Scrooge, The Grinch, The Ghost of Christmas Future: UCLA Edition

[Katmendo]

Just want to go back and touch on the apathy, again. I spent a little bit of time mulling this apathy, and I think it's more serious and broader than we know. I really came to this conclusion when I thought about my workplace. I looked back to just a few years ago, and I can recall coming into the break room and, if there was a UK game on, the TV was on the UK game. And, there would be several people watching it. But now, no one really does. i've come in and seen maybe two games on the tube, and only a couple of people who cared, as the moved around.

It could be because too many games are on the SEC network. It could be because the non conference schedule is dreadfully boring. It could be because of turnover at work, and maybe there are just a few less fans. But, those that are there now, newer and older, have ALL *****ALL***** said that they hate the one and done setup. Everyone knows it's the NBA system that creates it, but they hate the result of it.

It's a compounding issue, too. Less games are interesting, so fewer games are watched. More games are on the SEC network, so fewer games are watched. Couple those things with the high degree of turnover of players, and a fan, who is not living and breathing the team, turns on a game, and they can't remember a player's name. I've seen it first hand. And that happens, and the fan I'm around gets more aggravated because they realize that their separation from the team is worse than they knew. Just something to be aware of.

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As for me, I just don't enjoy watching THIS team play. It's not that Cal didn't mention it would be ugly, it's that it's just not good basketball. There's not enough talent to make the game exciting, and there's not enough skill or experience to make it clinically satisfying. Couple that with a pretty lame non conference schedule, and... just blah.

I'll watch, here and there, but frankly, I feel I already have a comfortable measure of this team. I just feel like this is a team that's going to barely get into the dance. I see a 7-8 loss season, with a pretty poor resume.

So, as unsatisfying as the thought is, I hope to be reinvigorated by this team. I'm kind of hoping they find it in conference play, and give me a reason to want to watch them.

Failing that, I suspect that the next time I get significantly interested in this group will be in the tournament. Just to see if they can string together a run that sets up impressive momentum for 2018-19.

[boomdaddy]

Fans, short for fanatics, are a greedy lot. No matter how good their favorite team does, the always expect more. Until Calipari retires, there will be a portion of the fanatics that will refuse to accept how great he is as a coach. When the next "name" rolls in and falls short, it will be funny to hear those same Cal skeptics lamenting for the old Cal days to come back. Mark my words, my fellow fanatics.

[Blue Heaven]

Fans, short for fanatics, are a greedy lot. No matter how good their favorite team does, the always expect more. Until Calipari retires, there will be a portion of the fanatics that will refuse to accept how great he is as a coach. When the next "name" rolls in and falls short, it will be funny to hear those same Cal skeptics lamenting for the old Cal days to come back. Mark my words, my fellow fanatics.

I don't want another coach. I just hate the system. This is not Cals fault. He's playing within the rules. This team is just BLAH. They are a very boring team to watch. This team seems to not care about the name across the chest. This "team" needs a wake up call. Grow up young kids!

[J.Jennings]

The sky may be falling at Kentucky, but not at Duke. Coach K is getting about every player he puts his hands on, maybe not all, but at least the one's that really matter....

[CatfaninTN]

I wouldn't say that I want another coach, either. Have always loved Cal. It is this system that is wearing myself and a lot of my UK friends here in Tennessee down. Think I've mentioned on here before, but not living in Kentucky and hearing the players being interviewed on the nightly news or hearing the radio broadcasts like I did when growing up there, I just cannot get to know the new players in the short time they're there. For the first number of years, the excitement of getting (finally) top notch players was exhilarating and I couldn't wait until a game came on. Now, like Katmando mentioned above, I really do not go out of my way to watch them (actually watched a Christmas movie with my wife instead of the UCLA game - horror!!). Recorded it and checked on the score during commercials - but not the same excitement. Gone are the days when I would yell at the screen and my wife would leave the room.

And again, maybe it's just old age.

[Joneslab]

I will point out (I’ve said this before) that I began seeing Kentucky fans say on message boards that they didn’t care as much as they used to years ago. That was a fairly common complaint way before Cal got here.

People love to use boards like this to tell you how little they care. They’re just venting, which is what these places are good for.

