Wait for it ... how awesome would it be...

[FrankUnderwood]

if we could keep Green AND Alexander for 2 years??

I'm VERY stoked about green and I think Alexander will be very good as well (maybe not right away; but definitely has the skill set to succeed )

I'm insanely excited about this upcoming year - so exited, but it would be AMAZING going into the following season with 2 experienced PG/ guards along with what will inevitably be a #1 or #2 recruiting class.


Not quite as explosive or freakishly athletic - but by their 2nd year ; they could be a Bledsoe / wall type duo (so to speak)

 

[Nooneputsbabyinacorner]

if we could keep Green AND Alexander for 2 years??

I'm VERY stoked about green and I think Alexander will be very good as well (maybe not right away; but definitely has the skill set to succeed )

I'm insanely excited about this upcoming year - so exited, but it would be AMAZING going into the following season with 2 experienced PG/ guards along with what will inevitably be a #1 or #2 recruiting class.


Not quite as explosive or freakishly athletic - but by their 2nd year ; they could be a Bledsoe / wall type duo (so to speak)

 

[bucsrule8872]

We probably need at least one of them back. The PG crop for '18 is not that great.

 

[catrecruit]

if we could keep Green AND Alexander for 2 years??

I'm VERY stoked about green and I think Alexander will be very good as well (maybe not right away; but definitely has the skill set to succeed )

I'm insanely excited about this upcoming year - so exited, but it would be AMAZING going into the following season with 2 experienced PG/ guards along with what will inevitably be a #1 or #2 recruiting class.


Not quite as explosive or freakishly athletic - but by their 2nd year ; they could be a Bledsoe / wall type duo (so to speak)

Think they'll be here longer than people think

 

[UKvisitor]

right now, I am concerned about the how the team this coming season will come together.

 

[Dream Team 13]

They may be 3 or 4 year players. Not the type of guys that are prototypical early entry.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

right now, I am concerned about the how the team this coming season will come together.

Same here , just making some conversation (;

 

[FrankUnderwood]

Think they'll be here longer than people think

How long do you anticipate them to suit up for UK?

 

[bucsrule8872]

They may be 3 or 4 year players. Not the type of guys that are prototypical early entry.

Same thing was said about Ulis.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

Same thing was said about Ulis.

And briscoe to an extent lol

 

[DerekMcPwn]

The last time we kept a backcourt for a second year we won 38 in a row.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

The last time we kept a backcourt for a second year we won 38 in a row.

Yes!


Although we should have played Ulis some in the Wisconsin game (just my opinion , but that's a different topic all together lol)

 

[~Keyser Soze~]

Yes!


Although we should have played Ulis some in the Wisconsin game (just my opinion , but that's a different topic all together lol)

Ulis played 17 minutes in the Wisconsin game.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

Ulis played 17 minutes in the Wisconsin game.

I should have worded my sentence better.

He should have played some more
Towards the end of the game

 

[~Keyser Soze~]

I should have worded my sentence better.

He should have played some more
Towards the end of the game

Gotcha

 

[EclipsingYou]

Smart and Quickley are both top 5-10 point guards that Kentucky currently leads for. I wouldn't call next year's PG class weak from UK's perspective.

 

[Cal4Pres.]

Think they'll be here longer than people think

Agree. I think this year is gonna be one the best years for returning players we've had in a long time, I hope! It's a double edge sword though. If everyone played to their max potential and hype they would all probably go pro. If they stayed you could assume they maybe didn't live up to expectations. There are exceptions though, PPat etc... to me it's like MJ said, we've got some good players this year but they aren't necessarily the top 5 caliber we've been accustomed to, that's why I'm hoping we get some back next year, but the way Cal pushes and developed guys you never know. I wouldn't trade any of them for another player in the country right now.

 

[EclipsingYou]

Diallo, Knox, and Vanderbilt are as close to locks as possible. I expect 2 of Green, Gabriel, Richards, Washington, and SKJ to leave too. It will be a weak draft and scouts will love some of those players measurables and potential.

