Blackshear

[Catatonic]

Hard to see a scenario where Nick Richards is the guy. EJ taking a big leap forward seems possible - but Nick Richards doesn't do anything particularly well and if you can't expect big improvements if they haven't been made already.

Richards has shown that he can get a tough rebound and make the outlet pass to the fast break. If the other pieces are there that might be enough.

[Dwight Schrute]

While it seems a stretch that Nick will ever be GREAT--it used to be the norm for bigs to improve dramatically as upperclassmen. I hold out hope Nick is just behind his time--an old-school type guy who will be ready to lead this year. He won't be an Anthony Davis or KAT but if he could give us 12 pts 7 boards, defense and leadership we'd be gold with the back court we should have.

Get that from Nick, EJ AND Blackshear...no stopping us.

Well, sure, but without Blackshear, there's a lot of 'ifs' in that scenario.

[J.Jennings]

Blackshear now looking at Memphis smh..

[J.Jennings]

Going back to Nick Richards, it's important that he breaks out this year, it's a huge selling point moving foward especially for those who leave that really shouldn't be leaving...

[J.Jennings]

This isn't a good take.

A little over dramatic i agree but not all is lost if we don't get Blackshear, we still going to be good and NICK going to make us eat a whole lot of crow....

[SCBlu]

So come on down Blackshear, let's just piss off Nick RIchards and have a complete locker room disaster with players crying over minutes and players taking sides and all that crap. What a great selling tool for incoming freshman, Kentucky is not for everyone, you come here work hard and earn your keep and i will sit you on the bench and recruit over you, that's how it works here.....

J.J., it's called COMPETITION. Nick doesn't "deserve" to start simply because he 's been here longer. He "deserves" to compete with others for playing time and may the best player prevail. Frankly, with a possible National Championship in the mix, I believe the vast majority our team would embrace anyone who could get us closer to that goal.

[J.Jennings]

J.J., it's called COMPETITION. Nick doesn't "deserve" to start simply because he 's been here longer. He "deserves" to compete with others for playing time and may the best player prevail. Frankly, with a possible National Championship in the mix, I believe the vast majority our team would embrace anyone who could get us closer to that goal.

So you are telling me that if Cal approaches Blackshear and tells him if he comes to Kentucky that he will have to compete for minutes, you think he's coming here? Make perfect sense to promise a player you never coached a starting job and to tell the guy that has been in your system working hard for over two years that you will have to take a backseat right? Kind of how Cal did Jon Hood, brought in the short non athletic Mays and promised him a starting role when he wasn't Kentucky material at all..

Anyways, i agree that Blackshear helps us but someone will have to sacrifice, either EJ or Nick and that is a problem, they did not come to Kentucky to sit on the bench and watch there pro dreams go down the toilet...

[Lighthouse]

So you are telling me that if Cal approaches Blackshear and tells him if he comes to Kentucky that he will have to compete for minutes, you think he's coming here? Make perfect sense to promise a player you never coached a starting job and to tell the guy that has been in your system working hard for over two years that you will have to take a backseat right? Kind of how Cal did Jon Hood, brought in the short non athletic Mays and promised him a starting role when he wasn't Kentucky material at all..

Anyways, i agree that Blackshear helps us but someone will have to sacrifice, either EJ or Nick and that is a problem, they did not come to Kentucky to sit on the bench and watch there pro dreams go down the toilet...

I doubt their Pro dreams go down, but they might second guess their decision to return. But, if they got what it takes to compete at the next level, they probably won't mind a little competition for PT at UK.

[lilproUK98]

[Joneslab]

Anyways, i agree that Blackshear helps us but someone will have to sacrifice, either EJ or Nick and that is a problem, they did not come to Kentucky to sit on the bench and watch there pro dreams go down the toilet...

Richards sat on the bench a lot last year. Because that's what he is, in my opinion: a back-up.

Unless he improves to the point where he's a different player.

Different story for Montgomery. You can see some things with him. A lot of tools, he works hard, plus he's got that NBA size. Haven't seen those things with Richards outside of course his size.

Richards will still be a major part of the team regardless of what happens. Blackshear can't come in and play 40 minutes.

As I said above, Blackshear might be a 4 here with Montgomery at the 5. So it might be EJ and Nick who are competing. I'm not convinced that's what will happen but it's possible. Both Montgomery and Blackshear have the potential to play a sort of stretch 4 role.

[Dwight Schrute]

So you are telling me that if Cal approaches Blackshear and tells him if he comes to Kentucky that he will have to compete for minutes, you think he's coming here? Make perfect sense to promise a player you never coached a starting job and to tell the guy that has been in your system working hard for over two years that you will have to take a backseat right? Kind of how Cal did Jon Hood, brought in the short non athletic Mays and promised him a starting role when he wasn't Kentucky material at all..

Anyways, i agree that Blackshear helps us but someone will have to sacrifice, either EJ or Nick and that is a problem, they did not come to Kentucky to sit on the bench and watch there pro dreams go down the toilet...

Fact is, if they can't see the floor over a 5th year senior, their pro dreams are already in the toilet.

Cal's gonna play the best player, period.

[Joneslab]

Hard to see Richards ever playing in the NBA.

I think Montgomery could be a very good pro but he's got to get stronger, tougher, and has to get that shot to the point where he's at least halfway consistent. I was really disappointed with his shooting last year because I'd heard that he was a very good shooter coming out of HS. He probably made just a handful of shots that weren't lay-ups all season.

[J.Jennings]

Fact is, if they can't see the floor over a 5th year senior, their pro dreams are already in the toilet.

Cal's gonna play the best player, period.

And the fact is Richard still has more upside in the pros than Blackshear, can't teach height, plus i think Richards can actually shoot a midi if you turn him around and let him faceup...

[Dwight Schrute]

And the fact is Richard still has more upside in the pros than Blackshear, can't teach height, plus i think Richards can actually shoot a midi if you turn him around and let him faceup...

Not sure what you're basing this on other than wild speculation. But I don't give half a crap about Richards' pro upside, I care who can help us.

[J.Jennings]

Not sure what you're basing this on other than wild speculation. But I don't give half a crap about Richards' pro upside, I care who can help us.

Fair enough. Best thing for both Cal and Richards is for Nick to come back have a strong season then get drafted, it's a huge selling point moving foward and proves that coming back can sometimes benefit the player....