[Cactus Jack]

This one should be a fun discussion, and one that we can keep going for awhile. It's also probably going to be picked apart endlessly by each school's fans and national analysts.


Arkansas:
PG - Boogie Fland
SG - Johnell Davis (formerly of FAU, may stay in draft); Billy Richmond
SF - Karter Knox
PF - Jonas Aidoo (formerly of Tennessee); Blake Lawson
C  - Zvonimir Ivisic


Kentucky:
PG - Lamont Butler; Kerr Kriisa; Travis Perry
SG - Kolby Brea; Collin Chandler
SF - Otega Oweh
PF - Andrew Carr
C   - Amari Williams; Brandon Garrison


At first glance, I think Arkansas would run away due to their combination of overall talent (Fland) and experience (Davis and Aidoo). I do think that Williams would more than hold his own against Ivisic and that Butler would be more than capable of doing the same against Fland in a one-off. Think that Carr and Aidoo would just be an awkward match-up for each & end up as somewhat of a coin-toss (Aidoo had some real clunkers to end the season). Oweh seems more than capable of physically holding his own against Knox. Right now, Kentucky seems to have more overall depth and experience, but Johnell Davis is the wild-card that's too much to overcome. Until Kentucky gets more scoring punch or a true "go to" scorer, I'll have to go with Arkansas, but I also think that Calipari probably has 85% of his scoring already rostered, whereas the 'Cats are at a much lower threshold.




As a side note, I'm really hoping that we end up with something like:

PG - Lamont Butler, Kerr Kriisa, Travis Perry
SG - Jaxson Robinson, Kolby Brea, Collin Chandler
SF - Kolby Brea, Otega Oweh
PF - Starter*, Andrew Carr
C -  Amari Williams, Brandon Garrison

Know that I named Brea twice above, but if we get someone who really steps into the #3/4 role, that seems like it could be a really, really good team if everyone meshes. That would still only account for 11 of you 13 scholarships. Of course, this assumes that Robinson is on board and someone like Williams or Carr doesn't stay in the draft, but I think that something like the above and then using your final two spots on reeling in a highly rated reclass or decommit, making a huge portal or international splash, or taking a flyer on some guys who you can stash and try to develop in the way you really want to build the roster is as much as you could ask for from a guy like Pope in the situation he was thrust into. Love that Brea committed and that Pope has a pure shooter, but he was Dayton's 6th man last season and is pretty bad defensively, so I don't know that he's going to be the savior.

[Granny Bear]

You are extremely knowledgeable and give great detail.

But sometimes when I read your renditions, I get a headache.

[Spud6]

Our roster has experience which is crazy to think and say.

[Old School Hound]

You are extremely knowledgeable and give great detail.

But sometimes when I read your renditions, I get a headache.

Isn't he, though? He's my go-to guy for basketball. I have never even heard of most of these guys. Of course, unless it's UK, I don't watch college sports.  Cactus is a roundball guru.

[Cactus Jack]

Adou Thiero to Arkansas.

Can't see he, Aidoo, and Knox all starting unless Johnell Davis remains in the draft. Guessing Cal brings Knox off the bench, but will be interesting to see how that dynamic is managed. I can't imagine Aidoo or Thiero transfer in without promises of starting and playing major minutes.

[Old School Hound]

They are thinking national title in Arkansas.

Nolan Richardson says Cal can bring a national title back to Hog Land:


https://247sports.com/article/ex-arkansa...=%22I%20do

[Bluecat]

So what will be the difference? Cal was getting these same players and won 1 at UK. Why will it be different at Arkansas?

[Old School Hound]

So what will be the difference? Cal was getting these same players and won 1 at UK. Why will it be different at Arkansas?

I don't know. Ask Nolan, not Old School.

[pjdoug]

This one should be a fun discussion, and one that we can keep going for awhile. It's also probably going to be picked apart endlessly by each school's fans and national analysts.


