FYI Derek Willis

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Willis can play, he just can't settle down. I think he's so concerned about how long he may have on the court he tries to rush everything. I used to watch Rhodes and see the same thing. As soon as the dude made a mistake his head was down and he knew he was going to the bench. Willis kinda does that; I don't see his head down immediately, but it's like, "holy shit, I'm in, I'm gonna try to get mine as quickly as possible before I mess up" mentality. Now, his defense is suspect, but so is half the teams. The difference is Cal knows that to have s chance at the end we have to get these freshman ready, hence they get to play through lapses. I can see that Cal doesn't see Willis as a necessary component to make a run (and this is probably accurate), so he pulls him. I'm not complaining, but I would like to see Derek allowed to make a mistake and work through it more often.

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

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

The problem is, the others will get better. Where's you Hawkins, Floreal, etc need more time thread? Willis gets schooled when he's on D and it's his 3rd year here of him not even knowing how to properly gaurd a screen.if he learned basic d he would play more...right now he is playing what he deserves for offense only player.

 

[poppycat]

The problem is, the others will get better. Where's you Hawkins, Floreal, etc need more time thread? Willis gets schooled when he's on D and it's his 3rd year here of him not even knowing how to properly gaurd a screen.if he learned basic d he would play more...right now he is playing what he deserves for offense only player.

Hawkins has 4 guards in front of him (maybe due to his injury)
I don't see that in 3/4/5/ spots

 

[Cats78]

Just like Hood, players like Willis and Hawkins might be good for a game or two per season where they contribute a little bit, but other than that, they don't really look like they fit in at a major Div 1 school. I mean, it's their 3rd year and they bring the same stuff, which is very little. The only reason UK fans want them to see more time or claim that they are capable, is because they're from Kentucky.

 

[poppycat]

Just like Hood, players like Willis and Hawkins might be good for a game or two per season where they contribute a little bit, but other than that, they don't really look like they fit in at a major Div 1 school. I mean, it's their 3rd year and they bring the same stuff, which is very little. The only reason UK fans want them to see more time or claim that they are capable, is because they're from Kentucky.

Not at all true for me...........I have seen the games.........
Cal gives pt based on potential........that's his way
What's wrong with sitting them to motivate them to earn it?
A FF is not in the picture without a highly developed Skal or
a Poy playing up to expectations ..........if that happens, then
Willis is 7/8/9 in the rotation......but until????

 

[thecatsareback#8]

Not at all true for me...........I have seen the games.........
Cal gives pt based on potential........that's his way
What's wrong with sitting them to motivate them to earn it?
A FF is not in the picture without a highly developed Skal or
a Poy playing up to expectations ..........if that happens, then
Willis is 7/8/9 in the rotation......but until????

The BEST way for them to develop is putting them in game situations.

Now you will probably say the same is true for Willis but he is not a potential loto pick nor is he a physical specimen senior. His ceiling is lower. Cal has seen Willis everyday in practice for the past 3 years. He knows more about these players than anyone on this board.

Cal needs to figure this TEAM out not Willis. Let Willis come into his own role. He will be fine. Cal's got this.

 

[poppycat]

The BEST way for them to develop is putting them in game situations.

Now you will probably say the same is true for Willis but he is not a potential loto pick nor is he a physical specimen senior. His ceiling is lower. Cal has seen Willis everyday in practice for the past 3 years. He knows more about these players than anyone on this board.

Cal needs to figure this TEAM out not Willis. Let Willis come into his own role. He will be fine. Cal's got this.

