What should Willis do after this season?

[katwest]

I don't think he has any choice, if he were to transfer it would have already happened and he's not going to get drafted, he will do what most Kentucky boys do, finish his career as a wildcat and graduate, then weigh his options. If he keeps playing the way he has lately he will have several to consider. I hope he stays.

 

[Skutt]

The selfish aspects of the OAD haslve completely ruined some of this fanbase.

Not every player cares about being a "me mine mine" type personality. He came here because he loves UK. You don't think he knew coming in as a freshman playing would be an uphill battle?

He wants to win a chanpionship at UK in whatever role he can. Talk to his dad. He'll Explain it.

Good lord.

 

[Icecoldbrewdoggy]

I don't know that he can replicate this year.

Seems to me he will only get better knowing he can come back as a starter.

Exactly. Transfer? Nonsense. Pro's? Maybe one day but absolutely not yet.

 

[Xception]

Where would our 2012 team finished without Miller coming back and being the best 6th man in college basketball.

They would still be champs . Anthony Davis was f4 mop , not Miller . Marquis Teague was ripping Kansa in the title game and hitting clutch shots , not Miller . Miller had the least impact in the biggest game of the year , the new guys looked like polished veterans . Miller was not the leader of that team , a certain group wants that narrative but it's not true .

 

[Hoskins91]

That's exactly what he's proven. He has changed the team dynamic and opened up the floor on the offensive end while playing pretty good defense and boarding big time. Did you miss the last 3 games?

He's playing because Lee and Poythress aren't getting it done. Starting over those two isn't necessarily much of an accomplishment. As you said, it's only been three games. I'm not ready to say he'll be a major contributor next year based on that. I'd credit our better play with Ulis and Murray finally becoming the players they were hyped to be.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

Give me Bolden at 5, Bam at 4 Willis at 3 Monk at 2 and either Ullis or Fox at 1.....I a good with that....

 

[Skutt]

They would still be champs . Anthony Davis was f4 mop , not Miller . Marquis Teague was ripping Kansa in the title game and hitting clutch shots , not Miller . Miller had the least impact in the biggest game of the year , the new guys looked like polished veterans . Miller was not the leader of that team , a certain group wants that narrative but it's not true .

Orlando Antigua says the opposite. I spoke to him about this very topic in 2013(?) year. He said miller was a major part and without him it would've been tough.

No link but I discussed it with him during a wall/miller/cousins signing at the Hyatt.

He must be in that group.

 

[Icecoldbrewdoggy]

They would still be champs . Anthony Davis was f4 mop , not Miller . Marquis Teague was ripping Kansa in the title game and hitting clutch shots , not Miller . Miller had the least impact in the biggest game of the year , the new guys looked like polished veterans . Miller was not the leader of that team , a certain group wants that narrative but it's not true .

What happens in 2012 if we finish the deal in 2011 and T. Jones goes pro? The reason I'm not so mad about 2011 is because I think we don't win the title in 2012 if T. Jones turns pro after winning it in 2011. That's the only reason he came back, and he even said it.

 

[Xception]

Willis will lose time next year , he would have to get a lot better to get the same minutes as the last few games . Some players in front of him this year have not performed as expected and there's an opportunity for Derek . Next year that door will be closed , unless all of our front court players don't produce again and that's not going to happen . He just needs to decide how much playing time he wants . If he wants a lot then transfer but if he enjoys the UK experience then stay .

 

[Xception]

Orlando Antigua says the opposite. I spoke to him about this very topic in 2013(?) year. He said miller was a major part and without him it would've been tough.

No link but I discussed it with him during a wall/miller/cousins signing at the Hyatt.

He must be in that group.

I'm sure you didn't lead him down that path , he was just being nice .

 

[Skutt]

I'm sure you didn't lead him down that path , he was just being nice .

Maybe. But he really seemed to believe it. He talked about miller being a leader.

I was just sayin.

 

[Teachable Moe]

Willis will lose time next year , he would have to get a lot better to get the same minutes as the last few games . Some players in front of him this year have not performed as expected and there's an opportunity for Derek . Next year that door will be closed , unless all of our front court players don't produce again and that's not going to happen . He just needs to decide how much playing time he wants . If he wants a lot then transfer but if he enjoys the UK experience then stay .

So, you can see the future, eh? You must be fabulously wealthy. A little bored, maybe, but I imagine you make do.

