Florida vs. Kentucky: Game Thread

[J.Jennings]

Problem with that argument is that Willis was kind of the same player before Gabriel even got here.

With that said, I think Willis has had a pretty good career on the whole. He had that great run last year, and he's been in on so many games Kentucky has won this year. He's an enigmatic player in some ways because you always feel like he could do more...but De'Aaron Fox is enigmatic, as is Monk, as is Bam. They're college kids.

I like Willis and I think his career at UK, like Miller's, is going to be looked back on as a success story.

I may be wrong but at some point I think you give the ball to the Senior and let him go to work. Not saying Coach Cal owes him anything but after 4 years of service, I think Willis has earned that in my opinion as long as he doesn't have a brain lapse and turn it over out of stupidity, same with Hawkins. Against Florida in the first half, Hawkins put some much pressure on himself to pick up the team and carry it on his back and that he totally went stupid on one possession and took a 8th grade JV shot in front of the home crowd, unbelievable lol lol..

[teamchemistry15]

I may be wrong but at some point I think you give the ball to the Senior and let him go to work. Not saying Coach Cal owes him anything but after 4 years of service, I think Willis has earned that in my opinion as long as he doesn't have a brain lapse and turn it over out of stupidity, same with Hawkins. Against Florida in the first half, Hawkins put some much pressure on himself to pick up the team and carry it on his back and that he totally went stupid on one possession and took a 8th grade JV shot in front of the home crowd, unbelievable lol lol..

That's the problem. You can't just throw the keys to the seniors and let them go to work because they're seniors. This isn't a storybook where the senior hometown kid is going to score 40 in the championship game. It's whoever has the most talent that should be out there. Fox, Monk, and Briscoe have more talent than Hawkins. Bam more than Humphries and Tai. Willis and Gabriel are pretty even and their minutes support that. Both could have a 20 and 10 night, both could have a 2, 0, and four fouls night. You can't just give it to one because he's been in school longer. If anything, he should be well beyond the brain lapses he still has.

Harrelson obviously wouldn't have developed like he did and made that impact if Kanter played. Why? Because Kanter was more talented and would've played more. I love a good story line Miller had. I do. But you can't just give the minutes to the hometown kids hoping it happens.

[teamchemistry15]

You can live with mistakes from Briscoe, Fox, Monk, and Bam because they have the ability to completely take over games. Monk had the most frustrating half Saturday followed by 30 in the second. Fox has had awful games that he dominated the last four minutes and won it for us. Willis isn't like that.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I was in Gatlinburg all weekend...heard I missed a good game

[DA#23]

I was at work all day Saturday...I take it I missed a good one.

[J.Jennings]

That's the problem. You can't just throw the keys to the seniors and let them go to work because they're seniors. This isn't a storybook where the senior hometown kid is going to score 40 in the championship game. It's whoever has the most talent that should be out there. Fox, Monk, and Briscoe have more talent than Hawkins. Bam more than Humphries and Tai. Willis and Gabriel are pretty even and their minutes support that. Both could have a 20 and 10 night, both could have a 2, 0, and four fouls night. You can't just give it to one because he's been in school longer. If anything, he should be well beyond the brain lapses he still has.

Harrelson obviously wouldn't have developed like he did and made that impact if Kanter played. Why? Because Kanter was more talented and would've played more. I love a good story line Miller had. I do. But you can't just give the minutes to the hometown kids hoping it happens.

Can you afford to just give the keys to a freshman and hope that it happens? What if the high school hype and ratings are wrong? (Skal) Some talents are worth the risk but if your comparing Briscoe to Hawkins or Willis to Gabriel, i will take the experience over the youth,just saying.

[teamchemistry15]

Can you afford to just give the keys to a freshman and hope that it happens? What if the high school hype and ratings are wrong? (Skal) Some talents are worth the risk but if your comparing Briscoe to Hawkins or Willis to Gabriel, i will take the experience over the youth,just saying.

This is Cal's eighth year here. Look at what freshmen and sophomores have done for us. Four final fours, a title, a runner up, a 38-1 season, and some of the greatest players who have every played in a Kentucky uniform. At this point in the season I'm perfectly fine with giving the keys to Monk and Fox and winning or losing with them. I was fine with it after the first few games of the season as well. Hawkins is what he is. A good role player in college. He plays very good defense and doesn't make a ton of mistakes. He will give us a handful of points. But Briscoe, as frustrating as he's been lately, has the ability to absolutely take over games and do everything. Hawkins doesn't. With Willis and Gabriel being so even their minutes are fine where they are. Neither has the keys. Both are passengers along for the ride.

[J.Jennings]

As long as we win, i dont really care who plays.