Think We'll Go a Legit 10-Deep This Year

[Tampa_cat54]

Think this will be one of Cal's deepest teams since he's been here.

Hearing and reading that SKJ and Gabriel have improved big time this off-season is a big factor.

We're not overly loaded with size and length underneath (Richards being the only real, true "big man", I think/hope SKJ will get a good 10-15 mins a game this year (if it's true he has put the work in).

Obviously Vanderbilt, Knox, Diallo, SGA, Green, Richards, and Washington will play 20+ mins each.

Gabriel and SKJ should get good playing time, but I'm not sure Gabriel will get more than 20MPG. Depends on how much he's improved.

That's 9 solid guys right there, and as someone who has actually gotten to see Baker play in person a few times, and everything I've read about him, the kid can flat out stroke it! Reminds me of Doron Lamb in a lot of ways, just most likely won't be as good.

And considering this team will need to balance the floor with some 3Pt shooting, I think it'll be hard to keep Baker off the floor in some games.

So that could be a solid 10 deep there!

Can't Wait!

 

[GonzoCat90]

We're probably 10-11 deep with guys who "can play and wont kill you" but there's a difference in that and the rotation.

 

[UK90]

We're probably 10-11 deep with guys who "can play and wont kill you" but there's a difference in that and the rotation.

This. Just because you have 10 good enough to play doesn't mean 10 should.

Coaching often means making difficult decisions regarding who makes the regular rotation. At least if you want the best rotation for winning.

 

[railroadkat_1]

Cal will do what he thinks works best. Don't sleep on Baker I've seen him listed at 6'4" on more than one occasion by UK. What I call a pure shooter that I believe will play more than most expect. Can shoot well behind the 3 point line and Cal got a steal in this young Cat!...............IMHO

 

[Willy4UK]

Gabriel is definitely going 10 deep

 

[caneintally]

I have to think we will play 9-10 most games as Green/Diallo/Vanderbilt/Knox/Alexander/Richards/PJ/Gabriel all will play a ton and SKJ/Baker/Wynyard all will earn minutes as well IMO .

 

[Geemad143]

I think starting out we will play 10/11 guys to see who can play well together. Then you will have certain situations that you know the 5 go to players to be on the floor during crunch time.

 

[uk78]

I hope we platoon and or use all the talent. If you look at Duke and a couple of other top ranked schools this season you could argue their starting 5 are better. But I don't see any program that is even close to our depth and that is our advantage.

 

[JC43]

As the season starts, I believe we will see both SKJ and Gabriel starting. Cal will tinker with lineups through December. By the start of SEC play, he usually has it down to the best seven. This is a deep team, hope quade is able to lead this team. Something tells me that we may see Diallo at the pg spot, with Vando bringing up the court...all of this is purely opinion. Go Big Blue

 

[bigbluefattycat]

Gabriel is definitely going 10 deep

Front court maybe but the back court is too tight.

 

[FFWhite]

Lots of pieces on this team. Match ups and who is playing well will determine who gets minutes. We will see a lot of different combinations and will be a match up nightmare for everybody we play.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

10-deep? .. sorry, it's only Thursday. Talk to me tomorrow.

 

[Orville Boggs]

Katina said the L1C4 boys like it 4 deep!

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

If SKJ could show enough to find his way into our rotation, it would mean a lot to the size of our frontcourt. If we could bring in SKJ when Richards is out of the game and it not hurt talent wise, it would help when Kentucky plays a team with legit size in their frontcourt. We all know we can get away with playing small ball for a lot of the season, but if needed to actually have the option to play actual bigs when needed, it might mean the difference of sweet 16 type of team to final four type of team. I will believe it when i see it with my own eyes with SKJ, but i want to believe! The kid had major upside when signing, which means the talent has to be there somewhere for Cal to develope. You don't want to give up on any freshman, with this being his SO year, let's hope the kid is ready to show what Cal saw when offering.