Blackshear

[J.Jennings]

That's just not true. Wenyen Gabriel, Derek Willis, Dom Hawkins, Josh Harrelson (that's your own example), all played significant roles on teams. Hell, Reid Travis was arguably the most important player on our team this past year and he has a pretty uphill battle to make it in the NBA. If you're saying Cal recruits guys who are athletic and skilled, well no shhhhoot. I mean, even Tyler Herro wasn't thought of as a one and done and future pro.

You missed the key part, he had NO CHOICE because he missed out on others, somebody has to play....

[Dwight Schrute]

You missed the key part, he had NO CHOICE because he missed out on others, somebody has to play....

So your argument is that Cal goes after the best players?

No shhh.

[J.Jennings]

We can beat the horse stir the pot and do this all day long but the bottomline is HAVE SOME FAITH IN NICK RICHARDS, our season does not depend on Blackshear. If that's the real case then hell, get a violation and just throw the whole season and not even play. Seems like alot like to talk out of both sides of the mouth, we have become used to patting each other on the back after a NCAA loss when most of the time we have the best talent and Cal gets out coached on the big stage. I am still old school and Cal will not snake sell me on the fact that anything less than a Championship is always a failure,not about the rah rah rah we had a good season stuff, been there done that, getting tired of coming up short year in and year out. If adding Blackshear guarantees a Championship then pull out a Chris Mills envelope and do what you do, just get it done but i don't think he's the savior.....

[J.Jennings]

So your argument is that Cal goes after the best players?

No shhh.

It's too early for all this

[Dwight Schrute]

Cal plays the guys who give him no choice but to play them - guys who are too good to leave on the bench. Booker, Ulis, Gilgeous-Alexander, Herro, Bledsoe, Lamb, and others were all guys who weren't high on the NBA radar coming out of high school.

But JJennings is arguing Cal only plays guys who have pro-potential while complaining about recruiting a 5th year transfer over a guy with more pro upside who hasn't shown an ability to be anything but a bit player.

[J.Jennings]

Cal plays the guys who give him no choice but to play them - guys who are too good to leave on the bench. Booker, Ulis, Gilgeous-Alexander, Herro, Bledsoe, Lamb, and others were all guys who weren't high on the NBA radar coming out of high school.

But JJennings is arguing Cal only plays guys who have pro-potential while complaining about recruiting a 5th year transfer over a guy with more pro upside who hasn't shown an ability to be anything but a bit player.

Yeah that's it, you hit the nail on the head..

Okay do you really think Cal and his system will allow Blackshear to just stand around the outside and shoot 3's? What kind of defender is Blackshear or is he just a scorer? Is Cal just going to spread it out so Hagans can drive to the rim everytime? Is Cal going to force EJ at center and put his back to the goal and take away his ability to shoot, EJ has made it clear he's a prototype stretch moving foward, he not posting you up.

Anyways, we shall see what happens...

[Dwight Schrute]

Yeah that's it, you hit the nail on the head..

Okay do you really think Cal and his system will allow Blackshear to just stand around the outside and shoot 3's? What kind of defender is Blackshear or is he just a scorer? Is Cal just going to spread it out so Hagans can drive to the rim everytime? Is Cal going to force EJ at center and put his back to the goal and take away his ability to shoot, EJ has made it clear he's a prototype stretch moving foward, he not posting you up.

Anyways, we shall see what happens...

If Nick shows an ability to not disappear or an ability to contribute in more than a handful of games, he'll play. Until then, I have no idea why you're arguing that Nick gives us a fighting chance, because there's absolutely nothing that says he can contribute meaningfully.

[Joneslab]

Okay do you really think Cal and his system will allow Blackshear to just stand around the outside and shoot 3's?

In the Virginia Tech games I've seen Blackshear has been a much better interior scorer than outside. Very skilled post player.

[J.Jennings]

In the Virginia Tech games I've seen Blackshear has been a much better interior scorer than outside. Very skilled post player.

Then maybe he plays CENTER if he comes here, we shall see..

[Joneslab]

Cal plays the guys who give him no choice but to play them - guys who are too good to leave on the bench. Booker, Ulis, Gilgeous-Alexander, Herro, Bledsoe, Lamb, and others were all guys who weren't high on the NBA radar coming out of high school.

Calipari might be the best talent scout of the last 25 years or so.

Really good at targeting players who can play at the college level and who have pro potential.

I actually like the grad transfer route however. It's not what I would prefer but if you're going to run a program like Kentucky does where everybody's looking to get to the NBA, grad transfers are the way to go (until they change the rule).

The thing is, there are only a handful of these guys who are elite. Travis was one, as is Blackshear. So if you're going to do it this way, you've got to land them.

But the transfer route is the way programs have gotten good if they aren't getting a lot of can't-miss blue chippers. Programs like Gonzaga and Texas Tech and a bunch of others have plugged older guys in and gotten one or two years of solid play from them.

It makes sense that in a game that's so young you would want proven older players. Those guys are manna...but when you get them on campus you've got to actually get them to commit.

[Joneslab]

Then maybe he plays CENTER if he comes here, we shall see..

As I said, I don't think positions are that big of a deal anymore in the sport of basketball.

[J.Jennings]

If Nick shows an ability to not disappear or an ability to contribute in more than a handful of games, he'll play. Until then, I have no idea why you're arguing that Nick gives us a fighting chance, because there's absolutely nothing that says he can contribute meaningfully.

Don't forget, Nick has had some pretty good games in the past, has to learn how to stay out of foul trouble and stop hanging his head. By all accounts Nick is known as the hardest worker in practice, he's also still learning organized basketball, hasn't played many years, maybe this year it clicks? Regardless you have to have shot altering rim protection at some point, especially when Cal goes to stall ball and slows it down....

[J.Jennings]

As I said, I don't think positions are that big of a deal anymore in the sport of basketball.

I agree, Brad Stevens plays 3 positions, pg/g g/sf/pf pf/c.

[Joneslab]

If Nick shows an ability to not disappear or an ability to contribute in more than a handful of games, he'll play. Until then, I have no idea why you're arguing that Nick gives us a fighting chance, because there's absolutely nothing that says he can contribute meaningfully.

Richards scored 13 points total in the NCAA Tournament. Pulled 8 total rebounds. He played one total minute against Auburn.

(He played more minutes obviously, but Kerry Blackshear in one less game scored 52 points and grabbed 28 boards in the tournament. Finished the season with 18 and 16 against Duke.)

[Joneslab]

Also, just the coaching staff's mere interest in Kerry Blackshear should tell you all you need to know about what they think of our frontcourt situation next season.

It's in pretty bad shape unless we get another player.