The House of Blue

Hopefully UK is a little more involved than anyone knows/expects.

Interview Calipari did with Dick Weiss the other day made it sound as if they'll only be adding one more potential contributor for next season:

"We could use maybe one more guy,” Calipari said. "Bruiser Flint, my brother from Drexel, once told me, ‘You're not trying to take 14 guys. You're trying to take seven, maybe eight and those seven are all playing.’ So, instead of having a roster of 11 McDonald's All Americans stockpiled who all want to play or they're leaving and you have APR problems.

“A year ago, we played six and we went to the Final Four. This year, I played seven guys, really six and we went to the final game and won the title.

"This year coming up, I hope to have seven. But if it doesn't happen, I can live with that. I like my team.”

I agree Chris, plus I like the thought of Wiltjer playing 25+ mpg at the 4. I know he's got issues defensively but I bet he'll be improved in that area next season. How could you not get better practicing against Davis and Jones every day. Offensively, if he were to play that many minutes I truly think he'll lead the team in scoring. Lasy year all he was asked to do primarily was set up for an open three but his offensive game is a lot more balanced than that. He has great post moves and he's very calm when he gets the ball down there knowing exactly what he wants to do. If we would have gotten Bennett or if we get Jefferson I believe it "retards" Wiltjer's development and it keeps him off the floor longer than he should be.

I think more and more that Wiltjer is going to surprise a lot of people next season.

If Wiltjer can make a "Jorts" transformation of his body in the off-season I believe we will see what a special player he can be. Remember, he was a McDonalds All-American talent and those guys seldom fail to be special college players. I expected him to have a backup role again (with 15-18 min a game) this year, but if he is bulked up physically and in shape aerobically I'm not sure Amile Jefferson could beat him out as the starter, but it would be a nice problem to have!

Cauley will see freshman Wiltjer-esque minutes next season. He's just still a ways away from contributing. And even if he did log significant minutes he's anything but a banger at this point.

Poythress will be the most physical presence UK has.

You're right. A major injury could spell disaster. As good as last year's team was, pretty much everything broke their way. If one guy went down, it could have been a completely different story.

Look at some of the falls that both MKG and Davis took last year... we were very, very fortunate that neither were seriously injured. Cal is playing with fire trying to use just a 7 man roster. I agree that we don't have to have 14 AA's on the team, but it's why you need some solid 4 year players scattered among the one and done kids.

Hood wont be playing any 4 position..He is a 2/3 player when he does play. I sure hope we sign several more because if we have to depend on Hood for quality minutes we will be in a bind this season..He is a streaky shooter and not very quick and has trouble staying in front of his man..I would love to see him improve drastically next year but I see it as his last season and his redshirt year will not be used..Frees up a scholly for 2013...

Not making a comparison between players, but comparison of how they will be used; I envision Hood being used like Miller....offensively, he can play towards a match up based on the line up. He is big enough to take advantage of being guarded by a 2/3 down on the post, such as Miller often did. And he can shoot it well enough to take advantage of being guarded by a 4 out on the perimeter.

Defensively, I can't imagine him guarding anything other than the 3/4. He's not quick enough laterally to hang with guards. Of course, all of this depends on how he has recovered from his injury. I myself have high hopes that he can contribute at least 10 minutes per game.

But he did that with the perfect mix of guys and a helluva lot of good fortune with no injuries, foul outs. He's working without a net if he thinks that's the way it will go for now on.

But playing a limited roster is also how he is able to get such a young team playing so well by the end of the year. It's a catch 22, sign kids like Poole and have them transfer or go with a limited bench. Cal plays for national titles. He has done everything else. He has one year with the talent he recruits and he is going to do it his way. He has proven that having and playing a limited bench gets you to the FF and can win a NC. As for injuries, they happen and having a deep bench doesn't do you much good if one of your key guys goes down. I mean could UK have replaced AD if he didn't get up from that knee injury with Baylor? IU has 15 players but if they lose Zeller does having depth help them? The reality is injuries are part of sport and every coach is playing without a net in that regard.