Willis needs to start over Gabriel

[PowerofPelphrey]

Neither played great last night but will someone tell me why Gabriel starts over Willis?

Willis is a senior and experienced. Gabriel has a lot of upside but does not contribute as much as people think.

Gabriel would be the perfect 6th man. I think the head games Cal plays with Willis really hurts his confidence.

Having Willis and Briscoe on court adds veterans.

Willis can be more than just a spot up three shooter but that is all Cal wants from him on offense.

I really think it would help him mentally if he started. Some players don't necessarily need to start for their egos but I feel it would be the best for Willis.

Gabriel is young and will still get a lot of playing time.

 

[CalsKittens]

Neither played great last night but will someone tell me why Gabriel starts over Willis?

Willis is a senior and experienced. Gabriel has a lot of upside but does not contribute as much as people think.

Gabriel would be the perfect 6th man. I think the head games Cal plays with Willis really hurts his confidence.

Having Willis and Briscoe on court adds veterans.

Willis can be more than just a spot up three shooter but that is all Cal wants from him on offense.

I really think it would help him mentally if he started. Some players don't necessarily need to start for their egos but I feel it would be the best for Willis.

Gabriel is young and will still get a lot of playing time.

According to everyone last night Willis sucked all of the paint off the court. Surely you jest that you think he should start.

I think Cal is playing a game to get Both players to play better imo.

 

[thecatsareback#8]

Let's let our multi million dollar coach decide what he thinks is right.

 

[docholiday51]

I think it is so Willis can come off the bench,Cal probably thinks there is a better chance that we got more if Willis enters the game for Gabriel than the other way around

 

[bluedog79]

Tai needs to start over Willis and Gabriel. That's all I got.

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

I like having Gabriel start. Find out early if you're going to anything out of him or not. Willis isn't the definition of consistent by any means, but he is more consistent than Gabriel.

 

[Hoskins91_rivals]

They both play about the same amount and they wouldn't even get that if we had a better option. He doesn't contribute more offensively because all he does is stand out on the perimeter. He's done nothing to show he's capable of being more than just spotting up. He doesn't contribute enough in other areas to make up for his bad shooting nights.

 

[wcc31]

I agree but he sure hasn't earned it. Gabriel is so raw, though. Reminds me of this summer when I was battling a bunch of idiots on here who thought he was a college 3-man.

 

[Xception]

If you don't play Gabriel then you won't maximize the chance to develop him to help the team this year . If Willis was far better then it would be understandable but he isn't , so you keep trying to bring Wenyen along now . It's the same concept that some posters whine about but don't understand when they bemoan Cals patience with faulty freshman .
In the posters mind you just reduce the minutes of mistake prone freshman in favor of experienced players early in the year . You might have a little more success early with that approach but you will absolutely stunt your teams potential late in the year . You must play the freshmen every minute possible , you let them play through errors because your goal is to close the experience gap and not be some punitive dictator .
Sitting top players will get you beat early in march and ultimately prevent you from getting top players . Willis has had every chance to take a spot but he failed to walk through a wide open door , so you play Wenyen and hope he comes around because Willis hasn't in four years .

 

[KentuckyCat420]

Both kinda suck right now IMO. I think both have a ton of upside and I kinda prefer Willis right now as well but both are really struggling to fit in with our 4 studs.

Gabriel is close to bringing nothing to the table at this point. He's like a new born deer, you know he's going to develop into something special but right now everything he does besides shoot free throws looks so awkward. He honestly might be a worse ball handler then Alex Poythress at this stage in his career and that's kinda hard to do.

Willis always has the ability to hit big shots at any given moment and it feels like having a big shot maker on the floor with the core 4 would be the perfect combination. I think you just live with his mental lapses that you know he's going to have and be happy that you have a guy capable of filling it up on the floor with what I think should be four 1st Round picks in a few months.

If Gabriel hangs around another year or 2 like I think he will then we'll all get the chance to see one of the most unique players in UK history. For now though, I think Willis should get the majority of run his senior year until Wenyen figures out what kind of player he is.

