Kam Williams thread

[chasingwildcat]

All people and fans have high expectations on him.

But it seems that he is lost...

Koby Brea from A10, and Kam from AAC, both are best mid major league and competition level are similar. We are expecting Kam to be more all-around player than Koby Brea with a little less shooting and way better defence.

However, it seems that Kam can not shoot, can not defend on the court. And even seems to be pretty skinny against a cupcake team.

I feel Pope is pissed with Kam Williams could not catch Jasper's pass and made stupid turnover.

And in the second half, Pope plays lots of three guards lineup.

Now he looks like far from a "first round nba" guy, and more like a player that will stay in college for four years. Will be a good development player if he stays. He could be a taller Jaxson Robinson maybe in his fourth year, but this season, unless something huge changes, he should not even be regular rotation based on current level. He is a level behind of Jasper, Chandler, Moreno... Hope he is just adjusting to handle the role, pressure in bigger platform, or maybe he is not as good as we touted before.

If Kam is the 3d guy we anticipated, we would not be so struggled...

Hope we can see better version of him in later games. He is another player could decide the ceiling of this team.

 

[JPFisher]

Pope has stated clearly several times that the team has not worked on installing offense (at least nearly as much as defense). Kam has the length to be a great defender, but he's not there yet and he's in a new program. Kam has the shooting to be great in the offense, but the offense isn't installed yet. Kam has the intangibles, but he's not honed yet.

I'd seriously doubt Pope is pissed at a sophomore who looks lost in his first few games of his first season with the team. Kam has been committing stupid fouls and has missed from three a few times when it should've hit. It happens.

Kentucky is among the biggest stages in CBB. Not everyone can rise to its challenge immediately. I'm not sure where the hand-wringing is coming from within the fanbase. If Kam doesn't pan out this year, we have 50 other guys. If he transfers out, we'll get another transfer in.

At the end of the day, we haven't seen our potential DPOY center or our steal-specialist PG play, but we held Nicholls to 15 first half points and still scored 77 even having bricked damn near every shot in the first half and having installed little to no offense. Kam or no Kam, we will be alright.

I'm still in wait-and-see mode while we get younger guys with plenty of talent up to speed and playing together. Kam included.

 

[JwUKFan11]

I for one definitely don’t expect anything close to your comparison of a few steps down from Brea. I did expect his defense to be better as he has the frame to be that lockdown 3 guy. As someone who had average to low expectations for him even I am disappointed so far. He might find himself getting 5-6 minutes a game here soon.

 

[Possum]

He's shown flashes. Give him some time. He has a good upside.

 

[GoAndRunIsGoneAndDone]

I think most fans judge our team by the eye test, mostly offense and prolific plays like Chandler's dunk. We were way ahead offensively at this point last season but were terrible defensively. Defense is tougher to learn at this level but even with the lack of continuity and overall skills last year, we were playing pretty solid d toward the end of last season. I like what Pope is doing with this team, coaching them up defensively early on. It didn't take him long at all to have a well oiled machine running last year on offense.

What I think we're seeing is ugly because guys don't know the offense and are thinking too much, so it looks "clunky." Both sides of the ball will be much smoother and more efficient very soon. It's certainly not time for panic. We're gonna be just fine and hopefully before we play U6. Injuries have set us back a little but I'm not worried. I do wish we played little bro a few games later but they're dealing with some of the same issues this early..as is just about every team. Lowe getting back will be huge but he hasn't run this offense much yet either. That's why his injury is so big, timing. Still, we looked pretty good with him and DA running the limited stuff we saw against Purdue. I think our shooting has got to improve but will do just that when guys are where they are supposed to be and the pg is finding them for open looks.

 

[akaukswoosh]

He'll find himself.

 

[wccat]

He'll find himself.

I agree and hopefully he will seeing that this was game one.

 

[JonathanW2]

Big difference in Brea and Williams, Brea already had 4 seasons of college ball under his belt, Williams only has 1.
I think he will come around. But I've thought all along the 1st-Rnd-pick-next-spring talk was not realistic for him.

