Scale of 1-10, your Derek Willis confidence level

[Joneslab]

Willis/Dodson actually may be a decent comparison. Willis is probably a little more fluid and definitely has more all-around skill.

But Dodson was a very good standstill shooter. Had no athleticism to speak of, was weak as water, but he could shoot from outside and came to Kentucky with that reputation. He was streaky (West Virginia), and he was crazy, but he started for that Wall team for a short time.

The reason he started was simply because he could put the ball in the basket. It was his one and only attribute.

Derek Willis hasn't shown that. A lot of people want him to be a good shooter, probably because it's assumed that white kids from Kentucky should be able to shoot, but I think he's just okay. He's made six threes in his career.

When surrounded by this much talent, you have to have that one thing that gets you on the floor. Dominique Hawkins has gotten time because he's a bulldog defensively. Polson got time because he could handle the ball. Willis never has found that niche. These kinds of players, in the Cal era, HAVE TO HAVE a niche.

[J.Jennings]

Truth be told, I am still bitter from the loss to Wisconsin to be perfectly honest. A 100% sure Willis nor Hawkins would have prevented that but moving forward, I think or at least hope they have prepared themselves to help us get over the hump. We need them in my opinion.............

[J.Jennings]

Fwiw,, me and crazzedcat don't always see eye to eye but I can respect his posts because he's like me, very passionate about UK basketball.

[Joneslab]

A 100% sure Willis nor Hawkins would have prevented that but moving forward.

Willis or Hawkins playing would have gotten us past Wisconsin?

How?

[teamchemistry15]

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???

For the love of all things Holy just stop. You say to assume that Willis can be nothing more than a spot on the bench is crazy, but it is crazier to assume he can turn into Baker, Dekker, Prince, or anything that can help this team win a national title. I understand we havent seen much of him in games, but there is a reason for that. Our coaching staff sees him every single day. Do you really think if they saw something in him that could be a facotr that they would let him sit on the bench? You saying that we need to see him get in a game and screw up to understand why he doesnt get playing time is like saying you need to go yank the beard of the mall Santa to prove he isnt the real thing. Jesus man, let it go. There is a reason he isnt playing. Even Crazzed is being positive by saying you are incorrect. That is when you know you should give it up. Willis cant play good enough to help us. How do I know? What have I seen that leads me to believe that? I have seen him sitting on the bench his entire career here. That is all I need to see.

[J.Jennings]

Willis or Hawkins playing would have gotten us past Wisconsin?

How?

My mistake, meant to say I was a 100% sure that neither Willis or Hawkins would have helped win that game against Wisconsin. Poythrees maybe?? Coach Cal watching game film and figuring out how to instruct our guys to switch on defense, maybe??? Not with Willis or Hawkins playing......

[J.Jennings]

For the love of all things Holy just stop. You say to assume that Willis can be nothing more than a spot on the bench is crazy, but it is crazier to assume he can turn into Baker, Dekker, Prince, or anything that can help this team win a national title. I understand we havent seen much of him in games, but there is a reason for that. Our coaching staff sees him every single day. Do you really think if they saw something in him that could be a facotr that they would let him sit on the bench? You saying that we need to see him get in a game and screw up to understand why he doesnt get playing time is like saying you need to go yank the beard of the mall Santa to prove he isnt the real thing. Jesus man, let it go. There is a reason he isnt playing. Even Crazzed is being positive by saying you are incorrect. That is when you know you should give it up. Willis cant play good enough to help us. How do I know? What have I seen that leads me to believe that? I have seen him sitting on the bench his entire career here. That is all I need to see.

Case in point,,,

Josh Harrellson, D. Liggins, and the list goes on and on.,, the b

Basketball was nothing more than a hot potato until Harrellson started playing minutes and the game slowed down for him. Once he was able to play through his mistakes and get comfortable, Josh became a very good player. Practice and game is very different in every sport. Don't ask me, ask the professionals who have been adjusting for years via high school to college, college to pro for years.......

