3x Calif All-Stater (in basketball). 4x Final 4 in his HS career. Leading scorer in Modesto Christian HS history (over Chuck Hayes and others). Career 40% (+) 3-pt FG shooter in HS and college.

His only “crime” was that Tubby signed him at UK.

...were never accused of having tremendous speed or lateral quickness. However, when surrounded by the right supporting cast, they seemed to do OK when asked to play the point. If Meeks stays healthy, Stevenson continues to improve, Patterson remains beastly, and at least one of the newcomers (or, possibly, Stewart or Harris) emerges as a reliable scoring threat, I think Porter will do fine running the offense and distributing the ball to the scorers. If, on the other hand, we are forced to rely on Porter for scoring, defending, and creating shots when the offense breaks down, I think we are in for a long and frustrating season.

Sean Woods or Travis Ford played PG next to Farmer.

Rajon Rondo played PG next to Sparks.

Ford was quick. So was Epps. Roger Harden may not have been quick but he was a very good PG regardless.

if memory serves me, were all at or under six feet tall and were often too short to guard the other team’s shooting guard. Therefore, if I am recalling correctly, I believe they were asked from time to time to play the PG position (which is how I worded my previous message.) When this occured, I believe they aquitted themselves pretty well even though, like Porter, they lacked blazing speed and quickness. That’s all I was trying to say.

Farmer was SG at UK. Sean Sutton in 1989, Sean Woods in 1990 and 91, Travis Ford in 1992 were PG opposite Farmer at SG.

Sparks played SG opposite Rajon Rondo in 2005 and 06 at Uk

Ford always played PG, never SG.

C’mon man, you can’t be serious. Firstly, if you are referring to me as “whining” about UK’s “lead” guard prospects for ‘08, then I encourage you to re-read my piece. I simply evaluated the positives and negatives of each scenario. Of course with the understanding that Liggins would not qualify.

Your personal criticism of Bradley is disturbing. I don’t think I know a UK fan that wasn’t ecstatic about Bradley’s performance last year. All he did was play out of position, make every big free throw, make several HUGE shots, and lead a rag-a-tag half-a-team to 18 victories and a 12-4 mark in the SEC. Shameful. Try this exercise: Since you are so loathing of Bradley, imagine that he didn’t play last year. Are you imagining? Now imagine if you have enough fingers and toes to count the number of losses UK would have suffered without Bradley.

And you don’t like him because of his affectiveness while in “street ball” mode, and his affinity for rap music. Give me a break … that’s weak. I’m assuming by “street ball” you are referring to when Gillispie called a clear-out for Bradley or Crawford, calling for them to create on their own. Yes, they were both very good at scoring in one-on-one mode. Perhaps in your world those points don’t count as much.

As far as you comparing Porter’s numbers to those who play more than twice the minutes, I’m sorry, I don’t know how to help.

By your logic Porter is a better free throw shooter than Jim Master, Richie Farmer, and Louie Dampier. How do I come by that opinion one might ask. Porter was 7 of 8 ( and you brag that he lead UK in free throw shooting) from the free throw line last year. That’s good for 87.5%, which is a higher average than the numbers 3, 4, and 5 best free throw shooters in UK history, for a career. There is a minimum of 200 free throws attempted to qualify. Why is there a minimum number of attempts? Because it is much more difficult to sustain excellence over a period of time. It’s simply harder to do— If you like baseball consider this: is it easier to hit .300 in one-hundred at bats, or hit .300 in six-thousand at bats? One will get you into the Hall of Fame, one won’t.

You properly laud Porter for his 42% three-point shooting (13-31). But what you fail to mention is that Poter made only 2 of 18 two-point shots (11%). Bradley made 81 of 177 two-point shots (46%). Not pretty, regardless of how one might spin.

Another question is this: Why would Gillispie not play Porter more? Why did Porter sit the bench, or play only mop-up minutes for long stretches of the season? Perhaps it is because Gillispie saw Porter every day in practice, and knows his limitations. Perhaps he sees that Porter has no first-step. Perhaps he sees that Porter has real trouble penetrating. Perhaps he sees that Porter has real trouble on the defensive end attempting to guard players with quickness.

