Start the 3 guards along with the Aussie and the Kiwi

[Floydboy12]

Let the guards do their thing and the two lads from down under beat and bang. Too much soft on this team. Bring in Lee, Skal, Alex and the others after they've softened up the opponent a little bit.

 

[BBUK]

Who knows....I haven't seen the new guy but who knows...

 

[3 fan]

So...you want to sit Lee, Poy and Skal for a guy we have never seen play who has been in ONE practice and a 17 year old who has at least DNP-coaches decision????

 

[DwayneMeighan]

Yeah, let's stick the two biggest, slowest, least experienced guys in there together, then have then try and switch screens on the perimeter, and contain pick and roll. Welcome to a lay up line.

 

[Floydboy12]

Yeah, let's stick the two biggest, slowest, least experienced guys in there together, then have then try and switch screens on the perimeter, and contain pick and roll. Welcome to a lay up line.

Yea, what am I thinking. Our "athletic" bigs are so effective stopping it. I'd simply like to see some toughness from this team. I have seen enough of Humphries to feel he at least will give us that. I would imagine Wynyard is pretty similar. New Zealanders aren't exactly known as shrinking violets.

 

[DwayneMeighan]

Yea, what am I thinking. Our "athletic" bigs are so effective stopping it. I'd simply like to see some toughness from this team. I have seen enough of Humphries to feel he at least will give us that. I would imagine Wynyard is pretty similar. New Zealanders aren't exactly known as shrinking violets.

I agree. Toughness is definitely something this team badly needs. Just so happens that UK's two toughest players are also the slowest, least athletic and most green, which presents a lot problems.

I'm just not sure UK can get away with playing them both together. Maybe one or the other, but most certainly not both together.

Their toughness isn't going to help them much when the other team is putting them in isos or pick and rolls the whole time. And with both of them on the court together, there won't be any way for the defense to counter it or hide from it.

 

[JerseyCat84]

Yea, what am I thinking. Our "athletic" bigs are so effective stopping it. I'd simply like to see some toughness from this team. I have seen enough of Humphries to feel he at least will give us that. I would imagine Wynyard is pretty similar. New Zealanders aren't exactly known as shrinking violets.

and how many New Zealanders do you know?

 

[Smashcat]

Let the guards do their thing and the two lads from down under beat and bang. Too much soft on this team. Bring in Lee, Skal, Alex and the others after they've softened up the opponent a little bit.

Want to see Tai first and hope they can both help inside as the season progresses. That said. Hump is 17, Tai just turned 18 and has practiced one day with the team. You are asking a lot to start them against a UL team. I can only imagine the shower of condemnation on this board after UL beats us starting two high-school age kids with little to no college experience inside.

 

[Floydboy12]

I agree. Toughness is definitely something this team badly needs. Just so happens that UK's two toughest players are also the slowest, least athletic and most green, which presents a lot problems.

I'm just not sure UK can get away with playing them both together. Maybe one or the other, but most certainly not both together.

Their toughness isn't going to help them much when the other team is putting them in isos or pick and rolls the whole time. And with both of them on the court together, there won't be any way for the defense to counter it or hide from it.

I can agree we might have to change our defensive approach some. I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing with this group. Our tendency to go for the block is giving our opponents way too many second chance baskets in comparison to past teams. Humphries and Wynyard are both pretty highly thought of and not stiffs. Anyway just a thought. Not like it has a snowballs chance of happening anyway.

 

[truebluewildcat]

I almost think we should go with 3 big guys...

3 guards is great when you have a post presence...WCS and KAT down low who can grab boards and make a living off of easy put backs...we don't have that this year...

since we don't have a dominant post presence...may have to start crashing the paint with 3 guys...

maybe starting line up something like...

ulis
murray
AP
lee
Humphries

Skal can get his fair share of minutes by rotating in for the 3 and 4 guys...Briscoe and Matthews can give Ulis and Murray breaks...

need to see what Tai has...if he's an animal...play him...

 

[kyboy1998]

So take Lee and Poythress out? We can complain about them anyway you want but we are simply pitiful when they aren't on the floor.