I think this particular team just isn’t very good. Don’t think we need to analyze it more than that and make sweeping comments about the program falling apart or anything. He missed on two critical recruits, and if you’re running the system Cal is you just can’t whiff. They have two solid players, and then there’s a drop off.

The good news is: there’s still half the season left to play, we don’t have our full roster, and as we’ve seen young teams can grow up by March. But this definitely looks like a bridge year to next season.

[Blue Heaven]

Yeah Will, the Trae Young whiff was monumental. Leads the nation in scoring and assists. It may have been a very different mood on here.

[Joneslab]

This team is almost certainly undefeated and probably #1 with Young. They also would have a player fans would pay to see.

However, Young would be gone and we’d have another freshman point guard next year. We should return both these point guards.

So so if you have been one clamoring for players to return, this is your team. Most of these guys aren’t close to the NBA radar.

[GOCAT15]

Young wanted to be 100% the star of the show and that is what he got. Like Will said earlier in this thread, Cal threw everything he had at Young and couldn't land him but Green and Alexander will get better and better and unless something crazy happens I just don't see anywhere near a mass exodus this year. I think Knox and Diallo at most and they have some improvements to make by the end of the year if their goal is to be in the Lottery.

[catfaninin]

This team is almost certainly undefeated and probably #1 with Young. They also would have a player fans would pay to see.

However, Young would be gone and we’d have another freshman point guard next year. We should return both these point guards.

So so if you have been one clamoring for players to return, this is your team. Most of these guys aren’t close to the NBA radar.

Possibly. Or it might also be a 100% dumpster fire.

Firstly because I think the makeup of the team would be entirely different. Certainly without Green. I would say with confidence Knox would have also gone elsewhere. Not sure about commitment dates for anyone else compared to Young and who else might not be here. But you certainly can't assume just swapping Young for Green. It was widely reported that guys didn't want to play with Young.

Secondly there would be some pretty ticked off people. Either Cal because Young was chucking up 20 shots a night with 5 or 6 of them from 30+ feet. Or Young because Cal would not let him have free reign to shoot as he pleased. And if it were the first instance one would have to think there were plenty of teammates not too happy either.

[Joneslab]

If Cal had a problem with the way Trae Young plays Cal should be fired.

I get get the point that we don’t know what the team would look like had we landed Young. But nobody should have any qualms about the way he’s played the game. The guy is otherworldly good. Shoots it a lot, but so did Murray and Monk and Knight. Also: the guy leads the nation in assists.

[BobS]

Said it early and still believe it. Could be Cal’s worse team at UK. No PG, no defense and no go to guy. Bad mix. Love Diallo and his hustle. He is a scorer. Knox floats too much. Washington is awful and needs to lose his spot to Gabriel, who is not great but plays his butt off. I have no idea what we get from Richards most of the time.

I would trade both our PGs and a player to be named later for Trey Young. Huge miss there, imo.

UL is not a particularly good team but they are outstanding on paint defense. They block a million shots. Not sure how this game will go but I guarantee Snyder will penetrate at will against Green.

Toss it up and let’s go. We absolutely need this win.

[catfaninin]

I think the love for Young is greatly exaggerated. He is a good player. And he has had an incredible 10-12 game run. But the comparisons being thrown around are crazy. Best college player since Durant? That would mean better than Anthony Davis.

This guy is not the next coming of Jordan or Lebron. Not even close. The numbers he is posting will come down considerably. Yes he will score because he will take enough shots to ensure it.

Just for comparison sake. Tyler Ulis had a fantastic season. And took roughly 13 shots per game. Imagine if he would have jacked up 20 shots a game. Monk, Knight, Murray were all in the 13-14 shots per game range.

[Joneslab]

One thing about Young is his speed. Guy is very fast. Elite speed.

The main problem I have with Green is a lack of speed. He has a hard time staying in front of people, and that just goes back to a lack of athleticism.

Green and a lot of these other guys are normal freshmen. They’re the types of players North Carolina had been winning with. Problem is you have to give them time to grow up.

In that way a team like this is pretty much what folks have wanted for years: multi-year players we’re going to get to know.