John Calipari or “John Colipori” as Doris Burke pronounces his name held a televised open practice on ESPNU Sunday. Here are my thoughts on this years squad as well as opinions of ESPNU production.
- Tyler Ulis was the best player on the floor, the entire practice.
- Ulis’s team was always under control and as crisp as a team with 6 practices underneath their belts could be.
- Clear leader, this team will go as far as he takes them.
- Alex Poythress looks to be recovering very well.
- Looks good while running and cutting, is still trying to knock the rust off of his game.
- He will get better, sharper, and much more aggressive.
- Isaac Humphries can shoot the mid-range jump shot
- Understands pick and roll offense
- Supposedly had a nice drive and dunk, players erupted, we couldn’t see it because Jay Williams was too busy reliving the old days at Duke.
- Needs to be more physical when coming to challenge shots, got dunked on twice by my account, could have been more.
- Briscoe is truly a bruising guard, can knock down the three behind the pick and roll if defender goes under the screen.
- Needs to look for shot more, he will, still young and early in the year.
- Skal has all the potential in the world, jump shot looks great, moves well without the ball, good offensive post moves, and has the same body of Anthony Davis when he got to UK.
- Ulis and Briscoe are the clear “playmakers.” Everyone else are finishers and will play off of the two point guards.
- If the defense goes underneath the screen the guards are instructed to shoot the three.
- Matthews has a TON of upside, especially if he lets Ulis create for him.
- EJ Floreal has some crazy bounce, which I think we all already knew.
- Skal cramped, freshman not drinking enough fluids to lead up to the tough practices today.
Was very hard to focus on the practice as a fan watching. ESPNU put the focus on the commentators entirely too much. Cal was talking and the commentators never stopped. There were too many commercials for my liking. Over all too many distractions and misspronounced names. If you are going to make it about the Commenatators, at least give me Bill Walton so he can talk about Joshua Tree. Awful broadcast in my opinion, give us angles where we can see if the shots are going in or not. During scrimmaging drills, give play by play as well as color commentary.
Cal and staff were not coaching out loud much, instead just letting the guys play and compete against each other.
This was a HUGE recruiting tool in addition to showing the NBA scouts what the players have to offer.
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