We have the pieces for a complete team

[IL Wildcat]

I really like the pieces Calipari has put in place with this team. Sometimes you have to take what you can get when recruiting, but this particular group seems to have all the pieces.

That 2009-10 team may be the most talented team Calipari has had in terms of NBA potential, but it had a fatal flaw, lack of shooters who could beat a team that threw a zone at them. The 2006 Team USA that lost to Greece had a similar problem. It was filled with a bunch of great athletes that could run, jump, slash, and dunk, but lacked players who could shoot the ball.

This team has all the pieces. We still need to see them perform on the big stage and work together as a team, but the pieces are there. Consider what you really need to have a championship team in college basketball.

1. A great point guard. You can't win at any level without a great floor leader. We have three.
2. A transcendent player with NBA talent. I think we have at least 2 in Murray and Skal.
3. Size and strength inside. You gotta have someone who can bang down low. Poythress returning gives us some beef. Humphries can give us that as well, if needed.
4. Ability to score with back to the basket. More than beef is needed, you must have a low post offensive threat. Skal and Poythress have this covered. Perhaps Lee as well.
5. A shot blocker, rim protector. You need a guy who can erase defensive mistakes. Lee can definitely do this and so can Poythress. Skal has all the tools to be a great shot blocker too.
6. A slashing small forward who can do a little bit of everything. We lacked this last year. Matthews can do this and seems underrated to me. Murray can do this a bit too, though he's undersized at the 3.
7. Shooters who can stretch the defense and prevent a team from beating you with a zone. Ulis, Murray, Briscoe, and Mulder are all solid 3pt shooters.

We're unproven at several different positions right now but the pieces are there on this team in my opinion.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

Great post IL. I tried and failed to convey something similar in my post about this team being the 2nd most talented team in UK history.
I think this is more along the lines of what I meant but I think the NBA talent is there as well.
If these guys play unselfish which they seem to already be doing I can see #9 coming and very few if any losses.

Having a coach that has won a title and been to multiple FFs is a huge asset as well.

 

[Bigkyfan10]

I really like the pieces Calipari has put in place with this team. Sometimes you have to take what you can get when recruiting, but this particular group seems to have all the pieces.

That 2009-10 team may be the most talented team Calipari has had in terms of NBA potential, but it had a fatal flaw, lack of shooters who could beat a team that threw a zone at them. The 2006 Team USA that lost to Greece had a similar problem. It was filled with a bunch of great athletes that could run, jump, slash, and dunk, but lacked players who could shoot the ball.

This team has all the pieces. We still need to see them perform on the big stage and work together as a team, but the pieces are there. Consider what you really need to have a championship team in college basketball.

1. A great point guard. You can't win at any level without a great floor leader. We have three.
2. A transcendent player with NBA talent. I think we have at least 2 in Murray and Skal.
3. Size and strength inside. You gotta have someone who can bang down low. Poythress returning gives us some beef. Humphries can give us that as well, if needed.
4. Ability to score with back to the basket. More than beef is needed, you must have a low post offensive threat. Skal and Poythress have this covered. Perhaps Lee as well.
5. A shot blocker, rim protector. You need a guy who can erase defensive mistakes. Lee can definitely do this and so can Poythress. Skal has all the tools to be a great shot blocker too.
6. A slashing small forward who can do a little bit of everything. We lacked this last year. Matthews can do this and seems underrated to me. Murray can do this a bit too, though he's undersized at the 3.
7. Shooters who can stretch the defense and prevent a team from beating you with a zone. Ulis, Murray, Briscoe, and Mulder are all solid 3pt shooters.

We're unproven at several different positions right now but the pieces are there on this team in my opinion.

