Which player would you rather have start at the five if the season were to start tomorrow? And why
Somto vs Ugo
- Thread starter Kentucky_SportsX
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Somto, because it would mean he was actually on the team. If they’re both confirmed on the roster, I won’t care who starts. I suspect they both have notable strengths and weaknesses and will benefit from further development.
Edit: to state that a little more clearly, I personally suspect that Somto has a more complete game right now, but the difference might be small enough that if the staff thought Ugo as a returner deserved the start, I wouldn’t get bent out of shape about it.
Haven’t seen somto play but if he isn’t better than Ugo then it’s a waste of time having him on the team.
I think they both play, but I like Cyril’s potential more. He’s already bigger and stronger than Onyenso.
I predict somewhere around a 25/15 split in minutes with Cyril getting the bigger share.
I predict somewhere around a 25/15 split in minutes with Cyril getting the bigger share.
I like Somto a little better for his size and dog mentality. Also, even if they do have the same potential for this coming season, Somto’s potential is more offensive-focused, whereas Ugo’s is more defensive-focused. Unless Cal can pull Jamal Murray 2.0 out of his ass, I think this squad needs offense more than it needs defense.
Ugo and it’s not even close, while our fans complain he may start the year as our starting center, he is in the gym closing the gap on being the best center in college basketball.
What happened in believing in your own players you recruited working hard during the Summer and getting better and trusting the process Instead of going out and buying a Rent a Center.
Remember when Hakeem Olajuwon started his college career. He red shirted his freshman year. New to the country and basketball really just like Ugo except Ugo didn’t red shirt. Should he have played more? Sure but he did guard Hunter Dickerson. Held his own but got scored on some. He’ll be ready next time. I guarantee it.
In closing, I would like to see Ugo get about 20.5 minutes a game and Somto get 19.5 (He is a man child) and both play mean as hell. Foul out every game. Block everything. No F***ing layups!!!
We will be fine.
We Are KENTUCKY!!
What happened in believing in your own players you recruited working hard during the Summer and getting better and trusting the process Instead of going out and buying a Rent a Center.
Remember when Hakeem Olajuwon started his college career. He red shirted his freshman year. New to the country and basketball really just like Ugo except Ugo didn’t red shirt. Should he have played more? Sure but he did guard Hunter Dickerson. Held his own but got scored on some. He’ll be ready next time. I guarantee it.
In closing, I would like to see Ugo get about 20.5 minutes a game and Somto get 19.5 (He is a man child) and both play mean as hell. Foul out every game. Block everything. No F***ing layups!!!
We will be fine.
We Are KENTUCKY!!
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We all want Ugo to be great, but using common sense should tell you he's not going to be ready this year. He’s got a long way to go.
Yeah, he’s working hard on his game, but so is everyone else.
it's great to be in the gym working to improve, but there has to be some talent to begin with. In the very limited time that Ugo played last year, it appeared to me that he did not have much spring in him. He seemed slow to react when trying to block a shot. Hope you didn't compare Ugo to Hakeem, because that is like comparing daylight to dark. Hakeem, was smooth, athletic, could score, and had great timing to block shots. Ugo has not demonstrated anything remotely close to that ability.
I think you're right. I think he'll be serviceable but needs time on the court to really make improvements needed. I do think we can see continued improvement as the season progresses though! Our "talent" is really going to have to live up to the hype. And while we're at it, we're soooooo due for a somewhat injury free season... But Lord only knows.
I agree on all counts. We do really need an injury free year.
I think Ugo is eventually going to be a beast, but if he’s our starting 5, by the time he becomes that beast, the damage will have been done and we will be fighting for our ncaat lives.
That said, you doing good? Got any good news lately?
well Ugo will get time on court...currently nobody to sub out
.......you notice how I did that without bashing Cal.....please the rest of you try it
.......you notice how I did that without bashing Cal.....please the rest of you try it
Sure, lets just ignore the guy that's causing the problems. Lets just act like the issues were unavoidable.
We will see. I certainly didn’t want it this way and it shouldn’t be this way but maybe when we get these visits from potential transfers, keep him out of the gym and out of sight. Players look at players, first things comes to mind, Minutes. Just saying
I don't think any big man worth his salt, is going to be afraid of Ugo.
Ugo is going to be really good someday, but we shouldn't expect it to be this year.
Losing Kenny Payne didn’t help the situation, he’s a good big man coach. Hopefully Welch can prove me wrong.
I'd love to hear the reasons some are taking Somto over Ugo. Considering they are ranked very similar in HS and Ugo has the year advantage. Seems people are getting caught in the hype and comparisons people are making for Somto. IMO they are similar coming out of HS and one has a year under thier belt.
Preciate you asking, my friend. We did in fact get some good news! Basically my goal has been to get to surgery, because this very specific operation for my very rare form of cancer adds years to your life. However, you have to be eligible and operable for it. Initially, we were told I'd be a very long shot for surgery based on having a "higher grade" cancer. Anyway, we did an exploratory camera surgery in Pittsburgh to see what was really going on about three weeks ago... and we found out that I actually have a lower grade cancer than was originally diagnosed. So that means I am eligible for surgery, and that has been scheduled back in Pitt for mid-July! It's a beast of a surgery, 8-10 hours... full recovery is 6 months, but you turn a solid corner at 3 months. Be out of work for about a month (thankfully I have a desk job). Either way, I'm so thankful for the chance at the surgery and I'll be ready for the recovery side of things. Our hope meter has increased drastically, and we are ready to roll!
I agree completely.
Somto is stronger, more a physical presence, no doubt.
Both ranked similarly.
But...UKO has one year of practicing (& a little playing) vs D1 players over Somto.
UKO has what looks like nice touch on his shot, and good timing on blocking shots.
Neither are going to go out and shoot 3's, or driving from the wing.
And while UKO did not play much after Oscar returned, he held his own vs Dickenson and Michigan, and vs Bediako and Bama (the 2 games vs P5 teams where he played more than 3 minutes), 18 minutes, 4pts, 6reb, 3blk.
People are dismissing Burks, the leading scorer in OTE because of the competiton in OTE, but don't dismiss Somoto (same competition).
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Cyril and Burks are two entirely different situations.
Burks is a wing forward who will be fighting guys like Edwards, Bradshaw, and Thiero for minutes.
Cyril will be one of only two Centers we have.
In other words, Cyril fits a bigger need for us, so most are figuring he will get lots of PT, either as a starter or Onyenso’s backup, while Burks will likely be a role player or play mop up minutes.
Also, Cyril is physically ready for college.
I agree Cyril is a bigger need, probably same for Hart (if Cal would play him). Although you could call the 7'0 Bradshaw as a C backup. Was just pointing out that for one player coming from OTE is considered a negative, and for the other player it is not.
KP did wonders with Sydney Curry, Huntley- Hatfield and the other stiff that transferred to VCU (Wheeler).
And by December everyone will be saying, “Bradshaw is terrible, he’s too skinny. He”ll get eaten alive in the SEC. Cal should have signed a real Center.”
They are both positives, IMHO.
We just need Cyril a lot more than we need Burks. At least I think so.
I predicted it months ago:
The oblivious fans: "all these guys were severely overrated, why does that keep happening?"
Really, all it takes is for one or two of them to not live up to expectations, especially with how thin the roster is.
This is a really dumb way to build a roster. All it takes is one BJB, or Askew, or Whitney, or Skal and we're in deep doo doo.
And there’s nothing we can do about it.
At this point in time all we can do is hope for the best.
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