Arkansas:
PG - Boogie Fland
SG - Johnell Davis (formerly of FAU, may stay in draft); Billy Richmond
SF - Karter Knox
PF - Jonas Aidoo (formerly of Tennessee); Blake Lawson
C  - Zvonimir Ivisic


Kentucky:
PG - Lamont Butler; Kerr Kriisa; Travis Perry
SG - Kolby Brea; Collin Chandler
SF - Otega Oweh
PF - Andrew Carr
C   - Amari Williams; Brandon Garrison


At first glance, I think Arkansas would run away due to their combination of overall talent (Fland) and experience (Davis and Aidoo). I do think that Williams would more than hold his own against Ivisic and that Butler would be more than capable of doing the same against Fland in a one-off. Think that Carr and Aidoo would just be an awkward match-up for each & end up as somewhat of a coin-toss (Aidoo had some real clunkers to end the season). Oweh seems more than capable of physically holding his own against Knox. Right now, Kentucky seems to have more overall depth and experience, but Johnell Davis is the wild-card that's too much to overcome. Until Kentucky gets more scoring punch or a true "go to" scorer, I'll have to go with Arkansas, but I also think that Calipari probably has 85% of his scoring already rostered, whereas the 'Cats are at a much lower threshold.




As a side note, I'm really hoping that we end up with something like:

PG - Lamont Butler, Kerr Kriisa, Travis Perry
SG - Jaxson Robinson, Kolby Brea, Collin Chandler
SF - Kolby Brea, Otega Oweh
PF - Starter*, Andrew Carr
C -  Amari Williams, Brandon Garrison

Know that I named Brea twice above, but if we get someone who really steps into the #3/4 role, that seems like it could be a really, really good team if everyone meshes. That would still only account for 11 of you 13 scholarships. Of course, this assumes that Robinson is on board and someone like Williams or Carr doesn't stay in the draft, but I think that something like the above and then using your final two spots on reeling in a highly rated reclass or decommit, making a huge portal or international splash, or taking a flyer on some guys who you can stash and try to develop in the way you really want to build the roster is as much as you could ask for from a guy like Pope in the situation he was thrust into. Love that Brea committed and that Pope has a pure shooter, but he was Dayton's 6th man last season and is pretty bad defensively, so I don't know that he's going to be the savior.

Kentucky will have a huge advantage at the head coach position.

[pjdoug]

Adou Thiero to Arkansas.

Can't see he, Aidoo, and Knox all starting unless Johnell Davis remains in the draft. Guessing Cal brings Knox off the bench, but will be interesting to see how that dynamic is managed. I can't imagine Aidoo or Thiero transfer in without promises of starting and playing major minutes.

I think most of us have figured out that Calapari wastes talent, and is full of empty promises.

[pjdoug]

They are thinking national title in Arkansas.

Nolan Richardson says Cal can bring a national title back to Hog Land:


https://247sports.com/article/ex-arkansa...=%22I%20do

Nolan has always been a b*tch.

[Cactus Jack]

DJ Wagner to Arkansas is now official.

Arkansas Projected Depth Chart:
PG - Boogie Fland; DJ Wagner
SG - Johnell Davis; Billy Richmond
SF - Adou Thiero; Karter Knox
PF - Jonas Aidoo; Blake Lawson
C - Zvonimir Ivisic

Cal's eight man rotation is probably set, with Lawson not seeing much PT.

You have to imagine that he goes small, with a three-guard lineup getting the majority of minutes as Thiero, Aidoo, and Ivisic split 80%+ of the minutes at the four and five.

Interested in seeing how he balances shots and minutes with Fland, Davis, Wagner, Knox, and Richmond all splitting three spots.

Finding minutes probably won't be as much of an issue as finding the shots will be, especially if everyone is looking for theirs in the time they're given.

We've seen enough of Cal to know that Wagner will be given plenty of opportunities, and I'm unsure how that might sit with Fland and Davis (given what they might have been promised).

Knox will be fourth in the pecking order, but is the most natural three on the list.

The balancing act becomes much easier if you take Richmond out of the equation almost entirely, as he isn't exactly a scorer. However, that puts you at risk of him transferring or checking out (and cutting your rotation down to seven).

If Cal goes with a more traditional lineup of Fland, Davis, Thiero, Aidoo, and Ivisic starting and Wagner, Knox, and Richmond coming off the bench, there's a distinct lack of depth in the frontcourt and you're now bringing Wagner off the bench (after starting him over Sheppard and Dillingham all last season). I imagine if Wagner off the bench was going to fly, it'd have been done then. If you start Wagner, it's an even bigger problem to bring Fland or Davis off the bench.