Per Derek Willis on KSR, SKJ had most upside on last years team

[MakinMusic]

His comment about working harder is the key. Kid has all the tools. My guess is he is still learning what it means to be a fish in the ocean rather than a fish in a pond, particularly with coaches.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Well again I will disagree and that seems to be where fans are differing in general. Cal has Kentucky as a place preparing young men for the NBA. Great, he has shown the best success of any current coach, and that goal attracts the top talent. We want the top talent obviously as does every other program so the players first concept has been great for recruiting.

Cal's approach has been great for most outcomes in terms of fielding a very good team that will go far in the tourney but generally unlikely to win it all unless there are also some perhaps lesser skilled players with experience. Doron Lamb, Terrance Jones, and Darius Miller had experience to go along with the top tier. Josh Harrellson had experience as a Senior the year before. This year without Hawkins and Willis (neither likely to be NBA players) we wouldn't have gone as far.

Cal should have allowed SKJ some investment of playing time to improve. Again experience counts and unless as some have suggested there were academic or behavioral issues behind the scenes it made zero sense in the long run not to allow some development. Same as someone pointed out with Humphries the year before. There certainly were games where SKJ should have played.

I feel Cal should continue to recruit elite players but one and done only is a challenge if others who return haven't been developed.

Who exactly is"likely to win it all. The numbers have been shown over and over no coach since wooden' streak has been "likely to win it all".

 

[WildMoon]

Well again I will disagree and that seems to be where fans are differing in general. Cal has Kentucky as a place preparing young men for the NBA. Great, he has shown the best success of any current coach, and that goal attracts the top talent. We want the top talent obviously as does every other program so the players first concept has been great for recruiting.

Cal's approach has been great for most outcomes in terms of fielding a very good team that will go far in the tourney but generally unlikely to win it all unless there are also some perhaps lesser skilled players with experience. Doron Lamb, Terrance Jones, and Darius Miller had experience to go along with the top tier. Josh Harrellson had experience as a Senior the year before. This year without Hawkins and Willis (neither likely to be NBA players) we wouldn't have gone as far.

Cal should have allowed SKJ some investment of playing time to improve. Again experience counts and unless as some have suggested there were academic or behavioral issues behind the scenes it made zero sense in the long run not to allow some development. Same as someone pointed out with Humphries the year before. There certainly were games where SKJ should have played.

I feel Cal should continue to recruit elite players but one and done only is a challenge if others who return haven't been developed.

Again. You speak ideal with no way to execute.

Hawkins really didn't play much first three years so he doesn't fit your arguement.

 

[Chuckinden]

There's no doubt in my mind something else was going on behind the scenes. Jones looked pretty good in early games and all of sudden is buried on the bench with walk ons and Brad playing in front of him.

 

[deuces r wild]

SKJ has to first get out of the Big Blue Doghouse. In order to do that he has got to quit doing dumb stuff. I hear he is not a bad kid, just very immature.

 

[FFWhite]

I believe a big problem was he got caught in the numbers crunch when Cal shortened the rotation. Hard to play more than 8 or 9. He got behind early and never caught up. 4 guys got in excess of 30 minutes per game. Willis got close to 30 during the home stretch. Hawkins deservedly got a bunch of minutes. Gabriel and Hump
seemed to eat up the majority of the remaining minutes. Mulder once he became health filled a valuable role. Not many minutes left for Jones.

 

[Blueaz]

Well again I will disagree and that seems to be where fans are differing in general. Cal has Kentucky as a place preparing young men for the NBA. Great, he has shown the best success of any current coach, and that goal attracts the top talent. We want the top talent obviously as does every other program so the players first concept has been great for recruiting.

Cal's approach has been great for most outcomes in terms of fielding a very good team that will go far in the tourney but generally unlikely to win it all unless there are also some perhaps lesser skilled players with experience. Doron Lamb, Terrance Jones, and Darius Miller had experience to go along with the top tier. Josh Harrellson had experience as a Senior the year before. This year without Hawkins and Willis (neither likely to be NBA players) we wouldn't have gone as far.

Cal should have allowed SKJ some investment of playing time to improve. Again experience counts and unless as some have suggested there were academic or behavioral issues behind the scenes it made zero sense in the long run not to allow some development. Same as someone pointed out with Humphries the year before. There certainly were games where SKJ should have played.

I feel Cal should continue to recruit elite players but one and done only is a challenge if others who return haven't been developed.

when was Cal to play him more?...most of the 2nd half of season we had fairly close games; or when he came in he immediately stunk.
can you imagine the meltdown if we lost with SKJ instead of WIllis on the floor?

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

You know, considering he has more game time experience than Diallo, maybe he should go pro.

He still has time. Cal likes to put a few days between major announcements. I think SKJ was the one that made the decision to stay on the bench so he didn't take a chance of hurting himself. Stay tuned.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

He still has time. Cal likes to put a few days between major announcements. I think SKJ was the one that made the decision to stay on the bench so he didn't take a chance of hurting himself. Stay tuned.

Hasn't the deadline already passed?

 

[Canned Heat]

UPDATE: Based upon the comments of Derek Willis and this thread, Sacha Killeya-Jones has announced he will be entering the 2017 NBA Draft and hiring an agent.

 

[mdlUK.1]

UPDATE: Based upon the comments of Derek Willis and this thread, Sacha Killeya-Jones has announced he will be entering the 2017 NBA Draft and hiring an agent.

Did you really think that was funny? Keep your day job.

 

[JohnnyGentle]

I remember Julius Randle and a few other said the SAME THING about Willis.

if jordan is a bad gm i can't imagine what randle or willis would do

 

[Jmeeks54thebest]

Did you really think that was funny? Keep your day job.

Lol. Hello triggered.

 

[mdlUK.1]

Lol. Hello triggered.

Don't know what that means. So, I assume it's something just as stupid as the other post.

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

Hasn't the deadline already passed?

Things are so crazy I don't even remember at this point. We'll just have to wait and see how this soap opera plays out.

 

[G-PIP]

There was a lot of unearned time from the other bigs last year.

Then I’m guessing you’re a water boy, maybe? Otherwise, anyone not at the practices or privy to the inner workings of the team, wouldn’t know who earned what.

 

[coolioo1]

shocker....18 year old struggles at first.....oh the horror

 

[kev69]

Jones may be a force this season.

Gabriel might be really good too.

If this happens, it could be a special season.

I still would feel a lot better if Bamba commits.

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

Cal has to let him on the floor and let learn from his mistakes.

Yeah Cal doesn't know what he's doing..shoukd just put ppl out there for fun, especially a guy who is so aware he doesn't even know who he's supposed to check in for. Lord.

 

[Canned Heat]

Did you really think that was funny? Keep your day job.

EAD

 

[Madcat62]

I believe a big problem was he got caught in the numbers crunch when Cal shortened the rotation. Hard to play more than 8 or 9. He got behind early and never caught up. 4 guys got in excess of 30 minutes per game. Willis got close to 30 during the home stretch. Hawkins deservedly got a bunch of minutes. Gabriel and Hump
seemed to eat up the majority of the remaining minutes. Mulder once he became health filled a valuable role. Not many minutes left for Jones.

gabriel was vary unimpressive looked lost vary vary raw player look like a kid who had not been playing organized long if he comes back has a lot of room to improve

 

[WonderBraa]

He didn't play in our last 19 games....it's more than just "working harder". Somethings up.

 

[Jmeeks54thebest]

Don't know what that means. So, I assume it's something just as stupid as the other post.

You know what happens when you assume!

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Things are so crazy I don't even remember at this point. We'll just have to wait and see how this soap opera plays out.

Agreed.