Projecting the suspension for Derek Willis

[UK90]

Yeah he just mysteriously wound up in a neighborhood 100+ miles away, passed out cold the wide open drivers door of his
car, lying in the road at 4:30 am, admitting to be wasted, with his girlfriend in the front passenger seat.

How many times did your girlfriend ride shotgun with another man at the wheel?

Bullseye. Some of these "head in the sand" denials on this thread are downright laughable.

C'mon, folks, put away the blue blinders, look at the situation in which he was found, and use some common sense. I'mglad Derek has escaped being charged with DUI, but anyone who genuinely believes he never actually drove or intended to drive is living in a land of deep blue delusion.

 

[CatPhight_rivals65113]

Here's the location - a suburb.

 

[BassCat75]

Really? You think it a "leap" to think someone found on the road next to the open driver side door of his car probably was either driving or intended to drive? Good lord, talk about sticking your head in the sand. Yeah, I'm sure your take on that would be exactly the same if it'd been a UL, Duke or UNC player, right?

Look, I'll fully acknowledge that it's "possible" that intent to drive had nothing to do with why he was found in that situation. But I think anyone with common sense who's not been stricken with terminal blue blinder bias disease knows the truth is "probably" something different.

If he intended to drive and reconsidered, I actually give him props for coming to his senses at least that much. I'm not overly concerned with intent though, as intent is basically impossible to prove and in any case, intent is trumped by what a person actually does. Intentions, good or bad, don't mean squat if they aren't followed up by action. Hence the phrase "the road to hell is paved with good intentions".

AFAIK, the car was parked in a residential area, correct? I've been drunk and slept in my car because I knew I shouldn't drive. I've been drunk and went to my car to get something I forgot or needed. So yes, to just assume he was driving is a leap since there are other reasonable explanations. I don't think driving the car is any more (or less) likely than some of the other possibilities. All we know for sure is what he was charged with, you know, the actual facts instead of a bunch of assumptions. There are multiple reasons he could have been at his car but some people always choose to assume the worst possibility. I choose not to assume anything while realizing there are multiple possibilities and stick with the fact of what he was charged with. I don't have my head in the sand but I'm also not going to leap at the worst possible explanation and assume that to be truth. Making assumptions either way is irresponsible imo.

Now what he did wasn't very smart either way and he should face some punishment. But unless there's more facts to come out, I'd say punish him for what he did, not what we think he might have done.

Yes, I'd say the same thing no matter what school was involved. You obviously don't frequent the national board where I've been accused of not being homer enough by certain UK fans for taking up for things at other schools. Like the alcohol issues at IU, those individually weren't a big deal either (outside of the DUI, DUI is always a big deal). What made that so bad were the multiple and repeat offenses.

Yeah he just mysteriously wound up in a neighborhood 100+ miles away, passed out cold the wide open drivers door of his
car, lying in the road at 4:30 am, admitting to be wasted, with his girlfriend in the front passenger seat.

How many times did your girlfriend ride shotgun with another man at the wheel?

I would think, or at least hope, that he drove there and then got drunk. If he got drunk before he drove 100 miles then yea, that's a serious issue, but there's no evidence that's what happened. Nor does that seem very plausible to me, who gets wasted then decides to drive 100 miles?

 

[Aike]

Here's the location - a suburb.

Right. So was he at a party down the street or did he randomly end up there?

If he was at a party down the street, there are reasonable scenarios where he wasn't driving.

If he just randomly ended up in this neighborhood, which is 2 right turns off the main road, then it would seem most likely that he was driving.

I've never heard how he got there...has anyone?

 

[BassCat75]

In fact, you can see right here exactly what I said about the IU situation. This was about the about the incident that finally got Perea kicked off the team prior to the start of last season. So this was after several other incidents with alcohol.

You also have to be an idiot to yell "hide it" so loud the cops hear you. This is one of those things that wouldn't be a big deal at all in isolation. It's only a big deal because it just keeps happening.

https://forums.rivals.com/threads/tom-crean-has-indiana-under-control.198231/page-3

So now tell me about how I have blue blinders on and would have a different opinion if he wasn't a UK player.

 

[BassCat75]

Right. So was he at a party down the street or did he randomly end up there?

If he was at a party down the street, there are reasonable scenarios where he wasn't driving.

