UK vs duke

[WeWant9_rivals]

Now that the roster is mostly set, lets talk some game action. First big one is Champions Classic vs duke. I haven’t kept up with duke’s roster much, for those in the know- how do you see the two teams matching up? I know Flagg has gotten a lot of hype, how will he handle going against a team of mostly college vets? We’ve seen it go either way as UK fans.

It’ll be Pope’s first big game as the UK coach, and I think he’ll have the team dialed in for it.

 

[WildcatNC]

Good thing is we will actually scout them and have a game plan in place both offensively and defensively with all that prep time.

I think Pope will want to make a statement out of the gate.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Without Roach, I think they are vulnerable. They may win but I expect a competitive game.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Theres always a worry thay Flagg is the real deal and torches us the way a guy like Wall or AD could do to other teams.. but its also likely hes still figuring the game out this early.

But as for the rest of their team.. its going to be young and inexperienced. Kentucky wont have many reps together, but its going to be a lot of 3, 4 and 5th year guys. I think we win.

I also dont think scheyer is anything great and id be surprised if he has this Duke team ready to compete so early. Remember, this is a very young team even for him, and he no longer has any real carryover from the the Coach K era. I see this going the way it did for Tubby and Ollie.. early success because everything was set up for them, and the longer their predecessor was removed from the program, the worse it got.

 

[Anon1636470744]

Theres always a worry thay Flagg is the real deal and torches us the way a guy like Wall or AD could do to other teams.. but its also likely hes still figuring the game out this early.

But as for the rest of their team.. its going to be young and inexperienced. Kentucky wont have many reps together, but its going to be a lot of 3, 4 and 5th year guys. I think we win.

I also dont think scheyer is anything great and id be surprised if he has this Duke team ready to compete so early. Remember, this is a very young team even for him, and he no longer has any real carryover from the the Coach K era. I see this going the way it did for Tubby and Ollie.. early success because everything was set up for them, and the longer their predecessor was removed from the program, the worse it got.

Flagg isn't Wall or Davis level.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Flagg isn't Wall or Davis level.

Oh IDK.. I think he could be. There are some questions about his competition.. but hes one of the highest rated prospects in years. Hes a 6'9 point forward. Now he still haa to prove it.. but therers a very good chance he turns out to be one of the best freshman these last 10-15 years.

Thankfully, we likely wont see him near his full potential come that Duke game.

 

[Wunky]

Flagg is good. But I can tell you one thing for sure about a Pope-coached UK team playing Duke: they will take the matchup of schools personally, and they will take the individual matchup with Flagg personally as well, being veterans. There is no question who has the more veteran team. I just hope the game is called consistently.

 

[bucsrule8872]

The Flagg matchup concerns me a little on paper.

He probably plays the 4 spot for them and that is easily our weakest position defensively assuming Carr is the starter there.

And if they put him at the 3, then we don’t have anyone with the size there to match up with a 6’9 guy.

Flagg is definitely a matchup nightmare.

Luckily, on the flip side, I don’t see him having much success defensively against any of our guys.

Carr should be able to post him up and if they put him at the 3, good luck chasing Robinson, Brea, or Oweh.

 

[MidseasonTweak]

On paper Duke is more talented. UK will have the better college team out of the gate, though.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

The Flagg matchup concerns me a little on paper.

He probably plays the 4 spot for them and that is easily our weakest position defensively assuming Carr is the starter there.

And if they put him at the 3, then we don’t have anyone with the size there to match up with a 6’9 guy.

Flagg is definitely a matchup nightmare.

Luckily, on the flip side, I don’t see him having much success defensively against any of our guys.

Carr should be able to post him up and if they put him at the 3, good luck chasing Robinson, Brea, or Oweh.

This is really going to be THE deciding factor. Because i cant see a guy like Pope not having his team ready, where as i just dont see an underwhelming bench coach like Scheyer getting these freshman ready to play a grown-man UK team.. so its going to come down to whether Flagg can take the game over for them.

The good thing here is that Flagg will be new to this team as well, and will Duke put the ball in his hands? OR will Duke try and get a traditional guard tk take care of the offense, like a Proctor, therefore taking Flagg out of his normal point-forward role.

It will be tough, and we have to have some of our guys ready to ball.. but if they are, Duke is going to need some sort of 30pt/12r/8a performance from a guy like Flagg (or maybe someone else).

 

[James from Krispy Kreme]

Theres always a worry thay Flagg is the real deal and torches us the way a guy like Wall or AD could do to other teams.. but its also likely hes still figuring the game out this early.

