Our frontcourt deserves credit

[IL Wildcat]

I know that the frontcourt has had some well documented struggles this season, but they deserve some credit for yesterday's win over Ole Miss.

Lee had 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks
Poythress had 6 points, 9 rebounds
Labissiere had 9 points, 3 rebounds
That's 28 points, 20 rebounds, 2 blocks.

Their defense was also excellent. Ole Miss brought in a front line that has played well thus far this season. Saiz was averaging a double-double. Gielo came in averaging 9 and 5. Newby came in playing well also. Those 3 were nonfactors in this game.

So, since we've called them out for poor play, I think we should give credit when it's due.

 

[cal=8]

I was very impressed with our defense last night.. Now that Poythress is building confidence we look like a different team.. I also think Ulis really struggled with his arm and now that he's healthy he's looking amazing. He's by far the best point guard to play for Cal.. If he was 6'3 he'd be the #1 pick in the draft this year.

 

[docholiday51]

I know that the frontcourt has had some well documented struggles this season, but they deserve some credit for yesterday's win over Ole Miss.

Lee had 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks
Poythress had 6 points, 9 rebounds
Labissiere had 9 points, 3 rebounds
That's 28 points, 20 rebounds, 2 blocks.

Their defense was also excellent. Ole Miss brought in a front line that has played well thus far this season. Saiz was averaging a double-double. Gielo came in averaging 9 and 5. Newby came in playing well also. Those 3 were nonfactors in this game.

So, since we've called them out for poor play, I think we should give credit when it's due.

Yes they do, AP and Lee have pretty much pulled their weight all year, if Skal can get in on the act then we have something. I think the way the game will be played Tuesday night he (Skal )could do very well if he can avoid foul trouble.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

I think the 1st half v Ole Miss was UKs best half of the season.

 

[cal=8]

Skal is looking way better coming off the pick and roll. If cal will use him like that we'll get 10-15 points a night from him.. As the season goes on he'll learn to bang more and really help us when we make our run for #9.
Lee has put on quite a bit of muscle and between him and Poythress we'll have plenty down low for most teams.

This team is coming along nicely. I hope we can get our ft% up to 77% or so.. If we do that great things are gonna happen.

I look forward to your scouting report for Tuesday's match up with LSU IL Wildcat. That's gonna be a fun game.

 

[Smashcat]

Proud of the way Lee has continued to improve.

 

[docholiday51]

I think the 1st half v Ole Miss was UKs best half of the season.

The first half against that team...what was their name....Duck, Doak, Duke yeah that's it was pretty good also. If we had a better feel for how good Ole Miss really is you could have a point.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

I was very impressed with our defense last night.. Now that Poythress is building confidence we look like a different team.. I also think Ulis really struggled with his arm and now that he's healthy he's looking amazing. He's by far the best point guard to play for Cal.. If he was 6'3 he'd be the #1 pick in the draft this year.

I agree on Poy. He is helping our front court improve a lot.

100% disagree on your Ulis take. John Wall is absolutely better and its not really much of a debate, but I know some of you like to do so. The only fair way is to look at them both frosh vs. frosh, but if you want to go soph vs Wall's frosh, Wall still has better stats. Not to mention Wall's soph stats (rookie year in NBA) in the NBA were better.

 

[Jazzycat]

My favorite pg of the Cal era was Brandon Knight. Had great floor vision, got his teammates the ball when open and could shoot from anywhere. Did not turn the ball over as much as Wall with a better shot.

Ulis will be a close second. He has the heart of a warrior.

 

[bluescat92]

With Skal not getting minutes that has given Hawkins and Willis extra playing time and they are becoming much needed role players to give rest times for the starters or when foul trouble hits.

 

[cal=8]

I agree on Poy. He is helping our front court improve a lot.

100% disagree on your Ulis take. John Wall is absolutely better and its not really much of a debate, but I know some of you like to do so. The only fair way is to look at them both frosh vs. frosh, but if you want to go soph vs Wall's frosh, Wall still has better stats. Not to mention Wall's soph stats (rookie year in NBA) in the NBA were better.

I meant skill wise I think he's the best of the Cal era. Now because he's limited by his body size I understand that guy's like Wall or maybe Brandon Knight are gonna be in a different class at the next level. Still when you look at skill set and how complete Ulis is I really have to give the nod to Ulis. Of course Ulis is a Sophomore. Ulis didn't play enough to compare his freshman stats to Wall.

 

[1991greywildcat]

I have said all season I believe UK can win the NC this year with poythress and Lee starting inside, our backcourt is just that good that they can create scoring opportunities for our bigs..

