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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 11-02-2015, 09:03 AM:

Tyler Ulis proves that size matters.

"I love him as a player," Ford said. "I know so many NBA teams that love him as a player. But we all know 5-8 or 5-9 is a real challenge in the NBA.

"It's size, and only size, for him. It's the only thing that's holding him back."

Ford lauded Ulis' court vision, skills, shooting ability, speed, judgment, competitiveness and athleticism.

"There's really not much to poke a hole into his game," Ford said. "If he was 6-1 or 6-2, he'd be a top-five pick in the draft. If he was taller, we'd be talking about him like Chris Paul."

■ Alex Poythress must, at last, give NBA teams a reason to believe.

"The whole thing with him is can he get anything going offensively on his own?" Ford said. "Every summer we hear he's improved on his jump shot a bit. He's improved on his ballhandling a bit. You know, if he ever put it all together, I still believe he can be a first-round pick because the physical tools are elite."

In the last three seasons, UK fans and NBA evaluators have gotten glimpses of Poythress's physical tools. A high-flying dunk or rebound in traffic. To move into the first round, Poythress must sustain the excellence.

■ Skal Labissiere can join John Wall, Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns as first overall picks from Kentucky.

"Skal is going to be in the mix for the No. 1 pick," Ford said. "He, in my mind, is not only the best player on Kentucky's team, but could be a superstar in the NBA."

■ Jamal Murray is a lottery pick.

"For sure," Ford said. "Probably top 10. If he keeps playing the way he was playing this summer, he might be a top-five pick."

■ Isaiah Briscoe is an intriguing player. NBA scouts will need time to assess him.

"Briscoe is a wild card for me," Ford said. "There's talent there. Where he fits in all of that (at UK) will be the question mark."
■ Marcus Lee is also a wild card

"He has the talent of a guy who could be a first-round pick," Ford said. "He hasn't put it together the first two years. If he puts it together this year, for sure, he could be a first-round pick. He absolutely has that talent. We just haven't seen it consistently on the court yet. But, for sure, he's an NBA player if he gets there."

Summing up, Ford saw Labissiere and Murray as lottery picks.

"After that, it gets a little fuzzier," he said. "Those two guys are the two clear-cut, elite NBA prospects. ...

"Right now, Lee, Poythress and Ulis are probably second-rounders. But all of them, especially Lee and Poythress, if they had big years, could leap right back up because they have all the physical tools you'd want in a player."

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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 11-10-2015, 06:40 PM:

If we get two lottery picks plus Ulis, Lee and Poythress there is no reason not to be a final four team and a legit chance at a National title.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 11-10-2015, 08:29 PM:

I'd settle with going undefeated in the month of November, for starters!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 11-10-2015, 09:28 PM:

Man would that be a great start. Duke is the only tough game left in November. If we beat them we can do it.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 11-10-2015, 09:36 PM:

I agree

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 11-10-2015, 09:53 PM:

You can bet old sour puss will have his team in top form when we play them. Don't like him a bit but sure admit he is a heck of a coach and has record to prove it.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 11-11-2015, 05:57 AM:

Yeah, plus he returned a little talent off that championship team from last year!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 11-11-2015, 03:18 PM:

Duke just continues to reload and are a force in college basketball most every year.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 11-11-2015, 03:22 PM:

Coach K has 12 Final Fours, 5 Championships
NCAA Champion: 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010 and 1215

We may not like him but his record is something very special.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 11-12-2015, 06:28 AM:

Sad thing is, we should've won both of the last two titles he has won!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 11-12-2015, 09:06 AM:

Coach K's teams are tough in big games. It seems for whatever reason we have had trouble winning games down the stretch in the NCAA tournaments.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 11-13-2015, 01:40 PM:

The Cousins-Wall-Bledsoe team losing to West Virginia is one game I can't and never will get out of my mind. That year was to me the most talented team Kentucky has ever put on the floor.