Next Year's Team (aka Slow Day at Work Conversation)

[AGEE11]

Not overlooking this year's team which is really fun, but we had this discussion today.

This year we have:
Ulis
Briscoe
Murray
Lee
Skal

Poythress
Matthews
Mulder
Hawkins
Willis
Humphries
Wynyard

Now I think it's a lock that Murray, Skal, and Lee go to the NBA. Poythress graduates.

Not a lock Briscoe goes pro though as he isn't a great shooter. Has an NBA body and good potential which can get him drafted, but he may not be ready and opt to stay. I don't think Ulis goes this year though.

We add Fox, Monk, Jones, Bam, and Gabreil next year and that gives us 13 scholarship players if Briscoe stays, 12 if he leaves that all can play and should see the court.

Are we back to platoons?

 

[Pope John Wall II]

Gone: Skal, Murray, Poythress, Briscoe, Lee, more likely-than-not Ulis.

Fox
Monk
Just for argument's sake let's say Matthews starts
Gabriel
Adebayo

Killeya-Jones
Mulder
Humphries
Willis
Hawkins
Wynyard

I would argue Cal would make an 8-man rotation out of that group, and I think that would be the best way to do it.
In the same way James Young and Archie Goodwin were going to be 1AD's no matter their draft projection, Briscoe will be too.

 

[WildMoon]

Nah,

i don't think we'll platoon. I think Coach Cal rather go 6-7 players. We'll start this year and he'll narrow it down as season progresses.

I think Briscoe and Ulis will both go.

 

[ganner918]

We're going to be supremely athletic but may be a poor to mediocre shooting team. Might look a lot like Cal's first team, but with long lanky athlete big men instead of beefy anchors in the post.

 

[caneintally]

This year we don't and won't ever play 6-7 players and I get so tired of that notion that Cal wants to play that few . He had to play that few 2 times in his career here due to players leaving early but I think this is the type of year that he likes best . 8-9 guys who can and do play but not the 10-11 like last year where he has to platoon . I think we WILL platoon next year if Briscoe and or Ulis stay but I don't think either will so it is a moot point. I see it as

Fox/Monk/Gabriel/SKJ/Bam starting with Willis/Humphries/Matthews playing alot as well. Mulder and Tai very little .

 

[ganner918]

This year we don't and won't ever play 6-7 players and I get so tired of that notion that Cal wants to play that few . He had to play that few 2 times in his career here due to players leaving early but I think this is the type of year that he likes best . 8-9 guys who can and do play but not the 10-11 like last year where he has to platoon . I think we WILL platoon next year if Briscoe and or Ulis stay but I don't think either will so it is a moot point. I see it as

Fox/Monk/Gabriel/SKJ/Bam starting with Willis/Humphries/Matthews playing alot as well. Mulder and Tai very little .

Exactly. It looks like a tightened up 7 man rotation is typical in the post-season (last year the exception) with other players getting situational minutes, but 8-9 players getting minutes through the season if there are that many worthy of getting on the court.

 

[WildMoon]

Exactly. It looks like a tightened up 7 man rotation is typical in the post-season (last year the exception) with other players getting situational minutes, but 8-9 players getting minutes through the season if there are that many worthy of getting on the court.

you are basically saying 6-7 man rotation. If situation arises other will get minutes.

Cal likes to play 40 minutes of starting 5 if he could.

Last game, Cal basically played 7 guys and two other guys got less than 8 minutes. Willis/Mulder. Hawkins played because Ulis is out. Mulder played because Briscoe/Murray were both in foul trouble.

This year is looking like 7 man rotation, he is hoping Skal toughens up. Interior rotation of Lee, Poythress, and Skal. Backcourt rotation of Ulis, Murray, Briscoe, and Mathews.

 

[WildMoon]

This year we don't and won't ever play 6-7 players and I get so tired of that notion that Cal wants to play that few . He had to play that few 2 times in his career here due to players leaving early but I think this is the type of year that he likes best . 8-9 guys who can and do play but not the 10-11 like last year where he has to platoon . I think we WILL platoon next year if Briscoe and or Ulis stay but I don't think either will so it is a moot point. I see it as

Fox/Monk/Gabriel/SKJ/Bam starting with Willis/Humphries/Matthews playing alot as well. Mulder and Tai very little .