 

[wildcat111]

All people and fans have high expectations on him.

But it seems that he is lost...

Koby Brea from A10, and Kam from AAC, both are best mid major league and competition level are similar. We are expecting Kam to be more all-around player than Koby Brea with a little less shooting and way better defence.

However, it seems that Kam can not shoot, can not defend on the court. And even seems to be pretty skinny against a cupcake team.

I feel Pope is pissed with Kam Williams could not catch Jasper's pass and made stupid turnover.

And in the second half, Pope plays lots of three guards lineup.

Now he looks like far from a "first round nba" guy, and more like a player that will stay in college for four years. Will be a good development player if he stays. He could be a taller Jaxson Robinson maybe in his fourth year, but this season, unless something huge changes, he should not even be regular rotation based on current level. He is a level behind of Jasper, Chandler, Moreno... Hope he is just adjusting to handle the role, pressure in bigger platform, or maybe he is not as good as we touted before.

If Kam is the 3d guy we anticipated, we would not be so struggled...

Hope we can see better version of him in later games. He is another player could decide the ceiling of this team.

Somebody made a BIG mistake!!! Too much hype and no performance....remember Justin Edwards.

 

[Kentucky15]

Just hold up. We don’t know yet, he’s learning an entirely new system and playing with new guys, and Pope might not have gotten them where he wants them yet. It’s not saying this is the problem it’s saying it might be. Let him get his stroke going a little and with the guys we have on this team, he could be knockdown which is what we need from him.

 

[RunninRichie]

Pope has stated clearly several times that the team has not worked on installing offense (at least nearly as much as defense). Kam has the length to be a great defender, but he's not there yet and he's in a new program. Kam has the shooting to be great in the offense, but the offense isn't installed yet. Kam has the intangibles, but he's not honed yet.

I'd seriously doubt Pope is pissed at a sophomore who looks lost in his first few games of his first season with the team. Kam has been committing stupid fouls and has missed from three a few times when it should've hit. It happens.

Kentucky is among the biggest stages in CBB. Not everyone can rise to its challenge immediately. I'm not sure where the hand-wringing is coming from within the fanbase. If Kam doesn't pan out this year, we have 50 other guys. If he transfers out, we'll get another transfer in.

At the end of the day, we haven't seen our potential DPOY center or our steal-specialist PG play, but we held Nicholls to 15 first half points and still scored 77 even having bricked damn near every shot in the first half and having installed little to no offense. Kam or no Kam, we will be alright.

I'm still in wait-and-see mode while we get younger guys with plenty of talent up to speed and playing together. Kam included.

I like that Pope is putting emphasis on defense with this team. No doubt Pope and staff can install an offense that can score. The issue was defense last year. Glad he's putting that first. Offense will be fine.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

I’m going to describe two different ideas:

-Ranked 178 HS prospect
-Single digit scorer(5th on team) on over 32 MPG for an average mid major

-A 6’8 wing with great positional size, over 40% 3 point shooter, projected first round pick

These are obviously both just Kam. Which lens you look through with him is important in your current feelings.

I do think the team needs one of Trent/Kam to step up. If you remove Kam/Trent/Braydon(redshirt), the roster goes small or big and doesn’t have true 3s on it. My guess is they go small at the 3

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Kam shot nearly 40% from 3 last season. He shot 62% from 2.

So why on earth are we concluding on the basis of one actual real game that he cannot shoot.

 

[JPFisher]

I like that Pope is putting emphasis on defense with this team. No doubt Pope and staff can install an offense that can score. The issue was defense last year. Glad he's putting that first. Offense will be fine.

Yep. Defense travels, and this team could be the best in the country in that area. We've also got the shooters and athleticism to excel offensively, but I'm okay if that takes a bit longer to come along.

A great defense last year could've gotten us into the Elite Eight when shots weren't falling and the threes weren't open.

 

[theKybluedude]

Ran the floor and got way up on a dunk late so maybe that gets him going.
Just looks a bit confused with the system which will resolve.

