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Author
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Topic: Whole new roster next year!
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Trey Ball
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Member # 332
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posted 03-19-2023 11:13 PM
All 6 Seniors have the option to play another year of college basketball. When they asked Cal if any would return he said he expects not.
So those 6 are gone. Wallace and Livingston will go 1st round in the draft. I fully expect Collins to transfer to a Texas school to be closer to home and get playing time and I would guess that Ware will also transfer. I think Thiero and Oneyso will be the only player coming back on scholarship and they may elect to leave as well.
So there will be 5 Freshmen and my guess is Cal will target 2 or 3 portal players.
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Wife's Mad. Told me we never talk anymore. And just last nite while watching super bowl told her 2 or 3 times to get me a coke and popcorn. Also told her not to forget to take out trash in the morning. Ain't that something. Also told me I was too indecisive. Can't figure out what to do about that. One nice thing I guess. She called me a pro crastinator. Don't know what a crastinator is but I guess I'm a good one for her to call me a pro. Gonna wait til tomorrow to look that up though. I love her but somrtimes can't help but thinking I should have told uncle Junior to keep his coon hound pup and stevens double barrel and also his youngest daughter.
redbone
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PaulCat
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Member # 513
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posted 03-20-2023 12:25 AM
Lather, rinse, repeat. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Posts: 10324 | From: Erlanger, Ky. USA | Registered: Mar 2000
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Bama Cat
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Member # 153
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posted 03-20-2023 08:28 AM
I think you got it figured out for the most part. But I think Ware will remain to finish here. He knows Cal will play him his limited minutes and that is what seems to be ok. Ugonna hasn't even got his feet wet so he could decide to bide his time. Thiero is connected by family so he is probably a 50-50 person. After that I would have to agree.
Posts: 14124 | From: berea, ky, usa | Registered: Sep 1999
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ukman
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Member # 3032
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posted 03-20-2023 12:11 PM
I truly believe Thiero, and possibly Onyenso, could be big contributors next year if they got more experience this year. But. Cal will probably have both of them sit for the higher profile guys.
Thiero isn't a PG, but could be a really good player off the ball if given the chance. And Onyenso could be a very good defensive player and rebounder.
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Tiptree
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Member # 844
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posted 03-20-2023 02:42 PM
Wallace is gone. Definitely has a pro game, and a pro body. Lottery pick.
I doubt Ware transfers; he might, but I agree with Bama. He has found his role with Cal, he gets some minutes (maybe more next year), and he knows he isn't going to the NBA. No rush, no worries.
I hope Livingston stays another year. Sure, he might get drafted (I would put him in the second round, but maybe Trey is right). But he would be THE MAN on our team next year.
I also give Toppin an outside chance of staying. He has struggled with mental health issues, and might not feel ready to go big-time yet. If both Toppin and Livingston remain, along with Ware and Onyenso, I like our front court a LOT.
Tshiebwe? Well, the NBA mock drafts are not being kind to him, and he IS a tweener. But he reminds me of Charles Barkeley, and that guy had one heck of an NBA career. Different era, I know, but a guy with his rebounding prowess might just sneak into the draft. BUT, this kid loves playing college ball. Could he return? It is possible.
Now, I am sure that Cal will tell them all to move on. I don't exactly understand why, except for Wallace, who is definitely an NBA-ready player. I think all three of those guys have a reasonable chance of saying "aw, heck, why not one more year?", since other than Livingston and maybe Toppin, they don't really have guaranteed money waiting for them.
As to transfers, yeah, I could see Collins and Thiero moving on. They got some spot minutes here and there, but clearly weren't in Cal's confidence. Theiro was always a bit shakey with the ball, but had some serious hops and could shoot the trey ball OK. Would love to have seen him post Thiero up against smaller guards this season, but that is just my old-school mindset.
I honestly haven't followed recruiting for next year AT ALL. It seems like chasing a will o' wisp. Whoever comes, comes. I understand we have a good class, but that is said about every class. We need more long-term players to be successfull.