 

[sefus12]

One thing Willis does, that people don't note too much, is spread the court by forcing a big-man to D him up outside. Even when he's not shooting, he's opening the floor up for the rest of the offense, making it easier for the guards to get into the lane or for the other big to work down low. I don't know much about the bigs coming in, but if none of them can shoot 40% from the 3 Willis may still be needed for spacing. He may not play as much as he is right now, but he also has the chance to solidify a spot in the rotation no matter how good those 5 coming in are.

 

[Xception]

What happens in 2012 if we finish the deal in 2011 and T. Jones goes pro? The reason I'm not so mad about 2011 is because I think we don't win the title in 2012 if T. Jones turns pro after winning it in 2011. That's the only reason he came back, and he even said it.

If Jones goes pro it doesn't leave this void , Cal would get another player . Jones was critical and I'm not saying we didn't need him but the notion that we couldn't have won it without Miller is laughable . Especially when you consider his role and performance in the title game . There's always some clown that says well we wouldn't have made the title game without Miller , which is more bs . MKG got the rally started against Louisville and AD absolutely destroyed Louisville but they ignore all of that .

 

[stoneycat_20]

Next year Willis should:

• Do 2 chicks at the same time
• Get drunk
• Get his tats fixed
• Go to class
• Play ball
• Learn a foreign language

I agree with #3 ..His tats look like a 5 year old did them..creepy and horrible

 

[Xception]

So, you can see the future, eh? You must be fabulously wealthy. A little bored, maybe, but I imagine you make do.

Apparently you can't see the obvious , you must be broke and confused . If you think Gabriel , Bam and SKJ will produce no better than Skal , Lee and Poythress .

 

[stoneycat_20]

Really? Are you around him 24/7? Do you know for sure he is not working on his game?
How do you explain him now starting for UK and avg. A near double double his last 3 gms.?

I have eyes.he has added no muscle in 3 years or very little...Cal has said he needs to spend more time in the gym Willis himself said "He plays to please the fans and his dad" Sounds like he has no love for the game.....Also if you know much about BB you can see his mechanics are not good on his shot

 

[CUT-NETS]

Come back and try to start.

Do you really think that would happen? Do you really think Cal would start him next year with everyone we have coming in?

And what kind of message does it send to the next big time recruit if they come in here and have a senior that was a 4* start over them? Wouldn't that ruin Cal's "promise". "I can't hide you" aka "you're going to play".

Absolutely no way in hell does Derek start next year. If he stays and starts next year I will give up my subscription and leave this board for good.

 

[Teachable Moe]

Apparently you can't see the obvious , you must be broke and confused . If you think Gabriel , Bam and SKJ will produce no better than Skal , Lee and Poythress .

I don't have enough data on the issue to judge. They've never played against college players. Mostly I've just seen heavily-edited videos of them dunking. I have seen Willis play against well-coached college players and he's started to play very well.

 

[Xception]

I don't have enough data on the issue to judge. They've never played against college players. Mostly I've just seen heavily-edited videos of them dunking. I have seen Willis play against well-coached college players and he's started to play very well.

Willis has played well for three games against middling to bottom feeder teams , we need him to keep doing that but don't act like there is plentiful data on Willis playing well . You are basically sticking your head in the sand on next years players , that's fine but Willis will not play over them .

 

[_NewWorldOrder_]

If he keeps progressing at the rate he has been in the last few games, he can definitely play in NBA. My only issue is, does he even wanna play int he NBA? If his motivation has to come from his dad and girlfriend, then he's gonna have it tough motivating himself 82 games a year.

He's clearly a double'double guy.

Yeah I'm sure he'd rather go work somewhere than play in the NBA and be a millionaire.

 

[Mike-D]

Do you really think that would happen? Do you really think Cal would start him next year with everyone we have coming in?

And what kind of message does it send to the next big time recruit if they come in here and have a senior that was a 4* start over them? Wouldn't that ruin Cal's "promise". "I can't hide you" aka "you're going to play".

Absolutely no way in hell does Derek start next year. If he stays and starts next year I will give up my subscription and leave this board for good.

Either way, if he keeps playing like this, he will play next year whether he starts or not. On paper, our class looks great. But if one of our SF/PF's aren't playing well, I could see Derek starting. Just look at Skal. Calipari finally put him on the bench, and he's a "star."

