No it was Nerlens injury that ruined the season.They were playing much better and would have made it in if not for that.Ryan Harrow torpedoed that season. I'd feel safer with Hawkins as starting point guard than Harrow.
No it was Nerlens injury that ruined the season.They were playing much better and would have made it in if not for that.
Right now, I see this as our rotation and scoring:
Starters
G Ulis- 10-11ppg.
G Briscoe- 12-13ppg.
G Matthews- 5-6ppg.
F Poythress- 10-11ppg.
F Labissiere- 13-14ppg.
Key Reserves
F Lee- 5-6ppg.
G Mulder- 5-6ppg.
Bench
Hawkins- 1-2ppg.
Willis- 1-2ppg.
I think our offense will struggle a little early in the year as new guys learn the system, but they will click at the end per usual for a Cal team. I think our offensive efficiency will be right there in the top 10 next season when all is said and done.
Murray would definitely help us out on offense for sure. He would battle Labissiere for top scoring honors. We would get close to double digit scoring from all five starters with Murray in the mix.
I define fine by having a top 20 team. UK could lose first weekend but I expect second weekend and with some luck and getting hot at the right time they can make the final weekend.You know, I really hate the saying "we'll be fine". Fine for what? A sweet 16? E8? FF? Title? Define what "fine" is for you?
Me? I don't think we are "going to be fine" at all, I see a thin roster. Sure we have a good starting 5 but the second one of them gets in foul trouble we are in big trouble. Depending on Hawkins, Lee and Willis worries me and I bet it costs us a lot of games this year. Maybe they will be good by tournament time ala 2011 but they could also lose the first weekend and one thing would be a guarantee, this board and the BBN (including those saying "we'll be fine" won't be "FINE".
We have Ulis and Hawkins at point. We have Briscoe and Mulder at shooting guard. We have Poythress, Matthews and Willis at small forward. We have Poythress, Lee and Willis at power forward. We have Labissiere at center and Lee at backup if need be. Plus Wynyard is coming in, right?
CAUTION...the following is not a FACT; it's an opinion!!!
Murray is one of those talents you add no matter how many players you have, but it's not like we're NIT bound without him. I don't get the "We'll be fine IF we get so-and-so" crowd. Duke won it all with eight players.
That is a very oversimplified and incomplete explanation for what happened. Noel's injury was a major factor, and Calipari himself said more than once that he didn't have enough players that season.Ryan Harrow torpedoed that season. I'd feel safer with Hawkins as starting point guard than Harrow.
Not everyone seems to see this, but there are a number of important uncertainties. Poythress is coming back from major knee surgery. Hawkins and particularly Willis have never shown themselves to be significant players. Lee has no offensive game whatsoever outside of 3 feet from the rim, and shoots 40% from the free throw stripe. Labissiere, Briscoe, Matthews, and Mulder have never even set foot in a college game before. And as currently constituted, our team doesn't have enough recruited players to run a full practice scrimmage. It boggles the mind to see how many delusional people don't understand why any of this matters. College basketball is an extremely competitive game, and strange things happen sometimes. I thought, maybe, I saw national titles coming in 1976, 1996, and this year. Of course, we got unpleasantly surprised this year, although with a deeper and better team than we will have next year. The title in 1998 came as a total surprise. Never thought it would happen. Things like that can happen sometimes, but the stars have to line up. But if Calipari works this new roster for a national championship, he would not only be a shoe in for COTY, he should also be cited for the most amazing college coaching performance of all time. I like this team, but it isn't a national championship team unless everything unfolds perfectly.If Jamal Murray comes to UK, he'll be the 3rd best BASKETBALL player on the team. Without him the Kats will be a lock for the Sweet 16 and a possibility make the Elite 8. With Jamal they will be a lock for the Elite 8 and a possibility for the Final 4. The guy has a high B-Ball IQ coupled with excellent physical skills...possible NBA lottery pick. This past season we only had 4 high B-Ball IQ Players, Tyler, Trey, Devin, and Karl...the rest were outstanding athletes with limited B-Ball IQs.
How good with the team be with current roster and recruits? Alex may or may not be at the same level...a risk. Will Derek become a defensive player...a risk. Will Marcus ever score a basket without dunking...a risk. Will Dominique ever hit 2 baskets in a row...a risk. What if our best BASKETBALL player (Tyler) gets hurt...a HUGE risk.
If Jamal comes to UK, the number of players that will get double-digit minutes once SEC play begins will probably be 7 or 8.
Tyler, Skal, Alex, Marcus, Briscoe, Jamal, Mathews, and Mulder.
Skal, Tyler, and maybe Briscoe are gonna be great! With the addition of Jamal Murray we go from being a good team to a GREAT team.
Finally...you can win a National Championship without a great half-court offense unless Anthony Davis is on your team!!!! Anthony prevented the competition from having a great half-court offense.
