It will work fine as long as Willis can hold up his part of the deal, but if he has games where he gives us Skal like production we will struggle to win those games unless someone else steps up in a big way.
Calipari says he’s settled on his rotation
- Thread starter preacher_tom
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Agreed. I think there is one added benefit and that is the message it sends to other top prospects...Cal is not going to give up on you if you struggle.
Personally, I would rather see Skal struggle on the court than to be wondering how he would do if her were out there playing.
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Gotta disagree. Cal prefers a small rotation. As little as six or seven. He's been that way since I've followed him closely since his Memphis days. If Cal can cut his in game roster he will. If he can't he won't.
Cal has stated plenty of times he prefers a smaller rotation. He claims it's easier.
Gotta disagree. Cal prefers a small rotation. As little as six or seven. He's been that way since I've followed him closely since his Memphis days. If Cal can cut his in game roster he will. If he can't he won't.
Cal has stated plenty of times he prefers a smaller rotation. He claims it's easier.
It's a fact if Cal had his way he'd mostly play 6 to 7 guys. He's always been a short rotation coach. I'm suprised at some here that didn't know that.
Better chance of becoming a well-oiled machine only playing 6 or 7 guys. Obviously there are differing philosophies, but Cal tends to shade this direction.
![[roll]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/roll.r191677.gif "roll [roll]")
What I understand is Briscoe will start on the wing (3) and share time with Matthews.
Dom will be in when Ulis or Murray takes a break. Either Briscoe or Matthews will still be in at that time. Those 5 for 3 positions does not concern me. It's the 4/5 that's more of a concern to me.
Sorry man no offense but what on earth are you talking about ? in 2010 he played 9-10 , in 2011 he played 8-9 , in 2012 HE DID Played 7 , in 2013 he played 8-9 , in 2014 he played 10-11 and this year he is playing 9 ish . But yep he likes to play 6-7 O-K buddy.
Better players ALWAYS have a longer leash for reasons most already know. Plus Willis is a Junior now and I'm sure Cal expects him to rebound with 2 hands since he has heard it everyday for 3 years.
Cal doesn't use a pt script......it's by necessity that he subs. If your 8th & 9th men are getting 2 mins per game, better hope you never need them in an emergency. Dom and Willis may still be the 8th and 9th men,if so, that's a good thing. Some of the best teams ever had starters avg @ 28/32 mpg.
I understand what you're saying. But the difference is, Skal's ceiling is about 10 miles higher than Derek's. Derek can be a solid contributor but he's not a "key to the season" so to speak. Whereas, if Skal can get closer to where we need him, you'll be hard pressed to find a tougher team to beat by season's end.
But also, as was mentioned before, Skal's minutes have gone down significantly.
I think you guys may be making different comparisons. For example, in 2014, 6 players played 10 minutes or more in the last game. In 2013, only 7 did. In 2012, it was 6. In 2011, it was 6. In 2010, it was 7 but Orton did get 9 minutes in that game.
Okay, that was just a thought I had. Not sure if I am even close.....
Right. Except that the best 8th or 9th men are ready to step up when called upon. Like Dom was vs. UL.
So instead of saying, "better hope you never need them in an emergency," how about, "hope they step up in an emergency, like Hawkins did."
I think they are too. Cal likes to have 5-7 guys playing the vast majority of the minutes.
Doesn't mean he won't go deeper into the bench a few minutes at a time situationally, because of foul trouble, etc.
Cal is fine with 8 or 9 as long numbers 8 and 9 are role players with limited minutes.
He wants 6 or 7 20+ minute guys. That's the "Wooden Way" and it guarantees you have your best guys out there most of the time.
We will see the most minutes from Ulis, Murray, Briscoe, Poythress, Lee, and (once he gets it figured out) Labissiere. Then let Matthews, Willis, and Hawkins play minutes based on our needs, foul trouble, etc.
That's how it has worked most of the time under Cal. 6-7 main guys and 1-3 role players.
