Toppin is back!

bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
29,352
0
There would be no floor spacing whatsoever with that starting lineup. Wallace is the only one who could possibly be a consistent perimeter threat & he hasn’t even played a college game yet, so, we don’t even know that for sure. If Wheeler starts at PG we have to have Fredrick or Reeves starting at the 3. Otherwise, teams will sag off Wheeler & clog the paint & make things really hard for Oscar & Toppin. Wheeler handicaps us offensively & we have to surround him with 2-3 consistent shooters who can at least keep defenses honest. I’d much rather bring Wheeler off the bench & go with Wallace at PG, or, hopefully Dillingham. This team does have enough pieces to be pretty versatile & effective on both ends, but, we HAVE to get our shooters on the floor.

Preaching to the choir, brother.

This is the rotation based on what I think Cal will do. He values athleticism over shooting, so Livingston ends up starting at the 3, most likely.

I would keep at least one of Fredrick and Reeves on the floor at all times.

Actually, I would have Wallace at PG, Fredrick at the SG, and Reeves at the SF as much as possible. But I value shooters more than most.
 
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Jan 30, 2018
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I know there are so many negative posters on this board, but I just don’t see how anyone wouldn’t be excited about a roster of:
Wheeler
Wallace
Frederick
Livingston
Toppin
Oscar
Ware
Collins
Reeves
Thiero

another shooter wouldn’t hurt, but man this team has the potential to be a lock down defensive team. Something that Ty Ty, Mintz, Brooks and Grady really struggled with.
Thiero is a project, Ware although I love him doesn5 bring much to the table but spot minutes. That leaves us with 8 who can play. For years now we have seen injuries so we could easily be at 6 or 7 before you know it and that's if Frederick holds up. Plus that is counting on 2 Freshman to play big minutes and hope neither is a Boston. Yikes! I just dont get how Cal doesnt think we need a few more players.

So many years we have said we were 1 player away. This feels like 2 or 3 away. Well let's jump on big Os back and hope to God he doesn't get hurt and can carry us.
 

JHannibalSmith

All-American
Sep 28, 2006
2,427
7,367
98
Preaching to the choir, brother.

This is the rotation based on what I think Cal will do. He values athleticism over shooting, so Livingston ends up starting at the 3, most likely.

I would keep at least one of Fredrick and Reeves on the floor at all times.

Actually, I would have Wallace at PG, Fredrick at the SG, and Reeves at the SF as much as possible. But I value shooters more than most.
Ok, my bad. I agree, completely, on every point. I value shooting quite a bit, too. Maybe even too much, lol. I’d love to see those 3 as our primary backcourt. I understand the worries about Fredrick staying healthy, but, he is really underrated on here, IMO, & is the type of player that every championship-level team needs. It would give us tons of spacing & make everything that much easier for Oscar & everyone else in the post. But, we can hope in one hand & you know what in the other. 😂
 
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*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
45,137
81,434
113

 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
45,137
81,434
113
I know there are so many negative posters on this board, but I just don’t see how anyone wouldn’t be excited about a roster of:
Wheeler
Wallace
Frederick
Livingston
Toppin
Oscar
Ware
Collins
Reeves
Thiero

another shooter wouldn’t hurt, but man this team has the potential to be a lock down defensive team. Something that Ty Ty, Mintz, Brooks and Grady really struggled with.
Yeah but that team could score, can this team? It’s a legit question. I can see this team being equal to last years and they flamed our first round. So it’s a solid roster but adding Dillingham or Granderson(hope both) will make us legit top 3 contenders IMO.
 

bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
29,352
0
Grandison might be more important than Dillingham.

Adding him gives us a guy that can shoot at a position where we don’t have a great shooter, since he can play the 4 spot.

With Grandison, Cal can put a lineup out there with three proven 40-ish% 3-point shooters. Put Fredrick at the 2, Reeves at the 3, and Grandison at the 4 and spread the floor. This allows Wheeler to drive and dish and keeps defenses from packing it in to stop Tshiebwe. And if Wallace is a good shooter, then Cal could put him at the 1 some and we will have four shooters around Tshiebwe.

Even if Dillingham is a good shooter, he is going to play mostly at the 2, and we already have shooters who can play that spot (Wallace, Fredrick, or Reeves).

Don’t get me wrong, I am fine with adding Dillingham, because he is a potential superstar. I just think Grandison might be a better fit for this team.

Best case scenario, let’s add both.
 

