[SIZE=1]NOB Photo:Brian Bevins[/SIZE]
One glaring problem I see with this year’s edition of the basketball team is a 4 or 5 man that is going to consistently help this basketball team. Eloy Vargas and Josh Harrelson both sat the bench as the game started, and Terrence Jones started as the 4/5. In my opinion, Jones is better suited to be a 3, especially since his knack for getting into foul trouble.
Vargas had a tough time all evening long staying in the game, as Coach Cal either took him out for lack of effort or basically just not being able to do anything positive for a consistent period of time. Vargas ended the game with 11 minutes, 5 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 turnovers. The two turnovers were actually times when players from Pikeville either out hustled Eloy or just took it away from him. Eloy looked very soft throughout the time he was in there as Pikeville’s Quincy Hankins-Cole pushed him around at his leisure. When it is time for SEC play, Eloy will really have to toughen up and be more aggressive if he is going to be any type of factor for the Cats.
If Eloy Vargas isn’t the answer, then could Josh Harrellson be the one that fills the minutes while Kanter is in limbo? Harrellson finished the game with 16 minutes, 3 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 0 turnovers. I really thought Josh outplayed Eloy in the Pikeville game. But you know what, I just don’t see Josh getting the time. Coach Cal has made it pretty clear he doesn’t think a lot of Josh as a basketball player. Of course everyone knows of the twitter situation where Josh has since deleted his twitter account. So who knows if Harrellson gets out of the doghouse and is able to give any positive minutes in the paint. Josh is by no means considered an offensive threat, but he for sure isn’t as soft as Vargas looked in the opening exibition game. Josh is definitely going to give hustle and rebounding help, but is Josh Harrellson really the answer?
The answer as everyone knows is Enes Kanter. This team will lose 10 games if Kanter doesn’t play this year. Coach Calipari, I feel, has put all of his eggs in the Enes basket and if something happens Enes doesn’t get freed, it could be a long year in the SEC. Lets hope the NCAA says something soon, or we could be talking about what we are going to do about the paint all year long.