If he just randomly ended up in this neighborhood, which is 2 right turns off the main road, then it would seem most likely that he was driving.

I've never heard how he got there...has anyone?

To the best of my knowledge, we just don't know. Which is why all the assumptions are irresponsible.

 

[d2atTech]

So the kid got drunk. Who gives a ****?

drinking and driving causes casualties, so i give a ****. surely there are others as well.

game suspensions is punishment, but doesn't appropriately fix the problem and frankly doesn't seem to serve much purpose. i'm sure derek is a great kid. make him do community for his summer

 

[oldsports_]

Ask yourself what would Pitino do. You hold a news conference tell the media to attend and you let them know Willis will be suspended for the first two exhibition games and hope he learns a serious lesson

 

[JC43]

Cal makes Men out of boys, Cal's punishment will be, imo, a lot less harsher than what Derek is giving himself right now. I love the kid, but I hope this magical AI, will teach him that a lifetime of work so close to achieving your dreams can be changed with one decision. Being so close to 21, being our lone SR, leader prob captain of a The Premier Program of all college sports since UCLA under Wooden, you CANT, just CANT make mistakes of this size. He is in position to possibly play a title winning season, maybe a second round draft position, a guaranteed D-League/overseas team. To have been apart of 4 special seasons, 3 in the final four, maybe ending his UK career in Boone County KY, your life. I mean D Willis has proven himself a Cat many times, this lncident (thus far), is more proof,Willis lost at least one of those lives.
I'm so waiting for this matter to be closed...
With KIK, SnapChat, Vine, YouTube. And whatever social media app, the TMZ megalomaniac like entities could pay one lucky person who lived on that streey a lot of powerball tickets.
Lastly, for all the Kentucky and Native American youngsters,not many positive role models for them to truly relate to, they ask for so little. He let them down hard.
I love D Willis, man, he got a lot of apologizing and gain back that humility cause HE,of all people deserve it. I Know he will be a better man after this. Praying for him and his fam. I'm praying BBN, it's only June.

 

[catzfanjim]

Everyone in Derby infield should be arrested then

Everyone in Derby infield doesn't play basketball for UK. Like it or not when you play for UK everyone is watching and you can't do stupid **** like this.

 

[BoulderCat_rivals187983]

It's not dui, but it could have been very easily. Plus, he's underage. The program needs to take this seriously. Derek needs to apologize to BBN and accept his discipline.

Yea, didn't we read he was passed out beside his car. Most people would have gotten a DUI, but I think maybe Derek was given some slack given his being a UK player.

As to the question I would expect he'll be suspended from a few games including perhaps the Michigan St game. Cal has had almost no players do anything like this, and going easy on Derek would not send a good message. I'll think Cal will be fairly tough on him.

 

[BBUK_anon]

Yeah he just mysteriously wound up in a neighborhood 100+ miles away, passed out cold the wide open drivers door of his
car, lying in the road at 4:30 am, admitting to be wasted, with his girlfriend in the front passenger seat.

How many times did your girlfriend ride shotgun with another man at the wheel?

Dang Cat...you're on a roll...[laughing]

 

[83Cat_rivals79182]

That seems awfully steep for a penalty for this. Don't know any player in any program penalized even close to that for similar activity. Maybe 2 games at most.

Isn't he in summer break? He was not on campus. He's not in school taking classes, is practice happening? Is he living in the lodge? Sorry, I've been out.

 

[Orionorl]

Frankly, Charoot, I don't give a damn...you all have him convicted and hung. Note that the County Attorney is a UK grad. I believe that one of the District Court Judges took his son to Camp Cal...so there is that.

 

[SmokinGun9]

So the kid got drunk. Who gives a ****?

been drinking beer since I was 9. I always thought the dry heaves, the runny nose, the watery eyes and the pounding headache was punishment enough. But....we are the GOLD Standard so I can see him doing some gruntin and groanin over the summer. Whose perfect on here anyways?

 

[_Rooster]

So the kid got drunk. Who gives a ****?

A similar situation happened to me about a million years ago. I went to a party, drank some shine, drank some more, got way too drunk, open the doors and went to sleep on the bench in my pickup truck. The police stopped by to check on me and after determining that I was just a drunk kid (about 25), told me to walk home (about a mile). I staggered off down the street.

