EJ Montgomery Playing Time
- Thread starter AW0L
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No, EJ has to and will play a ton.
All we have seen is one blue white game and some have already declared Sestina a star and EJ a bust.A big overreaction and we need to give them time and actually see a real game first.
I still would be thrilled to get 11-7 out of EJ. This will be a guard and wing dominant team without a doubt.
If EJ doesn’t get a lot of minutes it’s because he’s not good enough. And if he’s not good enough, then this team isn’t going all the way. We need “spurts of consistency” from him to have a chance at 9. At the very least He needs to rebound, play good d, and be good enough on offense to keep defenses honest.
If we can somehow get lucky and get that from him and Nick both, this team could be great.
If we can somehow get lucky and get that from him and Nick both, this team could be great.
I keep hearing all this about ej being this super star and a lottery pick, well where is he keeping all this tallent hidden ? Looks just like the same non hustling big guy who is a descent rebounder, and nothing else. If he played for Purdue or Gonzaga, all you would hear would be that he wasn't even good enough to be a scrub here at Kentucky. I think some of you are expecting way to much from him. Richards has a lot more athletic tallent, but he just has very few basketball skills, but the raw athletic tallent is there, he just has to harness those natural gifts that he has.
“Emergence of Sestina”??
I hope it actually happens but there hasn’t even been an opportunity for him to emerge.
I hope it actually happens but there hasn’t even been an opportunity for him to emerge.
Nick gets into a ton of foul trouble.
EJ is gonna play just based on that lol
EJ is gonna play just based on that lol
I was excited to see how well Sestina played the other night and he did look very impressive. However, I also realize this is just a scrimmage we saw and take it for what it is worth. Sestina certainly showed a great deal of potential and could end up starting (and hope he does if the BW game was anywhere close to an indicator). But, we have to play some real games before elevating Sestina too high and downplaying what EJ will be like this season. Just have to wait and see and we should know in quick order when the games begin.
It’s sink or swim for EJ this year. He not only will play a lot this year but he will HAVE to play a lot this year.
There is always the possibility that they continue to grow and develop over the course of the season. Gun officially jumped.
It was widely reported that when EJ worked out for NBA teams, he was seen as a potential late first round pick. And, clearly, he has made a major physical transformation since last year.
But, yes, we should all write him off based on an inter-squad scrimmage. And we should anoint Sestina on the same basis. Any other decision would be rational, and thus outside the scope of Rupp Rafters.
But, yes, we should all write him off based on an inter-squad scrimmage. And we should anoint Sestina on the same basis. Any other decision would be rational, and thus outside the scope of Rupp Rafters.
We only have 4 guys to get 80 minutes, and that's if you count Brooks as a 4. EJ will get playing time.
I think EJ has all the tools to be great. He just needs to put them together.
That being said I think he’s made a pretty normal physical progression from freshman to sophomore year. His body doesn’t look that much different. He’s maybe put on 8-10 lbs it looks like to me. Nice progress but I don’t see this metamorphosis people keep referencing.
That being said I think he’s made a pretty normal physical progression from freshman to sophomore year. His body doesn’t look that much different. He’s maybe put on 8-10 lbs it looks like to me. Nice progress but I don’t see this metamorphosis people keep referencing.
He will play major minutes. He has to for this team to be successful.
Totally agree....I need people to help me see EJ's major potential:
1. Is EJ a freaky athlete (sort of like Willie?)
2. Is EJ a guy with a great motor (like Vanderbilt? or Wenyen developed?)
3. Is EJ really got a nice stroke facing up (like Derek Willis?)...I keep hearing Tayshaun Prince comparisons...but that is not even close IMO.
4. Does EJ have a decent back to the basket game (like PJ had? or Terrence Jones had?)
5. Is EJ a defensive stopper (like Willie was?) Can he be really good big on pick and roll action vs. struggling to move his feet away from basket.
6. Is EJ a guy who can put it on the floor and take guys off the bounce (like Terrence Jones, PJ could a bit, etc..)...again I've never seen him look comfortable with the ball in those instances.
I've heard all his potential...but to me his ceiling is sort of Wenyen Gabriel-ish....but to even get to Wenyen's level he really has to play much harder/faster than he's ever shown to date.