 

[TortElvisII]

I think Cal was hoping for microwave offense off the bench. It has not panned out.

 

[Thompkins4uk]

More than anything, Willis needs more shots. I'm not blaming Cal, Willis, or the guards, but he needs to take 8-10 shots a game and most need to be 3's. He shot 3 times against Vandy and he shot zero 3's.

 

[kybassfan]

Actually I thought Willis had been playing well off the bench.

I think we should pick a resentative from the WillisSucks and the The Willis crowd and let them beat each other senseless at half court. The loser gets to tell Cal who to start so Cal can laugh and start whom he pleases.

 

[Rhavic]

What it comes down to me is effort. Gabriel tries, and he tries hard. Willis? Once every 5 games or so, it seems.

 

[AR15WARRIORCAT]

I think Cal is wanting more Bench scoring. Willis needs to shot more then 3x a game.

 

[CalsKittens]

I think Cal was hoping for microwave offense off the bench. It has not panned out.

Yet there's still time. Remember Ulis saw the floor as good as any point guard we've ever had. I think Ulis put the ball in Willis hands better which helped him do what he does best. This team will get better with trusting one another etc (Like Cal says). I'm not done with any of the players. Last year I was done with Skal long before now.

 

[ukmelanie]

I wish we had a better option because you can't depend on either of them.

 

[dstroya]

What it comes down to me is effort. Gabriel tries, and he tries hard. Willis? Once every 5 games or so, it seems.

Agree completely, Gabriel is at least giving the effort even tho it is slow, that should get better with more reps and time. Willis just seems disinterested most of the time. When he is engaged he makes the team much better but more often than not he just goes through the motions.

 

[UK90]

This debate is starting to remind me of the "who's the taller midget" argument. Neither guy is good enough to be a UK starter--it's essentially a debate over who's less inadequate. We just don't seem have any answer at the 4 spot this year.

But, luckily, we're so damn good at the other four positions that it may not matter.

 

[JohnBlue]

Gabriel plays defense and rebounds a little better. They have actually played the exact same number of min's this season and Willis scores a point and a half more per game. Not enough to justify his lack of defense.

 

[Jakarii]

What makes Wenyen "unique" as some have said? What exactly does he do that few players at UK have done before him? The only good thing I can think of is that he plays hard/motor. Can't think of one thing in the skills department hat he does even at a average starter level

 

[Bigblueincincy_rivals50458]

If Willis isn't hitting his shots, he shouldn't be on the floor. He isn't good on defense and he doesn't fight for rebounds. He gets a few easy rebounds but like some posters said, he gives little effort. Like Rhavicc said, at least Gabriel gives effort. But I think Cal knows what he's doing better than I.

 

[suggar]

Tai needs to start over Willis and Gabriel. That's all I got.

my sentiments exactly.

 

[turkeywildturkey]

Neither played great last night but will someone tell me why Gabriel starts over Willis?

Willis is a senior and experienced. Gabriel has a lot of upside but does not contribute as much as people think.

Gabriel would be the perfect 6th man. I think the head games Cal plays with Willis really hurts his confidence.

Having Willis and Briscoe on court adds veterans.

Willis can be more than just a spot up three shooter but that is all Cal wants from him on offense.

I really think it would help him mentally if he started. Some players don't necessarily need to start for their egos but I feel it would be the best for Willis.

Gabriel is young and will still get a lot of playing time.

You need to pass that on to Cal. I'm sure he'd be glad to listen to your suggestion, since you're at practice every day like he is.

 

[bookerfan66]

They play the same amount of minutes so it really doesn't matter who starts.I just wish one of them would turn it on and be consistant.

 

[phart]

Gabriel is potential.potential and two dollars will get you a cup of coffee. I want someone that can play.