He wants 6 or 7 20+ minute guys. That's the "Wooden Way" and it guarantees you have your best guys out there most of the time.
We will see the most minutes from Ulis, Murray, Briscoe, Poythress, Lee, and (once he gets it figured out) Labissiere. Then let Matthews, Willis, and Hawkins play minutes based on our needs, foul trouble, etc.
That's how it has worked most of the time under Cal. 6-7 main guys and 1-3 role players.
Meaning to me is that if you "hope they step up", give them more than 2mpg as preparation .
Different philosophies. Dom has had games where he barely played, or didn't play at all, but he was still ready. So in this case, Cal had it right.
It helps that guys like Dom and Derek have been around a while.
Briscoe has an incredibly good attitude. I don't see him as selfish or unnapreciative of his playing time at all. He was the biggest cheerleader in the Louisville game after he hurt his ankle.
Exactly. Skal was given the lowest minutes share last game of any player (except Mulder's 1 minute). Could be Cal's message to fans was embellished a little so as to be politically correct. But my observation last game was that Skal is in fact also a player not using both hands at rebounding, yet he only critiqued Willis.
Let me explain further maybe I didn't say it right.
Cal PREFERS a 6 to 7 man roster as it gets closer to march. He likes to find his core group and go with it. All of this hinges on the players of course.
Some of you don't understand that not all rotation players are created equally.
Just because he plays 9 guys doesn't mean he will divide the minutes equally nine ways.
He has only tried that once, and that was last year. And by the end of the season, that "platoon" concept had all but disappeared.
Other than that, he has played 6 or 7 guys most of the minutes, then played the rest of the players sparingly.
A rotation player is one that gets minutes just about every game.
Hawkins isn't going to average 30+ minutes a game like Ulis and Murray, but he is in the backcourt rotation and will play 10 or so minutes every game.
I figure it's going to look something like this (approximate minutes per game):
G Ulis(35)/Hawkins(5)
G Murray(34)/Hawkins(6)
G Briscoe(27)/Matthews(13)
F Poythress(27)/Willis(13)
F Lee(23)/Labissiere(17)
Of course, when Ulis is on the bench, Murray or Briscoe runs the point, and Hawkins plays on the wing.
Just because he plays 9 guys doesn't mean he will divide the minutes equally nine ways.
He has only tried that once, and that was last year. And by the end of the season, that "platoon" concept had all but disappeared.
Other than that, he has played 6 or 7 guys most of the minutes, then played the rest of the players sparingly.
A rotation player is one that gets minutes just about every game.
Hawkins isn't going to average 30+ minutes a game like Ulis and Murray, but he is in the backcourt rotation and will play 10 or so minutes every game.
I figure it's going to look something like this (approximate minutes per game):
G Ulis(35)/Hawkins(5)
G Murray(34)/Hawkins(6)
G Briscoe(27)/Matthews(13)
F Poythress(27)/Willis(13)
F Lee(23)/Labissiere(17)
Of course, when Ulis is on the bench, Murray or Briscoe runs the point, and Hawkins plays on the wing.
This is what I'm getting at. And he won't really use those tole players late in the year unless forced. I'm not sure how it's debatable. It's how the guy prefers it and always has.
Bingo.
And obviously others will play in a limited capacity depending on foul trouble or injury/rest time. But all in all, cal wants 6 strong, 7 max of the bulk of the minutes.
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I noticed this, too, but I think he talked about Willis, because Willis has been in the program for a couple of years and he knows how Cal motivates. Skal is a newcomer and Cal probably thinks the kid is already criticized enough, on message boards, and by the media. As far as the rotation, eventually, he may be forced to play Humphries or Wynyard, if we play a team with a bulky center. If we do, Lee will probably get into foul trouble, and even if Skal progresses, he will not be strong enough, in 2 months, to handle a 260 lb senior. Then Wynyard or Humphries may be necessary, rather than an option.