Yes, trying to figure out where he is going to produce offensively is a challenge. He wants to take face up jumpers but has not shown that ability to hit. Not a power dribbler. Has potential on the jump hook but is he strong enough to get position and power up with it?
Many missing the point. OP asked if he'd have a similar role to last season and/or get a lot of playing time.
He will play out of necessity. Whether or not he produces like PJ Washington or Jared Carter remains to be seen.
He will play out of necessity. Whether or not he produces like PJ Washington or Jared Carter remains to be seen.
If E.J. could play with the same confidence he had in high school he would be an All America.
I'm totally aware that the Blue/White Game meant nothing, but I was really hoping to see an improved jumpshot from EJ. He might as well just kick the ball out of bounds.
Plus 10-7 from Nick, and 10-5 out of Sestina.
That's around 30 and 19 from the front line. With our strong guards/wings I think we'll be fine.
Sure it was one Blue White scrimmage and there are 39 more games to play in 2019...but it looked like the same EJ from 40 games last year. He had the post vs. Sestina and Brooks a few times and couldn't put down a power move to the bucket in any way shape form or fashion.
This is what some fans keep overlooking: we don't need our bigs to be the second coming of Towns or Washington in order for this team to have success.
If EJ gives us 10 and 7, Nick gives us 7 and 7, Sestina gives us something like 9 and 6, and Brooks gives us something like 7 and 5, we're fine. Whitney/Brooks obviously would have to rebound at a high level from the 3/4 spots, but Villanova/UVA lacked a pure back-to-the-rim scorer.
Just rebound and defend and we're good. Hagans, Maxey, and Quickley are all good enough to give UK about 10 to 14 points/each.
Think I will watch a few real games before making any decision on any of the players.
Juzang missed a bunch of open shots in the scrimmage.
Are some of you likewise writing him off as a three point threat based on your enormous sample size from the blue/white scrimmage?
[laughing]
Are some of you likewise writing him off as a three point threat based on your enormous sample size from the blue/white scrimmage?
[laughing]
He will.
I think the only big to get a somewhat greenlight from three will obviously be Sestina.
Cal repeatedly said they haven't even installed any offense running through the bigs yet, but that they will be working on that over the next few weeks.
But how many times did they actually run offense through EJ on the low block? I counted less than three.
Not really the type of sample size to make any real realistic gauge on.
Montgomery's issue is will he do what he's best at or try to prove to scouts he's a face up 4? I find nothing wrong with critical analysis of a player or coach when he's used in a way that isn't best for him/team. Very few times have I seen that with Cal/UK staff and really only guy I didn't care how he was used was Skal-that guy was a pure face up 4 and arguably the 3rd best shooter with smooth form behind Murray/Ulis.
Anyone ever feel like an EJ Montgomery jumpshot is going to be made? I'm surprised when he does make one. Thought he ran floor well and loved his off the ball dive to rim on pass from Quickley and aggressive tip jam as those type of plays are huge. Rebounding is going to be needed and think he can be very improved there as well. Only has taken 2 viewings to have more confidence in any jumper Sestina takes over EJ though. Nothing about limited appearances, it's just a better looking jumper and more consistent form. The set up, shot prep, etc...where EJ has body turned, legs all over, and fading. No consistent release. For the team EJ needs to tighten up his FT shooting because he should get to line and if he can make FT's he'll have numbers that show great improvement.
If you are a big and rim run/dive when ball is penetrated, you'll have plenty of chances to score.
Anyone ever feel like an EJ Montgomery jumpshot is going to be made? I'm surprised when he does make one. Thought he ran floor well and loved his off the ball dive to rim on pass from Quickley and aggressive tip jam as those type of plays are huge. Rebounding is going to be needed and think he can be very improved there as well. Only has taken 2 viewings to have more confidence in any jumper Sestina takes over EJ though. Nothing about limited appearances, it's just a better looking jumper and more consistent form. The set up, shot prep, etc...where EJ has body turned, legs all over, and fading. No consistent release. For the team EJ needs to tighten up his FT shooting because he should get to line and if he can make FT's he'll have numbers that show great improvement.
If you are a big and rim run/dive when ball is penetrated, you'll have plenty of chances to score.