I can't argue with that. Cal recruits with (so we are told) "This is not Socialism, you have to earn it) IMO, he does not always follow through.
In the "Archie" year, he allowed Archie to play almost uncoached and admitted it. (no one to replace him) .........A Willis developed to full potential does now mean a FF., but it may motivate some (not named) others to show more desire. (Might build more confidence in Willis also)

 

[whhs22]

Willis plays better than Poythress. All Poy can do is dunk after catching it wide open underneath. Poy cannot handle the ball in traffic, and BTW, Poythress' man goes around him too. I love Poythress, but to get real, he just doesn't have good basketball skills.
Willis, on the other hand, moves well, shoots well, and passes well, and he can handle the ball almost as good as a guard. Many on here like to diminish his accomplishments by saying he's too weak or doesn't play good enough defense. Hogwash. He'd be starting for almost any other major program. But because Cal likes to favor his "babies" (the one and done's in his mind), he rarely plays an upperclassman unless it's dire straits, like he did Harrelson a few years back. And yes, Willis is a "Kentucky" boy, and he should be damn well proud of it. Some of you just can't accept the fact that he's as good as he is for whatever reason.

alakat sir or mam you are delusional our know nothing about basketball. I guess Cal having his favorites as you say has really turned out bad for us over the past 7 years? you are rooting for your hometown state kid and just can't accept the fact like a Jon Hood Ky kids coming out of HS are really far behind kids coming from other states. but you do not see that what you want to see is Cal playing favorites so that's what's keeping Willis off the floor.

what you refuse to admit or see is in the past Willis has had multiple high level NBA talented players in front of him producing and winning at the highest level for UK. Willis can't and never will be able to produce at that level. it's not favoritism keeping him off the floor it's talent. you think Cal cares we're these kids are from? if Willis was
good enough Cal would see it in practice and in games and play him. I think I trust Cals judgment over any of you on here. and I do believe Cal knows who can help us win and who can't and that's who plays. lol favoritism keeping Willis off the floor , just a stupid comment.

 

[thecatsareback#8]

I can't argue with that. Cal recruits with (so we are told) "This is not Socialism, you have to earn it) IMO, he does not always follow through.
In the "Archie" year, he allowed Archie to play almost uncoached and admitted it. (no one to replace him) .........A Willis developed to full potential does now mean a FF., but it may motivate some (not named) others to show more desire. (Might build more confidence in Willis also)

It could certainly serve as a motivational tool. Another would be showing Skal the current NBA Draft projections and how much money he is losing.

Or maybe Skal will take it upon himself to motivate for the Kentucky Wildcats and helping his teammate when they need him the most.

I do think Willis earned himself some PT against UCLA going forward. Here's to hoping he doesn't regress!

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

poppycat/thecatsareback#8:
You guys both make great points. I agree with both of you. There is not easy button. Willis is not a necessity for this team to reach a FF; Poy and Skal are - hence more time to learn on the court. Now if Willis could guard a screen or just keep his man in front of him half the time, he may be just the extra piece we need from a very good team in March to a great team in the mix as favorite. My opinion.

I do agree that Cal has always said you earn your time; but we all know that it's not always going to be earned (Archie admittedly; Skal is going to play regardless, Poy has to play) - some guys are gong to get it because they have to for us to be a contender. Let's just hope Skal develops like the ones that came before him. Willis shouldn't be in the first 6 or 7, but I think he should be allowed to play through a mistake here or there.

 

[Xception]

I'm generally intrigued by the answer because I remember the same arguments being made for Jon Hood. I even remember the per 40 min stats being broke down on this board.

Don't forget that John Hood could jump out of the gym and was a dead eye shooter despite the fact that he never shot a decent % . People just make ish up because that's what they want the player to be instead of what they actually are and that never happens with players not from KY .

 

[Xception]

If Willis is such a great shooter then when is it going to show statistically ? Are you guys using practice lore as proof that he's a good shooter ? It only matters if he does it in games , Josh Carrier couldn't miss in practice but did nothing but miss in games . Some flourish in a practice environment but you can't use that to justify him playing more . If he started hitting in games then his time will go up .

 

[thecatsareback#8]

poppycat/thecatsareback#8:
You guys both make great points. I agree with both of you. There is not easy button. Willis is not a necessity for this team to reach a FF; Poy and Skal are - hence more time to learn on the court. Now if Willis could guard a screen or just keep his man in front of him half the time, he may be just the extra piece we need from a very good team in March to a great team in the mix as favorite. My opinion.

