What would you change about this team?

[Bigkyfan10]

If you were the coach? I personally would start Ulis Briscoe Murray Poythress and Lee as the starting five. Other roation players getting at least 15+ minutes a game would be Skal, Willis, Humphries, Matthews. I would try playing Skal at the 3. I would tell them to shoot less threes and drive to the basket for a layup or an open man near the basket, kind of like weaving. Try setting up more play with lobs/dunks. I would try having Ulis and Skal play some more pick and role.

 

[WildMoon]

Switch Skal with AD.

National Championshipppppp

 

[G-PIP]

The thing is, although it's fun to talk about (so not criticizing), anything anybody on this board would do that is different than what Calipari would do would be wrong 99.9% of the time (have to allow for the occasional accidental miracle).

 

[DwayneMeighan]

Skal playing the 3, having to handle the ball on the perimeter, and actually drive and create? Welcome to 20 turnovers a game.

Not to mention, yes, UK is struggling from the outside right now, but they have good shooters and the shots just aren't dropping right now. The worst possible thing for a coach to tell a shooter is for him to stop shooting. You want them to keep shooting and regain their touch and confidence. The moment a coach tells a shooter to stop shooting, their confidence is basically broken.

 

[jackcarlson]

well bigkyfan10, you got your starting five and I agree with you. I do think this team needs to shoot MORE three's though. These guys can shoot and they need to develop confidence. they will start dropping. I am pretty sure that we are going to be seeing LOTS of zone defense in the future and virtually nothing else in the tournament. Our guys AND other teams need to know that we can shoot. We just cannot afford another West Virginia debacle.

 

[MudererofCrows]

More minutes for Willis and Humphries. Benching Skal until he starts playing tougher, with more effort. Alex continue to start and hopefully continue his great play these last two games. Extremely limited time for Hawkins unless foul trouble. Spot minutes for Mulder if we're seeing too much zone and not hitting but I'd play

Ullis (never coming of the floor unless he's dead)
Briscoe (playing as much as his conditioning allows. He's a damn bulldog and one tough mother)
Murray
Alex
Lee

Skal (at the 4)
Willis (situational but at the three and but mostly at the four to stretch and space the offense)
Humphries (obvious)
Mathews (would much rather him take a bigger role than Hakwins for his defense and rebounding. Spells Murray)

Mulder and Hawkins situational/foul trouble

 

[GoCatsForever2k15]

We need someone who can score and rebound in the block. Painfully obvious.

 

[JasonS.]

1. Stop trying to make Skal a center.
2. Pray for our three point shooting.

Still very early.

 

[Fancatstik]

I wouldn't change a thing. It'll be interesting if Cal can get all this talent playing on the same page by end of year.

 

[docholiday51]

well bigkyfan10, you got your starting five and I agree with you. I do think this team needs to shoot MORE three's though. These guys can shoot and they need to develop confidence. they will start dropping. I am pretty sure that we are going to be seeing LOTS of zone defense in the future and virtually nothing else in the tournament. Our guys AND other teams need to know that we can shoot. We just cannot afford another West Virginia debacle.

I would like to see that starting 5 as well,we saw some good things in the 2nd half today.I wonder how good some of these teams we are playing really are. If we get down (like we did at UCLA) do we have the firepower and will to come back.

Play Matthews,Humphries, Mulder more, Skal's minutes need to drop until he gives us more

 

[UKvisitor]

Where's the Beef?

 

[DwayneMeighan]

Benching Skal until he starts playing tougher,

I disagree. He's struggling and right now whatever he's doing isn't working, so something definitely has to change, but benching him will not make him play tougher. The only way for him to start playing tougher is for him to be in the game, getting banged around.

Yeah, Humphries holds his own better than Skal right now, probably gives UK more right now, and the best chance at winning right now, but Skal figuring it out, getting tougher and playing up to his potential gives UK the best chance at winning in March, when it really matters, when it really counts.

IMO, UK is not going to contend for the title if Skal isn't playing up to his potential. That's not going to happen with him sitting the bench during meaningless Nov.-Dec. games. The only way for that to happen is for him to play as much as possible and to learn on the fly.

You have to think bigger picture. Who cares if Skal struggles and UK loses to UCLA in early December, as long as he is learning throughout the season, and is playing up to his potential by March. I know some you think the regular season is all about the now, and UK looking like a well oiled machine, blowing everyone out by 30 points, but it's far from that, especially for freshman laden teams.

The regular season is all about going through the struggle, learning from your mistakes, making strides as a player and trying to become your best by March. With Skal sitting on the bench, not going through that struggle, not dealing with the growing pains, UK will never reach their best.

