Starters
Ullis
Briscoe
Matthews
Poythress
Skal
Bench
Lee
Mulder
Hawkins
Willis
Ullis
Briscoe
Matthews
Poythress
Skal
Bench
Lee
Mulder
Hawkins
Willis
Realistic Line Ups for 2015/2016 Season
- Thread starter Farsight
- Start date
I'm thinking top fifteen to start the year and they will get better and become a top ten team. However if they beat Duke then I will say they are top ten to start the year. If i were to rank them pre season I would put them around number ten like the Knight team. However I think this team is better than them.
Also I need to point out that skal has to be eligible which I think he will be. Also can't have a season ending injury.
Also I need to point out that skal has to be eligible which I think he will be. Also can't have a season ending injury.
I think it's a safe bet we won't be preseason #1 for the 3rd straight year. 
It's hard to tell, for me anyway, but I'd say somewhere in the top 20. Like many have been saying let's keep a bit of perspective. With something like 350 Div-1 teams, a preseason top 20 team is hardly anything to be ashamed of. The two things that concern me are Skal's eligibility, and any injury to any of that top 7. I am hopeful that both Hawkins and Willis can also be meaningful contributor's off the bench next year. This coming year will likely be their best chance to truly contribute.
It's hard to tell, for me anyway, but I'd say somewhere in the top 20. Like many have been saying let's keep a bit of perspective. With something like 350 Div-1 teams, a preseason top 20 team is hardly anything to be ashamed of. The two things that concern me are Skal's eligibility, and any injury to any of that top 7. I am hopeful that both Hawkins and Willis can also be meaningful contributor's off the bench next year. This coming year will likely be their best chance to truly contribute.
I think Mulder stars instead of Matthews. 3 Guys with college experience (2 with D1 experience), and 2 freshman stars starting. Then have a veteran and another very solid freshman as the 6 and 7. Sounds like a solid rotation.
PG Ulis (30) / Briscoe (10)
SG Briscoe (20) / Mulder (10) / Matthews (10)
SF Matthews (20) / Mulder (20)
PF Poythress (30) / Lee (10)
C Skal (30) / Lee (10)
I'd like to get a big dude, it doesn't really matter if he can play. Wynard would be very useful, even if his offensive game isn't there, we need a guy willing and able to lay the wood. I don't see Hawk or Willis playing more than stopgap situations, but if one can start stealing a few minutes, that'll help... Especially Willis. Overall, this a good team that will be forced to play together a LOT, which may actually be a good thing. We will take our lumps all year, probably between 7-9 losses, similar to 2011, and we might get really good, aka 2011. With how wide open CBB is next year, we'll have a punchers chance in March.
ENJOY THE RIDE MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS SEASON. Less reveling in our own hubris and more really rooting for these kids to gel and play together and for each other. Not that last years team didn't, but this year there'll be a lot less noise out there, and overall, I think that'll be good.
All the frustration is less about being a bad team and more about the weirdest, wackiest recruiting class ever. I'm still not over a top recruit going to the Cal golden bears. They haven't been good since Jason Kidd, and he's a COACH now. Miss St?? It's one thing to lose out to Kansas: they're kansas. But damn... You almost can't feel bad, it's just so damn WEIRD.
SG Briscoe (20) / Mulder (10) / Matthews (10)
SF Matthews (20) / Mulder (20)
PF Poythress (30) / Lee (10)
C Skal (30) / Lee (10)
I'd like to get a big dude, it doesn't really matter if he can play. Wynard would be very useful, even if his offensive game isn't there, we need a guy willing and able to lay the wood. I don't see Hawk or Willis playing more than stopgap situations, but if one can start stealing a few minutes, that'll help... Especially Willis. Overall, this a good team that will be forced to play together a LOT, which may actually be a good thing. We will take our lumps all year, probably between 7-9 losses, similar to 2011, and we might get really good, aka 2011. With how wide open CBB is next year, we'll have a punchers chance in March.
ENJOY THE RIDE MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS SEASON. Less reveling in our own hubris and more really rooting for these kids to gel and play together and for each other. Not that last years team didn't, but this year there'll be a lot less noise out there, and overall, I think that'll be good.
All the frustration is less about being a bad team and more about the weirdest, wackiest recruiting class ever. I'm still not over a top recruit going to the Cal golden bears. They haven't been good since Jason Kidd, and he's a COACH now. Miss St?? It's one thing to lose out to Kansas: they're kansas. But damn... You almost can't feel bad, it's just so damn WEIRD.
Starters
G Ulis- 5-star, top 20 out of HS. Arguably the best returning PG in the country.
G Briscoe- 5-star, top 15 out of HS. One of the top two or three guards coming out of HS.
G Mulder- 4-star, JUCO All-American. Known for his shooting and athleticism.
F Poythress- 5-star, top 10 out of HS. Senior leader.
F Labissiere- 5-star, top 5 out of HS. Projected to be the top pick in the draft.
6th Lee- 5-star, top 20 out of HS. Upperclassman.
Bench
G Matthews- 4-star, top 60 out of HS.
G Hawkins- 3-star. Upperclassman, starting experience.
F Willis- 3-star. Upperclassman.
That team is a top 10 team.
