Crazy how some UK fans want to run off a Kentucky player that wants to be at UK.
Will Willis be on the team?
- Thread starter UK3K
- Start date
Oh for cripes sake, let the 40-0 stupidity begin.
And what exactly are these rare skills you say are possessed by Derek but not others his size? I can't say I've seen much of that.
LOL yeah some people on here are embarrassing with this nonsense. Yes, Willis would have led us to glory last year over Wisconsin and then Duke, and we would have won both games by 30+ if he just unleashed the beast mode inside him.
![[winking]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/wink.r191677.gif "Winking [winking]")
It's funny when UK fans think any player on Kentucky's roster could go elsewhere and be a star. With Willis, I don't think he's good enough to be a star. I could see him going to a mid major type of school and contributing. You have to understand these mid majors are getting talent these days and some are competing with the big boys of college basketball. With added playing time, I do think Willis would develope and contribute. I think he's okay with his role at Kentucky and knew from the start what he was facing. He's a rock star and not many would want to give that up for scoring 10ppg and 5rpg somewhere else. Who knows, if he keeps working hard, his senior year he could start to see minutes. Me personally, I would want to play, but with me, I would rather Ride the bench at Kentucky for 3 years and Help lead Kentucky to a title with playing time my senior year than start elsewhere for 4 years and not help Kentucky to any success. If I'm a serious future NBA talent, I change my mind and want to play wherever I go.
I disagree.
In the Bahamas he was one of the most solid performers. His play there was good and proved he would not hurt us going forward. He played better than Lee and Lee played more than Willis.
later during the year. In fact with the platoon system UK used last year, I don't know how much better Willis could of looked in the Bahamas. But when the season started he left him on the bench. It would of hurt my confidence. There was PT for Willis last year during the first part of the season....his play in the Bahamas warranted that IMO. But he did not get it and I don't see it ever happening really. He still needs to improve a whole lot.
Having said that... I do not think Willis will play this year at all hardly. I am fine with that and I think he is too. Which goes along with my first post.
Thank you - we always talk about our players in the context of the NBA. But what most of us seem to forget is what you say here; he's a Kentucky boy who played for UK (no matter how many minutes). If this team wins a title? Look out. That will translate into opportunities that you average joe doesn't get.
That'll confuse the opponents this year! Nice new strategy, Cal. Give multiple guys the same number!
I agree. He won't be a number one option, but I could see him being a third option on a team like Purdue.
I'll reiterate I don't think he should transfer, I agree with the points others have made about the advantage post basketball by simply being on the bench for four years at UK. As Cal often says, we are crazy. I do, however, understand why he would hypothetically have a desire to transfer. I haven't heard he has those feelings and don't mean to indicate he does, my points are all hypothetical, objective, and logical.
And I'll add if he can hit three's at a high rate he can see playing time. If not this year then maybe next. We have seen guys as seniors without playing experience explode (Jorts!!!!) so it can be done.
Standing #1 is Labissiere and it looks like he's keeping #1.
Sitting #1 is Mulder and it looks like he's going to switch to #11.
Why would Willis transfer to another school when he isn't even willing to put in the work at his home state school?
His play in the Bahama's had nothing to do with his PT, from what I hear he has adjusted his social life, which was getting in the way.
I'd love to see him contribute.
Last edited:
Exactly how I would feel if I were good enough at basketball to make a college roster but not have NBA potential and was a rabid fan of said team. UK fan that I am, if I had the choice of donning the uniform yet ride the bench on full scholly versus more playing time at say Murray State, give me a front row seat to each game every year (not to mention FF's and the SEC tourney).
Man I'd die a happy man and not give a moment's thought to playing time.
Well for me who has no info on his social life.. That is all I have to go on. Thus it had everything to do with it.
You know this how? There was talk two years ago coming from Willis that said he needed to work harder, but Cal said he worked hard last year.
No it's was this past year that Willis admitted he didn't work hard. I don't care what he does but it's obvious he's never playing here no matter how hard he works unless we have multiple injuries.
What r u talking about? I never wanted to run him off. I said if he is content on the bench at UK, then by all means he should stay at UK.
Sorry but Chuck is right thats an old story after his freshman year, do you really think that Cal keeps players that are not willing to put in the work?
The comments about graduating from UK and having a lot of opportunities are pretty solid, but the ones about him being a rock star don't hold as much value. If he went to say Murray St. and started for their team there would still be hot groupies and parties. In fact, he could go to Union College in Barbourville and get "special treatment" because he is on the basketball team.
people shouldn't be so down on Willis.... he more than proved he's capable of contributing from just the bahama's last year. It really all depends on whats going on between the ears because even he admitted that once he got his role as a backup and not in the top 10 rotation from Cal that he just didnt work hard.
This year though it goes like this
Pg- Ulis / Hawkins
Sg- Briscoe / Mulder
Sf- Murray / *edited* Matthews / Willis
Pf- Poythress / Lee
C - Skal / Humphries.
I don't see Wynyard playing this year due to him arriving late. If Humphries is slow to adjust , I can see Willis getting his chance early on with Poythress not being 100%
This year though it goes like this
Pg- Ulis / Hawkins
Sg- Briscoe / Mulder
Sf- Murray / *edited* Matthews / Willis
Pf- Poythress / Lee
C - Skal / Humphries.
I don't see Wynyard playing this year due to him arriving late. If Humphries is slow to adjust , I can see Willis getting his chance early on with Poythress not being 100%
Last edited:
I know the players have a lot of free time that can be utilized to working on their game and the ones that utilize that time to work on their game are the ones that are in. The last few years there has been many times where we all thought "why isn't willis in the game". well, I think we all know what the answer to that question is at this point in his career.
Yeah, it goes like this in reality. Ulis, Briscoe, Murray, Poy, Skal with Lee, Mulder, Humphries, and Matthews playing off the bench. I think its cute you have Willis as the backup 3 over Matthews. We have all already heard how underrated Matthews is, and how he has impressed this summer in pickup games and practice.
I don't think it is even close. Totally different. A larger percentage of the 400k in the central KY area know who he is than the 3000 in Barbourville would, who could care less about their basketball team. Unless he was unbelievable and even then would they ask for his autograph at the Save-A-Lot and to take pics with their kid?
Him getting a free hotdog at the DQ doesn't really compare as to special treatment he gets in Lexington.
UK surpasses most other P5 schools when it comes to rockstar status much less small town instate schools.
Last edited:
We all have an opinion, but Willis has had to compete with NBA type talent since he has been here. The old saying "hard work pays dividends", hasn't come for him yet but he still has this season and next.
He'd be crazy to leave. He's not going to get tons of playing time for any major school. He just doesn't have "it". He's good, but it is what t is
I'd rather my kid stay at UK, play 4 years for john Calipari, be a king on campus, make tons of NBA friends, and be part of something super special.
Transferring from UK nowadays is rare for very good reasons
I'd rather my kid stay at UK, play 4 years for john Calipari, be a king on campus, make tons of NBA friends, and be part of something super special.
Transferring from UK nowadays is rare for very good reasons
Exactly.
Like one poster said, transfer to purdue? Why? To sit the bench and get 5 more minutes a game for a nothing program instead of be perks of saying you played for UK?
Good thing he's smarter than some of our fans.
UK does lots of things after you graduate that you dont get at most schools. UK, UNC are about the best in the business at providing for their former players. Jobs, opportunities, connections directly related to playing for those schools help later on. Lots of our younger fans don't seem to grasp this. It's one of the most important reasons to pick certain schools.
Willis wouldn't get many more minutes at another major d1 school. He just wouldn't, and he admits he's not working hard enough. That won't change by transferring, as a matter of fact it could get worse.
You are somewhat right on wiltjer, but he has also missed an opportunity for another final four. if winning matters to him, he's already lost out. Just because Gonzaga plays zero competition and allows him to not defend doesn't mean he couldn't have worked hard and continued to be successful here. I still think Kyle made a mistake, but I think almost anyone who transfers from UK is making a mistake. At least if it was a mistake, he won't pay for it too much because he's not in a bad gig.
It's funny how you read through people's post and find one sentence you might not fully agree with and pound the shit of it. Try positioning yourself around what you might agree with every once in a while. Gee whiz. You don't want to sound like me now would ya? Hungry hipo
Kyle missed out on a final four, potential chanpionships, and a lifetime of saying you won titles, won for JC, and played for UK. He will never get that opportunity. He will never get the benifits of uk. Transferring changes that nearly every time. Gonzaga just can't offer what we do. Now or later.
Being a UK fan and understanding our position, I don't have an issue seeing it. If that's an issue in your mind, I'd suggest you just call yourself a basketball fan, instead of the "UK" alternative.
But hold up, wasn't Gonzaga in a final four last year? Can't remember.
Oh well, point proven.
Last edited:
Goodness are you some kind of an idiot or what?
You wrote 3 paragraph's of multiple items that I thought were all decent comments, I just asked you one question.
And I think most people would disagree with you on that statement, so I just asked why.
Stop being such a d!ck ALL THE TIME.
Back to the subject...
Kyle already has a title at UK right?
Not sure that missing the experience of losing a couple of final four games hurt him that bad.
He had a great run last year.
I do not see Kyle as one that would have graduated UK and stayed in KY like Derek most likely will, thus the UK after effect may not apply.
AND, look at his personal value now. The kid has been in the conversation as POY last year and this year. Although I may disagree with it, it has been said.
His future pro potential increased drastically more than it would have at UK.
In my opinion, Kyle made the absolute best decision for himself and did not hurt UK at all.
Last edited:
Eh..... Self serving comeback. Sure you point out you agreed with most of all of the damn post NOW, but failed to do so (like always) when you respond to me. You just come out of nowhere with your "one sentence" disagreement. I'm not interested in explaining it to you. It'd already been explained and It's not like you'd get it anyway. Anyone can read the original post made about it and see I didn't say one thing worth bickering over, especially if you're a UK fan.
Move on sunshine.
Move on sunshine.
Last edited:
Similar threads
