Skal? Whats next? Cal goes with Hawkins

[whhs22]

At a time when we needed boards bad. Lee fouls out and Cal goes with a 6ft guard to replace a 7ft forward. We had 4 guards and Hump.

Anyone saying it was for offensive reason, i say we were going on D. Luckily Ulis makes an amazing block. But Texas A@M could of easily posted any 4 of our guards. Or get a put back on a miss.

Not to mention Hump has out played Skal in every aspect of the game. If Skal goes pro I gotta admit for the first time i will feel used. Gotten zero return on a pretty big investment.

 

[ulismyman]

Skal has had enough chamces...move on

 

[Wall2Boogie]

I just want to know what nba team will pick him in the first round let alone the lottery. I've never seen a guy ranked as high as him be so useless

 

[WeWant9]

Skal is what he is, a guy who is still trying to learn the game but was way overhyped by the services and is now looked at as a failure. I thought he would've given us more, but after the Duke game and getting manhandled by Pumlee I tempered expectations. Those expectations have still been tempered, but he's shown some progress. He will not transform into the number 1 or 2 pick he was projected to be, and I agree Hump is the best option for us going forward. However, we are so thin in the front court that Cal has to give him some minutes and hope for some production. It does seem Cal doesn't trust Skal in situations and his leash has gotten much shorter as the season goes on.

 

[wild mandu]

No hyperbole, I'm 5'11'' and could get more rebounds and block out just as well.

 

[ThroughBlue]

At this point I'm rooting for the kid to turn pro. He is going to get his feelings hurt a lot next year by BAM. I don't know if he can't mentally handle Bams nuts imprinted on his forehead at every practice

 

[uk78]

Can't believe that Cal's decision to go with Hawkins over Skal was even questioned? How about in overtime Skal cost us the game! And, not just because he missed his second free-throw. He can't rebound and on the defensive end allowed A and M to get the ball. The freshman center for A and M who most don't even know his name, was way better than Skal (scored around 15 points) On every SEC team there is at least one serviceable center who seems better.

The interior continues to be the weakness for Kentucky and I just don't see us getting to the promised land because of it. Poythress may come back but he is not the greatest. Willis now is injured and hard to know what will happen. Skal is a liability. And the Woodchopper is evidently not ready as someone physical like him would be in there otherwise. So, that leaves Humphries and Lee. Lee is your starter. Humphries was really great in the second half with his rebounding. He needs the major minutes and if you want to get on Cal, it would be for having Skal play over him.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Skal has zero lower body strength. Doesnt help that officials have allowed opposing inside players away with tons of rebounding fouls all season. Even the game winner tonight was after a guy pushed Skal to the ground with 2 hands.

 

[BigBlueDiehard]

Isaac has clearly passed Skal. He gave us exactly what we needed last night and will only get better and better as he plays more and gets more comfortable.

Skal has so much skill, but is just incredibly weak and possesses very poor basketball instincts at this point in his development. Hopefully he will reach his potential someday, but I don't think it will happen while he's at UK...certainly not this year anyway. Got to go with Humphries the rest of the way.

 

[KA4Prez]

It isn't about Skal's strength. He simply doesn't know how to play. He is never in the right position on defense or for rebounds. This costs him a lot of fouls and is the reason Cal and Ulis are on his ass every night. Guarantee that Willis or Lee aren't any stronger than Skal, but they have much better instincts and an idea how to use their bodies. Heck, Tyler Ulis and Dom Hawkins are better at blocking out than Skal.

 

[UKChamps2012]

Can't believe that Cal's decision to go with Hawkins over Skal was even questioned? How about in overtime Skal cost us the game! And, not just because he missed his second free-throw. He can't rebound and on the defensive end allowed A and M to get the ball. The freshman center for A and M who most don't even know his name, was way better than Skal (scored around 15 points) On every SEC team there is at least one serviceable center who seems better.

The interior continues to be the weakness for Kentucky and I just don't see us getting to the promised land because of it. Poythress may come back but he is not the greatest. Willis now is injured and hard to know what will happen. Skal is a liability. And the Woodchopper is evidently not ready as someone physical like him would be in there otherwise. So, that leaves Humphries and Lee. Lee is your starter. Humphries was really great in the second half with his rebounding. He needs the major minutes and if you want to get on Cal, it would be for having Skal play over him.