I think that losing 5 will be the minimum off this year's team, sadly

We are leading or close to it for quite a few of the TOP recruits in the next class, though.

Smart, Quickley, Langford, Bagley, Bol, and Williamson look like Cal's main targets and judging by experience, we will probably end up getting 3 or 4 of those 6. Especially if we do lose 5 players to the draft to open up PT for them.

Replacing Diallo, Knox, Vanderbilt, and Richards with Smart, Bagley, Quickley, and Williamson would be quite alright to me.

All in my completely worthless opinion as always.

 

[bucsrule8872]

We really need a couple of guys back. We won't win another title until some key players decide to return, IMHO.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

We really need a couple of guys back. We won't win another title until some key players decide to return, IMHO.

I kinda tend to agree - I mean we've almost done it , a couple times - and maybe this year we can?

But I'll never forget how good I felt when we found out the twins WCS dakari etc were all coming back. I mean I was PUMPED.
I had grown to really like the players (and lamb , jones etc ) and was so stoked to see em play again .

I think it's definitely crucial to return some seasoned players who have good experience and at least somewhat good talent

 

[2Dope15]

Same thing was said about Ulis.

Most said Booker was a 2 year player. Green 1 or 2 yrs, isn't it supposed to be a weak draft class next year, so he could always t the waters? And Alexander 2 or 3 yrs. And Baker 3 or 4 Yrs.

 

[Bluegrassking]

if we could keep Green AND Alexander for 2 years??

I'm VERY stoked about green and I think Alexander will be very good as well (maybe not right away; but definitely has the skill set to succeed )

I'm insanely excited about this upcoming year - so exited, but it would be AMAZING going into the following season with 2 experienced PG/ guards along with what will inevitably be a #1 or #2 recruiting class.


Not quite as explosive or freakishly athletic - but by their 2nd year ; they could be a Bledsoe / wall type duo (so to speak)

I think if we have even a decent season then there is a significant chance that our starting PG will merit a 1st round pick and have a decision to make.

I say the backup PG returns but doesn't get a chance to start until 2019. Baker returns. Probably at least two out of Knox, Vanderbilt, Washington, Gabriel, SKJ, and Richards.

Wynyard may decide to look for PT but certainly would be a strong candidate to return as well.

I expect a near 50% early departure rate which is pretty awesome for us but folks expecting to only lose maybe three to the draft must be expecting an absolute train wreck of a season. Like maybe not make the NIT bad and certainly can't be thinking Sweet 16 and better.

In a weaker draft I can totally imagine losing Knox, Diallo, Vanderbilt, one of Richards/SKJ, one of Washington/Gabriel, and whoever wins out as our point if we have the kind of season we expect.

Cal will be recruiting hard again both from desire and legitimate need. That is the way of things and anything else should be considered a surprise not an expectation (and maybe not a pleasant surprise either).
The over under is always set at five in my mind. We would have lost Ulis who would have been taken well ahead of Andrew if he was 6 foot. If we are good there will be fairly severe roster turn over and unexpected guys will be a part of it.

It should no longer be a shocker to see us lose our top 8 guys and at the Final Four and better area, I think it moves that toward the most likely outcome.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Its way too early to tell, and I haven't seen enough of the Freshmen to get a good read, but just for giggles let's say five leave- Diallo, Knox, Vanderbilt, and Richards have lottery potential. Gabriel, like most guys who start as Freshmen for us will likely leave after two years.

That leaves Green, Washington, Killeya-Jones, Gilgeous-Alexander, Wynyard, and Baker returning.

Add in a typical Cal class of top guys. Let's say Bagley, Langford, Reddish, and King (Reddish's teammate- top 25 guy).

That's Green, Langford, Reddish, Washington, and Bagley starting. Gilgeous-Alexander, Baker, King, Killeya-Jones, and Wynyard off the bench.

I know there is no guarantees we get those guys coming in. They are studs. But Cal has a pretty good track record with his main targets. Would be surprised if Bagley isn't on the roster. If we don't get Langford and/or Reddish, we have a good shot at other guard/wings like Quickley, Smart, and Barrett (if he reclassifies).

