was at a UK Athletics luncheon today and my source..an ex UK Teamate of mine on the Network said Willis probably won't be back til next week..FYI.
Willis Out Tommorow
- Thread starter 2Adulterers
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Id hold him out as long as possible
Poythress back I still think we can win in that Hell Hole..
That's totally fine. Needs to be back at top form for the games that matter the most.
Not that this is set in stone b/c so and so heard it but I was never expecting him back before UF . HAving Poythress back helps us though and he looks like he is in beast mode.
Willis' line against Vandy at Rupp Jan 23rd was 9 boards (1 offensive) 7 points, 1 block, 1 steal
Hump never saw the floor - anything close to those numbers from IH and we should be good.
Hump never saw the floor - anything close to those numbers from IH and we should be good.
He's gotta play in the SECT though to shake off whatever rust he may have going into the NCAAT. That's a must IMO they need to get readjusted with him on the court before the big dance. Let's hope!
Poythress really played like he was a beast in his return.
While I don't necessarily disagree with you, the numbers alone don't tell the story. Willis 100% changes our offense and makes everything else work much easier. Him being on the floor forces a big to stay on him, opening up the lane for guards to drive and Poy/Hump/Lee to work. I certainly think we can win without him, but implying that IH can simply replace him based on numbers alone isn't correct.
If he plays on an ankle that isn't completely 100% healed he could injure it again and be out for the whole entire season. The chance of that happening is really quite high if its not healed completely. If he landed on somebody's foot trying to rebound that would be it for him
Yeah I think the time on the bench gave him perspective . I expect big things. Willis will be back in a game or 2.
Be nice to have Dom Hawk step up and stretch the floor while Willis is out, but I believe Hump on the boards is enough if everyone is is near their game.
I choose to look at this as a positive it gives us a chance to spread more minutes around and play a different style.
Actual number is 22.4% - He's definitely struggled, but he's capable of knocking down perimeter jumpers. His problem is confidence
and passing up open looks, that's what Cal has been on him about.
Comparatively speaking we've got Isaiah Briscoe shooting a robust 15% beyond the arc - who would you rather see setting their feet?
25 point win without Willis says that whatever dimension Willis brings can be replaced . It helps that Willis is a three point threat but we weren't a losing team before he started playing either . It will be nice to have the different attributes each player brings if we can ever get everybody healthy .
My thought as well - injuries could wind up to be a blessing in disguise if we can get healthy. Learning to win with different lineups and overcoming
obstacles will help make us more resilient this time next month.
![[winking]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/wink.r191677.gif "Winking [winking]")
Neither. Other than the UL game this year Hawkins is about as bad as Briscoe shooting 3s. At least Briscoe is one of the best drivers in the country and good at finishing at the rim and does so many other things good. Neither should attempt a 3...almost ever.
Not according to Cal - he just said, if you're open shoot it or I'm taking you out. Those looks are going to be open and he's going to expect them to take it.
Dom's also been struggling with injuries all year and is just now back healthy, plus they don't necessarily all need to be threes, a jumper at the top of the key works.
Briscoe is great driving to the hole but when he doesn't finish, he's a 41% shooter at the line, so by your same methodology he should never attempt a FT.
Good news is IB & DH are both excellent defenders. I expect Murray/Ulis to carry the load of the offense anyway.
This would be an excellent game for Briscoe's outside shots to start connecting.
I'd like to see Briscoe look for a shot at the top of the lane Darius Miller always took - higher percentage than a triple for sure.
Unfortunately i have had 3 broken ankles and had to have a cast on each for 6 weeks, after removing the cast i was unable to play ball for a couple more months. Not 1 of them looked as bad as his ankle did. Now i know he has better Physical Therapy than i had available but I will be totally shocked if he plays again this season.
No one should be. I never bought Matt Jones' timetable for Saturday nor am I blaming Jones for saying it. However, the one thing I've learned from Cal is he is never honest with injuries unless it's something obvious like Poy's ACL tear last year.
Another week of therapy would do wonders for Willis' ankle. Holding him out until he is 100% won't hurt a thing. UK can easily beat Vandy without him.
I've heard him say that too. And I'm thinking, there's a reason they're open Cal . I'll say this , neither should take an outside shot early in the shot clock or late in the game . I'd rather see Murray or Ulis throw one up as they were falling down while being tripled teamed .
You have no choice on FTs...you have a choice on 3's. Those two shooting a 3 is the equivalent of a turnover but we can agree to disagree.
Hawkins sucked from 3 his frosh and soph season too...this is not new. I have also never seen him hit a jumper at the top of the key (I've seen Briscoe hit a few here and there), but DH has improved his FT shooting this year. I'll give him props there. He should teach Briscoe if Briscoe comes back next year!
Sure you have a choice, you sit in a close game if you can't throw a FT in the Pacific Ocean.
Whoever worked with Dakari last year should help Briscoe and Lee.
I am not asking your source but others have said next week which being at Florida on Tuesday isn't likely Willis would be ready Tuesday night. That leaves Senior Day next Saturday vs. LSU and Cal might just wait till the following week when SEC Tourney starts in Nashville. That would mean a Friday night game on March 11th in the SEC Tourney if we finish in the Top 4 which we should with the 3 games left. That would give Willis almost 3 weeks of rest and if he is starting to feel better and could be back next week which probably means back at Practice he should be ready come SEC Tourney. Willis before the TA&M game was talking about how his knees and body was taking a beat down so this 3 weeks of rest should help Willis overall in the SEC Tourney and NCAA Tourney. That would mean that with Poythress and Willis back and pray for no more injuries till the SEC Tourney that we could be heading into the Tournaments at almost 100% healthy. That is something we haven't seen this year is a Kentucky team at 100% healthy. That would be Awesome!
if he's back at any point in what remains of the regular season - I'll be pleasantly surprised ,,,,,,
^^This^^ We all want to win the SEC, but being healthy and ready for the NCAA is more important.
