No. 1 center: 247Sports ranks Omer Yurtseven ahead of Marques Bolden.
- Thread starter preacher_tom
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Skal didn't play, that's his problem.
That's why his game is so far behind.
That's why his game is so far behind.
Kanter would have been an All-American and would have provided #8 so I understand why you'd turn down any future foreigners. Lol
actually Randle has been playing his whole life. Just because he missed a season doesn't mean much.
Also, AD wasn't strong, Noel isn't all that strong. Tyler Ulis isn't strong. Just because someone isn't strong doesn't mean they can't play basketball.
I'm struggling to figure out the big man roster for next year. We have Adebayo, Gabriel, Killeya-Jones coming in. Then you have a mix of Willis, Lee, Humphries, Skal and Wynyard.
That's 8. With the possibility of Bolden and even Yurtseven as possible additions. There's not enough scholarships for all of them, and even less playing time. Will be an interesting offseason to say the least.
That's 8. With the possibility of Bolden and even Yurtseven as possible additions. There's not enough scholarships for all of them, and even less playing time. Will be an interesting offseason to say the least.
I think Coach Cal will probably try to play Gabriel and Willis at the 3.
You'll have other's man the 4/5. Skal probably won't be here.
Only problem is risking what we had with kanter... But surprisngly theres quite a few videos of Omer online. Looks to be a very good defensive player. Pretty rangy, good shot blocker, patient. any offense would just be gravy. I think thats the only thing next year lacks at this point is a rim protector. Saying that i do think gabriel, bam and lee could be solid by committee. Im most looking forward to seeing gabriel. Seems like he can do it all and could be a lockdown defender.
I don't think either of the two remaining offers would start. Willis has shown his value as a stretch 4, Bam can certainly play the post, and Gabriel will be the SF. The thought of 3 6'9" guys with long arms that can defend and rebound is very intriguing. And with SKJ and Humphries, anything added is a luxury.
Could just be me, but guys with names like Marques just sound better than guys with names like Omer. Again. . . could just be me.
I just hope we get one of the two. If we do, next year should be exciting, especially with Willis back, and hopefully Ulis returning. If we don't win the NC, I think there is a good chance that Ulis returns. Can you imagine him playing if he got a few minutes rest in a game, instead of having to play 38 to 40 minutes each game?
OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!
OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!
And Wynyard.
I'm with you on this 100%. If we were talking about adding DeMarcus Cousins or Enes Kanter, fine, you have to take them. And maybe Yurtseven is that type of guy, though I doubt it- his numbers at the 2015 FIBA European championships were solid, but not dominating. Barring that, I just don't think UK has any dire need of another big guy. Gabriel blocks shots and rebounds well. Bam blocks shots and rebounds well. Even frickin' Willis is rebounding well and blocking some shots. It's not like UK is going to be facing anyone where you say "oh, damn, we're so undersized I don't know if we can handle them". The opposite, in fact, as an Adebayo/Gabriel/Willis frontline would be more than enough to give UK a significant size advantage over most teams, while still maintaining a ton of inside/out versatility. With big, athletically gifted guards, to boot.
Have to keep in mind rankings dont neccesarily reflect whom will be more ready next year but who might be the better long term prospect..
I expect Lee and Skal gone. Lee was looking at being drafted at one point and could turn it on
I could see this team being "big" at the three again as others mentioned. I hope Willis works like crazy defensively this offseason and he could be great at that spot
I could see this team being "big" at the three again as others mentioned. I hope Willis works like crazy defensively this offseason and he could be great at that spot
Lol Skal played a year 1and a half of organized basketball in the states before coming Kentucky. He wasn't on a Haitian basketball team
And furthermore European and foreign players are getting drafted higher and higher because they go against pros and grown men. They don't have high school basketball. Look at porzingus? Kanter ect.
Yeah but we want our frontline to be bigger and more athletic than anyone in the country. We wanna throw lobs to big long athletic 7 footers. We want opposing fans to say, yeah their just bigger and more athletic than us. We do need another big, man for real. Bam needs to be playing the 4 with Willis and Gabriel playing mostly 3.
