The style we are playing
- Thread starter BBBLazing
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I’ve thought about this a lot. I go back and forth on it. But at the end of the day it’s hard to say no to the most dominant rebounder of our time. He cleaned up a lot man. Regardless of personnel, we are playing a different style of ball. So it’s easy to say it wouldn’t work with Oscar but that’s just because you havnt seen it. He would do just fine in this years lineup. Don’t blame him for Cal’s strategy last year. Of course We would have be swapping Mitchel’s outside scoring for Oscar’s inside scoring (and rebounding).
Don’t forget we are currently playing without a center and that will soon change so this question will be easier to answer in a few weeks.
Don’t forget we are currently playing without a center and that will soon change so this question will be easier to answer in a few weeks.
We could surely use the rebounding. Mitchell is as tall as Oscar, but allows us to play a bit different. It would be a good problem to have.
That's a very good question, first of all. Thanks for that. I am not 100% sure where Oscar would fit in with this team. I have nothing but love for Oscar and I hope he is very successful in his professional endeavors, but I don't think he would fit in with this team very well. Unless he learned to play the 4, like he should have all along. Oscar Tshibewe was never a center, though he played the part well, IMO.
The last two years were weird, quite frankly. We had one six week stretch where we looked unbeatable and outside of that, we looked like unwiped ass. I think Cal was trying to put a round peg into a banana shaped hole.
This season reminds me of some of the seasons we had for so many years where even if we didn't win the championship, as so many teams often fail to do, we are definitely in contention for it. We have a young team with very talented Freshmen, and we have some experienced players mixed in as well. We are playing so differently from the way we have played the last three years that it is difficult to reconcile. What is our 3 point percentage right now? I don't even know, but I know it is really high.
Anyway, to answer the original question, I don't think he would have hurt, but I am not sure he would have helped all that much because he would basically have to learn an entirely new style of playing. Perhaps he would excel in this current environment. But I think there would be a learning curve, for sure.
The last two years were weird, quite frankly. We had one six week stretch where we looked unbeatable and outside of that, we looked like unwiped ass. I think Cal was trying to put a round peg into a banana shaped hole.
This season reminds me of some of the seasons we had for so many years where even if we didn't win the championship, as so many teams often fail to do, we are definitely in contention for it. We have a young team with very talented Freshmen, and we have some experienced players mixed in as well. We are playing so differently from the way we have played the last three years that it is difficult to reconcile. What is our 3 point percentage right now? I don't even know, but I know it is really high.
Anyway, to answer the original question, I don't think he would have hurt, but I am not sure he would have helped all that much because he would basically have to learn an entirely new style of playing. Perhaps he would excel in this current environment. But I think there would be a learning curve, for sure.
Interesting to me that Isaiah Jackson is playing for the Pacers but Oscar hasn't played in a game. He is killing it in the G League though. Jordan Nwora is also playing for the Pacers.
We don’t need a POY stellar offensive rebounder. I read it right here on Rafters.
If we don’t get the seriously lacking defense under control along with a stronger board presence, folks are going to be unhappy when we resume playing competitive basketball teams.
If we don’t get the seriously lacking defense under control along with a stronger board presence, folks are going to be unhappy when we resume playing competitive basketball teams.
If we have Oscar we are undefeated and wouldn’t have pages of threads on when any of the 3 Bigs are going to play.
This question popped into my head for the first time last night.
Don’t attack.. but I do think we are better without him. Oscar wasn’t the same player last year as he was the year before. He was limited offensively and was a terrible defender and couldn’t protect the rim. Yes of course a team could always use his rebounding though.
With this team, I’ll take Tre all day and twice on Sunday. Just my opinion and I know many will disagree.
Don’t attack.. but I do think we are better without him. Oscar wasn’t the same player last year as he was the year before. He was limited offensively and was a terrible defender and couldn’t protect the rim. Yes of course a team could always use his rebounding though.
With this team, I’ll take Tre all day and twice on Sunday. Just my opinion and I know many will disagree.
One thing we know if Oscar stayed he wouldn’t have as high of rebound average. This team doesn’t miss lol.
We need a running fast center. Not a plodder. I appreciate all he did but this team is not built for him.
Like a fast paste big man?! 🤔
You heard it here first folks, we need a running fast center and not the best rebounder in maybe the history of the game. 😆
I love, love, love Oscar....but he would hurt this team. He's not a great passer, which has been key for this team. He was a terrible defender on ball screens. And his inability to shoot well disrupts the beautiful spacing we've seen on offense, which in turn prevents a lot of the cutting & easy baskets we've seen with this offense as well.
