My Solution

[uk78_rivals88018]

Goodbye 3 guard line-up and the experiment with Skal at center.

Others have posted that Skal's high rating was based upon how he played facing the basket. He is not going to be turned in to a superstar center, he is not going to be physical enough this season no matter how hard he works in the gym. That type of change doesn't happen so quickly. He is not blocking shots at the post anyway and he is not going to be KAT on offense with his back to the basket. In fact, passing the ball to him in the post is a disaster as well.

Briscoe is not an outside shooting guard. He has point guard skills to drive the ball (but not necessarily all the way to the basket so frequently) and should be encouraged to do so and dish. Briscoe combined with Murray is probably the better fit, but all 3 guards at the same time are not good.

I would put Lee at center, sub Humphries there, give Wynward a look there, but Skal plays the 4 and might be good in combo with Lee and Poy. Lee and Poy are best at the basket, and they could dish to Skal at the top of the key for open looks which seems to match his skill set rather than trying to dribble. Against some teams, I would even put Poy at center. Willis can sub at the 4, and Mulder can sub when Murray goes out. Briscoe subs for Ulis (which means Ulis is in there when it counts for free throws as well).

The more traditional line-up would give us 3 6'8' and above across the front line which would help on the boards, and one point guard and one shooting guard. Ulis is great on defense pressuring the ball and Murray is good on breaks.

OK Cal?

 

[jboler]

I'm sure he will listen. Amazed at how many people on this board think they can out-coach Cal.

 

[docholiday51]

On a message board it is fun to throw out ideas just to see what others think, I doubt that anyone thinks they can out coach Cal (or any other D1 coach for that matter) but if you aren't down with exchanging ideas why be here in the first place. (with that disclaimer here goes)

The 5 we are starting right now is like playing 3.5 against 5 on the offensive end of the court, unless we are in transition. I would start Ulis, Murray, Mulder, Humphries, and AP. We may suffer on the defensive end but we will have some scoring options.

 

[UKserialkiller]

On a message board it is fun to throw out ideas just to see what others think, I doubt that anyone thinks they can out coach Cal (or any other D1 coach for that matter) but if you aren't down with exchanging ideas why be here in the first place. (with that disclaimer here goes)

The 5 we are starting right now is like playing 3.5 against 5 on the offensive end of the court, unless we are in transition. I would start Ulis, Murray, Mulder, Humphries, and AP. We may suffer on the defensive end but we will have some scoring options.

Great post. Especially that first sentence.

If I'm Cal, I start working with Mulder's confidence.

 

[uk78_rivals88018]

jboler appears to be a relative newbie and perhaps doesn't get it. Of course, I know Cal isn't coming here to get my advice.....that's funny someone thinks that. But, this is an exchange of ideas and I happen to think I am correct. The more productive post jboler is a response providing your solutions, alternatives, disagreements or agreements with my views rather than put downs with no thought.

 

[SniperCat]

I wonder how a High-Low scenario with Skal at the free throw line and Poythress down low would work out. Kind of like we used with Daniels and Hayes. Skal would be more natural facing the basket in my opinion.

 

[Floydboy12]

If I am understanding right you are saying start Skal, Lee, and Poythress together with Ulis and Murray. I think that might have worked well if we had started the year that way. Now, I'm afraid Skal's confidence is so shot that nothing will help him this year. Maybe after a summer of hard work he can regain that confidence, but hard to get it back mid-season.

 

[IIIBradIII]

I like it. Let's give it a whirl. Don't start the game that way though - Skal needs to earn his starting spot back by working harder off the bench.

 

[Cats_2010]

I'm sure he will listen. Amazed at how many people on this board think they can out-coach Cal.

If Cal doesn't take a different approach with this team and instead continues trying to push square pegs through Round holes it is coaching incompetence or just stubbornness which in essence is just as bad.. I don't know why some people think all aspects of coaching are like splitting the atom. Sorry its not and you don't have to be a paid division one college basketball coach to see some things.

