Prediction: UK Will Be 20-0 And #1 When We Visit Kansas January 30

[dlh331]

OOC we have a losable game versus Duke but I think we are better/more talented.

At UCLA is dangerous but the Bruins are not as good as last season and we are just a better team.

We "ain't" losing at Rupp to anyone.

SEC road games before that night:

at LSU
at Alabama
at Auburn
at Arkansas

Very...very possible we are 20-0 which would make us 58-1 over the last 59 games.

Darryl

 

[wromanp7]

Great. Ship the trophy for 58-1, now.

 

[gokentucky124]

If that turns into a final four or better I'll be a happy camper. If not, doesn't mean a thing.

 

[Federal Cat]

Not ready to make a prediction until after I see them all play a couple games together

 

[CalCat57]

Talk is cheap. Let's watch a few games first.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Will be very tough to get to 20-0, anything is possible but not probable.
I expect 2 losses LSU and another team and I hope it's not Duke. Their is always hiccups throughout the season and you have bad play. We had several hiccups last year and got very lucky we pulled the games out with a W.
If you remember Cal was rooting for LSU to teach our guys a lesson. But we come back and squeaked out a win just like at Georgia. Even the '12 team almost lost a couple of games, only team that destroyed opponents was the '96 team and they lost 2. 1st against UMass when we had Delk running the point and then against Miss St in the sec title game. That game we sat Walker in the 2nd half, that proved to be the game but it was worth it to run rough shod through the NCAA tourney. Both the teams we lost 2 we beat that year and both were FF teams.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

We aren't beating Duke in November so forget about that right now. Murray, Skal and Briscoe will be too green to overcome a massive 8 on 5 advantage

 

[Cowtown Cat]

At LSU will be a really tough game.

 

[Bigblueforever]

Not ready to make a prediction until after I see them all play a couple games together

Agree, that a smart move.

 

[musrat59]

I would be delighted to be 20-0 going in to play Kansas but can't see it with our schedule and youth.

 

[bigc45157]

I think the SEC gives us minor fits and we end up in the 14-4 to 16-2 range.

I think we have a good looking squad, with the potential to be great, but we must wait and see.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I think the SEC gives us minor fits and we end up in the 14-4 to 16-2 range.

I think we have a good looking squad, with the potential to be great, but we must wait and see.

Agreed

 

[ORCAT]

I think the SEC gives us minor fits and we end up in the 14-4 to 16-2 range.

I think we have a good looking squad, with the potential to be great, but we must wait and see.

This sounds pretty accurate. I think the SEC is going to show us a few tougher games than want and our team still is relying on quite a few young players this year. That will take some time to put it all together but I think we'll be a team no one will want to face come March. I see several losses throughout the season and this undefeated stuff is just meaningless to me any more. I want to watch an exciting team that develops right in front of our eyes all season and comes away with a national title and I think this team is very capable of doing just that. I can live with a few bumps in the road along the way.

 

[Supafuzz75]

I'd rather not be 20-0 going into Kansas.. More likely a L if so.. They'd really be up for an undefeated UK team..

 

[wcc31]

OOC we have a losable game versus Duke but I think we are better/more talented.

At UCLA is dangerous but the Bruins are not as good as last season and we are just a better team.

We "ain't" losing at Rupp to anyone.

SEC road games before that night:

at LSU
at Alabama
at Auburn
at Arkansas

Very...very possible we are 20-0 which would make us 58-1 over the last 59 games.

Darryl

Pretty ridiculous prediction, Daryl.

 

[jarms24]

I think we lose @ LSU, and Duke is a toss-up, but 18-2 heading into Feb would be okay with me.

 

[jrpross]

We aren't beating Duke in November so forget about that right now. Murray, Skal and Briscoe will be too green to overcome a massive 8 on 5 advantage

Have a little faith, man! It's a neutral site and we have the talent advantage at arguably every position.

 

[dlh331]

Guys, since 1995 Cal has had SEVEN teams that were 18-2 or better after 20 games. 18-2 is very close to 20-0. I just think the schedule is favorable. Ohio State is down; UL may be awful; Arizona State is not winning at Rupp; UCLA will be down from last season; Duke is younger, more inexperienced and less talented than us. LSU did get Simmons and Blakeney but they lost their 2 best players. Auburn will be weaker; Bama certainly will and Arkansas is a trainwreck.