The fans comparing EJ to Tayshaun seem to be doing it because they kinda sorta look like each other in the face. That's my guess. As you noted, Prince and Montgomery don't have a similar build or game. I don't know how fans have managed to adopt such a comparison. It's weird.
1. For sure it was less than a handful of times in the post...but he never made a power move once.
2. He did have ball facing up on top of key or on the wing a few more times...and he settled for a contested two pt shot (which were misses), turned it over a bit or just passed back to guard.
It's just one goofy scrimmage but many were counting on him being our best or 2nd best player (depends on how you feel about Maxey). I think UK has to have interior scoring to get to a final four kind of team....and EJ is probably our best shot of being that guy in this team IMO. I don't think a year of shooting tons of jumpers (ala Murry/Ullis or Brandon Knight year) will work to getting to a final four.
Good post. The only way this group gets to the Final Four is if the guards/wings are elite - like Villanova-level elite. The bigs will just have to be competent offensively and above average on defense/rebounding. The good news is I think the ingredients are there for that. EJ has the tools to be a guy who can give UK 8 to 9 rebounds a game if he decides to spend less time as a finesse guy and more time as a bouncy energy guy (which, in my view, is actually his strength). Sestina's impact will be exponentially important because he already knows what he's doing, and he's okay with whatever role Cal gives him.
I like what we have. I'm actually placing more emphasis on the development of Brooks/Whitney than I am the bigs. The bigs don't need to be scorers, but I think Whitney/Brooks will have to take a huge step up to make this team a strong halfcourt offensive team.
EJ seems to have zero offensive ability, put back dunks are his only way of scoring and he’s not a good FT shooter either.
I think he’s an excellent rebounder and an above average shot blocker, that alone will get him plenty of time at the 5 this year. I just don’t see him as a potential 1st rounder without any offensive game. He was supposed to have it coming out of HS but I sure as hell haven’t seen anything close yet.
I think he’s an excellent rebounder and an above average shot blocker, that alone will get him plenty of time at the 5 this year. I just don’t see him as a potential 1st rounder without any offensive game. He was supposed to have it coming out of HS but I sure as hell haven’t seen anything close yet.
Considering that we've ONLY got 3 bigs, & Montgomery's is one of them. IF he plays the same role on this team as he did last season. We're in trouble. He has got to step up & play like a 1st round draft pick, if not a lottery pick.
The funny way this works is if EJ had hit a three and maybe a mid range jumper in the blue/white game, a huge number of our fans would suddenly be salivating at the mouth for #9. EJ could have grabbed half the rebounds in such a scenario, and because of hitting two or three perimeter shots, many of our fans would be fine with that. I look at it the opposite way: EJ's defense and rebounding is what we need to look for.
Let's see how these guys perform after four or five games. Keep in mind the rest of college basketball will mostly be a composite of swampbutt and septic rubbish this year. That is to say, this UK team probably only has to be 2011-level good to get to a Final Four this year. Oh, and for the quick-shot contrarians out there, tell me how "sold" you were on the Kanter-less Wildcats in October of 2010-2011. The reality is this - like the rest of us, you weren't "sold" on them at all.
Keep that mind before you throw this frontcout into the shortsighted pre-season blender that makes full-season sample sizes of one game efforts based on whether a guy made some mid range jump shots or not.
Let's see how these guys perform after four or five games. Keep in mind the rest of college basketball will mostly be a composite of swampbutt and septic rubbish this year. That is to say, this UK team probably only has to be 2011-level good to get to a Final Four this year. Oh, and for the quick-shot contrarians out there, tell me how "sold" you were on the Kanter-less Wildcats in October of 2010-2011. The reality is this - like the rest of us, you weren't "sold" on them at all.
Keep that mind before you throw this frontcout into the shortsighted pre-season blender that makes full-season sample sizes of one game efforts based on whether a guy made some mid range jump shots or not.
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I noticed this as well. Few of the jumpers he just wasn't shot ready. Goes back to what you said about consistency. Doesn't have the greatest touch on those floaters/jump hooks either. Hope he can develop those.
I did think he made some good decisions out of the high post when they went to zone. I really think he's an underrated passer, and could be best utilized with 3-4 shooters around him. He has some guard skills and was one of the reasons scouts loved him out of HS.
Gonna take his performance in Blue-White with a grain of salt, but for me to feel confident I would like to see him dominate one of the exhibition games.