[ 03-20-2023, 02:44 PM: Message edited by: Tiptree ]
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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
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Trey Ball
Administrator
Member # 332
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posted 03-20-2023 08:16 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Tiptree:
I honestly haven't followed recruiting for next year AT ALL. It seems like chasing a will o' wisp. Whoever comes, comes. I understand we have a good class, but that is said about every class. We need more long-term players to be successfull.
From all accounts, this class is the real deal, but we will see. If so, this class has the potential to be the best class Cal has ever recruited.
Just my opinion, but I don't think Cal wants any of the Seniors back, including Oscar. I think he is ready to move on from those guys. I do think there is a good chance that 2 or 4 of them hit the portal and play elsewhere for their extra COVID year. I especially see Frederick and Wheeler playing somewhere next year since injuries really derailed them this year. I know it sounds crazy, but the only one I would like to see back would be a HEALTHY Frederick. The kid proved at Iowa he is a great shooter and with the talent Cal has coming in he would get a ton of wide open looks. Don't think it will happen though.
I would love to have Collins back as well. He is super talented in my opinion, but I don't see anyway in the world that he stays. He will go and flourish somewhere in Texas in my opinion. I think he will even do better than Hopkins did at Providence this year.
I think Cal is going to be content with those 5 Freshmen and hopefully Oneyenso and Thiero and maybe a portal guy or two. I would love to see Cal go after Jackson Paveletzke who is in the portal, but I'm sure he will end up at Wisconsin or Gonzaga.
Oscar is in a no win situation. He is not talented enough to play in the NBA. I don't see the Barkley comparison other than from the rebounding perspective.
Barkley was a tremendous ball handler and could go coast to coast after a rebound and was a great passer as well. He then developed a nice outside jumper too. I don't ever see Oscar being able to do that at this stage of his career. I hope so for him, but just don't see it.
[ 03-20-2023, 10:59 PM: Message edited by: Trey Ball ]
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Wife's Mad. Told me we never talk anymore. And just last nite while watching super bowl told her 2 or 3 times to get me a coke and popcorn. Also told her not to forget to take out trash in the morning. Ain't that something. Also told me I was too indecisive. Can't figure out what to do about that. One nice thing I guess. She called me a pro crastinator. Don't know what a crastinator is but I guess I'm a good one for her to call me a pro. Gonna wait til tomorrow to look that up though. I love her but somrtimes can't help but thinking I should have told uncle Junior to keep his coon hound pup and stevens double barrel and also his youngest daughter.
redbone
Posts: 11534 | From: IN, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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PaulCat
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Member # 513
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posted 03-20-2023 10:06 PM
If CJ used the transfer portal to come to UK, I believe he'd have to sit out a year if he transfers again. I think you can only use the portal one time. With that said, CJ will probably return or retire.
Posts: 10324 | From: Erlanger, Ky. USA | Registered: Mar 2000
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Trey Ball
Administrator
Member # 332
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posted 03-20-2023 10:33 PM
Maybe it isn’t technically the portal, but the NCAA granted the extra year of eligibility due to COVID for all players and waived sitting out even if you transferred via the portal previously.
I’m pretty sure the Stevenson kid at West Virginia played this year with that rule and West Virginia was his 4th college.
I also think CJ would get a waiver anyway since he has only played 3 years since he sat out all of last year.
EDIT: Here you go for Stevenson:
2018-19 Wichita State
2019-20 Wichita State
2020-21 Washington
2021-22 South Carolina
2022-23 West Virginia
[ 03-20-2023, 11:56 PM: Message edited by: Trey Ball ]
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Wife's Mad. Told me we never talk anymore. And just last nite while watching super bowl told her 2 or 3 times to get me a coke and popcorn. Also told her not to forget to take out trash in the morning. Ain't that something. Also told me I was too indecisive. Can't figure out what to do about that. One nice thing I guess. She called me a pro crastinator. Don't know what a crastinator is but I guess I'm a good one for her to call me a pro. Gonna wait til tomorrow to look that up though. I love her but somrtimes can't help but thinking I should have told uncle Junior to keep his coon hound pup and stevens double barrel and also his youngest daughter.
redbone
Posts: 11534 | From: IN, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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PaulCat
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Member # 513
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posted 03-21-2023 07:45 AM
Why wasn't last year a red-shirt year for CJ? Do they not do that anymore?