GBB!!!!
We have Ulis and Hawkins at point. We have Briscoe and Mulder at shooting guard. We have Poythress, Matthews and Willis at small forward. We have Poythress, Lee and Willis at power forward. We have Labissiere at center and Lee at backup if need be. Plus Wynyard is coming in, right?
Murray is one of those talents you add no matter how many players you have, but it's not like we're NIT bound without him. I don't get the "We'll be fine IF we get so-and-so" crowd. Duke won it all with eight players.
Jamal Murray should announce by June according to link below
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...al-murray-aspires-to-be-more/article24585521/
No it was Nerlens injury that ruined the season.They were playing much better and would have made it in if not for that.
If Jamal Murray comes to UK, he'll be the 3rd best BASKETBALL player on the team. Without him the Kats will be a lock for the Sweet 16 and a possibility make the Elite 8. With Jamal they will be a lock for the Elite 8 and a possibility for the Final 4. The guy has a high B-Ball IQ coupled with excellent physical skills...possible NBA lottery pick. This past season we only had 4 high B-Ball IQ Players, Tyler, Trey, Devin, and Karl...the rest were outstanding athletes with limited B-Ball IQs.
How good with the team be with current roster and recruits? Alex may or may not be at the same level...a risk. Will Derek become a defensive player...a risk. Will Marcus ever score a basket without dunking...a risk. Will Dominique ever hit 2 baskets in a row...a risk. What if our best BASKETBALL player (Tyler) gets hurt...a HUGE risk.
If Jamal comes to UK, the number of players that will get double-digit minutes once SEC play begins will probably be 7 or 8.
Tyler, Skal, Alex, Marcus, Briscoe, Jamal, Mathews, and Mulder.
Skal, Tyler, and maybe Briscoe are gonna be great! With the addition of Jamal Murray we go from being a good team to a GREAT team.
Finally...you can win a National Championship without a great half-court offense unless Anthony Davis is on your team!!!! Anthony prevented the competition from having a great half-court offense.
GBB!!!!
Losing Noel sank the ship but Harrow had hit it with several torpedos and it was taking on water fast already before the loss of Noel.
Noel was the real deal but he didn't have much help.
This was our rotation in 2011...
PG Brandon Knight (FR)
SG Doron Lamb (FR) Deandre Liggins (JR)
SF Darius Miller (JR)
PF Terrence Jones (FR)
C Josh Harrelson (SR)
Am I missing anyone? Notice the lack of depth down low? That team came within one shot of winning the national championship.
You act like the field next year is the NBA Western Conference or something. Our roster as it is right now is one of the most talented in the country, yet I still see people like you acting as if it's some scrub collection. Is it ideal? No. Would I like to add another player or two? Sure. But as it stands we have a team capable of making a run if things go right. Add Murray to the equation and we have the makings of something special again with more margin for error. We have so many jaded fans thanks to this past season. You do not need 9 All-Americans to compete for a championship. We have a good team now, but it won't be smooth from the start. It'll take time.Not everyone seems to see this, but there are a number of important uncertainties. Poythress is coming back from major knee surgery. Hawkins and particularly Willis have never shown themselves to be significant players. Lee has no offensive game whatsoever outside of 3 feet from the rim, and shoots 40% from the free throw stripe. Labissiere, Briscoe, Matthews, and Mulder have never even set foot in a college game before. And as currently constituted, our team doesn't have enough recruited players to run a full practice scrimmage. It boggles the mind to see how many delusional people don't understand why any of this matters. College basketball is an extremely competitive game, and strange things happen sometimes. I thought, maybe, I saw national titles coming in 1976, 1996, and this year. Of course, we got unpleasantly surprised this year, although with a deeper and better team than we will have next year. The title in 1998 came as a total surprise. Never thought it would happen. Things like that can happen sometimes, but the stars have to line up. But if Calipari works this new roster for a national championship, he would not only be a shoe in for COTY, he should also be cited for the most amazing college coaching performance of all time. I like this team, but it isn't a national championship team unless everything unfolds perfectly.
This was our rotation in 2011...
PG Brandon Knight (FR)
SG Doron Lamb (FR) Deandre Liggins (JR)
SF Darius Miller (JR)
PF Terrence Jones (FR)
C Josh Harrelson (SR)
Am I missing anyone? Notice the lack of depth down low? That team came within one shot of winning the national championship.
Agree with the OP to a point. We actually need a front court player more than another guard, but Murray is a special talent. Wynward coming in December would help both in practice and in games. What is the deal with that anyway ?
This was our rotation in 2011...
PG Brandon Knight (FR)
SG Doron Lamb (FR) Deandre Liggins (JR)
SF Darius Miller (JR)
PF Terrence Jones (FR)
C Josh Harrelson (SR)
Am I missing anyone? Notice the lack of depth down low? That team came within one shot of winning the national championship.