Please stop begging for Willis

[Brando Mac]

Yeah, Willis with this 5.6 points per game average and his less than 2 rebounds per game average would have made all the difference. I will say, as bad as he's shot the 3 in real games (he's a Blue/White game legend) he's actually now second on our team in 3 percentage at 32% which is above Tyler.

Request: Please quote Skal's outstanding rebounding stats for the rest of the class, also.

I'm not saying Willis is the answer, but damn, our post play is weak as hell anyways so I'd rather have someone that can potentially get hot offensively to make up for poor rebounding and defense, and he's certainly more of a legit option than bassfan and others will give him credit for. I really don't understand how some like bassfan can hate Willis or Willis supporters or even people like myself who just are like "you know, what we're doing isn't working, so let's at least go to him for a few minutes when our #2 overall pick (LOL) is giving us zilch", and actually seems to be more mad about anything regarding Willis (who didn't play 1 damn minute) than they do Skal who is actually losing games for us with his weak play.

I'll even compromise with those who don't like the guy. Don't play Willis... but why not give Humphries or Wynyard a try? I mean, they're freshmen and "still learning" just as much as Skal is, probably don't play outstanding defense, but at least they look like they'd sling someone around out there. Or is it just about defending Skal to the detriment of the team forever?

 

[TrustinCal]

Cal is punishing Willis for shaving his head. Can't have a white guy with a shaved head out there shooting threes.

 

[brianpoe]

I still think it is about getting prepared for March.

If Skal, Poy and Lee (hell Ulis and Briscoe for that matter) cannot improve we are not going far.

Willis, Hump and Hawkins are not the answer in the tourney and Cal has said this is the goal every year, get better for the tournament.

 

[Blue Bigfoot]

Yeah, Willis with this 5.6 points per game average and his less than 2 rebounds per game average would have made all the difference. I will say, as bad as he's shot the 3 in real games (he's a Blue/White game legend) he's actually now second on our team in 3 percentage at 32% which is above Tyler.

And how many minutes does he get per game, as opposed to Skal or POY?

 

[Blue Decade]

You guys can spew that garbage all you want but i am not listening to it. I watch the games and know we are muvh better offensively when Willis is in the game. You guys wanna preach how he cant play defense...willis can give up 9 threes and let people take rebounds away from him and block his shot as well as anybody else. You wanna say Willis isn't the answer??? Maybe not...but an underachieving Poythress and Skal crtainly arent....willis cant do a damn thing sittin on that bench i do know that

Let's just cut the crap here. On a day when we lose, people get goofy and post all kinds of crazy stuff. Derek Willis is a useful complimentary piece on this team. Calipari uses Willis right. This team's Achilles heel is its lack of physical play on the low block. Willis has some skills, but he is not a physical player. Calipari knows that must come from Poythress, Lee on the low block. Poythress and Labissiere are potentially the players who can make this a different caliber of team by March. Poythress is still recovering from surgery on one knee and a hyperexension of the other knee. After ACL surgery, it usually takes a player a full year or longer to get back to 100%. Poythress is getting closer, but he is still a little hesitant and he doesn't quite have his shooting touch back yet. Labissiere didn't play in high school as a junior or senior, and is obviously still adapting to this level of competition. I sat near midcourt yesterday at the Barclays Center and watched Labissiere and Poythress closely. Labissiere is still learning fundamentals, but you know what he can do if you watched the Nike Hoops Summit last spring. But the Nike Hoops Summit was just 1 game, and Labissiere needs to bring that level of energy and effort every time out. Willis can be an offensive asset off the bench against certain kinds of teams, and his length helps when we press. But Willis is a big defensive liability in the halfcourt, and he isn't a very physical player either. The idea that Willis is better than Poythress or Lee is nuts, but at times Willis can bring an offensive change of pace off the bench that Lee just cannot provide.

 

[Blue Bigfoot]

Those who call for Skal to play more are only embarrassing themselves and putting a target on the kid's back. Leave the kid alone and let him enjoy his college experience. He'll never do much at UK, regardless of the fact that he's from the Haiti! Any team that Skal heavily contributes to has no chance of great success in college basketball. He is what he is! Stop expecting him to do more. It's not fair to him!

