Who was the closest to being the perfect player at every position since you've been a fan
- Thread starter EvilMD
- Start date
I'm going old school just for the fun of it.
PG Dirk Minnifield
2G Rex Chapman
SF Goose Givens
PF Kenny Walker
C Dan Issel
PG Dirk Minnifield
2G Rex Chapman
SF Goose Givens
PF Kenny Walker
C Dan Issel
Ulis, Derek Anderson was a freak...would have been National Player of the Year if didn't tear his ACL. Ron Mercer, Mash and AD
Issel is UK's all time leading scorer
Issel scored 27,000 points in the ABA/NBA
Issel was meaner than Boogie
Write his name in first. Then build your team.
Issel scored 27,000 points in the ABA/NBA
Issel was meaner than Boogie
Write his name in first. Then build your team.
Issel took 150 shots a game and never got to the Final Four. His teams ended their seasons:
In 1968, ranked No. 5, by losing to unranked Ohio State in the Regional final at LEXINGTON !
In 1969, ranked No. 7, by losing their first NCAA Tournament game to No. 14 Marquette.
In 1970, ranked No. 1, by losing in the Regional Final to No. 4 Jacksonville.
He's one of U.K.'s best players never to get to a Final Four, though, along with one of my favorites -- Cotton Nash.
In 1968, ranked No. 5, by losing to unranked Ohio State in the Regional final at LEXINGTON !
In 1969, ranked No. 7, by losing their first NCAA Tournament game to No. 14 Marquette.
In 1970, ranked No. 1, by losing in the Regional Final to No. 4 Jacksonville.
He's one of U.K.'s best players never to get to a Final Four, though, along with one of my favorites -- Cotton Nash.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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Yep, Issel was definitely one of the best ever at UK and possibly the best. Had a great pro career as well and was holding his own even in the mid-'80's. Would love to have seen what he and Louie Dampier could have done with the three point line.
It sounds like you think Issel shot too much.
He was a career 52% shooter from all over the floor. Maybe he should have shot more and they could have went to the Final Four. Mike Pratt averaged over 20 points a game on the senior team so he couldn't have been taking all the shots.
How could Issel (or Nash) be one of your favorites if you never saw them play?
And it is crystal clear you have no clue about Issel's story.
You don't get much more prototypical at their position than Sky and Mash. I would argue that Davis was by no means a prototypical center -- just a freak of athletic nature. And Issel was also somewhat of a "position-less" front court player. And Cuz is a new-age center/stretch-four kind of guy.
Going with the prototypical or "perfect" picture of each position, which was the OP's question, I'd go with:
Ulis
Rex
Mash
Sky
Noel
That might not be the best collection (although an argument could be made that it just MIGHT be), but it does answer the question. JMO.
Going with the prototypical or "perfect" picture of each position, which was the OP's question, I'd go with:
Ulis
Rex
Mash
Sky
Noel
That might not be the best collection (although an argument could be made that it just MIGHT be), but it does answer the question. JMO.
John Wall PG
Cotton Nash SG
Dan Issel C
Jamal Mashburn SF
Anthony Davis PF
Cotton Nash SG
Dan Issel C
Jamal Mashburn SF
Anthony Davis PF
I also tried to put together a do-it-all team that would be fun to watch too.
PG: Anthony Epps. Kind of a different pick, but he just ran things so well and always hit the big shot when needed. Just felt like he really embodied the "make everyone else better" thing.
SG: Derek Anderson. He was the flash out there, literally and figuratively.
SF: Mashburn. Could literally do it all.
PF: Kenny Walker. He played PF right? A little before my time but I remember him as a star who was uber athletic and multi faceted.
C: Anthony Davis. Legend.
I'd give my left butt cheek to see that team play.
PG: Anthony Epps. Kind of a different pick, but he just ran things so well and always hit the big shot when needed. Just felt like he really embodied the "make everyone else better" thing.
SG: Derek Anderson. He was the flash out there, literally and figuratively.
SF: Mashburn. Could literally do it all.
PF: Kenny Walker. He played PF right? A little before my time but I remember him as a star who was uber athletic and multi faceted.
