SKJ & Wenyen will both start..
- Thread starter smooth as butter
- Start date
This is definitely not going to happen. But I guess you have an opinion and an internet connection...
It's a new day, new world for them. Like goldfish.
It's possible, at the start of the season. SKJ has had some good reviews coming out since last semester. Wenyen can be a difference maker when he is playing well but I think Knox and or Vanderbilt would make it difficult for him to start or stay in the starting lineup very long.
Now you're trying to hard butters. Unless skj morphed into ad or at the least Terrance jones he's not starting that's an awful take. Weynen maybe.
How ya been smooth?
How ya been smooth?
I think theirs a good chance at least one, and maybe both, will start if a few of the front court freshmen struggle adapting to college ball and Cal's style like SKJ and Gabriel did last year.
It wouldn't surprise me if neither started but they'll both be in the rotation. What's funny is, as spoiled UK fans we sort of give up on 5 star players if they don't produce their freshmen years. For some reason they become incapable of getting better and if they do happen to play quite a bit, Cal doesn't know what he's doing?
Both Gabriel and SKJ played against better competition last year every day in practice than any of our incoming freshmen played against so wouldn't it be logical that they would be better prepared than those 5 stars coming in? Now Knox, Washington, Vanderbilt, and Richards are all talented and will be counted on to produce this season but isn't that the same thing we expected of our freshmen last year, and the year before, and ever since Cal has been here? Some are ready too and some are not. What makes most everyone believe that none of this years front court freshmen won't struggle this year?
Gabriel and SKJ may not start, I don't care. I just want who Cal believes is the best prepared to produce. I just happen to think these two guys having a year under their belt already will have a leg up on the guys coming in and that could mean, at least early in the season, that one or both may start. It's June, we don't know.
It wouldn't surprise me if neither started but they'll both be in the rotation. What's funny is, as spoiled UK fans we sort of give up on 5 star players if they don't produce their freshmen years. For some reason they become incapable of getting better and if they do happen to play quite a bit, Cal doesn't know what he's doing?
Both Gabriel and SKJ played against better competition last year every day in practice than any of our incoming freshmen played against so wouldn't it be logical that they would be better prepared than those 5 stars coming in? Now Knox, Washington, Vanderbilt, and Richards are all talented and will be counted on to produce this season but isn't that the same thing we expected of our freshmen last year, and the year before, and ever since Cal has been here? Some are ready too and some are not. What makes most everyone believe that none of this years front court freshmen won't struggle this year?
Gabriel and SKJ may not start, I don't care. I just want who Cal believes is the best prepared to produce. I just happen to think these two guys having a year under their belt already will have a leg up on the guys coming in and that could mean, at least early in the season, that one or both may start. It's June, we don't know.
WildcatfaninOhio
All-American
If all you need is experience and an understanding of what Cal expects then look for Dillon Pulliam and Jonny David to start.
Gabriel's minutes got shorter as the season went along, and SKJ didn't leave the bench at all in the last 6 weeks of the season. Both will be capable subs, nothing more.
Gabriel's minutes got shorter as the season went along, and SKJ didn't leave the bench at all in the last 6 weeks of the season. Both will be capable subs, nothing more.
Nothing against you, but this is ridiculous. Gabriel started half the season and clearly hit a wall mid-way through the conference season. SKJ wasn't physically ready to compete at the level Cal expects so he sat him and told him to get tougher in practice.
This is the ridiculous part, since they both struggled last year (one more than the other) they are now relegated to the status of Dillon Pulliam and Johnny David? This is the perfect example of how we just throw away 5 star talented players because they struggle their first year.
As fans we better hope these 2 guys get a lot better. It's one more feather in the cap for Cal to use in recruiting. Not everyone is ready to leave after one year but look what happened to these two guys when they came back for a sophmore year. Don't we won't more guys to come back? Well when guys succeed by coming back then it's something else Cal can use on the recruiting trail. But I just don't understand the attitude that they will be no more than "complimentary pieces" for the rest of their UK career.
Gabriel's season or playing time will be determined by how much stronger he is from last year. Less time = less strength
Doesn't that speak more to the players they had to compete against to see the floor last year compared to the players they will have to compete with to see the floor this year? Both were highly rated in a much much deeper class than the incoming freshmen.
WildcatfaninOhio
All-American
If you go back and re-read my original post, you'll see that my comment about our walk-ons was in a separate paragraph, meaning a completely separate thought. That paragraph was addressing OP's assertion that experience somehow earns a starting spot. That first paragraph was meant to be facetious.
The next paragraph points out that SKJ and Gabriel will be capable subs. Nothing wrong with that. Every roster needs capable subs. But I just can't see SKJ starting over Richards, nor can I see Gabriel starting over Washington or Vanderbilt.
I'm good.SKJ has something to prove this season.
I didn't read the whole thread, but I will say this regarding the OP... I wouldn't be surprised to see one or both of these guys starting early in the season, but I would be surprised to see them still starting a month into the season. If Diallo and Knox start on the wings, that's gonna leave Vanderbilt and Washington on the bench, and I just don't think they'll stay out of the starting lineup for long. I'm guessing one of those 2 will be a starter from day one. This is not to mention Nick Richards who will challenge SKJ at center from his first day.
I will also add this: I do hope that SKJ and Gabriel really do push for a starting spot. It would only be a good thing for the team if they do. I'm all for them.
I will also add this: I do hope that SKJ and Gabriel really do push for a starting spot. It would only be a good thing for the team if they do. I'm all for them.
Gabriel and SKJ will both be rotation players this year, IMHO.
Both could start, especially to begin the season.
I feel like we are overestimating this Freshman class a little.
Last year's Freshman class was talented and deep. This one is supposedly weak.
Gabriel and SKJ are top 25 guys in a strong class, with a year of college under their belts.
The Freshmen are top 25 guys in a weak class, with no experience coming in.
So, I have to give Gabriel and SKJ the benefit of the doubt and at least have them in the rotation, which means they could start.
We just really don't know what we have with the Freshmen yet. We've only seen them against other players in HS so far.
Both could start, especially to begin the season.
I feel like we are overestimating this Freshman class a little.
Last year's Freshman class was talented and deep. This one is supposedly weak.
Gabriel and SKJ are top 25 guys in a strong class, with a year of college under their belts.
The Freshmen are top 25 guys in a weak class, with no experience coming in.
So, I have to give Gabriel and SKJ the benefit of the doubt and at least have them in the rotation, which means they could start.
We just really don't know what we have with the Freshmen yet. We've only seen them against other players in HS so far.
Can we please stop talking about what's under Wenyen's belt?
You very well could be right. I'm a big believer in SKJ. I believe he's going to surprise a lot of fans next season in a big time way.
Butters. You need to make a new user name bro. I mean this probably, like 90% will not happen. Dude lol. You just sound dumb bro..
Unfairly, skj and weynen shouldn't have to suprise anyone it should be expected given they were mcds all Americans in a strong class which I think hurt their confidence as welll. They will be fine especially weynen but expectations are ridiculous given what they were coming out of high school
I could see a Green, Diallo, Knox, WG, and SKJ lineup as a possibility, but do not think that UK will be able to keep JV out if the lineup for very long at all and expect close to 30 mpg from him.
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