Obligatory Wiltjer Thread

[Ineverplayedthegame]

I get some people won't forgive/forget his transfer. He obviously benefited from a extra year of maturity mental and physical. He got a ring from UK but really didn't fit into what Cal wants to do.
My question: if he had gone to Gonzaga from the get-go instead of transferring from UK, would he still be an All-American, POY candidate or just another nice but flawed college all-conference player?

 

[BurpinTurpin]

I get some people won't forgive/forget his transfer. He obviously benefited from a extra year of maturity mental and physical. He got a ring from UK but really didn't fit into what Cal wants to do.
My question: if he had gone to Gonzaga from the get-go instead of transferring from UK, would he still be an All-American, POY candidate or just another nice but flawed college all-conference player?

I don't know, but I wish he had put in the work while he was at UK that he apparently put in for Gonzaga.

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

I don't know, but I wish he had put in the work while he was at UK that he apparently put in for Gonzaga.

I think that comes with the mental maturity plus the knowledge that Few would play him warts and all.

 

[CharlieT71059]

some kids are just not UK/Cal type players. They fit in better where they are the star

 

[kyboy1998]

He would have been an all American candidate at least.

He's big, white and looks like middle class America and would have been used (to steal your word) as the obligatory west coast addition.

 

[mdlUK.1]

I don't know, but I wish he had put in the work while he was at UK that he apparently put in for Gonzaga.

You mean getting a couple of years older?

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

He would have been an all American candidate at least.

He's big, white and looks like middle class America and would have been used (to steal your word) as the obligatory west coast addition.

But he's still not near as productive as Morrison was I would put forward that Sabonis is the best player on the team.

 

[DodgerDukie1985]

I would put forward that Sabonis is the best player on the team.

I'd still give Wiltjer this honor until Sabonis does it over a full season (he's off to a good start this year).
At least as a college player anyway. Obviously as an NBA player, Sabonis has a far higher ceiling.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

He benefits from mainly playing more of his type of player now at Gonzaga.

 

[Blue Bleeding Marine]

Kyle "Wheelchair" as I used to call him on defense......

 

[kyboy1998]

Kyle "Wheelchair" as I used to call him on defense......

I bet people spend a lot of time awkwardly pretending to laugh around you when you talk.

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

I honestly don't care one way or the other about KW. Don't hate him, don't love him. He's a very good college player that will have a very tough time transitioning to the NBA. But, some pro team will draft him simply because he can shoot the ball. NBA teams are in love with guys that can shoot lights out right now, because of Curry. KW still can't defend a fence post and that will really show at the next level.
Good luck to him unless/until he faces UK.

 

[JFCats22]

Gonzaga currently blowing a 20 point lead

 

[Montana81]

Yep. Gonzaga has completely fallen apart against Uconn.

 

[DodgerDukie1985]

Second straight day their offense has gone in the toilet in the last few minutes. Let's see if they have a better recovery today.

 

[Montana81]

Uconn with one more chance. Gonzaga may have done just enough to hang on though.

uconn got away from what got them back in the game on 2 of their last 3 possessions

 

[Montana81]

Gonzaga holds on. 73-70.

 

[DodgerDukie1985]

Gonzaga holds on. Kyle Dranginis got a big offensive putback on what was an awful offensive possession with a minute left in a one point game.

 

[Montana81]

Gonzaga just looks really soft to me.

 

[UK till Death]

His nickname is Pampers.

 

[cal=8]

Watched Wiltjer play yesterday against A&M. He scored 18 but gave up quite a few points. He's still a defensive liability.

 

[JerseyCat84]

Never a bad thing when UConn floppers and Ollie lose.

 

[Rhavicc]

Mind boggling how he hasn't progressed defensively since the day he arrived at UK. It's been 4 years, still terrible on defense.

 

[BurpinTurpin]

You mean getting a couple of years older?

I'm sure a number of things went into his increased success at Gonzaga, and I don't particularly wish Wiltjer ill.

I know it's an unpopular opinion on this board, and I appreciate what he did for us his freshman year, but I'm sorry guys, he just really ticked me off his last year here.

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

Mind boggling how he hasn't progressed defensively since the day he arrived at UK. It's been 4 years, still terrible on defense.

He never was going to be quick enough to guard away from the basket. His only hope was to bulk-up enough to hold post position.

 

[kyboy1998]

I'm sure a number of things went into his increased success at Gonzaga, and I don't particularly wish Wiltjer ill.

I know it's an unpopular opinion on this board, and I appreciate what he did for us his freshman year, but I'm sorry guys, he just really ticked me off his last year here.

His defense aggravated me too.

Ironically though you have a photoshopped version of the only man slower laterally than him on the planet as your avatar.

 

[truebluewildcat]

He's a good player on a good team..pretty simple...folks are going to have to accept it..

KW will continue to do well and Gonzaga will probably be a top 8 team all year...

Coach Cal's system is dependent on athletes being able to play multiple positions on both ends of the floor...it doesn't allow for specialists who only bring 1 thing to the table...in the case of KW that one thing was offense, specifically shooting...

you could tell very early on, maybe even in high school, that KW was never going to be a defender or run and gun versatile athlete...

