but will get better as the season goes along.

Yeah I am frustrated with recruiting as well but the silver lining is that most the elite recruits went to schools that aren't a threat anyway such as Mississippi state and California. So other top notch schools missed out too. UK will struggle early but I think they will get 10 non conference wins which is respectfull giving the tough strength of schedule.

 

[W_Heisenberg]

No, just...no.

"Maybe" but KAT in front of Briscoe?? Are you nuts?

You are comparing Charles Matthews to Devin Booker and Jimmy Butler???

 

[eRUPPtion78]

I don't think we will be blown out either and was just frustrated with recruiting.We are going to have some very tough games next season and I think we might struggle early but will get better as the season goes along.

This team will be a more talented 2010-2011 team, IMO...not deep, will lose their share of games, but dangerous come tourney time:

Briscoe/Ulis >> Knight
Mathews/Mulder < Lamb/Liggins
Poythress/Lee = Jones/Miller (tough call...defensively it's Poy/Lee hands down)
Skal >>>>>>>>> Harrellson/Vargas (although LOVED Harrellson his senior year)

Hawkins/Willis off the bench are better options than anyone else on that 2010-2011 roster.

 

[twocoach]

Kansas? Didn't we beat them by 30 last year? I'll probably say what I said when we got drilled by UConn in 2010 in Maui...we are still a Final 4 team. Even if Kansas beats us, they'll lose in the 2nd round to a 7th seed.

Aren't you fielding an entirely different team than last year? Last year's results mean nothing for next year's results. I think Kentucky will have an excellent team next season no doubt but I fully expect the game @Kansas to be very competitive, especially if both teams come into it with all players healthy.

 

[twocoach]

are better than anyone on last season's team. The only player you can make an argument for is KAT, he was outstanding through SEC and Postseason, not to mention he may be the first pick in the draft (If I know the T-Wolves like I think I do, they will screw this up and pick Jokafor). You could maybe put KAT ahead of Briscoe, but its tough to compare them.

These two paired with Ulis and Poythress will be dynamic. Beyond that we have 5 solid and unselfish role players, 4 of which are juniors.

Matthews is my dark horse player and will follow in Bookers footsteps as a 40+ ranked guard who wins SEC 6th man and gets picked in the lottery. I liken him to Jimmy Butler.

This is a Final 4 team.

Are you basing this on anything besides blind hope? Because they haven't even practiced, let alone played a game yet.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

The selection committee bought into all the Big East/Nova hype and put them as a 1 seed. Not just a 1 seed but the second 1 seed. Over Duke and Wisconsin. That was just asinine.

That threw everything off. It was clear to anyone who watched many games that UK, UW, Duke, and Zona were head and shoulders above everyone else. The Rutgers loss without Kaminsky lowered the Badgers, but should not have. Nova's record was inflated by playing in a crap conference. Zona was underrated because they struggled in a few games they maybe should not have.

Should have been UK and Zona on one side and UW and Duke on the other.

All four 1 seeds would have made it, because those four were a lot better than everyone else.

Two Final Four teams had to play in the Elite Eight (UW/Zona) and Duke got to play a Sweet Sixteen level game in the national semis because the committee overvalued both Nova and a limping UVA, then compounded things by putting them in the same region.

Cakewalk for Duke In the early game getting plenty of rest with a blow out, while Wisconisn fought a war against UK in the late game. Showed at the end when the Badgers lost their legs.

Should have been UK and UW in the title game. Badgers fans should be ticked, their one chance for a title taken away by having to play a highly emotional game against the best team in the country in a late game Saturday night, while Duke got to rest and relax.

I'm not saying it's a conspiracy. I don't think the selection committee set it up like that for Duke to win. I do think they wanted a Duke/UK title game for ratings and tried to set it up that way. If anyone should have a gripe, it's Wisconsin. The committee put so many obstacles in their way it's not funny. UNC, Zona, and UK in their path. They were not suppose to get to the title game, IMHO.

Just my theory, though. I think money drives all this and Duke/UK in the title game was suppose to be the big payday. Wisconsin spoiled it, though.

All 4 A LOT better than everyone else eh? I guess that ND game never happened. We should have lost that game.

And you keep harping on this like a broken record but give me any logical reasons (not your opinion, back it up with factual evidence) on why Arizona should have got a 1 over Nova. Arizona only had to do one thing...not lose to 3 crap teams. If they had only lost to one or even two of those, they are probably a 1.

 

[twocoach]

All 4 A LOT better than everyone else eh? I guess that ND game never happened. We should have lost that game.

And you keep harping on this like a broken record but give me any logical reasons (not your opinion, back it up with factual evidence) on why Arizona should have got a 1 over Nova. Arizona only had to do one thing...not lose to 3 crap teams. If they had only lost to one or even two of those, they are probably a 1.

Agreed. Reseeding the tourney in hindsight is a fool's task. Arizona didn't do anything more to "earn" a #1 seed than Villanova did. Their resume was worse and they were seeded properly. The seedings aren't meant to put teams in order from the "best" to the 68th "best" because it is impossible to define.

 

[Aike]

I listened to a stats guy pre-tournament who has a great record of picking tourney winners. Sorry, can't recall his website at the moment.

He said that the Villanova region was the weakest statistically that he had analyzed in his 6 years of doing so.

Doesn't mean they didn't deserve a 1 based on resume. But the numbers say that region was garbage.