But as for the rest of their team.. its going to be young and inexperienced. Kentucky wont have many reps together, but its going to be a lot of 3, 4 and 5th year guys. I think we win.

I also dont think scheyer is anything great and id be surprised if he has this Duke team ready to compete so early. Remember, this is a very young team even for him, and he no longer has any real carryover from the the Coach K era. I see this going the way it did for Tubby and Ollie.. early success because everything was set up for them, and the longer their predecessor was removed from the program, the worse it got.

Flagg is 1000% the real deal.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Flagg is 1000% the real deal.

Well thats not true either. He very likely is. But we dont know that. And we also dont know what Duke will get out of him in his one yeat there.

You know who Duke fans told us was the real deal a year ago? Tyrese Proctor. He was going to be a top2 draft pick to one Duke fan. Fast forward a year and hes not even getting drafted. Had to come back.

 

[The_Ghost_of_Born_and_Bread]

Theres always a worry thay Flagg is the real deal and torches us the way a guy like Wall or AD could do to other teams.. but its also likely hes still figuring the game out this early.

But as for the rest of their team.. its going to be young and inexperienced. Kentucky wont have many reps together, but its going to be a lot of 3, 4 and 5th year guys. I think we win.

I also dont think scheyer is anything great and id be surprised if he has this Duke team ready to compete so early. Remember, this is a very young team even for him, and he no longer has any real carryover from the the Coach K era. I see this going the way it did for Tubby and Ollie.. early success because everything was set up for them, and the longer their predecessor was removed from the program, the worse it got.

Their starting 7 will be one of the oldest in the country. Not sure where your misinformation comes from. Some of yall really don’t follow any other teams outside Kentucky do ya?

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Their starting 7 will be one of the oldest in the country. Not sure where your misinformation comes from. Some of yall really don’t follow any other teams outside Kentucky do ya?

You think 5 top20 recruits arent going to get roughly 120 of the minutes, followed by Proctor, a junior, getting another 30?

What other upper classmen are getting minutes?

 

[The_Ghost_of_Born_and_Bread]

You think 5 top20 recruits arent going to get roughly 120 of the minutes, followed by Proctor, a junior, getting another 30?

What other upper classmen are getting minutes

Brown (rising junior) was all-ACC at Syracuse last year and he will start. So will 5th year senior Sion James. 6th year senior Mason Gillis first off the bench. Plus sophomore Foster and Junior Proctor.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Brown (rising junior) was all-ACC at Syracuse last year and he will start. So will 5th year senior Sion James. 6th year senior Mason Gillis first off the bench. Plus sophomore Foster and Junior Proctor.

Those guys arent getting 30mpg lol. They were fill ins for a roster last year that all but bolted. Duke NEEDED 7th 8th and 9th man types, to play behind freshman, who wpuld go somewhere else if they were only getting 10 to 15mpg

Or.. fine, dont play potentially game-changing freshman. Thats Dukes only chance here.

 

[Trollsensor]

Duke has amassed a ton of talent. I think Proctor will be a guy we have to shut down. I'm hoping our grown men can be the difference in that game.

 

[Rideordiewildcat]

F Dook!!! I say we take them out.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Duke has amassed a ton of talent. I think Proctor will be a guy we have to shut down. I'm hoping our grown men can be the difference in that game.

Hea probably the one im least worried about. He was supposed to be the next lottery pick, a lengthy combo guard primed for NBA stardom.

He virtually made no improvements last year, aside from some better shot selection and efficiency (yet his FT also dropped to 75%). Duke fans tried to trick the sport last year with Proctor.. not happening a 2nd time.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Here is what I love about this game Lose or Win. It’s the first time since 2019 that um going into that game excited. Every year since then I thought we had the talent but wouldn’t be ready that early in the season. This year I feel like we actually have a shot.

 

[catsfanbgky]

Will only have 3 upper classmen, Proctor will be a returning JR., Maliq Brown transfer from Syracuse 9.5 ppg / 7.2 reb., and Mason Gillis, transfer from Purdue, 6.5 ppg / 4 reb. Also added Sion James from Tulane, 14 ppg. / 5.4 reb.

 

[Trollsensor]

Hea probably the one im least worried about. He was supposed to be the next lottery pick, a lengthy combo guard primed for NBA stardom.

He virtually made no improvements last year, aside from some better shot selection and efficiency (yet his FT also dropped to 75%). Duke fans tried to trick the sport last year with Proctor.. not happening a 2nd time.

