Scale of 1-10, your Derek Willis confidence level

[J.Jennings]

Well it's just a terrible argument all the way around.

What gets me about it is this idea that Cal is "coddling" certain players and not giving Derek Willis (and Hawkins, but I feel like this is more of a Willis argument) fair treatment.

That might be a good point had this team not won 38 games.

Nobody wants to win more than Calipari. He's a manic competitor. The idea that he's playing guys simply to help their future stock while putting deserving players on the bench is the sort of thing people argue around the parent bleachers during Upward games.

This is one of those arguments where no one really wins. There is no right or wrong answer here just pure speculation from all parties involved. Even though Willis and Hawkins had good moments during the season, I don't think anyone really expected them to play especially if Poythrees had stayed healthy. My argument on this now as speak is for the upcoming season. Both guys have been in the system (experience) and have competed in D1 basketball now for two years practicing against pro's. If your a coach, what more could you ask for? It's not like many other programs have the opportunities to let new guys play against the best everyday in practice. Cal had to see something in them from the get go or he never would have brought them here in the first place?

[Wonderstruck]

This is one of those arguments where no one really wins. There is no right or wrong answer here just pure speculation from all parties involved. Even though Willis and Hawkins had good moments during the season, I don't think anyone really expected them to play especially if Poythrees had stayed healthy. My argument on this now as speak is for the upcoming season. Both guys have been in the system (experience) and have competed in D1 basketball now for two years practicing against pro's. If your a coach, what more could you ask for? It's not like many other programs have the opportunities to let new guys play against the best everyday in practice. Cal had to see something in them from the get go or he never would have brought them here in the first place?

There is a right or wrong answer when the wrong answer is based purely on ignoring the basis of reality and any intelligent counter point.

[J.Jennings]

Tayshaun came out of Dominguez High as a top 15 player. McDonald's and Parade All-American. He was skinny but he was also 6'9", had scary length, and had guard skills.

Not a good comparison for the players being spoken about here.

Well Colvin posted a photo of Feldhaus on steroids so the point was not all players are on HGH in regards to players like Prince and Willis. As for Willis, he's almost 6'9 with guard skills, very fair comparison unless you are looking at the ratings out of high school.

[J.Jennings]

Where is your appreciation for guys to accept their roles and not be pushed to the moon unnecessarily? Not everyone can be CEO, or manager, or owner. Some people are salesmen, advisors, or assistants. There's nothing wrong with that. Why are you of the thought that there is?

If Derek gets all this PT you're clamoring for, it's liable to have the reverse affect on his confidence than you think.

And not all players come to Kentucky to sit on the bench. From confidence point of view, both Hawkins and Willis must have been very confident to come to Kentucky or they could have went to another school knowing they would get the chance to play. Don't forget, Willis was a Louisville lean for the most part but felt confident enough he could actually compete and play at Kentucky.

Again, why do you assume that both of these kids are flat out trash and not UK material?????

[J.Jennings]

We get it...you love Hawkins and Willis...can we talk about ANYTHING else? They both have had some chances and have had 2 years of playing against about 10-12 NBA players EVERY day in practice.

I am going to go ahead and let Cal decide if he thinks they are able to compete.

We can talk about why we don't have 13 of the top 20 players in the nation committing to Kentucky?? All is lost and next year's team has no chance to compete at ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joneslab]

Did JWORLD just compare Derek Willis to Tayshaun Prince.

SOMEBODY TELL ME THAT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN.

[JFCats22]

Again, why do you assume that both of these kids are flat out trash and not UK material?????

You keep saying this (over and over and over again). Where did anyone say they are trash?

[J.Jennings]

Did JWORLD just compare Derek Willis to Tayshaun Prince.

SOMEBODY TELL ME THAT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN.

Height, size, body,, very fair comparison. Didn't say Willis was the next Prince, just comparing similarities minus the wingspan........

[Joneslab]

Auditioning for the NBA???? Good choice of words. But then I am old school, right? That is what Matt Jones called me when I expressed my being unhappy with so many one and dones.