 

[kyjeff1]

I disagree. He's struggling and right now whatever he's doing isn't working, so something definitely has to change, but benching him will not make him play tougher. The only way for him to start playing tougher is for him to be in the game, getting banged around.

Yeah, Humphries holds his own better than Skal right now, probably gives UK more right now, and the best chance at winning right now, but Skal figuring it out, getting tougher and playing up to his potential gives UK the best chance at winning in March, when it really matters, when it really counts.

IMO, UK is not going to contend for the title if Skal isn't playing up to his potential. That's not going to happen with him sitting the bench during meaningless Nov.-Dec. games. The only way for that to happen is for him to play as much as possible and to learn on the fly.

You have to think bigger picture. Who cares if Skal struggles and UK loses to UCLA in early December, as long as he is learning throughout the season, and is playing up to his potential by March. I know some you think the regular season is all about the now, and UK looking like a well oiled machine, blowing everyone out by 30 points, but it's far from that, especially for freshman laden teams.

The regular season is all about going through the struggle, learning from your mistakes, making strides as a player and trying to become your best by March. With Skal sitting on the bench, not going through that struggle, not dealing with the growing pains, UK will never reach their best.

Okay but Skal isn't doing those things. When he's on the court we are down a man. Look at his stats today. 4 fouls, zero points, zero rebounds and zero assists. When you're 6'11" you can't have those stat lines and expect to play. It would be different if the effort was there.
Lee deserves to start and play all the minutes he can .

 

[BostonCat2001]

make murray the point guard. he is better running the show and driving into the lane. ulis is better as a spot up shooter on ball reversals.

post poythress more.

have skal play 10-15 feet out facing up.

 

[DwayneMeighan]

Okay but Skal isn't doing those things. When he's on the court we are down a man. Look at his stats today. 4 fouls, zero points, zero rebounds and zero assists. When you're 6'11" you can't have those stat lines and expect to play. It would be different if the effort was there.
Lee deserves to start and play all the minutes he can .

Of course he isn't doing those things now. No one said he was, but benching him definitely will not help him do those things either. He has to be on the floor learning from his mistakes, going through the growing pains, building his confidence, and getting tougher in order to play up to his potential. Again, imo, without Skal playing up to his potential, UK will not contend for the title. You don't slow that process down by benching him.

Perfect example is Self at KU. He benches his freshman even when they are his most talented players, doesn't throw them to the fire, allow them to learn from their mistakes and brings them along slowly. When March comes and he needs his most talented players on the floor (freshman that have sat the bench half of the year) what happens? They look lost, out matched, have no poise because they haven't learned from their mistakes and gone through the growing pains of the regular season, they let the moment of March Madness swallow them up and they end up choking.

Now, look at 2014 UK for the total opposite. That whole team stunk during the regular season. A couple players should have been bench, but Cal was thinking bigger picture. He knew UK would not go where we all wanted them to go with those players sitting on the bench and not going through the process. He threw them to fire, let the play through their mistakes and take lots of bumps and bruises, ups and downs along the way. Come March what happened? Short of not winning the title, they played poised, confident and went on one of the best tournament runs in history.

Players don't just wake up mentally and physically tougher, with tons of confidence because they were benched. They have to build it, and the only way to do that is through their performance on the court, good or bad. It's a process that has that has to take place by being thrown to the fire, going through the growing pains, and learning from their mistakes, not sitting on the bench.

 

[hoodro]

make murray the point guard. he is better running the show and driving into the lane. ulis is better as a spot up shooter on ball reversals.

post poythress more.

have skal play 10-15 feet out facing up.

I agree with this. The kid is really struggling right now, so something needs to change with the way he is utilized. He has the skill and a nice enough shooting stroke to play a face up game. I also agree with @DwayneMeighan that benching him is not the answer.

 

[catsfan3523]

I agree with this. The kid is really struggling right now, so something needs to change with the way he is utilized. He has the skill and a nice enough shooting stroke to play a face up game. I also agree with @DwayneMeighan that benching him is not the answer.

I agree benching him is not the answer. I do think lee deserves to start over him but benching him would make it worse than it already is. He has no confidence right now at all. Probably need to try and get him more pick and pop plays instead of trying to post up

 

[Brando Mac]

Play Skal as a stretch 4 instead of a traditional post.

Do a better job of setting up our best shooters for open looks and getting them to shoot in rhythm with confidence.

