Not a bad group of front court players to start with next year, plus the possibility of Lee returning for his senior year too. I'm happy.
SKJ, Gabriel, Wynyard and Humphries
- Thread starter Smashcat
- Start date
I don't think Lee's performance is necessarily required for us to have a good year. We have had great seasons the past 2 years with minimal contributions from Lee.
While I would love to see Lee play his way into the 1st round of the NBA Draft, we could be a title contender simply with Skal and Poythress patrolling the paint.
Honestly, I wish Cal would turn the heat up on Bolden or Azubiuke. Kansas is hot on both right now. Out 5 spot is still questionable with only Humphries.
We need someone else who can throw their weight around to stay up on the boards, and establish position to play inside out. Wynyard could be that guy, and if he were an inch or two taller, I would be more comfortable. I'm just unsure how long it will take his game to translate.
That was the only glaring weakness I saw in Duke's title team this year, Jefferson and Okafor were easily displaced in the paint, and I think we would run into the same issue with having frontcourt players weighing less than 220. Okafor had the range and ball handling skill to make up for it though.
We need someone else who can throw their weight around to stay up on the boards, and establish position to play inside out. Wynyard could be that guy, and if he were an inch or two taller, I would be more comfortable. I'm just unsure how long it will take his game to translate.
That was the only glaring weakness I saw in Duke's title team this year, Jefferson and Okafor were easily displaced in the paint, and I think we would run into the same issue with having frontcourt players weighing less than 220. Okafor had the range and ball handling skill to make up for it though.
yeah could see our line up next year as
PG - Fox / Hawkins
SG- Monk/MUlder and maybe Simmons
SF- Gabriel / Matthews
PF- SKJ / the other big man we sign from the Giles , Bam , Bolden , Allen group / Willis
C- Humphries/ Wynyard
I am not giving up on Bridges yet so if we got him maybe Gabriel would start at the 4 instead .
PG - Fox / Hawkins
SG- Monk/MUlder and maybe Simmons
SF- Gabriel / Matthews
PF- SKJ / the other big man we sign from the Giles , Bam , Bolden , Allen group / Willis
C- Humphries/ Wynyard
I am not giving up on Bridges yet so if we got him maybe Gabriel would start at the 4 instead .
Or he can develop while making a nice paycheck.
Hope he is able to make that jump in 8 months. Think he will.
I think most likely we are going to look like this at the very least:
G Fox/Hawkins
G Monk/Mulder
F Gabriel/Matthews
F Killeya-Jones/Willis
F Humphries/Wynyard
I am not sure about Lee, he most likely leaves, but we won't know for sure until Spring. We probably add another big if Lee is gone, but I have no idea which one.
G Fox/Hawkins
G Monk/Mulder
F Gabriel/Matthews
F Killeya-Jones/Willis
F Humphries/Wynyard
I am not sure about Lee, he most likely leaves, but we won't know for sure until Spring. We probably add another big if Lee is gone, but I have no idea which one.
Lol! You may be 100% correct but the fact you are saying this without factoring in the work he put in this summer baffles me. How do you or anyone else know what he still has to work on? We haven't even seen BBM!
Btw, I hope you're earing crow by January.
Lee is the direct opposite of a guy like Johnson - whose upside was comparably minimal. Johnson wasn't going improve to such an extend as to warrant a return, but Lee is really an offensive development away from being a real first round pick.
If he hasn't made the necessary transition into refining some offensive skills, I could see a scenario where he returns to Kentucky in an effort to guarantee first round status.
Either way, I love what Cal has been able to do with the four probable bigs for next season. He's basically made any potential return by Lee a luxury, instead of a necessity - and there's still 8 months to recruit even more frontline help if UK sees fit.
Now, obviously landing Fox and Monk become the last two priorities. Get them both, and UK is sailing once more next season.
If he hasn't made the necessary transition into refining some offensive skills, I could see a scenario where he returns to Kentucky in an effort to guarantee first round status.
Either way, I love what Cal has been able to do with the four probable bigs for next season. He's basically made any potential return by Lee a luxury, instead of a necessity - and there's still 8 months to recruit even more frontline help if UK sees fit.
Now, obviously landing Fox and Monk become the last two priorities. Get them both, and UK is sailing once more next season.
That's the great thing about SKJ and Gabriel - both of them give UK real versatility. If Cal wants to run three guards, he can put Gabriel or SKJ together down low, or Gabriel/SKJ next to Humphries or Wynyard while placing Matthews or Mulder at the three.
I think the biggest question is whether Cal pursues more than Monk/Fox at this point. Would he pursue Alkins or Simmons if he lands Fox and Monk? Some intriguing potentials on the horizon.
I wouldn't mind seeing Gabriel as a stretch 4 in the DDMO. Get Mulder in there at the 3 with Humphries at the 5. Fox and Monk at the 1 and 2. Bring Matthews and Killeya-Jones off the bench. Throw in Wynyard for inside depth and Hawkins for spot duty in the backcourt and we are in pretty good shape.
But it sounds like Gabriel wants to play the 3 and that is where Cal wants to play him. So I see him at the 3 most of the time, going to the 4 every once in a while, if need be.
But it sounds like Gabriel wants to play the 3 and that is where Cal wants to play him. So I see him at the 3 most of the time, going to the 4 every once in a while, if need be.
I would be baffled if Wenyen played the 4 most of the time, as the main recruiting pitch that got him to Kentucky was him developing at the 3. Wenyen wants to play the wing to get ready for the NBA, but in a dribble drive it is different because it's more 4 out 1 in so Wenyen can still develop on the wing. Regardless, I would be very surprised if he wasn't at the 3 the majority of the time.
I'm sure Cal sold the idea of Playing him at the 3 and would love to do just that, but after a month or so, if it looks like he can't handle being a SF, we will move him to PF. That would be the spot on the floor this kid would be scary at. Imagine trying to guard this kid if you're a 6'8 240 lb man? It would be a mismatch for us. If the kid has the handles and shooting down, forget everything I just said and pencil him in as our starting SF. We win no matter which way this goes.
That's true but he should be ready for the 3. His shot and handles are perfectly fine, granted we haven't been able to see him on the "Kentucky level" yet so who knows thats a huge difference. No matter what position he plays its gonna be a huge matchup problem when he gets some weight.
Since he's coming in with SKJ, it stands to reason that Wenyen will play more as a "3."
But you're right. Whatever number you want to put with it, he will play on the wing as much as his ability allows.
Cal loves size and will most likely play Gabriel most of the time at the 3.
So the question is can a rotation of Killeya-Jones, Humphries, and Wynyard get the job done at the 4 and 5?
Or does Cal get another big?
Then who will it be? We aren't the leader for anyone of the bigs as far as I know.
Giles is expected to go to Duke. Bolden is expected to join him. Adebayo is expected to go to NCSU. Azubuike is expected to go to FSU. We have cooled on Maker and he is expected to go to ASU. Most people are expecting Allen to stay in Texas.
So who is it going to be?
Who do you guys think?
So the question is can a rotation of Killeya-Jones, Humphries, and Wynyard get the job done at the 4 and 5?
Or does Cal get another big?
Then who will it be? We aren't the leader for anyone of the bigs as far as I know.
Giles is expected to go to Duke. Bolden is expected to join him. Adebayo is expected to go to NCSU. Azubuike is expected to go to FSU. We have cooled on Maker and he is expected to go to ASU. Most people are expecting Allen to stay in Texas.
So who is it going to be?
Who do you guys think?
