Skal steps up today
- Thread starter Orville Boggs
- Start date
Skal is an insane talent but he isn't a back to the basket guy and he is trying to learn that. He will come along by year's end and there will be no question he will be a top 3 pick but some people live in the moment way too much , especially UK fans. Alot treat him like dirt on here and that is ok but they better not act like they had his back when he goes for 20/10 in an elite 8 game . He is playing like crap right now and he knows it and Cal knows it but Cal has done this many times and he will have Skal humming when it matters. Love how much Lee has improved though as he is one of the top 5 bigs in the SEC so far this season.
Yes he's lost due to inexperince and him not playing his junior year, and had no decent competition last year, yet he's still averaging 10 pts and 4.5 rebounds a game in only 21 minutes a game. Per 40 that 19 and 9, for a frosh who's been what he's been through that's not too bad IMO! Imagine when Cal trains him and he's not lost and knows what to do, and bulks up!
You'll are way too harsh on a young man who's been through a lot which has affected his game IMO! Yet you'll will be jumping on his bandwagon when he gets his ish together SMH!
You'll are way too harsh on a young man who's been through a lot which has affected his game IMO! Yet you'll will be jumping on his bandwagon when he gets his ish together SMH!
Wouldn't say he's an insane talent. He's big. Has decent touch. And is an OK athlete, I suppose.
Can't rebound. Can't defend. Not a great shot-blocker.
Hate to say it but hard to see him ever turning into much... whether we're talking at this level or the next one. Kid is just brutal to watch.
Can't rebound. Can't defend. Not a great shot-blocker.
Hate to say it but hard to see him ever turning into much... whether we're talking at this level or the next one. Kid is just brutal to watch.
This^^
No sense in bashing a kid...just play Lee and work on Skal, pray it's all between his ears and he comes around in time.
Lets say that Skal is simply not ready and not developing and way further behind than anyone originally thought, even Cal and his staff. Lets say his lack of development is to the detriment of the team. Would Cal cut down his minutes drastically? Would he bring him off the bench? Make him 7th/8th man? When a kid like Willis doesn't produce, he sits, and sits for a while. Would Cal do the same with a high profile 5-star?
I have to think most people who are giving up on the kid because he's not playing great in the early season are the same posters who post during halftime talking about how a certain team is garbage only to look like a total fool when that team comes back and wins.
He's got the kind of talent that warrants not completely giving up on. Him playing at his best would be absolutely huge for this team, and that requires him developing... A lot. That said, there's really no doubt his minutes will get limited if he becomes an unbearable liability. He sat the bench to start the second half today.
Shagari Allenyne come on down. I hate to be critical of a kid who is searching for his place in this world but at this time he is not helping this team. He may need to watch for a while and regain his fire and confidence.
We have other players that are playing better and deserve to have more playing time.
Simple as that.
We have other players that are playing better and deserve to have more playing time.
Simple as that.
Skal hit bottom today. 0 points, 0 rebounds and fouls out. Can only go up from here. Get to work big guy.
![[thumb2]](https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/891/1684387.png "Thumbs Up 2 [thumb2]")
It seems his confidence is reeling right now. I sure hope he gets it together. We need a productive Skal.
Hate to break to ya, but Henson was immeasurably better than Skal has looked so far. So far he's not even close to Henson. Skal looks so lost that it's literally been painful to watch him at times, how could this possibly be the be the same guy who was being widely projected as the No. 1 overall pick a few months ago?
The question is how much longer can Cal justify continuing to start him if this doesn't change? Having Lee come off the bench as his backup is a complete joke considering how much better Lee looks. I know Cal doesn't want to bench a guy who was supposed to be one of the draft's top 2 picks but, my lord, at some point you've gotta say enough's enough.
They are losing patience though.
At the very start of the game, Skal lost a rebounding battle and Cal yanked him. Sat for large chunks of time. Didn't start the 2nd half.
His leash is getting shorter.
And thats what Im anxious to see, what will Cal do? I will get slaughtered on here for this but I think Cal will play him and play him regardless of how he performs. This is part of the "I can't hide you here" pitch from Cal on the recruiting trail. Cal's promise to recruits is that he won't hold them back like the Pitino's and Selfs of the world. He will play you and play you regardless of how many mistakes you make. Come to UK and if you are good enough you will showcase your skill and get drafted high. If you aren't good enough, its going to show as well. "I can't hide you" aka "Im going to play you no matter what so you better perform".
The beauty of it is kids know that they will get to play and play early at UK thus the top recruits all wait in line to come to UK. The downside is that every once in a while you get a kid thats simply not ready and its to the detriment of the team.
My prediction is that Cal plays Skal regardless of his mistakes. I think he will play and play and play. Guess we will see
False, Henson averaged 4 ppg his freshman year so what you just posted is bs. And Lee played 29 minutes compared to Skal's 13, invalidating everything you're trying to say.
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"Top three pick"? What are you smoking?
The guy needs a year in the weight room and a hell of a lot of work developing some skills around the basket.
I wish everyone would quit saying he was out of basketball for a year....He played more games than the normal High school player would play on his put together team.
....and yet played no one. Prior to last season of him being ineligible due to transferring, he also missed most of his junior season as well with an injury.
I get the feeling this thread was bumped due to not enough Skal threads on the front page.
I get the feeling this thread was bumped due to not enough Skal threads on the front page.
Agreed. I've been trying to hold my tongue on that, but the truth is this whole "been out of basketball" BS is turning into one of those wildly exaggerated myths our fans are prone to concoct from time to time.
The kid has been playing on the AAU circuit for years against the same competition as every other top prospect in his class, he played the all star circuit against the best competition out there, and in the winter he played on that traveling team against a packed schedule of slated games.
In short, he's had a year round basketball schedule against competition as good or better than most high school players face, indeed a schedule that included more annual games than most players face, yet some of the posters on this board make it sound like he'd barely touched a ball in those years--it's just utter nonsense.
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bluereality no he didn't and no he hasn't. the kid played like 10 church league games last year and his JR year was cut short to injury. not taking up for the kid , but if I blame anyone it's Cal. number 1 why recruit a kid with a handler that was clearly asking for cash at one point, why bring in that heat on a talent cal should of seen wasn't ready. this is just not a little ready , this is kid has no clue. cal needs to take the hit here not SkalSkal
Still think we should all give him some time. If he is like this in February then we will all agree it is what it is.
With that said you can't coach or teach being aggressive imo. You are either born with it or not. Skal could hit the weight room for another 6 months but it's not going to change his demeanor on the court.
With that said you can't coach or teach being aggressive imo. You are either born with it or not. Skal could hit the weight room for another 6 months but it's not going to change his demeanor on the court.
This is completely false. Again, he was injured his Junior season. Didn't play against anyone. Didn't even practice. His senior season he was ruled ineligible due to Tennessee transfer rules. He played a very weak schedule. Yes he played some AAU ball, but nothing like the amount of games you're hellbent on describing. He did well in those glorified pick up games.
There was a guy on these boards that tried to warn people about Skal being a late bloomer. I don't recall his name but he preached it over and over and it seemed no one would listen. IIRC, he was from Memphis and knew more about Skal than most here.
There is no doubt that he has struggled. That said I think sometime in January The light will come on.
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