 

[Wall2Boogie]

I think cal likes having that spark of Willis off the bench. He's got a much better chance of coming in and hitting big shots ala Darius miller. His defense will always be subpar but if he comes in off the bench when the other team makes a sub he has a better chance of igniting the offense with a few quick 3s. With weynen, you have a guy who is a decent shooter but does the dirty work such as rebounding and defenense so it makes more sense for weynen to start as he helps the cats get off to a much quicker start

 

[HalHR2500]

The business model sales pitch sounds better with 4 freshman starting please remember it's all about getting the next few super classes in recruiting, they want to go where freshmen start and Duke only starts 2 with their star studded class

 

[ZZZZCat]

Team has a higher ceiling with Gabriel.

 

[Burly]

That spot is averaging 13 & 10....Not bad...They both suck on defense...But mostly cause we switch

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

I dont really have a problem with willis on offense. But i get so freaking tired of seeing him collect the ball out of the net after he gives up easy buckets.

 

[willyclyde]

And we'd rather see mulder then watch monk right?

 

[stoneycat_20]

If Willis isn't hitting his shots, he shouldn't be on the floor. He isn't good on defense and he doesn't fight for rebounds. He gets a few easy rebounds but like some posters said, he gives little effort. Like Rhavicc said, at least Gabriel gives effort. But I think Cal knows what he's doing better than I.

Maybe you need to pay more attention.Gabriel is the worst defender on the team.

 

[PowerofPelphrey]

They both play about the same amount and they wouldn't even get that if we had a better option. He doesn't contribute more offensively because all he does is stand out on the perimeter. He's done nothing to show he's capable of being more than just spotting up. He doesn't contribute enough in other areas to make up for his bad shooting nights.

Willis is one of the best passers of the ball on the team and gets a lot of praise for his outlet passes.

Spoting up for three's is all Cal wants him to do and has made that clear.

I realize he plays as much as Gabriel but I think it is a pride thing and it also helps get him in the flow.

I go back to the Indiana game last year in tourney. He was playing so well the last part of the season and then Cal did not put him in for nearly 10 minutes of first half and he played awful.

We will need him to advance deep in tourney whether some of you guys want to admit it or not.

 

[trinity45_rivals378029]

Neither played great last night but will someone tell me why Gabriel starts over Willis?

Willis is a senior and experienced. Gabriel has a lot of upside but does not contribute as much as people think.

Gabriel would be the perfect 6th man. I think the head games Cal plays with Willis really hurts his confidence.

Having Willis and Briscoe on court adds veterans.

Willis can be more than just a spot up three shooter but that is all Cal wants from him on offense.

I really think it would help him mentally if he started. Some players don't necessarily need to start for their egos but I feel it would be the best for Willis.

Gabriel is young and will still get a lot of playing time.

Not sure one deserves more time over the other, but Willis does give UK the threat of the deep ball that Gabriel doesn't. Vandy seemed to worry about it, they never slumped off Willis to help on the drive but they did slump of Gabriel, leaving him wide open on the outside all the time. If I had to rank Willis over Gabriel in the Vandy game, I give a slight nod to Willis. I am sorry but right now Gab is sucking worse than Willis on Defense and he is a much better athlete so it should not be that way. And don't give me that freshmen crap, they are half way thru the season, played, UL, UCLA, Mich St etc there are no freshmen this time of year if they have played much.

 

[smooth as butter]

Gabriel will get his chance to shine.He will still be a future lottery pick in the NBA.

 

[caneintally]

who cares who starts they both play a lot .

 

[utbb01]

I think Willis need shots and thats better suited with the "second unit". With the three guards and Bam, Gabriel doesnt have anything designed for him and he can be a true "garbage man". But when Hawkins sub in for one of the guards, you need to sub Willis for Gabriel so you can have scoring on the floor. I wouldnt want to be subbing Hawkins and Gabriel in for Willis and one of the guards. I think theres should never be a time when at least two of the big 4 are not in the game.(Fox, Monk, Briscoe & Bam)

 

[anon_dge1vx8o0wnm7]

Nah

 

[anon_dge1vx8o0wnm7]

Maybe you need to pay more attention.Gabriel is the worst defender on the team.

Still definitely better than Willis on D