Pick one player from each of the 5 coaches who’ve won a title at UK.

[morgousky]

But I find it hard to believe there has ever been a player as impactful and versatile on both ends than Davis. I scratch my head at anyone leaving Davis off this list or any all-time Kentucky list. Big men or on a general list.

Well let’s continue down the road using your logic.

It’s 2080, a dude named Jimmy is making this same thread. My great great grandson picks Davis, and people scoff at the idea.

“He’s before my time” they say.

My great great grandson points to his accomplishments.

They don’t care, he’s too old. They pick Javonerly (pronounced Jamal) Woodburybridge, a more commonly known and newer face. The “Groza” or Davis” of 2077.

There’s still a chance Javonerly wasn’t as good as Davis but it’s so long ago people won’t credit it.

And we roll in our graves.

 

[morgousky]

Even taking position out of it, no other UK player in history was a consensus first team AA, National PotY, FF MVP (while hanging a banner), NBA 1st pick, and Olympic gold medalist. ...at 19. Leaving Davis off this this, I'll say it, is foolish.

Groza was as decorated during his time and was banned from the NBA. His name could be as big as Wilt Chamberlin today if that hadn’t happened.

 

[SemperFiCat]

Well let’s continue down the road using your logic.

It’s 2080, a dude named Jimmy is making this same thread. My great great grandson picks Davis, and people scoff at the idea.

“He’s before my time” they say.

My great great grandson points to his accomplishments.

They don’t care, he’s too old. They pick Javonerly (pronounced Jamal) Woodburybridge, a more commonly known and newer face. The “Groza” or Davis” of 2077.

There’s still a chance Javonerly wasn’t as good as Davis but it’s so long ago people won’t credit it.

And we roll in our graves.

Dude, I totally get that. That's why I caveated bu saying I never got to watch many of our greats. But, you said go by accomplishes. Davis is literally the most accomplished player Kentucky has ever had.

 

[SemperFiCat]

How does the most accomplished player in UK history, being the best player on both ends of the court, while not taking the most shots, get left off this list?

 

[morgousky]

Dude, I totally get that. That's why I caveated bu saying I never got to watch many of our greats. But, you said go by accomplishes. Davis is literally the most accomplished player Kentucky has ever had.

Yes but the gap between Davis / Groza / Spivey / Issel isn’t that far, if at all. The gap between other positions is much further.

 

[morgousky]

How does the most accomplished player in UK history, being the best player on both ends of the court, while not taking the most shots, get left off this list?

It’s already been explained. There are other bigs nearly as decorated. Groza was basically as decorated. Other positions aren’t as close. It’s that easy.

 

[morgousky]

How does the most accomplished player in UK history, being the best player on both ends of the court, while not taking the most shots, get left off this list?

You have to remember. The awards weren’t the same then. You can go ahead and add 2 time player of the year to this list. I’m not sure if they had defensive players of the year at this time, so if not that would add two years of DPOY too, which would make him more accomplished than Davis. Surely you get it now?

• Alex Groza
• NBA All-Star (1951)
• 2× All-NBA First Team (1950, 1951)
• 2× NCAA champion (1948, 1949)
• 2× NCAA Final Four MOP (1948, 1949)
• 2× Consensus first-team All-American(1947, 1949)
• Consensus second-team All-American (1948)

Add

2x POY
2x DPOY

More accomplished than Davis.

 

[Deli owl]

Rupp issel
Hall Bowie
Pitino Mash
Tubby Prince
Cal AD

 

[SemperFiCat]

You have to remember. The awards weren’t the same then. You can go ahead and add 2 time player of the year to this list. I’m not sure if they had defensive players of the year at this time, so if not that would add two years of DPOY too, which would make him more accomplished than Davis. Surely you get it now?

• Alex Groza
• NBA All-Star (1951)
• 2× All-NBA First Team (1950, 1951)
• 2× NCAA champion (1948, 1949)
• 2× NCAA Final Four MOP (1948, 1949)
• 2× Consensus first-team All-American(1947, 1949)
• Consensus second-team All-American (1948)

Add

2x POY
2x DPOY

More accomplished than Davis.