I do agree that Cal has always said you earn your time; but we all know that it's not always going to be earned (Archie admittedly; Skal is going to play regardless, Poy has to play) - some guys are gong to get it because they have to for us to be a contender. Let's just hope Skal develops like the ones that came before him. Willis shouldn't be in the first 6 or 7, but I think he should be allowed to play through a mistake here or there.

It is a fine line to walk. I do not like giving players time they do not deserve and if we had AD and T. Jones on this team Skal and Poythress would not be getting it. The problem is we do not; we have Willis and Humphries. Both are GREAT players but both have a lower ceiling then Skal and Poythress.

It is what is it. While Skal and Poythress do not deserve the PT, they give us the best chance to win in March and I like winning. Cal does too.

 

[Cats192]

Willis is holding himself back , if he played better his time would go up . He admitted last year to being in love with a girl more than being interested in basketball . He also picked a school stacked with the most talent every year , this is not a problem with Cal .

Sorry, that was my (obviously failed) attempt at Sarcasm.

I think the fact that the top thread (and a 4-page long one at that) is about Derek Willis is absurd

 

[Cats78]

Willis plays better than Poythress. All Poy can do is dunk after catching it wide open underneath. Poy cannot handle the ball in traffic, and BTW, Poythress' man goes around him too. I love Poythress, but to get real, he just doesn't have good basketball skills.
Willis, on the other hand, moves well, shoots well, and passes well, and he can handle the ball almost as good as a guard. Many on here like to diminish his accomplishments by saying he's too weak or doesn't play good enough defense. Hogwash. He'd be starting for almost any other major program. But because Cal likes to favor his "babies" (the one and done's in his mind), he rarely plays an upperclassman unless it's dire straits, like he did Harrelson a few years back. And yes, Willis is a "Kentucky" boy, and he should be damn well proud of it. Some of you just can't accept the fact that he's as good as he is for whatever reason.

Can't accept the fact that he's "as good as he is"????? What? Exactly how good is he? He's a college junior and has career averages something like this: 2.8 pts per game, 1.2 rebounds per game and shoots 27% from the 3. Yeah, you're actually right, I can't accept that and I expect more from someone on scholarship at the best college basketball program in the nation. The facts say he isn't cut out for the big time, but hey, he's from Kentucky so play him more blah blah blah.

 

[thecatsareback#8]

If Willis is such a great shooter then when is it going to show statistically ? Are you guys using practice lore as proof that he's a good shooter ? It only matters if he does it in games , Josh Carrier couldn't miss in practice but did nothing but miss in games . Some flourish in a practice environment but you can't use that to justify him playing more . If he started hitting in games then his time will go up .

True

Derek shot:
2013-14 .167%
2014-15 .333%
Current .333%

.333% i'nst bad but it is hardly "lights out" like some here claim.

Liggins shot .391% and I hardly remember poster clamoring he was "lights out"

Hell, John Wall shot .325% exactly 1 more made 3 and wall has a .333%

 

[ulismyman]

Quit saying he is a junior and his stats suck montra!!!!! He has never been allowed to just play without reprecussions. Everyone knows i love Ulis and he is great but the other night he was 2 for 12. Willis has never been afforded that opportunity. Thats my point snd others points..let him play..kidd cant plsy scared. Willis has to play scared..shouldnt have to...at least not on this yesrs squad. He doesnt hsve csn't miss pros ahead of him

 

[whhs22]

can't believe anyone would say Willis is better then Poy and should get the mins. Did any of you watch the UCLA game? one thing Poy did that Willis should of been able to do but instead stands around the 3 point line or refuses to bang for a rebound , is Poy was the only person who could bang with Parker down low and at least fight with UCLA bigs giving us some type of presence down low. did you guys screaming for Willis to be on the floor see that?