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

I'd like him to stay at UK. If not, he should go to Gonzaga and become an all-American.

Lol...jon hood> willis

 

[Mike-D]

Yeah I'm sure he'd rather go work somewhere than play in the NBA and be a millionaire.

Kevin Pittsnogle

 

[CharlieT71059]

he should stay at UK

 

[Teachable Moe]

Willis has played well for three games against middling to bottom feeder teams , we need him to keep doing that but don't act like there is plentiful data on Willis playing well . You are basically sticking your head in the sand on next years players , that's fine but Willis will not play over them .

I'm sure that at this stage last year (and even into the Fall!) people were as sure about Skal as you are about next years' kids. Some of them are even people paid to judge potential. Predicting athletic progress isn't easy. The New Kid in Town is sometimes just a kid. Prodigies wither. Genes don't cooperate. People get distracted or find they don't much care for athletics. That kind of thing. That's why they play the games and don't just go by rankings. Auburn, full of "bottom feeders" beat a team with lots of non-bottom feeders. UK. It happens all the time because there isn't as much of a difference in athletic ability as people imagine there is.

 

[Xception]

I'm sure that at this stage last year (and even into the Fall!) people were as sure about Skal as you are about next years' kids. Some of them are even people paid to judge potential. Predicting athletic progress isn't easy. The New Kid in Town is sometimes just a kid. Prodigies wither. Genes don't cooperate. People get distracted or find they don't much care for athletics. That kind of thing. That's why they play the games and don't just go by rankings. Auburn, full of "bottom feeders" beat a team with lots of non-bottom feeders. UK. It happens all the time because there isn't as much of a difference in athletic ability as people imagine there is.

So because Skal has struggled you think three top players could struggle and because AU beat UK , that makes Willis' performance more impressive ? That's poor logic , Auburn sucks and UK just laid an egg .

 

[Teachable Moe]

So because Skal has struggled you think three top players could struggle and because AU beat UK , that makes Willis' performance more impressive ? That's poor logic , Auburn sucks and UK just laid an egg .

I said none of that. You can believe anything you want about the incoming kids. I've just pointed out that things don't always go as we imagine they will. On the subject of the thread, nothing we say will matter to Willis when it comes time to decide what he'll do anyway. I like the fact that he's starting to realize his potential, and I like seeing effort rewarded.

 

[Xception]

I said none of that. You can believe anything you want about the incoming kids. I've just pointed out that things don't always go as we imagine they will. On the subject of the thread, nothing we say will matter to Willis when it comes time to decide what he'll do anyway. I like the fact that he's starting to realize his potential, and I like seeing effort rewarded.

You said all of that UnTeachable Moe .

 

[docholiday51]

I agree with #3 ..His tats look like a 5 year old did them..creepy and horrible

Next year Willis should:

• Do 2 chicks at the same time
• Get drunk
• Get his tats fixed
• Go to class
• Play ball
• Learn a foreign language

If he attempts #1 I am glad to see he has been playing with more energy and effort lately,he will need both to pull that off.

 

[sefus12]

Based on the logic of some on here, it doesn't matter what Derek does the rest of the year, he should automatically be relegated to the bench because we have good looking recruits on paper. While I certainly think it's possible that all three will easily start over DW, I also don't have it written in stone. If Willis comes out next year, rebounds at a solid clip, plays decent D, and shoots 40+% from 3 and 80+% from the line, there's a lot of minutes available to him on the floor.

I can't tell if some of you don't want him to do well because it will mess up the narrative you have on Cal or if some of you don't want him to play well because you wrote him off, but if he plays the way he has the past three games (yes it's a very small sample size) the rest of the year and into next year, Willis WILL play even with the loaded group we have coming in.

 

[JonathanW]

I think he has 4 options:
1- play his SR year at UK
2- transfer to play his SR year elsewhere (a 2nd tier school)
3- leave to play pro (D-league or Euro)
4- redshirt a season, to return & play his 4th year at UK in 17-18 season

In any of these options, why not declare, go through workouts for teams and see where you stand.

I think #3 is very unlikely.
I think #1 is his most likely scenario.
#2 is more likely than #4, but I like #4 better.