That is the formula for a title team. Some returning veterans that played a lot plus two or three superstar top 10 level guys.

 

[Bluegrassking]

Its way too early to tell, and I haven't seen enough of the Freshmen to get a good read, but just for giggles let's say five leave- Diallo, Knox, Vanderbilt, and Richards have lottery potential. Gabriel, like most guys who start as Freshmen for us will likely leave after two years.

That leaves Green, Washington, Killeya-Jones, Gilgeous-Alexander, Wynyard, and Baker returning.

Add in a typical Cal class of top guys. Let's say Bagley, Langford, Reddish, and King (Reddish's teammate- top 25 guy).

That's Green, Langford, Reddish, Washington, and Bagley starting. Gilgeous-Alexander, Baker, King, Killeya-Jones, and Wynyard off the bench.

I know there is no guarantees we get those guys coming in. They are studs. But Cal has a pretty good track record with his main targets. Would be surprised if Bagley isn't on the roster. If we don't get Langford and/or Reddish, we have a good shot at other guard/wings like Quickley, Smart, and Barrett (if he reclassifies).

That is the formula for a title team. Some returning veterans that played a lot plus two or three superstar top 10 level guys.

I totally agree with your overall premise. I just don't buy both point guards returning.
It isn't impossible by any stretch of the imagination, I am just not betting on it because I think the main reasons it could happen are either Vanderbilt goes into Magic Johnson mode or we have a couple of point guards that are somewhere between bad and unready.

If the later is the case then I'd say the likelihood of at least one transferring is high enough uncertainty to cause additional reason to refuse to make the bet.

The stongest path to getting both back is the real possibility that they are very close but yet bring different enough skills that they split and cancel each other out but that also increases the odds that you actually lose both with each shining enough to get the call.

Cal is already moving on Quickley and trying to get Smart. Arguably quite serious about both at once.
He isn't looking to return both of the guys, maybe neither. Can it happen? Absolutely.
Likely? I think it is more probable we get an "extra" forward back (only losing one of Vanderbilt, Knox, Washington, and Gabriel). So, not in my opinion but time will tell.

 

[Nooneputsbabyinacorner]

I totally agree with your overall premise. I just don't buy both point guards returning.
It isn't impossible by any stretch of the imagination, I am just not betting on it because I think the main reasons it could happen are either Vanderbilt goes into Magic Johnson mode or we have a couple of point guards that are somewhere between bad and unready.

If the later is the case then I'd say the likelihood of at least one transferring is high enough uncertainty to cause additional reason to refuse to make the bet.

The stongest path to getting both back is the real possibility that they are very close but yet bring different enough skills that they split and cancel each other out but that also increases the odds that you actually lose both with each shining enough to get the call.

Cal is already moving on Quickley and trying to get Smart. Arguably quite serious about both at once.
He isn't looking to return both of the guys, maybe neither. Can it happen? Absolutely.
Likely? I think it is more probable we get an "extra" forward back (only losing one of Vanderbilt, Knox, Washington, and Gabriel). So, not in my opinion but time will tell.

Just saw that Quickley is Adidas. Who is the last Adidas player Kentucky has landed? Maybe Kansas has a shot to land both Quickley and Grimes?

 

[kmann0433]

Safest thing for us to do as Kentucky fans at this point is to operate under the assumption that we'll lose everybody haha. Speculating about it hasn't gotten me anywhere. We lost Humphries for pete's sake.

It's insane to think about how massive the Trae Young/Quade situation was in terms of the next two recruiting classes, especially if you consider how incredible the 2018 class and how likely the stick around (although I'm not counting on it) the 2017 class is. I rarely say this, but if we don't get a title in the next two years it could sting like the 2010/2014/2015 years did.

 

[caneintally]

Alexander is a much better prospect then green. Alexander could be a one and done if he doesn't care about being drafted super high as I think he could be a top 35 pick after next season . Green is 6'0 and is very skilled but he isn't a super athlete or anything . In the end I think we have both for 2 years but only 2 years. I am very high on Baker as well next season but I do think there will be games where he scores 20 and plays 32 minutes and then some games where he scores 0 and plays 5 minutes . His shot his too sweet not to have him on the floor and he has the tools to be an elite defender as well eventually.

