The 'at least' UK team for 16-17

[MdWIldcat55]

I'm imagining a scenario in which Bolden goes to Duke and Lee and Briscoe both stay in the draft. Cal probably adds an insurance front court player, but not likely a huge impact guy.

So, how does a team like this fare in the NCAA tournament: (line-ups may differ, but these are the pieces)

Fox -- PG Hawkins
Monk SG Mulder
Willis SF Gabriel/Matthews
Adebayo PF Gabriel/Killeya-Jones
Humphries C - Wynyard

I have to admit, I hope to have at least two pieces to add from among Bolden, Briscoe, Lee. But if not -- does that line-up have a shot at the Final Four?

 

[JonathanW]

Briscoe is the most important keep/add. First of all he is the most talented of the 3. Secondly, he played the most college ball of the 3 last year. Thirdly, guard is where we have the least depth.

If scouts tell him he is a 1st round pick, great for him, go do it. But if not, come back, prove you can shoot adequately, and be a 1st round pick next year.

As for Lee vs Bolden, I don't know which I would prefer. There is that added level of excitement of the unknown, in this case what Bolden can add. We know what Lee is/isn't, and that is likely what he brings to the table again if he returns. Not great, but not bad.

 

[Smashcat]

Briscoe is the most important keep/add. First of all he is the most talented of the 3. Secondly, he played the most college ball of the 3 last year. Thirdly, guard is where we have the least depth.

If scouts tell him he is a 1st round pick, great for him, go do it. But if not, come back, prove you can shoot adequately, and be a 1st round pick next year.

As for Lee vs Bolden, I don't know which I would prefer. There is that added level of excitement of the unknown, in this case what Bolden can add. We know what Lee is/isn't, and that is likely what he brings to the table again if he returns. Not great, but not bad.

Can't imagine anybody but an agent telling Briscoe he's a first round pick (this year).

 

[jrpross]

I'm hoping Briscoe & Bolden will be on there too. But if we stay as we are, I think that is still a potential champion contender.

With Bolden & Briscoe I think it's more of a championship front runner.

 

[Jkwo]

As long as we get Briscoe back, I think our roster is looking fine.

 

[wailupebob]

Fox -- PG Hawkins
Monk SG Mulder
Willis SF Gabriel/Matthews
Adebayo PF Gabriel/Killeya-Jones
Humphries C - Wynyard

I have to admit, I hope to have at least two pieces to add from among Bolden, Briscoe, Lee. But if not -- does that line-up have a shot at the Final Four?[/QU

The lineup stated above would have to perform a miracle performance in the NCAA, such as in 2011 and in 2014, to reach the Final Four. There is not enough depth. If Fox or Monk or Adenayo get in foul trouble we have no scorers to come in. The fact that Humphries is a starter should cause concern. I think Gabriel will start over Humphries in this lineup.
We need Briscoe and Lee or Briscoe and Bolden to be a true Final four candidate.

 

[Galbpt02]

I'm hoping Briscoe & Bolden will be on there too. But if we stay as we are, I think that is still a potential champion contender.

With Bolden & Briscoe I think it's more of a championship front runner.

I agree completely - we need Bolden and Briscoe to be a favorite. I appreciate Lee's time here but he has not offensive game and that is not changing. I would MUCH rather have Bolden inside next year.

 

[sg24]

Lee is as good as gone.
I think we will get Briscoe back.
Think we will get Bolden too.

If Wenyen is as good as they say, there will be no way that Willis plays over him.

 

[jrpross]

Lee is as good as gone.
I think we will get Briscoe back.
Think we will get Bolden too.

If Wenyen is as good as they say, there will be no way that Willis plays over him.

Derek will be a senior and probably our best 3pt shooter. He may or may not start over Gabriel. But he'll get good minutes.

 

[drainthatub]

Derek will be a senior and probably our best 3pt shooter. He may or may not start over Gabriel. But he'll get good minutes.

Anybody who's thinking Derek will be a big part of the offense IF briscoe and bolden are both on the roster is going to be highly disappointed. I know he played great last year and all, but that was mainly thanks to injury. He'll probably get 10-15 minutes a game if we have a roster including fox/monk/briscoe/bam/bolden/Gabriel/skj (barring injury).

 

[Jkwo]

Anybody who's thinking Derek will be a big part of the offense IF briscoe and bolden are both on the roster is going to be highly disappointed. I know he played great last year and all, but that was mainly thanks to injury. He'll probably get 10-15 minutes a game if we have a roster including fox/monk/briscoe/bam/bolden/Gabriel/skj (barring injury).

Pfft. Derek is a much better offensive player than Briscoe.

He's 6'9 and by far the best 3 point shooter on the roster. And he can rebound now. If you don't think that guy is a big contributor, you're not paying attention.

Briscoe is super important as a mini-MKG type presence to glue everything together. The freshmen all have lots of talent, but they're going to be on and off as all freshmen are (except maybe Bam - his type of game is pretty consistent from day to day, though he might have foul trouble). Some combination of Dom, Matthews, and Humphries will make a contribution.

But Derek is going to be an important upperclassman stabilizer on the team - and nobody else is going to approach 40% from 3.

 

[jrpross]

Anybody who's thinking Derek will be a big part of the offense IF briscoe and bolden are both on the roster is going to be highly disappointed. I know he played great last year and all, but that was mainly thanks to injury. He'll probably get 10-15 minutes a game if we have a roster including fox/monk/briscoe/bam/bolden/Gabriel/skj (barring injury).

Depends on what you call a "big part of the offense". I'm kinda expecting 15-20 minutes rather than 10-15 but I get what you're saying I think. He won't be the first option and hopefully his defense improves enough that he won't be a total liability on that end.

