2015-2016 Season

BearcatTalk

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It's hard not to call out our 5th year guy with so much potential, but you're right there's a lot going on. Trust me I like Shaq, I just remember watching him against Creighton thinking that this guy will eventually be unstoppable and that is not the case. I just feel like there's so much potential with this team, but they aren't getting it done. Kind of how I've always felt with Shaq. Regardless, yeah there's is a lot of the little things that we aren't getting done and it's a shame.

Shaq is a microcosm of a lot of previous UC players. You can see the potential and the hope that he can be very very good. Yet it never seems like they get developed into that which at this point has to be coaching.
 
Oh god I just thought of something. Given Mick's history and rep for starting older players... KJ will most likely start next season at the 2 guard. *slams head on steering wheel repeatedly*
 
Shaq is a microcosm of a lot of previous UC players. You can see the potential and the hope that he can be very very good. Yet it never seems like they get developed into that which at this point has to be coaching.
I think most of what has hindered Shaq's development is the style we have played. From day 1 in a up tempo game he may have been a better player. When you playing in a slow grind it our defensive game and you have been undersized weight wise for 4 years this is how you turn out. Here is the Coaching issue for me in the last 10 years. Can Mick ever get the program to the point where he can recruit against the big boys. When your forced to settle for the player who has to develop his game year after year your going to miss on a few. He has got a lot out of his talent he has brought in. As has been stated many times is that what the fans want to settle for.
 
I think most of what has hindered Shaq's development is the style we have played. From day 1 in a up tempo game he may have been a better player. When you playing in a slow grind it our defensive game and you have been undersized weight wise for 4 years this is how you turn out. Here is the Coaching issue for me in the last 10 years. Can Mick ever get the program to the point where he can recruit against the big boys. When your forced to settle for the player who has to develop his game year after year your going to miss on a few. He has got a lot out of his talent he has brought in. As has been stated many times is that what the fans want to settle for.

When it comes to recruiting high major players consistently I think the Eric Bledsoe situation really opened Mick's eyes in a bad way. That guy was signed sealed and delivered to UC but at the last minute UK swept in got him in for a last visit and the rest is history. Since then I mean what high major recruit has Mick really gone after they everyone wanted? Even Lance Stephenson and Jermaine Lawrence were cases where the big time schools backed off late.
 
When it comes to recruiting high major players consistently I think the Eric Bledsoe situation really opened Mick's eyes in a bad way. That guy was signed sealed and delivered to UC but at the last minute UK swept in got him in for a last visit and the rest is history. Since then I mean what high major recruit has Mick really gone after they everyone wanted? Even Lance Stephenson and Jermaine Lawrence were cases where the big time schools backed off late.
Looking at Micks resume nothing in the recruiting world should surprise him. Working under Huggs and Pitino should have prepared him for those moments. Conference, Facilities, Players going to league, Style and who is tied to what shoe company all effect recruiting. Will we ever be able to recruit with the big boys??? I don't know.
 
Think it also hurt this program when Jordan removed themselves from the UC. Under armour is up and coming but not there yet. Recruiting under a great head coach is easier than doing it for yourself. He could sell guys who they were going to play for now he has to sell these kids on him.
 
Think it also hurt this program when Jordan removed themselves from the UC. Under armour is up and coming but not there yet. Recruiting under a great head coach is easier than doing it for yourself. He could sell guys who they were going to play for now he has to sell these kids on him.
agree. Nice chatting with you. I got to go for a run. Trying to stay healthy.
 
I mean the development is not all bad. Kilpatrick obviously, I'd say Justin Jackson, Dion Dixon from Soph to Jr year, Jaquon Parker. But yes for the most part it has been disappointing.
 
If you believe our problem is defense how can you give more minutes to a player who is not as good at it then what you are replacing. My point is neither is adding value at this time. Its more then apparent we will not be winning by outscoring people.

I'm not trying to be a smart ass here but I really don't see how Jenifer is going to improve us defensively. Now if you want to give up on this season and play him in hopes the experience will pay off next year I would have to ask is it that time.

Oh and I am just as unhappy with KJ's development as you are but he is not what is killing this team. Not only was our defense terrible yesterday but we gave up a ton of second chance points. Unless Jenifer is going to improve those two areas I can't see much difference in the outcomes.

Defense killed us yesterday. Inexcusable. But my hope has more to do with simply removing the worst player on the team from the rotation, and helping save the legs of the best player. KJ does nothing, and I do mean nothing, to help this team. He should play as much as Quadri.
 
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Defense killed us yesterday. Inexcusable. But my hope has more to do with removing the worst player on the team from the rotation, and helping save the legs of the best player. KJ does nothing, and I do mean nothing, to help this team. He should play as much as Quadri.
Jake, defense has killed us all year. we are terrible. I won't debate with you that KJ has not played as well as I had hoped he would. But benching you best defender is not the answer. By the way I expected much more from him offensively this year.
 
If you believe our problem is defense how can you give more minutes to a player who is not as good at it then what you are replacing. My point is neither is adding value at this time. Its more then apparent we will not be winning by outscoring people.

I'm not trying to be a smart ass here but I really don't see how Jenifer is going to improve us defensively. Now if you want to give up on this season and play him in hopes the experience will pay off next year I would have to ask is it that time.