FIFY

 

[Re2126]

I was someone who was against playing him but now think he deserves 10 minutes a game. At least until Skal, Humphries or Tai start playing better.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Those who call for him to play more are only embarrassing themselves and putting a target on the kid's back. Leave the kid alone and let him enjoy his college experience. He'll never do much at UK, regardless of the fact that he's from the state of Kentucky! Any team that Willis heavily contributes to has no chance of great success in college basketball. He is what he is! Stop expecting him to do more. It's not fair to him!

I agree with you we need to stop "begging" , but I come at this differently. I don't think there is ANYTHING he can do to get more minutes when Cal is going to sing or swim with the guys he promised to bring in and get them out of here in one year...And you are right it's not fair to him

 

[Re2126]

How is it embarrassing to call for a kid to play? Willis didn't come here with the mindset of just sitting on the bench being a fan.

 

[Blue Bigfoot]

How is it embarrassing to call for a kid to play? Willis didn't come here with the mindset of just sitting on the bench being a fan.

This is what I don't get either. And "putting a target on his back." wtf?
Willis:
1)The kid can hit perimeter shots.
2)He Hits his Ft's
3)He can and does block shots.
4)He has great court vision and passing.
5)He is athletic.
6)He always brings energy and effort.

Lee: can bring 3, 5 and 6.

Skal: 3 on occasion.

But Willis can't or shouldn't get any minutes? GTFO!

 

[WhiteCityCat1]

So sayeth the Willis fanboi that is exploiting the loss.

I'm guessing Willis might find playing difficult with so many noses stuck up his butt. Fanboi enemas can be hazardous to your health.

He contributes way more than Poythress .

 

[TheOtherGreatOne]

o

He contributes way more than Poythress .

or mathews

 

[rolaid]

Yeah why put a guy in that is second in 3pt shooting first in free throw % can run the floor finish on the break rebound and block shots. We have so many of those guys on roster.

 

[Icecoldbrewdoggy]

Willis is NOT the answer to our problems

No, but unless he did something wrong, he deserves a chance to provide a spark when we need one....like yesterday.

 

[brianpoe]

Yeah why put a guy in that is second in 3pt shooting first in free throw % can run the floor finish on the break rebound and block shots. We have so many of those guys on roster.

No, but unless he did something wrong, he deserves a chance to provide a spark when we need one....like yesterday.

I thought he was injured?

 

[Smashcat]

Never thought I'd see the phrase "begging for Willis" as a topic here.

 

[ala_kat2]

Since Willis was not projected a top ten pick coming out of High School...he gets pulled for any perceived wrong that Calapari can think of. Just imagine if he got Skals minutes this year. It's not like anybody on this team can guard anyone either. He is one of the most skilled guys we have and we simply play better with him in the game.

This is right on. Cal for whatever reason doesn't want to acknowledge it. He "forgets" to put Derek in the game while he yells and demonstrates to the one-and-dones and Poy as they take bad shots, miss free throws and commit turnovers. Gotta get'em ready for the Draft, you know.

 

[crestcat]

I still think it is about getting prepared for March.

If Skal, Poy and Lee (hell Ulis and Briscoe for that matter) cannot improve we are not going far.

Willis, Hump and Hawkins are not the answer in the tourney and Cal has said this is the goal every year, get better for the tournament.

Do not look for improvement from Poy or Lee, they are what they are. They are role players and they need a good front line player to play complementary to. I cringe when the ball is thrown to them or Skal and there is not a dunk because nothing good is going to happen. Poy will still be an enigma the day he leaves UK.

 

[kybassfan]

He contributes way more than Poythress .

Anyone else notice that Willis fanboi's are statistically challenged?

 

[Hoskins91]

Based on what? He's looked good against a few terrible teams this year, otherwise he hasn't done much of anything with the time he's gotten. The fascination with this kid is strange.

 

[Hoskins91]

You'd think at this point people would know that Willis is what he is, and that's not gonna get a lot of playing time here.

 

[brianpoe]

Do not look for improvement from Poy or Lee, they are what they are. They are role players and they need a good front line player to play complementary to. I cringe when the ball is thrown to them or Skal and there is not a dunk because nothing good is going to happen. Poy will still be an enigma the day he leaves UK.

Seems that way, hope we can see improvement but these guys have been this way for a long time.

 

[bsteele350]

Based on what? He's looked good against a few terrible teams this year, otherwise he hasn't done much of anything with the time he's gotten. The fascination with this kid is strange.

