Let's say Cal knows exatacly what is going to happen.....

[weatherbird]

The team as it stands right at this moment while a nice collection of players would make absolutely no noise next year. If you think otherwise you are just being a serious homer. The 14 class was far superior in overall talent and struggled way more than expected during the regular season and that was with some vets sprinkled in the mix. Current roster is a bubble team due to inexperience and lack of scorers. Hopefully 2-3 more is added and we don't have to find out.

All teams are bubble teams at this point. An injury or two to the best players on any team will seriously cripple them. There has been exactly one team that Cal has coached that was a bubble team, and that was mainly due to an injury to the best player. None of Cal's other teams have been anywhere near a bubble team. And he has done it with pretty much all freshman, he's done it with returning players, he's done it with start studded rosters, and he has done it with only 2 first round picks on his team (after having a player deemed ineligible).

Contrary to popular belief, Cal doesn't need stars to make a team good. In fact, most people seem to think every UK roster has been loaded, and thus they should have won the Championship most of the years Cal has been here. Truthfully, there are at least 3 players on the roster as it stands that could end up in the first round, and possibly even the lottery, depending on if they sign anyone else or not.

You only need to look at 2 things to know whether Cal's team is going to be Final Four good or not. PG play, and interior defense are keys to Cal's teams. Green should be really good, and will likely be good earlier than some of the other PG Cal has had. With Gabriel, SKJ, Vanderbilt, Washington, and Richards, the interior defense should return to what it was in some of our best years. Richards isn't a Cauley-Stein project like many are labeling him. He is not in the same category as Noel, Davis, and Towns, or even Bamba, but he is very good. The rest of the team just needs to hold their own.

Without any additions, and Hami leaving, a starting line-up of Green, Alexander (or Baker), Vanderbilt, Washington (or Gabriel if he improves), and Richards (or SKJ) will be good for a few losses along the way, but be in the hunt by the end of the year. Vanderbilt, Washington (because he can show some perimeter skills), and Richards will be in the conversation for first round picks, and depending on play, maybe Green as well. We are 6-8 deep without signing anybody else.

 

[thepip]

Diallo stays, Bamba commits. Johnson commits.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

I know it. It's hilarious. One negative comment and your a troll.

STFU Troll.









JK

 

[BBUK]

All teams are bubble teams at this point. An injury or two to the best players on any team will seriously cripple them. There has been exactly one team that Cal has coached that was a bubble team, and that was mainly due to an injury to the best player. None of Cal's other teams have been anywhere near a bubble team. And he has done it with pretty much all freshman, he's done it with returning players, he's done it with start studded rosters, and he has done it with only 2 first round picks on his team (after having a player deemed ineligible).

Contrary to popular belief, Cal doesn't need stars to make a team good. In fact, most people seem to think every UK roster has been loaded, and thus they should have won the Championship most of the years Cal has been here. Truthfully, there are at least 3 players on the roster as it stands that could end up in the first round, and possibly even the lottery, depending on if they sign anyone else or not.

You only need to look at 2 things to know whether Cal's team is going to be Final Four good or not. PG play, and interior defense are keys to Cal's teams. Green should be really good, and will likely be good earlier than some of the other PG Cal has had. With Gabriel, SKJ, Vanderbilt, Washington, and Richards, the interior defense should return to what it was in some of our best years. Richards isn't a Cauley-Stein project like many are labeling him. He is not in the same category as Noel, Davis, and Towns, or even Bamba, but he is very good. The rest of the team just needs to hold their own.

Without any additions, and Hami leaving, a starting line-up of Green, Alexander (or Baker), Vanderbilt, Washington (or Gabriel if he improves), and Richards (or SKJ) will be good for a few losses along the way, but be in the hunt by the end of the year. Vanderbilt, Washington (because he can show some perimeter skills), and Richards will be in the conversation for first round picks, and depending on play, maybe Green as well. We are 6-8 deep without signing anybody else.

Good post (Not that my opinion matters.)

 

[BBUK]

STFU Troll.









JK

No he wasn't.

 

[brianpoe]

I know it. It's hilarious. One negative comment and your a troll.

I have to LOL at your "one negative comment" comment.

