DJ Wagner is not a Good Defender

[CincyUKFan]

At the 11:29 mark in the second half his man dribbled across midcourt, and then used a screen at the top of the key, and went all the way to the rim with no resistance.

I think people just like to say that Wagner can defend because they feel like he must be able to do something right.

He is absolutely terrible and we better hope that he goes to the draft because you do not want this guy back.

 

[Disappointed Cat]

At the 11:29 mark in the second half his man dribbled across midcourt, and then used a screen at the top of the key, and went all the way to the rim with no resistance.

I think people just like to say that Wagner can defend because they feel like he must be able to do something right.

He is absolutely terrible and we better hope that he goes to the draft because you do not want this guy back.

His lack of defense is old news....ditto for his lack of offense.

 

[shaudyshaud]

We get it you hate the guy . Not wanting him back is foolish

 

[UKBB4Ever]

You haters just hope he’s not.

But you are just as wrong on Wagner as you are Cal.

So go suck on your loss tonight. The Cats are moving on without you.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

He made one of the defensive plays of the game w/ his steal on the baseline late

 

[CincyUKFan]

We get it you hate the guy . Not wanting him back is foolish

Is it though? You don’t think there will be much better dudes in the portal? Do you realize he just doesn’t have the physical tools or athleticism or really anything to ever play the NBA or to be a good college player? Apparently you don’t.

 

[shaudyshaud]

Is it though? You don’t think there will be much better dudes in the portal? Do you realize he just doesn’t have the physical tools or athleticism or really anything to ever play the NBA or to be a good college player? Apparently you don’t.

I want every player on this team that’s eligible to return to do just that. I do agree he’s limited physically he’s also the youngest player on the team .

The entire team has worked and played hard so yes I do want them all to return because they all have room to improve .

 

[University-6]

"UK fan"

 

[CincyUKFan]

He made one of the defensive plays of the game w/ his steal on the baseline late

And he did that after how many terrible defensive plays? His man scores on him at will both on the perimeter and on the drive. It’s embarrassingly bad.

 

[chattanoogawildcat]

The op is upset.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

And he did that after how many terrible defensive plays? His man scores on him at will both on the perimeter and on the drive. It’s embarrassingly bad.

I think you exaggerate...and I don't see how it's DJ's fault that his man scored on a straight drive to the basket after he'd been picked off

 

[UKFAN4L]

The op is upset.

And intoxicated. DJ is our best on ball defender.

 

[CincyUKFan]

I think you exaggerate...and I don't see how it's DJ's fault that his man scored on a straight drive to the basket after he'd been picked off

Obviously, that’s exaggeration. But it remains true that when you look at the analytics, he is objectively the worst defensive player on the team. That is not an opinion - it is absolute fact.

 

[CincyUKFan]

And intoxicated. DJ is our best on ball defender.

OK. Please walk me through that great on ball defense on the play mentioned in the original post.

 

[Oboro3]

The haters are out in full force because this win goes against their agenda. It's quite hilarious reading them...

They don't realize how foolish they look

 

[KyLegacy]

And intoxicated. DJ is our best on ball defender.

I disagree.

 

[shodaman]

He's not a good BB player

you don't know basketball

 

[HagginHall1999]

At the 11:29 mark in the second half his man dribbled across midcourt, and then used a screen at the top of the key, and went all the way to the rim with no resistance.

I think people just like to say that Wagner can defend because they feel like he must be able to do something right.

He is absolutely terrible and we better hope that he goes to the draft because you do not want this guy back.

He is the best on ball perimeter defender we have by a mile. It isn't even close. He totally took Auburn out of their game plan by himself. Was a major reason we won that game despite doing nothing on offense.

 

[Oboro3]

Obviously, that’s exaggeration. But it remains true that when you look at the analytics, he is objectively the worst defensive player on the team. That is not an opinion - it is absolute fact.

Show the analytics

 

[CincyUKFan]

How many of you Wagner defenders are also Cal lovers? at times I forget that to criticize Wagner or Edwards is to criticize Cal.