That's not true at all. Even last year he started to taper the platoon by end of it. KAT and WCS basically got all interior minutes. Dakari and Lee practically got limited role. (I doubt they played more than 6 minutes in elite eight or final four)

His rotation was Twins, Lyles, WCS, and KAT. With Ulis/Booker replacing whoever pieces. (that's 7) (the bigs would move up and down based on situation)

2011, he played 6? Knight, Lamb, Miller, Jones, Jorts, with Liggins coming off the bench?

2012, He played 7 players. By end, that went down to 6. I don't think Wiltjer even played championship game. Vargas was there only if Davis got into foul trouble. However, Wiltjer was practically victory player. This rotation was clearly 6.

2013 was no choice limited. Don't even have to bother here.

2014 was twins, Young, Randle, and WCS. Dakari, Poythress, and Lee came off the bench. He also played Hawkins at times, but that was rare. Lee and Hawkins basically hardily never played till WCS got hurt. So 7.

 

[Jkwo]

We're going to be supremely athletic but may be a poor to mediocre shooting team. Might look a lot like Cal's first team, but with long lanky athlete big men instead of beefy anchors in the post.

One of our starting bigs is going to be very beefy (and also crazy athletic)

 

[ganner918]

One of our starting bigs is going to be very beefy (and also crazy athletic)

That is true, I was somehow in a pre-Bam mindset.

 

[Icecoldbrewdoggy]

Is Wynyard expected to be a 4 year player? Does he have pro potential? Don't know much about him.

 

[UK_Johnny24]

I think Ulis may come back honestly. I doubt we platoon either way, but if Tyler does leave. Then we gotta add a shooter. They'll be plenty of transfers out there who can play immediately. Or Alkins may be an option.

 

[Bigkyfan10]

I would be shocked to see Briscoe Lee and Ulis all leave. I would give that about a 5% of happening. If I would have to guess I think Ulis comes back.

PG Ulis
SG Monk
SF Gabriel
PF Bam
C Humphries

Fox
Matthews
SKJ
Wynard
Willis
Hawkins
Mulder???
Floreal???
Or a surprise recruit/ Lee/ or Briscoe ?????

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

I don't think Cal will platoon again anytime soon in the future. Cal doesn't like to platoon. Cal would rather let his best players play the most minutes. I know that makes way too much sense to type, but it's true. Ulis and Briscoe will leave after this season no matter what. Ulis won't get any taller and Briscoe had his mind up on being in the NBA after just one year of college basketball from the start. When a kid thinks like this, aint much you can do to change his mindset. Briscoe is not playing like a OnenDone type of talent at this moment, but he is showing a lot of potential and that alone can and will get you drafted so much higher than actual production a lot of times. When Ulis enters the draft, Fox is our starting point guard from day 1 and will play as many minutes as the kid can handle. He's the best point guard in the class and his upside is through the roof. Briscoe will also leave for the NBA draft. Like i said, this is a kid that has had his mind made up from day 1 and it doesn't matter what stats he produces, he's gone. When Briscoe decides to enter the draft, Monk is our guaranteed starting shooting guard and will play as many minutes as he can also handle. Monk is a beast of a 2guard. He could turn out to be the most explosive scorer we have had in a long time. I don't think there is a chance Briscoe nor Ulis decides to come back to college. If they do, it would make our team better and our rotations would be a lil more confusing, but with that much talent on the roster, i'm pretty sure we can figure it out in a way that no kid that deserves playing time sits on the bench. Cal wants to win as much as any of us. He will play whoever gives him the best shot at winning games.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Starters
G Fox
G Monk
F Gabriel
F Adebayo
F Killeya-Jones

Key Reserves
G Matthews- first guard off the bench.
F Humphries- first big off the bench.
F Willis- size and shooting off the bench.

Hawkins, Mulder, and Wynyard provide situational minutes.