I fully believe 18' will be Cal's best team as I think it will look something like this

PG- Green/Smart or Quickly
SG- Alexander/Baker
SF- Zion / K. Moore
PF- bagley/PJ washington
C- Bol Bol /SKJ/ Tai

As you can see I think Diallo ( top 15 pick ) , Knox ( top 20 pick ) , Vanderbilt ( top 10 pick ) , Richards ( top 15 pick ) and Gabriel ( top 35 pick ) all go pro after next season.

 

[kmann0433]

Alexander is a much better prospect then green. Alexander could be a one and done if he doesn't care about being drafted super high as I think he could be a top 35 pick after next season . Green is 6'0 and is very skilled but he isn't a super athlete or anything . In the end I think we have both for 2 years but only 2 years. I am very high on Baker as well next season but I do think there will be games where he scores 20 and plays 32 minutes and then some games where he scores 0 and plays 5 minutes . His shot his too sweet not to have him on the floor and he has the tools to be an elite defender as well eventually.

You're right about Green. I think his ceiling as a college PG is pretty favorable, but he's definitely more in the mode of the Tyus Jones/Shabazz Napier/Taurean Green/Peyton Siva type of PG than the guys Cal has had in the past. He's a gritty game-manager type of guy who does lots of things well but doesn't blow your mind with an elite skill in any one area, like a Kyrie for example.

I think we'll love him but he's going to have to be paired with an explosive scorer/athlete while he's at UK to really have considerable success, in my opinion.

 

[BlueCat43]

They may be 3 or 4 year players. Not the type of guys that are prototypical early entry.

Same was said about Tyler Ulis.

 

[EclipsingYou]

If UK wins the title, Green is a goner. Just like we saw happen with Tyus Jones at Duke.

His stock will be the highest it could possibly get.

If Cal knew 100% that Green would be returning, him majorly recruiting Quickley and Smart wouldn't make much sense.

In this down year of college basketball with a ridiculous collection of talent at his disposable at every position, I think that Calipari expects to be holding up #9 by year's end, if he were to be honest.

If that indeed happens, I just can't see Green coming back

 

[UKcatXXXL]

Alexander is a much better prospect then green. Alexander could be a one and done if he doesn't care about being drafted super high as I think he could be a top 35 pick after next season . Green is 6'0 and is very skilled but he isn't a super athlete or anything . In the end I think we have both for 2 years but only 2 years. I am very high on Baker as well next season but I do think there will be games where he scores 20 and plays 32 minutes and then some games where he scores 0 and plays 5 minutes . His shot his too sweet not to have him on the floor and he has the tools to be an elite defender as well eventually.

I fully believe 18' will be Cal's best team as I think it will look something like this

PG- Green/Smart or Quickly
SG- Alexander/Baker
SF- Zion / K. Moore
PF- bagley/PJ washington
C- Bol Bol /SKJ/ Tai

As you can see I think Diallo ( top 15 pick ) , Knox ( top 20 pick ) , Vanderbilt ( top 10 pick ) , Richards ( top 15 pick ) and Gabriel ( top 35 pick ) all go pro after next season.

I'd plug in Naz if Bagley doesn't go to college. If Barrett does in fact reclassify to 2018 I think we have a great shot at getting him.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I thInk Green will start and get most of the minutes at 1. SGA will likely
be back as I see him as a backup. He is combo guard. He is not a pure PG. I take that as meaning he can play either guard spot, but excels at neither. He will probably be drafted in a few years because of his great size for position if he proves he can run the point.

I think Green could return because of his size. Very few teams want to spend a first round pick on a guy who is 6'0. So I see him on the same trajectory as a Ulis. Two years bacause of his size and probably a second round pick.

But who knows? According to reports Cal has said he should be OAD.

Either way, I wouldb't be surprised to see a Soph running the point in 18-19, either Green or SGA. And having both is possible, IMHO.