UCLA and Arizona State qualify as "good" teams (def not Eddyville State level) and he gave solid contributions in both games.

 

[rolaid]

UCLA
14 minutes
4-9
11 points
6 boards

ASU
14 minutes
3-4
7 points
3 boards

 

[rolaid]

Based on what? He's looked good against a few terrible teams this year, otherwise he hasn't done much of anything with the time he's gotten. The fascination with this kid is strange.

Another poster who doesn't watch games and gets proved wrong with facts and goes quiet.

 

[bsteele350]

I'll preface this message by saying this thread is now moot, given his injury. Having said that, I did want to make one comment about the "he's not the answer" comments. Don't we need to know what the question is before we dispute whether he is the answer or not? If the question is can Willis take over this team and be the man - then I agree, he isn't the answer. If the question is can Willis give us scoring and a spark off the bench - then I think he's demonstrated thus far he can be that answer.

JMO

 

[kyups01]

What makes him any different expectation wise from any other scholarship UK player? You're expected to be really good when you receive a full ride scholarship to UK! Or am i missing something here?

 

[Blue Bigfoot]

Could someone tell me what Willis's "Injury" is.

 

[kybassfan]

Could someone tell me what Willis's "Injury" is.

He's dying from fanboi embarrassment. Hideous disease. Makes your hair change color and fall out.

 

[bsteele350]

He's dying from fanboi embarrassment. Hideous disease. Makes your hair change color and fall out.

I take it you don't like Willis?

 

[kybassfan]

I take it you don't like Willis?

I love Willis. Super to see him play for the Cats.

I think his fanboi's are an embarrassment to him and the program. They've encouraged him to play else where, dogged Calipari and our other players.

Willis doesn't ask for that crap.

 

[Montana81]

You're such a great fan for trashing one of our players.

 

[ManitouDan]

Kybass's lil fun with the fanboi stuff is growing old .. fast. Find a new joke , that one wasn't cute when you first used it 97823453 post ago.

 

[Chuckinden]

Willis must have fallen off someone's draft list this week.

 

[Drcatfan]

I like Willis, but his fans won't like my opinion. Willis is Fools Gold. He looks good against mediorce competition but can't guard or get shots off against the top competition. Willis is at his ceiling and very well playing a little better than Mattews or Skal or even Poythress right now. Cal is correctly playing to develop the best team he can by March.

I know it sucks at the time, but losing to UCLA or OSU in December really doesn't mean anything in the big picture. There is still plenty of time to develop. I promise you this team does not win a title without a significantly improved Skal.

 

[bsteele350]

I like Willis, but his fans won't like my opinion. Willis is Fools Gold. He looks good against mediorce competition but can't guard or get shots off against the top competition. Willis is at his ceiling and very well playing a little better than Mattews or Skal or even Poythress right now. Cal is correctly playing to develop the best team he can by March.

I know it sucks at the time, but losing to UCLA or OSU in December really doesn't mean anything in the big picture. There is still plenty of time to develop. I promise you this team does not win a title without a significantly improved Skal.

Two things:

1) how are you so certain he's at his ceiling?
2) getting deep here - if you like Willis, aren't you a Willis fan too?

 

[UKWildcatT]

I was someone who was against playing him but now think he deserves 10 minutes a game. At least until Skal, Humphries or Tai start playing better.

Lol, Tai starts playing better?! He just got to the freaking country and had one individual practice.

Good Lord man.

 

[kybassfan]

Kybass's lil fun with the fanboi stuff is growing old .. fast. Find a new joke , that one wasn't cute when you first used it 97823453 post ago.

Fanboi. ^

Hey rocket scientist. There is a point to the repetition. Count the mindless stupid fanboi posts. See if you can make the connection. A hint. They are growing old fast. Find a new player to embarrass. It never was fun. Get it FANBOI?

 

[ManitouDan]

I get the extent of your hoops knowledge must be playing video games in mommas basement. Like I've already said , DW should be getting some minutes like the huge majority of this boards supports. Not 35 min a game but a shot without getting the quick hook. Not be a team leader , Not the focus of the offense , that doesn't make a fanboi , just someone who doesn't like losing to trash like Tosu .

 

[ulismyman]

Poythress looks good against mediocre comp as well...he has 3 double doubles in his career....3...yet you say something about him you are a troll