Willis will be ok... No matter how many times you post it, it still doesn't matter. DW is a junior he should know better, Skal obviously has many more issues than rebounding.
They also play different positions so... not sure why you are so over the top on this point, just trying to get Chuck (@Chuckinden) all worked up?
My god what is it with Willis. I'm almost just as nervous with him on the floor as Skal right now. He jacks up anything thrown to him and like yo said, his rebounding as a junior forward is lacking. What is the fascination about this. Skal has much more to lose than Willis and all players aren't created equally. This isn't communism/socialism.
Cal mentioned in the UL post game press conference that his staff thinks he's being too hard on Skal.
Cal said that if he's going to be hard on Dom and Derek, he has to be hard on Skal too. Cal says he still is hard on him, but that his staff tries to get him to back off.
I took this as Cal signaling the fans to back off. Cal rarely says anything without putting some thought into it.
Cal said that if he's going to be hard on Dom and Derek, he has to be hard on Skal too. Cal says he still is hard on him, but that his staff tries to get him to back off.
I took this as Cal signaling the fans to back off. Cal rarely says anything without putting some thought into it.
DW has definitely improved and he will get better. But, he is not the deadeye shooter so many say he is and his rebounding is not good. His defense has gotten better but is still lacking in regards to staying in front of penetration.
He still makes some careless plays, the UCLA layup in which he didnt go strong (at almost 6'10 according to Cal) was terrible.
I am ok with him playing, his trap defense has been surprisingly good, as a 4 man he HAS to rebound better. I'm hoping he does.
Agree with all of it. But people conflate those two an awful lot. They're in two different situations in their lives and as players. Cal giving Skal rope is understandable whereas giving Willis less rope makes perfect sense.
If Willis wants his he must earn it in a different way than players like Skal.
That's exactly what it is. When I read it I thought the same thing, then backed off as directed. I'm a good diciple........
That famous 6-7 rotation of Cals goes down the shi$er when the 6th and 7th guys offer you nothing more than some D and rebounding. Thats why if you do do that sorta of thing you beter be damn sure you got bondafide studs or you gotta dig deeper in that bench and try things out.
Looks good to me. I've thought for some time we'll go as far as Alex and Marcus can take us. If Skal, Hump, or Wynyard can contribute great, but those are our guys. Same for Murray, Ulis, and Brisco. If Dom can start hitting from outside more consistently he'll play more, and as Cal noted if Willis can rebound with both hands so will he. Some questioned Cal signing those two after the 2013 season, but now and next year we're seeing the benefits of having some depth. I'd like to see Matthews earn more PT, but despite his poor outside/FT shooting I still think Briscoe is one of our best players. Hopefully he works on those over the off-season because I sure don't see him as an OAD. Honestly I'm not sure any of these guys are, but I'm equally sure it won't keep at least a couple from leaving early.
Sometimes you can't get two hands on the rebound and you can get up higher with just one. Cal's been around long enough to know that. First it was defense, then it was not working hard enough, now it's not rebounding with both hands. Cal comes up with more excuses than a con man.
I don't think Willis should get a large bulk of playing time, but I think he can produce just as well as Skal and Lee if given more time. Willis IS a deadeye shooter, he just can't get in the flow with Cal putting him in many times and jerking right back out because he had a turnover or got beat on defense.
Willis fits in Cal's system more than Wiltjer did. If Cal is going to play him, do it and give him some time to adjust, like in the Bahamas last year. If you're not going to use him correctly, tell him so he can do what's best for him.
I don't think Willis should get a large bulk of playing time, but I think he can produce just as well as Skal and Lee if given more time. Willis IS a deadeye shooter, he just can't get in the flow with Cal putting him in many times and jerking right back out because he had a turnover or got beat on defense.
Willis fits in Cal's system more than Wiltjer did. If Cal is going to play him, do it and give him some time to adjust, like in the Bahamas last year. If you're not going to use him correctly, tell him so he can do what's best for him.
