True Blue Kentucky

Jodie Meeks is gone. There is no getting around that now. For UK and the Big Blue Nation, it is time to move on. It is time to look to the future. What does that future hold?

Well, for now, it appears that a battle is to take place for Meeks' starting spot and for the playing time that has just been opened up.

Some of that time might go to one of our 5 star freshman recruits, John Wall or Eric Bledsoe. However, as those two are our only likely options at PG, they each have a lot of playing time locked up at their natural position. They aren't going to take many minutes away at the SG spot, if any at all.

 

Darnell Dodson can help, although to most UK fans, he is a mystery. Almost nobody has seen him play, and finding reliable information on what he can and cannot do is harder than shutting down Kobe. He has at least some ability to hit the outside shot, and with his size and length he should be able to create mismatches for opposing SG's. This is always attractive to any coach. Jon Hood is a great athlete and a player that some believe can come in right away and contribute. He has apparantly put on some weight over the summer and perhaps that will translate into some needed strength. If he is ready to play as a freshman, the minutes are certainly available for him.

Who does that leave? DeAndre Liggins...more of a wing than a SG, he could be pressed into service at the shooting guard position in a pinch. Ramon Harris is another option that could be considered if one of our newcomers isn't ready to contribute at this level yet.

Another option is to play a bigger lineup than what Calipari is used to using. We do have a very full cupboard of bigs, so moving one of them to the SF position for some spot time could push Darius Miller into some time at shooting guard. However, questions have to be answered about his lateral quickness and ability to defend opposing guards before this could ever happen. I wouldn't hold your breath on it though.

One way or another, Calipari will find a solution. That is what he does. He's a winner. Losing Meeks hurts, but even without him, UK still has what is likely the best recruiting class in history, and Patrick Patterson returning. These 'Cats still will have quite a bite.