The positive here, is they get to play in the SEC. They’ll be fine.

 

The SEC that has 5 Top 30 teams in the coaches poll?

I think that they are definitely going to be difficult to watch at times.

One of the only things I don't like about Cal's coaching is that he still hasn't embraced the 3. He preaches the two best percentage shots in the game but not the third. He's all about attacking the basket and either getting fouled (best thing that can happen each possession) or getting a lay-up (second best thing). With this team, that steak could be in jeopardy and if college starts to progress like the NBA, the 3 could really hurt this team in some games.

 

I wish he had embraced it a little less in 2010 vs West Virginia in the Elite 8. I don't remember the exact stats but i believe they were 3 for 34 from behind the arc. Cost UK a national championship because that is one year that they would have breezed through the Final Four.

The SEC that has 5 Top 30 teams in the coaches poll?

 

Top 30? Polls go to 25. Secondly, they have to fill those 25 spots will someone.

I wish he had embraced it a little less in 2010 vs West Virginia in the Elite 8. I don't remember the exact stats but i believe they were 3 for 34 from behind the arc. Cost UK a national championship because that is one year that they would have breezed through the Final Four.

 

Well, yeah, good point. You have to embrace it through recruiting first. (BTW, it was 4-for-32).

SEC getting better but tbis won't be Cals worst team at UK, they will be fine. Great potential defensively.

I'm still trying to figure out who is who.

 

This is me every year when I have to learn new names all over again! The bright side is if they aren't as good as in previous years, maybe some of them will stick around more than a year and I'll know their names by next year!

I definitely don't think this will be Cal's worst team the 12-13 team was just as cluster you know what. This team has way too much talent for them to end up as a first round NIT loss, they'll definitely be hard to watch, especially early but come March I think they'll be fine. I think this team's strength will be defense and do force a bunch of low scoring games as teams will try to slow things down just because of their athleticism. The 3 point shot isn't going to be as big of an issue as people think it's actually going to open things up since the bigs can knock down the 3 as well.

 

So basically yes they'll probably lose more regular season games than most of Cal's teams, but barring injury, they'll be fine come March.

I don't see them as a 12-13 bad. This team is too talented for that. I see them more of a 10-11 team that struggled to find an identity most of the year. By the time the tournament comes around I think they'll be playing well enough where they'll have a chance and that's all that matters anyways.

 

For what it is worth, and I'm a KenPom guy to be sure, he has them going 25-6. However, he gives them more than a 50% chance to win 29 of their 31 games.

 

Side-bar: that game AT West Virginia in late January will be awesome, and I'm a guy who isn't a fan of either.

For what it is worth, and I'm a KenPom guy to be sure, he has them going 25-6. However, he gives them more than a 50% chance to win 29 of their 31 games.

 

Side-bar: that game AT West Virginia in late January will be awesome, and I'm a guy who isn't a fan of either.

If you knew I meant 2012-2013 and 2010- 2011 then disregard this. I didn't mean that they'll lose 10-11 games I think they are right around 7-8 losses.

You're going too much in detail with your analysis Randy.

 

Ten Loss Cal :banana:

Very athletic team. Agree about Vanderbilt making a big difference. IMO this team will have a lot of up and downs. But I think they will be a fun group too watch.

 

Also think that Alexandra can play PG if needed

It’s hard to get a good grasp on what they’re going to be like without the complete squad in place. Vanderbilt is suppose to be the most versatile player on the team.

 

What concerns me is Richards has a long way to go at center, and I keep thinking back to one of gametime’s post in another thread about the fact they have a lot of young talent but as a working team they have too many pieces of a puzzle that fit into the same space.

 

I may not be remembering correctly because I'm not a UK fan and don't tend to spend much time in those threads.

 

I thought one of his takes was that there were too many guys that played the same position.

I may not be remembering correctly because I'm not a UK fan and don't tend to spend much time in those threads.

 

I thought one of his takes was that there were too many guys that played the same position.

He compared it to a puzzle with too many pieces that were identical and would only fit into the same space on the board, similar to a basketball team that had too many players that played the same position.