 

[brianpoe]

This team will be a more talented 2010-2011 team, IMO...not deep, will lose their share of games, but dangerous come tourney time:

Briscoe/Ulis >> Knight
Mathews/Mulder < Lamb/Liggins
Poythress/Lee = Jones/Miller (tough call...defensively it's Poy/Lee hands down)
Skal >>>>>>>>> Harrellson/Vargas (although LOVED Harrellson his senior year)

Hawkins/Willis off the bench are better options than anyone else on that 2010-2011 roster.

What????

Briscoe/Ulis >> Knight - has a chance to play out, maybe.

Poythress/Lee = Jones/Miller (tough call...defensively it's Poy/Lee hands down) - no way in the world.

Poy and Lee would have to have incredible improvement. Poy and Lee do not average 8 pts per game combined. And Jones/Miller were good defenders.

All I can say is I hope you are right, because we will have a heck of a season, if so. But as of right now I don't see it.

 

[eRUPPtion78]

What????

Briscoe/Ulis >> Knight - has a chance to play out, maybe.

Poythress/Lee = Jones/Miller (tough call...defensively it's Poy/Lee hands down) - no way in the world.

Poy and Lee would have to have incredible improvement. Poy and Lee do not average 8 pts per game combined. And Jones/Miller were good defenders.

All I can say is I hope you are right, because we will have a heck of a season, if so. But as of right now I don't see it.

You mean to tell me if you'd trust a freshman Knight to run the team more HANDS DOWN over a combo of true freshman Briscoe/sophomore Ulis? Don't think so.

Comparing Poy/Lee to Jones/Miller is a push for me because I like what the first duo brings to the table defensively moreso than the second. Offensively, not even close...give me that second combo all day. Especially if I can have Maui Terrence Jones and SEC Tournament Darius Miller. However, I'm not worried about Poy/Lee's offense as I think Ulis/Briscoe will get our guys easy looks with their ability to drive and dish.

 

[brianpoe]

You mean to tell me if you'd trust a freshman Knight to run the team more HANDS DOWN over a combo of true freshman Briscoe/sophomore Ulis? Don't think so.

Comparing Poy/Lee to Jones/Miller is a push for me because I like what the first duo brings to the table defensively moreso than the second. Offensively, not even close...give me that second combo all day. Especially if I can have Maui Terrence Jones and SEC Tournament Darius Miller. However, I'm not worried about Poy/Lee's offense as I think Ulis/Briscoe will get our guys easy looks with their ability to drive and dish.

Interesting points. In my opinion this team lacks a go to scorer and Knight far exceed Ulis, who is a good shooter but a low volume scorer and not that much of a creator as to facilitator. I believe Briscoe can create but again he has a point guard mentality and took less than 1 3 per game.

Thus I take Knights ability to create and his jumper.

I see no comparisons whatsoever in the forwards.

Poy is a better athlete than Jones but will never be a better basketball player.

Lee continued to get lost on offense and defense, has no shot and no handles. He will block 100 more shots than Darius but again, will never have the bball skill set or game acumen of Miller.

Thus with the current roster...

I would trade Ulis, Briscoe, Poy, and Lee for Knight, Jones and Miller.

Terrance would be a huge help for Skal on both offense and defense.

Miller is a true SF and provides more offense and game savvy.

Knight is without a doubt the scorer other teams must stop.

 

[eRUPPtion78]

Interesting points. In my opinion this team lacks a go to scorer and Knight far exceed Ulis, who is a good shooter but a low volume scorer and not that much of a creator as to facilitator. I believe Briscoe can create but again he has a point guard mentality and took less than 1 3 per game.

Thus I take Knights ability to create and his jumper.

I see no comparisons whatsoever in the forwards.

Poy is a better athlete than Jones but will never be a better basketball player.

Lee continued to get lost on offense and defense, has no shot and no handles. He will block 100 more shots than Darius but again, will never have the bball skill set or game acumen of Miller.

Thus with the current roster...

I would trade Ulis, Briscoe, Poy, and Lee for Knight, Jones and Miller.

Terrance would be a huge help for Skal on both offense and defense.

Miller is a true SF and provides more offense and game savvy.

Knight is without a doubt the scorer other teams must stop.

I also think Ulis is very underrated on the offensive end. I'm banking on him stepping up in the PPG category due to sheer need. Last year we didn't NEED him to be a scorer, but I think he's capable. He's got a pretty sweet stroke from mid-range and from deep.

Briscoe will be Knight-esque to me...not afraid to shoot it, and our go-to guy when a big shot is needed in crunch time (see: Knight vs. Princeton, Ohio State).

After seeing how much we missed Poythress at times last season, I'm not willing to trade him away just yet. We need a rebound, that's the guy I want to trust to go get it. I see your point though, Jones is a great talent and certainly was at this stage in his UK career as well.

 

[BigKari]

You might put Towns ahead of Briscoe? Really? KAT is going to be one of the best players to ever come out of UK. Don't get me wrong, I really like Briscoe, but to say that he is equal with Towns, especially when he has yet to put on a UK uniform, is just wrong.

I don't think it's far-fetched to say Skal will be better than KAT, but not sure about Briscoe. He's a bulldog who attacks the rim and can get his own shot, and he'll be the best PG we've had here since Wall IMHO, but not sure I'd put him above (or even on par) with KAT's talent/ceiling.

Like I said it's hard to compare them. It's apples to oranges. I know some of you just can't wrap your minds around it, but its possible that Briscoe makes a bigger impact than KAT.