2016 height (?)
- Thread starter UK1919
- Start date
With the exception of Ulis, we would still be a pretty big college team, just not a team that's bigger than most NBA teams
Compared to a lot of other top program teams we would be pretty small at the 4 and 5. It would seem we have to have another big to make a serious run. All it would take is Skal being hurt or in foul trouble. Only need another big to be a good defensive presence around the rim and a good rebounder.
If we don't get Diallo then would have to hope we could get Izundu, who is athletic and plays hard. They asked Izundu's coach if UK offered then what? He said, 'cmon man it's Kentucky, would be a no brainer.' Think we would be fine with either of these two, especially Diallo.
If we don't get Diallo then would have to hope we could get Izundu, who is athletic and plays hard. They asked Izundu's coach if UK offered then what? He said, 'cmon man it's Kentucky, would be a no brainer.' Think we would be fine with either of these two, especially Diallo.
As it stands now:
Starters
G Ulis(5'9)
G Briscoe(6'4)
G Matthews(6'6)
F Poythress(6'8)
F Labissiere(6'10)
Key Reserves
G Hawkins(6'2)
F Lee(6'9)
That's an above average size D-1 team. It's probably about average for a Power 5 conference team.
This team will be built for speed, so it really doesn't matter.
Starters
G Ulis(5'9)
G Briscoe(6'4)
G Matthews(6'6)
F Poythress(6'8)
F Labissiere(6'10)
Key Reserves
G Hawkins(6'2)
F Lee(6'9)
That's an above average size D-1 team. It's probably about average for a Power 5 conference team.
This team will be built for speed, so it really doesn't matter.
It depends on who improves at what, lineups, etc.
If Poy gets more run at the 3, and assuming we get at least Mulder, we're looking at:
G Ulis (5'9) / G Briscoe (6'4)
G Briscoe (6'4) / G Matthews (6'6) / G Mulder (6'5)
G/F Poythress (6'8) /G Matthews (6'6) / G Mulder (6'5)
F Lee (6'9) / G/F Poythress (6'8)
F Labissiere (7'0)
If Poy gets more run at the 3, and assuming we get at least Mulder, we're looking at:
G Ulis (5'9) / G Briscoe (6'4)
G Briscoe (6'4) / G Matthews (6'6) / G Mulder (6'5)
G/F Poythress (6'8) /G Matthews (6'6) / G Mulder (6'5)
F Lee (6'9) / G/F Poythress (6'8)
F Labissiere (7'0)
Skal was measured at 7'0" in shoes at the Nike Hoop Summit. You play basketball in shoes.
Poy is 6'8" 238, plenty big enough to play PF in college if you're gritty enough. Chuck Hayes was our starting PF at 6'5" on several teams that were #1 and #2 seeds in the NCAA tournament.
Marcus is a jumping jack mismatch for a lot of teams at 6'9" 220, just needs to add some more strength.
Other than Ulis our guards will be big and quick, especially if we add Murray and Mulder.
Would be nice to add another post, especially one with a little meat on them, but right now I'm more concerned about our perimeter shooting skills than I am our size.
Poy is 6'8" 238, plenty big enough to play PF in college if you're gritty enough. Chuck Hayes was our starting PF at 6'5" on several teams that were #1 and #2 seeds in the NCAA tournament.
Marcus is a jumping jack mismatch for a lot of teams at 6'9" 220, just needs to add some more strength.
Other than Ulis our guards will be big and quick, especially if we add Murray and Mulder.
Would be nice to add another post, especially one with a little meat on them, but right now I'm more concerned about our perimeter shooting skills than I am our size.
Agreed. May do us some good to play a different style of ball. At least there is no Kaminsky.
why do you keep leaving WILLIS out 6'9'.......and surprise of team next year given his chance to play......
38-1 doesn't matter? Final Four doesn't matter? Wow. Guess I must be living under a rock. Someone call UK and tell them not to hang this year's Final Four banner in Rupp because apparently it doesn't matter. Also tell them not to add those 38 wins to our overall total too.
why do you keep leaving WILLIS out 6'9'.......and surprise of team next year given his chance to play......
That's true! And to think, before I typed my post, I said "I'm gonna add Willis and Hawkins in here" and didn't. I think they'll see some great improvement. If Willis works hard, and commits to being a slasher, as well as a 3 point shooter (which we know he can do), he'll see minutes. He can already rebound and block shots.
Needs to work on passing and defense as well though.
Are you saying its not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog?
I agree.
I am tired of watching us try to "outsize" everyone.
No one else has 6'6 PGs for a reason.
I'm ready for a smaller, quicker team.
People need to stop obsessing over height. Yes you need bigs and yes you need height, but acting like we NEED five or six guys 6-8 or over is a little bit nuts. Cal traditionally only plays 7 or 8 guys, last season was an anomaly, so you're only going to see 3 or 4 bigs get the majority of the minutes in the post anyway.