Today, the situation would be different. Sheriff Joe always has the vacancy sign on. Law enforcement officers have a tougher time, and appropriately less tolerant. I wasn't driving and didn't want too. I was drunk not stupid. I agree with the folks, diving is while inebriated is absolutely unacceptable. But we (UK fans) do need to know the whole story before jumping to hasty generalizations concerning Derek. I trust Cal on this. He wasn't born last week. He loves the boys, he'll investigate then do what needs to be done to help them learn, grow up and succeed.

 

[brianpoe]

I don't care what they do with Willis since I am not a UK fan. Cal will decide what fit the programs needs while sending a message. Every player for all major schools knows they live a in fishbowl and I understand unlike some fans that we all live in glass houses. Every school has players get into trouble.

With that said saying "This isn't a DUI, let's not go crazy" is like sticking your head in the sand. The report said he was laying in the street with the drivers door open and told police he did not know where he was. Do you realize how close he was to driving that drunk? For that matter maybe he was drivng and stopped? Never said where he actually got drunk. The fact that he passed out before he sat in the car saved the DUI.

j

I appreciate a UL fan providing insight and offering theories on what might have happened.

All the while your brethren sit in denial of underage prostitution on campus with evidence of photos, texts, money orders, phone calls, and testimony from recruits, prostitutes, and players.

 

[screwduke]

Wouldn't surprise me to see him suspended the first 10 games or so. I think it's worse than just getting busted at a party in Lexington or something. Shows some pretty poor judgement. Also wouldn't surprise me if it's handled internally and doesn't miss any games. We'll see.

10 games? Get real lol

 

[UKGrad93]

Meh. Cal & the assistant coaches get paid big bucks to figure this stuff out. They know Derrick Willis a lot better than any of the rest of us. I'm confident that they will find a punishment that fits and helps motivate DW to be better person.

 

[Goingfor9]

I think he was poisoned and kidnapped kinda like Jules camara

 

[Blue63Madison]

It's highly unlikely Derek was partying alone an hour from home. Somebody allowed him to get in a car and drive away extremely drunk. He might want to reconsider who his friends are.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

Remember how Jorts got disciplined for whining on Twitter? I think it's safe to say that Willis will be in better shape than anyone else on the team. Dude is gonna be running for days.
I'm not going to act like what he did was no big deal either. He was so drunk he passed out in the street next to the open door for the driver's side. Meaning he was likely going to try and drive in that condition.
Cal loves his guys and will take care of Willis, but you can guarantee he has privately de-fanged Willis.

 

[brianpoe]

It's highly unlikely Derek was partying alone an hour from home. Somebody allowed him to get in a car and drive away extremely drunk. He might want to reconsider who his friends are.

Has it been verified he actually drove?

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

I think he was poisoned and kidnapped kinda like Jules camara

If I remember correctly, Jules used some quick thinking and climbed over to the passenger seat before the officer got to the car......claimed the driver ran off on foot..... [roll][roll]

 

[UKrazycat2_rivals]

Has it been verified he actually drove?

According to the charges No. Thus no DUI.

 

[shutzhund]

A college kid got drunk. A few self righteous and possibly hypocritical bystanders want to hang him. Poor judgement certainly. Crime against mankind? Come down off those soap boxes and stop screaming the sky is falling.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

I don't really see the big deal. He got drunk he didn't drive. If he drove this will be a big issue. He didn't it's not. You don't suspend him for the Michigan State game

 

[UKrazycat2_rivals]

Derek isn't being afforded any breaks that aren't given to everyone else in this situation. You can't charge someone for DUI unless they're actually caught driving. It's the law, and rightfully so. JMHO.

 

[Blueaz]

A college kid got drunk. A few self righteous and possibly hypocritical bystanders want to hang him. Poor judgement certainly. Crime against mankind? Come down off those soap boxes and stop screaming the sky is falling.

Who is hanging him? One effin guy has said 10 games. Hyperbole much, there rick?

 

[awf]

It's not dui, but it could have been very easily. Plus, he's underage. The program needs to take this seriously. Derek needs to apologize to BBN and accept his discipline.

You are a little full of yourself aren't you? Why does Willis need to apologize to BBN? He doesn't owe the fans squat. The young guy made a mistake. Everyone that has ever drank before needs to STFU!

 

[Blue63Madison]

Has it been verified he actually drove?

