Kentucky @ Auburn Game Thread.

[capcat]

Thing about Jorts is that he could always rebound.

If you look at his stats through this part of the season, he was grabbing boards. He just couldn't score.

2 points and 14 boards against LSU on January 15th. 3 points and 9 boards against Alabama. 2 points and 5 rebounds against South Carolina but then he came back and got 4 and 8 against Georgia.

So he could grab rebounds. Had this weird knack of being able to offensive rebound at a pretty impressive clip.

Willis had a great game Saturday but our big men don't consistently rebound on the whole the way Harrellson did. When they do nothing, they tend to not really give much of anything. It's blanks all the way across.

Is it a knack or just determination? Both seemed/seem like team players, I believe Willis has that motivation to push himself for the good of the team. In his interview, he wouldn't talk bad about his teammates, but the motivation his dad gave him to grab rebounds in this game. I could be wrong, but I think the two will turn out to be cut from similar cloth. I hope so, anyway.

[Joneslab]

Is it a knack or just determination? Both seemed/seem like team players, I believe Willis has that motivation to push himself for the good of the team. In his interview, he wouldn't talk bad about his teammates, but the motivation his dad gave him to grab rebounds in this game. I could be wrong, but I think the two will turn out to be cut from similar cloth. I hope so, anyway.

Probably both. Rebounding is mostly about effort, but there seems to be some talent there w/r/t how a person uses angles, timing, body control, etc.

I think Willis plays very hard. I've felt that since the beginning. He gets beat on defense and isn't a very good defensive player on the whole. But I've felt like since Game One he gives it his all and I think his defensive breakdowns are more about a lack of quickness than effort.

Marcus Lee is another guy who I've felt will at least give effort, but that has slipped the last two games. Poythress gives effort about half the time.

Willis deserves more PT and I think he'll get it starting Thursday.

[Joneslab]

Another thing that has hurt this team is Hawkins being out. He's another guy who will play with maximum effort.

Cal could've put him on Canty the other day when Briscoe picked up that 4th foul. I don't think Hawkins would've given up a couple of those baskets.

This is the kind of team that, when we have one injury or just one guy stinks up the gym, we're likely going to get beat. Zero wiggle room.

[capcat]

Probably both. Rebounding is mostly about effort, but there seems to be some talent there w/r/t how a person uses angles, timing, body control, etc.

I think Willis plays very hard. I've felt that since the beginning. He gets beat on defense and isn't a very good defensive player on the whole. But I've felt like since Game One he gives it his all and I think his defensive breakdowns are more about a lack of quickness than effort.

Marcus Lee is another guy who I've felt will at least give effort, but that has slipped the last two games. Poythress gives effort about half the time.

Willis deserves more PT and I think he'll get it starting Thursday.

I believe more PT will make all the difference for him and he will move towards getting it done , one way or the other.

[capcat]

Agree about Hawkins. We may end up being made up of a different team than we thought.

[Lighthouse]

Forgive my ignorance if this is a ridiculous comparison, but you don't see some potential of that in Willis?

I see them as two totally different type players. Jorts was a strong post type player who scored around the basket, while Willis is more mobile, not near as strong around the basket, but a better outside shooter. I hope Willis can have the influence on this team that Jorts had on his.

[85 Fly]

Will be out of the top 25 next week

On a positive note I'm glad this year is wide open...the predictions made by analyst as to who will be in the final four is up-in-the air. Everyone is losing in the Top 10 and to unranked teams too! If we can string some wins together to get back on track (while others such as MSU & Duke have lost 3 straight!) we can back our way into the dance but it won't be easy, I do have to admit that with this class. I'm not ready to concede this group reminds me of 2013....not yet!