Oh and I am just as unhappy with KJ's development as you are but he is not what is killing this team. Not only was our defense terrible yesterday but we gave up a ton of second chance points. Unless Jenifer is going to improve those two areas I can't see much difference in the outcomes.
Jenifer dead man standing on defense in corner. Let him harass the PG man up. Having a floor general on court will naturally come everybody down. Nit once did you see Cobb or Caupain hold ANYBODY responsible yesterday for lack of hustle. NOBODY tried boxing out yesterday but Ellis. Deberry should NEVER start with Clark again also, the softness of the two from start of game gave temple confidence on road that they could bully us
 
Jake, defense has killed us all year. we are terrible. I won't debate with you that KJ has not played as well as I had hoped he would. But benching you best defender is not the answer. By the way I expected much more from him offensively this year.

Yeah it has been bad a lot of the year. But all of that aside and just speaking on KJ as an individual player...he gives us nothing. Not a thing. Doesn't create anything for anyone, tries really hard to create for himself and it ends in disastrous results. He's the worst upperclassman player to get regular playing time at UC that I've even seen. You simply cannot have him on the floor. He kills us.
 
Yeah it has been bad a lot of the year. But all of that aside and just speaking on KJ as an individual player...he gives us nothing. Not a thing. Doesn't create anything for anyone, tries really hard to create for himself and it ends in disastrous results. He's the worst upperclassman player to get regular playing time at UC that I've even seen. You simply cannot have him on the floor. He kills us.

^And I don't mean to just go off on KJ, but this is high level D1 basketball. I'm sure he's a nice kid and all, but we aren't winning in March if he is in the rotation.
 
I think it is a myth that KJ is a good defender. He moves his feet well, he's a good athlete, but when does he ever actually make a play? He has 0 blocks and 11 steals this year (only 2 more steals than Jenifer is twice the minutes). When he picks up full court, he adds a little pressure...but in no way is that worth him playing double digit minutes imo.
 
I guess my whole thing with KJ comes back to asking what kind of program we want this to be. Even if we could get all 1 and dones like Kentucky, some wouldn't want that. I respect that. But the idea of KJ getting minutes takes it a step even lower. "He's a Mick guy" or "He's a good kid" or "He does the right things" can't be reasons for playing time if you are in your 3rd year and hurting the team every time you step on the floor. This has to be a little more cut throat than that. If KJ really is a team player, he'd understand that...feelings be damned. I mean we criticize Jenifer and Quadri day and night around here for how they look in 2 minutes spurts, meanwhile the upperclassman playing half the game is worse. When he comes in the game, my stomach drops. I know the lead is about to evaporate. And at the same time, it puts even more stress on the already overworked starting PG.

Sorry, don't mean to be harsh, but we need to stop being a boys team. I believe Bulldog said a few guys were "teacher's pet" type players. That needs to stop. That part of it comes from coaching though. Biggest evidence of all was Guyn starting every game his JR year. KJ playing time is another example. Also Shaq yesterday gets taken out of the starting lineup bc Mick didn't like how a couple guys were practicing...but in comes Shaq with 17:42 or something left in the 1st half. What kind of message is that? Time for these guys to man up. They put these high expectations on themselves this offseason. The coach (for the most part) gave them the keys. Time to own in.
 
I think it is a myth that KJ is a good defender. He moves his feet well, he's a good athlete, but when does he ever actually make a play? He has 0 blocks and 11 steals this year (only 2 more steals than Jenifer is twice the minutes). When he picks up full court, he adds a little pressure...but in no way is that worth him playing double digit minutes imo.
Again I understand he is not playing well. There are a whole group of guys not playing well.
 
Again I understand he is not playing well. There are a whole group of guys not playing well.

It is more than not playing well for KJ. It is just not being good enough. Mick will continue to get criticized for player development if his decision is to continue to run his PG into the ground in order to develop a JR guard who is bad by every measure, over an additional ball handler (at least). Even eye testers and statheads can agree on that.
 
I guess my whole thing with KJ comes back to asking what kind of program we want this to be. Even if we could get all 1 and dones like Kentucky, some wouldn't want that. I respect that. But the idea of KJ getting minutes takes it a step even lower. "He's a Mick guy" or "He's a good kid" or "He does the right things" can't be reasons for playing time if you are in your 3rd year and hurting the team every time you step on the floor. This has to be a little more cut throat than that. If KJ really is a team player, he'd understand that...feelings be damned. I mean we criticize Jenifer and Quadri day and night around here for how they look in 2 minutes spurts, meanwhile the upperclassman playing half the game is worse. When he comes in the game, my stomach drops. I know the lead is about to evaporate. And at the same time, it puts even more stress on the already overworked starting PG.

Sorry, don't mean to be harsh, but we need to stop being a boys team. I believe Bulldog said a few guys were "teacher's pet" type players. That needs to stop. That part of it comes from coaching though. Biggest evidence of all was Guyn starting every game his JR year. KJ playing time is another example. Also Shaq yesterday gets taken out of the starting lineup bc Mick didn't like how a couple guys were practicing...but in comes Shaq with 17:42 or something left in the 1st half. What kind of message is that? Time for these guys to man up. They put these high expectations on themselves this offseason. The coach (for the most part) gave them the keys. Time to own in.

I'm here if you need to know anything else about a player years in advance......
 
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