Could be wrong, but I interpreted that as being his misguided attempt to show "toughness."
Like the kid who gets a temporary tattoo and walks around like a badass the next day at school.
Wish it weren't so, but still need Skal...
- Thread starter MdWIldcat55
- Start date
Could be wrong, but I interpreted that as being his misguided attempt to show "toughness."
Like the kid who gets a temporary tattoo and walks around like a badass the next day at school.
He has been flat out awful, there is no denying that. But I think some of you are going a little overboard in your criticism of him. There's no way so many people who analyze players for a living could all be so wrong on a player. The one thing they did all agree on was that he needed to get bigger and tougher but they all said he was a top 5 pick. Is he right now? Absolutely not!
His biggest problem right now is confidence. He knows he's getting pushed around and there's little in can do about it. I think he's become consumed by this and other teams realize this as well and they are going out of there way to push him around. He just seems focused on trying to be tougher while he's on the floor and he's doing that to the detriment of the rest of his game.
I think Cal needs to get him to start focusing on the things he can do well and the things he can actually improve on from game to game. No matter how much he tries and focuses on it he won't get any stronger or bigger over the course of the season. But he can start knocking down that mid-range jumper and getting some 2nd chance opportunities, or blocking a shot here or there. But only if he quits focusing on not getting pushed around trying to be tough. Just focus on those things he can actually improve on over the rest of the season and start getting his confidence back up.
His biggest problem right now is confidence. He knows he's getting pushed around and there's little in can do about it. I think he's become consumed by this and other teams realize this as well and they are going out of there way to push him around. He just seems focused on trying to be tougher while he's on the floor and he's doing that to the detriment of the rest of his game.
I think Cal needs to get him to start focusing on the things he can do well and the things he can actually improve on from game to game. No matter how much he tries and focuses on it he won't get any stronger or bigger over the course of the season. But he can start knocking down that mid-range jumper and getting some 2nd chance opportunities, or blocking a shot here or there. But only if he quits focusing on not getting pushed around trying to be tough. Just focus on those things he can actually improve on over the rest of the season and start getting his confidence back up.
Nobody is asking him to play like an NBA All-Star. I have not seen one post where anyone said that.
Right now all we want is average numbers out of a guy that was supposed to be the #1 pick in the very next NBA draft .
He has more skill than anyone else on the floor except for Ben Simmons but he can't beat the little guy in his head.
The rest of us see it, you'll catch on eventually.
So you think Skal losing his cool everytime someone gets physical with him is a good thing??? Yeah it cost the team 2 points Saturday night because he got T'd up. He just needs to shut his mouth and play ball. It's a physical game and he needs to realize it and man up.
I don't recall what plays you're thinking of here, but overall, he was horrible against Duke. Simply horrible. His awful defense and inability to block out Plumlee was downright painful to watch, and why Plumlee had about the best game of his entire career that night. We only came back in that game after Cal benched Skal and put in Humphries, because Humphries at least tried to defend and block out Plumlee.
Honestly, the only games where Skal's shown me anything to give me any hope in him were against bottom rung patsies NJIT and Albany. In every game we've had against a real opponent he's been a clear liability for us. If a player who didn't have his pre-season hype/draft stock performed the same way our fans would insist he should never play. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but the truth's the truth.
Last edited:
you know, watching this team, it is unbelievable to me that 6 of those guys could be playing in the NBA next year.To me that sounds crazy.
Caneintally is right though. He could stink it up for the next 2 months and still be a top 10 pick if he has a good tournament showing because his ceiling is so high.
He's playing out of position. Watch any of his highlight videos. You may see 2 or 3 plays with his back to the basket in each one. 90% is him face up, playing a stretch 4. He's not karl towns, he's not demarcus cousins, he's a face up stretch 4. Cal needs to put him in the spot his game fits, and he needs to get his confidence back. Go watch some videos of him against our own karl towns, or thon maker, etc. The kid has more then enough game, he's just mind f*cked right now.
Skal could use a year in the weight room but he could give us the 8pt 6 reb and 2 blks everyone says we need by learning better technique, practice, and coming to play every game. The last two games he has confused being chippy with being competitive. He is not getting it.
Maybe show him some tape of mkg.
If he had some of that spirit we would be taking about final fours.
Maybe show him some tape of mkg.
If he had some of that spirit we would be taking about final fours.
In a weak draft like this years, say you have a late first round pick and you think that in the next 2-3 years Skal develops into his potential. Do you leave him on the board for someone else to scoop up, put on the shelf, and take a chance on or do you do so yourself? Chances are that some team out there will take the gamble. It would almost be like trading their late first round pick this year for an early lottery pick next year or the year after.
I don't care where you put him, the physicality and speed of the game is too much for him. He has been given the ball in every position on the floor and he either gets the ball taken from him or he chokes. He's even worse on defense.
Last edited:
Skal needs 3-4 years of Cal to "catch up" to the physicality of the game and to learn to play with intensity. He's a skilled perimeter player who just doesn't know how to play in the post. He's got some of the worst footwork and post moves I've ever seen at this level. In addition, he plays small and brings the ball down to waist level every time he gets a pass.
That sort of stuff can be corrected with time and lots of work in drills/the weight room.
If he comes back next year, he won't get a ton of clock, but practices against the post bulls we'll have next year will transform him.
In two years he'll be a good one, if he dedicates himself.
That sort of stuff can be corrected with time and lots of work in drills/the weight room.
If he comes back next year, he won't get a ton of clock, but practices against the post bulls we'll have next year will transform him.
In two years he'll be a good one, if he dedicates himself.
I do not believe he will develop around NBA players. He has skill, but I honk he will hav his one shot at developing them here at UK. If he leaves and is drafted 1st round, I am confident that he will be gone after his 2 year guarantee is over.
I wasn't saying that I I agree with the idea of drafting him, just that the idea that someone might.
The problem is, once again, a lack of hustle and poor attitude. It's one thing to not be good, but he's been a complete detriment at times.
I can't safely say that we "need" Skal at this time. Start giving him 10mpg, let him know that he has to earn his playing time. Guys like Tai and Hump would gladly take his minutes.
It's too bad Hump is still pretty far off, he's a true big-man center that we don't have. But he's only gonna get better by getting minutes. I'm all for Hump getting some of Ska'ls minutes.
I can't safely say that we "need" Skal at this time. Start giving him 10mpg, let him know that he has to earn his playing time. Guys like Tai and Hump would gladly take his minutes.
It's too bad Hump is still pretty far off, he's a true big-man center that we don't have. But he's only gonna get better by getting minutes. I'm all for Hump getting some of Ska'ls minutes.
