32 minutes ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

Just picked those years for examples, there have been other shot blockers, Nerlens Noel, etc., check the other years they were high, shot blocker,  I saw some video of Cal doing a man defensive drill, just unreal, wouldn’t believe it if you didn’t see it for yourself 

The Noel year UKs defensive efficiency was 62nd. So having a shot blocker like him didn’t help make them better than other years. Once again you may not even like his drills. Yet he is doing something right in regards to defense, by the fact that he has had so many teams finish in top 35 in defense and some even top 10.
 

Which what makes that even more impressive is he was able to do that while basically having to start over the majority of those years with new rosters. So people’s complaints about Cal and saying he doesn’t teach defense just doesn’t add up. Defense is the one area he usually does a great job at getting his teams to do well at. Especially considering so many of those years we’re getting freshman players who probably barely even tried on defense in high school to buy in and play team defense at the college level. 
 

There is definitely things to complain about with Cal. Like with his offense, and lack of out of bound plays, etc. Yet people now trying to also act like he doesn’t coach defense is just a joke and now just complaining just to complain. 
 

There was a good article in TheAthletic today with quotes from current coaches about Cal. Not a one of them questioned his defense. Now they all did question his offense philosophy, which is definitely fair! 

29 minutes ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

I'd like to see them start working Livingston more into the offense.  I think, on this team at least, he might be the key to figure a few things out on offense.

Until Toppin decides to actually try to be a player. I think he should go small and start Livingston at the four. Ware plays hard, but he should not be starting at the four. His only playing time should be if Oscar needs to rest. They need to space the floor, and if Toppin is going to play scared and not bring much at the four. Then go small with Livingston at the four. Get your best players on the floor and go from there. 

3 hours ago, futurecoach said:

The Noel year UKs defensive efficiency was 62nd. So having a shot blocker like him didn’t help make them better than other years. Once again you may not even like his drills. Yet he is doing something right in regards to defense, by the fact that he has had so many teams finish in top 35 in defense and some even top 10.
 

Which what makes that even more impressive is he was able to do that while basically having to start over the majority of those years with new rosters. So people’s complaints about Cal and saying he doesn’t teach defense just doesn’t add up. Defense is the one area he usually does a great job at getting his teams to do well at. Especially considering so many of those years we’re getting freshman players who probably barely even tried on defense in high school to buy in and play team defense at the college level. 
 

There is definitely things to complain about with Cal. Like with his offense, and lack of out of bound plays, etc. Yet people now trying to also act like he doesn’t coach defense is just a joke and now just complaining just to complain. 
 

There was a good article in TheAthletic today with quotes from current coaches about Cal. Not a one of them questioned his defense. Now they all did question his offense philosophy, which is definitely fair! 

Yes but Nerlens got hurt early in January I believe, so again, no shot blocker.  My feelings about Cal’s defense come from what I’ve been told by people that hang close to the program and the eye test, I respect your opinion but can you really say you can see any of the things I listed look like they’re being taught??  We’ll definitely agree on the rest of your post 

18 hours ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

Yes but Nerlens got hurt early in January I believe, so again, no shot blocker.  My feelings about Cal’s defense come from what I’ve been told by people that hang close to the program and the eye test, I respect your opinion but can you really say you can see any of the things I listed look like they’re being taught??  We’ll definitely agree on the rest of your post 

Yes I can say they are being taught and their defensive efficiency majority of the years reflects that. As I said I understand people have different philosophies, but different philosophies doesn’t mean a certain way is wrong. Which defensively with how Cals teams have done reflect he usually does a good job defensively with teams. Especially when you add in the fact that many of those years he was having to start over and teach freshman how to buy in and play defense. 
 

As I mentioned in the last post even other college collages don’t question Cal and his defense. He usually even gets praised how he can get his teams to play defense. Other coaches when they critique Cal, don’t mention a word about his defense. It is always the offense, which is definitely a fair criticism of him. 

21 hours ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

Yes but Nerlens got hurt early in January I believe, so again, no shot blocker.  My feelings about Cal’s defense come from what I’ve been told by people that hang close to the program and the eye test, I respect your opinion but can you really say you can see any of the things I listed look like they’re being taught??  We’ll definitely agree on the rest of your post 

Nerlens got hurt on February 12th and missed the last nine games. They gave up an average of 69 points in those 9 games. They gave up 62.75 with him.  But those included the easy non-conference wins.  I don't know where they were ranked in defensive efficiency when Noel went down and how far that it dropped.  Also, don't forget that his minutes were mostly absorbed by Willie Cauley-Stein who was another great shot blocker. 

2 hours ago, Carl Spackler said:

Also, don't forget that his minutes were mostly absorbed by Willie Cauley-Stein who was another great shot blocker. 

He grew into one. He wasn't that year.

2 hours ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

He grew into one. He wasn't that year.

He had 60 blocks in 29 games.  He got those 60 blocks in 683 minutes, one every 11 minutes.  Noel averaged one every 7 minutes.  Cauley-Stein just didn't play as much. He blocked 25 shots in the 9 games that he started in Noel's stead.  He actually blocked 23 in the first 7 games before only getting 1 each in the final 2.