Cal's 7 teams that went 18-2 or better since 1995

1995 UMass 18-2
1996 UMass 20-0 (actually got to 26-0)
2006 Memphis 18-2
2008 Memphis 20-0 (got to 26-0)
2010 UK 19-1
2012 UK 19-1
2015 UK 20-0 (got to 38-0)

Cal gets it done. Quite often.

Darryl

 

[Ajax10]

Not seeing the LSU loss, They lost there 2 best players and have replaced them with young talent like we have. I'll take our young talent, even with LSU at home

 

[stenchymouse]

We "should" win all those games but we won't...

I'd expect a few losses is the first 20 games.

I still think we're winning it all this year!

 

[westerncat]

Never count your chickens before they hatch. We have not had 1 practice yet but I like the way you think and hope you are correct.

 

[Dakota25]

We aren't beating Duke in November so forget about that right now. Murray, Skal and Briscoe will be too green to overcome a massive 8 on 5 advantage

And Puke's freshman won't be green? They lost four starters and will be starting multiple freshmen too.

 

[JustthefaxMa'am]

Prediction: I never see you or your dog ever again. "Seinfeld"

 

[Bluemoon725]

And Puke's freshman won't be green? They lost four starters and will be starting multiple freshmen too.

Nor are their freshmen as talented as the Winslow/Jones/Okafor trio

 

[Notorious23]

I think the OP is correct

 

[CELTICAT]

None of the four SEC road games are anything To dismiss. The fact that they are SEC road games ought to tell us this. It doesn't matter what those teams have in terms of talent, the house will be packed and the teams will play way over their heads.

I don't expect to be 20-0, and I definitely don't expect to win in Lawrence.

 

[UPSCat4080]

I don't want to be even close to undefeated by the time that Kansas rolls around. Every team needs the expierience of not only a close game, but a loss to know how to handle themselves differently. Last year still stings and I don't want to experience that feeling again.

 

[brianpoe]

OOC we have a losable game versus Duke but I think we are better/more talented.

At UCLA is dangerous but the Bruins are not as good as last season and we are just a better team.

We "ain't" losing at Rupp to anyone.

SEC road games before that night:

at LSU
at Alabama
at Auburn
at Arkansas

Very...very possible we are 20-0 which would make us 58-1 over the last 59 games.

Darryl

Darryl, I think we have more than one losable game prior to Duke and especially after it during the SEC.

Not that we are less talented, I just think all of the games are winnable but many are also losable.

See 2010 South Carolina, WVU.

 

[RipThru]

Great. Ship the trophy for 58-1, now.

That's a dick response.

 

[Hoskins91]

I'm actually expecting a season more like 2011 or 2014, where the Cats get it together late. Could be 6-7 regular season losses.

I think people who expect this team to dominate from the jump like 2012 or 2015 are underestimating the potential issues with getting the Ulis-Briscoe-Murray triad ironed out, in getting Alex back into harness, and in Skal adjusting to the college game. I think he'll be terrific in March, but with a learning arc more like Nerlens than AD.

I see this team playing in the blue jerseys in the NCAA tournament by the regional finals, maybe before -- and doing very well. Look for Murray and Skal to make the difference in some tough games in the Elite Eight, Final Four and the finals.

I feel the same way. When we lose at least a handful of our main contributors from the previous year, the following regular season gets bumpy. We're really young, and we play a pretty good schedule. I wouldn't be surprised if we end up with around 8 losses, maybe even more. People were saying the same things before 2010-2011, 2012-2013, and 2013-2014. That's not to say we can't make some noise in the tournament, but people who are expecting to get through the year with only one or two losses are going to be disappointed.

 

[wcc31]

Shocked you even think we're going to make the tournament, Hoskins.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I think we have four losses going into the NCAA tourney.

They will come from four of these games:

Duke
@UCLA
@LSU
@KU
@A&M
@Vandy

Most likely candidates are those three tough conference road games and @KU.