Skal didn't cost us the game! How about Lee missing the 1 and 1 at the end of regulation. He makes it, UK wins! Lee played 31 minutes and grabbed 5 rebounds; Willis grabbed 1 rebound in 20 minutes. Willis was taken to the woodshed every time an A&M player drove the ball on him. You're not watching the same game as I if you're putting the blame on a guy who only played 9 minutes.

 

[KumarCat]

Your not watching if you think Skal isn't our biggest problem. In 9 minutes you get about 15 negative plays. No one else gives you that many in 40 minutes.

 

[loucatfan]

If skal is going pro after this year and Humpries us a much better option why is Skal playing at all except when others are in foul trouble . One and dones should only play if it is in our interest.

 

[whhs22]

Can't believe that Cal's decision to go with Hawkins over Skal was even questioned? How about in overtime Skal cost us the game! And, not just because he missed his second free-throw. He can't rebound and on the defensive end allowed A and M to get the ball. The freshman center for A and M who most don't even know his name, was way better than Skal (scored around 15 points) On every SEC team there is at least one serviceable center who seems better.

The interior continues to be the weakness for Kentucky and I just don't see us getting to the promised land because of it. Poythress may come back but he is not the greatest. Willis now is injured and hard to know what will happen. Skal is a liability. And the Woodchopper is evidently not ready as someone physical like him would be in there otherwise. So, that leaves Humphries and Lee. Lee is your starter. Humphries was really great in the second half with his rebounding. He needs the major minutes and if you want to get on Cal, it would be for having Skal play over him.

No one is questioning Cal. The point was Cal has more confidence in a 6ft guard in a critical part of the game where we are getting killed on the boards, over a 7ft top recruit.

I trust Cal to make decisions that help us win.

 

[DS849]

smart move. Hawkins is less prone to turn the ball over.

 

[docholiday51]

It isn't about Skal's strength. He simply doesn't know how to play. He is never in the right position on defense or for rebounds. This costs him a lot of fouls and is the reason Cal and Ulis are on his ass every night. Guarantee that Willis or Lee aren't any stronger than Skal, but they have much better instincts and an idea how to use their bodies. Heck, Tyler Ulis and Dom Hawkins are better at blocking out than Skal.

I think you are 100% correct,it is not about strength at all. Skal has no idea how to play the game at this level,the question is will he ever learn.He may be so far behind the learning curve that he can't catch up. After a few years of the Cal system I have learned not to care who goes and who stays from the standpoint of the next UK team. In the case of Skal,there has never been a player that more desperately needs to return. This will be the biggest decision of his life to date

As A UK fan we will be fine either way,if Cal is as player first as he claims(there is no reason to think he is not)then he will do his best to convince Skal to return.

 

[brdmn22]

It isn't about Skal's strength. He simply doesn't know how to play. He is never in the right position on defense or for rebounds. This costs him a lot of fouls and is the reason Cal and Ulis are on his ass every night. Guarantee that Willis or Lee aren't any stronger than Skal, but they have much better instincts and an idea how to use their bodies. Heck, Tyler Ulis and Dom Hawkins are better at blocking out than Skal.

This is spot-on. The problem with Skal is between his ears. The concerning thing is that I don't believe it's all just a lack of knowing how to play the game. I feel that he doesn't have the personality to ever be great. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don't have that competitive, fiery drive to be great, you'll always be mediocre.That's Skal, in my opinion.

 

[DS849]

I think you are 100% correct,it is not about strength at all. Skal has no idea how to play the game at this level,the question is will he ever learn.He may be so far behind the learning curve that he can't catch up. After a few years of the Cal system I have learned not to care who goes and who stays from the standpoint of the next UK team. In the case of Skal,there has never been a player that more desperately needs to return. This will be the biggest decision of his life to date

As A UK fan we will be fine either way,if Cal is as player first as he claims(there is no reason to think he is not)then he will do his best to convince Skal to return.

JMO. Skal doesn't get drafted. Potential ?