 

[JPFisher]

Kam shot nearly 40% from 3 last season. He shot 62% from 2.

So why on earth are we concluding on the basis of one actual real game that he cannot shoot.

Because people don't have enough stress in their lives and would prefer to have a coronary in their 40s because one kid had a bad game or (God forbid) takes a season to get acclimated to the greater challenge at this level.

 

[bnewt]

Kam shot nearly 40% from 3 last season. He shot 62% from 2.

So why on earth are we concluding on the basis of one actual real game that he cannot shoot.

Because all he has done is lay bricks so far. Shots haven’t even been close

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Because all he has done is lay bricks so far. Shots haven’t even been close

I mean he took a grand total of three shots last night lol.

That doesn't negate what he did all of the entirely of last season.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Because all he has done is lay bricks so far. Shots haven’t even been close

So far is a sample size of exactly one game that counts and a couple of exhibitions. Let’s chill out until more games are played before saying he can’t shoot. Just last season, Jaxson Robinson was awful for the first stretch of the season before becoming a sniper. Koby Brea couldn’t make shots in the exhibitions last year (which many of us have forgotten). Way too early to write Kam off.

 

[chroix]

Farrr Kam!

 

[Kentucky15]

I like that Pope is putting emphasis on defense with this team. No doubt Pope and staff can install an offense that can score. The issue was defense last year. Glad he's putting that first. Offense will be fine.

Clearly adjusted to what he needed to instead of being stubborn. You can clearly see from the makeup of this team that he went all in to make a defensive until. No doubt offense will flow from that as defense created offense and Pope knows how to coach the offense.

 

[CRZ4UK]

Kam shot nearly 40% from 3 last season. He shot 62% from 2.

So why on earth are we concluding on the basis of one actual real game that he cannot shoot.

Because he shot 2 airballs on wide open 3s maybe?? Just guessing.
Jelivics shooting is disappointing as well. He has 4 airballs on 3s so far.

 

[Kentucky15]

Farrr Kam!

one thing I’ve always done, even during Calipari’s era, is remain optimistic and steadfast in my belief that patience and understanding will eventually lead to positive outcomes. That’s why I was always willing to listen and learn from Calipari and Tubby all the way to the end. Same here with Cam.

I’ve only used the word sCAM once in the game thread.

https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/college-student-campus-10299338.jpg

 

[Kentucky15]

Because he shot 2 airballs on wide open 3s maybe?? Just guessing.
Jelivics shooting is disappointing as well. He has 4 airballs on 3s so far.

Yea but that’s more of a reason to know he’s just off right now but it won’t last. You don’t go from 40% to not being able to hit a rim lol.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Because he shot 2 airballs on wide open 3s maybe?? Just guessing.
Jelivics shooting is disappointing as well. He has 4 airballs on 3s so far.

eh it's still just two shots tho lol.

 

[BlueSince92]

Yeah zero chance Pope is pissed at Kam for that.

 

[BlueSince92]

I think most fans judge our team by the eye test, mostly offense and prolific plays like Chandler's dunk. We were way ahead offensively at this point last season but were terrible defensively. Defense is tougher to learn at this level but even with the lack of continuity and overall skills last year, we were playing pretty solid d toward the end of last season. I like what Pope is doing with this team, coaching them up defensively early on. It didn't take him long at all to have a well oiled machine running last year on offense.

What I think we're seeing is ugly because guys don't know the offense and are thinking too much, so it looks "clunky." Both sides of the ball will be much smoother and more efficient very soon. It's certainly not time for panic. We're gonna be just fine and hopefully before we play U6. Injuries have set us back a little but I'm not worried. I do wish we played little bro a few games later but they're dealing with some of the same issues this early..as is just about every team. Lowe getting back will be huge but he hasn't run this offense much yet either. That's why his injury is so big, timing. Still, we looked pretty good with him and DA running the limited stuff we saw against Purdue. I think our shooting has got to improve but will do just that when guys are where they are supposed to be and the pg is finding them for open looks.