Willis is 6"10 long and athletic but refuses to compete. I'll say the word again COMPETE. Cal has no use for a 6"10 big on this team looking to be a cute soft player. Poy brings more to the floor at 85% right now then Willis is at a 100%.

it's almost like Willis has a image in his head the type of player he wants to be and will not change. and Cal has another so here we are. One of the biggest guys on our team and we have no we're to play him because he refuses to use his size and be aggressive and compete.
if a lite would go off in the kids head and if he would quit being so passive aggressive and just get angry maybe he could be a really good player. instead I think he has felt sorry for himself and created this woe as me attitude he showed a glimpse of last year.

this is big boy ball and the real world , I understand he was frustrated last year and voiced it in a interviews he did not knowing why he wasn't getting PT because he felt like he was producing in practice. I remember the coaching staff having to address the comments in a press confress the coach basically said he did not agree with Willis and he just needed to work harder in practice. then all the transfer rumors started and every since then it's like if he is not playing he has a sour puss on his face boo hooing. sorry guys just no place for it. in my mind he needs to toughen up, and maybe drop this attitude of a victim not getting his shot and being unfairly treated. I see it in some of you with your posts. no question in my mind Wilis feels like some of you that favoritism has kept him off the floor. that's crap.

if Willis wanted the traditional upper classman get on the floor and the new guys gotta put in their dues then he should of went to UL. it's clear when Cal brings a SN off the bench who just the year before was all SEC and MVP of the SEC tourney to then lead him to a final 4 to sit him for a incoming Frosh it should be clear seniority means nothing here. and so far it's worked out well. that Frosh lead us to a NC and was 2nd over all in the draft so I'll stick with Cals method.

so some of you need to drop this seniority crap like Willis is a victim because Cal plays to the one and drones. not sure but do not think Mathews is a OND. right now he is just competing and not sulking and looking like doom and gloom when he gets benched or doesn't get in.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Quit saying he is a junior and his stats suck montra!!!!! He has never been allowed to just play without reprecussions. Everyone knows i love Ulis and he is great but the other night he was 2 for 12. Willis has never been afforded that opportunity. Thats my point snd others points..let him play..kidd cant plsy scared. Willis has to play scared..shouldnt have to...at least not on this yesrs squad. He doesnt hsve csn't miss pros ahead of him

Well, I actually agree with you (and believe me, that's not normal; not saying that to be a douche, I just usually do not). I think Willis has to play scared, and that isn't a good thing. Honestly, I'm not trying to compare Willis to Rhodes, but go back and watch some of his time on the court and how fast he was jerked for taking a bad shot. It was immediate. I talked to Rod way back in late 90's, and he told me that it absolutely affected his brain. He wasn't upset, just matter of factly said it was a bad situation - mostly because he knew he had no opportunity to learn. I think the same is true to Willis. Now, I really don't think he deserves a to of rope, but on this team, he should be able to have a lapse and have the opportunity to figure it out. At least for a minute. Another trip up and down. Something. He's not going to drag us to a championship, but if he learns how to not let his man best us, and learns he can take a shot in the flow without trying to rush, he will help us.

 

[Big Foot 275]

If Willis is such a great shooter then when is it going to show statistically ? Are you guys using practice lore as proof that he's a good shooter ? It only matters if he does it in games , Josh Carrier couldn't miss in practice but did nothing but miss in games . Some flourish in a practice environment but you can't use that to justify him playing more . If he started hitting in games then his time will go up .

Willis is 44% from the field and 100% from the stripe. For comparison purposes only Ulis is 36% and Murray at 40%.
I am not saying he is better than those two.

 

[Cats78]

Quit saying he is a junior and his stats suck montra!!!!! He has never been allowed to just play without reprecussions. Everyone knows i love Ulis and he is great but the other night he was 2 for 12. Willis has never been afforded that opportunity. Thats my point snd others points..let him play..kidd cant plsy scared. Willis has to play scared..shouldnt have to...at least not on this yesrs squad. He doesnt hsve csn't miss pros ahead of him

I can say whatever the hell I want. You start idiotic thread after idiotic thread and post a bunch of nonsense that everyone on this board is collectively tired of, yet you won't "quit", will you? Step off, ya clown.