But they win.

"Auditioning for the NBA" carries a lot of negative connotations. Makes it sound like the players aren't playing hard or they don't care.

I think all these players care a great deal, and it shows in the way they play.

We all have our thoughts on the one-and-done thing, but nobody can say that the players Calipari has brought to Kentucky haven't cared or have not been team players. They get along well, they don't get in trouble off the court, they play hard, and they put up Ws.

If they're auditioning, then they're also helping the team--and us--by winning as much as they have.

[J.Jennings]

There is a right or wrong answer when the wrong answer is based purely on ignoring the basis of reality and any intelligent counter point.

So let me guess, if a recruiting agency put a higher rank on one recruit over the other one, the highest ranked recruit has some kind of SUPER POWER that none of us are aware of right?? Unless you are a legitimate top 5 no brainer sure shot, it's hard to really judge a players overall value of a player ranked 40-100, honestly. Even in the draft of the NBA, you never know what your going to get unless again, it's the sure shot can't miss and even then, you really don't know. To assume that Willis or Hawkins can be nothing more than a spot on the bench is crazy, how do you know if you never give them to chance to play through mistakes???

[J.Jennings]

Did JWORLD just compare Derek Willis to Tayshaun Prince.

SOMEBODY TELL ME THAT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN.

I once compared Wiltjer to Larry Bird. Not so much that I expect Kyle to become a NBA legend but more in regards to size, abilities, and craftiness. Who would have ever thought that Kyle would end up at Gonzaga scorching college teams in the scoring department???

[JFCats22]

I once compared Wiltjer to Larry Bird. Not so much that I expect Kyle to become a NBA legend but more in regards to size, abilities, and craftiness. Who would have ever thought that Kyle would end up at Gonzaga scorching college teams in the scoring department???

He still is nothing like Larry Bird....

[Joneslab]

I once compared Wiltjer to Larry Bird. Not so much that I expect Kyle to become a NBA legend but more in regards to size, abilities, and craftiness. Who would have ever thought that Kyle would end up at Gonzaga scorching college teams in the scoring department???

LOL. JWORLD, if I had a dollar for every player you've compared to another player--mostly white players--over the years I'd be rich.

Everybody has garnered a Larry Bird comparison at one point or another if he fits the appropriate racial profile.

I like you. You bring a lot to this board. You tend to light up threads when you post in them. I tend to think you stir the pot a lot and know your arguments are a little off the wall but you're just having fun. I appreciate that as it gets interest in the board.

But you are bar none the worst player comparer I've ever seen on the interwebs.

[J.Jennings]

LOL. JWORLD, if I had a dollar for every player you've compared to another player--mostly white players--over the years I'd be rich.

Everybody has garnered a Larry Bird comparison at one point or another if he fits the appropriate racial profile.

I like you. You bring a lot to this board. You tend to light up threads when you post in them. I tend to think you stir the pot a lot and know your arguments are a little off the wall but you're just having fun. I appreciate that as it gets interest in the board.

But you are bar none the worst player comparer I've ever seen on the interwebs.

lol lol lol lol lol lol

If Derek Willis was African American at 6'8 with guard skills, my argument would be the same. Here's a better comparison in regards to Derek Willis, Darnell Dodson!!! Does anyone on this board feel as if D. Willis is probably a better player than Darnell Dodson??????

Why in the hell did Cal play Dodson 30 minutes a game but can't play Willis???????????????

Back to Wiltjer, who else would you compare him too, Kevin Love?? Kyle is slow, can't jump, and he's goofy looking like Bird yet he knows how to put the ball in the basket.

[J.Jennings]

He still is nothing like Larry Bird....

Of course he isn't, who is???

Coach Crum once told me when he recruited Bird that Larry told him he would visit Louisville if Crum could beat him in a game of horse. We all know how that ended, Larry never made the trip to Louisville and Crum could actually shoot the ball...............