Wagner looked real good attacking the basket again yesterday. Also had 10 assists!

Can tell that he's really coming into his game. Even shooting 42% from 3 over the last 5 games.

14 hours ago, nikeman49 said:

Shooters need time to have rhythm, platooning is not working for this team filled with great shooters.

Sheppard shooting 55% on threes, Reeves at 43% on threes, Dillingham 39%, Mitchell 37%. UK as a team is 5th in NCAA on threes. I am ok with you trying to support your anti Cal vendetta. You do make good points on occasion. This isn't a good point. 

3 hours ago, Breds82 said:

We all know why Edwards is starting. Cal does it every year for one or two guys that don’t deserve to

Why did Pitino continue to play Ron Mercer?

1 hour ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

Wagner looked real good attacking the basket again yesterday. Also had 10 assists!

Can tell that he's really coming into his game. Even shooting 42% from 3 over the last 5 games.

He was outstanding yesterday, even with missing the goofy wide-open layup.  Georgia had no answer for him.

1 hour ago, Voice of Reason said:

Why did Pitino continue to play Ron Mercer?

No clue. You can’t say Cal doesn’t play his “guys” with a straight face. Every year he has his one to two guys he promised the nba to and he forces them into the to the rotation whether they deserve it or not. This discussion has zero to do with Pitino.
 

I’d have to go back and watch that footage and read articles.

2 minutes ago, Breds82 said:

No clue. You can’t say Cal doesn’t play his “guys” with a straight face. Every year he has his one to two guys he promised the nba to and he forces them into the to the rotation whether they deserve it or not. This discussion has zero to do with Pitino.
 

I’d have to go back and watch that footage and read articles.

I’ve never bought the “promised the NBA” so Calipari is willing to harm the team theory. That’s not how making the NBA works. I do think Calipari, like most coaches, can be stubborn to a fault when they see talent and want the player to overcome whatever hurdles they’re attempting to overcome. Jacob Toppin has been the case study for this the past couple years.

While UK can score the ball, there are still some major flaws with rebounding and wing defending. That’s really what I think UK is after with Edwards. Obviously, it is still a work in progress.

3 minutes ago, bugatti said:

While UK can score the ball, there are still some major flaws with rebounding and wing defending. That’s really what I think UK is after with Edwards. Obviously, it is still a work in progress.

He rebounded well for the few minutes he got yesterday, because of foul trouble.

Everyone wanting to write off Edwards is a mistake. We need him to find it and have a breakout to add even another massive element to this team with his size and rebounding ability on the wing.

2 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

Sheppard shooting 55% on threes, Reeves at 43% on threes, Dillingham 39%, Mitchell 37%. UK as a team is 5th in NCAA on threes. I am ok with you trying to support your anti Cal vendetta. You do make good points on occasion. This isn't a good point. 

Shooters need time and minutes to get shooting rhythm, platooning doesn’t allow these shooters their rhythm, sitting out 5 minutes, playing 5 minutes, doesn’t allow this to happen, I think a very viable point concerning this discussion, maybe you can understand this?

30 minutes ago, nikeman49 said:

Shooters need time and minutes to get shooting rhythm, platooning doesn’t allow these shooters their rhythm, sitting out 5 minutes, playing 5 minutes, doesn’t allow this to happen, I think a very viable point concerning this discussion, maybe you can understand this?

I'm with you on not wanting to platoon.

I do like that we can swap in Dilly and Sheppard for Wagner and Edwards. Or swap in Big Z and Onyenso for Mitchell and Bradshaw but I'm not wanting wholesale line changes like platooning. Was fun in 2015 but not an experiment I'm willing to start doing again, especially 50% of the way through the season.

Use our depth. Keep legs fresh and if you aren't playing, smart or hard, there is a replacement waiting to get more minutes, just like last night when Dilly wasn't making great decisions, thus less minutes.

 

1 hour ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

I'm with you on not wanting to platoon.

I do like that we can swap in Dilly and Sheppard for Wagner and Edwards. Or swap in Big Z and Onyenso for Mitchell and Bradshaw but I'm not wanting wholesale line changes like platooning. Was fun in 2015 but not an experiment I'm willing to start doing again, especially 50% of the way through the season.

Use our depth. Keep legs fresh and if you aren't playing, smart or hard, there is a replacement waiting to get more minutes, just like last night when Dilly wasn't making great decisions, thus less minutes.

 

Totally agree with this, let’s keep moving forward.

6 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

Why did Pitino continue to play Ron Mercer?

Mercer didn’t even start as a freshman 

14 hours ago, nikeman49 said:

Shooters need time and minutes to get shooting rhythm, platooning doesn’t allow these shooters their rhythm, sitting out 5 minutes, playing 5 minutes, doesn’t allow this to happen, I think a very viable point concerning this discussion, maybe you can understand this?

No follow up from V of R ???

On 1/21/2024 at 11:08 AM, nikeman49 said:

Agree 100% , no idea why he continues to start games with zero production!! Offensively or defensively!!

Edwards is obviously struggling.  Shep is definitely better and has more production...but IF Edwards figures it out...this teams ceiling is much higher.  Shepperd is going to be a constant force no matter if he comes off the bench or not.  

Now if Big Z is going to play like that every game...Edwards role should be diminishing soon.

1 hour ago, okie1 said:

Edwards is obviously struggling.  Shep is definitely better and has more production...but IF Edwards figures it out...this teams ceiling is much higher.  Shepperd is going to be a constant force no matter if he comes off the bench or not.  

Now if Big Z is going to play like that every game...Edwards role should be diminishing soon.

Lots of if’s with Edwards this deep in the season, should have already figured it out, doesn’t need to be starting games, somebody else’s turn and should be Shep and everyone knows that.

23 minutes ago, nikeman49 said:

Lots of if’s with Edwards this deep in the season, should have already figured it out, doesn’t need to be starting games, somebody else’s turn and should be Shep and everyone knows that.

I'm just looking at total minutes here, but since conference play Edwards is averaging 17.5 minutes a game.... his minute trend continues to go downward, FWIW. Those are bench minutes. I can't say he is "stealing" minutes from anyone on the roster. It'll be interesting once Thiero returns.

I get UK can put up points, but until they can somewhat stop someone, I have little faith in this team. Sheppard is crafty, gets some steals, and positions himself well on the defensive end, but with his size, he also gets taken advantage of at times, and not as if they get much better on that side of the court when he is playing. I am still horrified by how bad their rim protection is.

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Who I am thinking of that used to start for UK and would always come out a minute or two in the game and not play again? Mark Coury?