Skal looks like a Harrow situation right now
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I don't think Cal has been chewing him out, though. I think he figured out early on Skal was a different animal.
There is no doubt that he needs to develop physically, but that isn't going to happen because someone is yelling at him.
I recall when Durant was in college all of the so called experts were saying that the kid's shoulders were too narrow so there was no way that skinny kid would make it very long at the next level. Well, he wouldn't have made it if he was forced to play like the typical 6'11" guy.
If Skal's spirit is completely broken before he makes it to the pros, he will be just fine. This guy will be one more big man that will redefine the way someone his size plays basketball.
1. Can you provide a link to one of the supposed "experts" claiming Durant wouldn't make it at the next level? Because I do NOT remember anything like that ever being said. Instead I just remember the pro scouts drooling all over Durant when he was in college.
2. Skal is not Durant. Does not play the same position and does not have have anything near the same ballhandling ability, deep shooting range and perimeter skill set. Apples to Oranges.
3. Durant is not 6'11". Yet another embellishment of the facts
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If all you want to do is argue, find someone else to do it with. 6'9" or 6'11" Durant was skinny as a rail at 215 pounds and there were plenty of talking heads that believed he would have to get a lot bigger and stronger to be successful in the NBA and that wasn't the case. He made an immediate impact on the league and has never looked back. Over the years he has added mass but he still isn't physically imposing but his game is so unique that there is no one else in the league to compare him to.
Durant averaged something like 25 points per game as a freshman. He could handle, shoot, etc. Skal can't do much more than shoot, and his skill set is exponentially worse than Durant as far as shooting and handling are concerned. Totally different players with totally different types of skills. Skal won't be asked to drift out on the perimeter in the NBA. He will be asked to defend and rebound, as well as hit those midrange jumpers he's known for. He can't defend or rebound if he's asked to turn into Kyle Wiltjer (who probably won't play one minute in the league due to his physical limitations).
Also, you admit Skal needs to develop physically, but you don't think yelling at him will help? Fair enough, but just know that part of your argument was that Skal needs to play on the perimeter and not the low post. If you're now suggesting that he needs to play through physical duress, you're also acknowledging that he shouldn't just be out on the perimeter and needs to learn how to play through contact down low - which has merely been the position of the people you've argued with this whole time.
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I don't necessarily want to argue, but I would like you to stop posting exaggerated or made up BS all the time. It's like we need some sort of lie detector device to fact check your posts.
To claim "all the supposed experts" thought Durant would not make it in the NBA for long is total hogwash. Maybe some noted he was skinny and needed to put on muscle, but NONE of them were claiming that would prevent him from making it in the league, instead the scouts were falling all over themselves in love with Durant when he was at Texas.
Stop posting fiction and claiming it as fact. It's a bad habit you have. Actually noticed it in your posts a long time ago and ignored it for awhile. But today decided to finally start calling you on it.
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Durant also made an immediate impact in college by being the best offensive scorer college basketball has seen in years. He wasn't asked to play out of position in college, and was never asked to prepare for a role he wasn't going to have to play in the NBA. Texas used him the right way.
Calipari is doing the same by actually getting Skal used to physical play. Cal has acknowledged he will turn it down as far as yelling at Skal goes, but if you think keeping Skal locked in 15 feet from the hoop is going to help him long term, I would have to disagree with you.
Presently, I'm not even sure what you're arguing anymore, other than the fact that you don't like Cal yelling at him.
If some of the things that he does well were mixed in with the things that he doesn't do so well, it could possibly go a long way in helping him with his development. There is no sense in crushing his spirit by simply focusing only on the things that he doesn't do very well.
I would encourage you to chart Skal's shot attempts. Most of his shots this season have come from beyond 10 feet, and many of those have come from between 12 to 15 feet. He is getting to shoot the ball the way you're suggesting he should, but he's also been timid the last few weeks and it's shown in his overall shot attempts.
There will be a game or two in January where I see Skal shooting the ball at least 8 times. In those games, watch and see how many of his shots are beyond 12 feet. I think you'll be surprised at how often he's actually being given the green light from midrange.
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My issue is with anyone that thinks it is fair to trash a young kid while doing any and everything to protect his extremely well paid coach. I happen to believe that both the player and the coach have shared blame for his lack of productivity.
You might be right, but this kid is wound so tight now that he couldn't give you his name accurately during a game time situation.
That will change. John Wall and Derrick Rose both hated playing for Cal at this point in their freshmen campaigns.
You can call me on whatever you choose to call me on. It is very easy to ignore you which is what I will do moving forward. If you really need to find someone to lecture, focus it on your kids. If you don't have any, either make some or adopt. But I don't need or want any more of your opinions presented as facts.
Be careful with those kinds of facts because that will upset some on this board. There are those that would have you to believe that Cal is a Saint and that every kid should easily respond well to Cal's coaching.
Methinks Skal is totally overwhelmed with UK. It could be next year before he becomes acclimated with the burden of perceived pressure at Rupp. I won't be surprised if he gets starts on the road in smaller venues to help harden him a bit. Also wouldn't surprise me if he transfers.
Skal is a lot like Matt pilgrim. We hear about how dominant he is and can be, but he has yet to show any type of emotion or swagger
Are we really trashing him? If you want to see someone trashing him look at what that scout wrote about him. We're just saying he compares to another player who played here. The game seems too fast and too physical for him. He fooled the people who rank kids coming out of high school. I'm pulling for him to figure it out. He seems like an awesome kid. But I'm not going to deny that there is no comparison to Harrow, because there is. It's not a perfect comparison, there's no such thing.