Here's the thing though. I think Monk will do ok from long. Fox & Gabriel may be capable but I kinda doubt any of them hit better than 35-37%. They're going to need someone who can shoot. Derek can shoot.

 

[ganner918]

As long as we get Briscoe back, I think our roster is looking fine.

I think a lot of people are underestimating the impact of bringing back an experienced sophomore guard who was one of our better defenders. If he can just get his shooting percentage from awful to adequate he can be a huge part of our success next year.

 

[JonathanW]

Derek will be a senior and probably our best 3pt shooter. He may or may not start over Gabriel. But he'll get good minutes.

^ Correct!

Now, because of his defense, he won't get 25+ minutes. I'm 95% certain he'll be in the 12-24 mpg range, and 67% certain it will be 15-20 mpg. I think only 4 guys are safe to assume > 20 mpg, Briscoe, Fox, Monk & Bam. The next group of Humphries, Willis & Gabriel will be in that 15-20 mpg range. An 8th guy will get 10+, too early to even guess who it will be.

 

[jrpross]

^ Correct!

Now, because of his defense, he won't get 25+ minutes. I'm 95% certain he'll be in the 12-24 mpg range, and 67% certain it will be 15-20 mpg. I think only 4 guys are safe to assume > 20 mpg, Briscoe, Fox, Monk & Bam. The next group of Humphries, Willis & Gabriel will be in that 15-20 mpg range. An 8th guy will get 10+, too early to even guess who it will be.

Those are some very precise percentages

 

[fatguy87]

Willis is the best returning player. He should get well over 20 minutes per game.

 

[drainthatub]

Y'all are crazy lol haven't you learned cal by now? He's gonna play his best players with the most upside. Briscoe fox and monk will get all the minutes they can handle at guard. And bam Gabriel skj and bolden (hopefully) will get all they can handle at the 4/5. Willis will be like the wiltjer of this team.

 

[UKrazycat2]

I'm having flashbacks to last year when folks on here said Willis wouldn't see much clock. Well, he wound up being a starter playing great for the most part. I think Willis will start at the first part of the season as a stabilizing factor. He's experienced and spreads the floor for everyone else to work.

Now come February and March Gabriel may be killing it and break into the starting line up. Only time will tell. Either way both could see 20+ minutes on the floor at different positions. To those who say Willis won't play much; I say "It's deja vu all over again."- Yogi Berra.

 

[caneintally]

Pfft. Derek is a much better offensive player than Briscoe.

He's 6'9 and by far the best 3 point shooter on the roster. And he can rebound now. If you don't think that guy is a big contributor, you're not paying attention.

Briscoe is super important as a mini-MKG type presence to glue everything together. The freshmen all have lots of talent, but they're going to be on and off as all freshmen are (except maybe Bam - his type of game is pretty consistent from day to day, though he might have foul trouble). Some combination of Dom, Matthews, and Humphries will make a contribution.

But Derek is going to be an important upperclassman stabilizer on the team - and nobody else is going to approach 40% from 3.

Thank you . Derek will be the go to scorer when we need a jumper this season . He will start and play a lot .

 

[Deli owl]

As long as we get Briscoe back, I think our roster is looking fine.

Except our shooting percentage has the bottom drop out.

 

[Deli owl]

Willis is the best returning player. He should get well over 20 minutes per game.

What's Briscoe's upside?

 

[bucsrule8872]

Without Briscoe, Lee, and Bolden:

Starters

G Fox
G Monk
F Gabriel
F Killeya-Jones
F Adebayo

Key Reserves

F Willis- 6th man, starter minutes.
G Hawkins- first guard off the bench.
F Humphries- depth inside.

I think Cal starts the best defensive unit in that case, with Willis coming off the bench for instant offense/shooting. Hawkins gets 10-12 minutes a game behind Fox and Monk. Humphries probably gets 10-12 minutes a game when the starters have foul trouble.

 

[KDcats11]

Willis is going to play and play a lot. He's a known commodity, a guy we can depend on to make 3's. That will be invaluable with the athleticism and slashing ability of the rest of our guys next year. Without Willis getting good minutes, our spacing won't be nearly as good and we won't be able to utilize our advantages. It's amazing that someone still wouldn't understand the importance of spacing in today's game. Willis provides that more than anyone.

 

[Deli owl]

I don't believe SKJ is ready to start. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

 

[drainthatub]

Without Briscoe, Lee, and Bolden:

Starters

G Fox
G Monk
F Gabriel
F Killeya-Jones
F Adebayo

Key Reserves

F Willis- 6th man, starter minutes.
G Hawkins- first guard off the bench.
F Humphries- depth inside.

I think Cal starts the best defensive unit in that case, with Willis coming off the bench for instant offense/shooting. Hawkins gets 10-12 minutes a game behind Fox and Monk. Humphries probably gets 10-12 minutes a game when the starters have foul trouble.

We are in trouble if those are our key reserves. Sorry but true. I'd feel much more comfortable with them being our 7th,8th,9th men..

 

[bucsrule8872]

I don't believe SKJ is ready to start. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

Defensively, his upside is better than Willis. Cal will want to shut teams down, so I think he would start in that situation. That's our five best athletes.

Honestly, I believe Briscoe comes back and he starts along with Fox, Monk, Willis (starts with Briscoe, got to have a shooter at the 4 with Briscoe on the floor), and Bam. Gabriel will be sixth man. Hawkins and SKJ round out the rotation.

If we get Bolden as well, then we have a great rotation with Fox, Monk, Briscoe, and Hawkins on the perimeter and Bam, Bolden, Willis, and Gabriel up front. Great combo of talent and experience.