I'm going to take a shot at talking about your UK team this year and hope it's taken with intent--which is discussion starter--not trolling.
First off--different type of team in what Cal would like--look at the alpha males he's brought to Lexington and has coming next year. Now contrast that with role players that consist of majority of this year's team. Ulis and Briscoe are only kids I see as typical Calipari guys--Murray will develop into one--but he's more obsessed with degree of difficulty plays and showcasing his skill set then making type of simple play that will get him the recognition and result. Seeing this team play-I think Wynyard will be a guy who gets some minutes and can help. He has one skill set that is needed-he likes to play physical. That attributes to hard fouls--UK fouls a lot but they are soft fouls (Poythress 5th on dunk, Briscoe 80+ feet from hoop, Skal's fouls all year). Give a foul that sends a message! No and one, no reach and let guy score.
This team is a combo of '11 and '13 where kids chose UK because of what the program is about without understanding what it takes to make it about that. They need to learn and will. Kids think that Cal/Staff are "talking" when they say UK is a target for every opponent. Well now those who think it's just talk, get it. It takes time. The '15 class wasn't that strong and UK got a lot of good players but you can see why it wasn't lauded as a great national class--Briscoe is a PF in guard's body--he might be the worst shooter I've ever seen UK have under Cal, Matthews is going to be a great college player--but right now he needs to understand he's a defensive player/slasher/finisher and not a playmaker.
Bullet point wise I'll address a few other things:
1. If you are going to play small--you have to fly up and down the court and play fast. This team isn't. Last night their best offense was when they attacked and shot quicker--because it allowed the athletes to go crash boards and defense scrambled. For some reason the 3 guards like to play hesitant. Needs to change. Ulis passed up shots, Murray kept trying to signal everyone in place and Briscoe played with ball too much early on--adjusted in 2nd and played aggressive and got results.
2. Skal isn't a Center. He's a PF who needs to play with someone else in paint--I'd put Lee in Paint and Skal on wing offensively and actually would let Skal play facing more. Know Cal wants these guys to showcase their skill set and develop their weakness--but problem with Skal is he's Anthony Davis frame as a HS Sr now--not that I'm comparing him to Davis as a player--but for those who talk of how skinny Davis was--look at his shoulders and strength added at UK his FR season. Skal looks more like HS version of a great prospect then college player--so it'll take him time and Cal himself said he's still trying to figure out how to use him best.
3. Murray has to focus on playing and not being a highlight player. If you hit a jumper or make a simple drive, you get same amount of pts as if you contort your body and make the crowd ooh and ahh. Too much playing to the crowd and not doing the simple things. He's a great player and will get this--just has to learn. Then again, I get it--if I were 19 and ESPN had a continuous loop of play against Duke where he lobbed to Poythress, I might be feeling that too.
4. Ulis has to be more aggressive and quit dribbling with no purpose. Know this will upset some who view him as untouchable in terms of criticism--but he does a lot of BS with the ball for no reason and throws off plays/timing of plays. He needs to set tone and get ball and fly up the court and attack, look for secondary and then set up a play--in halfcourt I'd grade Ulis as AVG this year--too much dribbling and passing up shots. It's his team (didn't Cal tell him this after everyone left?) start playing like it. Attack and play faster.
5. Poythress/Lee need to just play hard. Lee has chance to be a very good player this year--energy and hustle plays and Poythress has looked ok most of year--despite athleticism, he struggles because he plays too high. Low man wins in sports-and watch him catch a ball--how often is he straight up and down/stiff legged? Any player with his ability should catch knees bent and ready to explode--it's also why his jumper is off--he isn't shot ready--no flexibility--stiff. Low to high Alex is the kid you saw in '14 Tournament--flashes of brilliance come from that version. That has to be norm for this year's team.
6. Humphries is not the answer--he jogs on defense, is out there and know he's only 17 but he's not ready. Spot minutes at best-Wynyard has chance to pass him and for this team to reach full potential that may (stress MAY) be the difference for UK moving forward-a bruiser who is physical paired with Lee and Skal.