Also, I could swear I was watching a game a few weeks ago and there was a player on his seventh year with the team. I don't know all the circumstances, but seven years?!?! He should have his PHD by now. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posts: 10324 | From: Erlanger, Ky. USA | Registered: Mar 2000
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m hamilton
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Member # 127
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posted 03-21-2023 08:16 AM
Maybe he's a slow learner, Paul.
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The potus is planning 1st major tax hike since '93 in next economic package!
I still can't believe some people believed that LIAR!!!
Your whole life is determined(by) 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you handle it!!!
Posts: 123962 | From: vevay, IN USA | Registered: Sep 1999
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Tiptree
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Member # 844
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posted 03-21-2023 12:00 PM
Yes, I would love CJ to return, but I have my doubts about his durability. Way too many injuries during his college career already. But he is a pure shooter who can actually do other things well.
Barkely/Tshiebwe comparisons are many. Both are exemplary rebounders. Barkeley had "the butt", and Tshiebwe has the shoulders/upper body. Both both also have an instinct and determination to excel.
Tshiebwe's shot is there. He can nail the mid-range jumper, and did so with decent results at UK. He isn't a 3-point shooter, but from 15-16' on in, he can nail it. And, he has sufficient ball-handling skills to go coast-to-coast and finish, as he did several times this year.
What he lacks is ball-handling skills in traffic, and passing. He has little court awareness and ends up making awful passes that get picked off. And if he brings the ball down below his chest, the other team often slaps and grabs it.
But, I am not an NBA GM. I have no idea if he could benefit from the additional practice time and fill in the holes in his skill set. I would LOVE his attitude, work ethic, and rebounding skills. I think some team will get a real steal with him.
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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
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Tiptree
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posted 03-21-2023 12:07 PM
I wish I knew more about Collins. He hasn't really shown much in his very limited minutes on the court. I read during his recruitment that he was a shot-blocking machine, and we saw glimpses of that, but not much more. Rebounding seemed OK, and his offense seemed raw. It seems he really needs time on the court to develop, something Cal did not give him, and may never give him.
Wheeler? It seems he needs to be a stud on the team, one of the go-to guys, and at Georgia he did that. But at UK, that just made him look awkward sometimes. He had much better players around him, and would have been exemplary had he focused on starting the offense, getting 10 dimes a game, and getting to the line. The trouble was that other teams just sagged off of him and focused on the rest of the players. So, he was a net liability. Will he come back or transfer, or just hang it up? Not sure.
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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
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Tiptree
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Member # 844
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posted 03-21-2023 12:21 PM
Looking at the roster of incoming recruits here:
https://www.on3.com/college/kentucky-wildcats/basketball/2023/commits/
It seems we have a stud center in Bradshaw. 7-1 and rail-thin (210lbs), but rated number 1 at his position and 4th overall, he must bring some skills. I could see Collins leaving only because Bradshaw is coming in.
We have a stud SF coming too. Justin Edwards is rated the overall number 2 player, number 1 at his position. He is 6-7 and 180lbs. Both he and Bradshaw need to hit the weight room big-time.
The rest of the class are all combo guards. We got the number 1 and number 2 recruits at that position in DJ Wagner (6-3, 165) and Robert Dillingham (6-2, 165). They are also the number 3 and number 10 rated players overall. Also, Reed Sheppard, rated the number 9 combo guard, number 38 overall, will be a sure fan favorite.