 

[ulismyman]

Cats78 that wasn't at you specifically but more of you as s pronoun. However, i appreciate your 18 year old response

 

[Xception]

Sorry, that was my (obviously failed) attempt at Sarcasm.

I think the fact that the top thread (and a 4-page long one at that) is about Derek Willis is absurd

I totally missed that .

 

[Xception]

Willis is 44% from the field and 100% from the stripe. For comparison purposes only Ulis is 36% and Murray at 40%.
I am not saying he is better than those two.

That's still not enough to warrant more time than anyone in front of him and certainly not the kind of numbers that should compel anyone to tout his shooting abilities . If he got fouled a lot and converted at a high percentage then yea his minutes go up . If he stays in front of his man and doesn't lose track when switching on defense (a problem with him) then his time goes up . But he doesn't bring enough offense to justify his poor defense and his defense doesn't compensate for his production on offense . He needs to do one or the other really well to stay on the floor , Hawkins plays for his defense alone because he cannot shoot a basketball for ish .

 

[Cats78]

Cats78 that wasn't at you specifically but more of you as s pronoun. However, i appreciate your 18 year old response

It's the response someone like yourself deserves.

 

[ulismyman]

I will make my last point on this subject then move on....the number 40 for UCLA that couldn,t miss the other night???? How you think that happens??? He is allowed to play..if he has a 3-13 night he still plays. Willis isnt and never has been able to. That is what Derek needs...playing time without being yanked

 

[poppycat]

in answer to the above essay

Willis is not better than Poy...........sometimes he plays better.
Use facts.......vs UCLA...Willis 6 reb 11 pt 14 min
Poy ............vs UCLA.....5 reb.....4 pts....17 min
Willis did not stand around the 3 pt line and watch like you stated,
I did not read anything about playing Willis due to seniority

To those who thought a long thread on Willis is absurd ,
just quit posting and have all your friends to quit and it just might
go away, if not, then only those who are interested will be here.

 

[crestcat]

Cal is going to play the 5 stars. Cal's recruiting is based on getting them drafted, he is not going to bring them along slowly and let Willis get minutes. He is not going to get the highest ranked kids if he is going to play 4 yr guys ahead of them.

Remember Jorts, they can spin it however they want but he was not going to play, until they had to play him. It didn't matter how he played in scrimmages, exhibitions or whatever he was going to play limited time.

 

[ulismyman]

Agreed toothpaste

 

[thecatsareback#8]

Cal is going to play the 5 stars. Cal's recruiting is based on getting them drafted, he is not going to bring them along slowly and let Willis get minutes. He is not going to get the highest ranked kids if he is going to play 4 yr guys ahead of them.

Remember Jorts, they can spin it however they want but he was not going to play, until they had to play him. It didn't matter how he played in scrimmages, exhibitions or whatever he was going to play limited time.

Willis has ample amounts of time in practice all year long (without the fear of being yanked) and it would seem to me Cal, watching these practices, is the best one to judge how much PT he deserves.

That's the thing: you want the 5 stars in recruiting but want Willis to play. Not Hawkins...who has been a proven commodity at least on one side of the ball. No, Willis, it has to be Willis. Some strange obsession with white guys from KY. Hood, Polson, Willis, Carrier. Then, every once in a while someone lives up to the hype ala Jorts and you use that as normality when it is actually and outlier.

We lambaste Self for doing that to his 5 stars claiming "he is holding them back to insure he has a good team next year" but its perfectly fine for Cal to do it?

Was Cal not being fair to Stacey Poole when he didn't play him? No he went to Ga Tech and highlighted out at 3.5 poits per game. Cal plays the best players. I'm sorry you cant see it.

 

[Big Foot 275]

That's still not enough to warrant more time than anyone in front of him and certainly not the kind of numbers that should compel anyone to tout his shooting abilities . If he got fouled a lot and converted at a high percentage then yea his minutes go up . If he stays in front of his man and doesn't lose track when switching on defense (a problem with him) then his time goes up . But he doesn't bring enough offense to justify his poor defense and his defense doesn't compensate for his production on offense . He needs to do one or the other really well to stay on the floor , Hawkins plays for his defense alone because he cannot shoot a basketball for ish .

