Newman quotes from today's presser

[Political Hack]

We will have a shot at the tourney next year but this team won't reach it's potential until Howland's 3rd year. That has been his MO at every stop. Struggle the 1st year, get better the 2nd year, & the 3rd year the program takes off. We are bringing in a lot of talent next year but it's very good talent not elite talent. No one knows how those guys will react until we see them on the court. We hope they're ready but we can't guarantee they will be.

Basketball recruiting rankings are awful. We have elite talent coming in. Peters offensively and Ado defensively are elite. Keegler is elite. Malik and Q are elite. Then you have guys like Holman that don't need to be rushed. The best news of all??? None of these guys need to be seasoned professionals when they come in because of our depth and because we run the floor. You know why Cal runs the floor? It lets his young talent take off instead of forcing them to show maturity in a half court set every time down the floor. Howland will do the same.

If its my team, it would be some combo of the following for the first 5:
PG: Malik/Peters/IJ
SG: Q/Malik/Peters
SF: Kegler
PF/C: Ado
C/PF: Herard/Holman

I'll take an elite defensive player in the post with Ado over a hi-lo combo for offense, especially considering our scoring threats elsewhere on the floor and his ability to initiate the break.

[HSVDawg]

Gotta love our fans. This has to be the most negative outlook you could have with a team that will have 9 4+ star players on it. This year was ruined because our seniors didn't buy in until it was too late. I agree with Hack that if Malik does come back this is a Sweet 16 team. Your back court would be Malik/Q which would be the best backcourt in the SEC. Kegler (who everyone wanted and rightfully so) will play the three (6'7", 225lb) who can hit the three and handle the ball like a guard and is a more natural three then say Sword aka Mr. Turnover. Aric Holman will move to his more natural position at the four while Herard will play center and already has better post moves then Ware. Our bench next year would be Peters/Carter/Wright/Ado/Stapleton which is 10x the bench we have now. Our floor even without Malik is the NIT. Just too much talent for it not to be.

I'm not questioning the talent one bit. I think it will be there and by the end of the season we will be a force to be reckoned with. And if you read my other post you'll see that I think we will be extremely strong in 2017-2018. The question is the beginning of the season. We aren't going to be able to afford losing 5 or 6 games before mid January if we are going to be in position to make the tournament at all...much less get a seed high enough to expect a deep run. If we hit the jackpot and the 9 4* players figure out right away the speed of the college game and learn each other's tendencies as well, then we might have a shot at making national noise. I just don't expect it and I don't think it's fair to Howland or the guys coming in to place unrealustic expectations on them for next season.

[Ifyouonlyknew]

Basketball recruiting rankings are awful. We have elite talent coming in. Peters offensively and Ado defensively are elite. Keegler is elite. Malik and Q are elite. Then you have guys like Holman that don't need to be rushed. The best news of all??? None of these guys need to be seasoned professionals when they come in because of our depth and because we run the floor. You know why Cal runs the floor? It lets his young talent take off instead of forcing them to show maturity in a half court set every time down the floor. Howland will do the same.

If its my team, it would be some combo of the following for the first 5:
PG: Malik/Peters/IJ
SG: Q/Malik/Peters
SF: Kegler
PF/C: Ado
C/PF: Herard/Holman

I'll take an elite defensive player in the post with Ado over a hi-lo combo for offense, especially considering our scoring threats elsewhere on the floor and his ability to initiate the break.

Our definitions of elite are different. When I say elite talent I think 1 & done. We don't have a 1 & done kid in this class. We have a few guys who could be 2yr guys. I'm not counting on Malik coming back & even if he did having IJ 3rd on the PG depth chart is more wishful thinking than something that will actually happen. 2nd it's going to be very hard for Ado & Herard to play many minutes together because they'd clog up the lane on offense. Neither 1 can maneuver on offense outside of 10 feet & Ado's offense is very primitive, mainly dunks & putbacks. Howland would like to space the floor to give his guards driving lanes, that's why a stretch 4 is so important in this offense. I like your optimism about this class & in 2yrs they will be deadly but I think you're setting yourself up for failure if you think Peters, Ado, & Kegler are going to come in & be elite. Oh & we don't have Kentucky elite talent & they still struggle sometimes. It will be an up & down year next year.

[Political Hack]

I'll agree that none of these guys should be a one and done, including Malik. However I do think they are elite SEC players.