I swear if I see one more person say that John Walls team had more talent than lady years team. John walls team had 8 NBA players. Last years team will have at least 9, most likely 10 (very unlikely 11). You could legitemly say that last years team is the best defensive team of all time. And you could also say that last years team is the most talented team in the history of the sport. IMO last years team is easily a top 5 team all time in ALL of college basketball. 6'6 6'6 6'10 6'11 7'0. Tallest starting five ever. They held opponents to the second lowest fg% in the history of the sport. Since the 1975 season they held opponents to the 5th lowest PPG in the NCAA, 1st in points allowed per 100 possessions, 1st in assist allowed per 100 possessions, 8th in margin of victory. They held a sweet sixteen team to 7 points in the first HALF for crying out loud (41-7 at half against UCLA). They are the first team from a big six conference to be undefeated going into a final four since Indiana in 1975. They are the first team to start a season 38-0. They did all of this without their starting SF for the most part. WCS became the first consensus first team all American to average less than 10 PPG. Karl Towns was also an all American a barely averaged over 10 PPG. Can you say DEPTH, 10 Players that played or were NBA draft picks. They were the first team to ever double up an opponent in points in the sweet sixteen. WVUs 39 points were the lowest from any team in the sweet sixteen during the shot clock era. Their 39 point margin of victory that game was third highest in UK history for the tourney. In 13 games against NCAA tourney teams they held opponents to 15 PPG below their average. Vegas had them at EVEN to winning the title against the field. Don't believe that has ever happened. Not one team shot above 50% through out the entire regular season. They had 9 players average between 5.5 and 11 PPG. Kentucky 239 Points - UCLA Kansas UNC 152 points. They held 17 opponents to under 50 points in the game. They had MANY halves of teams scoring less than 20 points. They were only the 4th UK team since 1956 to beat an opponent by 58 points. They had Kentucky's second highest margin after half with 43 points. 43 point lead at the half. Unheard of! They had 3 opponents score only 7, 11, and 12 points in the first half. 11 opponents scored 20 or less points against them in the first half. Kansas 40 points in the their game against us was their lowest since 1962. They shot 19 fg % for the game. U of L could only manage 1 assist in their game against us. They held Montana State to 28 points for the entire game which is the lowest ever for UK opponent in the shot clock era. Kentucky also won consecutive games by 48 point or more for the first time since 1954. Kentucky also tied their own national record with 38 wins in one season.

 

[villefan76]

If our big guys catch up with our guard play teams better look out! I think this is going to be a very special season. Truly believe we hang # 9!

 

[BleedBlue32]

Great post OP. My thoughts exactly when I watched the Blue/White game the other night.

 

[WildMoon]

Funniest thing about this team was the doom and gloom perception it received earlier in the year.

Lol

 

[bigbluelou]

I swear if I see one more person say that John Walls team had more talent than lady years team. John walls team had 8 NBA players. Last years team will have at least 9, most likely 10 (very unlikely 11). You could legitemly say that last years team is the best defensive team of all time. And you could also say that last years team is the most talented team in the history of the sport. IMO last years team is easily a top 5 team all time in ALL of college basketball. 6'6 6'6 6'10 6'11 7'0. Tallest starting five ever. They held opponents to the second lowest fg% in the history of the sport. Since the 1975 season they held opponents to the 5th lowest PPG in the NCAA, 1st in points allowed per 100 possessions, 1st in assist allowed per 100 possessions, 8th in margin of victory. They held a sweet sixteen team to 7 points in the first HALF for crying out loud (41-7 at half against UCLA). They are the first team from a big six conference to be undefeated going into a final four since Indiana in 1975. They are the first team to start a season 38-0. They did all of this without their starting SF for the most part. WCS became the first consensus first team all American to average less than 10 PPG. Karl Towns was also an all American a barely averaged over 10 PPG. Can you say DEPTH, 10 Players that played or were NBA draft picks. They were the first team to ever double up an opponent in points in the sweet sixteen. WVUs 39 points were the lowest from any team in the sweet sixteen during the shot clock era. Their 39 point margin of victory that game was third highest in UK history for the tourney. In 13 games against NCAA tourney teams they held opponents to 15 PPG below their average. Vegas had them at EVEN to winning the title against the field. Don't believe that has ever happened. Not one team shot above 50% through out the entire regular season. They had 9 players average between 5.5 and 11 PPG. Kentucky 239 Points - UCLA Kansas UNC 152 points. They held 17 opponents to under 50 points in the game. They had MANY halves of teams scoring less than 20 points. They were only the 4th UK team since 1956 to beat an opponent by 58 points. They had Kentucky's second highest margin after half with 43 points. 43 point lead at the half. Unheard of! They had 3 opponents score only 7, 11, and 12 points in the first half. 11 opponents scored 20 or less points against them in the first half. Kansas 40 points in the their game against us was their lowest since 1962. They shot 19 fg % for the game. U of L could only manage 1 assist in their game against us. They held Montana State to 28 points for the entire game which is the lowest ever for UK opponent in the shot clock era. Kentucky also won consecutive games by 48 point or more for the first time since 1954. Kentucky also tied their own national record with 38 wins in one season.

 

[NCukcat62]

Funniest thing about this team was the doom and gloom perception it received earlier in the year.

Lol

A lot of people were doom and gloom?Haha I think people were uncertain because of the skal situation and the fact that Murray was an enigma. That changed after the panam games.

 

[FlCATFan]

Outstanding post IL. I would only add Willis to that list of zone-busting three point shooters.

