Is Bolden seen as a no go because of Jefferson?
No. Bolden just really likes UK. That's not to say he doesn't like Duke, but something different clicked for him with UK. That's ok. Duke isn't for everyone.
Is Bolden seen as a no go because of Jefferson?
Next years freshman class is suppose to be MUCH better than this years freshman class. You hear this every few years, but next years class is suppose to be loaded and deep.Is Bolden seen as a pretty sure instant impact kind of guy? Last I saw, he was #12 prospect and top center. I know next years class is good. How would he compare to Stone, Ellenson, or some of this years freshman bigs?
I wouldn't be shocked to see Giles with Jeter, with Amile coming off the bench and playing heavy minutes, along with Vrank backing up the 5 spot.
Amile will start over Jeter!
I honestly think it's Amile starting and it's not really close. Coach K will put value on the senior leadership and intangibles that Amile brings to the table. This is not a knock on Jeter at all because he will probably be greatly improved next season, but rather a realistic view of how important Amile will be for next year's team.I wouldn't be shocked to see Giles with Jeter, with Amile coming off the bench and playing heavy minutes, along with Vrank backing up the 5 spot.
I honestly think it's Amile starting and it's not really close. Coach K will put value on the senior leadership and intangibles that Amile brings to the table. This is not a knock on Jeter at all because he will probably be greatly improved next season, but rather a realistic view of how important Amile will be for next year's team.
So out of curiousity, a player needs to start to have that importance? I love Amile, even a 5th year Amile, but if he's the primary 5, I'll be concerned.
Yeah, assuming everyone is healthy, it's hard to see Giles and Amile not starting all year. In which case, Bolden would be looking at coming off the bench, and we know K loves him some short bench. If our choice was really between Amile or Bolden, glad we have Amile. Although I'm curious if the staff will look at the grad transfer market, especially given the injuries to Giles and Amile...Amile will start. It would be shocking if he didn't.
i think amile will do well against "finesse" centers like frank, it's the stronger powerful ones that concern me some.Amile was our go-to defender against 7' NPoY Frank Kaminsky. He will start. He will end. He will be effective as our center.
Amile was our go-to defender against 7' NPoY Frank Kaminsky. He will start. He will end. He will be effective as our center.
If you don't feel comfortable with Amile at center then you haven't been watching. He will KILL it next year in the paint. Great defender, great rebounder and great vocal leader. Amile is pretty damn good defensively even against a bigger opponent . We're gonna be crazy stupid disgusting good next year.
I agree. It's mind boggling to me that people would rather have an unproven freshman at the 5 over a 5th year senior Amile. Hell Okafor was killing Duke in the Championship and Amile stepped in and played great defense... Bolden is no Okafor. Having Giles, Amile, and Tatum on the frontline provides a ton of length and athleticism.If you don't feel comfortable with Amile at center then you haven't been watching. He will KILL it next year in the paint. Great defender, great rebounder and great vocal leader. Amile is pretty damn good defensively even against a bigger opponent . We're gonna be crazy stupid disgusting good next year.
If you don't feel comfortable with Amile at center then you haven't been watching. He will KILL it next year in the paint. Great defender, great rebounder and great vocal leader. Amile is pretty damn good defensively even against a bigger opponent . We're gonna be crazy stupid disgusting good next year.
I agree. It's mind boggling to me that people would rather have an unproven freshman at the 5 over a 5th year senior Amile. Hell Okafor was killing Duke in the Championship and Amile stepped in and played great defense... Bolden is no Okafor. Having Giles, Amile, and Tatum on the frontline provides a ton of length and athleticism.
It's rebounding. My biggest concern playing amile big minutes at the 5 is no rim protection. It will be very easy to finish at the rim when players drive.Who are these amazing true 5s in the college game he's going to be going up against? And they won't need Amile to be an offensive focal point. Rebound put backs and dunks will be more than enough from him. Giles and Tatum will be the inside scoring presence.
Who are these 5's? Last I checked, 2 started against each other last year in the title game? Am I crazy? And yes Amile defended frank some, but had he been the 5 all game, Duke wouldn't have won.
You mean the last 3 years where he averaged 6 or less points a game, or the 9 games this year where he scored double digit points vs Siena, Bryant, Kentucky, utah state, and buffalo?
Solid role player, and no problem with him starting, but if you have no concerns, i'm not sure what you're watching?
We gotta start "Pops."Despite the injury he will have SO MUCH confidence considering the numbers he was posting when he went down...Amile will start. It would be shocking if he didn't.
For what it's worth, one UK recruiting blogger (@NextCats) on Twitter is saying he is thinking Bolden is going to Duke from what he is hearing.
Was under the impression that Bolden was looking to be one and doneYes.
I'm torn.
I'd like to have Bolden, but I REALLY want Bamba.
Are we sure Bamba would look elsewhere? Perhaps K is confident Bolden will be one and done.
(1) Not sure how you could possible say that; (2) To the extent we were hurt by Okafor not being on the court (which is a very debatable proposition that night), it was because our half-court offense was built around Okafor's play in the post -- not b/c Okafor was a particularly invaluable defensive player. On next year's team, Giles / Tatum / and whoever else we have at the guard position will be the primary creators. We won't need to have the 5 be an offensive juggernaut; (3) people continue to improve as they age. Amile was 6.5 / 7 guy as a soph. in about 22 min/per and 6 / 6 guy in about 21 minutes a night as a jr. This year, he was averaging 11 & 10 and went 16 & 15 against UK and 8, 11, 3 blocks, and 8 assists, against IU --- both of whom are high-level teams with pretty solid big guys. Against, IU, particularly, Jefferson played 15-20 minutes at the 5 -- and the same holds true in some of other early games, including VCU.
I'm just not concerned about Amile as the starting 5, with Chase available as his backup.
So you're saying Duke would have beaten Wisconsin with Amile carrying a bulk of the minutes at the 5? Wow.
And citing Jeffersons stats this season means very little, because:
- he wasn't playing the 5 (he had a 7 foot, 250lb guy playing next to him)
- UK bigs are pretty bad (we saw that just last weekend)
- IU's Bryant was still on a learning curve against Duke in DECEMBER