How Do We Combat Duke?

[DA#23]

I have wondered a little about the PF spot. Poythress, Randle, Adebayo are three guys that came in and had work in the paint without a certified space eating center on the roster. Poythress and Randle had the luxury of a shot blocker beside them, but Bam had to work in an almost Patterson type situation where he was the only big guy of note.

I think Cal's talk about how much his players have to be willing to sacrifice can be construed against the idea of a superstar coming here and "doing what he's best at doing".

Having to play on both ends of the court and without the ball in your hands should be a given at this level. Not something to use as a center piece of your recruiting schpeels .

[Lighthouse]

I have wondered a little about the PF spot. Poythress, Randle, Adebayo are three guys that came in and had work in the paint without a certified space eating center on the roster. Poythress and Randle had the luxury of a shot blocker beside them, but Bam had to work in an almost Patterson type situation where he was the only big guy of note.

I think Cal's talk about how much his players have to be willing to sacrifice can be construed against the idea of a superstar coming here and "doing what he's best at doing".

Having to play on both ends of the court and without the ball in your hands should be a given at this level. Not something to use as a center piece of your recruiting schpeels .

So, are you saying Cal is using a Tubbyest type of selling these kids? I'm only kidding, but when we have kids like Bam come in here and play a position unfamiliar to them, I guess other schools would use that to their advantage.

[DA#23]

So, are you saying Cal is using a Tubbyest type of selling these kids?

He would have just assumed we couldn't get Bam.

[George]

I don’t know if this is germane to the conversation or not, but I can’t stand the way Cal forces guys like Bam to play a style that preps them for the next level, instead of allowing them to play to their strengths for the benefit of THIS team.

[Joneslab]

It definitely hasn't hurt Bam in the NBA. Having a solid rookie season.

I think lilpro's comments above were probably right.

Kentucky used to have a veritable lockdown on one-and-dones. Then other schools started to do it. Washington. NC State. LSU. Missouri. Cal. And then behind that you had Duke building outward from the Winslow/Okafor class and becoming cool again.

So you have two tides working against Cal. I would imagine if Cal stayed at UK long enough the cyclical nature of the thing would swing back to Kentucky; we'd get a killer class and then everything would correct itself. I'm just not sure Cal will stay long enough for that to happen. Many fans seem to at this point not want him to stay because they're ready for a new way of doing things. Totally get that.

[Joneslab]

I don’t know if this is germane to the conversation or not, but I can’t stand the way Cal forces guys like Bam to play a style that preps them for the next level, instead of allowing them to play to their strengths for the benefit of THIS team.

I do wish to God we had a Bam on this team.

Our inability to throw the ball in the paint to anybody is a major issue on this team. If we had a mauler out there you'd see a whole lot more consistency on offense. Bam was up and down as we all know but he gave you at least a threat. This team goes long swaths of the game with no post touches. Major issue.

[KCKUKFan]

I don’t know if this is germane to the conversation or not, but I can’t stand the way Cal forces guys like Bam to play a style that preps them for the next level, instead of allowing them to play to their strengths for the benefit of THIS team.

I'm not sure this is fair, Downes.

[UK8STL11]

Many fans seem to at this point not want him to stay because they're ready for a new way of doing things. Totally get that.

Anyone that truly wants Cal gone is an idiot. I would like to talk to someone who really, 100% wants Cal to not be the UK coach anymore.

I think you can disagree, be annoyed, get mad at Cal or be angry with the way things are going without wanting him gone.

I get angry with my wife and kids, I don't want them gone every time I do.

[KCKUKFan]

Anyone that truly wants Cal gone is an idiot. I would like to talk to someone who really, 100% wants Cal to not be the UK coach anymore.

I think there are a few that exist. Zaytoven over at Rupp's Rafters seems to be one, although he might be a troll, so who knows.

But you're right that anybody who truly wants Cal gone is a moron of epic proportions.

[Catsrock]

I'm not sure this is fair, Downes.

Cal has definitely had numerous guys come in with a certain skillset and said to them "everybody knows you can do that..you really want to see your stock rise--let's show them you can develop this other part of your game." Great for their future but our team may have been better off letting them do what they were already dominant at.

[justford]

Maybe Duke will be their own worst enemy. Give them enough rope and they will hang themselves.

[Catsrock]

Anyone that truly wants Cal gone is an idiot. I would like to talk to someone who really, 100% wants Cal to not be the UK coach anymore.

I think you can disagree, be annoyed, get mad at Cal or be angry with the way things are going without wanting him gone.

I get angry with my wife and kids, I don't want them gone every time I do.

Without calling anyone an idiot I basically agree. Lord knows THIS season is headed down a sucky road but I think we could be revived in another year or 2. No viable replacement for Cal really excites me at the moment either.

A tweak or 2 to his approach would be great. Can't see why you tell a 17 year old MKG he's not allowed to come back no matter how much he's enjoying the college experience, for example. But this board has revived my hope we could have Wiseman next year. Put him with that class and bring back this year's guys who have no business leaving and we'll be tough.

I'm not looking forward to a rebuilding process when Cal moves on.

[Joneslab]

Can't see why you tell a 17 year old MKG he's not allowed to come back no matter how much he's enjoying the college experience, for example.

Assuming that happened. Cal loves these "I told him he had to go" anecdotes because (at least this is my opinion) they're great recruiting fodder. What better way to entice a recruit than to say you have to push players to the NBA because they love it so much at Kentucky? That's an ideal sales pitch. Cal milks that sort of thing.

But assuming it is true: MKG was the second pick. I can see why you would make that decision if you're the coach: that's rarefied air. The only place to go is down. And as we saw in the Dajuan Wagner thing, so much can happen with players.

Now when you get into the players at the edge of the lottery, I agree wholeheartedly. Kentucky has to find a way to get those guys back. I don't really expect that to happen, but then again I don't think we have more than a couple who are at the edge of the lottery on this team. Just not a ton of pro potential right now.

[Lighthouse]

Anyone that truly wants Cal gone is an idiot. I would like to talk to someone who really, 100% wants Cal to not be the UK coach anymore.

I think you can disagree, be annoyed, get mad at Cal or be angry with the way things are going without wanting him gone.

I get angry with my wife and kids, I don't want them gone every time I do.

First, you MUST stop calling folks names, because you can make your point without it! I agree with the content of your message here. Anybody who knows anything about the game of basketball can see how hard Cal is working and trying to coach this team. I think this is the hardest he has ever worked but it isn't doing much good. Maybe instead of alibying for them, he should just tell it like it is and say they won't play as a team.

[justford]

Pretty good read on Coack K and his dirty deeds

https://www.tarheelblog.com/2018/2/8/16976618/duke-blue-devils-basketball-mike-krzyzewski-one-and-done-players-ncaa-the-brotherhood?ref=yfp