It's blatantly apparent after years of this type of posting that a segment of fans want KY borns prioritized .
Who was the poster that said those of us asking for Willis PT....
- Thread starter JC for 3
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I didn't think Willis had earned his time. The last 3 games he came out and earned his time. I'm not sure if there's an anti-Willis crowd but I certainly wasn't one of them.
I also don't think those wanting him to play had anything to do with where he as born as much as we needed shooting and everyone beloved he could, well, shoot.
He's playing good, not great, but good enough to garner 20+ minutes a game. Let's see him play some lock down defense against Kansas and I'm sold.
I also don't think those wanting him to play had anything to do with where he as born as much as we needed shooting and everyone beloved he could, well, shoot.
He's playing good, not great, but good enough to garner 20+ minutes a game. Let's see him play some lock down defense against Kansas and I'm sold.
Exactly. Even his own father realized that he wasn't very good defensively and accepted that Willis needed to get much better in order to earn more playing time, yet, posters here refuse to accept that there were perfectly valid reasons why he wasn't playing more and think that Willis would have been plying this well all along if only he had more playing time.
I wouldn't say anti-willis... maybe anti-bench.. or maybe pro-recruits.
And normally, I'd be in the latter. Bench is bench for a reason. And Cal's brand is recruiting. No one wants a situation like we had with Skal and Poy, but we had it (sidebar: How have we avoided this so well for the last 7 years? Amazing). But posters still said no to bench players, and wanted to let Skal and Poy keep playing, that they needed minutes.
In actuality, maybe both parties were right. Minutes lead to experience which leads to quality production. I didn't want to see Skal not in the game at all, but it was fair for his and Poy's minutes to be reduced in favor of guys like Willis and Hump, also frontcourt players to fill the gap.
And normally, I'd be in the latter. Bench is bench for a reason. And Cal's brand is recruiting. No one wants a situation like we had with Skal and Poy, but we had it (sidebar: How have we avoided this so well for the last 7 years? Amazing). But posters still said no to bench players, and wanted to let Skal and Poy keep playing, that they needed minutes.
In actuality, maybe both parties were right. Minutes lead to experience which leads to quality production. I didn't want to see Skal not in the game at all, but it was fair for his and Poy's minutes to be reduced in favor of guys like Willis and Hump, also frontcourt players to fill the gap.
Not specifically saying you do this James. We all need to apply the same standard for all players, not just Willis.
Yeah, you're right. He didn't start defending and rebounding better through practice and effort. It took more minutes against Auburn and Arkansas to get him to that point.
Sorry, but you have this backwards. Defense and rebounding are mainly all about effort. It does not take more game time in order to give more effort. Willis has always had the physical abilities to do both of those things. He only lacked the effort.
Once Willis put in the extra effort to defend and rebound better, then he got more playing time. Again, this isn't that hard to comprehend.
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I don't believe anyone thinks he's always been the player he is right now, although going from not playing to a starter makes you wonder. I'm sure being on the bench had something to do with his resurgence. However 2 and 1/2 years on the bench is a long time. I think most posters were concerned about his lack of playing time, wondering why he wasn't getting minutes in blowout games. There have been many occasions that he could have been given some minutes but were given to someone else.
Seems to me this could have happened a year ago if he had been given a chance. Anyway I'm glad to see him finally in the games helping the team improve.
Getting 12 rebounds on effort and using his athleticism to defend is the difference in his game, he could always shoot the ball. Cal has said as much numerous times. I'm elated that he's finally realized how valuable he can be to this team's success.
Skal is now in the same boat. When he starts rebounding, he'll get more PT, same with Marcus.
Briscoe's form definitely seemed more fluid last night. Hope it gives him more confidence to make 70% or better from here on out. We need him to score on drives, so when he gets fouled, it's not like a turnover.
Skal is now in the same boat. When he starts rebounding, he'll get more PT, same with Marcus.
Briscoe's form definitely seemed more fluid last night. Hope it gives him more confidence to make 70% or better from here on out. We need him to score on drives, so when he gets fouled, it's not like a turnover.
You can use the "better D" theory all you want, but I will counter with this...early on Willis got pulled IMMEDIATELY for EVERy time a guy made a shot on him. Why is it that Jamal Murray isn't/wasn't held to the same standard? He can't guard the water cooler. It's because he knows he can play through mistakes, a luxury Willis wasn't afforded til desperation time after the rest of the bigs didn't produce. 6'9 long, athletic kids who can stretch the floor aren't all that common, even at Kentucky.
yes, I remember last year that people were talking about how good he played in the Bahamas but when the season started he disappeared, just never seemed to get any PT. I think he has always been pretty good.
Not sure why it's so hard for you to understand the importance of EXPERIENCE.
Very happy for Willis - hard work always pays off. There are no shortcuts in life. I have been thrilled while enjoying this year's ride watching them make major changes and a lot of progress. Anyone watching the team can see it in all phases of the game.
Makes an *almost old* big blue fan like myself grin from ear to ear !
Very excited to see what the second half of this year holds in store.
Go Big Blue !
- runt
Makes an *almost old* big blue fan like myself grin from ear to ear !
Very excited to see what the second half of this year holds in store.
Go Big Blue !
- runt
I haven't been one that has bashed him to no end but I'll gladly have the balls to say I've been critical of him. Yes, he's been playing well, that being said I wouldn't go as far as saying he will constantly play the rest of the season they way he has been. Like most players he does great at home and ok against mediocre talent so far on the road. If he continues his impressive play amongst teams like A&m, kansas, he'll even lsu at rupp I'll gladly eat crow. I'm not completely sold after a few games. I do think he's a good player I hope he keeps building on it
Do some of you just not pay attention to the UK basketball program? Willis wasn't given those opportunities a year ago because he wasn't putting in the effort. He was not invested in UK basketball. He gave up on himself, coaches and teammates. He has no one to blame but himself.