Also, as I stated earlier, I don't think you can worry about offensive production from your post enough to take an elite (yes, absolutely elite) shot blocker off the floor. Especially with the new rules. Ado doesn't have to score more than 4 points per game. Just put him under the rim and let him block shots. If he can pass at all, rebound a little, and get some trash points on offense it'll be more than enough. And while agree that Howland likes to space the floor in a half court set, he'd prefer to push the ball before having to go into a half court set. That starts with great defense, rebounding, and a solid outlet. Ado provides all of that.

Also, just to clarify, I don't think IJ will be 3rd string. I'm just saying that's likely the three who would compete for starter level minutes. Peters is too good to sit. He'll find his minutes.

With all the new faces, of course we will struggle at times. But that doesn't mean that they won't be clicking and experienced come time for the NCAA tournament. I don't see how we're not easily a top 3/4 SEC team next year, with an excellent chance to shock some people in the SEC tournament.

[Ifyouonlyknew]

I'll agree that none of these guys should be a one and done, including Malik. However I do think they are elite SEC players.

Also, as I stated earlier, I don't think you can worry about offensive production from your post enough to take an elite (yes, absolutely elite) shot blocker off the floor. Especially with the new rules. Ado doesn't have to score more than 4 points per game. Just put him under the rim and let him block shots. If he can pass at all, rebound a little, and get some trash points on offense it'll be more than enough. And while agree that Howland likes to space the floor in a half court set, he'd prefer to push the ball before having to go into a half court set. That starts with great defense, rebounding, and a solid outlet. Ado provides all of that.

Also, just to clarify, I don't think IJ will be 3rd string. I'm just saying that's likely the three who would compete for starter level minutes. Peters is too good to sit. He'll find his minutes.

With all the new faces, of course we will struggle at times. But that doesn't mean that they won't be clicking and experienced come time for the NCAA tournament. I don't see how we're not easily a top 3/4 SEC team next year, with an excellent chance to shock some people in the SEC tournament.

I gotcha & I agree with a lot of what you're saying. I just think Herard & Holman overall games give them the nod over Ado. Ado definitely has a role to play on this team but I don't think he's ready to play 25-30min as a starter. I'd rather ease him in with 10-15min off the bench his freshman year. The biggest adjustment this team will have to make is fitting all these big time HS players into role players at the college level. You're right we do have a lot of depth so we shouldn't be depending on 1 or 2 guys to shoulder the load. If we're going to push the tempo push it all the way & have 10,11 guys playing 10+ minutes so no one ever gets fatigued & we keep the pressure on all game.

The biggest advantage for next year's team will be that summer trip to Italy. It will give these young guys a lot of extra practice & game time to mesh together. Also they will have to get closer as a team being out of the country with just themselves for a couple of weeks.

[fishwater99]

If the new NBA draft rules are in effect this year, this seems pretty simple. He will declare, go through the combine, and work out for some teams. If he gets good feedback, he's gone. If not, he can come back to school or take his chances.

This is what he will do, if he gets a team that says they will take him in the 1st round he is gone. I just don't see it happening this year..

[MarketingBully]

This is what he will do, if he gets a team that says they will take him in the 1st round he is gone. I just don't see it happening this year..

Sure, if he is a first round lock then he should go. If they say he should return or he is a second round guy, he needs to come back.

[Jack Lambert]

We all knew he was one and done. If he comes back that's all the better. With Him, Weatherspoon (spelling) and who we have coming in, next year could be a real good year.

[msstate7]

Is weatherspoon gonna be a 2 next year?

[chef dixon]

I gotcha & I agree with a lot of what you're saying. I just think Herard & Holman overall games give them the nod over Ado. Ado definitely has a role to play on this team but I don't think he's ready to play 25-30min as a starter. I'd rather ease him in with 10-15min off the bench his freshman year. The biggest adjustment this team will have to make is fitting all these big time HS players into role players at the college level. You're right we do have a lot of depth so we shouldn't be depending on 1 or 2 guys to shoulder the load. If we're going to push the tempo push it all the way & have 10,11 guys playing 10+ minutes so no one ever gets fatigued & we keep the pressure on all game.

The biggest advantage for next year's team will be that summer trip to Italy. It will give these young guys a lot of extra practice & game time to mesh together. Also they will have to get closer as a team being out of the country with just themselves for a couple of weeks.

I think you're spot on here. As usual.

[Eric Nies Grind Time]

Our definitions of elite are different. When I say elite talent I think 1 & done. We don't have a 1 & done kid in this class. We have a few guys who could be 2yr guys. I'm not counting on Malik coming back & even if he did having IJ 3rd on the PG depth chart is more wishful thinking than something that will actually happen. 2nd it's going to be very hard for Ado & Herard to play many minutes together because they'd clog up the lane on offense. Neither 1 can maneuver on offense outside of 10 feet & Ado's offense is very primitive, mainly dunks & putbacks. Howland would like to space the floor to give his guards driving lanes, that's why a stretch 4 is so important in this offense. I like your optimism about this class & in 2yrs they will be deadly but I think you're setting yourself up for failure if you think Peters, Ado, & Kegler are going to come in & be elite. Oh & we don't have Kentucky elite talent & they still struggle sometimes. It will be an up & down year next year.

