Sunday discussion.. UK makes the final four if…….

[Mike_Edwards]

Outside of the obvious answer “win four games”. What adjustments and keys do the Bennies believe have to happen to make a run come March. I’d like to preface this isn’t meant to be a Cal bashing thread but a discussion of how we can actually make the run we all want to see happen. Regardless of the recent struggle the pieces are certainly there.

 

[ruppcat]

DEFENSE

 

[Mike_Edwards]

DEFENSE

Anyone following my posts for the past several weeks knows I agree wholeheartedly. There were a few of us screaming this before it was accepted and popular.

 

[ukypug]

All about matchups for UK. We can run with anyone but struggle with physical teams. Need a good draw.

 

[cats2010]

No way to guarantee a final four but If the best players play the most minutes then our chances increase exponentially. Rotation has to be limited to 8 core players with Bradshaw and Edwards the odd men out and filling in for foul trouble or quick rest for others as needed. Trying to get each even 15/game is going to hurt this teams chances to build a cohesive core that can be counted upon.

 

[JFCats22]

Stay healthy and get into a rotation rhythm. Getting to the Final Four is tough for anyone but this UK team has as good a chance as any team.

 

[Aike]

Tougher on the boards, and generate more steals would be things I’d like to see.

I think tightening the rotation a bit goes without saying.

When we need to play halfcourt offense, the way we played down the stretch yesterday will go a long way.

 

[Mike_Edwards]

What about going back to Mitchell at the 5 and bringing the 7footers ALL off the bench unless we are playing a team with a dominant big. Run run run everyone out of the gym like earlier this year with the comfort of 15 talented fouls from 7 footers off the bench?

 

[TFCats11]

The 3 main keys to a FF for UK has already been stated in this thread 💯📢

 

[cats2010]

What about going back to Mitchell at the 5 and bringing the 7footers ALL off the bench unless we are playing a team with a dominant big. Run run run everyone out of the gym like earlier this year with the comfort of 15 talented fouls from 7 footers off the bench?

I would not be opposed to this at all. We were playing pretty damn well for the most part prior to having any of them available. I like limiting to 2, however, with Z and Ugo. Just think Bradshaw is too weak and doesn’t add as much as Z would but Z has got to play. Cal saying he has to catch up makes no sense, as he won’t catch up sitting the bench which he has done all year prior to Georgia. Hes been practicing for 3 months and needs in game minutes to get acclimated. Probably will give up some points but can’t be pulled as soon as his man scores one bucket but that’s pretty typical for cal while his prize players roll out the red carpet to the basket for their men 😡

 

[SemperFiCat]

What about going back to Mitchell at the 5 and bringing the 7footers ALL off the bench unless we are playing a team with a dominant big. Run run run everyone out of the gym like earlier this year with the comfort of 15 talented fouls from 7 footers off the bench?

I would really be curious to see what this would look like with rotating Mitchell and Z.

I'm not bearish on Z yet, like some here. I don't rhink we can make an honest assessment yet. I'd really love to see more.

If Z could give us close to what Mitchell does, and we rotated them to keep them fresh, that early season Off could be simply stellar.

 

[Mike_Edwards]

I would really be curious to see what this would look like with rotating Mitchell and Z.

I'm not bearish on Z yet, like some here. I don't rhink we can make an honest assessment yet. I'd really love to see more.

If Z could give us close to what Mitchell does, and we rotated them to keep them fresh, that early season Off could be simply stellar.

I agree sir. With 10 backup talented 7 foot fouls off the bench if needed.

 

[shaudyshaud]

Rebound better
Play Big Z more
Better defense
Move DJ off the ball

 

[docholiday51]

1. we get no worse than a 3 seed
2. After the first week-end our bracket gets busted
3. We are healthy and have an 8 man rotation
4. Either or both Bradshaw and Edwards have limited roles(less than 8 minutes)

In other words a good draw + a busted bracket. We are going to need some help in the second week-end. We are a good team but we aren't as good as we appear at times. How far can Reeves, Mitchell, Sheppard and one other guy (to be named in the next month) take us?

 

[ukcatz12]

If we're the only 1-4 seed that wins their first round game I think we have a pretty good shot at making the Final Four.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Cal gets a 4 game suspension for ncaa tournament.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

if the season doesn’t get cancelled. We goin’! Let’s go!

 

[ACTSEAN]

Tougher on the boards, and generate more steals would be things I’d like to see.

I think tightening the rotation a bit goes without saying.

When we need to play halfcourt offense, the way we played down the stretch yesterday will go a long way.

Yes, and we need to be able to advance on an off night of shooting

 

[kyboy1998]

Win the first 4 games.

 

[rolaid]

Play Mitchell at the 5 about 15 minutes a game
Just because we have 3 seven footers we do not have to have one in game at all times
Move Wagner off lead quard
Encourage Sheppard to get off more shots passing up a good one to give Wagner a better one is not helping team
Play 8 unless major foul trouble

 

[Demarcus Kidd-Miller]

Rebound the ball and stop leaving shooters to chase somebody that's already driven into the lane.

 

[Runnin'Ramel]

Best players have to show up in March.

There are so many examples in the Cal era of guys who just wilted under the pressure of the moment.