I didn't watch them a lot last season, so you may be correct. When I did watch them, Proctor was their most reliable scorer.

 

[The_Ghost_of_Born_and_Bread]

Hea probably the one im least worried about. He was supposed to be the next lottery pick, a lengthy combo guard primed for NBA stardom.

He virtually made no improvements last year, aside from some better shot selection and efficiency (yet his FT also dropped to 75%). Duke fans tried to trick the sport last year with Proctor.. not happening a 2nd time.

Proctor was also hurt from early December on with a bum ankle that caused him to miss 4 weeks. We will see what a healthy version looks like

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Proctor was also hurt from early December on with a bum ankle that caused him to miss 4 weeks. We will see what a healthy version looks like

Meh. If the NBA wanted him, he'd be there on draft night. NBA doesn't care about a bum ankle.

I'm much more concerned about which of their freshman might be the real deal. That's the real concern for this game. Who knows, Flagg, Maluach and another guy could be immediate impact players, and Duke is a force early on. But I'm not concerned about Proctor.

 

[Kentucky2022]

Flagg is 1000% the real deal.

Hasn’t even played a game could very well be a bust, this time last year everyone thought Justin Edward’s was the number 1 pick lol.

 

[JAPierce_2]

Flagg isn't Wall or Davis level.

Based on what?

 

[TigerMoving]

Duke doesn't scare me at all. They will be UNC's b*tch once again and we will smoke them. They are soft.

 

[DelkBowl]

Duke is going to kill is.

 

[TFCat11]

UK by 8-10… For real

 

[AJG-15]

Duke has an interesting team . Two returning guards in Procter and Foster. It’s going to be a very good defensive team , Very long ( all players above 6’5) , athletic, with good transfers that they will provide them with 3 point shooting , rebounding and experience. Add to that the number one incoming freshman class featuring the star player Flagg besides five other freshman including 2 Seven footers.

Tyrese Proctor 6’5 ( PG returning , will be JR)
Caleb Foster 6’5 (CG returning , will be Sophomore)
Sion James 6’6 ( G from Tulane)
Isaiah Evans 6’6 ( SG/ SF - f)
Darren Harris 6’6 (SG/ SF - f)
Cameron Sheffield 6”6 ( G / SF transfer from Rice , good 3 point shooter and rebounder)
Kon Knueppel 6’5 (SF -f)
Maliq Brown (PF 6’8 transfer star player at Syracuse Jr)
Mason Gillis ( 6’6 PF / SF 3 point specialist , great rebounder from Purdue )
Cooper Flagg 6’9( SF/ PF -f)
Khaman Malachi 7’2 ( f)
Patrick Ngongba 6’11( f)

Starting line up:
Procter , Foster, Flagg, Brown , Malachi.

Bench: Gillis, James, Sheffield, Kon, Evans, Harris.

Unfortunately, Duke might be favorite to win this year against our Cats.

 

[christophero]

Hard to say who has the edge. Duke did get 3 very physical experienced role players out of the portal and has 2 starting guards back. Might depend on how good the 2 freshman big men are.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

This is really going to be THE deciding factor. Because i cant see a guy like Pope not having his team ready, where as i just dont see an underwhelming bench coach like Scheyer getting these freshman ready to play a grown-man UK team.. so its going to come down to whether Flagg can take the game over for them.

The good thing here is that Flagg will be new to this team as well, and will Duke put the ball in his hands? OR will Duke try and get a traditional guard tk take care of the offense, like a Proctor, therefore taking Flagg out of his normal point-forward role.

It will be tough, and we have to have some of our guys ready to ball.. but if they are, Duke is going to need some sort of 30pt/12r/8a performance from a guy like Flagg (or maybe someone else).

Duke snagged a nice collection of transfers in James, Gillis, Brown, and Sheffield. I really liked James as a wing defender.

I think they have all the ingredients for a deep run, unfortunately. They have four decent, experienced transfers, a solid group of returners, and an elite freshman class.

If Scheyer doesn't get it done this year by making the Final Four, it may be a while before he gets another shot.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Duke has an interesting team . Two returning guards in Procter and Foster. It’s going to be a very good defensive team , Very long ( all players above 6’5) , athletic, with good transfers that they will provide them with 3 point shooting , rebounding and experience. Add to that the number one incoming freshman class featuring the star player Flagg besides five other freshman including 2 Seven footers.