 

[DwayneMeighan]

I agree benching him is not the answer. I do think lee deserves to start over him but benching him would make it worse than it already is. He has no confidence right now at all. Probably need to try and get him more pick and pop plays instead of trying to post up

Yep. That's one of the points I was trying to make. I think back to Towns' first 8-10 games and how horrible he was was. What if Cal benched him and slowed down the process of his in-game development; i.e. playing through and learning from his mistakes, learning to play hard with 100% effort on every play, building his confidence, getting tougher - would Towns have been able to play up to his potential and become the Towns we all came to know by the end of the year? And, if he didn't, would UK have went 38-1 or made the Final 4?

 

[Bigkyfan10]

You might no even have to bench him for more than one game, hopefully benching him will hopefully light a fire in him and make him more motivated and wok harder. Help him realize that he needs to get tougher.

 

[OldEvilleCat]

Just make more threes...opens up the lane. Most of Skal's issues will appear to disappear.

 

[brianpoe]

If you were the coach? I personally would start Ulis Briscoe Murray Poythress and Lee as the starting five. Other roation players getting at least 15+ minutes a game would be Skal, Willis, Humphries, Matthews. I would try playing Skal at the 3. I would tell them to shoot less threes and drive to the basket for a layup or an open man near the basket, kind of like weaving. Try setting up more play with lobs/dunks. I would try having Ulis and Skal play some more pick and role.

You would play Skal at SF...

Do you understand the role of a SF?

Have to be able to dribble, drive, run motion nonstop... and on defense guard the other 3.

Scratching my head on this one sentence, otherwise solid post.

 

[kyjeff1]

Of course he isn't doing those things now. No one said he was, but benching him definitely will not help him do those things either. He has to be on the floor learning from his mistakes, going through the growing pains, building his confidence, and getting tougher in order to play up to his potential. Again, imo, without Skal playing up to his potential, UK will not contend for the title. You don't slow that process down by benching him.

Perfect example is Self at KU. He benches his freshman even when they are his most talented players, doesn't throw them to the fire, allow them to learn from their mistakes and brings them along slowly. When March comes and he needs his most talented players on the floor (freshman that have sat the bench half of the year) what happens? They look lost, out matched, have no poise because they haven't learned from their mistakes and gone through the growing pains of the regular season, they let the moment of March Madness swallow them up and they end up choking.

Now, look at 2014 UK for the total opposite. That whole team stunk during the regular season. A couple players should have been bench, but Cal was thinking bigger picture. He knew UK would not go where we all wanted them to go with those players sitting on the bench and not going through the process. He threw them to fire, let the play through their mistakes and take lots of bumps and bruises, ups and downs along the way. Come March what happened? Short of not winning the title, they played poised, confident and went on one of the best tournament runs in history.

Players don't just wake up mentally and physically tougher, with tons of confidence because they were benched. They have to build it, and the only way to do that is through their performance on the court, good or bad. It's a process that has that has to take place by being thrown to the fire, going through the growing pains, and learning from their mistakes, not sitting on the bench.

I'm not suggesting that Cal bench him and let him rot. What I am saying though is Lee should start until Skal decides he wants to play with 100% effort. UK will be better with Skal playing up to his potential than Lee maxing out but we are ten games in and Skal is still having games where his stat line is a bunch of goose eggs.

 

[Chuckinden]

The thing is, although it's fun to talk about (so not criticizing), anything anybody on this board would do that is different than what Calipari would do would be wrong 99.9% of the time (have to allow for the occasional accidental miracle).

Disagree. You don't know what will work until you try it and Cal isn't into trying a lot of different things.

 

[DwayneMeighan]

I'm not suggesting that Cal bench him and let him rot. What I am saying though is Lee should start until Skal decides he wants to play with 100% effort. UK will be better with Skal playing up to his potential than Lee maxing out but we are ten games in and Skal is still having games where his stat line is a bunch of goose eggs.

I agree. Lee gives UK much more than Skal now, but, again, who cares if Skal is laying goose eggs during meaningless December games (that UK is still winning by double digits, btw.), so as long as he is learning and growing.

These are the perfect games for him to be getting this out of his system. Better for him to learn now than later down the road when it really matters. Is it that big of a deal to you that Skal is benched, so UK can win by 30 instead of 15-20?

You typing "until Skal decides he wants to play with 100% effort" like it's some sort of switch that he can just flip on makes me realize you have absolutely no clue how hard it really is. Do you honestly think he's not trying his hardest?

 

[kyjeff1]

I agree. Lee gives UK much more than Skal now, but, again, who cares if Skal is laying goose eggs during meaningless December games (that UK is still winning by double digits, btw.), so as long as he is learning and growing.

