Remember, this is an intra-squad scrimmage, but there was a ton to like tonight. This is a very likable team.
I thought that this game showed what most already assumed about this team - a very high ceiling. There’s so many pieces that do at least one thing really well. I think it also showed that the ceiling might be a little higher than we assumed, a lot of which is due to how the pieces fit into the new spacing concepts on offense.
Oscar Tshiebwe is an absolute load in the paint. He’s going to be one of Calipari’s best rebounders per minute of all-times. He’s still a little rough around the edges on the offensive end, but he doesn’t need set plays to average 10+ PPG with the spacing and this team’s guards.
The biggest question mark for me is what happens with post play when Oscar is on the bench? Where does the toughness and consistent rebounding come from?
Lance Ware looks improved and capable of providing hustle minutes and five fouls in the post. He’s active around the basket and busts his tail.
The March version of Daimion Collins determines a lot of this team’s championship hopes in my opinion. His length, athleticism, and shot-blocking isn’t duplicated by anyone else on this roster. You lose muscle and power with him at the 5, but he’s an automatic lob threat that can step out and hit a three every now and then. He will also block and alter a ton of shots.
The pre-season rumblings of Bryce Hopkins being much better than expected were confirmed tonight. He very well might be the best all-around forward on the roster. Hopkins can handle the ball, pass the ball, shoot, and rebound. It’s possible that he has a draft decision to make at the end of the year similar to the one PJ Washington had to make as a freshman.
Keion Brooks looked very good in the second half, knocking down a bunch of shots from multiple levels. He’s solid at a bunch of things, but fans are ready for him to be elite in one category or another. Would be nice to see that outside shot become a regular thing. He’s not sophomore PJ Washington right now like some people hoped and that’s okay. However, IF he shoots like he did tonight, it’s possible we have that discussion sometime down the line. Brooks’ presense raises the floor of this team more than it does the ceiling.
Dontaie Allen is going to hit some big shots this year. He’s a knockdown shooter from the outside and that’s going to continue to be his identity when he’s in the game.
Davion Mintz is another guy who drastically raises this team’s floor as a veteran combo-guard shooter. He should thrive much more in this year’s offense due to the spacing and his sneaky ability to get downhill.
I was pretty critical of the addition of Sahvir Wheeler during the off-season, but he looked terrific at times with shooters and lob-finishers all around him. He’s a generous 5’8”, but he’s a very crafty finisher at his size. His ability to knockdown outside shots is going to determine exactly how good he can be. There will be times where he makes you want to pull your hair out, but he’ll follow it with a play that makes you say “how the heck did he do that?”
Kellan Grady is a player who is going to determine a lot for this team. He can’t be in the “average” category. He needs to be in the “pretty good” category for this team to get to where they want to go. He flashed that ability at different points tonight.
Last, and certainly not least, TyTy Washington. My biggest question entering this season was who would elevate Kentucky’s ceiling. Washington showed some star potential tonight and impacts the games in so many ways. He’s the best point guard prospect to come through UK since SGA.
There was a lot to like tonight. It’s a scrimmage, but not too many glaring weaknesses at a first glance, and the ‘Cats were missing their best shooter and arguably their most versatile athlete. There’s an argument to be made that this team has one of the highest floors in America due to veterans and quality depth, but just needs to continue to raise that ceiling.
You can see why Calipari enjoys coaching this team. There’s not much ball-stopping and players stopping to think. The spacing and speed of this team is built to run and put up points. Space and pace and modern basketball.
I thought that this game showed what most already assumed about this team - a very high ceiling. There’s so many pieces that do at least one thing really well. I think it also showed that the ceiling might be a little higher than we assumed, a lot of which is due to how the pieces fit into the new spacing concepts on offense.
Oscar Tshiebwe is an absolute load in the paint. He’s going to be one of Calipari’s best rebounders per minute of all-times. He’s still a little rough around the edges on the offensive end, but he doesn’t need set plays to average 10+ PPG with the spacing and this team’s guards.
The biggest question mark for me is what happens with post play when Oscar is on the bench? Where does the toughness and consistent rebounding come from?
Lance Ware looks improved and capable of providing hustle minutes and five fouls in the post. He’s active around the basket and busts his tail.
The March version of Daimion Collins determines a lot of this team’s championship hopes in my opinion. His length, athleticism, and shot-blocking isn’t duplicated by anyone else on this roster. You lose muscle and power with him at the 5, but he’s an automatic lob threat that can step out and hit a three every now and then. He will also block and alter a ton of shots.
The pre-season rumblings of Bryce Hopkins being much better than expected were confirmed tonight. He very well might be the best all-around forward on the roster. Hopkins can handle the ball, pass the ball, shoot, and rebound. It’s possible that he has a draft decision to make at the end of the year similar to the one PJ Washington had to make as a freshman.
Keion Brooks looked very good in the second half, knocking down a bunch of shots from multiple levels. He’s solid at a bunch of things, but fans are ready for him to be elite in one category or another. Would be nice to see that outside shot become a regular thing. He’s not sophomore PJ Washington right now like some people hoped and that’s okay. However, IF he shoots like he did tonight, it’s possible we have that discussion sometime down the line. Brooks’ presense raises the floor of this team more than it does the ceiling.
Dontaie Allen is going to hit some big shots this year. He’s a knockdown shooter from the outside and that’s going to continue to be his identity when he’s in the game.
Davion Mintz is another guy who drastically raises this team’s floor as a veteran combo-guard shooter. He should thrive much more in this year’s offense due to the spacing and his sneaky ability to get downhill.
I was pretty critical of the addition of Sahvir Wheeler during the off-season, but he looked terrific at times with shooters and lob-finishers all around him. He’s a generous 5’8”, but he’s a very crafty finisher at his size. His ability to knockdown outside shots is going to determine exactly how good he can be. There will be times where he makes you want to pull your hair out, but he’ll follow it with a play that makes you say “how the heck did he do that?”
Kellan Grady is a player who is going to determine a lot for this team. He can’t be in the “average” category. He needs to be in the “pretty good” category for this team to get to where they want to go. He flashed that ability at different points tonight.
Last, and certainly not least, TyTy Washington. My biggest question entering this season was who would elevate Kentucky’s ceiling. Washington showed some star potential tonight and impacts the games in so many ways. He’s the best point guard prospect to come through UK since SGA.
There was a lot to like tonight. It’s a scrimmage, but not too many glaring weaknesses at a first glance, and the ‘Cats were missing their best shooter and arguably their most versatile athlete. There’s an argument to be made that this team has one of the highest floors in America due to veterans and quality depth, but just needs to continue to raise that ceiling.
You can see why Calipari enjoys coaching this team. There’s not much ball-stopping and players stopping to think. The spacing and speed of this team is built to run and put up points. Space and pace and modern basketball.