You haven't been a ray of sunshine lately.

 

[shutzhund]

Obviously just my opinion, but I've read enough to know he is a Duke lean, anything can happen though I guess

But, the weakness in that is that you probably read it here. The fount of all unfounded speculation.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

But, the weakness in that is that you probably read it here. The fount of all unfounded speculation.

EXACTLY. Reading this board an expert does not make.....

 

[BBUK]

EXACTLY. Reading this board an expert does not make.....

I can vouch for that. I read this board nearly every day...

 

[Calsthebomb]

I have to LOL at your "one negative comment" comment.

You haven't been a ray of sunshine lately.

Hardly anybody has. You know good as I do we need a couple more guys.

 

[bigblue2243]

ham stays in the draft..... we get bamba..... then knox is intrigued by playing the two that is voided by ham.... Johnson ends up going to Arizona..... and we sign someone unheard of or not thought of currently

 

[BBUK]

If Cal stated he is not finished yet that is good enough. I am happy and calm. (haven't had a drink in many weeks either...)

 

[TheAnonymous13]

Cal may be optimistic on a couple of those guys but he does not "know" any of it.
The most likely right now is Cam, who may be there for the taking. Arizona has been making a push. It will be interesting to see if he proceeds with visits or cuts it's off.

 

[lkc1234]

Where we stand right now with my terrible math skills we have 9 committed and/or signed scholarship players. Leaving us with 4 open spots. Spare me the EJ walk on jokes, they are played out.

From what I can tell, we are currently recruiting only 3 players (Knox, Cam, Bamba) and Diallo would be the 4th spot.

So, if Cal "read the tea leaves" and predicted most of how this was going to shake out and he knows who stays and who goes, that means we fill the 4 spots with Bamba, Knox, Cam, and Diallo filling out our roster.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

You are wrong.

 

[LXA_chop]

You are wrong.

THANKS. FOR THE INSIGHT.

 

[railroadkat_1]

We should know the rooster by around the middle of May! Cal has had his swagger back and there in I believe he knows what's coming with the final pieces to our recruiting puzzle!

 

[Blueisbest]

We should know the rooster by around the middle of May! Cal has had his swagger back and there in I believe he knows what's coming with the final pieces to our recruiting puzzle!

I sure hope we Cock-a-doodle do real soon.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I am okay with the team we currently have. I think we add Johnson, especially if Diallo leaves. It will be hard for him to say no to a starting spot just waiting for him at the 2 spot.

We will have 10 scholarship players, plus the walk-ons. That's six 5-stars, three 4-stars, and the top grad transfer in the country.


G Green/Gilgeous-Alexander
G Johnson/Baker
F Vanderbilt/Washington
F Gabriel/Killeya-Jones
F Richards/Wynyard

Cal likes to go about 8 deep, so we have a little wiggle room for injuries. We would be fine. A little young, but there is really nothing that can be done to remedy that now (besides adding Johnson).

 

[railroadkat_1]

I sure hope we Cock-a-doodle do real soon.

A big second on that Blueisbest! A very good place for our first 2018 recruit to commit from!

 

[BlueRunner11]

We should know the rooster by around the middle of May! Cal has had his swagger back and there in I believe he knows what's coming with the final pieces to our recruiting puzzle!

 

[railroadkat_1]

Sorry for my bad grammar took the first hint the wrong way!........LOL........Really hard not to make a mistake with a size 16 ring finger. All in fun, all in fun.

 

[railroadkat_1]

I sure hope we Cock-a-doodle do real soon.

Took a second poster to see my grammar mistake. Jump on me anytime it's OK!

 

[BlueRunner11]

Sorry for my bad grammar took the first hint the wrong way!........LOL........Really hard not to make a mistake with a size 16 ring finger. All in fun, all in fun.

We need a little more joking around here these days.

 

[railroadkat_1]

We need a little more joking around here these days.

Man I couldn't say it any better and thanks for the eye opener. Still LOL.

 

[lennyd250cat]

If Knox does go to Duke they will be your National Champions.

 

[bucsrule8872]

If Knox does go to Duke they will be your National Champions.

Same thing was said when they got Bolden last year.

I prefer to watch the season play out before handing out the trophy.

