TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards: Calipari says he won’t feed Skal to the wolves

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Posted by eleem (Member # 884) on 01-18-2016, 02:44 PM:

For Kentucky to pull it together and make a run in March, they need someone to step up inside. Coming into this season, we all though that person would be Skal Labissiere, but the freshman’s struggles have been well-documented. On today’s SEC Coaches Teleconference, John Calipari said he’s doing his best to be patient with Skal instead of “throwing him to the wolves” like he did earlier this season.

“Getting Skal — he’s slowly coming back to where he can give us minutes. He had a couple blocks, he had some opportunities to dunk some balls. He has a big presence, but we’ve gotta see what are the max minutes he can go right now because I don’t want to throw him to the wolves like we did early, and it just didn’t work. Now he’s playing better.”

Later on the call, Calipari said he thinks if Skal can go 15-20 minutes, it would “help us immensely.”

“Skal’s gotta — again, he’s finally got the pressure off of him, so just play now,” Cal said. “I don’t want it to be 30-40 minute games because he’s not ready for that. But if he can go 15-20 minutes and really help our team, it will change his mentality and it’ll help us immensely.”

For reference, here are Skal’s minutes, rebounds, and point totals over the past six games:
◾vs. Louisville: 2 points, 3 rebounds, 10 minutes
◾vs. Ole Miss: 9 points, 3 rebounds, 14 minutes
◾at LSU: 3 points, 2 rebounds, 16 minutes
◾at Alabama: 0 points, 1 rebound, 4 minutes
◾vs. Mississippi State: 5 points, 4 rebounds, 14 minutes
◾at Auburn: 4 points, 2 rebounds, 8 minutes

Link

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-18-2016, 03:32 PM:

Numbers don't lie but it sounds like Cal still has hope he can help in future games.

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 01-18-2016, 04:05 PM:

I thought Skal played really well for a freshman the first 11 games of the season. A couple of those games were sub par but he was still starting and getting about 25 minutes per game. After the loss to Ohio State, Cal made changes and Skal was the big change made in the team. It was not the play of Skal necessarily that cost us the Ohio State game, it was the defense of our guards. Ohio State scored a bunch of three point shots over them but in my opinion, Skal became a scape goat. He has a lot of talent, Cal is just not getting it out of him.

I personally think Cal has thrown him to the wolves by not giving him playing time. He can't do any worse than Alex or Lee along the front line and he has more size.

[ 01-18-2016, 04:09 PM: Message edited by: SCWC ]

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-18-2016, 07:27 PM:

Both Alex and Lee don't get 25 minutes a game and they both average 7 boards a game where Skal averages 3 boards a game in 17 minutes a game playing time.

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 01-19-2016, 05:21 AM:

I still think our best stating five is Skal, Lee, Briscoe, Murray and Ulis. That was the starters for the first 11 games of the season and we were 10-1 during that stretch.

Posted by blue hoot (Member # 398) on 01-19-2016, 11:26 AM:

I hope Cal don’t continue to give minutes to Skal just so he can be more prepared to leave for the draft. He is becoming a liability to the team and if he’s struggling he needs to work out the issues in practice. I’m not saying don’t play him at all in games.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 01-19-2016, 07:29 PM:

As of late, coach has been giving Skal limited minutes!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-19-2016, 07:51 PM:

When your his size and average 3 rebounds a game that is what happens.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 01-19-2016, 08:02 PM:

Oh, I feel that Willis is earning the minutes he's getting at Skal's expense!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-19-2016, 09:07 PM:

It makes sense when Skal is on the bench you had better have a big in to replace him. It's double edge sword however as when Willis is in the game he sure can score points but his rebounding is not so good.

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 01-20-2016, 05:19 AM:

I think we are a better team when Skal starts myself. Look at the record early when he was starting along with Lee, Briscoe, Ulis and Murray as opposed to the record since he has been getting limited minutes. I wish Cal would let him play to his abilities rather than trying to change him to an NBA ready player. He can be a good college big man if allowed to play to his strengths.