This team is missing Alpha Males down low

[whhs22]

We can try and say it will get better. And it will on occasions. But at the end ofvthe day Poy, Lee , Skal and even Willis are not what Cal calls Alpha males that make his job easier.

In the Past we always had those head strong guys who battled. Our guys are just soft. I intentionally watched Skal only while he was in. First thing i noticed is he goes from 7ft to 6"6 quick. Even on his dunk that Briscoe got him , he kid literally brings the ball from his chest and not above his head.
And wanna talk about just getting thrown around, wow.

Poy has just never developed a game. Seriously im not sure what he does well on the offensive side after being here 4 years. No low post game, he shot seems about . The same or worse since his frosh year. He has physically matured , but his game has stayed the same. Thats just not working at it. Alpha males like PPat developed his game over time. When your just happy being ok, then your game stays the same over 4 years.

Lee is as close to a Alpha Male down low that we have. Problem is his offensive game is no where to be seen , so the lobs Davis and Nerlens or Cousins would get are not their. Def is not worried about Lee so they can slump back andvplay him with one man freeing up others to double.

Next year we have some alpha males coming in we will be fine. But the rest of this year could be much of the same

 

[Mojocat]

Yep, which is frustrating Ulis to no end. Not only do we not have the physical talent that we need on the interior, but we're also missing the fight/spirit/alpha sense, whatever you want to call it. So, when times get tough - like in a road game where they've sold out for the first time all year, the place is rocking, they're hitting shots they don't normally take, etc. - it feels like we're naked in terms of having what it takes to withstand....

 

[.S&C.]

Lee is an alpha. Poythress is the wife of an Alfa.

What we really need is, IMO, to stop recruiting kids who can't contribute on both ends. I love our guys, but.

Lee shouldn't be here.
Poythress shouldn't be here.
Briscoe shouldn't be here.

None of these guys are ever going to contribute on both ends.

Want to know why Duke won the title and we couldn't? Multiple looks from the offensive end. They didn't just have 1 or two guys who could score. And I'm not suprised, but do any of you know who cal recruited the most from that team?

Jefferson. And we'd have a team full of them if cal had his way. Lanky. Defenders. That cannot score.

Whereas coach K has 1 Jefferson, cal wants 5 Jeffersons.

If he does not stop recruiting kids that can't hit, we will continue to fall short. Time to start recruiting a few hang around guards/bigs who can play and hit shots.

If Briscoe could hit a shot from the floor we win by 10 yesterday.of Lee had a post game (he's not developed at all) we win. It's become a massive problem.

 

[docholiday51]

Lee is an alpha. Poythress is the wife of an Alfa.

What we really need is, IMO, to stop recruiting kids who can't contribute on both ends. I love our guys, but.

Lee shouldn't be here.
Poythress shouldn't be here.
Briscoe shouldn't be here.

None of these guys are ever going to contribute on both ends.

Want to know why Duke won the title and we couldn't? Multiple looks from the offensive end. They didn't just have 1 or two guys who could score. And I'm not suprised, but do any of you know who cal recruited the most from that team?

Jefferson. And we'd have a team full of them if cal had his way. Lanky. Defenders. That cannot score.

Whereas coach K has 1 Jefferson, cal wants 5 Jeffersons.

If he does not stop recruiting kids that can't hit, we will continue to fall short. Time to start recruiting a few hang around guards who can play and hit shots.

If Briscoe could hit a shot from the floor we win by 10 yesterday. It's become a massive problem.

I need to recruit a few Franklins for my billfold, back to the subject Cal wants athletes that might be able to play a little basketball, K looks for players with basketball skills who are just good enough athletes to get by.

Interesting that you mention Jefferson as he is what Duke is missing right now that is likely to cost them several more wins before the season is done.

 

[.S&C.]

I need to recruit a few Franklins for my billfold, back to the subject Cal wants athletes that might be able to play a little basketball, K looks for players with basketball skills who are just good enough athletes to get by.

Interesting that you mention Jefferson as he is what Duke is missing right now that is likely to cost them several more wins before the season is done.

And Jefferson helped Duke win the that title, by becuse coach K had him in the perfect role. Duke has plenty of scoring so they didn't need it from him.

Cal has no balance on his teams. That's why he's falling short so much.

Like with the final four in 14. Just going inside over and over and over to one guy, and it nearly beat us against Notre dame. Then that's all he wanted to do against Wisconsin but it wasn't there so we took 3 shot clock violations. Lol.

It's ridiculous. We need balance on our teams.

 

[KYtotheCore]

Next year we have some alpha males coming in we will be fine.

I hate to say this, but this is what I thought after last season's mass exodus, and knowing who was staying.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Lee is an alpha. Poythress is the wife of an Alfa.

What we really need is, IMO, to stop recruiting kids who can't contribute on both ends. I love our guys, but.

Lee shouldn't be here.
Poythress shouldn't be here.
Briscoe shouldn't be here.

None of these guys are ever going to contribute on both ends.

Want to know why Duke won the title and we couldn't? Multiple looks from the offensive end. They didn't just have 1 or two guys who could score. And I'm not suprised, but do any of you know who cal recruited the most from that team?