These are the perfect games for him to be getting this out of his system. Better for him to learn now than later down the road when it really matters. Is it that big of a deal to you that Skal is benched, so UK can win by 30 instead of 15-20?

You typing "until Skal decides he wants to play with 100% effort" like it's some sort of switch that he can just flip on makes me realize you have absolutely no clue how hard it really is. Do you honestly think he's not trying his hardest?

He clearly isn't playing with Max effort out there. And yes, it can be a switch that turns on.

 

[jackcarlson]

one advantage that has been gained by Skal's struggles, is that folks are getting an opportunity to see just how good Lee, Poythress, and Willis really are. I think Lee and Willis are opening some eyes, and Poythress is demonstrating that he has indeed recovered from the injury. There may have been some teams on our schedule who thought that they may be catching us in a down year; they are being forced to reconsider. I expect us to be favored in every game on our schedule with the possible exception of Kansas, but we may even be favored then.

 

[CUT-NETS]

Of course he isn't doing those things now. No one said he was, but benching him definitely will not help him do those things either. He has to be on the floor learning from his mistakes, going through the growing pains, building his confidence, and getting tougher in order to play up to his potential. Again, imo, without Skal playing up to his potential, UK will not contend for the title. You don't slow that process down by benching him.

Perfect example is Self at KU. He benches his freshman even when they are his most talented players, doesn't throw them to the fire, allow them to learn from their mistakes and brings them along slowly. When March comes and he needs his most talented players on the floor (freshman that have sat the bench half of the year) what happens? They look lost, out matched, have no poise because they haven't learned from their mistakes and gone through the growing pains of the regular season, they let the moment of March Madness swallow them up and they end up choking.

Now, look at 2014 UK for the total opposite. That whole team stunk during the regular season. A couple players should have been bench, but Cal was thinking bigger picture. He knew UK would not go where we all wanted them to go with those players sitting on the bench and not going through the process. He threw them to fire, let the play through their mistakes and take lots of bumps and bruises, ups and downs along the way. Come March what happened? Short of not winning the title, they played poised, confident and went on one of the best tournament runs in history.

Players don't just wake up mentally and physically tougher, with tons of confidence because they were benched. They have to build it, and the only way to do that is through their performance on the court, good or bad. It's a process that has that has to take place by being thrown to the fire, going through the growing pains, and learning from their mistakes, not sitting on the bench.

Honestly, I'm not sure that their run was result of them maturing and becoming poised etc as you say. I think Cal was forcing an offensive philosophy on them all year that was absolute crap. He was teaching them to drive drive drive and create contact and either score, get fouled, or both. The result was what we saw; the Harrison's driving into the lane and throwing the ball hard off of the backboard and us looking like total crap.

All of a sudden the SEC tourney comes along and Cal makes the famous "tweak". Which was essentially to drive the ball and look to kick or dump. The result was a smoother offense and our talent was able to be showcased and win games. Praise Cal for realizing what was happening but my goodness the fact that it took him the whole season is puzzling.

 

[DwayneMeighan]

He clearly isn't playing with Max effort out there. And yes, it can be a switch that turns on.

If you say so, buddy. Like I said, you have absolutely no clue how hard it really is.

 

[DwayneMeighan]

Honestly, I'm not sure that their run was result of them maturing and becoming poised etc as you say. I think Cal was forcing an offensive philosophy on them all year that was absolute crap. He was teaching them to drive drive drive and create contact and either score, get fouled, or both. The result was what we saw; the Harrison's driving into the lane and throwing the ball hard off of the backboard and us looking like total crap.

All of a sudden the SEC tourney comes along and Cal makes the famous "tweak". Which was essentially to drive the ball and look to kick or dump. The result was a smoother offense and our talent was able to be showcased and win games. Praise Cal for realizing what was happening but my goodness the fact that it took him the whole season is puzzling.

So it had nothing to do with them maturing as team, playing through and learning from their mistakes, building confidence and/or poise. Gotcha.

 

[5iveStarRecruit]

Did i just read you'd put Skal AT SF?

 

[CUT-NETS]

So it had nothing to do with them maturing as team, playing through and learning from their mistakes, building confidence and/or poise. Gotcha.

I guess if I had to put a percentage on it I would say 70% the "tweak" and 30% them being battle-hardened and "matured".

I mean we looked like a completely different team in the SEC tournament, which was right after Cal came out and discussed the tweak. Cal said when he made the tweak he was like wow I can't believe i didn't see this sooner and now Im ready to go and we're ready to go etc. Then all-of-a-sudden BAM, we almost beat UF in the final of the SEC and make a run all the way to the title game.

