BIG Z

jbne222

Heisman
Dec 14, 2019
5,561
10,515
113
Yup. I'm glad Cal's gone. My stance on Cal was to always give him last year and see what happened. It was a failure. He's got a lot of issues, not the least of which is I think he just doesn't care anymore, but Z not being a lottery pick right now is not one of them.
Exactly. I can think Cal is washed, but also think Z’s issues go far beyond coaching.
 

kennyskywalker34

All-American
Jan 22, 2013
4,528
7,453
0
Under Any coach with a brain he would be a good stretch 4. A valuable player on offence.
But he is still slow as molasses and soft. He simply cannot guard anyone that has any athleticism.
 
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yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
28,458
39,559
102
A lot of you guys have problem with any nuance whatsoever. Saying that not literally everything is Cal’s fault isn’t a defense of Cal. It’s just realizing that basketball has a lot of moving pieces and the players are the ones who actually play, not coaches.

If you watch Z play he has a lot of issues that aren’t coaching related.
He has some skills and he has some weaknesses. I don’t know of anyone that knows basketball who believes Cal puts him in position to utilize his skills .
 

Basscat1987

All-Conference
Jan 2, 2021
1,016
2,357
0
I am not surprised that posters on this board are trashing a player who was once here and left. Some on this board do it as a favorite pastime. I also wouldn't be surprised to learn that those who are trashing him are still longing for Cal. If I recall, it is never Cal's fault when players don't workout.
Big Z could have played at the ymca last year and id still use the eye test and say he’s not a very good basketball player. He is strictly a spot up shooter. Has Zero skills on the basketball court outside of that.
 
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yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
28,458
39,559
102
Big Z could have played at the ymca last year and id still use the eye test and say he’s not a very good basketball player. He is strictly a spot up shooter. Has Zero skills on the basketball court outside of that.
Last draft projection I saw had him late second round which surprised me. Maybe they think he can mature and get stronger. I’ve been told by someone that was close to the program last year that “he’s kind of a goofy kid” .
 

TigerMoving

Heisman
Jul 13, 2014
7,822
21,577
113
Big Z is a skilled and talented big with some legit pro potential on some level. However right now in college, he is the softest slowest weakest player on the court every time he steps on the floor.

Offensively he could be a good "stretch 4" but defensively he would get absolutely embarrassed.

Kid should transfer asap regardless tho.
 

FirewithFire

Heisman
Jan 16, 2021
4,932
15,920
0
Z is not a traditional big man and playing him at the five will not work until he gets serious about building his body. He is a good passer, a decent shooter, and has a good sense of timing. He will get punked by any center that has athleticism or mass.

After watching his brother I have to wonder if Z wasn't playing the 4 while his brother played the 5 during their childhood. He has zero idea how to block out or how to hold his position. His screen setting skills aren't great either.

Maybe that's why he came stateside, to learn how to play down low. If so Cal is the last person on earth he should be attached to.
 

yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
28,458
39,559
102
Z is not a traditional big man and playing him at the five will not work until he gets serious about building his body. He is a good passer, a decent shooter, and has a good sense of timing. He will get punked by any center that has athleticism or mass.

After watching his brother I have to wonder if Z wasn't playing the 4 while his brother played the 5 during their childhood. He has zero idea how to block out or how to hold his position. His screen setting skills aren't great either.

Maybe that's why he came stateside, to learn how to play down low. If so Cal is the last person on earth he should be attached to.
During the Illinois/ Arkansas game the commentator said they had always played on the same team and big Z was always his brothers backup. Which kinda surprised me .
 
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Eccain01

All-Conference
Dec 20, 2020
1,511
1,976
0
Z will be good in the nba. He has issues but he has clear skillset that Cal refuses to take advantage of because he doesn’t want to play that way. However that’s Z fault
 

AJG-15

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2024
1,469
2,496
78
For Calipari the 5 is a bruiser, Shot blocker and rebounder and that’s it. They aren’t allow to shoot the3 to be involved in passing or any more elaborate offensive scheme.

Remember how he misused, KAT and that cost us a title…or Labissier….big Z is never going to be 5 in Cal system.

He does not even receives NIL money in USA because he is on a student visa…. His skills of passing , shooting would have been useful for Coach Pope.

