Diallo Announcement Saturday

[the Blades]

His motivation is that he is real and not spouting canned bullshit for the press like most high school coaches but telling it like it is. Probably is highly respected by a lot of people for doing so. The inmates DO NOT run the asylum.

that's the way Jacobs quotes it in the story: " I trust and respect Espinosa. Trust him and respect enough to send my own son to play for the second team at his Putnam Science program. He gives it straight. His coaches run a tight ship."

Also: "He couldn't thank us enough for what we did for him and I told him he has done so much for us," Espinosa said. "We're on great terms. He knows I want the best for him on and off court. We did butt heads at times, but I'm toughest on our superstars. I expect so much of them. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. But he didn't talk back and never disrespected me."

 

[Ozzie3178]

It's all true. That's why I said Quade Green sold Cal on Diallo. Cal and assistant Barbee know he is a liability at shooting and in the half court.

They weren't sold on him as much because of it but with Quade wanting and needing help next year as everyone is leaving KY from the guard standpoint they wanted him and sold the traditional Cal I will get you to the NBA after 1 year schtick...

 

[andersonfro]

I wonder if anyone buys Cal's bs or if everyone gives him a pass on it...like the zone talk, a clear shot at Uconn whose being forced to play zone due to limited bodies, did anyone remember when he switched uk to a zone in the 2014 championship game when his 10 freshman went down by 15 points in the first half? I wonder if everyone knows he's full of shit but let it slide because it's part of the package.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

What I remember most about that game is Cal ordering his players to stop fouling when it was still a very winnable game for UK with a couple minutes to go. I never saw that happen in an NCAA championship game that was still winnable and I am not sure we will ever see it again. He was questioned about it in the postgame conference and said it was insane to foul UConn because they were not missing. UConn was up 32-15 in the first half but UK tightened the game up later on.

He is widely loathed but he is actually a very good coach. As far as comments on Diallo, he did kind of speak the truth although Diallo would only be playing zone if he played this year. My theory is Diallo felt he would be pressed into action if he committed to UConn and he has a better fit at UK where he will seamlessly slip into Monk's spot next year. Sounds like he likely can't shoot like Monk.

 

[Ozzie3178]

Yea I don't think that shot was even to us because Stevie wonder knows and has seen that we are a consistent and dominate man to man Defensive team. Maybe he thought about Cuse and Diallo...Idk? But either way yea as you said we have to go zone sometimes in games this year because our lack of bodies and everyone knows that!!

 

[andersonfro]

i agree that Kentucky is a better fit for the kid and that's kind of my point, Cal says they don't play zone but that score you remember kstw is exactly the point in the game with 6 minutes to go in the 1st half Kentucky switched to a zone because Deondre, Bazz, boat & niles were killing that man d. So I'm picturing a recruit thinking "beotch plz we both know you play zone but slick gets a pass because it's where I fit".

And oz maybe you're right but I took it as trash talk aimed at the dogs because Diallo wasn't going to Cuse, everyone knew it just like everyone knew he wasn't going to Indiana even though he included them on this hype material.

I have no problem with shots fired at a zone as a philosophy & I don't understand why a kid who is serious about basketball wants to sit in one at Cuse, blows my mind, but every team is a few bad things happening from ending up in a zone.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

When UConn won the NIT championship in 1988 Calhoun started using a zone defense a lot and it was very effective and I think he continued using it because of its effectiveness. I think that UConn team even with Cliff Robinson struggled rebounding the basketball. IF I recall correctly, in the semis they played Boston College and Dana Barros who was a great little guard who could shoot lights out and Calhoun played a box and one on him using the 6'6" Lyman DePriest, who was an undersized power forward but an excellent defender, on the 5'9" Barros and DePriest shut his ass down.

What I don't remember specifically is why they played so much zone at the end of that year. There may have been injuries, I can't recall, but what I do recall is that Calhoun stayed with the zone for long stretches at the end of that season because the team looked very effective on D especially with the defensive rebounding.

 

[andersonfro]

Also Scott Burrell used to patrol baseline in a 1-3-1 to good effect. Different game for us

 

[the Blades]

As I said above I never got a warm fuzzy feeling about Diallo, seemed like he was real guarded in his answers like he had something to hide....I guess now some Kentucky writers are asking: How did Kentucky benefit if Diallo leaves?

1. Hamidou Diallo: What’s in it for Kentucky?
Hamidou Diallo might be the next Devin Booker. Or he might be the next Doron Lamb. If you know the answer, you’re a sharper talent evaluator than me because Diallo never launched a shot for John Calipari’s Kentucky team after joining the Wildcats in mid-season.
This could be his final UK career numbers – 0.0 points, 0.0 assists, 0.0 reports, even though Diallo benefited from free lodging, free dining, free academics, free publicity and, most of all, free coaching. Understand that Diallo is not officially a None and Done. The announcement from UK Sunday said Diallo will not hire an agent while he works though the decision on remaining in the 2017 NBA Draft. Diallo could be one of Calipari’s starting guards next season, the Wildcats’ best player. Like any underclassmen, Diallo is doing the right thing by drawing as much feedback as possible before the May 24 deadline to withdraw or remain in the draft. Take it to the limit. That’s the smart choice. But he could also be gone because Diallo is ranked as a first-rounder in several draft forecasts.