Look at our 2002-2003 team for example. It was the most dominating team in college basketball that year by the end of the season and one of the most dominating teams in the last 15 years not to win a title. We steamrolled nearly everyone we played (from conference play and on) and looked to be well on our way to winning the National Championship. That team played only 3 people 6-8 or taller (Marquis Estill - 6'9", Jules Camara - 6-11", and Erik Daniels - 6-8"). The starting lineup for that team was 6-1 (Hawkins), 6-3 (Fitch), 6-5 (Bogans), 6-6 (Hayes), and 6-9 (Estill). That team was deep of course (bringing Daniels, Camara, Azubuike, and Barbour off the bench), but the starting five saw the vast majority of the minutes.
Or better yet, let's look at our 2010-2011 lineup. That team went to a Final Four with nothing more than a couple good guards and a good forward (all three frosh), and three role guys making big plays and exactly 3 bigs (Jones, Harrellson, and Vargas). 2015-2016's team is already more talented than that team was (minus Kanter of course).
Currently, with no more additions, we're looking at starting 5-9 (Ulis), 6-3.5 (Briscoe), 6-6 (Matthews), 6-8 (Poythress), and 7-0 (Labiessiere). We will still bring two 6-8/6-9 guys off the bench in Willis and Lee. I still believe we will add Mulder and Murray and possibly Diallo. This team has the potential to be amazing, but people acting like our current roster is inadequate is insane.
Look at our 2002-2003 team for example. It was the most dominating team in college basketball that year by the end of the season and one of the most dominating teams in the last 15 years not to win a title. We steamrolled nearly everyone we played (from conference play and on) and looked to be well on our way to winning the National Championship. That team played only 3 people 6-8 or taller (Marquis Estill - 6'9", Jules Camara - 6-11", and Erik Daniels - 6-8"). The starting lineup for that team was 6-1 (Hawkins), 6-3 (Fitch), 6-5 (Bogans), 6-6 (Hayes), and 6-9 (Estill). That team was deep of course (bringing Daniels, Camara, Azubuike, and Barbour off the bench), but the starting five saw the vast majority of the minutes.
Or better yet, let's look at our 2010-2011 lineup. That team went to a Final Four with nothing more than a couple good guards and a good forward (all three frosh), and three role guys making big plays and exactly 3 bigs (Jones, Harrellson, and Vargas). 2015-2016's team is already more talented than that team was (minus Kanter of course).
Currently, with no more additions, we're looking at starting 5-9 (Ulis), 6-3.5 (Briscoe), 6-6 (Matthews), 6-8 (Poythress), and 7-0 (Labiessiere). We will still bring two 6-8/6-9 guys off the bench in Willis and Lee. I still believe we will add Mulder and Murray and possibly Diallo. This team has the potential to be amazing, but people acting like our current roster is inadequate is insane.
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We would NOT be the "smallest." Jeez, get a grip, we'd still have the nation's No. 1 rated big man (and widely projected No. 1 overall pick) 7'0" Skal in the middle, we'd still have a 6'9" jumping jack and former 5 star McD All American Marcus Lee behind him, We'd still have 6'8" 240 lb former 5 star McD AA Alex Poythress at one of the forward spots, we'd still have 6'9" Derek Willis, and second semester we may have 6'9" Tai Wynyard as well.
I think these insanely gigantic teams we've had the last couple years has skewed your perspective about what the average college team looks like, there's a LOT of tiny lineups being played out there. Hell, Duke just won the national championship starting only one guy over 6'6." Our collection of talented big men will still enable us to play bigger and be more imposing inside than most teams in the country. Only difference is now our lineups will be closer to average sized, instead of BY FAR the biggest in the country like in recent years.
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I agree with Rabid and UK90
That is also 4 guys who can ALL shoot from outside and one big who was automatic around the rim.
We can match that small size but we don't have nearly the shooters. Small teams must have shooters.
That is also 4 guys who can ALL shoot from outside and one big who was automatic around the rim.
We can match that small size but we don't have nearly the shooters. Small teams must have shooters.
That is a valid point, although I'll just say the jury's still out on whether we have the shooters or not. Ulis was a damn sold shooter last year, and I'd assume he'll probably improve. Mulder shot a tremendous 46 percent from threes this year. And we haven't really seen enough of Matthews and Briscoe to know yet.
I'm just saying that the idea of us being smaller next year ain't necessarily a bad thing . These "4 outside, one big" lineups seem to be an increasing trend that's working pretty well. Notre Dame comes to mind as another team that switched to the 4 guard lineup this year, playing only one guy over 6'5", and the result was merely their best season in more than 30 years.
While I obviously don't think we should go that small, I do think it'd be fun to see Cal try something smaller, faster and more suited for running for a change. As much as I've enjoyed the last couple years, the plodding pound-it-in pace can get wearisome after awhile.
I understand but you are kind of proving my point.
Notre Dame also had 4 great shooters.
Ulis is a low volume scorer, unless he changes his game that is what he will be, take shots when he is wide open.
Briscoe only averaged one 3 per game in high school, took zero in all star games.
Matthews outside shot has been the biggest question about him.
As to Mulder, we have fans saying he is an off the bench, spot shooter for us, and if he does start he will be a 4th or 5th option.
Being small and fast can definitely work, but only if you have shooters, we have question marks.
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