Shaudylo

Heisman
Apr 2, 2011
11,466
25,729
112
Glad he’s back let’s go .

If Cal fumbles the bag with this many vets returning I don’t know what to say
 

ScottGreene22

Heisman
Mar 18, 2018
11,172
15,043
0
Glad he is back we still will be thin on shooters. Hope I’m wrong but think we struggle against sagging and zone D’s as is par for the course. CAL hiding since the loss isn’t a very good look either.
 
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Feb 24, 2018
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Toppin is my favorite returnee. He gave us some quality minutes when Cal wasn't playing Keion Brooks non stop. Oh, where is Keion now? That's right not here.... Great move Coach.
 
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K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,375
25,654
113
Probable 9-man rotation (Thiero gets spot minutes in blow outs):

G Wheeler(30)/Wallace(10)
G Wallace(20)/Fredrick(20)
F Livingston(20)/Reeves(20)
F Toppin(20)/Collins(20)
F Tshiebwe(30)/Ware(10)

Wheeler-30
Tshiebwe- 30
Wallace- 30
Livingston- 20
Toppin- 20
Fredrick- 20
Reeves- 20
Collins- 20
Ware- 10

(Note: I just estimated minutes, so don’t get too tore up about so and so not getting enough or someone getting too many.)
That sounds about right if Cal will do it. A solid 9 man rotation is how you wear teams out instead of just yourself with 7 man rotation.

- I don't think Ware gets quite 10 minutes a night....I can see him to about 5 minutes....but that is nitpicking
- The key to the season IMO is getting Wheeler down to about 20 minutes and spreading those remaining minutes to Frederick and if Reeves is a player. Just can't see us excelling with a non shooter playing so much.
 
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ukwazoo

All-Conference
Sep 8, 2001
11,317
3,991
0
I know there are so many negative posters on this board, but I just don’t see how anyone wouldn’t be excited about a roster of:
Wheeler
Wallace
Frederick
Livingston
Toppin
Oscar
Ware
Collins
Reeves
Thiero

another shooter wouldn’t hurt, but man this team has the potential to be a lock down defensive team. Something that Ty Ty, Mintz, Brooks and Grady really struggled with.

Roster looks fine. Who's gonna coach?
 

LexCatnOhio

Junior
Mar 27, 2009
732
259
36
Love his abilities and competitiveness. Glad to see him come back. He’s played through some of the worst circumstances even earlier than expected too if I remember.
 

Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,078
54,690
100
The one's not excited or trying to throw water on it or change the subject aren't UK fans. All kinds fo them here. Easy to spot as they crap on virtually every thread.
Not true at all. Yes, we have some great pieces. However, Sharpe leaving has created a hole in the roster. We need another wing scorer/shooter and we need depth. If Fredrick can stay healthy, that would alleviate some of that issue. However, he has been injury prone his entire career.

We need more scoring punch in the lineup. Those that can’t see that are just being complete homers. Hopefully we can get that transfer from Illinois. He would be the perfect fit.
 

UKWoodford

All-Conference
May 17, 2022
636
1,282
0
Not true at all. Yes, we have some great pieces. However, Sharpe leaving has created a hole in the roster. We need another wing scorer/shooter and we need depth. If Fredrick can stay healthy, that would alleviate some of that issue. However, he has been injury prone his entire career.

We need more scoring punch in the lineup. Those that can’t see that are just being complete homers. Hopefully we can get that transfer from Illinois. He would be the perfect fit.

Ton's of UK fans here that can't get excited about anything for reason's that usually don't even involve UK basketball. But they bring their misery here. If they state it once or every now and then, that's reasonable. Whey they never shut up, they either aren't UK fans or are selfish UK fans that use this forum to bich and moan, call sane UK fans homers and other childish names, etc. Just facts. Couldn't give a rats a$$ if you agree.
 

Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,078
54,690
100
Ton's of UK fans here that can't get excited about anything for reason's that usually don't even involve UK basketball. But they bring their misery here. If they state it once or every now and then, that's reasonable. Whey they never shut up, they either aren't UK fans or are selfish UK fans that use this forum to bich and moan, call sane UK fans homers and more nasty names, etc. Just facts. Couldn't give a rats a$$ if you agree.
We have a coach that’s underachieved for the last several years. He made a mockery of the program with the whole Sharpe fiasco. I can absolutely see why some fans are pissed. Couldn’t give a rats *** if you agree with that. “Sane fans”. 🤣
 

bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
29,352
0
Not true at all. Yes, we have some great pieces. However, Sharpe leaving has created a hole in the roster. We need another wing scorer/shooter and we need depth. If Fredrick can stay healthy, that would alleviate some of that issue. However, he has been injury prone his entire career.

