UK's starting 5..?

by vinceuk1 on Oct 22, 2009 10:34 PM EDT Comment 18 comments

I don't know if anyone has started a "Starting 5" thread, so I thought I'd get some early predictions and give mine.

I think we have two locks: Patrick Patterson & John Wall (providing Wall is eligible to play in game one)

Then we have two "highly likely": DeMarcus Cousins & Darius Miller

The 5th starter is going to be one of two players, IMO: Eric Bledsoe or Perry Stevenson

Perry Stevenson may be overlooked by many, but A comment that Coach Cal made recently has me thinking that Calipari may want to start the season with Stevenson in the lineup initially. "We should lead the nation in blocked shots"

And as we all have learned, Perry is a master at blocking shots. So, if I had to pick a starting line-up today, without ever seeing a practice or course, this would be my 5...

John Wall

Darius Miller

Patrick Patterson

DeMarcus Cousins

Perry Stevenson

Of course, with Bledsoe in the line-up, this is going to be a very quick team on both sides of court.

That's my "guess", what say you fine folks..?

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I don't see Stevenson starting

I have the same 4 locked in that you do, but I think either Bledsoe or Dodson will fill in at the 2 spot.
Wall, Miller, Dodson or Bledsoe, Patterson, Cousins…Don’t sleep on Orton possibly beating out Cousins for the center position.

by Catucky10 on Oct 23, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree 100% on Orton, and could see either Orton or Harrellson starting over Perry.

The blocked shot language came from a discussion about Eric Bledsoe’s performances, not Perry, and because we are so big anyway at every position (or at least play big, as with Eric).

Cal has spoken of playing Orton and Cousins together, but I think the death knell to Perry starting is that Harrellson is both a better rebounder and shooter. The four threes he hit at Midnight Madness are apparently indicative of what Cal is seeing in practices.

As I have pointed out before on this site, Harrellson is the team’s best rebounder in Rebounds per Minute Played (yes, better than Pat), and actually was ranked in the very top last year across the country, up there with Hasheem Thabeet.

by Ken Pomeroy on Oct 26, 2009 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Harrellson's speed may be an issue that holds him back.

by Ken Pomeroy on Oct 26, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

cal supposedly said...

patterson, cousins and miller would start and that he was unsure what he would do with bledsoe and wall. that puts stevenson out…

only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team

by memphis wildcat on Oct 23, 2009 12:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

link:

http://www.gatorcountry.com/basketball/article/living_with_high_expectations/7426

i guess i could be taking it out of context but:

So Patterson will start at power forward. Cousins will start at center and Darius Miller will start at the small forward. Calipari hasn’t decided what he will do in the backcourt with Wall and Bledsore. Both are point guards but both could start. They’ll definitely play together a lot.

only one rule in my house - uk has to be your favorite college bball team

by memphis wildcat on Oct 23, 2009 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was a good link there Memphis

I am just trying to figure out if I am in the 98% or the 2%……lol

Remember, we're having fun now!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Oct 23, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wall is "illegible to play", so he can't be read well enough to NOT play? :)

by BlowOutYourBlood on Oct 23, 2009 10:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Corrected

Thanks Blood..!! Sorry for the misspelling…

Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.

by vinceuk1 on Oct 23, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't count Wall

until the NCAA says he is eligible. We seem to be short at the guard position with or without Wall if Liggins is playing wing. I don’t think Cal will start Wall and Bledsoe to start off with if Wall is eligible. He will want to see them stay out of foul trouble before he does that. Without Wall, I see Bledsoe at the point splitting time with, Miller. Dotson, Krebs, and Hood getting some minutes at the other guard spot. Up front, the no brainer of Patterson, plus Big Cuz, and Orton. The frontline bench will be ridiculous with the experience of Stevenson, Harris, Harrelson, and Liggins. Cal could start Stevenson in front of Cousins or Orton but I think Cal plays this for the future and goes with the freshmen starting.
With Wall, it will be Miller at off guard starting with Bledsoe backing both up. That leaves Dotson, Hood, and Krebs fighting for minutes and whoever shoots best when Wall is sitting out will be the 2nd guard off the bench. The frontline will work out the same with or without Wall unless one of the shooters shows he can consistently hit the open shot. If that happens than Miller could move up to the frontline for some playing time. Just my opinion, but I know most coaches would love to have these decisions to make.

by Grasslands1 on Oct 23, 2009 12:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My best guess would be sliding Miller to S.G., Wall at point and an incredible combination of muscle and athleticism on the front line with Patterson,Orton and Cousins. Wow, I cant wait to see these guys play together! Go Big Blue.

by onesleepr on Oct 23, 2009 12:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure...

as much as I would like to see those guys on the court together, we just have way too many options at the #3 guard to risk the mismatch on defense. Patterson is fast and a GREAT player, but I’m not sure his first step is fast enough to keep up with a 6’5 wing that’s driving which means he has to play off a bit and risk the perimeter shot. I just don’t see that being a viable option based on risk assessment.