Why did the bulk of Porter’s playing time occur prior to the SEC season? Why did he suddenly quit getting playing time? Because Gillispie saw what everyone else saw; that Porter doesn’t have the goods to compete against strong competition.

Personally I love Porter. His heart, desire, competitiveness, and selflessness are to be admired. He absolutely gives it his all every minute of every game he plays. But sometimes that isn’t enough. He simply is not as blessed athletically as most of his opponents.

One last thing; your minimizing of Porter’s assist to turnover ratio is laughable. If Porter throws a perfect pass to Stevenson and Stevenson bobbles the ball out of bounds off of the pass, then the turnover goes to Stevenson. Reality check … Porter is shaky with the ball. Thirty-nine turnovers to twenty-seven assists is terrible, regardless how one chooses to spin. This stat is the most important component when one evaluates a “lead” guard’s affectiveness. Porter’s thirty-nine turnovers represent 59% of his ball activity, while Bradley ( a two guard) sported a 49.8% turnover ratio. Neither ratio is very good, actually both are pretty bad.

Even if Liggins qualifies, UK still has more questions than answers at the “lead” guard position. But if I have learned anything after this past year, it is to know that Gillispie will find a way to make it work.

Ramel can’t play next year. Porter can.

Coming out of HS, neither was all that highly touted. Bradley excelled as 5th year Prep in 2004. Porter may yet develop into a quality PG or Combo G for UK. Bradley graduated.

...compels me to request that this site’s best authors use “ought” instead of “aught” and “effectiveness” instead of “affectiveness.”

Thanks.

LOL!

In Webster’s affect and effect both list “influence” as a definition. That, and the fact that the two words are so very similar in meaning allows a lazy writer to use whichever word pops into his mind first.

I will be more mindful in the future.

by my post yesterday. Keep up the good, and very informative, work. It is much appreciated.

Frankly, I think I got too pumped up over the weekend watching the National Spelling Bee on ESPN. Now that, my friends, is some high drama.

I’m almost sorry that I was on vacation, and missed out on this discussion as it unfolded.
A few points:
Early last season I was guilty of saying that UK would never be successful with Bradley at the point. I’m glad that I was proven wrong. He won me over, and I congratulate Ramel on his accomplishments.
Guys like Farmer, Harden, Sparks, Ford, and Epps… regardless of their true position, were players that could handle the ball under pressure. Harden, Ford, and Epps were especially good. Ford and Epps led their teams to Final Four appearances, and Harden was ever so close, had it not been for that 4th game against LSU in ‘86. I’m sorry, but by watching him, Porter has just not exhibited that type of skill. So I’m going to worry.
Stats for Avg/40 minutes are very misleading. For every reason that has been brought up. Cameron Mills was great in short stretches, but was a liability in the long run.
Ripken, Concepcion, Belanger, I saw. All great SS’s. McMillan? I plead ignorance or youth. But everyone acts like they never heard of Ozzie Smith. Talk about getting to balls that others might have never reached? He was the king! And, I think I heard something about him winning a gold glove or two. Cal and Davey were great hitters. And unlike Belanger, Ozzie managed to bat above the Mendoza Line before he finished his career.

Extraordinary fielding SS for Reds in 1950’s and Braves in 1960’s.

Decent, even some power. Played All-Star SS behind Ernie Banks a few times.

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/stats/historical/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=cin&playerID=118828&HS=True

When we give credence to one’s penchant for ” gansta rap” and “street smack” we dilute the high standards the University of Kentucky has expected from its student athletes. Joe B. Hall was a leader in expectations of his recruits. Let us return once again to that place where presentations from our athletes exemplifies the primary reason for being there in the first place, a quality education and exemplary sportsmanship.

You gotta be kidding. I know FOR SURE that UK players under Hall did all sorts of things that many coaches wouldn’t tolerate. My sister dated a player in the mid 1970’s.