Exactly.

Pope's a smart guy.

Probably figured he would be okay to let formal offense slide a bit and install it late because he's got a PG who managed almost 6 assists in a tough league in a pretty garbage offense last year.

That makes good sense to me. So he follows that plan and gets to work installing the defense but now his magic offensive cheat code is out a while. Means we wound up getting caught with our pants down a little bit as far as optics. But it's still a good plan that will still pay off by SEC play. And if this shakiness doesn't affect our W/L, why would we actually care?

 

[BlueSince92]

So far is a sample size of exactly one game that counts and a couple of exhibitions. Let’s chill out until more games are played before saying he can’t shoot. Just last season, Jaxson Robinson was awful for the first stretch of the season before becoming a sniper. Koby Brea couldn’t make shots in the exhibitions last year (which many of us have forgotten). Way too early to write Kam off.

Great point about Jax

 

[RunninRichie]

Clearly adjusted to what he needed to instead of being stubborn. You can clearly see from the makeup of this team that he went all in to make a defensive until. No doubt offense will flow from that as defense created offense and Pope knows how to coach the offense.

Pope mentioned being pleased with getting offense form the defense, in his post-presser.

 

[RunninRichie]

So far is a sample size of exactly one game that counts and a couple of exhibitions. Let’s chill out until more games are played before saying he can’t shoot. Just last season, Jaxson Robinson was awful for the first stretch of the season before becoming a sniper. Koby Brea couldn’t make shots in the exhibitions last year (which many of us have forgotten). Way too early to write Kam off.

Just wanted to say, you’re one of the best “new” posters on this site. Always really enjoy your posts.

 

[Kentucky15]

Just wanted to say, you’re one of the best “new” posters on this site. Always really enjoy your posts.

You pegged it down yet?

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Just wanted to say, you’re one of the best “new” posters on this site. Always really enjoy your posts.

Thanks, man!

 

[CRZ4UK]

eh it's still just two shots tho lol.

I realize you’re trying to convince yourself. I’m looking at his play so far. He has stunk. That doesn’t mean he always will be, but stinking is stinking.
And it hasn’t been just 2. Some of his misses are way off. Noah too. I’m not sure why but facts are facts. No help in sugar coating them.

 

[CRZ4UK]

Yea but that’s more of a reason to know he’s just off right now but it won’t last. You don’t go from 40% to not being able to hit a rim lol.

Obviously you do. He’s done it????

 

[Kentucky15]

Obviously you do. He’s done it????

I mean completely forget how to hit a rim when he’s shot 40% for an entire year an an elite shooter for his career.

if we were in week 6 okay. Had he broke his arm or hand yea. But he’s just 1 game in and coming from the mid ranks. Hard to believe the guy forgot how to even get close to hitting a 3 point shot. He just needs a game where we focus on him a little bit and let him find his stroke. It’s there.

 

[IH8bluedevils]

Farrr Kam!

lol no kidding ... were one game into the season

 

[true-blue1]

I see potential in Kam hopefully he can start finding his groove.

 

[TheResistance]

Kam has potential at this point, he is just going to need more time.

 

[cornbreadnmilk]

It's a big jump from Tulane to UK. It may take him a season to adjust and it seemed crazy to be on mock drafts already.

 

[CRZ4UK]

I mean completely forget how to hit a rim when he’s shot 40% for an entire year an an elite shooter for his career.

if we were in week 6 okay. Had he broke his arm or hand yea. But he’s just 1 game in and coming from the mid ranks. Hard to believe the guy forgot how to even get close to hitting a 3 point shot. He just needs a game where we focus on him a little bit and let him find his stroke. It’s there.

Or maybe he was playing at a level where he was the best player out there and got great looks. Maybe he cant handle being in front of a huge crowd, Maybe he can’t handle the Kentucky pressure, or Maybe he will come around. Everyone can speculate what they want. The Facts are thru 4 games he’s hitting 20%.
Everything else is maybe.