C: Anthony Davis. Legend.
I'd give my left butt cheek to see that team play.
Start at Center with Anthony Davis
Power Forward Dan Issel
Small Forward Jack Givens
Two guard Tony Delk
Point Guard Tyler Ulis
Power Forward Dan Issel
Small Forward Jack Givens
Two guard Tony Delk
Point Guard Tyler Ulis
Issel set the all time scoring record in only three seasons. Nobody else has done better playing four. If you pick a best five that starts with anyone other than issel, well it means you didn't see him play and/or you just do not understand basketball.
Sky was lethal around the basket. His weaknesses were his poor ball handling and I don't remember much of an outside shot. Not that he took many. Still my favorite player.
Wow . . . can't believe this thread got this far without a mention of Kyle Macy at point. May have been the most perfect fit at point ever in a lot of folks opinion. Much better point guard than Wall. Ulis would be next IMO.
Shooting guard - Delk or Chapman
Small Forward - Mashburn
Power Forward - Issel/Kenny Walker tied. Issel was truly a power forward having to play center at 6-9 against some of the best ever in the NBA at 7-0. With his ball fake and ability to knock down jumpers he would have been in the top 5 scorers in NBA history if he could have played power in stead of post.
Center - Davis
Shooting guard - Delk or Chapman
Small Forward - Mashburn
Power Forward - Issel/Kenny Walker tied. Issel was truly a power forward having to play center at 6-9 against some of the best ever in the NBA at 7-0. With his ball fake and ability to knock down jumpers he would have been in the top 5 scorers in NBA history if he could have played power in stead of post.
Center - Davis
Big Dan is going to be before many people's memory. I remember him in the pros a little but not at UK and I'm almost 45. The first UK team I clearly remember is the 78 championship squad.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
Guest
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Issel perfected the bank shot from about 8-10 feet. I can remember an interview with him after a game and he stated that Coach Rupp emphasized the bank shot because you can be off a bit and still make the basket, unlike shooting straight on at the rim. Issel was one of the most intelligent offensive players ever and it showed.
For my money, any list of UK's best that doesn't include Big Dan, Kenny Walker, and probably Goose on it in someway is just a fail. Issel was a complete beast... and a warrior. And I'll never forget an NBC Saturday game when Walker was a freshman and he was so dominant at Georgia that Dick Enberg was speechless. Nobody played harder than Issel & Skywalker...
As far as pure talent- Wall, AD, and Dwight Anderson were the best I ever saw at UK. If Dwight Anderson could have stayed cool with the weed he's been a legend at UK IMO. he might have been faster with the ball that Wall...but not as big
PG: John Wall
SG: Tony Delk
SF: Jamaal Mashburn
PF: Kenny Walker
C: Anthony Davis
That team would murder people...I mean people would literally die.
SG: Tony Delk
SF: Jamaal Mashburn
PF: Kenny Walker
C: Anthony Davis
That team would murder people...I mean people would literally die.
Sub out Ron Mercer for Sky. Better outside shooter and could equally climb the ladder.
Either way though, tough team to beat.
PG - Wall
SG - Kevin Grevey
SF - Mashburn
PF - Davis
C - Issel
I did see Cotton Nash play as well as the Runts but I was very young. I was 11 when Issel arrived and old enough to appreciate what a tremendous player he was. I remember more people going to his freshman games than the varsity that year.
SG - Kevin Grevey
SF - Mashburn
PF - Davis
C - Issel
I did see Cotton Nash play as well as the Runts but I was very young. I was 11 when Issel arrived and old enough to appreciate what a tremendous player he was. I remember more people going to his freshman games than the varsity that year.
Cotton was silky smooth and a tremendous athlete. Many don't know he chose baseball over basketball for his pro career.
If Casey had not ruined his knee in the accident, Issel/Cats would have hung 2 banners.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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Casey was the missing piece, if there was one, for the 1970 team. They were a great team but he would've pushed them over the top. If fans think we got shafted against UNC this season they probably never saw the Jacksonville game in 1970, which was worse.
