Kentucky versus Ohio State: Game thread

[justford]

Seems like Skal is getting most of the blame for our struggles but if he isn't physically or mentally able to contribute, who keeps putting him out there? I believe we have more problems than Skal. Can you remember Poythress getting his shot blocked as much as he has this year? I don't think he is as healed as we were led to believe. Hopefully he gets stronger as the year goes on.

[teamchemistry15]

You answered some of it perhaps. Size and possibly the dreaded ceiling for someone of his skill set shooting the ball.

Starting every game, playing the minutes he does, and averaging single digits is worthy of being drafted? If he keeps this up he will end up averaging 5 points and 3 rebounds. I bet there are some of us on here who could go out there and get close to that. To this point in the season he has done nothing outside of the NJIT game that shows he could make an NBA roster this year. I am sure some team would take him in the 2nd and throw him in the D league for a while hoping he develops, but no way is he good enough to play in the NBA right now.

[Westtncat]

Skal gets yanked when he messes up. He was out of there early when he didn't come up with a rebound.

I'm not justifying it other than what's been said. Seems to me others could have played but it was the starters and Lee that dug the hole but also brought us back from down 16. Cal in the postgame said Willis was hurt. He also never plays Humphries in games he looks over-matched in the quickness department. Matthews surprised me. Seemed like the perfect game for him but he barely saw action.

See that's what I mean. Humphries might be over matched in the speed dept. No action. Not a chance. End of discussion. Skal produces nothing in any phase of the game but plays game after game. Willis is hurt? Havent heard a thing about it until now. Seems odd. The thing is this. I understand Humphries might be slow, I understand Tai just arrived. They are reasons under normal circumstances not to play. So in our current situation Cal just choses one guy that has proven over and over he cant produce over a guy or guys that MIGHT be over matched. Humphries did pretty good against Duke IMO.

Cal is gonna get stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one. High ranking players might not get to play if they cant produce OR lower ranked players will never, under any circumstances other than injury get to play consistently. I cant say this is the case yet because the season isn't over but as it stands at this moment, I am really questioning this decision. We all know what I think and say wont amount to a hill of beans but I am truly shaking my head here trying to figure out Cals thought process.

[Katmendo]

Wow. Didn't expect a loss, and maybe our players didn't either. Missed the game while at Fairdale watching some good HS teams, and the Officials.

In all seriousness, if you DVRed the game, watch the first 4 minutes, skip to the second media break of the second half, and watch Murray.

Murray reminds me of a great running back. Yeah, he might have only 24 yards on 9 carries at the start of the game, but you've got to feed him. Because, on the next carry, he can really go 65 yards to the house. And, he will.

Murray is the player we need to focus on. Design needs to be on getting the ball in his hands and getting the opponent focus on him. Once that happens, lobs, cuts, and kick outs happen for everyone else.

And ***THE 2015-16 UK BASKETBALL TEAM*** (Read: not just the 'Let's get Skal PT) needs to split time at the 5 between Labissiere, Humphries and Wynyard

[Westtncat]

Seems like Skal is getting most of the blame for our struggles but if he isn't physically or mentally able to contribute, who keeps putting him out there? I believe we have more problems than Skal. Can you remember Poythress getting his shot blocked as much as he has this year? I don't think he is as healed as we were led to believe. Hopefully he gets stronger as the year goes on.

Seems to me he has always had his shot blocked a lot. Poythress telegraphs his intentions a good bit.

[ukwebfan]

Starting every game, playing the minutes he does, and averaging single digits is worthy of being drafted? If he keeps this up he will end up averaging 5 points and 3 rebounds. I bet there are some of us on here who could go out there and get close to that. To this point in the season he has done nothing outside of the NJIT game that shows he could make an NBA roster this year. I am sure some team would take him in the 2nd and throw him in the D league for a while hoping he develops, but no way is he good enough to play in the NBA right now.

A lot of first rounders ride the pine in the NBA or these days go to the D-League. The LeBron's are few and far between.

[ukwebfan]

See that's what I mean. Humphries might be over matched in the speed dept. No action. Not a chance. End of discussion. Skal produces nothing in any phase of the game but plays game after game. Willis is hurt? Havent heard a thing about it until now. Seems odd. The thing is this. I understand Humphries might be slow, I understand Tai just arrived. They are reasons under normal circumstances not to play. So in our current situation Cal just choses one guy that has proven over and over he cant produce over a guy or guys that MIGHT be over matched. Humphries did pretty good against Duke IMO.

Cal is gonna get stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one. High ranking players might not get to play if they cant produce OR lower ranked players will never, under any circumstances other than injury get to play consistently. I cant say this is the case yet because the season isn't over but as it stands at this moment, I am really questioning this decision. We all know what I think and say wont amount to a hill of beans but I am truly shaking my head here trying to figure out Cals thought process.

UK fans can question Cal all they want but he is who he is. We may not like it but he does it for a reason that in his eyes means more for the future than it does now. Can't argue with the results but we will anyway ad nauseam.

I can tell you for a fact that we have a Skal every year that gets PT they don't deserve. Have heard this forever going back to Truman Claytor and earlier. Everyone has their favorites and also their whipping boys. These things we deal with as fans. It is what it is and it ain't changing anytime soon as well.

[teamchemistry15]

A lot of first rounders ride the pine in the NBA or these days go to the D-League. The LeBron's are few and far between.

