being somewhat guard heavy could be a really good pressing team in my opinion. I know Cal likes to slow it down at times but I would like to see these guys get up and down the floor. Especially since we don’t have proven post play.
This team
- Thread starter TNCatfanforever
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I don’t see a Cal team, any Cal team utilizing the press any more than situationally a couple times a game. Just not his MO.
Totally agree.
Cal rarely zones
Cal rarely presses
Cal rarely goes small
This team and its strengths being guards, wingspan and depth will test Cal’s coaching strategies.
The press is an artifact from the 1990s. Almost any quality team can crack it -- and you don't need it to beat the bad teams.
Why sacrifice your biggest advantage -- quick, athletic defenders -- by letting a team beat the press and then create match-up disadvantages close to their basket.
Why sacrifice your biggest advantage -- quick, athletic defenders -- by letting a team beat the press and then create match-up disadvantages close to their basket.
I guess one of the concerning things going guard heavy for me is the fact that since Cal has been here our offenses have absolutely feasted on 1) offensive rebounding and 2) getting to the line.
I'm slightly concerned about number 1 this season.
I'm slightly concerned about number 1 this season.
I actually think our best chance for points in the paint this year is off offensive rebounding. We know Nick struggles catching passes, and neither he nor EJ have much back to the basket game. But both he, plus Whitney and Brooks are plenty long and athletic to crash the offensive boards. Just let our guards get in the lane and get it up off the glass. I actually think offensive rebounding is going to be a strength this year.
But what good is getting to the line if you choke in crunch time?
How many titles has Kentucky left on the table because of missed FTs?
I guess time will tell with this group.
They need to practice them on their own because Cal wont make them.
Not a knock on Cal as I agree these kids should practice them instead of playing fortnight.
We were a 74% free throw shooting team last season. That's not bad.
Even the best free throw shooting teams have off games here and there.
But that Auburn game went into OT. People like to point to free throws because it's easy to blame it on that. Another made free throw in regulation and we win that game (and who knows what we go on to do).
But another 2 point make, another 3 point make, another rebound, another blocked shot.........I mean you could point to just about anything and say that was the reason we lost the game.
I think there is a valid time to blame things on free throws........PJ missing a bunch in the K-State game comes to mind. But I think it tends to get overblown here, especially in a season where we shot 74%.
PJ missed a bunch v AU too.
I could go on and on but I wont.
I dont think its over blown its an area of concern, a legit area.
We keep saying guard heavy and I agree with quickley's emergence we will be really good guard.
However Sestina looks legit to me, always has. Him and Whitney/Brooks and we are pretty wing heavy too. If EJ/Richards share the 5. I think we are pretty balanced.
However Sestina looks legit to me, always has. Him and Whitney/Brooks and we are pretty wing heavy too. If EJ/Richards share the 5. I think we are pretty balanced.
Everyone also likes to pretend our defense was torched in that game. The defense was pretty dominant until overtime.
Really people just suck at watching a game and evaluating what is happening. When there is a bad or underwhelming result they just repeat ad nauseam the same complaints they’ve always had whether they are applicable or not. Packed in zone, need shooters, can’t stay in front of quick guards. The score could be in the 40s or in the 90s and it’s always the same script.
Missing FTs is unacceptable.
They call them Free Throws for a reason.
Sure they get harder under pressure but they are still free.
A team that is practiced up on them will do better under pressure than a team that is not and has just made them in the reg season minus the intense pressure of a win or your season is over situation.
Its up to the players to make it a priority all season or we will see this same scenerio occurring over and over and thats because of Cal’s priority on getting to the line and the perpetual youth on Ky.
This team is not guard heavy. There are only 3 true guards on our scholarship roster.
Cal plays half court man to man defense. He coaches like an NBA coach. He does not like the press, and he does not have enough players this year to develop this team as a pressing team.
No one makes 100% of them tho.
We had a really good free throw shooting team last season.
I just think it's completely silly to attribute a loss on one thing.
I get your point. Its just ultra frustrating
This!!!
Cal's best defensive teams have been terrific in the half court. Making opponents start their offensive sets further out than they like. By using our athletic guards and long front court, we can limit easy baskets. We really need Nick and EJ to be able to protect the rim then we can be even more effective on the perimeter.