Because he showed a lot of improvement last year and Brooks was in the way. He can get to the rim and explode and his stroke looks really good. He has all the tools. Now he can hone in on them. He won't be getting yanked for Brooks either. I'm very optimistic about him. Could be wrong though, but I believe in him.
Toppin update
- Thread starter akaukswoosh
- Start date
UMass was a buzzsaw that year and they gave us all we wanted in the semifinal. If not for us they win the title. They also had about 20% of the talent we did. That was a different coach Cal.
I agree and am not propping him up. There are people who think he sucked and my whole point is he didn't suck. He just didn't live up to expectations I suppose. Those are two different things imo.
Over the 1.5 seasons he primarily started he averaged 10 ppg, 5 rpg, 1ast, 1stl, 1 blk. He also played with the best rebounder we've pretty much ever had here so I'm sure his rebounding average would have been a bit higher last year...more in line with '21.
Inconsistent on the court and effort wise at times...I compared him to some fan favorites just to make a point.
Honestly, his career reminds me a little of Alex Poythress. Tons of talent but never saw it fully matriculate.
I disagree, respectfully. We had nobody on the team with Camby's talent. Padilla and Travieso were excellent guards and Bright was solid.
We had a team full of 7s and 8s though.
Players who start and get 25+ minutes per game have to bring something to the floor. For long stretches, Brooks is just a player on the floor. He had moments, but for the most part, he brought nothing for the team. He would be fine in a support role with maybe 10 minutes.
Play defense, set screens, get rebounds, block shots, put back points, hustle, energy....something.
You're overstating, and doing it badly. You just said he brought "NOTHING" "FOR THE MOST PART."
Brooks hardly ever went scoreless and this year averaged 10/6. That's NOT NOTHING. For the most part, he was at least average. Stats bear this out.
Your comment is the definition of 'hater.'
I don't think he sucked, he just never really improved much. Plenty of games with 2 pts and maybe 2 rebs in 20 plus minutes.
Non-factor in lots of games. The occasional 10 plus points a game. Never went into a game counting on him to help win the game or make a meaningful impact.
"Players who start and get 25+ minutes per game have to bring something to the floor. "
That's a key to my post. For a player with starters minutes, he has to bring something to the floor. 10\6 with long stretches of nothing, poor defense, turns, and very little energy is not enough for starters minutes.
I get it. You like Brooks. I have nothing against him as a player. I just think he is better served as a spot player...10mpg.
2 or 3 away?
Lol, you ant a perfect team?
Look at other contenders. They all have holes too!
I mean he averaged 11 ppg. 17 games in double figures. 8 games 15+ pts. 2nd on team in rebounds and blocked shots. 3rd in FG% for anyone w 100+ shots.
Yeah well other teams have enough people to practice if one guy gets hurt, we don’t.
They both turned it over inside 2 minutes against UAB when the Cats had a 2 point lead and got a stop. To be fair the 5 secind call on Chuck was a quick whistle.
No one is perfect. Brooks was OK but not comparable to Daniels or especially Hayes.
That's definitely a glass half full look at Keion's numbers.
17 games in double figures. === 16 games in single digit points.
8 games 15+ pts. === 25 games with less than 15 points while logging 24.4 mpg
2nd on team in rebounds. === 5th on the team in rebs/min with min 100min played (Ware and above)
2nd on team in blocked shots. === 5th on the team in BS/min with min 100min played (Ware and above)
3rd in FG% for anyone w 100+ shots.
Again, there is nothing wrong with Keion's numbers as 10 minute per game guy. My main issue with KB is in his defense and energy (hustle plays, etc.). I'm sure there are some advanced metrics out there that chart this...not sure if that data is public. I think Toppin and Collins should have been give more of KB's minutes (esp. Collins as he outperforms KB in nearly every statistic per minute category). Again, KB is a fine player...just not a guy I want on my team logging major minutes...but to each their own.
Agree, definitely a half glass full take by me, but again my stance is just that he didn't suck. I mean if we want to go through history of UK players there are going to be a lot of guys who logged 20-25 minutes per game and produced less than Keion.
I'm on the side of it was time for a change, just feel like folks poo poo KB like he was Sheray Thomas or something.
That's a FAR CRY from "he brought NOTHING to the table."
Brooks is a good play finisher, but not a great play maker. He does not pass well or handle well. He has trouble creating shots and scoring opportunities for himself and others. He is not particularly good with the ball and not great at driving the ball. His strength is finishing plays around the rim and spotting up for catch and shoot jumpers. He played well in games where he played within his abilities. He did not play well when he tried to do too much.
If Brooks came back and played within himself and concentrated on catching and shooting jumpers and rebounding the ball on offense, he can help us. If he comes back with the mindset that he going to show the NBA he is a 3 man and can handle it like a guard, he is just going to hurt us.
If Brooks came back and played within himself and concentrated on catching and shooting jumpers and rebounding the ball on offense, he can help us. If he comes back with the mindset that he going to show the NBA he is a 3 man and can handle it like a guard, he is just going to hurt us.
It doesn't seem quite fair that a player Calapari recruited and coached actually helped him win a game! It sdeems to me that players ability and talent win most games, how can we stop that from happening?
Completely agree with this. Keion is good. Just not quite good enough to be a quality starter. You’re right about his defense and his effort. He’s just kind of slow honestly. Or plays that way. Just doesn’t have the quickness. He can jump. But not very agile. Not to mention his shot selection is just not great . And he turns the ball over too much. Especially compared to his lack of assists. Not a great passer or dribbler for that matter. And what was the deal with Cal having him continuously inbounding the ball last year lol. He was horrible in that regard. Yet Cal continued to have him try to inbound the ball 
.
sounds like I hate him . I don’t. He does have good qualities for sure. I wish him the best on whoever picks him up
.sounds like I hate him . I don’t. He does have good qualities for sure. I wish him the best on whoever picks him up
I think KB was fine but I agree that Toppin deserved his minutes sometimes and just was forgotten about. He was either on or off, rarely could you count on him to just get his 11/7 every game.
Last edited:
BS. I support medical abortion access for women/children who are victims of rape, incest or related to a woman's health. But I guess you're opposed to those exceptions as a typical nutcase Taliban right winger.
He did next to nothing. Maybe had 3-4 impactful games in 3 seasons. Total bust.
We had nine future NBA players on that team. They had one in Camby. UMass was an excellent team with one star and some good basketball players. Cal did a good job with that team. Just goes to show you how hard it is to win. They played our tails off when we had a team full of future NBA players.
2015 was just as loaded as 1996 and Cal almost found a way to lose to Notre Dame in the E8. If they had made that last second 3 we would've lost. And we all know what happened in the next round. That was a coaching mis-clinic.
Looking at what Tubby did at Memphis and at High Point, I would say that the game of college basketball passed him by early in his Kentucky tenure and he never had the situational awareness to make any adjustments. Good guy but way too stubborn for the coaching and development role. The game is changing faster than some coaches and fans can follow.