 

[kyjeff1]

I swear if I see one more person say that John Walls team had more talent than lady years team. John walls team had 8 NBA players. Last years team will have at least 9, most likely 10 (very unlikely 11). You could legitemly say that last years team is the best defensive team of all time. And you could also say that last years team is the most talented team in the history of the sport. IMO last years team is easily a top 5 team all time in ALL of college basketball. 6'6 6'6 6'10 6'11 7'0. Tallest starting five ever. They held opponents to the second lowest fg% in the history of the sport. Since the 1975 season they held opponents to the 5th lowest PPG in the NCAA, 1st in points allowed per 100 possessions, 1st in assist allowed per 100 possessions, 8th in margin of victory. They held a sweet sixteen team to 7 points in the first HALF for crying out loud (41-7 at half against UCLA). They are the first team from a big six conference to be undefeated going into a final four since Indiana in 1975. They are the first team to start a season 38-0. They did all of this without their starting SF for the most part. WCS became the first consensus first team all American to average less than 10 PPG. Karl Towns was also an all American a barely averaged over 10 PPG. Can you say DEPTH, 10 Players that played or were NBA draft picks. They were the first team to ever double up an opponent in points in the sweet sixteen. WVUs 39 points were the lowest from any team in the sweet sixteen during the shot clock era. Their 39 point margin of victory that game was third highest in UK history for the tourney. In 13 games against NCAA tourney teams they held opponents to 15 PPG below their average. Vegas had them at EVEN to winning the title against the field. Don't believe that has ever happened. Not one team shot above 50% through out the entire regular season. They had 9 players average between 5.5 and 11 PPG. Kentucky 239 Points - UCLA Kansas UNC 152 points. They held 17 opponents to under 50 points in the game. They had MANY halves of teams scoring less than 20 points. They were only the 4th UK team since 1956 to beat an opponent by 58 points. They had Kentucky's second highest margin after half with 43 points. 43 point lead at the half. Unheard of! They had 3 opponents score only 7, 11, and 12 points in the first half. 11 opponents scored 20 or less points against them in the first half. Kansas 40 points in the their game against us was their lowest since 1962. They shot 19 fg % for the game. U of L could only manage 1 assist in their game against us. They held Montana State to 28 points for the entire game which is the lowest ever for UK opponent in the shot clock era. Kentucky also won consecutive games by 48 point or more for the first time since 1954. Kentucky also tied their own national record with 38 wins in one season.

Yup, last year's team had more guys go to the NBA but that's not the full measuring stick. You need to look at quality. Wall, Cuz, Bledsoe and PPat are higher quality NBA talent IMO. KAT is great but is he going to have a bigger impact than Wall (fellow #1 picks). Is Lyles going to make a bigger splash than big Cuz? Is WCS going to be better thsn Bledsoe? Are the twins going to be in the league for ANY length of time? Sometimes numbers matter, sometimes they don't.
10>15.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

 

[Blue Decade]

If our big guys catch up with our guard play teams better look out! I think this is going to be a very special season. Truly believe we hang # 9!

As we were reminded last year, having the best team in the country doesn't always mean you win the national championship. And we did have the best team last year, but 40 games present a lot of opportunities to screw up. It is hard to play your best every time out. I am confident that we have the best team again this year. Murray and Labissiere are the best pair of players on any team, and the supporting cast is also very good. But there are so many variables. A cold shooting night. A bad game at the free throw line. A key injury. If we win #9, it will happen because our team is the most opportunistic. That's why Calipari is stressing conditioning, defense, and free throw shooting in practice.

 

[sambowieshin]

I swear if I see one more person say that John Walls team had more talent than lady years team. John walls team had 8 NBA players. Last years team will have at least 9, most likely 10 (very unlikely 11). You could legitemly say that last years team is the best defensive team of all time. And you could also say that last years team is the most talented team in the history of the sport. IMO last years team is easily a top 5 team all time in ALL of college basketball. 6'6 6'6 6'10 6'11 7'0. Tallest starting five ever. They held opponents to the second lowest fg% in the history of the sport. Since the 1975 season they held opponents to the 5th lowest PPG in the NCAA, 1st in points allowed per 100 possessions, 1st in assist allowed per 100 possessions, 8th in margin of victory. They held a sweet sixteen team to 7 points in the first HALF for crying out loud (41-7 at half against UCLA). They are the first team from a big six conference to be undefeated going into a final four since Indiana in 1975. They are the first team to start a season 38-0. They did all of this without their starting SF for the most part. WCS became the first consensus first team all American to average less than 10 PPG. Karl Towns was also an all American a barely averaged over 10 PPG. Can you say DEPTH, 10 Players that played or were NBA draft picks. They were the first team to ever double up an opponent in points in the sweet sixteen. WVUs 39 points were the lowest from any team in the sweet sixteen during the shot clock era. Their 39 point margin of victory that game was third highest in UK history for the tourney. In 13 games against NCAA tourney teams they held opponents to 15 PPG below their average. Vegas had them at EVEN to winning the title against the field. Don't believe that has ever happened. Not one team shot above 50% through out the entire regular season. They had 9 players average between 5.5 and 11 PPG. Kentucky 239 Points - UCLA Kansas UNC 152 points. They held 17 opponents to under 50 points in the game. They had MANY halves of teams scoring less than 20 points. They were only the 4th UK team since 1956 to beat an opponent by 58 points. They had Kentucky's second highest margin after half with 43 points. 43 point lead at the half. Unheard of! They had 3 opponents score only 7, 11, and 12 points in the first half. 11 opponents scored 20 or less points against them in the first half. Kansas 40 points in the their game against us was their lowest since 1962. They shot 19 fg % for the game. U of L could only manage 1 assist in their game against us. They held Montana State to 28 points for the entire game which is the lowest ever for UK opponent in the shot clock era. Kentucky also won consecutive games by 48 point or more for the first time since 1954. Kentucky also tied their own national record with 38 wins in one season.

