What would you change about this team?

[DwayneMeighan]

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.

Then UK is in serious trouble. I never said that Skal would definitely live up to his potential and turn out to be a stud. I just said that you have to give him the playing time, so that he has the chance to realize that potential.

You are correct, for all we know this might be Skal's absolute best, which means that his best isn't good enough. So, of course, if things stay the same and Skal is still struggling like he is, then it's certainly time to go in a different direction.

I'm just pointing out that I think it's a little too early to make that call and go in that different direction.

 

[CUT-NETS]

Then UK is in serious trouble. I never said that Skal would definitely live up to his potential and turn out to be a stud. I just said that you have to give him the playing time, so that he has the chance to realize that potential.

You are correct, for all we know this might be Skal's absolute best, which means that his best isn't good enough. So, of course, if things stay the same and Skal is still struggling like he is, then it's certainly time to go in a different direction. I'm just pointing out that I think it's a little to early to make that call and go in that different direction.

Fair points. I see what you are saying.

 

[DwayneMeighan]

Fair points. I see what you are saying.

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating that Skal play regardless just because he has potential. You earn your playing time, and the stats he is putting up sure in the heck aren't earning anything right now.

If this is still a topic of discussion through January, then I'll be one of the first saying he needs to seriously step it up or sit down. I jus think a little more patience should be shown with Skal because not only is he a freshman, but he also has only been playing basketball for a few of years, and he is pretty much even farther behind from having to sit out last season.

 

[UKrazycat2]

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

I hope at Camp Cal he pulls out another kickazz tweak.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

Where's the Beef?

6'10 260 of it is in transit from New Zealand as I type.

 

[Lob2Davis]

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.

Skal's doing a pretty good job of benching himself, 3 of his last 4 games he's played 16 minutes or less, only played 13 minutes against Duke. He needs to play but there are people coming after his minutes and they deserve to play too. I think he'll be fine by March but I don't see him remaining a starter with any more games like tonight.

As for the 2014 team there really wasn't an option to start anybody but freshmen, we only had 2 weak seniors in Polson and Hood plus a soph Poythress coming off the bench. I wouldn't say he should have benched them but it wouldn't have surprised me if he'd had options.

 

[ukfan79]

6'10 260 of it is in transit from New Zealand as I type.

You've got way too much confidence in Wynard being a factor. He may not end up hardly playing any at all.

The obvious thing if I could wave a magic wand and change.....Skal plays much harder and becomes effective. And we get our three point % up to 35% or so. Those two things aren't completely unrelated.

 

[westerncat]

The only thing I would change would be Lee starting over Skal. We will get better shooting the ball from 3. The jury is still out on Skal !

 

[Lob2Davis]

You've got way too much confidence in Wynard being a factor. He may not end up hardly playing any at all.

The obvious thing if I could wave a magic wand and change.....Skal plays much harder and becomes effective. And we get our three point % up to 35% or so. Those two things aren't completely unrelated.

I don't expect him to come in and put up double doubles right off the bat but any presence at all on the inside to go along with Lee and Poy would be a big help to this team. You can even see a little bit of a punched up mindset when Humphries comes in. Skal is still really new to bigtime basketball and needs to add some muscle to hold his own underneath.

 

[Dirk2Bowie]

Add Dakari Johnson for strength inside.

 

[DaveUK4life]

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

Because just because someone is a HOF coach doesn't mean you can do anything. We are in the best possible hands as long as Cal is the coach. And he cannot work miracles. Unrealistic to think otherwise.

 

[CUT-NETS]

Because just because someone is a HOF coach doesn't mean you can do anything. We are in the best possible hands as long as Cal is the coach. And he cannot work miracles. Unrealistic to think otherwise.

HOF coaches don't make mistakes/have flaws. They are perfect. Anything they do, regardless of how it appears, is the right call. Cal not zoning Uconn in the final in 2014, despite UL zoning them and drilling them by 40 in their conference tournament, was the right call.

 

[DaveUK4life]

HOF coaches don't make mistakes/have flaws. They are perfect. Anything they do, regardless of how it appears, is the right call. Cal not zoning Uconn in the final in 2014, despite UL zoning them and drilling them by 40 in their conference tournament, was the right call.

That's what I thought you'd say.

 

[CatsIndy2010]

I think we need to focus more on defense.....Getting steals, developing the right position for rebounding, I mean most of this stuff has been already taught, I just think the guys are having to perform at a faster rate so it doesnt seem second nature to do the right things all the time.

Willis deserves more chances at playing time but he has to be consistent to see that playing time.

Thats another thing that I think is hard to teach, being consistent.

I think we'd all like to be Cal but theres a good reason we're not. He's in the HOF for crying out loud. Cant wait to hear his next radio show. He is a pro at coaching.

 

[DaveUK4life]

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.

I actually like this team. It's a collection of all these weird parts. I wouldn't change anything except for Briscoe and Lee's FT shooting %. I know that's not what OP meant, but I hate it for them that they are that bad at the line.

 

[warrior-cat]

Switch Skal with AD.

National Championshipppppp

Put them in a DNA mixing machine, mesh them together to make one player.

 

[kyjeff1]

You've got way too much confidence in Wynard being a factor. He may not end up hardly playing any at all.

The obvious thing if I could wave a magic wand and change.....Skal plays much harder and becomes effective. And we get our three point % up to 35% or so. Those two things aren't completely unrelated.

I think it's fair to believe that Wynard could be a stud. That's a big body and right now we need that. At the very least he gives us another 5 fouls but at his size he very well could dominate his position or at least be average which would be fine by me.

 

[kyboy1998]

I'd change the outcome of the UCLA game.

Other than that in good with watching things progress and watching the young guys advance on their own timetable.

 

[oldcat3]

recruit Ben Simmons

 

[ccukuk]

They need fresh socks, unis or practice attire for each performance; shoes as needed. I'll keep them and let them grow. Alex-confidence coming. Ullis-enough said. Murray-super. Briscoe- bulldog and getting hungry. Skal-needs time,coaching, familiarization. Supporting cast- willis, lee, etc. good to go.

 

[ccukuk]

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

You're able to have some sodomist bend you over, so why wouldn't you

 

[stenchymouse]

Cal is doing what's best for Skal by trying to force him to play around the basket.

He did the same thing for KAT.

I think that Cal should go ahead and pull Skal away from the basket to build his confidence back up and then make him post up more as the season goes on.

I also think that Murray is better suited in the pick and roll than the DDO.

Pick and roll could help Murray AND Skal IMO...