We will have to use our quickness with Ulis and Briscoe. Ulis will make everyone better on the offensive end. Mulder and/or Matthews have to be able to knock down open jumpers from the 3 spot. Labissiere is like AD in that he won't need to have the ball fed to him in order to score. Poythress has to be more aggressive and needs to work on his jumper. If he is healthy and plays like a seasoned veteran, he'll be fine.
Defensively, we will rely on pressure in the backcourt. The 30 second shot clock should help us there. Ulis and Briscoe will make guys work to get the ball up the floor.
I believe we have a top 15-20 player at their position at every position except the 3. Guys have got to step up and play to their potential.
I am only truly concerned with the 3 spot. I do not put much faith in JUCO's, especially in their first year. We need a shooter in that spot, so Mulder is probably our best hope.
That team makes the tourney and everything else is gravy.
Add in Murray and we are a top 5 team, most likely, with a great shot at the Final Four and another title.
We probably have some returnees for 2016-17 (Ulis, Mulder, Matthews, Lee, Hawkins, and Willis) and we will add some top recruits. This might be a transition year, but it will be fine.
Patience. We have a Hall of Fame coach. We have very good talent. We will be okay.
G Ulis- 5-star, top 20 out of HS. Arguably the best returning PG in the country.
G Briscoe- 5-star, top 15 out of HS. One of the top two or three guards coming out of HS.
G Mulder- 4-star, JUCO All-American. Known for his shooting and athleticism.
F Poythress- 5-star, top 10 out of HS. Senior leader.
F Labissiere- 5-star, top 5 out of HS. Projected to be the top pick in the draft.
6th Lee- 5-star, top 20 out of HS. Upperclassman.
Bench
G Matthews- 4-star, top 60 out of HS.
G Hawkins- 3-star. Upperclassman, starting experience.
F Willis- 3-star. Upperclassman.
That team is a top 10 team.
We will have to use our quickness with Ulis and Briscoe. Ulis will make everyone better on the offensive end. Mulder and/or Matthews have to be able to knock down open jumpers from the 3 spot. Labissiere is like AD in that he won't need to have the ball fed to him in order to score. Poythress has to be more aggressive and needs to work on his jumper. If he is healthy and plays like a seasoned veteran, he'll be fine.
Defensively, we will rely on pressure in the backcourt. The 30 second shot clock should help us there. Ulis and Briscoe will make guys work to get the ball up the floor.
I believe we have a top 15-20 player at their position at every position except the 3. Guys have got to step up and play to their potential.
I am only truly concerned with the 3 spot. I do not put much faith in JUCO's, especially in their first year. We need a shooter in that spot, so Mulder is probably our best hope.
That team makes the tourney and everything else is gravy.
Add in Murray and we are a top 5 team, most likely, with a great shot at the Final Four and another title.
We probably have some returnees for 2016-17 (Ulis, Mulder, Matthews, Lee, Hawkins, and Willis) and we will add some top recruits. This might be a transition year, but it will be fine.
Patience. We have a Hall of Fame coach. We have very good talent. We will be okay.
Wow we went from a starting line up of 6-6,6-6,6-10,7-0,7-0 to 5-9,6-3,6-4 or 6-7 (depends on who plays the 3),6-8,7-0. We have one guy taller than 6-9!
He's always a prolific poster anytime a string of events occurs that isn't completely favorable for Kentucky.
Only teams that I think might be better (as the team stands now):
Duke
UNC
Michigan St.
KU
Maryland
I might be missing one or two. So we are firmly in the top 10, IMHO.
And no lofty expectations to weigh on the guys. No undefeated talk. Thank goodness for that.
Duke
UNC
Michigan St.
KU
Maryland
I might be missing one or two. So we are firmly in the top 10, IMHO.
And no lofty expectations to weigh on the guys. No undefeated talk. Thank goodness for that.
And didn't win it with all of those giants. The team that did win it wasn't full of giants either.
Or you could look at it this way, we are getting a lot quicker. No Johnson or Towns to slow us down and to try to run the offense through.
Speed kills. Four of the last five champions had little guys in the backcourt and athletic guys in the frontcourt.
When was the last time a team won a title with a prolific back to the basket scorer that touched the ball every time down the floor?
Don't say Duke, because Okafor was not the focus of their offense down the stretch. Their guards won the title for them.
Lets see what Cal can do with ultra quick guards and an athletic frontcourt for a change.
And Duke just won a championship with a starting lineup of:
6-1
6-2
6-5
6-6
6-11
This isn't the NBA. Size is much less of a factor in college basketball.
Uh, this is most definitely a top 10 team next year! Basketball as a whole will be down next year and we will be right in the thick of things! I also have the starting lineup the same as you. Just hoping that Mulders game will translate to D1. I believe it will, but JUCOs are always a wildcard!
I doubt it. He might start early on a game or two when Cal is experimenting, but he won't be our permanent 3 man.
Unless he improves, especially on the defensive end, he is not going to play much.
I hope you are right.
I'm just a little nervous about a JUCO transfer starting. This is not 1993. Mulder is no Dale Brown or Rodney Dent.
WildcatfaninOhio
All-American
When was the last time you saw Willis move his feet well enough to stay in front of an opposing player trying to get to the rim? He cannot guard an opposing 3. And when was the last time Willis showed a good enough handle to drive around his man from the perimeter and attack the rim? I see him as a stretch 4, and that's it.
I seriously doubt he can stay on the floor as a 3. I hope I'm wrong here and you're right. But as of right now, I can't see it.
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