You and your facts about the defense of last year's team are correct. Defensively they are one of the best ever. Where I would disagree is on the "top five all time" label. No national title automatically takes that off the table. You can't be the greatest if you fail when it matters the most. Also there were many times last year that team struggled to put the ball in the basket. Lots of bricks and streaky shooting that ultimately doomed them.

 

[CUT-NETS]

As we were reminded last year, having the best team in the country doesn't always mean you win the national championship. And we did have the best team last year, but 40 games present a lot of opportunities to screw up. It is hard to play your best every time out. I am confident that we have the best team again this year. Murray and Labissiere are the best pair of players on any team, and the supporting cast is also very good. But there are so many variables. A cold shooting night. A bad game at the free throw line. A key injury. If we win #9, it will happen because our team is the most opportunistic. That's why Calipari is stressing conditioning, defense, and free throw shooting in practice.

3 straight shot-clock violations, refusing to go zone against a team that can't match your size but can out-quick you, continuing to put up threes until you are 2/29 on the night instead of throwing it down low to arguably the best center in college bball, etc etc. I agree, several variables.

 

[kyjeff1]

3 straight shot-clock violations, refusing to go zone against a team that can't match your size but can out-quick you, continuing to put up threes until you are 2/29 on the night instead of throwing it down low to arguably the best center in college bball, etc etc. I agree, several variables.

How did your team do last year? What team do you coach?
Surely you aren't being a monday morning quarterback? It all looks really easy from the couch doesn't it?

 

[EnglandWildcat]

Said this same thing to my dad a few days back OP. I agree 100%.

We may not be the most talented team, but we've got the perfect components. Great shooters, a couple of slashers, two shot blockers, at least one big body (maybe two if Humphries continues to improve), and a potential lock-down defender in Matthews.

I really hope Matthews becomes an MKG type. He showed some tenacity on defense and a willingness to mop up the glass in the scrimmage. I hope it carries over through the season.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

3 straight shot-clock violations, refusing to go zone against a team that can't match your size but can out-quick you, continuing to put up threes until you are 2/29 on the night instead of throwing it down low to arguably the best center in college bball, etc etc. I agree, several variables.

1. I personally think Cal should have told his guys not to shooter wide-open threes against WVU. They should have, instead, thrown it in to Cousins and Patterson, who were regularly facing double and triple teams. Because that makes a lot of sense. After all, with Cousins being teen feet tall, he could have just shot the ball over those triple teams.

2. There was two true shot clock violations against Wisconsin and two shots taken in the last three seconds of the clock (one of which came on a possession where UK rebounded two misses of their own). One was the result of Lyles having his arm pinned down as he shot a leaner. Talk to the twins about their refusal to throw the ball to towns on two of those two possessions. Cal didn't call for a grind-it-out on any of those possessions except one, where he pointed to Andrew to pull the ball out after an offensive rebound. In fact, on almost all of the closing possessions, you can see Cal is calling for Towns to get the ball, and the twins refused on two possessions. Watch the game tape if you don't believe me. Yes, it was a massive letdown, but you're clearly forming a revisionist history to fit your biased narrative.

 

[CUT-NETS]

1. I personally think Cal should have told his guys not to shooter wide-open threes against WVU. They should have, instead, thrown it in to Cousins and Patterson, who were regularly facing double and triple teams. Because that makes a lot of sense. After all, with Cousins being teen feet tall, he could have just shot the ball over those triple teams.