GO BIG BLUE!!

by bluebloodtoo on Oct 23, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is what I assumed last year, but the shooting of Hood and Dodson and the speed and defense of Bledsoe

and the fact that Miller has been playing at the 3 spot suggest that we are going smaller/faster rather than bigger/stronger.

The coach’s comment about leading the nation in blocked shots might suggest otherwise.

by Ken Pomeroy on Oct 26, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can Dodson effectively guard a small #2 guard?

If yes, then I would say –
Wall
Dodson
Miller
Patterson
Cousins

If no,
Wall
Hood
Miller
Patterson
Cousins

But I’m betting that we will see a situational lineup for many games based on the counterparts of each team.
Something like this:
Wall or Bledsoe
Dodson or Bledsoe or Hood
Miller or Liggins or Dodson or Harris or Hood
Patterson or Stevenson or Harrelson
Cousins or Orton or Patterson(unlikley unless the opposing team has a smallish quicker center)

then i would expect to see role players come in as follows –
Hood/Dodson – split time, both need experience at game speed
Harris – shut down a hot scoring guard or Small forward/ defensive specialist
Liggins – emotional spark/scoring/rebounding(?)
Harrelson – defense and Wear out a Forward/ perimeter scoring/take some fouls
Stevenson – Defensive against slashing guards/rebounding/scoring surprise plays/perimeter scoring(BBM he did!)
Krebs* – perimeter scoring specialist/ short term sub

*I’m lost with Krebs – we haven’t seen much of him.

GO BIG BLUE!!

by bluebloodtoo on Oct 23, 2009 2:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Haven't seen much to suggest that Jon Hood has a shot at starting over Bledsoe and Dodson...

but he is widely acknowledged to be the best shooter of that group, and the tallest, so if length and shooting are the order of the day, that might be a line up we’ll see. I would love to see Jon prosper in this rare air that is now UK basketball.

by Ken Pomeroy on Oct 26, 2009 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Krebs is a designated hitter to enter the game when we are down by three with eight seconds left.

Krebs, Hood, Harrellson, and Miller are our only high per centage threats from three now that Jodie is gone.

Dodson is said not to be panning out either as a shooter or in just generally adjusting to the speed of the game (I am relying on internet reports here). Of course, the speed he is seeing around him is not indicative of very many teams out there that we’ll wind up playing, but at this point it looks like the Dodson name is an “also ran.”

by Ken Pomeroy on Oct 26, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just don’t see Liggins or Stevenson being a starting option. I don’t see Liggins getting that much playing time at all, and Harris is included in that too.

Wall
Bledsoe
Miller
Patterson
Cousins

by AddctdGmbler on Oct 23, 2009 9:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree on Liggins and Perry.

But really it says a lot about how far we have come when our dregs are the likes of DeAndre and Perry and Ramon. At least Stevenson and Ramon are quality, quality reserves.

by Ken Pomeroy on Oct 26, 2009 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I mentioned this on another thread. IMO the starting 5 is irrevelvant! It COULD and

probably SHOULD change from game to game depending on the opponent. With the quality reserves that Ken has mentioned above, I foresee combinations that we have yet to imagine. It could be that Perry or Ramon will be just the types of players to harrass Smith from TN. Certainly Miller will be needed to cancel out the guy from University Heights who now plays for the Vols.

If PP can’t stay with the # 3 player then he will use his speed at the #4 and # 5 positions, but I honestly see him playing some # 3. Speedwise, Liggins will be needed at the # 2 if Wall is unavailable. The beauty of Miller is that he does not turn the ball over, is 6’7" and 225 lbs. He is a beast of a SF with guard skills.

With no one getting “over 28 minutes”. I see Patterson, Wall (if available) and Miller getting to that plateau and everyone else playing different positions to accumulate experience and PT. Remember there are only 200 minutes to divide. That leaves 116 min. to divide among 10 players.

by Blueobsessed on Oct 27, 2009 3:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs