Who is the leader?

Manster

Junior
May 29, 2001
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Who is/are the leader(s) of our basketball team on the floor?
Is there a leader in the starting line-up?
It should be Devin, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Who knows what transpires in the locker room, but on the floor it would appear Holton has been the leader...at least the inspirational leader at times.
 

GetYaNumbersUp

Redshirt
Mar 15, 2013
15,118
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We don't have one, but the closest thing we have to a leader is currently suspended. At the moment this is not a good team, can't shoot, don't run any type of offense, and the defense is breaking.

This upcoming slate of games should be interesting, hopefully we can get it together.
 

Darth_VadEER

All-Conference
Dec 14, 2010
23,025
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We don't have one, but the closest thing we have to a leader is currently suspended. At the moment this is not a good team, can't shoot, don't run any type of offense, and the defense is breaking.

This upcoming slate of games should be interesting, hopefully we can get it together.

We just need to steal a win or two and get through it.
 

HurdyGurdyEer

Freshman
Aug 18, 2012
3,108
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When this team plays well it's fun to watch. But really good to great teams always have 1-2 on the court leaders. Someone(s) is going to half to step up for this team to go into the postseason with some momentum.
 

TexasforevEER

Freshman
Nov 10, 2006
2,364
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Paige is clearly the 'go to' guy on this team but doesn't start the game. He gets into foul trouble with the defensive scheme that we employ and then has to sit the bench. Dadgummit, we need at least one or two more of the Paige type. Somebody gonna step up. Could Nate be one of the players that step up? He is very capable and just needs a confidence boost. Maybe he got it in the last two games. Warez
 

HurdyGurdyEer

Freshman
Aug 18, 2012
3,108
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Agree on Paige. But, as noted, he's not a starter.
Phillip ... sort of. He can be a catalyst more than a leader. He needs a leader at times.
Holton is not a leader. He is a catalyst. He obviously needs leading.

Actually, now that is has mentioned, I can see Adrian being THAT guy. Yet, he's not a regular starter.He's been around. He knows the ropes. He's getting his game back (adjusted) for injuries. He just needs to see that his team needs someone to help keep everyone else focused and motivated.

I think that Paige and Adrian need to look at each other and say, "We need to emotionally carry this team through February and into the post-season." And then they gotta do it.
 

xWVU2010x

All-Conference
Sep 3, 2006
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Holton being the senior should be but I dont think he has the personality for it. Devin same deal. Adrian isnt good enough to be a leader.

If anything Id say a combo of Paige, Carter, and Phillip. They seem to be the ones who always light the fuse whenever we hit a rough patch for a stretch in a game.
 

xWVU2010x

All-Conference
Sep 3, 2006
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"Adrian isnt good enough to be a leader."

Wellington Smith and Cam Thoroughman disagree......

Wellington Smith was not the leader of the Final Four team, that was Da'sean Butler's team all the way through. Yes, Wells, Mazz, and co were high character guys that played their roles well, but the leader was always Da'sean.

The following year it was all Flowers. Again, Cam a nice high character player, but not a leader on that team.
 

GetYaNumbersUp

Redshirt
Mar 15, 2013
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Wellington Smith was not the leader of the Final Four team, that was Da'sean Butler's team all the way through. Yes, Wells, Mazz, and co were high character guys that played their roles well, but the leader was always Da'sean.

The following year it was all Flowers. Again, Cam a nice high character player, but not a leader on that team.


Mazz isn't someone i'd call high character. Butler and Smith, yes.
 

GetYaNumbersUp

Redshirt
Mar 15, 2013
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Why? Because of the PNC park incident? Cmon now, thats kid stuff. Dude took on John Wall with one arm and got the better of him in an Elite 8 game. Thats legendary stuff.

He was a hell of a player, and I like him. He's just not the first person that comes to mind when I think of high character. Just my opinion.
 

KeatonsCorner

Senior
Nov 5, 2012
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Wellington Smith was very much a leader for the 2010 group........ anyone remotely close to the program knows that...

Same with Thoroughman in 2011..
 

KeatonsCorner

Senior
Nov 5, 2012
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Why? Because of the PNC park incident? Cmon now, thats kid stuff. Dude took on John Wall with one arm and got the better of him in an Elite 8 game. Thats legendary stuff.


Wow. This speaks volumes, man........ you might want to reconsider this.

"kids stuff"

punching a uniformed officer

dragging a girl out of a bar by her neck while your surgically repaired shoulder is still in a hard cast......



but Holton is a bad teammate, right?


and this?

"Dude took on John Wall and got the better of him"

Wall - 19 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and a block

Mazz - 17 points, 3 assists


Make no mistake, John Wall wasn't the reason that UK lost that game..... he got no help, from his teammates or his coach.
 

HurdyGurdyEer

Freshman
Aug 18, 2012
3,108
69
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Anyone who actually watched that team closely understood that in many ways Wells was the anchor of that team.

