[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Kentucky added 4 highly rated recruits to a team that has 6 returning players from a team that made it to the championship game…With so many talented players on the roster,alot fans had concerns about the players getting minutes..Coach Cal’s 2 team platooning of players seemed like the perfect solution to those questions..It worked fine on their tour in Bahamas ,the preseason and the 40 point blowout of Grand Canyon…But Bobby Hurley’s Buffalo came out with the relentless aggressiveness Coach Cal had expected from his team this season..For 20 minutes Buffalo gave the number ranked Wildcats all they could handle….

In the 2nd Half foul trouble for freshmen Towns (who would eventually foul out) and guard Andrew Harrison forced the team to scrap the platooning system and use players from both squads..

1st Team

Willie Cauley Stein -center…

Karl Anthony Towns-forward..

Alex Poythress-forward…

Andrew Harrison Harrison-guard..

Aaron Harrison-guard..

_

2nd Team

Dakari Johnson-center..

Marcus Lee-forward..averaged 6 minutes a game last season,this year it has been increased to 16..but so far Lee hasnt made the most out of them, he’s shooting a mere 30% fg…His defense has been fine..But Lee seems to be struggling on offense ,his struggles might be Cal’s mistake of playing him in the post on offense…Clearly thats not his game..

Trey Lyles-forward..2nd best nba prospect behind Towns..In 18 minutes a game the versatile freshman is averaging 13 pts on 66% fg,80%ft,4 rbs,1asts….

Devin Booker-sg…Might be the Wildcats most improved players since Bahamas…Booker failed to score in the first game,but had 10 on sunday…

Tyler Ulis-pg…Team’s best playmaker,should be starting on 1st team…Ulis was the sparkplug that ignited them in the 2nd half…He had 12 pts,6 assists and no turnovers…

Reserves Derek Willis & Dominique Hawkins…

–

Kentucky plays number 5 Kansas tuesday night…An early season test for both teams….I’m eager to see if Cal continues his platoon system or makes adjustments to it?

[TimeForNineParticipant]

 It’s been an interesting experiment. I don’t think there’s any way that Cal keeps it up all year, and his assistants even suggested dumping it in the first half against Buffalo. I actually think by the end of the year Lyles could emerge as the best prospect on the team. He does everything well and has good size and athleticism.

[TimeForNineParticipant]

 It’s been an interesting experiment. I don’t think there’s any way that Cal keeps it up all year, and his assistants even suggested dumping it in the first half against Buffalo. I actually think by the end of the year Lyles could emerge as the best prospect on the team. He does everything well and has good size and athleticism.

[McDunkin]

I see Lee as the big to lose out the most as far as minutes go. He will have his spark plug on d and putobacks/alley moments but unless he shows some type of offensive improvements or Cauley gets into early foul trouble his minutes will be here and there by the time conference play starts.

[McDunkin]

I see Lee as the big to lose out the most as far as minutes go. He will have his spark plug on d and putobacks/alley moments but unless he shows some type of offensive improvements or Cauley gets into early foul trouble his minutes will be here and there by the time conference play starts.

[juves4783Participant]

i think it’s going to be tough to keep everyone happy with the minute restrictions.  i kind of compare this team to the nuggets in the nba.  they are having chemistry issues because they have so much talent and not enough minutes.  

[Mad MaxParticipant]

No, Nuggets just are not a very good team, with pretty bad coach.

[Mad MaxParticipant]

No, Nuggets just are not a very good team, with pretty bad coach.

[juves4783Participant]

i think it’s going to be tough to keep everyone happy with the minute restrictions.  i kind of compare this team to the nuggets in the nba.  they are having chemistry issues because they have so much talent and not enough minutes.  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 I didn’t watch the Bufalo game, but from what I know from watching them in the tourney, then hearing about their recruits, I would having a STARTING five of veterans.

Harrisons in the backcourt, Poythress at the 3, WCS at the 5.  Then put Marcus Lee or Dakari Johnson at the other big man spot.

Towns as a sixth man with a DEEP bench.  

BUT, the team needs an identity.  The identity last year was Randle, the Harrison Twins, WCS, and James Young.  Randle and Young are gone, but those other three are still there.  Then Lee and Dakri looked good.  Poythress had some moments.  Give those guys the benefit of the doubt.

Make the young guys EARN it.

Hey, if Towns is THAT GOOD then he could STILL be a top pick even coming off the bench.  Marvin Johnson was a 6th man and the 3rd pick overall.  Same with Dion Waiters — from 6th man at Syracuse to a top 5 pick.  Ed Davis would have been a top 5 or 10 pick after that title run where he came off the bench.

