Scale of 1-10, your Derek Willis confidence level

[Wonderstruck]

How many of those guys where one and done????

JWORLD, you're all over the place here, man. I get the feeling you just don't like Cal. If you don't, just say it.

[KevinHall]

He doesn't care because he knows he's never going to play. He and Hawkins need to transfer now!!!!!!!!!!!

In all my life I don't think I have ever seen a supposed fan of a team want players to transfer other than if they had got into serious trouble. Unbelievable.

[KevinHall]

"Those were the days..."


[ATTACH=CONFIG]n31764[/ATTACH]

You know the situation those four players were in were very unique. They went through probably the worst time of UK basketball. They bonded like no others ever at UK. It's something we will never see again. For that reason and that reason only they became special. If they had never gone through what they did its most likely they would have never had that specialness about them.

[J.Jennings]

JWORLD, you're all over the place here, man. I get the feeling you just don't like Cal. If you don't, just say it.

I like Cal, really liked him back in the 90's when he coached at Mass. Liked him at Memphis and wanted him as a possible candidate before Gillispie was hired. When 99.9% of the world was taking shots at Cal for being a snake, i wanted him as coach at Kentucky. My main problem with Cal is how he manages his offense and his play schemes but at the end of the day, who you going to replace him with???? Still don't like some of his rotations and i think some of that has to do with the offense he's running.

[J.Jennings]

In all my life I don't think I have ever seen a supposed fan of a team want players to transfer other than if they had got into serious trouble. Unbelievable.

Not really, ticks me off to see good talent being wasted for 4 years. Both these guys can actually play the game and help in my opinion.

Furthermore, we can support, bow down and worship kids who come here for a year as a stepping stone to the NBA but we can't support a local Kentucky kid who may actually want to some play meaningful minutes in a NCAA tournament game for another team? To me it's selfish to say "your not good enough to play for Kentucky" but at the same time, "we don't won't you to leave, we want you to sit on the bench and rot for 4 years"

[TrueblueCATfan]

I will say a 5...

[Wonderstruck]

Not really, ticks me off to see good talent being wasted for 4 years. Both these guys can actually play

If they don't care, why should you? Honest, legitimate question. Seems to me Dom and Derek have accepted their roles and are good with it. If it's good enough for them, should be good enough for us, no matter how much talent we think they have.

[teamchemistry15]

Not really, ticks me off to see good talent being wasted for 4 years. Both these guys can actually play

I agree they can both play, but can they play better than what we have had? Who should they take minutes from? I think Hawkins would either start or play big minutes for every other team in the SEC. But when you have Ulis and Andrew, now Ulis and Briscoe, who does he take minutes from? Does anyone else remember the dunk he had earlier in the year? Someone threw him a lob and he dunked over the defender. I remember seeing it and thinking it was going to be our dunk of the year, but dont remember who it was against.

[teamchemistry15]

If they don't care, why should you? Honest, legitimate question. Seems to me Dom and Derek have accepted their roles and are good with it. If it's good enough for them, should be good enough for us, no matter how much talent we think they have.

This and also the fact that our coaching staff sees this team on a daily basis. There is a reason Cal doesnt put Willis in the game more often.

[J.Jennings]

If they don't care, why should you? Honest, legitimate question. Seems to me Dom and Derek have accepted their roles and are good with it. If it's good enough for them, should be good enough for us, no matter how much talent we think they have.

Who says they don't care? Watching the facial expressions and demeanor of Hawkins and Willis on the bench as the season went on was evident. To me they both looked totally unengaged at times knowing no matter how hard they practice or how well they perform, they won't see the floor. Still, I can understand why Cal wouldn't play them much this season because of all the pros on the team and let's be honest, both Willis and Hawkins are still young. This upcoming year is different and i think the timing is right for both of these guys to get a fair shot. Guess will shall see.......


Back to whether or not i like Cal, of course i like Cal and i hope he stays on for another 10 years. Still, i get the sense that if most of us where to actually sit down with Calipari the majority would want pictures, autographs, yes sir yes master, and all the star struck mess. Difference between me and most, i would flat out look him in the eye and ask him straight up, "why in the hell don't you play Hawkins and Willis more and what does these two guys have to do to earn your trust?"

[KevinHall]

Willis came out and said he wasn't giving the effort he needed to in practice this season. Do you think Cal would play anyone who says that? I don't think so. These guys will have a chance this next season. If they put in the effort and improve they will get good minutes. I'm sure Hawkins will. He did start af ew games this past season. I haven't seen enough of Willis to kknow what can or can't do.

[Wonderstruck]

Who says they don't care? Watching the facial expressions and demeanor of Hawkins and Willis on the bench as the season went on was evident. To me they both looked totally unengaged at times

Yes, I can definitely see where all the laughing, smiling, and jumping up and down could be construed as them being disengaged.

[ralph helm]

I think he needs some game time minutes- not mop-up minutes--hard to improve much without time on the floor!!!GO BIG BLUE-- grab what slipped away in the FF this year!!!

[catfaninin]

My answer would be much higher than most. I say 7 or 8. I expect that he will contribute early in the season, when the schedule is soft. My worry comes when that part of the schedule is gone.

[Pobilly]

I will say this. Most say that a player develops most between year 1 and 2. That is true if you are becoming a part of the rotation. I think this year is going to be his year 2 and he will develop more. Too hard to read into a 21 year olds mind. Last year I do think he took most of the year off due to the platoon. Lee will be much better and so will Willis. Hawkins also will be improved. I think we have a great core group plus 3 great guys (so far) coming in with the possibility of 2 or so more coming in. I for one think Willis will be a contributor (not a major player in scheme) but a reliable player this year.