All or nothing again I see. No one has ever said this guy was the next LeBron. But when you are a projected top 10 pick, heck, top 3 pick in the draft you don't expect to ride the pine or go to the D league. This kid is tall, thin, and doesn't rebound. He is way over hyped on his "ceiling" because he is athletic. When you aren't a good all around baskeball player you have to be great at one aspect to get drafted in the first round, much less top 10. Look at the bigs Cal has in the NBA. Cousins is a very good all around big man. He can score, rebound, play defense, and has the size to bang down low. Davis is just a once in a lifetime guy. Noel isn't a good offensive player. He doesn't have the size to throw around. But he is great at blocking shots and playing defense. WCS isn't an offensive guy, but he is arguably the most athletic big in the league, never quits, and can guard five positions. Towns, like Cousins, can score, rebound, play defense, and even has range. Orton has NBA size but he wasn't an offensive threat and didn't rebound well, so he is out of the NBA. Johnson has the size, but can't jump over the newspaper and isn't an offensive threat and is too slow to be a great defender. He is out of the NBA. What exactly does Skal offer an NBA team? He is too thin to bang down low, doesn't hustle like WCS, doesn't rebound, is weak with the ball, and averaging single digits. He has not shown he is a consistent offensive threat, he has not shown he can guard multiple positions, that he can block 4 or 5 shots a game,or that he has the ability to drop 30 on any given night. Why in the world would anyone draft him in the first round? Why would anyone draft him at all? What has he done in his first 11 games that show you he is ready for professional basketball? Do you agree he would not make an NBA roster?

[40bill]

In a lot of ways, this is the least mature team overall I've seen Cal have at UK....no matter the frosh/soph/jr/sr designation. I loved the hustle going in the second half, but in a way I thought UK was feeding off the energy and emotion OSU was putting out as much as what they were giving themselves. ​Gonna have to grow up basketball wise and bring more of that intensity themselves from the opening tip on.

[teamchemistry15]

In a lot of ways, this is the least mature team overall I've seen Cal have at UK....no matter the frosh/soph/jr/sr designation. I loved the hustle going in the second half, but in a way I thought UK was feeding off the energy and emotion OSU was putting out as much as what they were giving themselves. ​Gonna have to grow up basketball wise and bring more of that intensity themselves from the opening tip on.

I was thinking the same thing. It is almost like they need to be disrespected before they start going all out. UofL lost one of their main big men for 6 weeks so that will help next week. We need to come out of the gate like we played in the second half. Maybe we can get the score board to start the game with us down 15 points.

[TrueblueCATfan]

He didn't play.

As if anyone cares, Wynyard and Humphries didn't also. I was shocked Matthews didn't play more also but no one cares about him right? lol

Not surprised about Wynyard..he has not practiced with the team..but will not understand why Willis who has been playing really good did not play

[Westtncat]

UK fans can question Cal all they want but he is who he is. We may not like it but he does it for a reason that in his eyes means more for the future than it does now. Can't argue with the results but we will anyway ad nauseam.

I can tell you for a fact that we have a Skal every year that gets PT they don't deserve. Have heard this forever going back to Truman Claytor and earlier. Everyone has their favorites and also their whipping boys. These things we deal with as fans. It is what it is and it ain't changing anytime soon as well.

I completely disagree we have a Skal player every year. Never in my life have I seen this situation. We have had guys that were slightly over rated at best or frustrating (A. Goodwin) but never a player like this. There is no defense for this. IMO

[ukwebfan]

Not surprised about Wynyard..he has not practiced with the team..but will not understand why Willis who has been playing really good did not play

Cal said Willis was hurt.

[ukwebfan]

I completely disagree we have a Skal player every year. Never in my life have I seen this situation. We have had guys that were slightly over rated at best or frustrating (A. Goodwin) but never a player like this. There is no defense for this. IMO

Off the top of my head, the same things were said about Jones, Miller, Teague and Andrew Harrison with regards to PT.

[ukwebfan]

All or nothing again I see. No one has ever said this guy was the next LeBron. But when you are a projected top 10 pick, heck, top 3 pick in the draft you don't expect to ride the pine or go to the D league. This kid is tall, thin, and doesn't rebound. He is way over hyped on his "ceiling" because he is athletic. When you aren't a good all around baskeball player you have to be great at one aspect to get drafted in the first round, much less top 10. Look at the bigs Cal has in the NBA. Cousins is a very good all around big man. He can score, rebound, play defense, and has the size to bang down low. Davis is just a once in a lifetime guy. Noel isn't a good offensive player. He doesn't have the size to throw around. But he is great at blocking shots and playing defense. WCS isn't an offensive guy, but he is arguably the most athletic big in the league, never quits, and can guard five positions. Towns, like Cousins, can score, rebound, play defense, and even has range. Orton has NBA size but he wasn't an offensive threat and didn't rebound well, so he is out of the NBA. Johnson has the size, but can't jump over the newspaper and isn't an offensive threat and is too slow to be a great defender. He is out of the NBA. What exactly does Skal offer an NBA team? He is too thin to bang down low, doesn't hustle like WCS, doesn't rebound, is weak with the ball, and averaging single digits. He has not shown he is a consistent offensive threat, he has not shown he can guard multiple positions, that he can block 4 or 5 shots a game,or that he has the ability to drop 30 on any given night. Why in the world would anyone draft him in the first round? Why would anyone draft him at all? What has he done in his first 11 games that show you he is ready for professional basketball? Do you agree he would not make an NBA roster?

Since I think an NBA GM will draft him in the first round based on potential, then YES I think he will make a roster and likely sit the pine. Just my prediction. He's in no way ready to play at that level right now. In that respect I agree with you but it simply doesn't matter what we think with regards to his PT and his future in the pros.