2. There was two true shot clock violations against Wisconsin and two shots taken in the last three seconds of the clock (one of which came on a possession where UK rebounded two misses of their own). One was the result of Lyles having his arm pinned down as he shot a leaner. Talk to the twins about their refusal to throw the ball to towns on two of those two possessions. Cal didn't call for a grind-it-out on any of those possessions except one, where he pointed to Andrew to pull the ball out after an offensive rebound. In fact, on almost all of the closing possessions, you can see Cal is calling for Towns to get the ball, and the twins refused on two possessions. Watch the game tape if you don't believe me. Yes, it was a massive letdown, but you're clearly forming a revisionist history to fit your biased narrative.

Why leave players in a game if they refuse to do what you ask them? Especially when you have a point guard on the bench that is every bit as capable.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Why leave players in a game if they refuse to do what you ask them? Especially when you have a point guard on the bench that is every bit as capable.

You're asking this question from a vacuum, and you can't do that.

1. Andrew is pulled out down the stretch. Cal finally gets fed up with him and makes him sit for a bit.

2. Ulis was capable (I agree) but Ryan was running Jackson right at at him when he was in the game during the initial stages of the 2nd half UK comeback, and I don't think Cal liked the matchup. That's not to completely excuse Cal, but rather to try to understand his decision to keep Ulis on the pine.

3. The twins were part of the unit that locked down Wisconsin to set up the comeback from what had been a 52-44 Wisconsin lead after the Koenig three. Ulis and Booker has played in spurts during that comeback (Ulis his a big three at around the 12 minute mark) but the twins were in from the 10:34 mark until the 4:28 mark when UK went on an 8-0 run and completely held Wisconsin scoreless during a six minute stretch.

Does that not account for why they might have been in the game?

I think it does. Don't let your revisionist history get in the way of the facts, sir.

 

[CUT-NETS]

You're asking this question from a vacuum, and you can't do that.

1. Andrew is pulled out down the stretch. Cal finally gets fed up with him and makes him sit for a bit.

2. The twins were part of the unit that locked down Wisconsin to set up the comeback from what had been a 52-44 Wisconsin lead after the Koenig three. Ulis and Booker has played in spurts during that comeback (Ulis his a big three at around the 12 minute mark) but the twins were in from the 10:34 mark until the 4:28 mark when UK went on an 8-0 run and completely held Wisconsin scoreless during a six minute stretch.

Does that not account for why they might have been in the game?

I think it does. Don't let your revisionist history get in the way of the facts, sir.

So in the end, you as a coach realize (while its happening mind you) that the key to you winning this game is to get the ball into KAT. You plead with your guards to do so. They ignore you. You watch 3 straight shot clock violations take place, yet you still don't put Ulis in the game. Im sorry, but its ok to admit that Cal messed up. I mean what coach lets a player just refuse to do what he asks to the point of three straight shot clock violations? Its not like his only other option at guard was Sam Malone or Brian Long.

The facts are that there are a handful of posters on here, yourself being a big one, that will never admit that Cal has made some pretty bone-headed mistakes in his coaching tenure. You and @SilentsAreGolden prefer to just lash out at anyone who points it out. Its fans like you all that make watching my beloved Wildcats lose in the final four not sting so much.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

So in the end, you as a coach realize (while its happening mind you) that the key to you winning this game is to get the ball into KAT. You plead with your guards to do so. They ignore you. You watch 3 straight shot clock violations take place, yet you still don't put Ulis in the game. Im sorry, but its ok to admit that Cal messed up. I mean what coach lets a player just refuse to do what he asks to the point of three straight shot clock violations? Its not like his only other option at guard was Sam Malone or Brian Long.

The facts are that there are a handful of posters on here, yourself being a big one, that will never admit that Cal has made some pretty bone-headed mistakes in his coaching tenure. You and @SilentsAreGolden prefer to just lash out at anyone who points it out. Its fans like you all that make watching my beloved Wildcats lose in the final four not sting so much.

Your lack of response to my three points basically shows that you hardly read them, and aren't really interested in talking objectively about the issue.

Your bias appears to be getting the best of you. You're admitting that you don't mind losing so much because it means fans like @SilentsAreGolden and myself will somehow be proven wrong is...

sick and twisted.

 

[UKrazycat2]

