New Starting Five

[arenk]

i am thinking that when Bradshaw and Mitchell are in together, there won’t be anyone playing the traditional 5 man role. The 5 is going to run PnP and PnR action and try to get the opposing big out on the perimeter away from the basket. We will see more of a spread offense. 5 out.

When Onyesno (and hopefully Cyril) are in, then we play a four out offense.

Not sure about how it will look on the defensive end with Bradshaw and Mitchell.

On one hand, Mitchell isn’t the shot blocking threat you want from your 5. On the other hand, Bradshaw isn’t the physical presence you want at the 5.

It might come down to matchups. Sometimes you might want your 6’9, 225 lbs. physically mature player banging down low. Sometimes you might want your bouncy, athletic 7 footer patrolling the paint.

But when Onyenso (and Cyril if we get him) is in there, Bradshaw and Mitchell will defend the 4 spot.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out, but that’s my guess.

You may very well be right. It'll be interesting to see how Cal uses his personnel, depending, of course, on the opponent's strengths and weaknesses.

 

[bucsrule8872]

So it’s official that Mitchell is a Cat!

Top 7 players seem pretty obvious as long as Bradshaw is healthy by the start of the season:

Dillingham
Wagner
Reeves
Edwards
Mitchell
Bradshaw
Onyenso

Those guys will get most of the minutes this season.

That’s the likely rotation at crunch time.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

So it’s official that Mitchell is a Cat!

Top 7 players seem pretty obvious as long as Bradshaw is healthy by the start of the season:

Dillingham
Wagner
Reeves
Edwards
Mitchell
Bradshaw
Onyenso

Those guys will get most of the minutes this season.

That’s the likely rotation at crunch time.

People wanted depth and they got it. Who has a better 8th and 9th player than shep and thiero?

And that doesn't even factor in Hart and Burks. If any of those 8 through 11 guys is better than expected watch out.

 

[bucsrule8872]

People wanted depth and they got it. Who has a better 8th and 9th player than shep and thiero?

And that doesn't even factor in Hart and Burks. If any of those 8 through 11 guys is better than expected watch out.

And we could still add Cyril.

 

[silentsaregolden2.0]

But, wait.......We're still not done....hopefully. Unless Mitchell scares Somto away.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

And we could still add Cyril.

Will be interesting.

I'm also fascinated to see how calipari keeps everyone happy.

The only way it works is if Hart, Burks, shep and maybe somto are ok with waiting their turn. Not sure thiero is gonna stay if he doesn't crack the main rotation again this season.

Good problem to have on the depth side though.

 

[NCPurplecat]

Bradshaw needs to recover from his injury and should go easy in the early part of the season as he adjusts to NEW level l. Big Teens often have some injuries as they grow into their large bodies and adjust to higher weight. If he he contributes any where near his rating he will help but Mitchell is a proven role player. Mitchell would not come to be on the bench. Add him and Cyril and a healthy Bradshaw and things look better. UK will win with Guard and Wing play this year.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Will be interesting.

I'm also fascinated to see how calipari keeps everyone happy.

The only way it works is if Hart, Burks, shep and maybe somto are ok with waiting their turn. Not sure thiero is gonna stay if he doesn't crack the main rotation again this season.

Good problem to have on the depth side though.

Fair point about Thiero.

He may end up being the 8th man to keep him in the rotation and happy.

I think Sheppard will play, but he might not see major minutes now with Reeves returning.

I am not counting on Cyril until he signs, so I could see minutes going something like this (give or take 5 minutes here or there):

Dillingham- 25
Wagner- 25
Reeves- 25
Edwards- 25
Mitchell- 25
Bradshaw- 25
Onyenso- 20
Thiero- 20
Sheppard- 10

That’s probably the 9-man rotation. Burks and Hart see spot duty/mop up minutes.

 

[fatguy87]

Also, regarding depth, how often do we think we are going to be 10 deep in the preseason? I think it’s every year and after a few games, it’s clear we have some busts.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Fair point about Thiero.

He may end up being the 8th man to keep him in the rotation and happy.

I think Sheppard will play, but he might not see major minutes now with Reeves returning.

I am not counting on Cyril until he signs, so I could see minutes going something like this (give or take 5 minutes here or there):

Dillingham- 25
Wagner- 25
Reeves- 25
Edwards- 25
Mitchell- 25
Bradshaw- 25
Onyenso- 20
Thiero- 20
Sheppard- 10

That’s probably the 9-man rotation. Burks and Hart see spot duty/mop up minutes.

Idk if the 25 minute guys will be ok with not getting 30 but overall looks good to me.

 

[oakhillcatman]

If Cyril comes he will rarely see the floor

 

[bucsrule8872]

If Cyril comes he will rarely see the floor

Depends on how good Onyenso is.

We haven’t seen enough to know about him.

And Cyril is 7’0, 240-250-ish. Dude is not a typical Freshman physique wise.

 

[true blue1]

Beginning of the year starting 5, imo.

Wagner
Reeves
Edwards
Mitchell
Ugo

 

[plumdog69]

Bradshaw is not a true 5 man. He may play some at the 5, but he is better suited to play the 4.

But here is the thing, it doesn’t matter. Both Mitchell (if he comes here) and Bradshaw (if he is healthy) will play and play starter minutes and play whichever position Cal thinks they should play.

Mitchell isn’t coming if he isn’t getting starter minutes.

Bradshaw wouldn’t have signed with us if he wasn’t going to get starter minutes.

So, if both guys are getting 25+ minutes a game, one of them will play the 5 some.

Onyenso and Cyril (if he comes) will split the remaining minutes or one of them will win the lion’s share of the rest of the minutes.

As for how they will play, when Bradshaw or Mitchell man the 5, expect a lot of pick and pop and pick and roll action, to try to get the opponents big man away from the basket.

Defensively, it will depend on matchups. If we play a team with a bruiser inside, we probably see Mitchell guarding him. When the other team’s 5 is a finesse player or doesn’t score a lot, expect Bradshaw to patrol the paint.

We really don’t have a 5 that can park it on the block and we can feed all game. Onyenso is not that guy. I don’t think Cyril will be either. Bradshaw and Mitchell both prefer the face up game. I don’t expect a lot of back to the basket post play next season, unless Onyesno and/or Cyril really surprise me.

We will spread the floor and our 5 man will get his points off weak side alley oops and rebounds, catching it in the so-called “dunker’s spot,” on pick and pop or pick and roll action, etc.

I just don’t expect our offense to go through the post with this roster. Our guards are playmakers and our bigs are hopefully finishers.

Cal going keep putting 2 non shooters on the two high screen game ???? Malpractice last year.

 

[reggis1]

If Cyril comes he will rarely see the floor

Cyril is coming and i disagree with statement on floor time. He will get a ton of minutes in mho.