 

[PhattyJ4UK]

Wouldn't have minded seeing Mulder come in for the free throws. Surely he would have hit both and then you can get Skal in as a sub

 

[DS849]

Wouldn't have minded seeing Mulder come in for the free throws. Surely he would have hit both and then you can get Skal in as a sub

I don't think you can resub until the clock re starts?

 

[Supreme Lord Z]

No hands, gets pushed off the spot, reacts too slowly to rebound and even if the ball comes right to him he fumbles it or gets it taken away too much, constantly out of position on defense, offensively he clogs up the middle if you try and post him. He also plays smaller than his size which I haven't heard anyone on here mention yet.

In my entire life I have never seen such a highly regarded recruit come in and regress faster than Skal has. He has just completely lost confidence in himself. He looks so self-conscious out there that he is painful to watch. I want so much for the kid to do well but he is a walking shell of a player right now. I feel for him and I hope he can use the off season to come to terms with where he is as a player and dedicate himself to improvement. Both physically and mentally.

 

[PhattyJ4UK]

I don't think you can resub until the clock re starts?

I thought you could if he made the free throw?

 

[Supreme Lord Z]

In golf, if you haven't played in awhile and you walk up to the first tee and a lot of people are there waiting you feel really self-conscious like everyone is looking at you and it is almost impossible to get off a good shot in that situation... well to me that's where Skal is.

 

[DS849]

In golf, if you haven't played in awhile and you walk up to the first tee and a lot of people are there waiting you feel really self-conscious like everyone is looking at you and it is almost impossible to get off a good shot in that situation... well to me that's where Skal is.

probably need to play more golf

 

[UKChamps2012]

Your not watching if you think Skal isn't our biggest problem. In 9 minutes you get about 15 negative plays. No one else gives you that many in 40 minutes.

You saw 15 negative plays in 9 minutes of play? Why don't you list them because I'm not seeing them? I will help you - here are all of the plays Skal was involved with last night.

1st half: Skal came in at 7:53 mark, UK was losing 20-17; got a def rebound, got fouled by Davis on next def possession going for a rebound, hit a 15 ft fg at 6:11 mark, Jones hits 12 ft fg drive on Skal; Skal blocks shot on Jones after he beat Lee on baseline; Trocha tips rebound on A&M miss (Skal should have had the rebound), Collins drives for layup on high pick and roll (Skal should have kept with him)

2nd half: Skal blocks shot on Collins after he beats Ulis off dribble, Skal offensive rebound on Briscoe miss and kicked it out to Ulis for a 3, Skal swiped ball out of Trouche's hands led to Willis steal, Caruso beats Willis on drive and passes to Trouche who is then fouled by Skal (there was no foul on play after watching replay), Skal blocks shot on Jones after he beat Willis on dribble: at 1:46 mark, foul called on Skal on Davis who should have been called for traveling; Skal makes one of two fts; Last play of game - Jones beats Murray off dibble, Skal helps to deny layup, Davis grabs miss for layup.

The problems on defense is Willis and Murray are beat off the dribble at will which gets the other bigs in foul trouble trying to help out and rebounding. The problems on offense is Briscoe can't shoot and Lee has zero post game. Skal has to get stronger at which he will, but that is least of UK's problems right now.

 

[uk78]

I had commented on the last game that Willis looked really good with his lateral movement and was not the defensive liability he sometimes has been because he can't keep his man in front of him. But, again A and M that was not the case he either reverted back to poor lateral movement or his body (as he said himself he is beat up) was part of the problem. It is so hard to say what would have happened if he wasn't injured during the game, or if this or that had occurred. However, overall, A and M kept us in the game with missed free throws, and this was not a great performance by Kentucky even though they could have won.

A few weeks ago, I also posted was Skal the biggest recruiting miss. Tons of attacks, but as of this date, I stand by my post. Could you imagine this team with a top 2 or 3 recruit at center?

 

[MSU129]

I was arguing with someone on Twitter last night who goes by bostonwildcat01 and he swears up and down that Skal will be lottery, but I told him that I'm willing to bet that he isn't a lottery pick. I know at this time I would be wrong according to mock drafts, but there is no way by the time the draft starts that anyone would waste a top 15 pick on him. The only potential is shooting potential. He is going to be eaten alive by players like AD, Towns...hell anyone 6-9 and above that is a little physical.