I swear if I see one more person say that John Walls team had more talent than lady years team. John walls team had 8 NBA players. Last years team will have at least 9, most likely 10 (very unlikely 11). You could legitemly say that last years team is the best defensive team of all time. And you could also say that last years team is the most talented team in the history of the sport. IMO last years team is easily a top 5 team all time in ALL of college basketball. 6'6 6'6 6'10 6'11 7'0. Tallest starting five ever. They held opponents to the second lowest fg% in the history of the sport. Since the 1975 season they held opponents to the 5th lowest PPG in the NCAA, 1st in points allowed per 100 possessions, 1st in assist allowed per 100 possessions, 8th in margin of victory. They held a sweet sixteen team to 7 points in the first HALF for crying out loud (41-7 at half against UCLA). They are the first team from a big six conference to be undefeated going into a final four since Indiana in 1975. They are the first team to start a season 38-0. They did all of this without their starting SF for the most part. WCS became the first consensus first team all American to average less than 10 PPG. Karl Towns was also an all American a barely averaged over 10 PPG. Can you say DEPTH, 10 Players that played or were NBA draft picks. They were the first team to ever double up an opponent in points in the sweet sixteen. WVUs 39 points were the lowest from any team in the sweet sixteen during the shot clock era. Their 39 point margin of victory that game was third highest in UK history for the tourney. In 13 games against NCAA tourney teams they held opponents to 15 PPG below their average. Vegas had them at EVEN to winning the title against the field. Don't believe that has ever happened. Not one team shot above 50% through out the entire regular season. They had 9 players average between 5.5 and 11 PPG. Kentucky 239 Points - UCLA Kansas UNC 152 points. They held 17 opponents to under 50 points in the game. They had MANY halves of teams scoring less than 20 points. They were only the 4th UK team since 1956 to beat an opponent by 58 points. They had Kentucky's second highest margin after half with 43 points. 43 point lead at the half. Unheard of! They had 3 opponents score only 7, 11, and 12 points in the first half. 11 opponents scored 20 or less points against them in the first half. Kansas 40 points in the their game against us was their lowest since 1962. They shot 19 fg % for the game. U of L could only manage 1 assist in their game against us. They held Montana State to 28 points for the entire game which is the lowest ever for UK opponent in the shot clock era. Kentucky also won consecutive games by 48 point or more for the first time since 1954. Kentucky also tied their own national record with 38 wins in one season.

My eyes are on fire.

 

[Aike]

Saul,

I think I can guess who you are responding to without having to see his half of the debate. Just put him on ignore. He's a phony troll and the board is much more enjoyable when you never see his whiny nonsense.

I finally did. The guy is a lost cause. He is either emotionally challenged or just trying to see how many buttons he has to push to finally get banned.

 

[CUT-NETS]

I finally did. The guy is a lost cause. He is either emotionally challenged or just trying to see how many buttons he has to push to finally get banned.

Not gonna get banned buddy. Keep dreaming. What would I get banned for anyway? Thats exactly what Im talking about. I come on here and don't gush over Calipari's coaching skills and you think it is rights for a ban? Ill never get banned. You should just put me on ignore.

 

[kyjeff1]

So in the end, you as a coach realize (while its happening mind you) that the key to you winning this game is to get the ball into KAT. You plead with your guards to do so. They ignore you. You watch 3 straight shot clock violations take place, yet you still don't put Ulis in the game. Im sorry, but its ok to admit that Cal messed up. I mean what coach lets a player just refuse to do what he asks to the point of three straight shot clock violations? Its not like his only other option at guard was Sam Malone or Brian Long.

The facts are that there are a handful of posters on here, yourself being a big one, that will never admit that Cal has made some pretty bone-headed mistakes in his coaching tenure. You and @SilentsAreGolden prefer to just lash out at anyone who points it out. Its fans like you all that make watching my beloved Wildcats lose in the final four not sting so much.

Yeah well if Cal pulled Andrew and put Ulis in the game and we lost because Wisconsin abused an inexperienced freshman PG then you would be here telling us all how Cal screwed up because Andrew was a veteran with title game experience and should have been in to finish the game.
Cal made a call, the players didn't execute it. You're the worst kind of fan, if that's actually what you are. The coach makes a decision, same decision you would have made, but when it doesn't work you come on here and criticize.
Booker and Ulis were both getting beat. The twins held their own. The right call was made, both players were given the freedom to make choices and they made the wrong choices against a team you couldn't do that against. Ballgame. Troll.

 

[Poetax]

I really like the pieces Calipari has put in place with this team. Sometimes you have to take what you can get when recruiting, but this particular group seems to have all the pieces.

That 2009-10 team may be the most talented team Calipari has had in terms of NBA potential, but it had a fatal flaw, lack of shooters who could beat a team that threw a zone at them. The 2006 Team USA that lost to Greece had a similar problem. It was filled with a bunch of great athletes that could run, jump, slash, and dunk, but lacked players who could shoot the ball.

This team has all the pieces. We still need to see them perform on the big stage and work together as a team, but the pieces are there. Consider what you really need to have a championship team in college basketball.