Man, it's a fun debate. But I simply have to take Davis. Maybe because I didn't get to see Alex, but AD was just so dominant in every aspect of the game. And we're arguing over different spots. My point is, in the Cal era, it boggles my mind to take anyone over Davis.

 

[jameslee32]

Top Fives or Top Tens were getting old for me too.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

You have to remember. The awards weren’t the same then. You can go ahead and add 2 time player of the year to this list. I’m not sure if they had defensive players of the year at this time, so if not that would add two years of DPOY too, which would make him more accomplished than Davis. Surely you get it now?

• Alex Groza
• NBA All-Star (1951)
• 2× All-NBA First Team (1950, 1951)
• 2× NCAA champion (1948, 1949)
• 2× NCAA Final Four MOP (1948, 1949)
• 2× Consensus first-team All-American(1947, 1949)
• Consensus second-team All-American (1948)

Add

2x POY
2x DPOY

More accomplished than Davis.

More accomplished than Davis? Davis won every award as a freshman. As a sophomore they would have just stamped GOAT next to his name. As a senior I cant even imagine. Gross wasn't better than Issel, let alone Davis.

 

[morgousky]

More accomplished than Davis? Davis won every award as a freshman. As a sophomore they would have just stamped GOAT next to his name. As a senior I cant even imagine. Gross wasn't better than Issel, let alone Davis.

For his time he’s just as decorated. Some of those awards weren’t given in 1948. And he also was 2x champ and mvp.

 

[morgousky]

Man, it's a fun debate. But I simply have to take Davis. Maybe because I didn't get to see Alex, but AD was just so dominant in every aspect of the game. And we're arguing over different spots. My point is, in the Cal era, it boggles my mind to take anyone over Davis.

Well like I said, it only boggles the mind if you’re not accepting that older doesn’t mean worse.

I just laid out his accomplishments which, by today’s standards, are as good or even arguably better than Davis.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

Putting my picks in before reading teh thread.
5 - Bowie (Joe B)
4 - Prince (Tubby)
3 - Mash (Pitino)
2 - Grevey (Rupp)
1 - Wall (Cal)

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

Rupp Dampier at SG
Hall Macy at lead guard
Pitino Mashburn at SF
Tubby/Sutton Kenny Walker at PF
Cal Anthony Davis at Center

WTH does tubby have to do with Walker?

 

[calamitybone]

Issel
Givens
Mashburn
Rondo
Davis

And that's your winner.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

Wall
Delk
Prince
Kenny Walker
Issel

I like this line-up...

 

[SemperFiCat]

Well like I said, it only boggles the mind if you’re not accepting that older doesn’t mean worse.

I just laid out his accomplishments which, by today’s standards, are as good or even arguably better than Davis.

I don't disbelieve you. You could be right. I'm solely going in my own eye test.

Isn't it amazing that Kentucky basketball has spanned so long, though multiple generations, and banners under almost half a dozen coaches?? What other program can claim that? We sit here and friendly split hairs in a good conversation ...when IU is trash and U6 is now widely considered a cheater.

 

[Blueaz]

Fox
Prince
Mash
Bowie
Riley

 

[JHannibalSmith]

PG Kyle Macy (Joe B)
SG Jodie Meeks (Tubby)
SF Jamal Mashburn (Pitino)
PF Dan Issel (Rupp)
C Anthony Davis (Cal)

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

After reading thread:
My team would rock a tourney against y'all's picks...

 

[sluggercatfan]

And make a starting 5

Rupp - Alex Groza
Hall - Jack Givens
Tubby - Tayshaun Prince
Pitino - Tony Delk
Cal - John Wall

Go.

Rupp- Issel
Joe B.-Dwight Anderson
Pitino- Dwight Anderson
Tubby- Tayshaun
Calipari- AD

 

[Larry Skaggs]

Chuck Verderber

 

[Backer cutter]

Big Dan, Macy, Delk, Padgett, Davis.