We need more scoring punch in the lineup. Those that can’t see that are just being complete homers. Hopefully we can get that transfer from Illinois. He would be the perfect fit.

Grandison (from Illinois) is exactly what this team needs. He’s a small ball 4 at 6’6 210 lbs. He shot 41% from 3 on a talented Illinois team.

With him, Cal can get shooters out there at the 2-4 spots alongside Wheeler (who is playing 30+mpg) and Tshiebwe.

He can put Wallace at the 2, Reeves at the 3, and Grandison at the 4.

If he wants to have even better shooting, he can put Fredrick at the 2, Reeves at the 3, and Grandison at the 4.

If he wants to optimize our shooting, he can put Wallace at the 1, Fredrick at the 2, Reeves at the 3, and Grandison at the 4.

I think Grandison would be the perfect fit, but I look for Cal to roll with what he has. He’s got 8 that expect to play big minutes, plus Ware at the 9th man spot to back up Tshiebwe, and Thiero to give him a 10th practice player, so it’s an easy roster to manage.
 

jessieshorts8

Heisman
Jun 2, 2019
5,256
14,723
113
Grandison (from Illinois) is exactly what this team needs. He’s a small ball 4 at 6’6 210 lbs. He shot 41% from 3 on a talented Illinois team.

With him, Cal can get shooters out there at the 2-4 spots alongside Wheeler (who is playing 30+mpg) and Tshiebwe.

He can put Wallace at the 2, Reeves at the 3, and Grandison at the 4.

If he wants to have even better shooting, he can put Fredrick at the 2, Reeves at the 3, and Grandison at the 4.

If he wants to optimize our shooting, he can put Wallace at the 1, Fredrick at the 2, Reeves at the 3, and Grandison at the 4.

I think Grandison would be the perfect fit, but I look for Cal to roll with what he has. He’s got 8 that expect to play big minutes, plus Ware at the 9th man spot to back up Tshiebwe, and Thiero to give him a 10th practice player, so it’s an easy roster to manage.
I wonder if Cal has reached out?Seems like a great fit.
 

Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
24,078
54,690
100
Grandison (from Illinois) is exactly what this team needs. He’s a small ball 4 at 6’6 210 lbs. He shot 41% from 3 on a talented Illinois team.

With him, Cal can get shooters out there at the 2-4 spots alongside Wheeler (who is playing 30+mpg) and Tshiebwe.

He can put Wallace at the 2, Reeves at the 3, and Grandison at the 4.

If he wants to have even better shooting, he can put Fredrick at the 2, Reeves at the 3, and Grandison at the 4.

If he wants to optimize our shooting, he can put Wallace at the 1, Fredrick at the 2, Reeves at the 3, and Grandison at the 4.

I think Grandison would be the perfect fit, but I look for Cal to roll with what he has. He’s got 8 that expect to play big minutes, plus Ware at the 9th man spot to back up Tshiebwe, and Thiero to give him a 10th practice player, so it’s an easy roster to manage.
Supposedly UK is gonna go after him. That’s the word. Would love to add him!
 
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LowCountryCat

Heisman
Apr 17, 2010
117,188
22,769
0
Ton's of UK fans here that can't get excited about anything for reason's that usually don't even involve UK basketball. But they bring their misery here. If they state it once or every now and then, that's reasonable. Whey they never shut up, they either aren't UK fans or are selfish UK fans that use this forum to bich and moan, call sane UK fans homers and other childish names, etc. Just facts. Couldn't give a rats a$$ if you agree.
Couldn't give a rat's *** about your stupid, arbitrary standards of what a UK fan is or is not. You're just a silly little sock. Anyone who has to have two dozen alts because he lacks self control and can't handle being repeatedly banned is pathetic.
 

bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
29,352
0
Supposedly UK is gonna go after him. That’s the word. Would love to add him!

I really hope so.

Word is Duke is going after him as well. They have the starting SG spot open for him with Keels gone. He is not an SG, but he probably wants to be and they can hide him on defense by playing zone. Unlike Cal, K Jr. (Scheyer) won’t be afraid to play zone in order to keep an offensive weapon on the floor.
 
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