Willis is playing 12.3 minutes and Matthews is playing 17.8 minutes. You could make a logical argument that their playing times could be reversed based on their statistical performances. As I said earlier Willis is ahead of him in almost every category while playing 30% less time. Matthews is a better defender but he gets beat occasionally on defense too. I am not saying Cal should switch them because there may be other factors involved but it just something to add to the discussion.

 

[mustnotsleepnow]

Cal is going to play the 5 stars. Cal's recruiting is based on getting them drafted, he is not going to bring them along slowly and let Willis get minutes. He is not going to get the highest ranked kids if he is going to play 4 yr guys ahead of them.

Remember Jorts, they can spin it however they want but he was not going to play, until they had to play him. It didn't matter how he played in scrimmages, exhibitions or whatever he was going to play limited time.

Of course, he wasn't. No coach in their right mind would play Jorts as much as he did if Enes Kanter, now a max contract NBA player, had the possibility of suiting up.

If he was eligible, then you play the best player. Period.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Willis is playing 12.3 minutes and Matthews is playing 17.8 minutes. You could make a logical argument that their playing times could be reversed based on their statistical performances. As I said earlier Willis is ahead of him in almost every category while playing 30% less time. Matthews is a better defender but he gets beat occasionally on defense too. I am not saying Cal should switch them because there may be other factors involved but it just something to add to the discussion.

Big Foot
This is a good point and one that I was alluding to prior. Willis makes mistake, sure. So does Matthews. It seems the latter is allowed to play through whereas Willis is not. I am of the belief that this is designed and what Cal does. When one player is more vital to the season than another, the one that is more vital to ultimate success is allowed leeway that the other may not get (to get him to time to improve). And this is Ok. It's smart. It does not, however, mean that Willis shouldn't be given some rope to play through one mistake. He will learn from it. And I think he could be just as valuable, if not more so, than Matthews. That is my opninion of course. I am not trying to beat a dead horse. I do happen to know a few people, and those I know have some actual info on how things operate on the inside. And these people (2 people) think that Willis could produce if given more opportunity. Note - this is their opinion, not anything that has been said by anyone else on or associated with the team. It is merely opninion brought up in conversation between myself and them as part of normal friendship. That's all. But they do feel that, basically, Willis gets the shaft.

 

[Xception]

Matthews is a fr learning how to play the college game , players make big strides throughout their first year and again in their sophomore year . He will improve and surpass Willis quickly .
Willis is a Junior and knows the system , so while they play somewhat similar it's more beneficial to play Matthews . Willis shouldn't be getting lost on switches at this stage or making silly mistakes , he should be just executing . All things equal that is why you let Matthews play through his mistakes , as a Jr there's no excuse for the type of errors Willis is making .

 

[whhs22]

hey poppykat kiss it not on the right side and not on the left right in the middle. your to stupid and slow to understand winning a basketball game is more then about putting up some quick stats on this team. Murrey had 17 points but I think we all can agree he had a crappy game.

guys like you are no different then those inbreed IU fans who want so bad to have 5 Indiana boys out their because for some reason it gives you a woody and some sense of hometown pride.

at 6"8 Poy banged inside with guys bigger and stronger because Willis want at 6"10 just wont. yes Willis put up some decent numbers but we lost. not all his fault we lost but if we are saying we need To rely on Willis then we're in trouble , just like when you goof wanted us to rely on Hood and Polson.

if you do not like my posts then don't have your 13 year old granddaughter read them to you. it's Ky fans and friends like yours that are embarrassing because you see a Ky boy being punished and not given the opportunity as those out of state one and doners. hmmm but those out of state OND kids have done nothing but win at the highest level , but forget that lets go with the Ky kid who in 3 years has only contributed transfer rumors and added fuel to this flame himself by coming out and questioning his PT while we we're in the middle of one of the greatest runs in coll bball history. Think I'll leave it to Cal to pick how long a kid gets not some guy who thinks playing a Ky kids makes us a better ball team.

