Should add that teams like Kentucky and Duke this year are probably competitive with the Euroleague D1 sides.

Mid major teams come over quite regularly and get smoked by state league level teams, be that qbl or seabl. Most college kids struggle against actual grown men. People get fooled by the results when they see college teams record victories against nbl teams, but usually that is just a few dp's and the off ringer.

I would say the absolute top teams in college basketball would be competitive with teams in the NBL and good European comps, although none would match it with good Euroleague teams, the experience and IQ gap would just be too great.

I would say this years kentucky team would probably beat most of the NBL, they would be the second tallest team in the NBA if they were a team. I feel like they would just be too big and athletic.

Maybe your Dukes etc, might win a couple but in a series i think the NBL would win.

The rest wouldnt be a match, none of these teams have the skill or experience as a whole to match up

It was a while ago but remember Arizona (with Jason Gardiner, Channing Frye, Luke Walton) played Sturt ABL (+ Maher) and only just won that game. Don't underestimate young college players playing against seasoned men.

I'd take Kentucky vs any NBL team.

James Ennis was a low first round draft pick, and dominated our league, UK have 4 of those guys, plus 2 potential top 6 picks.

Also a college team at this point of the season with the players having an extra season of experience are a much tougher proposition than when they tour in their pre season.

NZ Breakers v Kentucky would be a super game.

I tend to agree with Paul's assessment of the comparisons.

You are correct, but UK this season are different, every 2-3 years a college team comes along that could compete with any pro team not in the NBA or Euroleague.

Don't know enough about the womens NCAA to make a comparison.

So then wise one, if the current UK team played the NZ Breakers in a 7 game series, games alternating home and away, what do you think the series result is?

Considering the US national team beat New Zealand by 27, and the Breakers would be a similar standard to the TBs, I very much doubt Kentucky could "throttle" NZ. I imagine the US would beat Kentucky very comfortably.

The Knicks just beat the spurs, they could win the title if they could still make the playoffs!... doesn't work that way.

If you held a family member of each dreamteam member hostage the day they beat NZ by 27, and said you gotta double their score, they would have.

What if you had a member of each of the NZ players' families hostage? But yes, it was a bad example because neither team took that game seriously (which BTW played into the US hands because it became a game of athleticism).

But the overall point is the NZ national team has been competitive with some of the best in the world, and given the Breakers are a similar level I very much doubt Kentucky could "throttle" them.

One team would have great athleticism, the other great experience and on-court chemistry. I'd back the former to beat the latter, but it would be a great contest to watch.

Wilbekin came to the NBL virtually straight out of college, and it was a very good program he was in. The NBL has some very good players and we play according to what we have and how the coaches adapt to the style of game here.

The best US college team at the minute (Kentuky) consists mostly of freshmen, who will only be there for one year then go to the NBA, therefore making this comparison difficult.

If we were to say that Kentuky could keep their best team together for a couple of years and get to about Sophmore or junior age, they would smash any NBL team you would like to send against them.

The NBL has possibly got size, maturity and strength in certain areas that would give them a chance against younger 19-20 year olds, but as Wilbekin has showed, if they play a college team of seniors that have the skill and athleticism of a Kentuky, it would be a one horse race IMHO...

I think you're showing a lack of understanding of what makes basketball teams work. The mix of talent, well-suited roles and on-court chemistry is the formula for Ws.

Cairns wouldn't have finished first in the NBL after the regular season if it was just based on talent and resumes.

Facing the changing defences of an NBL team would be a major challenge for a group of freshmen, no matter how talented, and the likes of Ibekwe, Vukona, Pledger, Abercrombie, Webster and Jackson wouldn't be intimidated by UK's athleticism.

As I said, NZ v UK would be a cracking game to watch.

"Kentucky has played (and won) over 30 games together and are coached by on of the best coaches in basketball."

Calipari coached internationally and struggled.

"They have gelled as much as any NBL team."

Thinking a team of 19 and 20 year-olds who have been together for either one or two years, can have gelled as well as experienced professionals who have played together for multiple years - a number of them internationally as well as NBL - is a classic "fundamental misunderstanding of basketball".

Same guys who prob thought Perth & Melbournes imports were going to dominate because of their credentials.

OK, so tell us how Scottie Wilbekin and DeAndre Daniels' performances against the best college teams last year compare to their efforts against the best NBL teams this year?

#521995

As you become more desperate you are also getting delusional. You might have an argument about Kentucky this year as an isolated team playing an NBL team, but your comments about the final four show very little knowledge. Unless you mean the NBL All Star team would be playing 'all star' style?

Kentucky are going well, in their last game they dominated Hampton, who would lose to an Aba team. The reality is that they are beating up on other 18 year olds, not grown men. The reality is that a basketball players prime doesn't show up until their mid to late 20's. Do not underestimate the smarts that come along with that extra experience that is gained in those few years. Kentucky are a very good team, but they are the exception, it is once in a generation squad; once again they are an outlier not the rule.

"Paul, Wilbekin and Daniels were the class of the NBL this season. Yet coming out of high school, neither were considered by Kentucky."

Daniels was the class of the NBL this season? Wow.

Getting back to reality, can you answer my question - how did the performances of those two players against the best NCAA teams last season compare with those against the best NBL teams this year?

While I'm at it Ill add another couple - what was the head-to-head between Florida and Kentucky last season and how did Wilbekin go in those games? How does that compare with his performances against Jackson in this year's NBL Grand Final?

So no answers to those questions?

Let me on know if you want me to leave the facts out of this, I'm happy to do that, I understand how they can ruin the fun.

You didn't answer any of those questions and you couldn't even get the basic stats you quoted right! Please, keep going.

Come on, at least tell us how Wilbekin went against Kentucky (who apparently didnt even consider recruiting him) last season and what the head-to-head was.

So if Wilbekin wasn't good enough for Kentucky, how did he go against them last season and what was his team's record against them?

"What does it matter? He wasn't good enough for Kentucky."

I'd avoid facts too if I was you.

Florida were 3-0 against Kentucky last year, with two double-figure wins and a one-point triumph in the SEC Tournament Final. Wilbekin averaged 16p at 46%, 4a and just 1to, picking up SEC Tournament MVP along the way.

Can someone tell me when Clint Steindl became an all-star? You kept referring to him as an all-star, or a "bonafide" NBL all star if you will, but I can't find any evidence of it? Also your constant Steindl references offer a nice college-professional comparison: he averaged 8 points his senior season of college, and 4 points his debut NBL season playing against professionals.

Also who's Adam Cadee?

Kentucky>the Dream Team by Anons logic.

Of course they are. You can't tell me LeBron James is better than Devin Booker just because he's a few years older. What did LeBron ever do against Kentucky anyway?

Can someone tell me when Clint Steindl became an all-star? You kept referring to him as an all-star, or a "bonafide" NBL all star if you will, but I can't find any evidence of it?

Oh that's right. From memory it was a fairly contentious inclusion though, with the suspicion being that because he was already in Adelaide for the 3 point shootout the NBL could save on an extra airfare.

Adam Cadee? Yeh, I've heard Jason's brother isn't that good. Would probably get smashed if he played Kentucky