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How good can Kentucky be if Hamidou Diallo returns?

UKnation87

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With the obvious lack of experience on the 2017/2018 edition of UK basketball, I have to wonder how good this team can really be with the potential return of a freak athlete like Hamidou.

Thoughts? Can they make a real run at a Final Four and National Championship?
 

jontaejones

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It's the end of the business day on May 24 and still no decisions from a bunch of players?

What is this a joke? Is this like doing taxes?

Just make a goddamn decision. Yea, you Caleb Swanigan.

The thought of having to attend class for one more year must truly be THAT terrifying to these kids...
 

douggie

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It's the end of the business day on May 24 and still no decisions from a bunch of players?

What is this a joke? Is this like doing taxes?

Just make a goddamn decision. Yea, you Caleb Swanigan.

The thought of having to attend class for one more year must truly be THAT terrifying to these kids...

These guys not making a decision have essentially made a decision. That also means they are hesitant about getting drafted as high as they thought they might or not at all. Swanigan will definitely get drafted.
 

jontaejones

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It looks like he's coming back.

It seems to me UK and Arizona will split the #1 votes. So, the answer ... as it is every year in Lexington ... is yes. But I think the answer would have been the same without him.
 

jontaejones

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These guys not making a decision have essentially made a decision. That also means they are hesitant about getting drafted as high as they thought they might or not at all. Swanigan will definitely get drafted.

Swanigan is gone.

That leaves the best player in college basketball as Bonzie Colson or Ethan Happ. Sad...
 

UK Cowboy

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Pretty damn good. Team will have 7 guy's 6'8'' or better, and a bunch of crazy athletes. I figure Arizona will start out #1, UK top 5, but if Cal jells the kids like he normally does, the sky's the limit talent wise
 

ericd7633

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I think they'll wind up a top 10 team entering the tournament. Simply too much talent. One thing that would cause me some concern is that this team won't have a dynamic PG. I know Green is a top 25 recruit, but he's the 2nd lowest rated PG Cal has recruited in his time at Kentucky, and Ulis, wasn't asked to start as a Freshman. Also, I'm interested in how the chemistry will work. Kentucky will have EIGHT true Freshman next season, all of them were studs at the High School level. Plus Gabriel and Killeya-Jones were both 5 star freshman last year, that have returned as sophomores. Will any of these guys be able to play/accept a complimentary role, much like Willis, Hawkins and Mulder did last year. Also, how will they respond on the road this year against good teams. My guess is they'll be on the road in the SEC/Big 12 challenge, and the SEC should be much improved this year top to bottom. There's been a significant influx of talent at programs like Bama, Missouri and Ole Miss, and both Florida and A&M have top 25 classes adding on to some really nice pieces to what they bring back. And that doesn't even include a South Carolina team that went to the FF(but they did lose 3 starters)

I don't think Kentucky will be the best team next year(although it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they were), but they will certainly be the most fascinating team next season given their roster.
 

UKnation87

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I think they'll wind up a top 10 team entering the tournament. Simply too much talent. One thing that would cause me some concern is that this team won't have a dynamic PG. I know Green is a top 25 recruit, but he's the 2nd lowest rated PG Cal has recruited in his time at Kentucky, and Ulis, wasn't asked to start as a Freshman. Also, I'm interested in how the chemistry will work. Kentucky will have EIGHT true Freshman next season, all of them were studs at the High School level. Plus Gabriel and Killeya-Jones were both 5 star freshman last year, that have returned as sophomores. Will any of these guys be able to play/accept a complimentary role, much like Willis, Hawkins and Mulder did last year. Also, how will they respond on the road this year against good teams. My guess is they'll be on the road in the SEC/Big 12 challenge, and the SEC should be much improved this year top to bottom. There's been a significant influx of talent at programs like Bama, Missouri and Ole Miss, and both Florida and A&M have top 25 classes adding on to some really nice pieces to what they bring back. And that doesn't even include a South Carolina team that went to the FF(but they did lose 3 starters)

I don't think Kentucky will be the best team next year(although it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they were), but they will certainly be the most fascinating team next season given their roster.

The PG position could be a concern early in the season. Hopefully, this season will prove to be one where the PG will not need to carry the scoring load like in season's past.
 

ericd7633

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The PG position could be a concern early in the season. Hopefully, this season will prove to be one where the PG will not need to carry the scoring load like in season's past.

The good thing is, I doubt Green will be a 1 and done. As crazy as this may seem, I think Kentucky will be better in 2018-2019, because not all these guys will be 1 and done, and Cal will add all that experience to another top 2 class. 2018-2019 could be similar to what 2014-2015 was at Kentucky.
 
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douggie

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Swanigan is gone.

That leaves the best player in college basketball as Bonzie Colson or Ethan Happ. Sad...

There's a whole lot of talent left out there besides Colson and Happ. Bridges, Trier, Delgado, and yes even Allen is back. This group of OAD's has about 8-20 kids that could be really outstanding too. NCAA basketball always will have the turnover in talent with the NBA rules, etc. But they just keep coming up thru AAU, etc.
 

Great Dayne

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So Diallo is returning and Caleb is going into the NBA.
 
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