FYI Derek Willis

[poppycat]

With nothing better to do, I ran a 40 min stat line on Willis
12.25 min per game
40 min would look like this
21.7 ppg
8.5 rpg
44% FG 33.3% 3PFG 100% FT 8-8
5 p fouls per game

Wonder if Willis could = Wiltzer in thr right system

 

[ulismyman]

What i have been preaching but nobody listens...Lee and Willis allowed to stay out there they can play...all you get is insulted when you bring it up

 

[bucsrule8872]

I'm a big Willis fan, but the fact is there is more to basketball than just offense.

There's a reason why he doesn't play tons of minutes and it has nothing to do with offense.

(But I do think his minutes will increase a little as the season progresses. We will need his shooting.)

 

[ulismyman]

They gave up 87...plenty og kids not playing defense...let him play

 

[WildMoon]

Coach Cal did keep him in after his screw up on defense, and those fancy basketball he pulled off.

Rotation is still fluid right now. Cal is trying different things, we'll know as season progresses.

I don't think Coach Cal views Willis and Wiltjer similarly.

 

[kyboy1998]

I'm a big Willis fan, but the fact is there is more to basketball than just offense.

There's a reason why he doesn't play tons of minutes and it has nothing to do with offense.

(But I do think his minutes will increase a little as the season progresses. We will need his shooting.)

If that's the case I assume you're hoping Skal and Murray have minutes cut back too. Skal has the strength of an 8th grader and Murray plays his man as tough as Wall on Mazulla.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

With nothing better to do, I ran a 40 min stat line on Willis
12.25 min per game
40 min would look like this
21.7 ppg
8.5 rpg
44% FG 33.3% 3PFG 100% FT 8-8
5 p fouls per game

Wonder if Willis could = Wiltzer in thr right system

Yeah, that looks good on paper, but reality is another thing entirely.

 

[kybassfan]

I think the question has really centered on which 5 star are you going to sit when you put him Willis in. I've really never doubted he could see big minutes somewhere else. However, he's really made it quite clear his preference is to take the time he can get at Kentucky. As a rabid fan, I'd part with a body part to have his opportunity.

He gave us good minutes when Lee got hurt and Poy got into foul trouble.

 

[ulismyman]

I dont care how many stars they have by there name....can they play is what counts...Jury in deliberations on Skal

 

[kyboy1998]

I think the question has really centered on which 5 star are you going to sit when you put him Willis in. I've really never doubted he could see big minutes somewhere else. However, he's really made it quite clear his preference is to take the time he can get at Kentucky. As a rabid fan, I'd part with a body part to have his opportunity.

He gave us good minutes when Lee got hurt and Poy got into foul trouble.

Once they are on campus what does "5" star matter? Skal is a 5 and isn't crap. Briscoe is a 5 and just a reincarnation of Goodwin. Poythress is a 5 and gets worse with each year. Lee is a 5 and a garbage bucket guy.

 

[GOING FOR #9]

Willis would foul out according to your logic so that skews everything else. Willis is physically weak. He's gotta get tougher and stronger to be the contributor you want. Cal is about to dial up the defense.

 

[ulismyman]

Poy built like a Greek God and can't make one footers...whats your point

 

[poppycat]

Willis would foul out according to your logic so that skews everything else. Willis is physically weak. He's gotta get tougher and stronger to be the contributor you want. Cal is about to dial up the defense.

Willis would foul out in 40 minutes...........not in 20 or 15 on the avg.
Willis is not weak.......6 rebound in 10 mins vs UCLA front line.

(He would foul out after 38 min according to math)

 

[GOING FOR #9]

Poythress problem is mental bc of knee. Willis is physical he is weak.

 

[GOING FOR #9]

Willis is not the answer for us.

 

[Jkwo]

If that's the case I assume you're hoping Skal and Murray have minutes cut back too. Skal has the strength of an 8th grader and Murray plays his man as tough as Wall on Mazulla.

Actually, Skal mystifyingly benched 185 12 times at the combine - .00001% of 8th graders could do that.

Obviously, that's just one measure of strength that's not particularly important to basketball, but the point is - kid is stronger than he looks. But he plays like he's a 3 year old afraid of contracting cooties from the other post players. That is a tough fix, but it can be done.

 

[ulismyman]

I dont know if he is answer or not but he certainly should be playing...he is top 3 rebounder on team if allowed to stay out there...Skal is 7 foot and i think has had about 5 rebounds combined in last 2 games

 

[poppycat]

Willis is not the answer for us.

I could agree......maybe.
Is Matthews the answer?.......Is Poy the answer?
Someone has to play.......

Maybe Humphries?

 

[sluggercatfan]

I'm a big Willis fan, but the fact is there is more to basketball than just offense.

There's a reason why he doesn't play tons of minutes and it has nothing to do with offense.

(But I do think his minutes will increase a little as the season progresses. We will need his shooting.)

Not a projected nba guy=no mins

 

[GOING FOR #9]

I could agree......maybe.
Is Matthews the answer?.......Is Poy the answer?
Someone has to play.......

Maybe Humphries?

If we are gonna make a run in NCAA it's gotta be poythress. Poythress is mental right now but when he decides to step up and lead by example you will see skal, lee even Willis step up the effort.

 

[Stonewall12]

Bottom line is teams will continue to play us like I'll St and ucla did. Pack the defense in and dare us to shoot. When that happens Willis has got to play. You sit Poythress or Matthews.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

Free Willy

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Once they are on campus what does "5" star matter? Skal is a 5 and isn't crap. Briscoe is a 5 and just a reincarnation of Goodwin. Poythress is a 5 and gets worse with each year. Lee is a 5 and a garbage bucket guy.