I don't think Maturity would happen overnight like that and there be that drastic of a difference. I mean we looked like absolute dog shit before the tweak. Then we looked like a total different team. So yes, it was the tweak, not them maturing etc as you say. Sorry. Go back and watch

 

[Lob2Davis]

I expect Skal to be a lot tougher and more physical by March but I think he's going to have to get there in practice more than in game situations. I think we're about to see Tai Wynyard take a lot of minutes in the front court. Can't wait to see what he brings to the table. Once Skal gets it going this is going to be a tough team to beat. And the guards definitely just have to keep shooting themselves out of this slump, we know they can shoot, it's just a matter of time.

 

[DwayneMeighan]

I guess if I had to put a percentage on it I would say 70% the "tweak" and 30% them being battle-hardened and "matured".

I mean we looked like a completely different team in the SEC tournament, which was right after Cal came out and discussed the tweak. Cal said when he made the tweak he was like wow I can't believe i didn't see this sooner and now Im ready to go and we're ready to go etc. Then all-of-a-sudden BAM, we almost beat UF in the final of the SEC and make a run all the way to the title game.

I don't think Maturity would happen overnight like that and there be that drastic of a difference. I mean we looked like absolute dog shit before the tweak. Then we looked like a total different team. So yes, it was the tweak, not them maturing etc as you say. Sorry. Go back and watch

So out of the two examples I gave, it is your opinion that if Cal took the Bill Self approach and benched his most talented players (freshman), only playing them 5-10 mins a game, not allowing them to play through their mistakes in order to mature, learn and gain confidence, come tournament time when they were needed the most, UK's freshman would have still been just as confident and poise down the stretch, playing like upperclassmen in all of those close tournament games just because of the "tweak". Sure thing.

 

[Teachable Moe]

What I would change? Murray would square up before he shot a 3.

 

[CUT-NETS]

So out of the two examples I gave, it is your opinion that if Cal took the Bill Self approach and benched his most talented players (freshman), only playing them 5-10 mins a game, not allowing them to play through their mistakes in order to mature, learn and gain confidence, come tournament time when they were needed the most, UK's freshman would have still been just as confident and poise down the stretch, playing like upperclassmen in all of those close tournament games just because of the "tweak". Sure thing.

What if he plays them and they never turn this corner that you speak of? What if Skal is just what he is? A non-physical, fines type of player that is simply a couple of "YEARS" away from coming into his own, not just a few months away. What happens then? You play him and play him and he just keeps letting you down. I mean I see your point, make your mistakes now and then when it really counts you will be ready. But if a player isn't capable it simply doesn't matter how much you play them.

I think UK's story in 2014 was miraculous. But they were all prolific players and just spent the whole season forcing an offensive philosophy that simply wasn't working. As soon as that changed, the team changed. Did the regular season let downs mature them? Sure, they were better for having been through it. But the brunt of the success hinged on the tweak……period.

 

[kyjeff1]

Honestly, I'm not sure that their run was result of them maturing and becoming poised etc as you say. I think Cal was forcing an offensive philosophy on them all year that was absolute crap. He was teaching them to drive drive drive and create contact and either score, get fouled, or both. The result was what we saw; the Harrison's driving into the lane and throwing the ball hard off of the backboard and us looking like total crap.

All of a sudden the SEC tourney comes along and Cal makes the famous "tweak". Which was essentially to drive the ball and look to kick or dump. The result was a smoother offense and our talent was able to be showcased and win games. Praise Cal for realizing what was happening but my goodness the fact that it took him the whole season is puzzling.

That wasn't the tweak. You're fabricating crap again. The tweak was pulling Julius Randle out of the paint to create driving lanes for our taller/bigger guards. It worked. IIRC UK went to the title game that year minus WCS.
Nice try though.


NOT!

 

[kyjeff1]

If you say so, buddy. Like I said, you have absolutely no clue how hard it really is.

Hilarious.

 

[kyjeff1]

I expect Skal to be a lot tougher and more physical by March but I think he's going to have to get there in practice more than in game situations. I think we're about to see Tai Wynyard take a lot of minutes in the front court. Can't wait to see what he brings to the table. Once Skal gets it going this is going to be a tough team to beat. And the guards definitely just have to keep shooting themselves out of this slump, we know they can shoot, it's just a matter of time.

If Cal is able to get Skal to play uo to his potential this season it will be his best work.

 

[CUT-NETS]

If Cal is able to get Skal to play uo to his potential this season it will be his best work.

Well he's a HOF coach so I expect he will. I mean why wouldn't he