It's not a coincidence that his mistakes on D became more forgiveable when he started knocking down shots. Where do you stand on Murray's D since you have pointed out all DW's deficiencies?
I'm happy for DW too, but there's some faulty logic going on in your post. I mean, it isn't necessarily correct to say that DW not getting yanked for poor play is what has allowed him to play well. It's just as likely--and I think probable--that Cal's insistence upon yanking DW for poor play is exactly the reason that DW is now playing well. Now that he's hustling, rebounding, and playing well--he doesn't get yanked. I take it as another example of just how good Cal is at getting player's best. And, DW at his best is AWESOME!!
Umm... are you seriously trying to compare Murray and Willis? If you can't figure out why Murray has a longer leash than Willis then you are more clueless than I thought, and this conversation is pointless.
@DwayneMeighan You just proved my point. Jamal Murray came in as a one and done 5*. Willis did not. Those guys will get the benefit of the doubt and in most cases rightly so. You can't play this game afraid of making a mistake. Murray doesn't worry about it and Willis did. Murray's inability to guard the ball has constantly got the D in rotation and has been a big part of the foul trouble the bigs are in. And I am beginning to believe you are the clueless one.
I agree. Calipari knows way more than the Willis haters.
I think some posters deserved more posting time to prove they we right about Willis, but other posters kept saying those posters didn't deserve any more posting time. It wasn't fair.
but since you ask...Murray is a freshman (brand new)...Willis had three years to get it right
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It might just be me but I could care less that he's from Kentucky. He could have been from the moon and playing like this and I'd be just as happy for him and the team. I don't care where any of our players are from, if they make the team better than that's a good thing to be excited about, Willis just happens to be a Kentucky boy but it doesn't matter to me.
Murray's ranking isn't why he gets the benefit of the doubt. He gets that because of this and because he is a much better player between the two, regardless of ranking. Not only is he the much better player, but he's arguably the best player on the team. His strengths far outweigh his weaknesses.
It's always been that way in sports and will always be that way. This isn't the youth soccer participation trophy league. The better players play the most minutes and get the longer leash because they ultimately give the team the best chance to win. It's that simple.
I'm happy for those posters. They've been right for 4 games. We'll just forget about all of those other games.
Willis is playing great. He is still somewhat of a liability on defense, but besides just knocking down shots he is making hustle plays and surprisingly rebounding like a mad man. The good news for Willis is that even though he is not a great defender, he is currently offering more to the team than his competitors for playing time.
Cal is try trying to help Skal be successful any way he can (players first). Cal is taking the blame for Skal's struggle and says he was playing him incorrectly. The truth is Cal still wants Skal to be a dominant center and protect the rim and dunk any lobs thrown his way. Cal is smart enough to realize that just isn't going to happen in one month. Might as well help Skal get drafted as best he can, so future recruiting is not affected. Unless Skal improves significantly, I would bet we see very little of "pick and pop" Skal in the NCAA tourney. All bets are off, and Cal will being trying to win come tournament time.
Cal is try trying to help Skal be successful any way he can (players first). Cal is taking the blame for Skal's struggle and says he was playing him incorrectly. The truth is Cal still wants Skal to be a dominant center and protect the rim and dunk any lobs thrown his way. Cal is smart enough to realize that just isn't going to happen in one month. Might as well help Skal get drafted as best he can, so future recruiting is not affected. Unless Skal improves significantly, I would bet we see very little of "pick and pop" Skal in the NCAA tourney. All bets are off, and Cal will being trying to win come tournament time.
It's really this simple. I'm amazed at how many people have no hnderstanding of how all of this is working. Too many want to pick sides, or feel they are forced to pick a side. In reality it's just right down the middle. Good post.
I agree...but to think there would be sooo much concern for his playing time, if he wasn't a KY boy, is a giving a lot of posters too much credit.
Nobody ever brought up Willis struggling on Defense just for sh1ts and giggles. It was real. He has improved due to (insert reason) and is rewarded with PT. I believe it is that simple. REBOUNDING is hard to believe now. I really have trouble believing that DW ever showed in practice he could rebound like he is now against Lee, Poy and Skal or he would have already been playing those minutes. Just my opinion.
this is what I keep saying - and don't think there is anything wrong with it. Willis earned his playing time. Not long ago most of this board was in agreement that he should only play mop-up minutes, or maybe even transfer (ala Wiltjer) because he simply could not defend a post; didn't even try to. NOW he's working his butt off, rebounding, shooting the open shots - even some not quite so open - and learning to defend.
I want to see what he does against KU and aTm before saying this turnaround is complete.
Fair enough. However, keep an eye on our others players while you are judging Willis. Grade them just as critically as you do Willis.
No, it's not that simple. A lot of this has to do with confidence. The first few games he knew his leash was short. How would you work your job seeing the other 4 players on the court being able to mess up and stay in the game, but you have literally zero room for error? Disregard the why.. not getting into that angle.. but just the fact that there's no way, as a 3* player or whatever he was, that this doesn't sit in the back of your head.
A lot went into this with Willis' playing time, much more than just his effort (BTW, I don't think his effort early this season, or even last year was bad.. it was more mistake driven and mental lapses IMO, which can be almost entirely attributed to being new on the court and knowing one mistake means he's out). There was the Dad angle, there was confidence, there was even the opportunity this year, with how bad our bigs were.
Cal isn't perfect either, and stop saying "Oh these guys must know more than our million dollar coach"...No one is acting like they know more than Cal, no one called Willis improving, no one is patting themselves on the back, and very few are making this about Kentucky..
A lot of tired and false lines coming from the other side on this.
A lot of tired and false lines coming from the other side on this.
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