Oscar is the best rebounder I've ever witnessed & a great player but we could never play this type of game with him on the roster.
Oscar is the best rebounder I've ever witnessed & a great player but we could never play this type of game with him on the roster.
Oscar was one of the best rebounding player I have seen at UK but it was time to move on. Hope he does well in the future but this team is fun to watch and don't think he would have helped this team that much.
Yes, I will die on this hill. Putting Oscar in the middle and slowing the offense down would hurt the other players.
I must be a weirdo. I think he’d have been a perfect fit with the shooting we have. I don’t think he was the issue. It was the lack of scorers around him that hurt us.
Meh. Doesn’t matter. Oscar isn’t coming back to play for UK, either way. Focus on what we have and the big men actually on the roster.
Basketball is a team sport. Look at how well the ensemble plays together. Last night was the most together we've seen a UK team since at least 2017. Oscar was constantly getting on his teammates, complaining about passes. He required them to feed him. I probably should just shut up but the new offensive scheme works better without someone like that.
Could have just been the surrounding pieces not getting it done just as easily as it being his fault right? Not like any of them ever really did much except for Oscar.
I'm sure there's some truth to that. Maybe a lot of truth to that. But the surrounding pieces last year were nowhere near what we have this year. This team is loaded offensively.
If Oscar could have been a lower usage big like Bam or AD, he could have helped us. He wasn’t, so he would have made this team worse. Would have had more rebounds though.
Six players are averaging double figures. With Oscar, two or three would be averaging double figures.
I loved the contributions Oscar made to the team. He appeared to be the young man that any parent would want. Oscar was an incredible rebounder; however, lets not act like Oscar didn't have weaknesses. Oscar wasn't a very good defender especially his screen and roll defense. Also, Oscar had sticky hands which would have prevented the ball movement we have now. As a rebounder, Oscar would have been superb, but Cal would have made him the focal point of our offense which would have killed us offensively.
UK would not be playing this way if Oacar was here.
But if you could hypothetically play this way and drop Oscar in on split minutes with Mitchell, we’d be unstoppable.
But if you could hypothetically play this way and drop Oscar in on split minutes with Mitchell, we’d be unstoppable.
Odds are what we are seeing from this team is not so much John Calipari as it is John Welch. Only my opinion but I’m fairly certain if Oscar were here all we’d be seeing would be a repeat of our previous two seasons with a different cast.
If we're going to wish for past players, I want AD. He only took the fifth most shots on the team.
Oscar would not help. He can't defend the pick and roll against good teams.
This isn’t Cal’s offense and he hasn’t adapted to modern basketball. What we are seeing this year is the benefit of adding Welch. I’m fairly confident Welch would not make Oscar the focal point but rather let Oscar play to his strengths. His strengths is exactly what this team is missing.
Oscar isn’t and can’t come back so there’s no need to fuss over it.
I love this team and the style of play. When we get a 7 footer or 2 back, most of our problems will be fixed. We have an exciting season ahead, folks!
Let's look forward to what might be rather than what could have been.
What might be is we have a rotation of three 7-footers - all of which can get up and down the floor and block shots (well, I know two can, not sure if Z is a shot blocker). And I say "might" because here we are knocking on the door of December and we have no clue when (or if) any of them will return.
What might be is we have a rotation of three 7-footers - all of which can get up and down the floor and block shots (well, I know two can, not sure if Z is a shot blocker). And I say "might" because here we are knocking on the door of December and we have no clue when (or if) any of them will return.
And how far did Kentucky go in the NCAA the last two years with the "best rebounder in the game?" 😂
Oscar versus St. Peter’s 30 and 16.
Oscar versus Kansas St. 25 and 18.
Sit down and take lessons, small fry. 😉
No one is fussing over it, just simply stating facts.
I must have missed the “facts”
Will you please provide those again?
I’ve provided stats for the past 2 tournament losses and Oscar has performed like one of the best big men we’ve ever had in both games and proved he can perform in the big games.
So please, let’s see your facts????
Oscar was painfully slow in getting rid of the ball after defensive rebounds. I never understood why. I would've shown him film of Wes Unseld and the outlet pass. This team rebounds and IMMEDIATELY looks to run and gets the ball to those that can. Oscar never did that. We had to wait on him.
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