 

[Dirk2Bowie]

I think Mulder got 7 rebounds in one game. Would have been nice to see if he could have grabbed a few yesterday...

 

[CatPhight]

Dom Hawk is going to have to step up and help take some heat off of JM & TU.

Time to circle the wagons.

 

[kywildcats4life]

With the injuries, they both will be playing a lot more.

 

[Icecoldbrewdoggy]

At this point I'm rooting for the kid to turn pro. He is going to get his feelings hurt a lot next year by BAM. I don't know if he can't mentally handle Bams nuts imprinted on his forehead at every practice

I can't see him taking minutes away from Humphries next year. Plus Bam and then there's Wynyard.

 

[BoulderCat]

It is indeed time to circle the wagons. I'm not sure I want Skal in that circle. I was called out early on for saying so, but he's a bust. Plain and simple. I don't care what he does, and I hope he get some dollars from some NBA team. But I wouldn't give him mine. I know that's a cold attitude to take about a guy who is still a very young man, but he's got to wake up. You can't get by on being 6'11"" and having some skills. You have to want it. Bad. It applies to all of us. It's a hard world to make it through. For most of us anyway.

 

[144catfan]

Skal would get eaten alive right now by my 10 year old son who is about 4'1 and 98 lbs.
Skal is not skilled, has zero interest in effort. My guess is he probably played against people his whole life that he was much bigger than and they were afraid to challenge him. At this level these kids are of the same size and skill and Skal don't have it in him to outwork the other guy. It's obvious just watch him try to post or box out, he meets resistance and gives up.

 

[poppycat]

smart move. Hawkins is less prone to turn the ball over.

And it a rebound hits him in the hands, you can count on him to catch it.

 

[poppycat]

Wouldn't have minded seeing Mulder come in for the free throws. Surely he would have hit both and then you can get Skal in as a sub

So ,we lose by 1 not 2. What's that worth?

 

[4UK]

Easy decision for Cal. Hawkins is a better rebounder than Skal. In fact, I'd like our chances to get a rebound better with Mulder or Floreal as well over Skal. Throw out rankings or "potential" or any other nonsense, and the reality is Skal is the worst player on the team right now.

 

[CloverforkCat]

I don't think you can resub until the clock re starts?

You are right, Mulder would have to have played.

 

[dave5164]

I agree with the one poster that talked about not being Skal that cost us the game and many other threads today that has discussed so many issues why we lost in OT. If you watched the game we shouldn't have went to Overtime period. We had Lee on the line for Free Throws and if he just knocks down the first Free Throw the game is over in regulation. We wouldn't had to sit through the nightmare of an Overtime and had to determine if Humphries deserved the Technical or not after the rebound. Lee steps to the line hits the 1st free throw and game is over.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

At a time when we needed boards bad. Lee fouls out and Cal goes with a 6ft guard to replace a 7ft forward. We had 4 guards and Hump.

Anyone saying it was for offensive reason, i say we were going on D. Luckily Ulis makes an amazing block. But Texas A@M could of easily posted any 4 of our guards. Or get a put back on a miss.

Not to mention Hump has out played Skal in every aspect of the game. If Skal goes pro I gotta admit for the first time i will feel used. Gotten zero return on a pretty big investment.

If Skal goes pro and is taken among the lottery picks, some GM will be fired. Terrible pick on a player who desperately needs a second season.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

It is indeed time to circle the wagons. I'm not sure I want Skal in that circle. I was called out early on for saying so, but he's a bust. Plain and simple. I don't care what he does, and I hope he get some dollars from some NBA team. But I wouldn't give him mine. I know that's a cold attitude to take about a guy who is still a very young man, but he's got to wake up. You can't get by on being 6'11"" and having some skills. You have to want it. Bad. It applies to all of us. It's a hard world to make it through. For most of us anyway.

Skal needs to return and learn from Bam and Humphries from the bench. He needs to spend the summer in the gym. Another year would be huge for him, because he'd have no pressure to perform. Going to the league right now pretty much guarantees a two-and-through career for Skal. He'd be a late first round pick, but he would never see the club option for that third NBA season, and then he'd likely be done for good.

Another season of weight training and physical development could allow Skal to move higher in the draft, where a team might be less likely to cut him after a few seasons.