Will we really be One of the Best next year?

[calban]

With all the hoopla flying around about the accomplishments of this season and how we'll be one of the Best next season, I find myself wondering how that's going to happen.

If it's also hard for you to believe, I found an article by Quinn at Nooga that gives some pretty good insight.

Quinn: For Vols, next season's high hopes dependent on here and now | Nooga.com

[Chris4Vols22]

I think we have the potential to be. Depends on how much progress Golden, McRae, Stokes, and Maymon can make in the offseason. We'll also need 1 or 2 bench players to step up.

[LynxVol]

There will be four very good players in the line-up (Stokes, Maymon, Golden, and McRae). Depth is an issue. Richardson, Yemi, Washpun, etc. will have to develop. Shooting ability is going to be another big question. We better be able to lock people down. Being a top 25 is not out of the question by any means.

[King Webbsticles]

Originally Posted by LynxVol

There will be four very good players in the line-up (Stokes, Maymon, Golden, and McRae). Depth is an issue. Richardson, Yemi, Washpun, etc. will have to develop. Shooting ability is going to be another big question. We better be able to lock people down. Being a top 25 is not out of the question by any means.

McRae has done nothing to be included in that group of four.

Right now, McRae isn't even an average player. A few good games in a row doesn't change that.

[volunteernation16]

I definitely see us in the top 25. NCAAT lock.

[Jax_Vol]

I think we will be top three in the SEC

[volunteernation16]

Originally Posted by King Webbsticles

McRae has done nothing to be included in that group of four.

Right now, McRae isn't even an average player. A few good games in a row doesn't change that.

I think McRae is in the top 4 raw talent wise. He is good at taking it to the hoop but takes way too many horrible shots.

[DeepSpringsVol]

We are going to improve and Kentucky is going to take a huge step back. Jones and Lamb only came back for uncertainty of NBA lockout. Teague will be Kentuckys best returning player imo. Davis, Jones, Kidd-Gilchrist, & Lamb will go pro and Miller finaly graduates. Wiltjer and Teague will return i think and while Calipari reloads Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist are defensive raritys for freshmen. What I am getting at is we should challenge to win the division with Vandy and Kentucky losing a ton and Florida will hover in the mix. South Carolina will be at ground zero rebuilding and Georgia they will struggle to say the least. LSU and Alabama as well as Tennessee with Kentucky and Florida will have oppurtunities to win the SEC. I believe our defense will ratchet up in year 2 and surely some folks will improve their shooting. I willexpect 20-25 wins depending on toughness of out of conference schedule.

[Chilmonty]

With a full offseason It will be interesting to see how CM can coach these guys up!

We now know that CM can get subpar talent to play hard, but can he get significant improvement, I think he can but we will see.

Big question for me is can we get a true point guard who can shoot decent from the field and more importantly make 80%+ of his foul shots?

[DeepSpringsVol]

Originally Posted by volunteernation16

I think McRae is in the top 4 raw talent wise. He is good at taking it to the hoop but takes way too many horrible shots.

Yeah McRae needs to focus on how JP Prince played and that is his game. He has such length he is the one who can penetrate a zone and kick out with out ball being gobbled up by defenders. He has a better percentage shooting than Prince did but slashing and defense made JP a solid contributor.

[Chilmonty]

I also think that a full off season of learning and improvement will be huge for Stokes, he and Maymon have the potential to be a "steel curtain" on the inside!!

[DeepSpringsVol]

Originally Posted by Chilmonty

I also think that a full off season of learning and improvement will be huge for Stokes, he and Maymon have the potential to be a "steel curtain" on the inside!!

Definitely capable of becoming black hole when comes to rebounding. Note to opponents only we get second chance points. You miss it is Maymons and Stokes ball.

[johnnybravo]

I think the same weaknesses that haunted us in Dec. came back to bite us the last 3 games of the year. We will still have inconsistant pg play. Scratch our heads why we are not passing the ball to our post players. No guards that can create their own shots. And no outside 3pt shooting threats. I think adding a good pg can solve most of these problems.

[SCvol333]

Originally Posted by DeepSpringsVol

We are going to improve and Kentucky is going to take a huge step back. Jones and Lamb only came back for uncertainty of NBA lockout. Teague will be Kentuckys best returning player imo. Davis, Jones, Kidd-Gilchrist, & Lamb will go pro and Miller finaly graduates. Wiltjer and Teague will return i think and while Calipari reloads Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist are defensive raritys for freshmen. What I am getting at is we should challenge to win the division with Vandy and Kentucky losing a ton and Florida will hover in the mix. South Carolina will be at ground zero rebuilding and Georgia they will struggle to say the least. LSU and Alabama as well as Tennessee with Kentucky and Florida will have oppurtunities to win the SEC. I believe our defense will ratchet up in year 2 and surely some folks will improve their shooting. I willexpect 20-25 wins depending on toughness of out of conference schedule.

I'm not sure if KY will go down that much - I'd love to see it, but I wouldnt count on it

Teague and Wiltjer i'd say for sure will be back - they bring in the #2 SG in the country, top 10 PF, and top 10 C

I also am not sure that Lamb or Jones will leave - I think Jones really hurt his draft stock and Lamb is relatively short for the NBA - not too short to play, just too short to go really high in the draft

also Gilchrist has said he is staying 4 years (don't believe it, but that is what he has been saying)

So I'd put them in the likely juggernaut column once again - guys leaving hasnt really affected KY any other year (with Calipari)

[Velo Vol]

Originally Posted by volunteernation16

I think McRae is in the top 4 raw talent wise. He is good at taking it to the hoop but takes way too many horrible shots.

It's not what he does in practice that counts.