7. Briscoe shooting/FT shooting is mental. Guy was a scorer in HS but he had a softer shot then he's showing at UK. Again--watch his pre shot form--he's not shot ready--and part of it is he's used to always have ball in hands and creating a jumper, etc..has to learn to play without--but the FT shooting is ridiculous for a player as good as he is--that's mental. Will say that most UK kids do improve as season progresses.
8. Willis can play with this group if they play fast. If not-he's a liability due to not being tough enough to defend or rebound. If they run--he can help because he plays better defense--he'll fit their pressure group as you saw last night more--but reason he looked good in Bahamas Trip as did Poythress was the fast pace that was set. He's not a great shooter despite everyone wanting him to be placed in the Wiltjer role from '12 team.
9. People get on Cal for yelling. Why? He's having to coach on fly and with new kids who fight you (as a coach in HS, can tell you the kids fight what is being told due to having success against lesser opponents or something worked 1 time--and crowd liked it or a friend or a parent.....) you have to set tone and get them through it. Cal is rare breed--he'll get on refs but most of game he's on his own guys/team. He tells them in recruiting how it'll be and some act shocked when it happens to them (Skal) but they'll adjust. As long as you are honest and treat kids with fairness (yell at mistakes and yell praise when they do well) they'll respond. It's why he's a HOF and team improves over course of season.
10. Stay the course--it's a wide open season and UK has a ton of upside and after '14 season where people were almost turning on the team/hating them--you see how growth with young people can happen quickly. Skal is going to be fine--offensively in the game he'll show flashes--he needs to focus more on rebounds then blocked shots--if he does that--he'll pick it up quicker. Thing is--they told him to challenge more shots--so he's leaving area often and trying to block shots--instead of staying down and going for ball after an attempt.
It's not going to be like '10, '12, or '15 every year--but '11 and '14 teams should calm down some of the ridiculous talk about this group. All the above points are correctable and many will happen faster now they've tasted defeat and realize that coaches were telling truth and not talking just to be talking. Good luck and look forward to responses/seeing what UK fans think of an outside perspective.
First off--different type of team in what Cal would like--look at the alpha males he's brought to Lexington and has coming next year. Now contrast that with role players that consist of majority of this year's team. Ulis and Briscoe are only kids I see as typical Calipari guys--Murray will develop into one--but he's more obsessed with degree of difficulty plays and showcasing his skill set then making type of simple play that will get him the recognition and result. Seeing this team play-I think Wynyard will be a guy who gets some minutes and can help. He has one skill set that is needed-he likes to play physical. That attributes to hard fouls--UK fouls a lot but they are soft fouls (Poythress 5th on dunk, Briscoe 80+ feet from hoop, Skal's fouls all year). Give a foul that sends a message! No and one, no reach and let guy score.
This team is a combo of '11 and '13 where kids chose UK because of what the program is about without understanding what it takes to make it about that. They need to learn and will. Kids think that Cal/Staff are "talking" when they say UK is a target for every opponent. Well now those who think it's just talk, get it. It takes time. The '15 class wasn't that strong and UK got a lot of good players but you can see why it wasn't lauded as a great national class--Briscoe is a PF in guard's body--he might be the worst shooter I've ever seen UK have under Cal, Matthews is going to be a great college player--but right now he needs to understand he's a defensive player/slasher/finisher and not a playmaker.
Bullet point wise I'll address a few other things:
1. If you are going to play small--you have to fly up and down the court and play fast. This team isn't. Last night their best offense was when they attacked and shot quicker--because it allowed the athletes to go crash boards and defense scrambled. For some reason the 3 guards like to play hesitant. Needs to change. Ulis passed up shots, Murray kept trying to signal everyone in place and Briscoe played with ball too much early on--adjusted in 2nd and played aggressive and got results.