Jefferson. And we'd have a team full of them if cal had his way. Lanky. Defenders. That cannot score.

Whereas coach K has 1 Jefferson, cal wants 5 Jeffersons.

If he does not stop recruiting kids that can't hit, we will continue to fall short. Time to start recruiting a few hang around guards/bigs who can play and hit shots.

If Briscoe could hit a shot from the floor we win by 10 yesterday.of Lee had a post game (he's not developed at all) we win. It's become a massive problem.

Agree totally...good post

 

[whhs22]

I am a little worried about a few guys on scholly right now. They just do not seem like the type of players that succeed in Cals system.

Hump and Wyn both are big bodies. Not big athletic bodies. Both play under the rim. With one of our biggest plays being the lob , playing under the rim could be a problem.

Mathews does not have the size or offensive skill set (so far) that gives me confidence in him producing here.

Willis will be a SN next year. If he can play like he did Sat on a consistent basis , he will get mins next year and probably get paid at some point.

Skal is the mystery. Will he ever develop? Will Cal back off him once he gets ready to go talent here , and not on the job training he is trying to do with Skal?

In my opinion out of those 4 Frosh, only 1 or 2 will be here in the next 3 years. A lot of good young talent coming up over the next 3 years. Guys who have a small transitional period from HS to coll ball.

 

[WeepNoMore]

This team is missing "alpha males", other than Ulis, everywhere!

 

[bigc45157]

Does Hump develop into the guy who can hit shots? Skal has the skill set, but lacks anything else to stay on the floor.

 

[whhs22]

Weepnomore you are correct. The problem is our only alpha male is 5"9 145pnds.

 

[Samwise Ganjee]

Yeah, we need some pit bulls in there administering the JUSTICE down low

Red pill, buddy

Betas need not apply

 

[Mojocat]

Free advice: if you ever get the urge to criticize the recruiting of the guy who's had the #1 or #2 recruiting class every year since he came, don't hit send. Looks kind of silly.

Let's suppose Lee was the centerpiece of that class, and the class was ranked, I don't know, 13th - then you say, uhh Cal, why make this non alpha the centerpiece of your class. He's not capable of carrying a team.

But none of those guys were the focal points of their classes. They were the complementary pieces. Unless you're got to insist that all UK recruits must be alphas - in which case there'd never be enough balls and the fistfights would not end.

 

[whhs22]

mojocat what the hell are you talking about? regardless of how many 1 or 2 ranked classes CaL has had the issue is with the make up of this team.

you do not think Cal does not make mistakes you goof? no everyone ignore this idiot. if you have legitimate questions or concerns then absolutely hit send. guys like this who want to control content and conversation are idiots who don't understand the difference between healthy conversation and being critical.

I'm not criticizing Cal. I'm pointing out how this class of Hump, Skal,Wyn, Mathews and Briscoe looks different then a class like next years of guys like Monk, Bamm, Gabriel, fox. huge difference in the type of game this class plays from the one Cal brought in this year. and it is ok if I give that opinion and point that out just for conversation.

and if you can't see the difference in the type of game played by this recruiting class compared to let's say every other , then your blinded by the glow coming off Cal. just stupid to say I was criticizing.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

Lee is an alpha. Poythress is the wife of an Alfa.

What we really need is, IMO, to stop recruiting kids who can't contribute on both ends. I love our guys, but.

Lee shouldn't be here.
Poythress shouldn't be here.
Briscoe shouldn't be here.

None of these guys are ever going to contribute on both ends.

Want to know why Duke won the title and we couldn't? Multiple looks from the offensive end. They didn't just have 1 or two guys who could score. And I'm not suprised, but do any of you know who cal recruited the most from that team?

Jefferson. And we'd have a team full of them if cal had his way. Lanky. Defenders. That cannot score.

Whereas coach K has 1 Jefferson, cal wants 5 Jeffersons.

If he does not stop recruiting kids that can't hit, we will continue to fall short. Time to start recruiting a few hang around guards/bigs who can play and hit shots.

If Briscoe could hit a shot from the floor we win by 10 yesterday.of Lee had a post game (he's not developed at all) we win. It's become a massive problem.

If you watched Duke in 2010 and last year. They couldn't guard their lunch but when you have 5 guys who can score you you usually win because the object of the game is to put the ball in the basket.

 

[miracle7s]

Listen it's great to have the #1 or #2 class blah blah blah on paper. I love it. Every year though it is easy to see who is a monster at any level and who is a monster because they are already grown men playing against high schoolers. Do I think we have a bad ass class next year? You bet your bottom dollar I do. However and I can't take credit for expressing the viewpoint I'm about to the way I am about to because someone else said something about this the other day I saw. The 2010 draft was supposed to be loaded. Wall and Cousins are the only guys who lived up to expectations. Gordon Hayward has exceeded what people thought and Paul George has blown away what people thought. 2011 was supposed to be really weak but all of sudden Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Vucevic, Faried, Reggie Jackson are all great. 2012 same thing AD has performed but other than that everyone expected to perform has underperformed while guys like Dame Lillard, Andre Drummond, and Draymond become the cream of the draft class. Lillard was 5th pick I get that and Drummond 9th but they were misses by gm's. I could go on about each class, but my point is simple you don't know how good a class is til they play.

