I know it's early but I'm proud of the kid and him sticking things out and it's showing on the court with his hustle and hard work.
Derek Willis appreciation thread
- Thread starter bigblue_07_rivals
- Start date
I want to see how he performs in a road game, but I hope he keeps playing like he is.
From one former Bullitt Co. Resident to another: Derek just keep letting the game come to you while playing tenacious d and feeding the post and you may very well end up 6th man on this team and who knows what next season at UK?!
So proud of you brother.
So proud of you brother.
Mr, Negative, huh.........why single out Willis.
Well, I want to see how Skal, Murray, and Briscoe perform on the road.
It's not like Willis has played against lesser opponents the last 4 games.:weary:
Yes, maybe more than anyone else so far, Willis has earned his minutes. Some of the other guys have worked hard too, but Willis just had more to overcome to get there, it seems. He has played great so far. Let's hope it continues.
You don't know musrat59 very well. He's a solid blue musrat, very rare, and his post wasn't a slight toward Willis. Just an observation.
Or when you're patient and work to get better instead of taking the easy way out.
2 months ago if you'd told me Derek Willis would be our starting small forward my response would have been "great, I guess 5 people got hurt."
Don't know how long he'll stay in the starting lineup but if he plays all year like he has the last 2 games, I hope he stays there.
Don't know how long he'll stay in the starting lineup but if he plays all year like he has the last 2 games, I hope he stays there.
I am so impressed with how well he's improved defensively and getting rebounds. The kid has showed up consistently both games and I hope Cal keeps giving him the opportunity.
He is doing what it takes to get playing time, as long as he does that in practice he will be on the floor. I can't think of one player other than Skal that I would want shooting the ball. The young man can shoot the rock. Great job Derek, you make us all very proud. Keep it up.
Yep, so far he's one of the big story lines, with how well he's played. There's no doubt in my mind he'll see solid minutes this year.
Yes, he is a shooter. If nothing else Derek has shown that he will be on the floor late in any game where we're nursing a lead coming down the stretch and the other team is stopping the clock with fouls. We need a fifth to go along w/ him, Tyler, Murray and skal. I had thought it would be Poy, but he's been clanging free throws like he's trying to test the sturdiness of the rims.
Larry Vaught must be rolling around on the floor with happiness. Vaught loves him some Willis!
Zone buster and looks for Skal when he is guarded. Skal on the line and Derek on the perimeter zones should not be a problem. NJIT did play some zone.
So much for all the posters stating Willis would never play meaningful minutes while at Kentucky. And there were several. How's the crow taste?
I'm just excited for this year's team.
Murray shot terribly, but he wasn't afraid to keep playing. I don't want to attack Booker, but he goes completely scared and stops even trying.
Ulis has been steady, no stupid mistake that waste possession. He keeps playing with toughness on offense and toughness on defense.
Willis, Lee, Poythress, Skal, and everyone else all trying to get better.
Murray shot terribly, but he wasn't afraid to keep playing. I don't want to attack Booker, but he goes completely scared and stops even trying.
Ulis has been steady, no stupid mistake that waste possession. He keeps playing with toughness on offense and toughness on defense.
Willis, Lee, Poythress, Skal, and everyone else all trying to get better.
to be fair, until this season started there was no reason to believe that he would. Willis himself admitted he didn't put in the work - and every time he WAS out on the floor it wasn't a pretty sight.
I'm glad that we were all wrong (and I'm not the only one who is) and that Derek is playing well - but there is a lot of season to go yet. FWIW
I think he'll be in regular rotation based on what we've seen.
Even last year with a stacked team I said Willis should get some minutes, especially when we had huge leads. He never got a chance. You can't expect a player to get on the floor for two minutes and accomplish much. That's not enough time to even get warmed up and in the flow of the game. Willis, even with his defensive deficiencies, has good size and athleticism, can shoot, block shots, and is a very good passer. Now that he's getting a chance, he's proving it.
I get what you're saying - but he didn't put in the work IN PRACTICE. That is where they earn the chance to see the floor during games.
Well, we don't know what happens in practice. I know what Willis said, but that could be nothing more than coach speak from a player. I have a difficult time believing Cal would even allow him (or any player) to remain on the team if he wasn't practicing hard.
Those paying attention have known that Derek's offensive abilities were there. I think his liability has always been what he did on defense. So far this year those skills are light years ahead of what we've seen before.
I love the home grown talent. What Kentucky boy hasn't dreamed about wearing the blue in a big Final Four game?
I love the home grown talent. What Kentucky boy hasn't dreamed about wearing the blue in a big Final Four game?
We need to go back and find the long list of Willis haters on this board. Many of them saw no talent at all and stated quite clearly that he would never do anything as a Cat. They had to be blind. Now everyone is jumping on the Willis bandwagon, including the former haters. It annoys me. I hope Willis starts all year, so long as he plays with determination, which is the only thing that ever held him back.
Vaught loves everybody. He's a "feel good" writer with little objectivity. JMO
Great to see Willis playing both ends and knocking down 3's. All the complainers are now silent. Get um Derek! He, Ulis, and Murray make a great 1-2 trap at the 3/4 court. Keep it up.