Will our new Freshman Class be a contender?

[SCBlu]

I'm afraid you are right about Vanderbilt. He looks like someone who is just injury prone. If he does come back I'm not sure how much he will help.

With this growing reputation of being injury prone PLUS a nondescript, underwhelming freshman year, it's beyond me why any NBA team would consider drafting Vanderbilt in either round. He needs at least one strong year of college play.

[George]

With this growing reputation of being injury prone PLUS a nondescript, underwhelming freshman year, it's beyond me why any NBA team would consider drafting Vanderbilt in either round. He needs at least one strong year of college play.

Guys who rebound like Vando are hard to come by. Add to that his crisp passing and sharp vision, and you have a fascinating player.

GMs will take risks on guys with unique skill sets.

[SCBlu]

The only thing about this is that Cal has preached getting the degree down the road. The players have a lifetime scholarship.

I didn't know about every scholarship player having a "lifetime scholarship". Are you sure of that?

[Joneslab]

You can look at past UK teams and see the one thing UK probably needs to have to be a contender.

The three great teams Kentucky's had under Cal--'10, '12, '15--have all had multiple first round draft picks.

We can talk about experience vs. freshmen or whatever, but really it looks like with Cal it comes down to having guys who are going to be taken early on in the draft. That pretty much tells the tale.

2010: #1 pick, four first-round picks
2012: #1 pick, #2 pick, four first-round picks
2015: #1 pick, four first-round picks

Now, we've had other very good teams. 2011 and 2014 both come to mind. Really liked those teams and while they didn't have crazy NBA talent, they definitely had guys who could take the game over.

But if you want to absolutely know whether Kentucky can be a contender, look at the top-shelf pro potential coming from at least four players.

If you think about who those guys can be on this team, the first guy who comes to mind is Keldon Johnson. Definitely a top 10 pick unless something strange happens. Then you get into guesswork. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hagans emerge as a lottery pick. Jarred Vanderbilt has tremendous upside. E.J. Montgomery has the skillset. PJ Washington could get there.

So there are definitely combinations to think about, but there's also going to be some proving that needs to happen.

[Joneslab]

I didn't know about every scholarship player having a "lifetime scholarship". Are you sure of that?

“Our kids know they are on a lifetime scholarship,” Calipari said. “If you leave after one, two or three years and choose to come back, we’re here for you educationally. But we also don’t want to hold them back from chasing their dreams. Like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth. Don’t think we should hold those people back, but at the same time we need to be about academics."

https://247sports.com/college/kentucky/Article/Calipari-knows-GPA-for-UK-basketball-is-an-inconvenient-truth-37534012

[ralph helm]

It still seems to me that every game we lost the past few years was to a team with EXPERIENCED upperclassmen--juniors & seniors--maybe not first round NBA picks but very good players!!!!

[Joneslab]

It still seems to me that every game we lost the past few years was to a team with EXPERIENCED upperclassmen--juniors & seniors--maybe not first round NBA picks but very good players!!!!

But we'll never have this as long as Cal's here, so we might as well hope for maximum talent.

Wishing that we were more experienced with Cal is kind of like wishing for a supermodel to become your secret admirer. It just ain't gonna happen.

[wildcatdon]

Would like to see our guys in the weight room this summer with someone who knows what they are doing. that little fellow we have now is not cutting it as far as I can tell. I know bodies mature as they get older but our guys are never ready for the physicality of the game, not only because they are freshmen but they are physically weak too. Look at the Kansas State game. When refs let the rough play go, we suffer. I would definitely like to see Cal change the offense a bit to create more movement and get everyone involved including the centers. More picks and back cuts. Don't use the center for setting picks 30 feet from the basket. they need to eat too. Cal is pretty darn stubborn. We shall see, but I don't expect too much anymore.

[Joneslab]

Don't use the center for setting picks 30 feet from the basket.

I asked this in the other thread and you never answered.

When does Kentucky do this?

There are a lot of ball screens set all over college basketball, but Kentucky doesn't set a whole lot. And rarely with the center, who's often parked down low. And never "30 feet from the basket."

The only time I can remember the center screening a lot for UK is with Josh Harrellson, and that worked like a charm.

Not sure what you're talking about with this.

[Joneslab]

they need to eat too..

I've got a guy who lives with me at home. He's 14. About six feet tall. Probably weighs 145, maybe. Total wiry muscle. Doesn't matter what he eats.

My brother-in-law is the same way. I've sat and watched him eat entire boxes of Girl Scout cookies. Saw him polish off a bag of Dorito's in one sitting once. He weighs maybe 155 with probably four percent body fat. Wears a size 30 pant and has to cinch the belt to the last hole. He's 35 years old.

Genetics a lot of times gets in the way of eating, particularly when you're dealing with teenagers.

[George]

I've got a guy who lives with me at home. He's 14. About six feet tall. Probably weighs 145, maybe. Total wiry muscle. Doesn't matter what he eats.

My brother-in-law is the same way. I've sat and watched him eat entire boxes of Girl Scout cookies. Saw him polish off a bag of Dorito's in one sitting once. He weighs maybe 155 with probably four percent body fat. Wears a size 30 pant and has to cinch the belt to the last hole. He's 35 years old.

Genetics a lot of times gets in the way of eating, particularly when you're dealing with teenagers.

You’re describing me. To have even a slight chance of gaining weight, I have to eat somewhere around 3200 calories or so a day, plus hit numbers in carbs, fats, and protein. That calorie number is probably low, to be honest.

Even at my age I’d still kind of like to gain ten or fifteen*, but it’s really hard, and at some point eating becomes a serious chore.

*No, I shouldn’t be careful what I wish for. One look at my family tells me I’m in no danger of ballooning with age.

[Joneslab]

Imagine believing that 18- and 19-year-old college boys don't eat anything.

[Catatonic]

The only time I can remember the center screening a lot for UK is with Josh Harrellson, and that worked like a charm.

Not sure what you're talking about with this.

This guy is criticizing "The Tweak"! For shame...

[George]

Imagine believing that 18- and 19-year-old college boys don't eat anything.

These elite D1 teams usually have their own dedicated school dining services cooking loads of extremely high quality food. I remember seeing video of the players at lunch on a normal day, and it was an absolute feast.

[Lighthouse]

Would like to see our guys in the weight room this summer with someone who knows what they are doing. that little fellow we have now is not cutting it as far as I can tell. I know bodies mature as they get older but our guys are never ready for the physicality of the game, not only because they are freshmen but they are physically weak too. Look at the Kansas State game. When refs let the rough play go, we suffer. I would definitely like to see Cal change the offense a bit to create more movement and get everyone involved including the centers. More picks and back cuts. Don't use the center for setting picks 30 feet from the basket. they need to eat too. Cal is pretty darn stubborn. We shall see, but I don't expect too much anymore.

What? There were 51 fouls called in that game with 30 being on KSU. How can you say, the refs let rough play go? You know more about officiating that that!