But there is no guarantees. Just because we have a great class coming in doesn't mean anything. Skal was supposed to be the #2 overall FR. That could happen again. You could have an injury to an important FR. Or the SR Willis simply could outplay 1 or more of the FR.
If there are no injuries, and assuming Poy & Skal leave. I think the 2 I see it hard for Willis (or others) to outplay are Abebayo & Gabriel. After those 2, I see Humphries, Lee, Willis, Wynyard, & Killeya-Jones all with equal opportunity to play their way onto the court. Willis does offer something (shooting) that the others might not, which helps his chances. I think if he can build on this year, and improve his D just a little more, he has a decent chance to be in the 7-8-9 man rotation.

And I am one of the few who 2 years ago was saying that Willis would contribute as a Wildcat before he left. And I was right. And I have no allegiance to him, his family, his HS, his county, nor do I care what his race is. I simply saw a kid with athletic ability, size, who could shoot and pass.

 

[CUT-NETS]

Based on the logic of some on here, it doesn't matter what Derek does the rest of the year, he should automatically be relegated to the bench because we have good looking recruits on paper. While I certainly think it's possible that all three will easily start over DW, I also don't have it written in stone. If Willis comes out next year, rebounds at a solid clip, plays decent D, and shoots 40+% from 3 and 80+% from the line, there's a lot of minutes available to him on the floor.

I can't tell if some of you don't want him to do well because it will mess up the narrative you have on Cal or if some of you don't want him to play well because you wrote him off, but if he plays the way he has the past three games (yes it's a very small sample size) the rest of the year and into next year, Willis WILL play even with the loaded group we have coming in.

He will NOT start next season.

I have no doubts that he can be a key contributor and fill that role ah-lah Darius Miller, but no way in hell will he start. And thats not a knock on Derek, he's a fine player.

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

You said all of that UnTeachable Moe .

Don't want to argue about Willis but I can only buy into a portion of what you say. Willis has played great the past three games. I see no reason whatsoever why he can't continue to contribute similar to Jorts. Jorts looked like a very average player until he turned his game around and we all know how that turned out. If Willis backs up (and he very well may fall back into the old Derek) then all bets are off but if he keeps his head straight he could very easily start and play a big role for us next year. I agree that next year's team 'figures' to be really strong but you keep saying they're a sure thing but they most certainly aren't a sure thing at all. And I'm not just using Skal as an example. Plenty of HS stars don't jump right into the college game and kick ass. Regardless, it will all shake out for the best and I'm looking forward to seeing how things finish this year and hoping next year is as good as projected.

 

[EdNygma]

I think he has proven his dedication to UK and will come back. I believe that even if there was a scholarship imbalance and CAL needed his scholly for an incoming player that Derek would do this and stay on the team as a walk-on or seek other aid via academic assistance. He is a good kid.

 

[UK_fan_41102]

Personally, I want him back to provide the already mentioned senior leadership role and get his championship ring. Also having him back would give us a proven big that can stretch the floor.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

I have eyes.he has added no muscle in 3 years or very little...Cal has said he needs to spend more time in the gym Willis himself said "He plays to please the fans and his dad" Sounds like he has no love for the game.....Also if you know much about BB you can see his mechanics are not good on his shot

Well maybe mechanics are overrated considering:
Willis is 14 of 14 from the line.
Willis leads the team in 3 pt % at 38.46%.
Wilis is also shooting 45.88% from the Field which is 4th best on the team....min 50 att.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

He will NOT start next season.

I have no doubts that he can be a key contributor and fill that role ah-lah Darius Miller, but no way in hell will he start. And thats not a knock on Derek, he's a fine player.

Hey Cut Cheese, How bout waiting to see how Willis finishes out the season before writing a Sr. Off starting over a Freshman?

 

[jrpross]

Give me Bolden at 5, Bam at 4 Willis at 3 Monk at 2 and either Ullis or Fox at 1.....I a good with that....

I like it too. It gives us a shooter with size in the lineup and gives Him, Bam, and Gabriel a reason to fight, knowing there are only 3 forwards for 2 starting spots. Any 2 of those guys could fill the spots with the other as the first off the bench.

 

[fabcat]

Is this where we have gotten to,trying to figure out where people should go that don't need to go anywhere yet?

Pretty much. We have to make room for the next best thing to come to UK. It has gotten to the point where we have fans that are ready for our current players to leave and the new players to arrive before the season is over. For a player to come to UK as a freshman and stay 3-4 years and develop into a really good player is almost forbidden. It's like they wear out their welcome by their sophomore year.