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Author
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Topic: Cats projected starting line-up.
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catmandoo
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Member # 1284
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posted 05-25-2017 11:33 AM
Having Hamidou Diallo back in the fold at Kentucky means the following things for John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats:
•This will be the longest team Cal has had except for the 38-1 team
•Defensively, this should be one of the best in the country
•The athleticism and speed of this team could be on par with last season’s squad
•They are deep enough at the guard position now
• Cameron Johnson as a Wildcat is likely out of the picture
•Instead of two surefire one-and-done talents (Vanderbilt and Knox) there are now three (Diallo)
•By tournament time this team should be primed for a deep run
So what exactly will this team look like as far as size, starting lineup, and the bench? Pretty damn scary if you ask me.
Starting Five:
Point Guard- Quade Green 6-1, 170
Shooting Guard- Hamidou Diallo 6-5, 190
Small Forward- Kevin Knox 6-8, 206
Power Forward- PJ Washington 6-8, 229
Center- Nick Richards 7-0, 239
Bench:
Point Guard- Shai Gilgeous- Alexander 6-6, 175
Shooting Guard- Jemarl Baker 6-4, 185
Small Forward- Jarred Vanderbilt 6-8, 213
Power Forward- Wenyen Gabriel 6-9, 213
Center- Sacha Killeya-Jones 6-10, 230
Center- Tai Wynyard 6-10, 254
Guard- Brad Calipari 6-0, 179
Link
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http://www.ukfightsong.com/
Posts: 186359 | From: st. augustine florida 32092 | Registered: Mar 2001
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SCWC
Player
Member # 2464
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posted 05-25-2017 01:24 PM
I still do not feel we will have a total freshman starting five at the beginning of the season. I feel that Gabriel will be a starter for sure and possibly that Jones will play ahead of Richards. I saw Richards play in a couple of high school games with his team and he still has a ton of basketball to learn. He has only been playing the game for 4 years now, is tall and athletic but I would be very suprised if he is the starting center from day one. I also saw Vanderbilt play in the All Star games and feel that he is more talented than P J Washington so if his foot is ok, he could be a starter from the day one. It is a nice problem to have especially with the stable of quality forwards we will have on the roster next season. My big concern is at the guard positions, if they can measure up to the talent level of the front court, we could be in for a very exciting season.
[ 05-25-2017, 01:27 PM: Message edited by: SCWC ]
Posts: 17777 | From: Myrtle Beach, SC | Registered: Jun 2005
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PaulCat
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Member # 513
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posted 05-25-2017 03:26 PM
I'm with you. SCWC. I think either Killeya-Jones or Gabriel will start early on.
Posts: 10345 | From: Erlanger, Ky. USA | Registered: Mar 2000
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catmandoo
Player
Member # 1284
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posted 05-25-2017 03:49 PM
It will take Cal a little time to find out just how good his freshmen are and who his starting five will be come SEC time. He has a lot to work with but some freshmen take time to figure out top flight college basketball no matter how talented they are. You can bet by tournament time barring injuries Cal will have this team ready to make a deep run in NCAA tournament.
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http://www.ukfightsong.com/
Posts: 186359 | From: st. augustine florida 32092 | Registered: Mar 2001
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SCWC
Player
Member # 2464
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posted 05-25-2017 05:19 PM
One of the good things about Diallo returning is that he will already know Cal's system along with Jones and Gabriel.
Posts: 17777 | From: Myrtle Beach, SC | Registered: Jun 2005
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Bama Cat
Player
Member # 153
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posted 05-25-2017 06:39 PM
Unless some of the top freshmen really excell they can't all start. My starting five at the beginning, unless they just don't produce in the preseason, would be:
Gabriel
Vanderbilt
Knox
Diallo
Green
next off the bench would be:
Richards
Jones
Washington
Baker
Alexander
We'll have to wait and see how much improvement Wynyard shows. If he has gotten a lot better that could throw a monkey wrench into the whole procedure.
My picks for a slow start would be:
Jones, Wynyard, Baker, Richards, Alexander.
Posts: 14162 | From: berea, ky, usa | Registered: Sep 1999
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Tiptree
Administrator
Member # 844
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posted 05-25-2017 08:50 PM
Early starters:
Killeya-Jones (Richards, Wynard)
Gabriel (Washington)
Knox (Vanderbilt; Diallo could play a wing also)
Diallo (Barker)
Green (Gilgeous-Alexander)
I think Jones will come on strong and be our starting center next year, and may be strong enough to hold that honor all season. But both Richards and Killeya-Jones will get better competing against each other, as will Washington/Gabriel and Vanderbilt/Knox. Our second-string guards seem to be a bit of a drop-off from our starters, which is a bit of a worry.
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Tiptree
“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 13624 | From: Terre Haute, IN | Registered: Sep 2000
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