Calipari is known by handlers in Europe for putting players in nba. Big Z wants to play in nba so he and his handlers thought Cal is the way to promise land….
 

Panthur

Heisman
Aug 5, 2008
9,225
12,780
0
I think it’s a little of both. But I tell you what. If his first two minutes of play wasn’t a fluke and that kid really did come in with skills north of what Mashburn had before Cal got in his head and messed him up, then that has seriously got to be one of the most heinous crimes in the whole history of sports.
 
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Kywildcat_nation28

All-Conference
Jan 28, 2014
2,281
2,596
113
I think it’s a little of both. But I tell you what. If his first two minutes of play wasn’t a fluke and that kid really did come in with skills north of what Mashburn had before Cal got in his head and messed him up, then that has seriously got to be one of the most heinous crimes in the whole history of sports.
this is a joke right?
 

NerlensCat

All-Conference
Feb 12, 2013
1,122
1,941
0
Yes, it is just you. The kid is a typical European player who is grossly/poorly coached by a Moron. This kid is obviously a stretch 4 who is being forced to play out of position. It is hard for me to feel sorry for him because he did it to himself. He didn't have to follow his oppressor to Arkansas.
He definitely did it to himself. I heard that he really was somewhat immature when it came to his work ethic and approach to preparation last year.

Having said that, I would not be unhappy, if he came back to KY next year. In Pope’s system, he could be really good. He is worth the risk, especially, if something happens and we don’t get Wilson. He and Ament/Murinan at PF would be sweet.
 
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yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
28,458
39,559
102
You are saying that pope did not want him?
No . I don’t really know if Pope wanted him . The conversation went like this Me “ Would have liked to see big Z stay , he would be a great fit for Popes offense “ , JS “ Yeah , that decision was made by his people before Mark got to talk to him “ .
 
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PoBilly

All-Conference
Mar 18, 2012
2,784
4,460
98
My understanding is Z has been out injured the last several games. Hurt ankle several games back in the first 5 minutes of the game. He has tried to come back a few times only to reinjure the ankle.
 

jc2010

All-Conference
May 13, 2008
4,592
4,367
62
He should not have followed Cal (his decision or not) and Cal should not have let him. He cannot do Cal any good and Cal can’t do him any good. Terrible match.
 

kyhoward

All-Conference
Feb 3, 2018
861
1,333
0
Z definitely has weaknesses - defense, toughness, rebounding are a few. But he also is a good 3 point shooter and passer on offense. I feel sorry for him in that he plays for COW and will not get better doing so. It seems like he did not make the decision to go to Arky but his "team" did. I believe that CMP did not want any holdovers from Ellens roommate's team but I believe that Z would have fit on our team with his offensive skills and be a great passer in the offensive system.

I see that DJ Wagner played 39 minutes today and was 3-11 from the field as he was against Ole Miss. CCC has also elevated Johnell Davis's game - he cannot do anything. Arky plays 1 on 1 passing only when they get cut off from the basket. COW develops no one - all the NBA players that were coached by him would have made it no matter where they went to college. He just has the reputation that is not backed up by any facts and to Arky's detriment, he does not care.

Praise God that we have CMP at UK!
 

yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
28,458
39,559
102
He should not have followed Cal (his decision or not) and Cal should not have let him. He cannot do Cal any good and Cal can’t do him any good. Terrible match.
IMO , Cal didn’t really want him , he just didn’t want us to have him.
 
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ORCAT

Heisman
Jan 6, 2003
24,596
11,780
113
I have to agree. His brother is better imo.
Don't feel sorry for him as he chose to play a 2nd year under ccc
This right here. Z is the one who made the choice to play for a coach who won't use him the right way and signed up for a second year under Cal. His choice so no sympathy from me.
 
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mash_24

Heisman
Sep 26, 2011
8,573
25,839
108
Sadly. He would have been very good in Popes system of the 5 initiating things from the top of the circle. Teams would have to respect his jumper and he’s a good passer. He made about as bad a choice as could have been possibly made for himself.
 

Panthur

Heisman
Aug 5, 2008
9,225
12,780
0
I'm mean this kid was never was mentioned to be on Mashburn level and clearly not in the same sentence no ego attended
People I respect more than you disagree with you. I doubt your doing the reading comprehension thing on what I wrote anyway. But if you are, feel free to disagree 👍🏻