[teamchemistry15]

Case in point,,,

Josh Harrellson, D. Liggins, and the list goes on and on.,, the b

Basketball was nothing more than a hot potato until Harrellson started playing minutes and the game slowed down for him. Once he was able to play through his mistakes and get comfortable, Josh became a very good player. Practice and game is very different in every sport. Don't ask me, ask the professionals who have been adjusting for years via high school to college, college to pro for years.......

I think Cal is a professional. His opinion is that Willis shouldnt play. Good enough for me.

[teamchemistry15]

Case in point,,,

Josh Harrellson, D. Liggins, and the list goes on and on.,, the b

Basketball was nothing more than a hot potato until Harrellson started playing minutes and the game slowed down for him. Once he was able to play through his mistakes and get comfortable, Josh became a very good player. Practice and game is very different in every sport. Don't ask me, ask the professionals who have been adjusting for years via high school to college, college to pro for years.......

Liggins was one of the best on ball defenders in college basketball and he made a brief career in the NBA off of it. Harrellson would bully people around and do the little things. As said above, these kind of players under Cal have to have that niche to get them on the floor. Hawkins is D, Liggins was D, Polson was ball handling, Harrelson was bodying up and rebounding. What is one thing Willis does exceptionally well that warrants him getting in the game?

[DA#23]

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.

Can we start a poll regarding Willis and HGH? ha! Start juicing, man!

[Wonderstruck]

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?????

Goodness, trash is a strong word. One you've used time and time again but not one I've seen anyone else use. I'm not sure what your fixation is on projecting the label of garbage on other poster's viewpoints.

I'm of the opinion that Derek and Dom both belong here. I believe they fit into their roles fine, and I'm perfectly okay with that, because I understand the need for those types of players.

[JFCats22]

I'd like to clarify that I like Willis, a lot actually. But, this is his chance, it's up to him to get going this offseason.

Also, there are VERY few examples of guys like him (3 star, ranked in the 100s) that make any kind of contribution to a top tier program their freshman or sophomore years. I went back and scanned people ranked around him and couldn't find any. It usually takes a few years of improvement in order for a guy like Willis to see significant action at a school like UK.

[Wonderstruck]

I'd like to clarify that I like Willis, a lot actually. But, this is his chance, it's up to him to get going this offseason.

Also, there are VERY few examples of guys like him (3 star, ranked in the 100s) that make any kind of contribution to a top tier program their freshman or sophomore years. I went back and scanned people ranked around him and couldn't find any. It usually takes a few years of improvement in order for a guy like Willis to see significant action at a school like UK.

I think we all like Willis. I think most of us are mature enough to separate ourselves a bit from the person and the player, and that's why I appreciate this discussion.

[Wonderstruck]

Case in point,,,

Josh Harrellson, D. Liggins, and the list goes on and on.,, the b

Basketball was nothing more than a hot potato until Harrellson started playing minutes and the game slowed down for him. Once he was able to play through his mistakes and get comfortable, Josh became a very good player. Practice and game is very different in every sport. Don't ask me, ask the professionals who have been adjusting for years via high school to college, college to pro for years.......

Your complete dismissal of players earning their game time during practice smacks in the face of just about every conceivable athletic philosophy known to man, dating back to the ancient Romans and the gladiator games. Do you think they sent their 10th man out to fight in a battle to the death if he didn't bring it during practice? It's like throwing a sheep to wolves and telling the sheep to adapt on the fly. By then, it's too late. The sheep is dead!

[teamchemistry15]

I'd like to clarify that I like Willis, a lot actually. But, this is his chance, it's up to him to get going this offseason.

Also, there are VERY few examples of guys like him (3 star, ranked in the 100s) that make any kind of contribution to a top tier program their freshman or sophomore years. I went back and scanned people ranked around him and couldn't find any. It usually takes a few years of improvement in order for a guy like Willis to see significant action at a school like UK.

But Ron Baker did it so Willis is capable.......