If this isn’t really you defending Cal, please walk me through why you see Wagner as a good defender when the analytics say that he is the very worst.

 

[HagginHall1999]

How many of you Wagner defenders are also Cal lovers? at times I forget that to criticize Wagner or Edwards is to criticize Cal.

If this isn’t really you defending Cal, please walk me through why you see Wagner as a good defender when the analytics say that he is the very worst.

Go watch the Auburn game and pay attention.

Also, fwiw I do not think that he should be starting anymore.

 

[UKortho]

I want every player on this team that’s eligible to return to do just that. I do agree he’s limited physically he’s also the youngest player on the team .

The entire team has worked and played hard so yes I do want them all to return because they all have room to improve .

Was he a reclass?

 

[Oboro3]

I'm still waiting on these supposed analytics to appear...

 

[johnc17]

DJ is God awful. I get heart palpitations every time he gets the ball like how is he going to **** the possession this time? Turnover turnover turnover

 

[TriCountyCat]

DJ played Ok. I can only remember one turnover and made a couple shots. If Cal would stress assist with him he can help this team.

 

[CincyUKFan]

Show the analytics

It has been shown over and over again throughout the season that the opposing players field goal percentage is the highest against Wagner. There are countless threads where you can get that information, but alas you’ve already been involved in those threads too.

 

[shaudyshaud]

Was he a reclass?

Nah just young . Most of the guys that reclassify usually do it go get back to the correct class

 

[Oboro3]

You proved my point...

Analytics...don't use big words when you can't produce them

 

[xtra12]

DJ Wagner is not a good defender

You misspelled "player".

He just tries to do playground hero ball far too much.

 

[Drudis]

I’m not sure anyone on our team is truly a good defender….but thank God for that fast paste offense 😂

 

[Stretch98]

Wagner has been hurt for a month and a half and although he is still only about 75%, he is competing his butt off on both ends of the court to help the team win.

 

[UKFAN4L]

OK. Please walk me through that great on ball defense on the play mentioned in the original post.

On ball defense is in reference to keeping your man in front of you. Your post mentions a ball screen, so that’s on the big that got screened, also.
Now, if you wanna get technical, I hate how UK chases on top of ball screens, almost always. They never go under ball screens and that leads to wide open layups. If our bigs hedged harder and bumped the drive, it would give the guards time to recover. Ya dig?

 

[StaticKat]

We get it you hate the guy . Not wanting him back is foolish

Why is it foolish? DJ could easily be replaced imho.

 

[shodaman]

Why is it foolish? DJ could easily be replaced imho.

thats why your not a coach

 

[megablue]

And intoxicated. DJ is our best on ball defender.

I agree. I think he’s our best on-ball defender.

 

[KYCAT78]

We get it you hate the guy . Not wanting him back is foolish

He is not coming back, portal or NBA so it does not matter if you want him back or not.

 

[shaudyshaud]

He is not coming back, portal or NBA so it does not matter if you want him back or not.

Thank you Dajuan

 

[shaudyshaud]

Why is it foolish? DJ could easily be replaced imho.

This board complains about players leaving too early but some people also don’t want some freshmen back that didn’t live up to expectations out of the gate .

 

[River Blue]

At the 11:29 mark in the second half his man dribbled across midcourt, and then used a screen at the top of the key, and went all the way to the rim with no resistance.

I think people just like to say that Wagner can defend because they feel like he must be able to do something right.

He is absolutely terrible and we better hope that he goes to the draft because you do not want this guy back.

He was the defensive player of the game, some people just dont get it

 

[ukcatz12]

At the 11:29 mark in the second half his man dribbled across midcourt, and then used a screen at the top of the key, and went all the way to the rim with no resistance.

Yes, you can find individual plays every where every single player on the team sucked on defense. You could probably make a long list for every player every game actually.

But go watch the first few minutes of the Auburn game. Wagner had great ball pressure and locked down his man. That whole starting 5 played pretty damn good defense and Auburn only had 2 points in the first five and a half minutes of the game.

If Wagner is locked in he can be a very good on ball defender.