willis bogus 5th cost us the game

[MKGMVP]

I assume you are joking. Derek Willis played 23 minutes yesterday. He was 2-5 from the floor, 1-4 from 3. He took some really bad shots. He had 5 rebounds, no blocks, no assists. Willis was physically overmatched in this game. Kansas deliberately took the game to him, and that's why he fouled out. Willis has become an effort player, filling a role that no 1 else has stepped up to fill, and I respect that. But some fans still vastly overrate his talent level. Watch what happens to his playing time next year.

If he was 2-5 how many bad shots could he have possibly taken?

 

[MKGMVP]

"willis bogus 5th cost us the game" - I somewhat agree. I wouldn't say it totally cost UK the game and was the main difference between winning or losing, but it did hurt UK, and limit them offensively. Even though Willis wasn't lighting it up, the KU defense still had to account for him, and they were more comfortable playing zone since he wasn't in the game.

"Lost our best rebounder" - I disagree. He may be a better rebounder than Skal, and maybe Lee, but he is not the best rebounder on the team.

Per minute he is absolutely the teams best rebounder over the past 5 games and its not close

 

[fatguy87]

I get that, and I completely agree. With Willis in the game the offense was much smoother, and it also made Self aware/cautious enough to not want to zone.

I'm just pointing out that UK still had chances to win that game even with Willis out. Was Willis being out a blow to UK and a factor in the loss? 100% without a doubt, but some are acting as if as soon as Willis fouled out, then UK had no chance in hell to win, which is absolutely false.

If UK, up one with 26 seconds left gets a stop, they win. If UK, tied with nine seconds left gets a basket, they win. Both of those things could have easily happened with Willis being fouled out. The breaks just didn't fall UK's way.

Right. However, it's better to not even be in such a tenuous position that the result is influenced by a single play.

With Willis and even Lee available for more minutes, there is a chance that we're up by 4 or 5 points going into that final minute rather than playing with such a thin margin.

 

[DwayneMeighan]

Right. However, it's better to not even be in such a tenuous position that the result is influenced by a single play.

With Willis and even Lee available for more minutes, there is a chance that we're up by 4 or 5 points going into that final minute rather than playing with such a thin margin.

I completely agree with. I realize him being out really limited UK's offense, allowed KU to be comfortable in their zone and hurt UK down the stretch. Like you said, we could have been up by more in the closing minutes.

Again, I'm not trying to take anything away from how Willis could have influenced the game. I was just pointing out that UK still had a chance. Willis going to the bench wasn't the end all be all on their chances at a win.

 

[crestcat]

Willis fouling out isn't the reason we lost..it hurt but it's not the reason. He is still option 4 or 5...and poythress and even Briscoe are better rebounder and defenders.

I don't get people's unreal obsession with this kid...I cheer for our team...it's obvious others dont.

Against Kansas Willis was rebounding at a slightly better rate than Poythress and Briscoe is not even in the discussion.

 

[crestcat]

I was ready to pounce on Willis, huh? Your comment is ridiculous. I described what happened last night. We got beat because our baseline was dominated. We were outrebounded 42-31. Have you figured out yet why 4 Kentucky bigs fouled out? Or are you blaming that on the refs? LOL!

We made up for the rebounding difference by out shooting them but they killed us at the free throw line, we couldn't make that up

 

[Stonewall12]

rebounding is a big key.........but so is Willis' threat to score from the 3. that draws the defense out to him & creates lanes for Ulis. Lee & Poy in the game allows the defense to sag off of them & clog the lane. Plus, if Willis is fouled, he is likely to hit a free throw......again more threat to score than Lee or Poy. If you don't realize that, then maybe you don't know the game as well as you claim.

Yep. Here is a guy who gets it.