I think Kegler is pretty close to being an elite player. Also it will help that we are not playing in an elite basketball conference.

[chef dixon]

I think Kegler is pretty close to being an elite player. Also it will help that we are not playing in an elite basketball conference.

Yea, playing in the SEC is a little tricky because every school kind of gets sucked into playing a poor brand of basketball. I hope we can kind of overcome that and take it a step above over the next couple of years. It sucked up Missouri and made a good basketball program pitiful. LSU has all the talent and still is hard to watch. Bruce Pearl and Frank Martin are doing their best to snap out of it as well but its not easy.

[Dawg61]

I think Kegler is pretty close to being an elite player. Also it will help that we are not playing in an elite basketball conference.

Kegler is elite. No doubt about it. He is bigger and better than Rodney Hood coming out of high school.

[smootness]

The bottom line is, nobody knows what these guys will be until they step on campus. Most people thought Newman would step right in and score 20+/game and lead us to the Tournament. Skal Labissiere was the #1 or #2 player in the class and is averaging 7 ppg and probably won't go pro after this year.

Kentucky has more talent than we will have next year, along with more experience than we'll have, and they're not a Sweet 16 team. We're not used to bringing in the kind of talent we will this year, but I think people are overreacting to that by predicting us to be a true competitor next year. We should be exciting and may be dangerous by the end of the year, but it's tough for me to see everything coming out as well as it could.

Predicting Ado to start seems very iffy.

[smootness]

Kegler is elite. No doubt about it. He is bigger and better than Rodney Hood coming out of high school.

They're totally different players.

[chef dixon]

The bottom line is, nobody knows what these guys will be until they step on campus. Most people thought Newman would step right in and score 20+/game and lead us to the Tournament. Skal Labissiere was the #1 or #2 player in the class and is averaging 7 ppg and probably won't go pro after this year.

Kentucky has more talent than we will have next year, along with more experience than we'll have, and they're not a Sweet 16 team. We're not used to bringing in the kind of talent we will this year, but I think people are overreacting to that by predicting us to be a true competitor next year. We should be exciting and may be dangerous by the end of the year, but it's tough for me to see everything coming out as well as it could.

Predicting Ado to start seems very iffy.

Agree. Bringing in 6+ guys definitely increases our chances of getting some good ones. I would predict Herard, Kegler to have the most immediate impacts. Peters could if Ready or Malik are no longer with us. Ado, Carter, Wright will definitely get good minutes but will need to be worked in to a role. I expect Stapleton to play good minutes as well and do a lot of the dirty work.

[chef dixon]

Potential starting 5

Malik/IJ/Peters (just depends on who is here)
Quinndary
Stapleton
Holman
Herard


Kegler could work his way in.

[smootness]

Potential starting 5

Malik/IJ/Peters (just depends on who is here)
Quinndary
Stapleton
Holman
Herard


Kegler could work his way in.

This is pretty safe, though I would say Kegler has a better shot than Stapleton to win that job from the jump.

[chef dixon]

This is pretty safe, though I would say Kegler has a better shot than Stapleton to win that job from the jump.

Probably so. I just know Howland is pretty high on Stapleton, especially having some years to mature under his belt. Either way, I'm excited at the depth we will have next year albeit very young. Carter and Wright could be very good players as well.

[Political Hack]

The bottom line is, nobody knows what these guys will be until they step on campus. Most people thought Newman would step right in and score 20+/game and lead us to the Tournament. Skal Labissiere was the #1 or #2 player in the class and is averaging 7 ppg and probably won't go pro after this year.

Kentucky has more talent than we will have next year, along with more experience than we'll have, and they're not a Sweet 16 team. We're not used to bringing in the kind of talent we will this year, but I think people are overreacting to that by predicting us to be a true competitor next year. We should be exciting and may be dangerous by the end of the year, but it's tough for me to see everything coming out as well as it could.

Predicting Ado to start seems very iffy.

Again, that's not a depth chart prediction. I don't even think Newman will be here. It's a snap shot of what we could see come next year. Building our team that way would allow us to be dominant defensively and run the floor. Like IYOK said, they may choose to prioritize a hi-lo half court offense to open up lanes for our G's. There's a lot of options considering the level of talent we have.