1. A great point guard. You can't win at any level without a great floor leader. We have three.
2. A transcendent player with NBA talent. I think we have at least 2 in Murray and Skal.
3. Size and strength inside. You gotta have someone who can bang down low. Poythress returning gives us some beef. Humphries can give us that as well, if needed.
4. Ability to score with back to the basket. More than beef is needed, you must have a low post offensive threat. Skal and Poythress have this covered. Perhaps Lee as well.
5. A shot blocker, rim protector. You need a guy who can erase defensive mistakes. Lee can definitely do this and so can Poythress. Skal has all the tools to be a great shot blocker too.
6. A slashing small forward who can do a little bit of everything. We lacked this last year. Matthews can do this and seems underrated to me. Murray can do this a bit too, though he's undersized at the 3.
7. Shooters who can stretch the defense and prevent a team from beating you with a zone. Ulis, Murray, Briscoe, and Mulder are all solid 3pt shooters.

We're unproven at several different positions right now but the pieces are there on this team in my opinion.

If Dodson could have shot like Lamb it would have ended differently.

 

[CUT-NETS]

Yeah well if Cal pulled Andrew and put Ulis in the game and we lost because Wisconsin abused an inexperienced freshman PG then you would be here telling us all how Cal screwed up because Andrew was a veteran with title game experience and should have been in to finish the game.
Cal made a call, the players didn't execute it. You're the worst kind of fan, if that's actually what you are. The coach makes a decision, same decision you would have made, but when it doesn't work you come on here and criticize.
Booker and Ulis were both getting beat. The twins held their own. The right call was made, both players were given the freedom to make choices and they made the wrong choices against a team you couldn't do that against. Ballgame. Troll.

Bottom line, I think Cal's ceiling is final four unless he has a transcendent AD type of player that basically wills the team to victory. And even then, its not guaranteed. So I say Cal is "one and done" with the title in 2012, you clearly think he will win more. Guess we will see who is right.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

I see the village idiot is posting in this thread. I'm amazed everyone has not put him on ignore by now.

OP, good thread. Yeah, I think we have a complete team and it should be fun to watch. As always, gotta stay healthy. If UK can just stay healthy this year for the first time in 4 seasons you have to feel good about our chances. Everyone forgets but if AD gets hurt bad in that Baylor game in 2012, we are not winning the title either. An injury to a key player can ruin a team's season just like that. I think Poy's injury killed us last year, way more so than WCS in 2014.

 

[Dakota25]

I agree that this will be a complete well rounded team. I'm looking forward to the season starting up in under two weeks!

 

[JerseyCat84]

Just praying for Poythress' ACL to hold up all season.

 

[runt#69]

I'm not going to revisit the past. There will be time enough for us all to do that later, with respect. Good to read everyone's thoughts, however.

The roster we bring to the table will make for some great hoops action, and I just hope and pray that this year no injuries will happen that *could* make us wonder (as so many times in the past it has happened*) WHAT IF?

Prayers for a long and healthy (and successful) season !

 

[kyjeff1]

Bottom line, I think Cal's ceiling is final four unless he has a transcendent AD type of player that basically wills the team to victory. And even then, its not guaranteed. So I say Cal is "one and done" with the title in 2012, you clearly think he will win more. Guess we will see who is right.

No, no, no, no, don't change it up now. You hitched your wagon to the "Ulis should have been in the game and not Andrew" bit. Now you change your tone after I poked a bunch of holes in your theory.
Plus, how can you say Cal can't win without an AD type player? In 2011 we were one bucket away from getting Butler in the title game. In 2014 we were in the title game with a shot to win it. If we had WCS we might have won. Last year was a tough ending but if they get past Wisconsin it's a tossup game that favored UK.

 

[CUT-NETS]

No, no, no, no, don't change it up now. You hitched your wagon to the "Ulis should have been in the game and not Andrew" bit. Now you change your tone after I poked a bunch of holes in your theory.
Plus, how can you say Cal can't win without an AD type player? In 2011 we were one bucket away from getting Butler in the title game. In 2014 we were in the title game with a shot to win it. If we had WCS we might have won. Last year was a tough ending but if they get past Wisconsin it's a tossup game that favored UK.

Ulis should have been in the game. I don't think Im changing any tune at all. The Wisconsin game was in the semi-finals by the way, so had we won that game we would still have to win one more game chief.

 

[hotelblue]

according to op, skal's development (post offense/defense) is key. not mandatory with lee/poy, but still important for a championship caliber team. i strongly agree with this, as well as the rest.

 

[jrpross]

No, no, no, no, don't change it up now. You hitched your wagon to the "Ulis should have been in the game and not Andrew" bit. Now you change your tone after I poked a bunch of holes in your theory.
Plus, how can you say Cal can't win without an AD type player? In 2011 we were one bucket away from getting Butler in the title game. In 2014 we were in the title game with a shot to win it. If we had WCS we might have won. Last year was a tough ending but if they get past Wisconsin it's a tossup game that favored UK.