I'd honestly rather play

Ulis
Murray
Willis
Poythress
Lee

It looks like a normal team this way and I'm not a Willis fanboy either. This would be a role defined line-up and best team.

You could use Briscoe to relieve the back court, the two big white stiffs to add beef and cover the 5 when needed and let Skal progress more naturally relieving the 3 and 4 spot.

 

[5iveStarRecruit]

Before the season majority of people compared Skal to AD.

Now people want him benched.

Main point : Don't put any expectations on Tai. He just arrived & by the scouting reports, he lacks skill. Not to mention he's 6"9 with short arms.

Also..as for the title of the thread...RIP to our already poor floor spacing.

 

[ace on the river]

I swear, sometimes i think 95% of our fans rode the short bus

 

[brianpoe]

I thought the OP was being comical until I read how serious he was.

So... basically run and gun with 3 guards and let 2 guys sit in the paint and try to rebound misses?

Forget screening, picks, digs, pops, etc.; much less defensive switches and block out responsibilities or inbounds plays.


Just backyard garbage basketball... why do we ever hire from out of state with all of these geniuses in our backyard?

 

[kybassfan]

If crazies are coming out of the woodwork, someone has some big ass woodwork to hold this bunch of crazies.

 

[Floydboy12]

I thought the OP was being comical until I read how serious he was.

So... basically run and gun with 3 guards and let 2 guys sit in the paint and try to rebound misses?

Forget screening, picks, digs, pops, etc.; much less defensive switches and block out responsibilities or inbounds plays.


Just backyard garbage basketball... why do we ever hire from out of state with all of these geniuses in our backyard?

Where did I say any of that? First of all. Our guards take the overwhelming majority of our shots now. Secondly, where are all these pick and pops that you speak of? Skal, Lee and Poythress sure are cleaning up on those. Third, who is blocking out now? Defensive switches? All I see are guys who switch, immediately go for a garden variety head fake, then foul or leave their man wide open for a drop off lay up or follow up rebound. Inbound plays? Yea, we score tons of points off those and don't defend them particularly well either. All I was alluding to was that this team needs a dose of toughness and basketball savvy. I've seen enough of some guys to feel like that isn't going to come. So you know what I would do? Try somebody different who was also pretty highly recruited.

 

[marshalfan]

Humphries is going to play very little this year. He simply is not ready to play as of now. I doubt Wynyard is ready to play also.

 

[kyboy1998]

Humphries is going to play very little this year. He simply is not ready to play as of now. I doubt Wynyard is ready to play also.

Neither will be as far as long as Skal...obviously.

 

[brianpoe]

Where did I say any of that? First of all. Our guards take the overwhelming majority of our shots now. Secondly, where are all these pick and pops that you speak of? Skal, Lee and Poythress sure are cleaning up on those. Third, who is blocking out now? Defensive switches? All I see are guys who switch, immediately go for a garden variety head fake, then foul or leave their man wide open for a drop off lay up or follow up rebound. Inbound plays? Yea, we score tons of points off those and don't defend them particularly well either. All I was alluding to was that this team needs a dose of toughness and basketball savvy. I've seen enough of some guys to feel like that isn't going to come. So you know what I would do? Try somebody different who was also pretty highly recruited.

We currently run double posts, hi-low, double elbows, etc. How many times do you see a big way out on the floor setting picks?

You think Tai and his one practice is going to know all of this?

I'm not disagreeing with you regarding toughness. Keep in mind these two have a ways to go on the knowledge side.

 

[denhunter]

So...you want to sit Lee, Poy and Skal for a guy we have never seen play who has been in ONE practice and a 17 year old who has at least DNP-coaches decision????

The 'guy' has been practicing with a pro-league this year. Skal was playing with himself and a version of the Washington Generals that were there to make him look good. As to others' description of 'the guy':
“He is a big, strong kid,” Jonathan Givony told the Herald-Leader. “He’s very, very mature physically for his age — has really filled out. A lot of European players, people usually think about them as being skinny. He is thick. And he uses that to his advantage. He can go inside and just bully people — he can punish them around the rim because he’s so big and strong. And he’s also a big-time competitor. He’s a hustler.” Sounds like exactly what we have been missing to me.