Who knew Derek Willis would be Kentucky basketball’s difference-maker?
- Thread starter preacher_tom
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Wednesday night, Calipari said that after the game he asked if Willis wanted to give any of the minutes he has taken from other players back?
“Coach,” said Derek Willis, “I just want to win.”
“Coach,” said Derek Willis, “I just want to win.”
Yeah, in a way, he is very similar to Jorts. We needed a reserve to come in, and just like Jorts, he's coming on strong with great competitive attitude.
That dunk last night? Damn.
That dunk last night? Damn.
I love his attiude. If he can just play well on the road starting with kansas and beyond it will be hard taking him out of the starting line up especially next yr. I'm happy for him but skeptical. We all know the wolves are just waiting for him to have a bad game so he can be bashed which is unfair. I hope he continues to build on his confidence
He always showed spurts. You don't become a 4 star player, especially from Kentucky, unless you have talent. He was just mostly subpar at the stuff Calipari values most: rebounding, defense, toughness and was buried in two rosters full of [I've already lost count] NBA players. Now that he's improved on those three categories and the roster has thinned out a bit, he's starting to shine. I love it.
He could always play offensively. He's just getting better on the defense,which the coach really wants from him the most.
I actually predicted both. I did a post in Oct. 2010 called Harrellson and I said earlier this season that Willis would eventually help us win games..
I am really proud of Willis. I grew up in Mt. Washington and I never dreamed a player from there would start for the University of Kentucky. I grew up there in the 50's and 60's and they had a cracker box gym that had the stands so close to the playing floor that if you were setting in the first row the tips of your shoes were on the court. Of course after consolidation the high school became Bullitt East High School but it's still a small town atmosphere and it hasn't changed all that much since the 60's. I hope Willis keeps this up against Kansas and for the rest of the year.
great call
Willis playing great has changed our entire team
i know he will have an off night shooting, but i think his energy is what is fueling him
I cannot believe Willis is a factor. Athletic 6'9 guys who can shoot, pass and rebound grow on trees ya know.
Our first exhibition game Willis had an awesome one handed dunk. Me and the guy I went to the game with just looked at each other stund. It was the athleticism he displayed that surprised us the most.
Another thing about Willis is the tatant he faced in practice the past couple of years. Of course I don't know this and its an opinion but he may have more time competing against NBA players than any other big man in the counrty besides Lee and poy.
Another thing about Willis is the tatant he faced in practice the past couple of years. Of course I don't know this and its an opinion but he may have more time competing against NBA players than any other big man in the counrty besides Lee and poy.
I think the answer is a lot of people could see the kid had some real talent bottled up in some inhibition. You could tell he some real skills and were just frustrated watching him struggle to use them, and he was too.
I've been using the analogy of Darius Miller for Willis. Another guy that you just knew had way more skills than he showed in games and it was all due to a lack of confidence. It finally happened to Darius his senior year and our team changed. He started realizing it's okay to fail, just play. Cal started using him in the middle of zones, he got confidence then blossom form there and became a complete player all over. Same thing is happening to Willis.
I do differ with Cal on one thing he said about him though when he said he can't give guys confidence they have to develop themselves. I know what he is trying to say but guys like Wall and Cousins have it and guys like Miller and Willis need to be fed a little and I think Cal did it for both in subtle ways. Letting them play through mistakes more, etc.
I've been using the analogy of Darius Miller for Willis. Another guy that you just knew had way more skills than he showed in games and it was all due to a lack of confidence. It finally happened to Darius his senior year and our team changed. He started realizing it's okay to fail, just play. Cal started using him in the middle of zones, he got confidence then blossom form there and became a complete player all over. Same thing is happening to Willis.
I do differ with Cal on one thing he said about him though when he said he can't give guys confidence they have to develop themselves. I know what he is trying to say but guys like Wall and Cousins have it and guys like Miller and Willis need to be fed a little and I think Cal did it for both in subtle ways. Letting them play through mistakes more, etc.
Inserting Willis into the starting lineup, along with letting Skal play more facing the basket could turn out to be Coach Cal's "tweak" for this team.
Eerily reminiscent of Scott Padgett. Took a while for the light to come on but once it did, played a key role on the 98 title team. Would love to see Willis do the same.