People are mistaking "most outstanding" and "most talented" for leadership.

We are not talking about the leading scorer, the leading rebounder, the leader in steals, etc. We are talking about the player(s) who understand what the coach wants, they understand what needs to be done, they understand who needs to be motivated, and then they push, pull, energize, motivate their teammates in the direction they need to go.

Often the team leaders in certain statistical categories need a leader on the floor to keep everyone going in the right direction. This is what we are talking about. Who is really going step up and be a leader in February and into the postseason? This team needs somebody to do that.
 

xWVU2010x

All-Conference
Sep 3, 2006
138,425
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Wow. This speaks volumes, man........ you might want to reconsider this.

"kids stuff"

punching a uniformed officer

dragging a girl out of a bar by her neck while your surgically repaired shoulder is still in a hard cast......



but Holton is a bad teammate, right?


and this?

"Dude took on John Wall and got the better of him"

Wall - 19 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and a block

Mazz - 17 points, 3 assists


Make no mistake, John Wall wasn't the reason that UK lost that game..... he got no help, from his teammates or his coach.

Mazzula won, thats how he got the better of him. He had maybe 1/10th of Wall's talent but went punch for punch with him and his team won.

As for the off the court stuff, was he charged? Why is he not in jail? Two sides to every story, and he was 19 and 20 in both incidents, hardly enough to label him a scumbag for the rest of his life.

Also, for the record who was he with in the horrifying PNC Park incident? Mr. Thoroughman, so why does he get a pass from you?
 

xWVU2010x

All-Conference
Sep 3, 2006
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Anyone who actually watched that team closely understood that in many ways Wells was the anchor of that team.

People are mistaking "most outstanding" and "most talented" for leadership.

We are not talking about the leading scorer, the leading rebounder, the leader in steals, etc. We are talking about the player(s) who understand what the coach wants, they understand what needs to be done, they understand who needs to be motivated, and then they push, pull, energize, motivate their teammates in the direction they need to go.

Often the team leaders in certain statistical categories need a leader on the floor to keep everyone going in the right direction. This is what we are talking about. Who is really going step up and be a leader in February and into the postseason? This team needs somebody to do that.

In 2010, Da'sean was both, most talented and best vocal leader in their day to day practices. We dont have that guy now. Our most talented player is probably Devin but he certainly is not the leader of the team. Whether its good or bad I dont know but we just simply dont have that guy who is the unquestioned alpha of the team that everyone will listen to. From where Im sitting its usually some combo of Paige, Phillip, and Carter that step up and take over, but if we go down by 10 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and the team is bordering on panic mode, there is no clear cut answer as to who the team will all look at to right the ship. Again that could be a good thing, not saying its not since a spark can conceivably come from anywhere.
 

TexasforevEER

Freshman
Nov 10, 2006
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So..................it was stated here that Adrian is not good enough to be a leader. Do you really have to be the best player on the floor to qualify as a leader? I think not. I say that Nathan Adrian is quite capable of playing a leadership role on this team. Adrian has all the tools. He just needs a shot of confidence. No.............not the kind you drink .............. or smoke.
 

xWVU2010x

All-Conference
Sep 3, 2006
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So..................it was stated here that Adrian is not good enough to be a leader. Do you really have to be the best player on the floor to qualify as a leader? I think not. I say that Nathan Adrian is quite capable of playing a leadership role on this team. Adrian has all the tools. He just needs a shot of confidence. No.............not the kind you drink .............. or smoke.

Adrian has done nothing to prove to be a leader. Maybe next year as a senior it changes as being a senior gives you an opportunity to change your role a little but he plays timid, and usually out of necessity. If he doesnt hit on his 1 or 2 3 point attempts per game he usually is just a total liability offensively. Not exactly the stuff team leaders are made of, and as Thoroughman came up in this thread, I would grade Thoroughman above Adrian almost across the board with the exception of perimeter shooting.
 

KeatonsCorner

Senior
Nov 5, 2012
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He is shooting 70% from 3 currently over the last five games I think.... And 39% from 3 for the season....50% in league play


There is a lot of fail happening right now....
 

xWVU2010x

All-Conference
Sep 3, 2006
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He is shooting 70% from 3 currently over the last five games I think.... And 39% from 3 for the season....50% in league play


There is a lot of fail happening right now....

6 3 pt attempts in 5 games man, relax. When he hits a shot do you go around telling everyone he is 100% over the last 5 minutes of league play?
 

HurdyGurdyEer

Freshman
Aug 18, 2012
3,108
69
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Nate has played better of late. That might give him some confidence. Nate and Jaysean are my candidates to become visible leaders.

If Carter suddenly snaps out his fog he might step up to the leadership plate and take a few swings.

Somebody has gotta do it.

Could we see a leader emerge against ISU?
I'm already on record as saying that I think February could be brutal. But ..... these ain't Fred Hoiberg's ISU Cyclones anymore.