KW was a fish out of water from day 1...Hindsight now says Cal probably should've known what KW is and isn't...He's an offensive specialist...not a open court athlete...

He fits the Mark Few system...

He's doing fine...We're doing fine...everybody wins...no big deal...life goes on...

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

As a freshman he played with AD and MKG, two of the best defensive players in UK history. As a soph with the no zone on an island of Cal was just not going to work. Watching Vandy just wait for him to pick someone up and let that guy abuse him, you knew Cal was not going to watch that two more years.
He is what he is. A shooter that you have to hide or live with his defensive short-comings.

 

[.S&C.]

I get some people won't forgive/forget his transfer. He obviously benefited from a extra year of maturity mental and physical. He got a ring from UK but really didn't fit into what Cal wants to do.
My question: if he had gone to Gonzaga from the get-go instead of transferring from UK, would he still be an All-American, POY candidate or just another nice but flawed college all-conference player?

What does obligatory mean and why are you trying to sound smart on a basketball board? Take it to class with your calculator.

 

[.S&C.]

Wiltjer would be great for this UK team, defense aside, But cal doesn't value the 3 point shot the way he values a multitude of other aspects. Having said that:

Is he overrated? Yes.
Is gonzaga overrated? Yes.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

I bet people spend a lot of time awkwardly pretending to laugh around you when you talk.

Little harsh.

 

[Chuckinden]

I don't know, but I wish he had put in the work while he was at UK that he apparently put in for Gonzaga.

How do you know he apparently put in more work at Zaga? He is just in a better system that fits him better. I wish him all the luck in the world.

 

[BurpinTurpin]

His defense aggravated me too.

Ironically though you have a photoshopped version of the only man slower laterally than him on the planet as your avatar.

True enough. Dirk's defense might have annoyed me too if he'd played for Kentucky.

 

[BurpinTurpin]

How do you know he apparently put in more work at Zaga? He is just in a better system that fits him better. I wish him all the luck in the world.

I think the system definitely fits him better. I think Cal could have used him better. And from what I've read, the strength coach probably wasn't the best fit for him either. He matured more too, by sitting out a year when he transferred. He's posted pro-Cal and pro- UK things on Twitter since he left, which I appreciate. He seems like a good kid. He can be a very good offensive player.

He still ticked me off his last year here, and I don't believe the entirety of his play can be laid at the feet of the system, of Cal, of the strength coach, etc. I'm aware it's not popular to be at all critical of him- which I don't quite understand... anyway, I'm not trying to start an argument. Many people don't seem to have been annoyed by him at all, and that's fine. I just feel differently.

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

What does obligatory mean and why are you trying to sound smart on a basketball board? Take it to class with your calculator.

Are you trying to sound dumb? Or are you just a jackass?
If I must explain it to you, Gonzaga had a game on tv. Kyle Wiltjer plays for Gonzaga. As a former player, he is a topic for discussion. When he plays on tv people talk. If I was aware you wanted to play, I would not have used words with 5 syllables.
If you really just don't know the definition of obligatory then I apologize. Just type it into your browser and Google will tell you what it means.

 

[Teachable Moe]

But he's still not near as productive as Morrison was I would put forward that Sabonis is the best player on the team.

Agree. Sabonis is a load & a nightmare to defend.

 

[SosaUK]

Kyle's "ceiling" in the NBA is the floor.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

I think the system definitely fits him better. I think Cal could have used him better. And from what I've read, the strength coach probably wasn't the best fit for him either. He matured more too, by sitting out a year when he transferred. He's posted pro-Cal and pro- UK things on Twitter since he left, which I appreciate. He seems like a good kid. He can be a very good offensive player.

He still ticked me off his last year here, and I don't believe the entirety of his play can be laid at the feet of the system, of Cal, of the strength coach, etc. I'm aware it's not popular to be at all critical of him- which I don't quite understand... anyway, I'm not trying to start an argument. Many people don't seem to have been annoyed by him at all, and that's fine. I just feel differently.

I fully suppport being critical of him. I view him as a quitter. He could have manned up and stayed and maybe helped our 2013-2014 team win the title (not saying he would have made the difference but you never know as he could get hot from 3 sometimes). I wish him the best at Gonzaga, padding his stats against slow unathletic teams most of the year, but he will be going to some country most UK cans can't pronounce for his professional career.

 

[TankedCat]

Are you trying to sound dumb? Or are you just a jackass?
.

why can't it be both?

 

[TankedCat]

I fully suppport being critical of him. I view him as a quitter. He could have manned up and stayed and maybe helped our 2013-2014 team win the title (not saying he would have made the difference but you never know as he could get hot from 3 sometimes). I wish him the best at Gonzaga, padding his stats against slow unathletic teams most of the year, but he will be going to some country most UK cans can't pronounce for his professional career.

I don't think he's a quitter. He has a national championship ring - committed to the cats without even seeing the campus, IIRC - he just realized he was going to be limited at UK - and instead of accepting a role like Willis, he decided he'd be better off on a different kind of team.

Look, its not like we've suffered in recruiting filling his spot - IMO, he wasn't going to be a difference maker with a James Young or Devon Booker around