 

[EclipsingYou]

Thepip,

There you go! You've figured it all out. The same plan Calipari has had for over a month will end up happening exactly as he planned for it to all go down and when!

I can't believe that with Calipari still here on the peak of his game people still worry about him missing all his top priorities without having any suitable replacements left in the class.

 

[GoNoles111]

If UK adds Johnson and Bamba as expected and HD stays in the draft, they're still easily a top 15 team and would be dangerous as hell come tourney time.

 

[Blue Decade]

Where we stand right now with my terrible math skills we have 9 committed and/or signed scholarship players. Leaving us with 4 open spots. Spare me the EJ walk on jokes, they are played out.

From what I can tell, we are currently recruiting only 3 players (Knox, Cam, Bamba) and Diallo would be the 4th spot.

So, if Cal "read the tea leaves" and predicted most of how this was going to shake out and he knows who stays and who goes, that means we fill the 4 spots with Bamba, Knox, Cam, and Diallo filling out our roster.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Post is completely understandable. These days, it's getting difficult to follow everything. Almost need a racing form to do it. Gabriel, SKJ, Wynyard are coming back. Diallo hasn't signed with an agent, so might or might not come back. Green, Alexander, Baker, Vanderbilt, Washington, Richards have signed. So we have 9 or 10 players, depending on Diallo. Out of the uncommitted players, I think Cameron Johnson is Calipari's best bet by far at this point. I have never believed we will get Knox, and still don't. I have never been as optimistic about Bamba as most people here, and still think our chances with Bamba are 50-50 at best. But I am not pessimistic about next season. If we get Johnson, but miss on Bamba and Knox, I believe we will have a top 10 team that will get better and better as the season moves along. As long as Vanderbilt is healthy.

 

[BBUK]

We need a little more joking around here these days.

I try...laughter is a medicine...

 

[JC CATS]

What is your definition of not a very good year?

I can answer for several on this board. If you don't win a title it has been a down year. We win so many you know...

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

Diallo was expected by everyone to test the waters in order for him and Cal to best find out how to make him lottery worthy in next year's draft.

.

These kind of comments make no sense. You work on ALL your skills all the time.
He's testing the waters to see where he would be drafted THIS YEAR. There's no other reason.

 

[railroadkat_1]

I try...laughter is a medicine...

BBUK you bet it is especially when you figure out it's about yourself and a typing error in the wrong place.......LOL

 

[thevaliantx]

Sorry for my bad grammar took the first hint the wrong way!........LOL........Really hard not to make a mistake with a size 16 ring finger. All in fun, all in fun.

You can tell her that you wear a ring to make the night long time fun.

 

[thevaliantx]

I can answer for several on this board. If you don't win a title it has been a down year. We win so many you know...

What will be your answer if Cal walks with only 1 title in all these years? As much as I loathe what Pitino came after leaving UK, right now Calipari is in a solid third place as a "coach".

 

[bucsrule8872]

What will be your answer if Cal walks with only 1 title in all these years? As much as I loathe what Pitino came after leaving UK, right now Calipari is in a solid third place as a "coach".

Ridiculous.

Cal beats Pitino.

Cal has the same amount of titles, the same amount of title games, and one more Final Four.

The extra Final Four puts him above Pitino.

 

[lkc1234]

What will be your answer if Cal walks with only 1 title in all these years? As much as I loathe what Pitino came after leaving UK, right now Calipari is in a solid third place as a "coach".

And you are in last place as a poster.

 

[MegaBlue05]

I'm expecting Hami to return and we land Bamba and Cam. This will be followed by a bunch of 40-0 posts until we lose our first game. Then all of the people that are freaking out now will freak out again. By the end of the season the same people will be positive we can win it all.

You, my friend, have read this book before. It's the SOS year after year after year.

 

[JC CATS]

What will be your answer if Cal walks with only 1 title in all these years? As much as I loathe what Pitino came after leaving UK, right now Calipari is in a solid third place as a "coach".

I will say he did the same as Joe B Hall, Tubby and Rick Pitino, only he went to more FF

 

[LXA_chop]

So, maybe Cal does know exactly what is going on. Still hope this post comes to fruition.