Teams that were one player away

[FurdTerguson]

The most obvious answer to this question is 2010 and Jodie Meeks. But I also ask you to imagine the following....

1983 with Dwight Anderson
1984 with Rex Chapman
1986 with Leron Ellis
1992 with Shagari Alleyne

What are others?

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

2010 with Jared Carter.


/thread

 

[chroix]

Basically every other Tubby team. A good chunk of the second half of Cal’s tenure as well. Think about Bam, Monk and Fox with a KAT level center instead of Sacha Killeya Jones. Ulis and Murray with someone down low not named Skal. Target rich topic.

 

[Crums Bald Spot]

1997 with Derek Anderson healthy.
2015 with a healthy Poythress.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Technically EVERY team could consider themselves one player away.

If it's the right player

 

[CELTICAT]

The 84 vs 80 thread made me re-evaluate the 1980 team, which was a #1 seed that book ended their season with losses to Duke. A no call foul on Macy ended their season. Considering no 1 seed made the final four, that’s a team that needed Dwight Anderson.

 

[JonathanW]

The most obvious answer to this question is 2010 and Jodie Meeks. But I also ask you to imagine the following....

1983 with Dwight Anderson
1984 with Rex Chapman
1986 with Leron Ellis
1992 with Shagari Alleyne

What are others?

Those are some odd combinations you have. Especially 92.

 

[JonathanW]

1997 with Derek Anderson healthy.
2015 with a healthy Poythress.

Those have to be the most obvious 2.
97 made it to 1-FT away from a title, with a player unable to play (Anderson) who just 2 months earlier was being discussed on equal footing for the NPOY award with WF SR Tim Duncan.
And 15 was 1 game and a basket away from the first undefeated season in 39 years and history. With Poythress and The Platoon, UK was playing historically great defense, allowing them to dominate games. Without AP, The Platoon went away too because it meant 40% of that 2nd group just weren't as good. But the ability of the Platoon to wear down teams is part of what made that team so good.

 

[FurdTerguson]

Those are some odd combinations you have. Especially 92.

Think....what play in 92 would go much differently with Alleyne guarding an inbounds pass

 

[CELTICAT]

Think....what play in 92 would go much differently with Alleyne guarding an inbounds pass

Shagari was 8 years old. I don’t think he’d help all that much.

 

[FirewithFire]

Every Cal team after 2010.

Off the top of my head

1997 Anderson
2002 Bogans
2010 Meeks
2014 Cauley Stein
2015 Poy

 

[littlecreek]

83- Bowie injured

 

[Titpwhami2014]

I know the 2016 Ulis/Murray team lost in the second round. But bring back either Dakari Johnson or Trey Lyles and I feel like it’s a different outcome.

 

[clevenger32]

The most obvious answer to this question is 2010 and Jodie Meeks. But I also ask you to imagine the following....

1983 with Dwight Anderson
1984 with Rex Chapman
1986 with Leron Ellis
1992 with Shagari Alleyne

What are others?

WITHOUT A DOUBT: 1970 Mike Casey.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

2010 Jodie Meeks is the most obvious pick

 

[sambowieshin]

Every Cal team after 2010.

Off the top of my head

1997 Anderson
2002 Bogans
2010 Meeks
2014 Cauley Stein
2015 Poy

Bogan's injury was in spring of 03 but you're right on target with the impact. He couldn't guard Dwayne Wade with his bum ankle.

 

[FurdTerguson]

Shagari was 8 years old. I don’t think he’d help all that much.

Woulda helped more than the invisible man

 

[Creed Bratton]

I mean if we are playing the what if game why limit it to UK players? For players who would have ensured that we would have won a title I am going with....

1984 with Michael Jordan
1992 with Shaq
1993 Grant Hill
1997 Tim Duncan
2003 Dwayne Wade
2005 JJ Redick

 

[Stan the caddy]

Depends on the player. Most major conference teams are only one apex Shaq from going undefeated.

 

[rick64]

2010 with Jared Carter.


/thread

With Jodie Meeks.

 

[kingdom come cat]

I'm not sure about one player away but I know of about four teams that were one coach away.

 

[Crums Bald Spot]

Those have to be the most obvious 2.
97 made it to 1-FT away from a title, with a player unable to play (Anderson) who just 2 months earlier was being discussed on equal footing for the NPOY award with WF SR Tim Duncan.
And 15 was 1 game and a basket away from the first undefeated season in 39 years and history. With Poythress and The Platoon, UK was playing historically great defense, allowing them to dominate games. Without AP, The Platoon went away too because it meant 40% of that 2nd group just weren't as good. But the ability of the Platoon to wear down teams is part of what made that team so good.

I think AP would have done a much better job on Frank the Tank due to his strengths and athleticism. That would have been the difference IMO.

 

[bucsrule8872]

What if Teague and/or Lamb return in 2013?

Get both back and we are the favorites for sure that year.

What about Dakari Johnson returning in 2016?

We were missing a legit big man and Johnson obviously wasn’t ready for the NBA.

Someone already mentioned Meeks added to the 2010 team.

Kanter in 2011?

That’s just the Cal era.

One of my favorite what ifs is what if the Emery package deal never happened and all the stuff that went along with that.

We had a powerhouse in the making with Chapman, Mills, Manuel, Kemp, and Ellis along with some really good role players.

That would have been an unbelievable team.

But then again, we likely miss out on the Pitino years if not for that incident.

 

[littlecreek]

WITHOUT A DOUBT: 1970 Mike Casey.

That's a good one. Most on here are too young to think of that one.

 

[clevenger32]

That's a good one. Most on here are too young to think of that one.

His jersey needs to be hanging in the rafters.

 

[paulcalhoun]

Woulda helped more than the invisible man

Andre Riddick who was actually on the team and I believe on the floor for that play would have made perfect sense on the ball.

 

[paulcalhoun]

Andre Riddick who was actually on the team and I believe on the floor for that play would have made perfect sense on the ball.

I'll take Bill Spivey on the '92 team for this silly exercise.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

Since most of the good answers already have been mentioned. Would say that I think the biggest ones that would have been the missing piece would be Jodie Meeks & Dakari Johnson. Had Poythress not gone hurt, would be another good one to have.

 

[FurdTerguson]

The Shagari one was added for laughs. If K saw him coming in the game he probably would have called another timeout anyway.

 

[Mike-McD]

What if Teague and/or Lamb return in 2013?

Get both back and we are the favorites for sure that year.

What about Dakari Johnson returning in 2016?

We were missing a legit big man and Johnson obviously wasn’t ready for the NBA.

Someone already mentioned Meeks added to the 2010 team.

Kanter in 2011?

That’s just the Cal era.

One of my favorite what ifs is what if the Emery package deal never happened and all the stuff that went along with that.

We had a powerhouse in the making with Chapman, Mills, Manuel, Kemp, and Ellis along with some really good role players.

That would have been an unbelievable team.

But then again, we likely miss out on the Pitino years if not for that incident.

Yep. Meeks, then Kanter is the correct order.

 

[kywildcat41086]

The biggest one for me was that Derek Anderson in 97. Mercer did everything he could in carrying that team. If we would've had Anderson we would've won it in 97 and had a 3 peat in 96,97,and 98!