[qDizzle32Participant]

Kentucky arguably has the most loaded roster in the whole NCAA. But only 5 players can start. Who should start and who should come off the bench? Tough decision huh? Transfer point guards Twany Beckham and Ryan Harrow will be ineligable this season so that knocks off two players but how many potential 1st rounders does this team even have? Somebody’s gonna have to not start.

Here’s the main one I’ve been thinking of

C Anthony Davis Fr.

F Terrence Jones So.

F. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Fr.

G. Doron Lamb So.

G. Marquis Teague Fr.

All underclassmen starting five? It’s gonna be hard to not start Darius Miller, the Senior who’s started almost every game the past two seasons and played for Team USA in the 2009 U-19 World Championships and the World University Games over the summer. And Kyle Wiltjer the #19 Ranked HS prospect last year. Plus there is still Eloy Vargas the Senior from the Dominican Republic, Stacey Poole Jr. the Sophomore who’s improved a lot plus Jon Hood and Jarrod Polson who recieved somewhat minutes last year who could potentially get more playing time this season. DeAndre Liggins who risked going undrafted in this last year’s draft as a Junior who ended up being the #52 pick in the draft better be glad he left despite the lockout because he would have never made it to the NBA with this depth chart UK has this year.

Lineup #2

C Kyle Wiltjer Fr.

F Anthony Davis Fr.

F Terrance Jones So.

G Darius Miller Sr.

G Marquis Teague Fr.

Okay so now starter for the past two seasons Darius Miller is in there and they have more of a real center rather than pushing Anthony Davis to the 5. But now potential 1st round lottery picks of this upcoming draft Doron Lamb and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist don’t start? Kidd-Gilchrist was the #1 Prospect in the whole 2011 class for years until teammate Anthony Davis grew 7 inches and rose up on the charts. Darius Miller doesn’t really have that much NBA potential but Kentucky needs his leadership with such a young roster. But Miller is 6’8 even though he’s more of a wing type player and he has been pushed up to the 4 spot before. Eloy Vargas (With almost no NBA potential) probably won’t ever be able to pass Kyle Wiltjer or Anthony Davis even though he’s a Senior and Wiltjer and Davis are Freshmen but UK’s gonna have to use Eloy Vargas more this season due to his experience and age.

The last potential lineup

C Anthony Davis Fr.

F Terrance Jones So.

F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Fr.

G Darius Miller Sr.

G. Marquis Teague Fr.

As I’ve mentioned earlier somebody’s gonna have to not start, so in this one it’s potential lottery pick in this upcoming draft Doron Lamb, Kyle Wiltjer the #19 prospect in the 2011 HS recruiting class along with Eloy Vargas and Stacey Poole who never were in another projected lineup I listed but might be able to get some starts this season. Even though Miller did start quite a few more games over Doron Lamb last year, Doron Lamb is way more talented, can shoot better and is better overall but he’s only a Sophmore and Darius Miller is the veteran on this UK roster. But could you imagine if John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Brandon Knight, Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton would have never left for the NBA and if Enes Kanter would have never been ruled ineligable last year and he would have stayed? Every single one of those guys I have just mentioned could still be at UK right now. That would be the #1 team in NCAA history arguably and could just torture the Michigan Fab 5 and those Duke teams with Laittener and Hill easily. Plus as of next year depending who stays, #1 prospect in this years HS Senior class Shabazz Muhammad is strongly considering Kentucky as he also attended their Midnight Madness. Plus #1 Center in the 2013 HS class Nerlens Noel is also considering Kentucky. Although Noel said that he won’t reclassify back to his original HS graduating class (2012) and be a 5th year Senior. Who knows he could potentially change his mind and reclassify just like how Andre Drummond (UConn) did this year. Then that would add Shabazz Muhammad, Nerlens Noel and Archie Goodwin (#19 prospect this year already commited) to UK’s roster. Keep an eye out to see who will start in the blue and white jerseys this year. It will be interesting to see who starts and who doesn’t.

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 kentucky is just crazy…how does he recruit like that???

[providencefriars1Participant]

Im sticking with

PG Teague

SG Miller

SF Gilchrist

PF Jones

C Davis

6th man- Lamb

7th man- Wiltjer

8th man- Vargas

Thats as deep as they will go, I think

[sammybuckeye13Participant]

I think Cal’s definitely going to have Lamb in the starting 5. He called him the best player on the team and he’s their best shooter, the vital perimeter guy that the ’10 team lacked. I also think Darius Miller will start over Kidd-Gilchrist; Miller is the senior leader, averaged 10.9 points and 4.6 boards last year and shot 44% from 3 and was SEC tournament MVP. That’s nothing to scoff at, and it’s not like he’s lacking in size or athleticism. I think it’ll be Teague/Lamb/Miller/Jones/Davis at least to start though Kidd-Gilchrist will be getting at least 23 or so minutes a night regardless.

[qDizzle32Participant]

The only guys who are guaranteed to start are Anthony Davis, Terrence Jones and Marquis Teague. But the only reason why Teague should be guaranteed to start is because neither of the two transfers Ryan Harrow and Twany Beckham will be eligable this season. In my opinion Ryan Harrow looked better than Marquis Teague in the scrimmage on their Midnight Madness. But in every single one of Calpari’s past five seasons, he had a true freshmen start at the point. (Derrick Rose-2007-2008, Tyreke Evans 2008-2009, John Wall 2009-2010, Brandon Knight 2010-2011) and then again this year with Marquis Teague.

[iguapops420Participant]

 Lamb starts. Cal already said he was the teams best player and was expecting a big year from him. I personally think it will be Teague,Lamb,Gilchrist,Jones,Davis with Wiltjer and Miller coming off the bench. Nothing better out of senior leadership than showing self sacrifice by being willing to go to the bench for the greater benefit of the team. He’ll get his minutes no worries.

