UK had bright spots in Maui

[Caveman Catfan]

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/16086773.htm

[Caveman Catfan]

Bilas wondered whether Bradley might be better suited as a shooting guard, where the UK junior shifted to when Jasper came into games.

[freethrow]

They make some valid points. But, Fat Boy's saying we were not going to the final four irked me. While we do not know how Carter will do once he gets back and have little idea of what Harris will bring, they have not seen our entire team. I think this team can get much better. It is too early for 'anyone' to be able to predict our ability to reach the final four. I am not giving up on our chances to do so right now at all.

[golflender]

I'm starting to believe some position shifts are in the works,do believe jasper is a better point than bradley, but bradley needs to be on the floor, so does crawford, so who's the #2 guard...

[Caveman Catfan]

golflender wrote: I'm starting to believe some position shifts are in the works,do believe jasper is a better point than bradley, but bradley needs to be on the floor, so does crawford, so who's the #2 guard...
Bradley can play some #1 and some #2. Crawford can play some #2 and some #3. Their time on the floor can be spread between positions, but I think this team needs Jasper to learn the #1 and get a lot of time at the #1 to get better before conference play.

[Stretch]

Bradley does not have the handle or the mindset to play 30 minutes a game at the point against good competition. Likewise, Jasper is too good now and too promising for the future to be limited to Bradley's backup. With a little more strength and a little more refined shooting touch, Jasper will be a matchup nightmare for UK opponents for years to come.

Sometimes I believe we ask our players to be too versatile. I would play Jasper and Porter (who, by the way, is tough as nails and much better than I thought he would be) at the point, Crawford and Bradley at the two, Perry and Meeks at the three, Stevenson and Thomas at the four and Morris and Woo/Carter at the five. We can have special platoons (best pressing team, best defensive team, etc.) in the arsenal, but otherwise I would keep it simple with a first five and second five like the NBA. Get these kids knowing their roles and playing together.

[Caveman Catfan]

That'll work.

[ukbob]

Stretch wrote: Bradley does not have the handle or the mindset to play 30 minutes a game at the point against good competition. Likewise, Jasper is too good now and too promising for the future to be limited to Bradley's backup. With a little more strength and a little more refined shooting touch, Jasper will be a matchup nightmare for UK opponents for years to come.

Sometimes I believe we ask our players to be too versatile. I would play Jasper and Porter (who, by the way, is tough as nails and much better than I thought he would be) at the point, Crawford and Bradley at the two, Perry and Meeks at the three, Stevenson and Thomas at the four and Morris and Woo/Carter at the five. We can have special platoons (best pressing team, best defensive team, etc.) in the arsenal, but otherwise I would keep it simple with a first five and second five like the NBA. Get these kids knowing their roles and playing together.

:thumbup:thumbup

[Spanish Moss]

Jasper and Porter are our point guards and both are very impressive. I wholeheartedly endorse Stretch's suggestion and I like the idea of a player playing one position.

[golflender]

Stretch I think you hit the nail on the head with that post,, my opinion Tubby is discussing this possibility with his assistants . Just seems like common sense given our team this year.

[bcbaxter10]

I just hate seeing crawford taken out of the 2 spot and moved to the 3. We saw last year he wasn't totally happy with the position. And when Mr. Michigan ain't happy, he doesn't show up.

It's going to be a tough decision, I would like to see Jasper, Bradley, Crawford, Perry, and Morris in the lineup. With Bobby at the 4, gives a bit more quickness and tough to guard, but I hate losing Stevenson in there, and again, moving Joe to the 3.

I'll tell you what though, you can see how Porter is cut from the same mold that Chuck Hayes was. Tough, hard-nosed, and doesn't give up. Modesto Christian is turning out some players!

[ukbob]

bcbaxter10 wrote: I just hate seeing crawford taken out of the 2 spot and moved to the 3. We saw last year he wasn't totally happy with the position. And when Mr. Michigan ain't happy, he doesn't show up.

It's going to be a tough decision, I would like to see Jasper, Bradley, Crawford, Perry, and Morris in the lineup. With Bobby at the 4, gives a bit more quickness and tough to guard, but I hate losing Stevenson in there, and again, moving Joe to the 3.

I'll tell you what though, you can see how Porter is cut from the same mold that Chuck Hayes was. Tough, hard-nosed, and doesn't give up. Modesto Christian is turning out some players!




I don't like it either, but you don't have to have a 3 out there if you go with a 3 guard lineup and play it that way. Start Stevenoson and Morris up front...period. Let Perry work out the kinks. JC, Ramel and Jasper at guard.