So, three recruits are number 1 at their position, and they come in at 2, 3, and 4 overall nationally. Pretty hot stuff. Throw in Dillingham at number 10 nationally and number 2 at his position, and inevetable hero-in-blue Sheppard, and this is a great class. Only missing a true PG, which given Cal's predilection for great PGs, is worrisome.
So, how does next year look with those five guys factored in?
Bradshaw/Ware (maybe Collins, maybe Tshiebwe) at the post.
Edwards (maybe Livingston, maybe Toppin) at the other big.
Wagner, Dillingham and Sheppard on the perimeter. Maybe CJ can supplement.
That is a lot of maybes. If most of those maybes don't come back, we will be painfully thin. Cal will definitely need to go to the portal to get us some bench strength.
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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
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Tiptree
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posted 03-21-2023 12:28 PM
If Collins DOES stay, imagine other teams having to deal with Bradshaw and Collins, either one at a time, or as twin towers, along with the excellent guards we will have. Wow. A very tantalizing thought.
Ditto if Livingston stays. What a pair of SFs we could throw at opponents! And, as Cal did this year, having three bigs on the court can really change the game. Livingston, Edwards, and Bradshaw would be an imposing lineup.
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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
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catmandoo
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Member # 1284
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posted 03-21-2023 03:44 PM
Can't wait to see our Cats in action, just hope injuries stay away!!!!!!!!!
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http://www.ukfightsong.com/
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Trey Ball
Administrator
Member # 332
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posted 03-21-2023 08:14 PM
quote:
Originally posted by PaulCat:
Why wasn't last year a red-shirt year for CJ? Do they not do that anymore?
PC,
I don't think they use that term anymore after that changed the rule years back giving all players 5 years to complete 4 years of eligibility.
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Wife's Mad. Told me we never talk anymore. And just last nite while watching super bowl told her 2 or 3 times to get me a coke and popcorn. Also told her not to forget to take out trash in the morning. Ain't that something. Also told me I was too indecisive. Can't figure out what to do about that. One nice thing I guess. She called me a pro crastinator. Don't know what a crastinator is but I guess I'm a good one for her to call me a pro. Gonna wait til tomorrow to look that up though. I love her but somrtimes can't help but thinking I should have told uncle Junior to keep his coon hound pup and stevens double barrel and also his youngest daughter.
redbone
Posts: 11534 | From: IN, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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Trey Ball
Administrator
Member # 332
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posted 05-05-2023 03:01 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Trey Ball:
All 6 Seniors have the option to play another year of college basketball. When they asked Cal if any would return he said he expects not.
So those 6 are gone. Wallace and Livingston will go 1st round in the draft. I fully expect Collins to transfer to a Texas school to be closer to home and get playing time and I would guess that Ware will also transfer. I think Thiero and Oneyso will be the only player coming back on scholarship and they may elect to leave as well.
Looks like this post has come true. Now if I could just get a crystal ball to tell me the lottery numbers.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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Wife's Mad. Told me we never talk anymore. And just last nite while watching super bowl told her 2 or 3 times to get me a coke and popcorn. Also told her not to forget to take out trash in the morning. Ain't that something. Also told me I was too indecisive. Can't figure out what to do about that. One nice thing I guess. She called me a pro crastinator. Don't know what a crastinator is but I guess I'm a good one for her to call me a pro. Gonna wait til tomorrow to look that up though. I love her but somrtimes can't help but thinking I should have told uncle Junior to keep his coon hound pup and stevens double barrel and also his youngest daughter.
redbone
Posts: 11534 | From: IN, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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Bama Cat
Player
Member # 153
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posted 05-05-2023 05:16 PM
Now that Ware has said he is going in the portal we only have Thiero left to wonder about. Out of 10 of them I missed on 3, Ugonna, Toppin and Ware, so far. We'll have to wait to see what really happens to Oscar, Livingston and Reeves in the draft, if they stay.
Posts: 14124 | From: berea, ky, usa | Registered: Sep 1999
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