Tyrese Proctor 6’5 ( PG returning , will be JR)
Caleb Foster 6’5 (CG returning , will be Sophomore)
Sion James 6’6 ( G from Tulane)
Isaiah Evans 6’6 ( SG/ SF - f)
Darren Harris 6’6 (SG/ SF - f)
Cameron Sheffield 6”6 ( G / SF transfer from Rice , good 3 point shooter and rebounder)
Kon Knueppel 6’5 (SF -f)
Maliq Brown (PF 6’8 transfer star player at Syracuse Jr)
Mason Gillis ( 6’6 PF / SF 3 point specialist , great rebounder from Purdue )
Cooper Flagg 6’9( SF/ PF -f)
Khaman Malachi 7’2 ( f)
Patrick Ngongba 6’11( f)

Starting line up:
Procter , Foster, Flagg, Brown , Malachi.

Bench: Gillis, James, Sheffield, Kon, Evans, Harris.

Unfortunately, Duke might be favorite to win this year against our Cats.

They have 12 legitimate players.

Hopefully they have some turmoil. That's a ton of mouths to feed. Flagg is going to eat up 30-35 minutes/game. Proctor and Foster will demand minutes. The two freshmen bigs will both want to play. The four transfers aren't coming to Durham to sit on the bench. Knueppel is a top 15 kid who will demand minutes. Same for Evans.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

The Flagg matchup concerns me a little on paper.

He probably plays the 4 spot for them and that is easily our weakest position defensively assuming Carr is the starter there.

And if they put him at the 3, then we don’t have anyone with the size there to match up with a 6’9 guy.

Flagg is definitely a matchup nightmare.

Luckily, on the flip side, I don’t see him having much success defensively against any of our guys.

Carr should be able to post him up and if they put him at the 3, good luck chasing Robinson, Brea, or Oweh.

C - Maluach - Ngongba
F - Flagg - Brown
F - Evans - James - Sheffield
G - Foster - Knueppel - Gillis - Harris
G - Proctor - Foster

I'm not sure how Scheyer will keep all 12 of these guys happy. I could see some midseason transfers.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

No clue. Will just tune in and hope for the best.

 

[BStockfan01]

Itll be a good game and we will actually have a gameplan in place. Im not even sure how we list last year we were up 15 in the 2H

 

[Snarks0]

hate to say it but Duke has far superior talent. I’m probably going to bet on them.

 

[Killswitch24]

Theres always a worry thay Flagg is the real deal and torches us the way a guy like Wall or AD could do to other teams.. but its also likely hes still figuring the game out this early.

But as for the rest of their team.. its going to be young and inexperienced. Kentucky wont have many reps together, but its going to be a lot of 3, 4 and 5th year guys. I think we win.

I also dont think scheyer is anything great and id be surprised if he has this Duke team ready to compete so early. Remember, this is a very young team even for him, and he no longer has any real carryover from the the Coach K era. I see this going the way it did for Tubby and Ollie.. early success because everything was set up for them, and the longer their predecessor was removed from the program, the worse it got.

We are finally getting to the point where Coach K is not in full control of Duke anymore. He was already having some cognitive issues when he left and it’s been 3 years this coming season. I would assume Scheyer and his guys are beginning to take control from K in some form. To me that helps, and you can already see from the officiating standpoint Duke just isn’t the same without K. I’m sure he’s been behind the scenes working with Scheyer and the team which should now begin to slow. I thought when he left it would take 3/4 years for K to give up the control and here we are.

Scheyer did get to that elite 8 but for certain reasons I don’t read much into it. Just a decent path and Duke was able to manage a good road. The fact that he couldn’t get them to a final four last year says more to me than his ability to get them to the elite 8.

 

[cats#1again]

I'm not sd on Duke anymore. They always lack the killer instinct to get it done. Same with our last few teams

 

[Eight_Banners_anon]

Hard to say who has the edge. Duke did get 3 very physical experienced role players out of the portal and has 2 starting guards back. Might depend on how good the 2 freshman big men are.

Maliq Brown is not a role player. He had the #3 highest offensive rating in the portal and was #30 defensively in the portal. He earned his way as a starter at Syracuse, starting his last seventeen games there.

Mason Gillis isn't really a role player either. He was the #2 player in the portal in offensive efficiency. He was only #90 defensively, but his offense might keep him on the floor. I don't know if Flagg, Brown, and Gillis can be on the floor together or not, but those three are very good basketball players.

I think Kentucky will compete with Duke because we have elite defenders. Duke is going to be strong offensively out of the gate and will probably need to grow defensively throughout the year. Kentucky is going to be strong defensively, which should keep us in every game with a shot to win and will develop offensively throughout the year. Their first matchup will probably not be a runaway in either direction.