Do I want Cal to keep bringing in these awesome ranked classes? Of course, but like someone mentioned above he needs to start placing higher priorities on different things. Why did 18 year old devin booker pass up 3 year vet Archie Goodwin in 10 games time? Skills. How did Karl Towns elevate himself past Okafor for #1 pick? Skills. Boogie, Wall, Knight, AD, Bledsoe, all skilled as can be. This might not be a popular opinion around here but do you know why went to the final 4 in 2011 and won it in 2012. Knight and Davis? Yes, they were huge but no. One guy Doron Lamb. We need more Doron Lambs here in the worst way. I know he was a goof but he was as clutch of scorer as we've had and he opened up the court for everyone. We've not had it on any team other than the 2 years he was here. Booker did it for about 10 games but not a whole season.

 

[sefus12]

First off, if we put Dakari Johnson, who Cal tried to get to return, on this team, things probably look a lot different. DJ chose to leave, so Cal scrambled to find a big body to fill the void. A few top recruits chose to go elsewhere, so we ended up with Humphries and Tai. Neither have developed yet. The biggest issue is that Skal has not developed as fast as everyone thought he would. The guy was a consensus top-3 player and considered by draft experts as a top-3 pick after this season. You can't blame Cal for not knowing the guy wouldn't be able to perform.

Also, this class as a whole seems to be pretty bad. I wish we weren't struggling down low, but I don't blame Cal's recruiting for Dakari leaving, others choosing to go to schools besides UK, or for Skal not getting close to living up to the hype yet.

 

[Samwise Ganjee]

I'm not into blaming Dakari for this brush fire. Kid came, he performed, he wanted to live the dream and he is getting his chance. Game. Set. Match. That's what we are here for, according to the head coach, about changing families' lives.

If you want to pick out a scapegoat go after Skal's guardian who put him in church league with sub-par coaching and poor competition and no one to challenge him to play up to his potential.

 

[poppycat]

I'm not into blaming Dakari for this brush fire. Kid came, he performed, he wanted to live the dream and he is getting his chance. Game. Set. Match. That's what we are here for, according to the head coach, about changing families' lives.

If you want to pick out a scapegoat go after Skal's guardian who put him in church league with sub-par coaching and poor competition and no one to challenge him to play up to his potential.

Hard to run a post offense with a very little perimeter offense. 2 threats on the perimeter = 3 men on defense in the paint..........a 3G offense needs 3 guards with an offense. ........Having Willis outside and Briscoe inside didn't work too well.

 

[Mojocat]

mojocat what the hell are you talking about? regardless of how many 1 or 2 ranked classes CaL has had the issue is with the make up of this team.

you do not think Cal does not make mistakes you goof? no everyone ignore this idiot. if you have legitimate questions or concerns then absolutely hit send. guys like this who want to control content and conversation are idiots who don't understand the difference between healthy conversation and being critical.

I'm not criticizing Cal. I'm pointing out how this class of Hump, Skal,Wyn, Mathews and Briscoe looks different then a class like next years of guys like Monk, Bamm, Gabriel, fox. huge difference in the type of game this class plays from the one Cal brought in this year. and it is ok if I give that opinion and point that out just for conversation.

and if you can't see the difference in the type of game played by this recruiting class compared to let's say every other , then your blinded by the glow coming off Cal. just stupid to say I was criticizing.

I wasn't talking to you.....Which should have been obvious, if you look at the second post in the thread, and specifically the first word of the second post. But nice rant.

 

[WitnessGreatness]

I think Cal worries about if a player can defend too much when recruiting instead of if the player can shoot

 

[whhs22]

My bad mojo. To be honest i'm so use to some trolling posts to only try to shut opinions down. And if you say anything critical of Cal , owe watch out. You become a troll and should be banned.

We are on a message board we're you discuss opinions, and mingle. One comment i hate , is when someone just gives an opinion about maybe we need to play this guy or try this approach on offense or def. Some posters respond by reminding us Cal is a HOF coach , so how dare any of us question him. Drives me nuts. Its a message board, no one wants Cal gone. But he is not perfect, and theirs nothing wrong with a healthy discussion.

So i apologize, i jumped the gun and you did not deserve my rant.

 

[Mojocat]

My bad mojo. To be honest i'm so use to some trolling posts to only try to shut opinions down. And if you say anything critical of Cal , owe watch out. You become a troll and should be banned.

We are on a message board we're you discuss opinions, and mingle. One comment i hate , is when someone just gives an opinion about maybe we need to play this guy or try this approach on offense or def. Some posters respond by reminding us Cal is a HOF coach , so how dare any of us question him. Drives me nuts. Its a message board, no one wants Cal gone. But he is not perfect, and theirs nothing wrong with a healthy discussion.

So i apologize, i jumped the gun and you did not deserve my rant.

Don't worry about it, no sweat.....