Wall, Ulis stats at Kentucky

[MdWIldcat55]

just out of curiosity I compared John Wall's stats at Kentucky to Tyler Ulis' stats so far this year. I'm not trying to make any point about who I'd rather have running the team but I did find the numbers interesting.

Some striking similarities. Wall averaged 16.6 ppg. Ulis is averaging 16.7. Wall had 6.5 assists per game. Ulis 6.7. Wall had about four rebounds and Ulis 3. They had identical 3 point percentages of .325. Wall's overall FG percentage was 45, Ulis 44. Wall averaged 1.8 steals. Ulis 1.6.

Then there are a couple differences: Ulis shoots 86 percent from FT. Wall 75 percent. And a big one: Wall averaged 4 turnovers. Ulis 1.9 Ulis is averaging about two more minutes a game.

Of course, stats only go so far. They can't measure ability to control tempo or set the tone. And they don't say much about defensive value.

 

[NCukcat62]

That's why ulis is one of the best pgs we've had. If you are similar to the Great Wall, then you are darn good.

 

[WACB]

Thanks for the numbers.

 

[AnarchoNeoLuddite]

Wall as a soph at UK....forget about it......

 

[AnarchoNeoLuddite]

What the hell does age got to do with it? Playing 2 years in college is playing 2 years in college. Wall as a sophmore was averaging 17pts 8assist 4rbs 2 steals in the NBA..

 

[Jmeeks54thebest]

Very nice to compare to Wall. Wall did have high TOs due to him always pushing the ball at breakneck speed. However, it seems like Tyler can dribble wherever he wants and not lose the ball.

 

[IL Wildcat]

Yeah, the fact that there is any comparison for Ulis to Wall speaks volumes. The fact that Ulis' numbers compare in any favorable way tells me Ulis is a great point guard. Of course, we all knew that already.

As for comparing Ulis as a sophomore to Wall as a freshman, you can't compare Ulis as a freshman to Wall as a freshman because Ulis wasn't a starter.

But I don't see much point in arguing about this. Both played for UK. Both are great point guards. Ulis is our man this season, and he's a special talent.

 

[KopiKat]

True. But I note that Ulis as a sophomore is only a few months older than Wall was as a freshman. Wall was an older freshman.

fail. The notion of Wall returning with a year of college experience is enough to imbalance this discussion by plenty. Still, the numbers you provided are very interesting, although it surprises me that Wall has comparable 3pt % stats. Still, he was never as good a perimeter shooter as Tyler. With a 1/2 dozen post season games Tyler should overtake Wall's single-season assist record at current pace.

 

[IL Wildcat]

Just to be clear, because a couple people read more into that than I intended, I agree that there is a significant difference between a freshman year and a sophomore year. But ANYBODY having a year that compared to, and in some cases surpassed, that of a 1st Team All America like John Wall would be notable, even if the guy was a senior. And this is, after all, Tyler's first year running the team.

I agree completely. The season Ulis is having is undeniably great. He should be a top contender for SEC POY and in the conversation for National POY and for All American honors in my opinion. I think this will become even more evident as the season goes on.

 

[spotter34]

Both guys are great and had fantastic seasons for UK. I will say that Wall had a lot more weapons around him than Ulis has had this year. Especially down low. What would Ulis assists be if he had PP and Cousins underneath.

 

[anewfanatic]

A lot of ulis' 3's are off the dribble, end of the shot clock nba range when our offense wasn't able to create a good look

 

[ymmot31]

I like Ulis and we are lucky to have him. The only thing I'm going to compare him to is my idea of what a good point guard is. He exceeds my requirements in every category.

 

[Mike-D]

Wall and Ulis are my two favorite PG's of the Cal era. Completely different players that impact the game in so many different ways. Tyler will be in the league a long time, IMO.

 

[JFCats22]

Ulis is awesome. To be close (or better) than Wall in any category is impressive.