And Jasper could guard the 3 easily. Beisdes, he is one of our best rebounders. That would keep JC out front.

[DCWildcat]

bcbaxter10 wrote: I just hate seeing crawford taken out of the 2 spot and moved to the 3. We saw last year he wasn't totally happy with the position. And when Mr. Michigan ain't happy, he doesn't show up.

It's going to be a tough decision, I would like to see Jasper, Bradley, Crawford, Perry, and Morris in the lineup. With Bobby at the 4, gives a bit more quickness and tough to guard, but I hate losing Stevenson in there, and again, moving Joe to the 3.

I'll tell you what though, you can see how Porter is cut from the same mold that Chuck Hayes was. Tough, hard-nosed, and doesn't give up. Modesto Christian is turning out some players!



While I agree that Crawford at the 3 nearly all the time would be a problem, I really don't think we'll see that. I imagine he'll still play much more at the 2 than the 3. Tubby can get very versatile in his subbing patterns, and he's not afraid to go with some jaw-dropping lineups on occasion if they work.

[audacious1]

I agree with all that was mentioned above but where is our rebounding coming from? It seems that so many of our players don't have a nose for the ball. (Although Jasper does to a certain extent but I believe he should be focusing on the PG position.) In the past strong rebounding by Fitch at the 3 was awesome but it doesn't appear that anyone on this team is willing to do the tough stuff needed to be a good rebounder, a la Chuck Hayes. All that to say, we can look golden at the 1, 2 and 3, but if we can't rebound better than we have thus far, it's going to be a long season, and we have yet to meet a strong rebounding team.

[I. Melvin]

Anybody who quotes Solzhenitsyn in his sig should be listened to.

Tre's correct in identifying the problem of rebounding, but I'm not sure we have the answer on the roster.

Let's break it down:

Offensive rebounding - Morris and Stevenson make a decent (if not excellent) pair IF they cover for the other. Morris' shot often takes him away from the basket, so PS is going to have to cowboy up. Joe and Jasper are both decent rebounders for guards and Jodie doesn't seem to mind mixing it up either.

Oddly, Porter's not bad at anticipating the longer rebound, either.

Sheray and Bobby don't seem to have the knack. Woo will battle and may ultimately be the best answer we have. (Sure would have been nice to see this team with Brandan Wright ... )

Wow - that was discouraging. The good news is rebounding is at least 51% effort, so Tubby needs to coach 'em up in this area.

Defensive rebounding: Stevenson is getting killed here. Some of it is his slight build, but much of it is being out of position. Again, needs to be coached up.

Morris is pretty good here (he's averaging nearly 10 rebounds). Woo's an option.

This is where Jasper has shined and needs to continue. If BLD gets out of position, it's ineffective against good teams (or mediocre teams with a good shooter - e.g., UT). Joe's not bad. Just don't see Carter and Morris on the floor at the same time ...

Again, Meeks will make you work - love his attacking attitude.

Hell, I'm not even convincing myself ...

Our best rebounding lineup is probably:

Morris
Woo (at PF)
Jasper
Joe C.
Jodie

Can that lineup score enough? Can that lineup play BLD? Don't you need Ramel's shooting and guile? Don't you desperately need Stevenson guarding the paint to keep Randolph out of trouble?

Know what? We're gonna hafta outscore everybody. Let's press all night for a few games and see what we think.

Sorry. Best I could do ...

[golflender]

I. Melvin wrote:
Know what? We're gonna hafta outscore everybody. Let's press all night for a few games and see what we think.

Sorry. Best I could do ...
You know you may have made a good point , we could be a good pressing team with a little work, what do the rest of you think..

[poodoo]

Stretch wrote: Bradley does not have the handle or the mindset to play 30 minutes a game at the point against good competition. Likewise, Jasper is too good now and too promising for the future to be limited to Bradley's backup. With a little more strength and a little more refined shooting touch, Jasper will be a matchup nightmare for UK opponents for years to come.

Sometimes I believe we ask our players to be too versatile. I would play Jasper and Porter (who, by the way, is tough as nails and much better than I thought he would be) at the point, Crawford and Bradley at the two, Perry and Meeks at the three, Stevenson and Thomas at the four and Morris and Woo/Carter at the five. We can have special platoons (best pressing team, best defensive team, etc.) in the arsenal, but otherwise I would keep it simple with a first five and second five like the NBA. Get these kids knowing their roles and playing together.

Excellent points and suggestions, Stretch. However, I don't think there's any way that Coach Smith will not have both Bradley and Crawford starting for the Cats, even though the shooting guard position does seem the best for both players. We'll see, I guess.