SKJ is the key to the season

[Son_Of_Saul]

That's a big assumption. Hope you are right.

There’s assumptions made every year about what a team does and doesn’t need to win it all. Seems like there’s a moving goal post every season, and fans pick the narrative that fits their agenda.

For example, we’ve been told you need at least 36% three point shooting to win it all; yet, UNC shot 29% from three over the course of six tournament games and won the whole damn thing with Theo-freaking-Pinson as their shooting guard.

We’ve been told elite rim protection and elite interior play is the way to go if a team wants to win it all. Yet, Villanova won it all two years ago blocking a whopping 3 shots/game while featuring Daniel Ochefu and his 10 points/ 8 rebounds as their only real post threat. Does that equate to elite interior play in your book? Collectively, I'm positive UK can offer something close to that on the interior this upcoming season.

We’ll have to wait and see, but UK appears to have top 5 talent and I’m not sure which teams across the country will feature this mythical combination of elite shooting, elite rim protection, elite offensive post play, and elite guard play that's supposedly needed to win it all.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Fair, but we also don't have Brandon Knight.

But can’t we can play this back and forth game until the cows come home?

We won’t have Brandon Knight, but we will have more depth unlike the ’11 team that went 6.5 deep. We won’t have Lamb’s elite shooting, but we will have Diallo’s length at the two guard on defense and his slashing ability and agility that has already made him a virtual lock for the first round next year.

We’ll also have Knox/Vanderbilt at the 3 spot, two players who will likely give UK much more offensively than a junior Liggins/Miller combination could.

Point being, UK will be talented enough to win it all. Anyone arguing differently hasn’t been paying much attention to which teams make the Final Four every year and how almost all of them do it differently strategically, but with the common element of real talent that plays well when it matters most.

UK will have the talent. The only question is the same one we’ve faced in 7 of the last 8 years (2013 being the exception after Noel’s injury): can UK’s talented roster put it together better than the other talented rosters in a one-and-done tourney format and do it better for six games?

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

If I'm not right, and the incoming freshmen aren't creating havoc in the lane, it won't matter who the center is. It'll be a long season regardless.

And the same analytical dissecting can hover around any of the top programs.

What if Malik Newman sucks as a point guard for Kansas?

What if Arizona doesn’t have the elite guard play they desire?

What if Duke’s projected depth – and potential chemistry issues - come out in full bloom to haunt them in March?

What if Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson isn’t ready to lead the Spartan frontline to a title?

What if?

What if?

What if?

My general question is this: can anyone name a roster across the country they’d rather swap Kentucky’s for? I’m sure the list of teams would amount to perhaps one or two.

That’s a damn fine position to be in if you’re a Kentucky fan. Generally speaking, the nitpicking is absurd at this point.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

2018 will not have a Randle, that is true. But the assumption is that Knox, Diallo, Vanderbilt, Washington and Gabriel, as a group, are going to be more athletic and put more pressure on the interior defense than the Harrisons and Young did, so that will open up chances inside for Richards.

It's not a massive assumption to think 60% of those guys play up to their freshmen ceiling (or in Gabriel's case, sophomore ceiling). Which, based on past history and the fact that all five of those guys are projected future NBA players, would likely mean UK has a pretty decent year.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Meh...luxury rather than necessity, I sez.

I think we have enough plausible combinations with great overall length to be able to have a real opportunity even if we end up without starting or even finishing with a traditional center.

Good post. The team length is going to be insanely irregular, and give opponents massive fits.

 

[LeonThe Camel]

How would you possibly know any of that? Dumb post.[

Then how does anyone know anything that has been posted in this thread.

 

[Dablueman]

Then how does anyone know anything that has been posted in this thread.

I know your a troll