 

[IL Wildcat]

I meant skill wise I think he's the best of the Cal era. Now because he's limited by his body size I understand that guy's like Wall or maybe Brandon Knight are gonna be in a different class at the next level. Still when you look at skill set and how complete Ulis is I really have to give the nod to Ulis. Of course Ulis is a Sophomore. Ulis didn't play enough to compare his freshman stats to Wall.

It is definitely arguable that Ulis is the most complete point guard of the Calipari era. Think about the most important qualities of a point guard...
1. Ability to see the floor.
2. Ability to provide leadership, be a coach on the floor, be an extension of the head coach.
3. Ability to handle the ball and not turn it over.
4. Related to 1&3, needs an excellent assist to turnover ratio.
5. Ability to get into the lane and finish.
6. Ability to finish well in the open floor/on the break.
7. Ability to create his own offense.
8. Ability to make the mid-range jumper.
9. Ability to make the 3pt shot.
10. Ability to make the right pass, on time.

Now that might not be an exhaustive list, but it's a good start. Looking at those, Tyler Ulis has it all.

John Wall could do some of those things better than Ulis can, without question. He could finish better than any pg we've had. He could get into the lane at will and finish at the rim. Ulis can't do that. But Wall couldn't shoot the ball very well. He couldn't shoot the 3 with any consistency. He was also much more turnover prone than Ulis.

Knight wasn't as good a distributor as Ulis. He could shoot, score, and create his own offense better than Ulis. But he also turned the ball over more and was a volume shooter, and not always very efficient.

Ulis is obviously limited by his lack of height, but I would argue that he's the most complete point guard Calipari has had.

 

[hotelblue]

lee second in the sec in blocks going in. but apparently he can't be a defensive player of the year candidate like i claimed at the beginning of the year. the guy is active and there's a shortage of dominant big guys compared to last year. you knew he was going to get significant minutes too. it was not a stretch. a lot of you laughed. although the jury is still out you see the potential.

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

Lee is such a spark. Poythress is very valuable..I don't know the % now, but last yr before his injury for his career he was holding the ppl he guarded to a total of 13 % from the floor. He is a really good defender. Skal will keep getting better...he doesn't have to be an all american. Willis still needs work on the defensive end.

 

[Bluest Member]

Lee has brought energy to the game all along,seeing Poythress gaining confidence and being closer to the player we thought he could be is great,but I finally saw the glimmer of hope in Skal that I was near giving up on,seems like my confidence in him had been lost since the player we saw early on had disappeared,if he keeps playing with the intensity he brought against Ole Miss,he will break out of his slump and become what he was touted as by HS Scouting reports.Kid needs more strength and conditioning,but confidence seemed to be the issue lately.
I will always support my Kentucky Wildcats team and players no matter how much negativity the pessimist fans sling around.I've never seen a positive result from negative whining in my life and refuse to stoop to that level.

 

[IL Wildcat]

lee second in the sec in blocks going in. but apparently he can't be a defensive player of the year candidate like i claimed at the beginning of the year. the guy is active and there's a shortage of dominant big guys compared to last year. you knew he was going to get significant minutes too. it was not a stretch. a lot of you laughed. although the jury is still out you see the potential.

And his offensive rebounding is one huge reason we've won so many games despite not getting much from Labissiere.

 

[cal=8]

It is definitely arguable that Ulis is the most complete point guard of the Calipari era. Think about the most important qualities of a point guard...
1. Ability to see the floor.
2. Ability to provide leadership, be a coach on the floor, be an extension of the head coach.
3. Ability to handle the ball and not turn it over.
4. Related to 1&3, needs an excellent assist to turnover ratio.
5. Ability to get into the lane and finish.
6. Ability to finish well in the open floor/on the break.
7. Ability to create his own offense.
8. Ability to make the mid-range jumper.
9. Ability to make the 3pt shot.
10. Ability to make the right pass, on time.

Now that might not be an exhaustive list, but it's a good start. Looking at those, Tyler Ulis has it all.

John Wall could do some of those things better than Ulis can, without question. He could finish better than any pg we've had. He could get into the lane at will and finish at the rim. Ulis can't do that. But Wall couldn't shoot the ball very well. He couldn't shoot the 3 with any consistency. He was also much more turnover prone than Ulis.

Knight wasn't as good a distributor as Ulis. He could shoot, score, and create his own offense better than Ulis. But he also turned the ball over more and was a volume shooter, and not always very efficient.

Ulis is obviously limited by his lack of height, but I would argue that he's the most complete point guard Calipari has had.

You really articulated my thoughts well.. lol

 

[1991greywildcat]

And his offensive rebounding is one huge reason we've won so many games despite not getting much from Labissiere.

Lee is the best in the country at offensive rebounding, these guards is getting better game by game, Lee's stats will start looking like shaq's!!!