Sounds like a Twin Towers with WCS and Dakari would be really tough to beat.

Then a big man core of Towns and Marcus Lee off the bench would be killer.

This would be assuming that Poythress could give it a go at the 3.  Even if he is not a great fit at the 3, then just use him to defend 3’s or 4’s then let him be the third rebounder.  The Harrisons can create enough anyway.  Use Poythress as a hard cutter on offense then help him find his spot on the floor to shoot.  

With all this depth though, I would reward the veterans as much as possible.  Hey much of the core is back from a title game appearance.  They had a GREAT run last year.  Build on that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 I didn’t watch the Bufalo game, but from what I know from watching them in the tourney, then hearing about their recruits, I would having a STARTING five of veterans.

Harrisons in the backcourt, Poythress at the 3, WCS at the 5.  Then put Marcus Lee or Dakari Johnson at the other big man spot.

Towns as a sixth man with a DEEP bench.  

BUT, the team needs an identity.  The identity last year was Randle, the Harrison Twins, WCS, and James Young.  Randle and Young are gone, but those other three are still there.  Then Lee and Dakri looked good.  Poythress had some moments.  Give those guys the benefit of the doubt.

Make the young guys EARN it.

Hey, if Towns is THAT GOOD then he could STILL be a top pick even coming off the bench.  Marvin Johnson was a 6th man and the 3rd pick overall.  Same with Dion Waiters — from 6th man at Syracuse to a top 5 pick.  Ed Davis would have been a top 5 or 10 pick after that title run where he came off the bench.

Sounds like a Twin Towers with WCS and Dakari would be really tough to beat.

Then a big man core of Towns and Marcus Lee off the bench would be killer.

This would be assuming that Poythress could give it a go at the 3.  Even if he is not a great fit at the 3, then just use him to defend 3’s or 4’s then let him be the third rebounder.  The Harrisons can create enough anyway.  Use Poythress as a hard cutter on offense then help him find his spot on the floor to shoot.  

With all this depth though, I would reward the veterans as much as possible.  Hey much of the core is back from a title game appearance.  They had a GREAT run last year.  Build on that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

that game between kentucky & duke on paper looks like a good one…

i was expecting a much more competitive game between uk & ku..wasnt expecting a blowout…kansas didnt have any flow on offense at all..but self always have his team prepared and on track toward the end of the season….hopefully soon coach self will increase oubre and alexander’s minutes…..

selden puzzles me,i was expecting him to be in the conversation for player of the year..but so far he’s looking like the 2nd coming of deshawn stevenson….and he’s more talented than that…

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

that game between kentucky & duke on paper looks like a good one…

i was expecting a much more competitive game between uk & ku..wasnt expecting a blowout…kansas didnt have any flow on offense at all..but self always have his team prepared and on track toward the end of the season….hopefully soon coach self will increase oubre and alexander’s minutes…..

selden puzzles me,i was expecting him to be in the conversation for player of the year..but so far he’s looking like the 2nd coming of deshawn stevenson….and he’s more talented than that…

[PistonsFan22Participant]

 I belive Towns, Lyles, and Ullis are the 3 best players for Kentucky. Kind of sucks that some of these super talented guys won’t be able to completely show all of their skills like they would if they were one of 2 or 3 stars on another team. There’s about 10 guys who will get theirs and pretty much could star anywhere other than Kentucky.

It’s an interesting situation. Must be nice to be Calipari. I don’t think he will abandon this line changing mentality, it’s more important to not damage any egos and play all of these talented players equally. It makes for better team chemistry and let’s face it Kentucky will not be having much trouble with too many teams this year. They might be in a dogfight and then we will maybe see a shortening of the rotation but I don’t see that happening often. 

[PistonsFan22Participant]

 I belive Towns, Lyles, and Ullis are the 3 best players for Kentucky. Kind of sucks that some of these super talented guys won’t be able to completely show all of their skills like they would if they were one of 2 or 3 stars on another team. There’s about 10 guys who will get theirs and pretty much could star anywhere other than Kentucky.

It’s an interesting situation. Must be nice to be Calipari. I don’t think he will abandon this line changing mentality, it’s more important to not damage any egos and play all of these talented players equally. It makes for better team chemistry and let’s face it Kentucky will not be having much trouble with too many teams this year. They might be in a dogfight and then we will maybe see a shortening of the rotation but I don’t see that happening often. 

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