Most recently, UK advances to the Sweet 16 last season if Reeves was even below average against Kansas State .... instead, he was historically awful.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Let the point guard run the team and make the slasher a slasher.

 

[crawfords corner]

The first two things are the most important. The third thing is us falling in to SEC style basketball. Make these teams play UK 2024 offensive basketball.

1) Improve defense. 2) Improve work on the glass especially defensive rebounding. 3) Start dictating the tempo more.


1) Being disciplined. You can still generate steals by playing the passing lanes by staying in front of your man. Cal needs to have these guys apply a little more pressure at more points in the game. We have the depth to run a 10-12% press. You could have an alignment of 2-2-1 staggered should be something UK can use. 1-3-1 could work as well. You don't have to abandon the man-to-man. Just get the other team off rhythm and hurried up at strategic points in the game.

2) This one is tough. We just aren't very physical and that isn't going to change for a lot of these guys. They to need to make up for it with better anticipation, less leaving their feet for blocked shots, and cut down on the gambling for steals which results in the bigs getting out of position.

3) This is an elite offensive team. We need to get back to creating more possessions like they did at the beginning. You do this by pushing your aggressiveness with how often you speed up the other team.


If this team improves in to the 25-35 range defensively and keeps ironing out the offense they do have the most overall talent in college basketball. If Justin Edwards also improves and we can stay healthy it just makes this team that much better.

 

[jeffky]

If cal for some reason can't coach and his top asst has to feel in

 

[YardCat]

All about matchups for UK. We can run with anyone but struggle with physical teams. Need a good draw.

This 100%, we need teams that like to push the pace. When we have to play teams that bang and take 25-30 seconds a possession it’s hard for us if we aren’t making shots

 

[Mike_Edwards]

This 100%, we need teams that like to push the pace. When we have to play teams that bang and take 25-30 seconds a possession it’s hard for us if we aren’t making shots

Agree…with that being said we will definitely be placed in the same region as Houston And all teams that play that slow down physical style……

 

[Wildcats1st]

You can move the pieces however you like at the end of the day our front court is weak. Honestly the only way to make a FF at this point is to take and make lots of 3s and work on long offensive rebounds or tapping the ball back out to the guards. Defensively we need to run some kind of a press because in the halfcourt we are terrible defensively.

 

[gharding07]

IF WE PLAY BETTER DEFENSE. That's pretty much it.

 

[runt#69]

I like this thread, some good stuff. Here's a wishlist for me ....

1 ) Obviously, the top priority is improving defensively
2 ) Maintain the offensive pace, spacing and good shooting
3 ) Continue playing smart, keeping turnovers low, stay poised like they have been doing
4 ) Everyone finding an optimum role, getting everyone finally on the court together as a team, getting comfortable in their roles and match/exceed the other teams energy and effort
5 ) Get a mean streak. Play angry, get some attitude and be determined to play an entire game like that
6 ) For Coach Cal : Teach this team to play more physical, play mad, even angry, get a killer instinct out of these young men.

I don't think this team is that far away. I really like the idea that FINALLY we can get all of these young men on the court at one time TOGETHER and for everybody to find a role, get comfortable in it, and embrace a killer instinct.

Let's begin with doing these things against Florida and build on it thru April.

sound good ?

GOOD

Go Big Blue !

 

[G-PIP]

I would really be curious to see what this would look like with rotating Mitchell and Z.

I'm not bearish on Z yet, like some here. I don't rhink we can make an honest assessment yet. I'd really love to see more.

If Z could give us close to what Mitchell does, and we rotated them to keep them fresh, that early season Off could be simply stellar.

Or what about rotating Mitchell, Thiero & Big Z at the 4 & 5, with Thiero only playing the 4 and Big Z only playing the 4 in specific limited instances of need (e.g., foul trouble, injury, etc. where the alternative might have to be Edwards - who is only potentially useful as a PF currently).

 

[$Z71$]

Improved rebounding, less swapping on defense and learning to finish at the rim through contact. Do those 3 small things better and we have as good a chance as anyone.

 

[Smashcat]

DEFENSE

 

[Kuhldaddy]

Get the rotation down to the best 8 Players. Bench Edwards
Let Reed run the offense

 

[oakhillcatman]

We already know who our top six players are and I am sure the staff is working hard on developing Edwards and a big man

 

[megablue]

Defense, Rebounding, Inside Game to balance the Offense.
We are currently far too backcourt-centric, making us one-dimensional and very easy to defend.

 

[DreadLox]

If we play 4 teams of players as skinny as we are.

 

[bbncal02]

Anyone following my posts for the past several weeks knows I agree wholeheartedly. There were a few of us screaming this before it was accepted and popular.

I wasn’t worried too much about the D until that UF game. That was concerning. sure the St Joes game was worse defensively but first decent team we played at Rupp, figured it might be a one off. No way we should’ve given up 85 to a good but not great UF. Though. Then giving up 89 to A&M in regulation. THAT was the breaking of the glass on the alarm. I’m still grasping the handle but yesterday made me loosen my grip a hair. But we still have a bad proclivity to be a slice of Swiss cheese.

 

[bbncal02]

If we play 4 teams of players as skinny as we are.

Which we won’t. The committee will find the best z3 pt shooting team and then the best defensive team to square us up against.

 

[kywildcat41035]

If Cal some how gets fired and we have a new coaching staff come in and coach this team…