I called for our 2014 squad to switch to a zone defense in the championship game against UCONN at the first TV timeout. With 5 minutes to go in the half and a 16 point deficit he finally did and was lauded with credit by all analyst at halftime for his adjustment which got UK back in the game. Does that make me a better coach than Cal? not remotely close but Cal hates Zone and really did not want to play it and waited until we had a big hole to make the change. Funny thing though, that 2014 team played much better zone defense than they did man all year. That is the definition of a stubborn coach, would almost rather lose playing how he prefers than by win by playing what is most effective. Biggest knock on Cal's coaching and no one on this board can coach remotely close to him but does not mean he is perfect and is right in his schemes, lineups, and overall general coaching decisions all the time.

Great write up by the OP and changes that I would also look to implement. Have to shake things up, last night was not an aberration. We have not looked like a really good team most of the year.

 

[Stonewall12]

I'm sure he will listen. Amazed at how many people on this board think they can out-coach Cal.

Well looking at the last few games, I can understand why.

 

[akaukswoosh]

I would start Ulis, Murray, Mulder, Humphries, and AP.

I like your lineup but would start Lee instead of Poy.

 

[Pulaski Cat Fan_rivals377587]

If Cal doesn't take a different approach with this team and instead continues trying to push square pegs through Round holes it is coaching incompetence or just stubbornness which in essence is just as bad.. I don't know why some people think all aspects of coaching are like splitting the atom. Sorry its not and you don't have to be a paid division one college basketball coach to see some things.

I called for our 2014 squad to switch to a zone defense in the championship game against UCONN at the first TV timeout. With 5 minutes to go in the half and a 16 point deficit he finally did and was lauded with credit by all analyst at halftime for his adjustment which got UK back in the game. Does that make me a better coach than Cal? not remotely close but Cal hates Zone and really did not want to play it and waited until we had a big hole to make the change. Funny thing though, that 2014 team played much better zone defense than they did man all year. That is the definition of a stubborn coach, would almost rather lose playing how he prefers than by win by playing what is most effective. Biggest knock on Cal's coaching and no one on this board can coach remotely close to him but does not mean he is perfect and is right in his schemes, lineups, and overall general coaching decisions all the time.

Great write up by the OP and changes that I would also look to implement. Have to shake things up, last night was not an aberration. We have not looked like a really good team most of the year.

I agree completely about the UConn game. I was screaming for the zone as well. I'll never understand why he didn't employ it more.

 

[docholiday51]

I would start Ulis, Murray, Mulder, Humphries, and AP.

I like your lineup but would start Lee instead of Poy.

It was kind of a toss up between the two but since my point was to try to get more scorers on the court Poy has a little more range

 

[uk78_rivals88018]

My issue with Skal is how could the experts have been so glaringly wrong? So, if he is an elite talent (which we desperately need) again maybe it is seeing him play a different position and role.

 

[JeffGoodmansVestigialTwin]

My issue with Skal is how could the experts have been so glaringly wrong? So, if he is an elite talent (which we desperately need) again maybe it is seeing him play a different position and role.

. He does have skills. He's just insanely weak between the ears and physically. He can dribble and shoot well for a 6'11 guy (which is the style for bigs now that scouts love) but I see what you're saying they ALL guessed his mentality completely wrong. I feel like he's like the Henderson kid from UNC a couple of years ago. I think he and us fans will reap benefits in 2016-17. Could be wrong just a thought.

 

[SniperCat]

I wonder how a High-Low scenario with Skal at the free throw line and Poythress down low would work out. Kind of like we used with Daniels and Hayes. Skal would be more natural facing the basket in my opinion.

As I said.....
Cal says he’s willing to accept Skal as a “jump-shooting big man”

 

[rodgerblue]

Start Humphries? Is that a joke?

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

Skal is still our C on the defensive end (when he's in there). On offense we shouldn't worry about positions, the 5 that our on the court should just play to their strengths. Defense is where positions matter.