We could lose to Duke, but I feel good about that game as they will be almost as young as we are and we have an experienced PG while their PG will be playing in his first high pressure game. Ulis is the difference in that game, IMHO. Now, if Poythress is still out, I might become a little more concerned.

UCLA would not even be a concern, except for it being at Pauley.

I think LSU is going to try to make a statement against us at their place. They will come out firing on all cylinders and have the talent to hang with us. Of course, after that they will drop two or three in a row against SEC bottom feeders like always happens.

A&M has a good combo of talent and experience. I look for them to be a tough out at their place.

And we all know how things tend to go on the road against Vandy.

If KU does not beat us at their place this time around, then it's official that Cal/UK owns Self/KU.

 

[stenchymouse]

In 2013 I thought that we'd struggle before the season started because of a lack or depth and I didn't think that our recruiting class was quite as strong as many had thought it was going to be.

Actually, I think that whole freshman class was down that year...

This year, I believe we ABSOLUTELY have the best point guard in the nation along with 2 of the 3 best incoming freshman.

We'll lose some games, but this is most certainly our year to win it all!

I believe this!

 

[Hoskins91]

Shocked you even think we're going to make the tournament, Hoskins.

I think we easily make the tourney. It's another year where nobody will be great. Even the 1 seeds will have a handful of losses. I'm just going by what has happened in the past. That does not mean we can't be successful in the postseason. It's just gonna take longer to get things together than people think.

 

[BigAbe4UK]

Some of you are really quick to dismiss this prediction, but while probably unlikely, it is certainly possible with this group. I think our best would be 20-0 to that point. Our worse would be 17-3..maybe 16-4 IMO. People are talking about how young this group is, but I feel people are underestimating the impact of having a veteran presence this year with Final Four experience in Ulis, Poy and Lee. Totally different situation than 2013-14

 

[stenchymouse]

I think that we're gonna win the close games this year because of Ulis, Briscoe and Murray.

Great free throw shooters who won't make many mistakes.

The 2011 team lost a lot of close games with Knight as our PG, but he was a year younger than Ulis and didn't have as much talent around him IMO.

Also, Knight didn't really make others around him better like Ulis does...

Our best players will have the ball in their hands when the game is on the line.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Have a little faith, man! It's a neutral site and we have the talent advantage at arguably every position.

I like the match-up. Kentucky will travel better as it's only a 6 hour drive to Chicago. And Duke has plenty of young, under-sized talent as well. If anyone's Freshman struggle, it will be Duke's. Cal has done this before, working with brand new teams with lots of freshman. Coach K has done it once. And he did it with one of the better college centers in the last decade, and a MKG-like player in Winslow.

What worries me is the officials. Expect Allen/Thornton to draw three Duke charges and at least two of our guys to get into early foul trouble. Despite a Neutral game in front of a 60/40 UK crowd, it will still be 5 on 8.

Here's what I want people to watch, and I'm going to make a topic about this the day of the game:
When a foul is called against Kentucky, watch how many times Cal lays into one of our guys. When a foul is called against Duke, watch how many times Coach K lays into the official...

 

[BBUK]

No comment other that to say what a glutten for punishment. UK can win them all but why try and predict it. If tehy do great, if they don't it is already a let down. Maybe not as extreme a let down as I had this past season but a let down. Oh well, to each his own... Be Good

 

[Bluemamba]

OOC we have a losable game versus Duke but I think we are better/more talented.

At UCLA is dangerous but the Bruins are not as good as last season and we are just a better team.

We "ain't" losing at Rupp to anyone.

SEC road games before that night:

at LSU
at Alabama
at Auburn
at Arkansas

Very...very possible we are 20-0 which would make us 58-1 over the last 59 games.

Darryl

possible....................but Duke has our number...............I'll give you a toss up on that one. We have lost at home to Arkansas...not sure how good they will be......but they have a hard on for us...........tough game....another toss up JMO we will just have to wait and see. First 10 games we'll know what we have. And what we don't have.

 

[kycats4383]

Don't care what our record is, I have already booked my flight and hotel room.