Aaron Bradshaw, right, talks with fans at an autograph signing at Kroger in Versailles. (Larry Vaught Photo)
ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg said he was not surprised that UK played so well in its four games in Canada last month because he had been talking to Kentucky coach John Calipari and assistant John Welsh, Greenberg’s assistant at Long Beach State.
“They had told me how much they liked this team and I could see what they meant,” Greenberg said.
Kentucky did have injured 7-footers Aaron Bradshaw or Ugonna Onyenso in Toronto but Greenberg knows what Bradshaw can add when he returns and Bradshaw posted on social media that he comes out of his ankle boot next week.
“He is a skilled dude. He is a big that can step away from the basket and make shots and plays,” Greenberg said. “Bradshaw can really shoot and he can also really pass. He’s just got special skills.”
Greenberg also believes Onyenso will “have some type of role” because at the very least he can protect the rim unlike any other UK player if he’s healthy.
West Virginia transfer Tre Mitchell played the center position with Bradshaw and Onyenso not available. Greenberg could easily see Mitchell and Bradshaw playing together and now Calipari will have another option if 7-footer Zvonimir Ivisic of Croatia is eligible after making his recent commitment to UK.
“That’s a great lineup if Cal wants to go big. I am sure they will look at that and depending on who they are playing, they could play the bigs together with their guard heavy roster. I would not be shocked at all to see Cal playing two bigs with Mitchell being one of them,” Greenberg said.
6 Responses
Mitchell done a great job filling in at center, but he’s a 4. When the season begins Mitchell will start at the 4. He will be playing with a Big most of the time. Cal will play 2 bigs at times for sure. That will consist of some combination of Ugo, Bradshaw, and Ivisic. I will not be "shocked" when Mitchell and a Big start every game.
Yea & I actually won’t be surprised to see Bradshaw & Ivisic play together. Even though they’re both 7 footers they’re also both floor spacing bigs who can play on the perimeter. They’d also be a good tandem on the defensive end.
That would be something to see Kevin
The biggest challenge for Calipari will be keeping everyone happy with limited playing time. There are 200 minutes in a game and we have 10 players who would most likely get 30 or more minutes on most other teams. I don’t see him platooning again because it destroyed his recruiting the following 2 years. Our team chemistry was excellent in Canada, but 3 bigs were not part of that mix. NIL and the transfer portal are changing the team first philosophy to a me first mentality, especially when a kid thinks that he needs 30 minutes of PT to have a shot at being a lottery pick but is only getting 10 to 12. Who will be Calipari’s pets on this team? He always has at least two.
I don’t see Cal having any problems keep this group happy. That got that dog in them that we haven’t had last few years.
You may be right 79, but remember most of these kids are expecting to go to the NBA next year and most of them want to be lottery picks. The pets will get the minutes, the rest will get what’s left. That could disrupt the chemistry when some of those kids aren’t putting up lottery caliber numbers due to limited PT.
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