 

[poppycat]

hey poppykat kiss it not on the right side and not on the left right in the middle. your to stupid and slow to understand winning a basketball game is more then about putting up some quick stats on this team. Murrey had 17 points but I think we all can agree he had a crappy game.

guys like you are no different then those inbreed IU fans who want so bad to have 5 Indiana boys out their because for some reason it gives you a woody and some sense of hometown pride.

at 6"8 Poy banged inside with guys bigger and stronger because Willis want at 6"10 just wont. yes Willis put up some decent numbers but we lost. not all his fault we lost but if we are saying we need To rely on Willis then we're in trouble , just like when you goof wanted us to rely on Hood and Polson.

if you do not like my posts then don't have your 13 year old granddaughter read them to you. it's Ky fans and friends like yours that are embarrassing because you see a Ky boy being punished and not given the opportunity as those out of state one and doners. hmmm but those out of state OND kids have done nothing but win at the highest level , but forget that lets go with the Ky kid who in 3 years has only contributed transfer rumors and added fuel to this flame himself by coming out and questioning his PT while we we're in the middle of one of the greatest runs in coll bball history. Think I'll leave it to Cal to pick how long a kid gets not some guy who thinks playing a Ky kids makes us a better ball team.

Once again, you have convinced many people that you bb knowledge is on par with your reading ability, grammar, and writing skills. Skilled debaters don't rely on ranting and name calling to make a point. Really all you have said is that Poythress is stronger than Willis and that Cal is smarter than me. I yield those two points.
The discussion all along has not been who is the better player between Poy and Willis, but among the performances of the entire front court plus Matthews. (and more directly, how they are currently playing)

P.S. If you want to discuss just Poythress, visit the thread titled "AP is going to be a bust"
( I don't agree with that line, but it's open for discussion)

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

hey poppykat kiss it not on the right side and not on the left right in the middle. your to stupid and slow to understand winning a basketball game is more then about putting up some quick stats on this team. Murrey had 17 points but I think we all can agree he had a crappy game.

guys like you are no different then those inbreed IU fans who want so bad to have 5 Indiana boys out their because for some reason it gives you a woody and some sense of hometown pride.

at 6"8 Poy banged inside with guys bigger and stronger because Willis want at 6"10 just wont. yes Willis put up some decent numbers but we lost. not all his fault we lost but if we are saying we need To rely on Willis then we're in trouble , just like when you goof wanted us to rely on Hood and Polson.

if you do not like my posts then don't have your 13 year old granddaughter read them to you. it's Ky fans and friends like yours that are embarrassing because you see a Ky boy being punished and not given the opportunity as those out of state one and doners. hmmm but those out of state OND kids have done nothing but win at the highest level , but forget that lets go with the Ky kid who in 3 years has only contributed transfer rumors and added fuel to this flame himself by coming out and questioning his PT while we we're in the middle of one of the greatest runs in coll bball history. Think I'll leave it to Cal to pick how long a kid gets not some guy who thinks playing a Ky kids makes us a better ball team.

Not cool at all. apologize please.

 

[whhs22]

once again poppy you contradict yourself and miss that my posts cover more then just your idiotic rants that Willis needs more time. you know nothing about this game or how to notice what player can contribute and what player can't. and BWO I think he personally insulted me first, did you ask him to apologize? it's simple you and others want Willis to get more clock because he is a Ky boy. for some reason you think it makes UK better. others like myself know how the game works and understand Willis needs to bring more (that in 3 years has not shown) to earn min on the floor. like I said if you do not like my post do not read. and do not expect me not to fire back even harder if you want to get personal. think we can all take it.

 

[Habiki]

Wall on Mazulla.

Man, it's been like six years. I'm surprised that still hurts so much

 

[whhs22]

NA I do not live on here like some and have a life. so when I respond is when I find time to sit and enjoy a sports message board.