2. Skal isn't a Center. He's a PF who needs to play with someone else in paint--I'd put Lee in Paint and Skal on wing offensively and actually would let Skal play facing more. Know Cal wants these guys to showcase their skill set and develop their weakness--but problem with Skal is he's Anthony Davis frame as a HS Sr now--not that I'm comparing him to Davis as a player--but for those who talk of how skinny Davis was--look at his shoulders and strength added at UK his FR season. Skal looks more like HS version of a great prospect then college player--so it'll take him time and Cal himself said he's still trying to figure out how to use him best.
3. Murray has to focus on playing and not being a highlight player. If you hit a jumper or make a simple drive, you get same amount of pts as if you contort your body and make the crowd ooh and ahh. Too much playing to the crowd and not doing the simple things. He's a great player and will get this--just has to learn. Then again, I get it--if I were 19 and ESPN had a continuous loop of play against Duke where he lobbed to Poythress, I might be feeling that too.
4. Ulis has to be more aggressive and quit dribbling with no purpose. Know this will upset some who view him as untouchable in terms of criticism--but he does a lot of BS with the ball for no reason and throws off plays/timing of plays. He needs to set tone and get ball and fly up the court and attack, look for secondary and then set up a play--in halfcourt I'd grade Ulis as AVG this year--too much dribbling and passing up shots. It's his team (didn't Cal tell him this after everyone left?) start playing like it. Attack and play faster.
5. Poythress/Lee need to just play hard. Lee has chance to be a very good player this year--energy and hustle plays and Poythress has looked ok most of year--despite athleticism, he struggles because he plays too high. Low man wins in sports-and watch him catch a ball--how often is he straight up and down/stiff legged? Any player with his ability should catch knees bent and ready to explode--it's also why his jumper is off--he isn't shot ready--no flexibility--stiff. Low to high Alex is the kid you saw in '14 Tournament--flashes of brilliance come from that version. That has to be norm for this year's team.
6. Humphries is not the answer--he jogs on defense, is out there and know he's only 17 but he's not ready. Spot minutes at best-Wynyard has chance to pass him and for this team to reach full potential that may (stress MAY) be the difference for UK moving forward-a bruiser who is physical paired with Lee and Skal.
7. Briscoe shooting/FT shooting is mental. Guy was a scorer in HS but he had a softer shot then he's showing at UK. Again--watch his pre shot form--he's not shot ready--and part of it is he's used to always have ball in hands and creating a jumper, etc..has to learn to play without--but the FT shooting is ridiculous for a player as good as he is--that's mental. Will say that most UK kids do improve as season progresses.
8. Willis can play with this group if they play fast. If not-he's a liability due to not being tough enough to defend or rebound. If they run--he can help because he plays better defense--he'll fit their pressure group as you saw last night more--but reason he looked good in Bahamas Trip as did Poythress was the fast pace that was set. He's not a great shooter despite everyone wanting him to be placed in the Wiltjer role from '12 team.
9. People get on Cal for yelling. Why? He's having to coach on fly and with new kids who fight you (as a coach in HS, can tell you the kids fight what is being told due to having success against lesser opponents or something worked 1 time--and crowd liked it or a friend or a parent.....) you have to set tone and get them through it. Cal is rare breed--he'll get on refs but most of game he's on his own guys/team. He tells them in recruiting how it'll be and some act shocked when it happens to them (Skal) but they'll adjust. As long as you are honest and treat kids with fairness (yell at mistakes and yell praise when they do well) they'll respond. It's why he's a HOF and team improves over course of season.
10. Stay the course--it's a wide open season and UK has a ton of upside and after '14 season where people were almost turning on the team/hating them--you see how growth with young people can happen quickly. Skal is going to be fine--offensively in the game he'll show flashes--he needs to focus more on rebounds then blocked shots--if he does that--he'll pick it up quicker. Thing is--they told him to challenge more shots--so he's leaving area often and trying to block shots--instead of staying down and going for ball after an attempt.
It's not going to be like '10, '12, or '15 every year--but '11 and '14 teams should calm down some of the ridiculous talk about this group. All the above points are correctable and many will happen faster now they've tasted defeat and realize that coaches were telling truth and not talking just to be talking. Good luck and look forward to responses/seeing what UK fans think of an outside perspective.