[omphalosParticipant]

Gilchrist has to start; he was one of the top players in his class coming out of HS, and if he isn’t shown that he’ll get the minutes he wants immediately it might put off other top-ranked players from coming to Kentucky due to a lack of PT. Cal makes a living off recruiting freshmen, he can’t afford to compromise this in my opinion.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

It would Help Kentucky so much..If Vargas can assume a role similar to what Josh Harrellson gave them last year…By supplying inside muscle,toughness and rebounding..Vargas has the skills to be a very decent big man..But he and Coach Cal fought so much last year…Cal limited his minutes becuz he just didnt play smart and committed silly fouls….

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

I do not think that is true in the least that Gilchrist HAS to start. Actually, when Mike did not start in certain games, he was an amazing energy guy off of the bench who could really turn the game around. I think that he and Darius Miller will probably play together at times. But, I almost think it could be great to have a player like Gilchrist come off of the bench. I do not think it will effect their recruiting in the least, in less of course this is not successful.

As long as they win, Kentucky’s recruiting should be as solid as ever. If anything, it might help their recruiting, maybe even getting guys to be convinced that they could share time and still have their draft stock be solid. Remember, Marvin Williams was a 6th man on a UNC team that won a title, and he was a top rated recruit and 2nd pick in the draft after his freshman year.

Darius Miller is a 6’8 and 235 pound senior who has been a solid contributor since he came on campus. He also played 31 mpg last year, shooting 48% from the field and over 44% from beyond the arc. I have a feeling that he may indeed be the player who starts the game at the 3 spot. Last season, Kentucky had a six man rotation playing over 28 mpg. This season, I see the same thing with Marquis Teague replacing Brandon Knight (though probably not playing 35.9 mpg, but close to it), Gilchrist taking the minutes of DeAndre Liggins and Anthony Davis doing his best to provide a new look to the post after the departure of Josh Harrelson.

They may struggle with big bodies, but they will suffocate the perimeter with their length and speed, much like they did last year. Plus, for as much as people may think Davis is a push over at the Center spot, the guy runs like a gazelle and I believe he will be a nightmare for post players to defend. UConn won a championship last season with a guy playing at Center who had incredibly similar measurements to Terrence Jones, who has a 7’2 or so wing span, not to mention his being measured at 6’9 and 249 pounds at KD Skills Academy.

I understand people looking at this team and seeing them being youthful and maybe thinking they are overrated, but it is hard for me not to believe they do not have even more talent than last years Final Four team. I am not saying they are locks for the championship or Final Four, but I certainly think they are contenders. Plus, I think that Gilchrist coming off the bench could give them a similar boost as to what marquee NBA sixth men have given title contending NBA teams.

[kdtriv01Participant]

PG-Teague-only real pg that is elgible (Twany will be after x-mas)

SG-Doron Lamb-can’t keep buckets on the bench

SF-Darius Miller-given the Fact that Kidd-Gilchrist doesn’t mind, this is a win-win

PF-Terence Jones-obviously

C-Anthony Davis-kid is insane

The acutal positions do not really matter in the DDMO. 

1st off the bench-Kidd-Gilchrist

2nd- Stacy Poole/Wiltjer

3rd- Eloy Vargas

Actual time coming in going to depend on foul trouble etc..

This team is stacked.  Only team that is comparable is North Carolina

[qDizzle32Participant]

As stacked as they are now and if some of the underclassmen stay and it’s gonna be the same thing all over again with Shabazz Muhammad and Nerlens Noel if they come to UK next year

[omphalosParticipant]

I suppose it won’t matter whether or not Gilchrist starts if they are wildly successful, but if they could be doing better, I hope Cal gives him a shot. If he keeps him on the bench when the team is losing games, then he might have a problem. All comes down to results I suppose.

[JSakes22Participant]

I’ll tell you guys what. I bet Kentucky’s starting lineup changes 7-8 times this year, maybe even more considering all the talent that they. I bet opening night line-up will be…

 

PG – Teague

SG – Lamb

SF – Miller

PF – Jones

C- Davis

[JNixonParticipant]

 I got:

PG- Teague

SG- Lamb

Wing- Darius Miller

PF- Terrence Jones

C- Anthony Davis

I think Kidd-Gilchrist could take the position down the stretch or maybe even earlier, but I feel that Miller will be the starter early on. He’s proven already, and I think Calipari trusts him alot. Definitely could be wrong though.

But yeah, Doron Lamb will definitely start next year. Calipari had been singing his praises in the off-season.

[A.M.G.Participant]

C- Anthony Davis: Guaranteed to block shots, but will he be strong enough to dominate?

PF- Terrence Jones: Will be more mature and consistent, capitalizing on huge talent.

SF- Darius Miller: I wanted to put Gilchrist here, but team needs some experience in starting lineup.

SG- Lamb: Potential to explode as a Ray Allen-style scorer.

PG- Teague: Is he a true PG? If so, Final Four again.

Mike Gilchrist will be the 6th man and will basically split minutes with Miller, and could easily move into starting lineup with his versatility and pedigree. I have no faith in Eloy Vargas ever becoming more than a big body, despite his lofty high school ranking, and I think Kyle Wiltjer will get the majority of the frontcourt bench minutes. Teague will get as many minutes at PG as he can physically handle, with Lamb sometimes sliding down to PG to give him a break, with Miller sliding down to SG, and with Polson seeing minutes in blowouts. If Jon Hood recovers from a serious knee injury, he will provide quality depth in case of injury to the wings.

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