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Proverbs 25:24 -
2nd set of fan questions answered:
Proverbs 25:24Comment
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With Momcilovic:
1st unit:
Diallo and Wilkins at the guards- interchangeable, with Diallo primarily the 1 and Wilkins playing the 2. Excellent size (6’4/6’5) and both can score and both are capable (but not lights out) shooters. Both were starters and double digit scorers last season. Diallo was a Big 10 starter and Wilkins was a rising star and leading scorer for Furman.
Momcilovic and K. Williams at the forwards- interchangeable, with matchups determining defensive assignments. Kam is probably a little better defensively. Offensively, that’s probably the best shooting tandem in the country when it comes to forwards. Mom shot 49% from 3 last year (led D-1 in 3 point percentage) and Kam has shot 39% over his first two seasons in college. Mom was a starter and double digit scorer in the Big 12 and Kam was starting for us before the foot injury.
Moreno at Center- if he makes the jump most expect out of him, he will be one of the best big men in the country. Was a starter for us last year and I believe he was our top rebounder.
2nd unit:
M. Williams and Morton at the guard spots- Mason was a 4-star talent. Morton was a starter at Washington St. Morton is known as a pretty good shooter (39% from 3 last year). Both have really good size for guards (6’4).
Hawthorne and McBride at the forward spots- Hawthorne was a 4-star. McBride was a starter and the leading scorer for James Madison. McBride is a good 3 point shooters (40% last year). Hawthorne was considered a good shooter in HS.
N’Diaye at Center-I am assuming if we go all in for Mom, we have no money left for a true backup 5. I know he is really a PF, but I think Pope goes with a skilled, athletic 6’11 guy as the backup 5. He provides a different skill set than Moreno and might be a decent stretch 5 for us. He is an experienced international player.
Deep Bench:
Potter and Noah- couple of Kentucky boys ready
to step in if any of the above 2nd unit guys aren’t up to the task. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Potter emerge as our backup Center. Shoots it really well from 3 (39% from 3- outstanding for a 5). Both are defensive liabilities, though, which is why I think they are the 11th and 12th men.
I think that’s a really strong starting five and pretty decent second team. I think Mom, Wilkins, Diallo, and Moreno average double digits and Kam won’t be far from it. McBride probably leads the bench scoring.
Hawthorne is a bit of a wildcard. I could see him breaking out and even pushing Kam for a starting spot.
Got to get Mom, if at all possible. He pushes us to another level.Comment
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One would think. The best freshman coming out of high school versus a top 5 (3?) upperclassmen coming through the transfer portal? Unless there's some sort of silly "Kentucky affiliation was the only reason" at play in this, you'd have to think they'd want the best player available for the best season possible.Comment
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Agree with all of this. Just don’t have any feel for our chances with Momcilovic. Zoom meeting is better than nothing but after so many guys have visited then declined…don’t want to assume anything. For all I know out chances may be better if he doesn’t meet Pope in person???Comment
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Day 3 questions for Pope. Answers GM Question:
Proverbs 25:24Comment
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Pope needs to throw every Penny he can scrounge up at him. We already have 12 guys on the roster. Mom would make 13. That’s enough. We could use another true backup Center, but at this point a go to guy shooter/scorer on the wing is more important. This team is pretty complete with Mom on the roster, IMHO (as long as Moreno comes back).
Two playmakers in the backcourt, two shooters at forward, and potentially a star big man in the middle. That’s a good formula offensively. Pretty good size too. 6’4, 6’5, 6’8, 6’8, 7’0. As long as the guards can make a decent amount of perimeter shots to keep the defense honest, they would be hard to guard. I don’t think it will be a top 20 team in defensive efficiency, but it could be solid. The offense should be excellent.
The bench would be solid with two former D-1 starters (McBirde/Morton) two 4-star Freshmen (Hawthorne/M. Williams) and an experienced international player (N’Diaye).
Adding another backup big man would help, but getting Mom is the priority. Put all the money on him, IMHO.Comment
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Do not like the Sleepers guys but if they have info on this player then others will start putting out stuff as well.
Kentucky's New International Target: French Big Man Cameron Houindo
Proverbs 25:24Comment
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That would be great, if N’Diaye is as good as advertised, but it seems that most of the time these international guys take time to adjust to our style/level of competition (at least the ones we get lately- Ivisic/Jelavic).
This is why I figure our best five (with Momcilovic) would be::
G Diallo- top 50 portal, starter/double digit scorer in Big 10.
G Wilkins- top 50 portal, starter/leading scorer for Furman.
F Momcilovic- top 10 portal, starter/double digit scorer in Big 12.
F K. Williams- starter in the SEC, until he broke his foot.
C Moreno- starter in the SEC.
Mom is 6’8, 225 with a Senior’s body. He would be no push over and can defend the 4. Kam is 6’8, 205. A little lighter, but probably adds 5-10 pounds of muscle this offseason. He is a good defender and should be able to defend the 4 spot as well. In fact, Kam should be capable of defending the 1-4 spots.
Offensively, this is the best lineup as well, when you can replace a guy that shoots 30% from 3 (N’Diaye) with a guy that shoots 39% from 3 (Kam). Having Mom and Kam out there together should really stretch the floor for our guards. You can’t leave those two alone on the 3 point line or your toast. Especially Mom. That’s the perfect complement to Diallo and Wilkins, who can both get to the rim and make plays if the defense can’t pack
it in. Also opens up the inside for Moreno, if you have to be aware of all four of those guys on the perimeter.
But Pope probably starts N’Diaye at the 4, because of his size and potential. That’s what he did with Jelavic. Jelavic was the starting 4, but Dioubate played the starter minutes at the 4. Coaches tend to like to put their biggest pieces out there first regardless of production. Cal was really bad about it as well.
I think when it’s winning time, Kam is going to be on the floor. Unless Hawthorne ends up being a stud, which is not out of the realm of possibilities. I’m just leery of international guys right now. D-1 is becoming flooded with these guys and most of them are like Jelavic and aren’t going to make as big of an impact as most think.
Last edited by bucsrule8872; 2 weeks ago.Comment
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Kam has already put on weight, Pope showed a text from Kam and it was 210. My guess is before fall workouts he will be close to 215. By time they get in basketball shape he will be back under 210 around 208 or so. But if he can get to 220 then he could play at 212 to 215 maybe.Proverbs 25:24Comment
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He's definitely not a 5. He'd probably play the 4, since I'm not sure he has the skill set to be a 3.
That said, he's kind of a Mark Pope type player. More finesse than muscle. And to be totally honest, I can see why Pope went after Marcio Santos first. I know a lot of people were saying that Santos sucked and wasn't that good (that seemed to be the consensus at RR), but truthfully I like Santos game better. He's more American style/fluid with muscle and seems like more of a true inside/outside guy. Cameron Houindo plays more like a foreign/international player in the sense that he seems more soft than physical. He's not the type to dunk over somebody...more like pump fake and shoot a little turnaround fadeaway from 4 feet.
I would have rather had Santos because even though he's 6'8", he has the physicality to play Center and the perimeter shot to play the stretch 4. Unfortunately, it seems like Pope always gets his second choices because he whiffs on the first one.
Here's a video for others to take a look and see what they think. As far as him or Momcilovic, it's Milan for me and it's not even close.
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