However, Wall as a sophomore would have been downright dumb...man, that would have been cool to see.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

I've thought Wall is the best PG we have ever had but I've come off that opinion. I didn't think anybody could be better but Ulis is IMO. I'm surprised the 3pt% is similar but remember that Ulis started the year cold and has since shot like he did last year. Also factor in that he takes more 3's than Wall did.

Basing it solely off college production I'd side with Tyler. He has no weaknesses. For as unreal as Wall was, he was an average shooter at best while here.

People say it wouldn't be a contest if Wall had another year but I really don't see him putting up much better stats than what he did his first year. They might have been slightly better but that's it.

 

[ganner918]

I've thought Wall is the best PG we have ever had but I've come off that opinion. I didn't think anybody could be better but Ulis is IMO. I'm surprised the 3pt% is similar but remember that Ulis started the year cold and has since shot like he did last year. Also factor in that he takes more 3's than Wall did.

Basing it solely off college production I'd side with Tyler. He has no weaknesses. For as unreal as Wall was, he was an average shooter at best while here.

People say it wouldn't be a contest if Wall had another year but I really don't see him putting up much better stats than what he did his first year. They might have been slightly better but that's it.

There were things Wall could do that Tyler can't. He was unstoppable on the break, he was going to score. and even with defenses keying on stopping him, he'd get to the rim and score. But Tyler is doing other things better than Wall. He's much better in the midrange, a more creative passer (Wall was a different kind of passer, he broke down defenses with freakish driving ability to set teammates up), a better FT shooter. I think the difference in turnovers tips the scale to Tyler.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

Agreed. While Fox has crazy athleticism, I don't know if we will ever see another PG here with the speed and leaping ability that Wall had. But at the same time I don't know if we will have another PG that can just dominate the game on both ends of the court like Tyler can.

Both have unique skill sets that dominated the college game. Lucky to have had both. I'd give anything to have Tyler another 2 years. It's rare to see a PG never make a mistake and play like he does and it's just so much fun to watch. I really hope he can make it translate to the NBA.

 

[J_Dee]

A quick visual reference (Wall's on top, Ulis is on the bottom):

 

[Bluegrass79]

Ulis is better to have. Wall couldn't shoot, couldn't play defense all that well, and turned it over. Ulis would run circles around Wall in college. Ulis is the type of guard Wall can't guard effectively to this very day.

 

[michaeluk26]

Ulis is better to have. Wall couldn't shoot, couldn't play defense all that well, and turned it over. Ulis would run circles around Wall in college. Ulis is the type of guard Wall can't guard effectively to this very day.

Yeah Wall was terrible (sarcasm). If Wall had come back as a sophomore he numbers would have been out of this world. Just look what he did his rookie year and imagine what they would've been against college players. Wall was also clutch as hell, always making huge plays at the end of games. Ulis is awesome but I would have taken a sophomore Wall.

 

[trueblujr2]

Luis is less turnover prone partly because of his height. He's lower to the ground, doesn't have to dribble from as high of a point, you can control the ball better the lower to the ground you are. Plus it's more difficult to have it taken from you at such a low point.

 

[kb22stang]

Wall as a soph at UK....forget about it......

Irrelevant, Wall never played a second year in college. Wall as a pro vs Ulis as a pro is a separate discussion. But it's easy to make an argument that Ulis is better college pg. How much would Ulis stats improve with Cousins and Patterson down low instead of Lee and Poythress/Willis/Skal?

 

[J_Dee]

Also, Wall has a 22.3 PER, a 111.7 offensive rating, and a 94.1 defensive rating.
Ulis has a 24.0 PER, a 131.5 offensive rating, and a 101.3 defensive rating.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

What the hell does age got to do with it? Playing 2 years in college is playing 2 years in college. Wall as a sophmore was averaging 17pts 8assist 4rbs 2 steals in the NBA..

This has always been my go to point when people get into this debate. Both are great players...Wall is better.