 

[true blue1]

Rupp-Issel
Hall-Bowie
Pitino-Mashburn
Smith-Prince
Cal-Davis

 

[Col. Angus]

I like this line-up...

Me too

 

[rnfoster]

Rupp - Dan Issel
Hall - Kenny Walker
Pitino - Mashburn
Smith - Tayshaun Prince
Calipari - Anthony Davis

 

[morgousky]

Fox
Prince
Mash
Bowie
Riley

You just had to be different didn’t you?

 

[bthaunert]

Going to try and change it up a little:

Rupp - Nash
Hall - Grevey
Pitino - Mercer
Tubby - Meeks
Cal - Knight

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

@morgousky , I'm sorry but Issel is better than Groza. At worst and I do mean very worst, they are a push. Issel is the leading scorer and rebounder in UK history. He did that in 3 years instead of Groza's 4. But he didnt stop there. He played 15 years in the ABA/NBA totalling over 11000 rebounds and over 27000 points. He is also in the Hall of Fame. But what impresses me most is that he did all that at the pro level playing in both the old fashioned game and the modern game.

So then I have AD who was called transcendent. He will be in the NBA hall of fame. He got his accolades as a freshman. Had he played 4 years like Groza, it's hard to imagine both his stats and accolades. I have to put these guys head to head in my mind and there is no way AD doesn't dominate Groza, no way.

So, I'd ask you who you have that guards Issel and AD?

I also have Mash at small forward. You have no one to guard him. He is the best SF to ever play at UK. Had he played 4 seasons he would be UK's top scorer. As a SF he is #18 in career rebounds at UK. Over an 11 season career he was a 19/5/4 guy. That's a great career.

Bogans is the 4th leading scorer in UK history. He had a lot of injury issues in the NBA but still played for a decade as a 35% guy from 3. Not bad

Last but not least is Dirk, UK's all time assist leader. He's big enough and athletic enough hold his own offensively and defensively. He shot well enough to force teams to guard him. He didnt have a great NBA career but he is a UK great.

I'd like to see who would guard whom on our teams from your perspective.

 

[JHannibalSmith]

@morgousky , I'm sorry but Issel is better than Groza. At worst and I do mean very worst, they are a push. Issel is the leading scorer and rebounder in UK history. He did that in 3 years instead of Groza's 4. But he didnt stop there. He played 15 years in the ABA/NBA totalling over 11000 rebounds and over 27000 points. He is also in the Hall of Fame. But what impresses me most is that he did all that at the pro level playing in both the old fashioned game and the modern game.

So then I have AD who was called transcendent. He will be in the NBA hall of fame. He got his accolades as a freshman. Had he played 4 years like Groza, it's hard to imagine both his stats and accolades. I have to put these guys head to head in my mind and there is no way AD doesn't dominate Groza, no way.

So, I'd ask you who you have that guards Issel and AD?

I also have Mash at small forward. You have no one to guard him. He is the best SF to ever play at UK. Had he played 4 seasons he would be UK's top scorer. As a SF he is #18 in career rebounds at UK. Over an 11 season career he was a 19/5/4 guy. That's a great career.

Bogans is the 4th leading scorer in UK history. He had a lot of injury issues in the NBA but still played for a decade as a 35% guy from 3. Not bad

Last but not least is Dirk, UK's all time assist leader. He's big enough and athletic enough hold his own offensively and defensively. He shot well enough to force teams to guard him. He didnt have a great NBA career but he is a UK great.

I'd like to see who would guard whom on our teams from your perspective.

I have the same front court as you with Mashburn, Issel & AD. I have Macy & Meeks in the back court but I like your guards too. Minniefield was one of my first favorite Cats & I love Bogans, too. I went with shooters & I think my team would be really good at outscoring teams but wouldn’t have the perimeter D your team would have. This was an interesting topic.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Dan Issel
Kenny Walker
Jamal Mashburn
Tayshaun Prince
Anthony Davis

You didn’t say pick a team, just pick a guy. What’s wonderful about being a UK fan is how many great players I didn’t name.