Ahhh. I can see you're arguing with an idiot, but it's so refreshing to not see what he wrote. The ignore feature is truly a blessing. I've only had to use it on him and a couple blatant trolls but it's made this board so much more enjoyable.

 

[kyjeff1]

Ulis should have been in the game. I don't think Im changing any tune at all. The Wisconsin game was in the semi-finals by the way, so had we won that game we would still have to win one more game chief.

Yeah I know how it works, we definitely had one more game to play, I believe I stated that.
So again, if Ulis was in the game and Andrew was on the bench and we still lost are you goung to tell me you wouldn't be on here telling us all how Cal screwed up by leaving Andrew on the bench and making Ulis, a freshman, in the game to run the team? Do you expect me to believe you would agree with Cal's call on that? I don't. You are obviously a Louisville fan that does nothing but play Monday Morning Quarterback.

 

[kyjeff1]

Ahhh. I can see you're arguing with an idiot, but it's so refreshing to not see what he wrote. The ignore feature is truly a blessing. I've only had to use it on him and a couple blatant trolls but it's made this board so much more enjoyable.

Nah, I have never used the ignore feature. If I see it getting too ridiculous I just won't respond but I take too much joy in reading the ridiculous statements that are made by guys like Cut Nuts. I'm having too much fun with him to put him on ignore.

 

[CUT-NETS]

Yeah I know how it works, we definitely had one more game to play, I believe I stated that.
So again, if Ulis was in the game and Andrew was on the bench and we still lost are you goung to tell me you wouldn't be on here telling us all how Cal screwed up by leaving Andrew on the bench and making Ulis, a freshman, in the game to run the team? Do you expect me to believe you would agree with Cal's call on that? I don't. You are obviously a Louisville fan that does nothing but play Monday Morning Quarterback.

Look, I don't think anyone on here would fault Cal for having "Aaron" in the game given what he had done the season before and his experience. I certainly understand that thinking. But we are talking about Andrew, and many on here have tried to defend Cal by saying "Well Andrew didn't do what Cal told him to do", which we all agree was urging him to get the ball into KAT. It would be one thing if Andrew didn't hear him on the first trip on the offensive end, but we're talking 3 SHOT CLOCK VIOLATIONS. I mean think about that for a second. Ive been following UK basketball all my life and I can't remember a game, let alone a final four game with 38-0 on the line and the chance at a perfect season, where we had a team get 3 STRAIGHT SHOT CLOCK VIOLATIONS. Im sorry, but its inexcusable. You have timeouts......call one. You have a back-up point guard that is every bit as capable as the starter, and had been all season (won you the game against UL)............put him in. I don't think anyone would have blamed Cal for putting Ulis in. Of course, if Ulis comes in and dribbles the ball off his foot, or throws it away then Im sure many would say "what are we doing". But in the end, if Ulis comes in and turns it over 3 straight times (which there is no way in hell he would do), it would be the same result as when Andrew was in (3 straight shot clock violations).

And then you have the other variable in this equation, Cal almost admitting that he should have had Ulis in the game when he said "I played the twins out of loyalty". Sure he came back later and clarified his comments after he had some time to think about how they might sound, but he all but admitted he should have had Ulis in the game.

Personally, I happen to believe that if Ulis is in we win that game. I wonder what others on here feel? I don't think its Monday morning QB'ing either. Had Andrew and the team not had the 3 straight shot clock violations, and we get good looks and don't make the shots and still lose, yes it would definitely be Monday morning QB'ing. But I think anyone on here would say, especially when you wonder how many times in the illustrious program have we had a game with 3 straight shot-clock violatin, that it was a blunder and inexcusable. Hell, Cal himself would tell you that. You defend Cal more than he defends himself. Its ok to question his decision making. He's not perfect. You and a slew of others believe he is, but he isn't. He's made some decisions that have cost himself some national titles. He would tell you that.

 

[tmuck]

Not gonna get banned buddy. Keep g. dreamin What would I get banned for anyway? Thats exactly what Im talking about. I come on here and don't gush over Calipari's coaching skills and you think it is rights for a ban? Ill never get banned. You should just put me on ignore.

You keep thinking that. 3rex thought the same thing, and he finally got the boot. You keep it up and you will suffer the same fate, and it won't take long if enough people keep reporting your posts.

 

[CUT-NETS]

You keep thinking that. 3rex thought the same thing, and he finally got the boot. You keep it up and you will suffer the same fate, and it won't take long if enough people keep reporting your posts.

What would my posts get reported for? Because I don't gush over Cal? Whats wrong with that? Show me the rule that says "must gush over Cal at all times". This board is an opinion board. I haven't bashed Cal, called him names, bashed players, called them names. Im not going to get banned for having a different opinion. Nice try.