You lost me at the Briscoe thing. You clearly do not pay attention to the stats. 13 points on 53% shooting, nearly 6 rebounds and 3 assists a game is not Goodwin like.

 

[kybassfan]

Once they are on campus what does "5" star matter? Skal is a 5 and isn't crap. Briscoe is a 5 and just a reincarnation of Goodwin. Poythress is a 5 and gets worse with each year. Lee is a 5 and a garbage bucket guy.

There is this thing called a coach. He makes those decisions. Ours is named Calipari. He's pretty good. Perhaps you should tell him all his players are crap and you know better.

Fact remains Willis will be hard pressed to take minutes from any of those guys. If you think otherwise, I believe that explains why Cailpari makes millions in college coaching and you make crap.

Willis may be your boy. He's a fine ball player. He chose to play at the premiere program in the country. It costs him playing time. I respect his choice. Too bad you think the kid doesn't have enough sense to make his own choices. That's your problem. Not Willis'.

 

[MakinMusic]

No matter what he's doing on offense, his defense has been consistently poor. A few bad defensive plays is one thing; nearly 90% is another.

He's also struggled to rebound against anyone with similar size. I think he has tremendous potential. He just has to make the decision to make it happen in big situations.

 

[yoshukai]

Once they are on campus what does "5" star matter? Skal is a 5 and isn't crap. Briscoe is a 5 and just a reincarnation of Goodwin. Poythress is a 5 and gets worse with each year. Lee is a 5 and a garbage bucket guy.

If you are meaning that as an insult to Briscoe......I just don't know what to say .

 

[ulismyman]

Briscoe a bulldog and i like him but shooting not a friend to him...needs to get his points in other ways

 

[Stonewall12]

No matter what he's doing on offense, his defense has been consistently poor. A few bad defensive plays is one thing; nearly 90% is another.

He's also struggled to rebound against anyone with similar size. I think he has tremendous potential. He just has to make the decision to make it happen in big situations.

Except he is not making 90% bad plays in defense. Where did you come up with number? Thin air? He made a bad play on the out of bounds play in the first half. We should be playing zone in out of bounds plays anyways.

 

[ulismyman]

Stonewall...you are not gonna win this on this board...Willis can only play in exhibitions according to most on here...not a lottery pick it is assumed you cant contribute...Kid can play and so can Hawk

 

[fatguy87]

With nothing better to do, I ran a 40 min stat line on Willis
12.25 min per game
40 min would look like this
21.7 ppg
8.5 rpg
44% FG 33.3% 3PFG 100% FT 8-8
5 p fouls per game

You forgot to include 2.45 steals per 40, the highest on the team by a substantial margin.

 

[CBBCrazy]

Poythress problem is mental bc of knee. Willis is physical he is weak.

Sorry #9 I'm not buying it. Poy has been here for 4 years and he is a highlight film 1 in 10 games if that. Willis with the same amount of minutes would show you on paper why he is more of a scorer than Poy will ever be. I have always like Poy but let's be honest, he has hands of steel and no touch around the goal. The only time I feel good about it is if its a dunk. Willis will make some mistakes on defense but dollar for dollar we are a more dangerous team with Willis on the floor imo.

 

[fatguy87]

If we are gonna make a run in NCAA it's gotta be poythress. Poythress is mental right now

His issue is that he has paws, rather than hands attached to the end of his arms.

 

[Aike]

Cal walks a fine line between playing the guys who can win now, versus playing the ones who he thinks can most help us win in March.

He is more forgiving of freshmen making mistakes, because he believes they need to learn on the job to give us the best chance at winning a title.

4 Final Fours the past 5 years says he's getting it right.

Willis is getting his chances. Make the most of them and they will only increase. But Cal will always have more rope with freshmen and the most elite talent.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Yeah, that looks good on paper, but reality is another thing entirely.

It is the exact same thing that Cal & the coaching staff did with the players last year when playing the platoons to bulk up numbers for his "draftable kids"

 

[Aike]

It is the exact same thing that Cal & the coaching staff did with the players last year when playing the platoons to bulk up numbers for his "draftable kids"

Did he do something wrong last year while winning 38 straight games? Are you complaining about something?

 

[crestcat]

No matter what he's doing on offense, his defense has been consistently poor. A few bad defensive plays is one thing; nearly 90% is another.

He's also struggled to rebound against anyone with similar size. I think he has tremendous potential. He just has to make the decision to make it happen in big situations.

Willis played 14 min. against a team that out rebounded us and was tied for leading rebounder on our team and UCLA definitely had size.

His defense looked as good as the rest of the team in that game also.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

Poythress has always missed those 1ft shots. Unless its a dunk, he's always had problems with it.

 

[tapemaster8]

You can draw up all the plays you want to, if the man shooting the ball can't throw it in the ocean, it doesn't do any good. The thing about defense for Willis is effort. He is not that slow. Wiltjer was a little slow. Willis needs to get with it on the defensive end and he will play plenty. He is starting to be aggressive on offense, and he feeds the post better that anyone else at that position for sure. We have lots of problems. But the talent is there to fix them all!

 

[Xception]

Too bad an elite Kentucky born player can't come along that justifies all the fuss every year .

 

[doneitall]

Willis certainly has the skills and size to get some decent minutes as a sub to find out if he can help.