Couldn't tell ya, but someone would have to be 10 levels of stupid to believe he didn't at least plan to drive. Even if that means he just walked out of someone's house with that in mind. If someone had tried to stop him, he wouldn't have been found passed out in the street alone. He did something stupid, and that's on him. But he wasn't alone.

 

[Aike]

Couldn't tell ya, but someone would have to be 10 levels of stupid to believe he didn't at least plan to drive. Even if that means he just walked out of someone's house with that in mind. If someone had tried to stop him, he wouldn't have been found passed out in the street alone. He did something stupid, and that's on him. But he wasn't alone.

You have no clue if he drove or planned to drive.

Drunk people at parties go out to their cars for all kinds of reasons.

Doesn't take stupidity to give someone the benefit of the doubt, absent the presence of more facts.

 

[BBUK_anon]

Couldn't tell ya, but someone would have to be 10 levels of stupid to believe he didn't at least plan to drive. Even if that means he just walked out of someone's house with that in mind. If someone had tried to stop him, he wouldn't have been found passed out in the street alone. He did something stupid, and that's on him. But he wasn't alone.

It takes a village..[eyeroll]

 

[Jmeeks54thebest]

Cases like these are EXACTLY why our constitution states you're innocent until proven guilty. And which one of the Rafter's posters thinks they command more respect or authority than the constitution? Apparently a lot...

As others have said there are countless reasons why Willis could have gone to his car. Personally, I know several parties I had been drinking at to go to my car to grab a can of chew- really nice after a few drinks. Or some gum, or my phone that I forgot, or more drinks, you get the point.

Cal will handle this. But as far as we're concerned we can't assume that Willis was going to his car to drive. He constitution states he is innocent of that crime. So unless one of you has proof that that was his intention, stop trying to supersede the constitution. You do not command the authority to do so, none of us do.

 

[BBUK_anon]

Cases like these are EXACTLY why our contition states you're innocent until proven guilty. And which one of the Rafter's posters thinks they command more respect or authority than the constitution? Apparently a lot...

As others have said there are countless reasons why Willis could have gone to his car. Personally, I know several parties I had been drinking at to go to my car to grab a can of chew- really nice after a few drinks. Or some gum, or my phone that I forgot, or more drinks, you get the point.

Cal will handle this. But as far as we're concerned we can't assume that Willis was going to his car to drive. He constitution states he is innocent of that crime. So unless one of you has proof that that was his intention, stop trying to supersede the constitution. You do not command the authority to do so, none of us do.

Dang dude, fight for US rights too. Good stuff...

 

[awf]

Who is hanging him? One effin guy has said 10 games. Hyperbole much, there rick?

One poster said between 5 games and a semester. ******** did he kill some one or hold a bank up? Every person on here who has let alcohol pass their lips should STFU! For everyone else who hasn't drank before....STFU, you have never tried alcohol so you don't know what you are talking about.

 

[awf]

Never lost anyone to a drunk driver have you.

As a matter of fact I have family/friend that has been on both sides of that issue. That has nothing to do with this. The record shows the car wasn't running. He wasn't in the car. Now if some of you good Baptist that only drink in church want to persecute the guy go ahead.........I know how loving Christians can be when you don't do as they prescribe.

 

[awf]

10 game suspension? LOL?

A 10 game suspension is like akin to using a 50 cal rifle to shoot gnats.

 

[P3sOverseas]

We'll just have to wait and see what else comes out of this. I think most people on here would agree that if it becomes apparent that he didn't drive or try to drive, then he shouldn't get the hammer brought down on him... A game or maybe two at most. If he did drive drunk, then he should consider himself lucky to get a 10 game suspension instead of a toe tag -- or even worse, a slab at the morgue next to some innocent bystanders.

The problem comes if it remains a mystery. Then we just have to trust that Cal will do what's appropriate taking into consideration DW's honesty, forthrightness, attitude, etc.

What I don't want to see is a justification of any suspension -- or lack thereof -- based on what other programs would do. How many thousands of posts on here bash those other programs for covering **** up or doing what's best for the program over what's right? We can't condemn their scruples and then adopt them when it's convenient.

 

[BBUK_anon]

A 10 game suspension is like akin to using a 50 cal rifle to shoot gnats.

AWFul ole bud, are you drinking this early? (I'm "wit ya" though.) jk jk