Then you want a crappy, clogged toilet offense, where other teams just pack the paint and UK has very little answer for it other than trying to basically pound the ball inside (and eventually through the goal) through sheer force.
It does not work well. It never has, and it never will. It looks good on paper, then usually turns to crap in reality. It's not a coincidence that UK has looked far more cohesive this season when Willis has played a stretch 4 role. It's not a coincidence that the 48-5 defending NBA champ plays almost exclusively with only 1 guy over 6'8", and often with no player over 6'8". It's not a coincidence that last season's NCAA champ was playing a 6'6" guy at the 4 at the end of the year.
And anyway, a team with Bam, Gabriel, and Willis on the frontcourt is still vastly bigger and more athletic than almost any of the competition. With the added bonus that you have 4, maybe even 5 (if Bam shows any kind of jump shot) guys on the floor who actually have to be guarded more than 10 feet away from the basket.
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Personally, Id rather take the foreign kid. Much easier to make him fit the loaded roster than Bolden imo. I dont hink Bolden fits at all, actually. Certainly not unless alot of interior guys leave, one way or the other.
We need consistent low post scoring on the team next year PERIOD! I don't think SKJ, Bam, Humphries, Lee, Skal, or Waynard will be able to provide it. I realize many on here will disagree with that. I want a low post scorer it can be Bolden, Omer or a 5th year graduate transfer. I just want some consistent low post scoring because if we get that we are going to be insane on defense again and have exceptional guard play. Low post scoring is the last puzzle piece to a championship team
Worried more about the NCAA than what Bolden does. It's the same damn coach who complained that Enes was paid to the NCAA. Yes, I know that Yurtseven has not been taking a salary, and that Enes' dad stashed all his away, but remember that the figgin' NCAA prez hates Kentucky above all things.
Yurtseven would never play if he came here. He needs to go to Duke. That's his best chance.
Fenerbahce is already saying th
Enes didn't get a salary. He took some kind of signing bonus and that's what got him in trouble.
I saw a tweet the other day that stated the fenerbahce people(I guess owner or gm or whatever it is over there) are saying they have indeed paid Yurtseven to play for them.
Sounds like the same deal as Kanter either way.
Fenerbahce is already saying th
Enes didn't get a salary. He took some kind of signing bonus and that's what got him in trouble.
I saw a tweet the other day that stated the fenerbahce people(I guess owner or gm or whatever it is over there) are saying they have indeed paid Yurtseven to play for them.
Sounds like the same deal as Kanter either way.
It just depends on who you got. Last year we started out 38-0 and had WCS and Towns at the 4-5. And we had the best frontcourt in the nation. I hate small lineups with 6'6 or 6'7 PF's like you're talking about. Its not what we do and we wont do it next season. Give me 2 big athletic big men who's 6'10, 6'11 or 7'0. Bam and Bolden would be the best frontcourt in the country next season. Plus Gabriel has the skillset of a SF, and that's what he'll play in the NBA.
Exactly. Something similar to what Towns provided last year. Bolden's a guy who can score in the low post, rebound, block shots, and he's pretty athletic and runs the floor pretty well. I keep saying this, but he's very similar to Jahlil Okafor
I'll take either one. Any kid that would choose to come here knowing our roster for next year is the kind you can win with.
So sure, it could crowd the roster. But each also offers something we don't really have yet, and coming here knowing the situation means they're walking in with a willingness to fill that role and compete for minutes.
Last year, Cal had to play guys because it was an unforeseen roster situation. There's nothing unfair about not playing a kid who chooses to come here knowing that could happen.
I see no downside.
So sure, it could crowd the roster. But each also offers something we don't really have yet, and coming here knowing the situation means they're walking in with a willingness to fill that role and compete for minutes.
Last year, Cal had to play guys because it was an unforeseen roster situation. There's nothing unfair about not playing a kid who chooses to come here knowing that could happen.
I see no downside.