This is the 5 I would pick as well. Of course, I’m just picking the best five like you did as well. If I was actually setting a lineup (guards, forwards, and a center), I’d have to adjust it quite a bit. Walker is my all-time favorite Cat, but I wouldn’t have a problem going with either him or Goose.

 

[rick64]

Rupp: Issel
Pitino: Mashburn
Cal: Davis
Tubby: Turner
Hall: Givens

 

[morgousky]

@morgousky , I'm sorry but Issel is better than Groza. At worst and I do mean very worst, they are a push. Issel is the leading scorer and rebounder in UK history. He did that in 3 years instead of Groza's 4. But he didnt stop there. He played 15 years in the ABA/NBA totalling over 11000 rebounds and over 27000 points. He is also in the Hall of Fame. But what impresses me most is that he did all that at the pro level playing in both the old fashioned game and the modern game.

So then I have AD who was called transcendent. He will be in the NBA hall of fame. He got his accolades as a freshman. Had he played 4 years like Groza, it's hard to imagine both his stats and accolades. I have to put these guys head to head in my mind and there is no way AD doesn't dominate Groza, no way.

So, I'd ask you who you have that guards Issel and AD?

I also have Mash at small forward. You have no one to guard him. He is the best SF to ever play at UK. Had he played 4 seasons he would be UK's top scorer. As a SF he is #18 in career rebounds at UK. Over an 11 season career he was a 19/5/4 guy. That's a great career.

Bogans is the 4th leading scorer in UK history. He had a lot of injury issues in the NBA but still played for a decade as a 35% guy from 3. Not bad

Last but not least is Dirk, UK's all time assist leader. He's big enough and athletic enough hold his own offensively and defensively. He shot well enough to force teams to guard him. He didnt have a great NBA career but he is a UK great.

I'd like to see who would guard whom on our teams from your perspective.

Groza guards AD, and Issel will need air after trying to keep up with Tayshaun.

 

[clevenger32]

Dan Issel
Kyle Macy
Jamal Mashburn
Keith Bogans
Anthony Davis

Not sure how I feel chemistry-wise about having both Davis and Issel. But I couldn’t bring myself to exclude either.

They could play together easily. The Horse could play the 4 and AD the 5

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Groza guards AD, and Issel will need air after trying to keep up with Tayshaun.

I put AD on Prince but you apparently want to see Issel score 50. Prince would bounce right off him.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Groza guards AD, and Issel will need air after trying to keep up with Tayshaun.

Now, who guards Mash?

 

[Ripcord65]

BEST PLAYERS:
Rupp – Ralph Beard
Hall – Kevin Grevey
Sutton – Kenny Walker
Pitino – Tony Delk
Smith – Tayshaun Prince
Gillespie (Tie) – Jodie Meeks
Patrick Patterson
Calipari – Anthony Davis

MY FAVORITE PLAYERS:
Rupp – Cotton Nash
Hall – Kenny Walker
Sutton – Kenny Walker
Pitino – Jared Prickett
Smith – Gerald Fitch
Gillespie – Patrick Patterson
Calipari (Tie) – Anthony Davis
Michael Kidd-Giilchrist
Willie Cauley-Stein
Malik Monk

 

[MegaBlue05]

Davis - C
Issel - PF
Mashburn - SF
Bogans - SG
Macy - PG

 

[Newcattitudes]

I put AD on Prince but you apparently want to see Issel score 50. Prince would bounce right off him.

Lol. Absolutely. Most of these guys never saw Issel play. I followed his entire career and he would excell even in today's NBA. He could launch it from three, shoot free throws and had a wicked head up fake that made NBA and ABA centers go flying by. Great rebounder and very intelligent. Kareem said he was one of the toughest guys he had ever played against. I never saw Groza but I've never seen a more productive scorer and rebounder at UK than Issel.