"He Was Awful Defensively. Pitiful."
- Thread starter Random UK Fan
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Not fouling is key for our bigs. Against Georgia, I was at Phantom of the Opera in Nashville so didn't watch. Against aTm Alex, bless his heart, picked up those awful offensive fouls so I thought his defense wasn't that bad but it's no good at all if you're not in the game.
Willis stinks at D, but he is our only offensive threat not named Ulis or Murray and he is beginning to be a sneaky good weakside shot blocker and rebounder. He should play 40 minutes if he is physically able
He was, no arguing it. That's what will cost us this year, we are like 70th in the nation in adjusted Defense. Our worst team that made a deep run before that was 35th. Our offense is one of the best we've had, but our defense is just terrible, we gave up 80 points to freaking Georgia who was subbing 5 in and 5 out. Mainly low post defense at that.
georgia is the wrong game to mention. they could of been playing the Davis team and still would of scored the same amount of points, they were unconscious, throwing up prayers and getting them all answered
Duke was 57th last year entering the tourney. Not saying we will improve like they did, but it's not unprecedented.
Blaming Willis for the defensive deficiency of the entire TEAM is BS. Everyone knows certain players struggle on defense. Not everyone can be as good as Ulis and Briscoe, and everyone else on the team has defensive lapses. Willis needs to be in there for his scoring, and Cal needs to quit harping on his defense. Willis did not give up the 32 points to House yesterday. He does have some lapses, but so does everyone else as evidenced by the team's poor rating overall.
they lobbed the ball over him. the guard who rotated over made the block possible
the idiotic foul after house pump faked late in the shot clock and the dunk he gave up soon after were momentum changers
the worst defenders are most responsible for the team's bad defense. not really complicated
murray isn't a great defender but he doesn't space out and do the dumb **** willis and skal do
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[eyeroll] How about you actually read the article before making up something nobody said and then arguing against it. No where in the article did they lay all the blame on Willis, as a matter of fact the last 30% of the article talked about how bad the entire frontcourt has been defensively, including Poythress.
We won and it isn't the first time he was a major reason, not the only or even the main, but a major reason nonetheless. We need all these guys at some point why are some vilifying various players almost as if they aren't part of the team or at the very least they wish they weren't. The only indispensable player is Ulis followed closely by Murray. The rest are role players that Cal moves in and out as needed game by game. DW has been one of the more consistent offensively, defense needs work to be sure but we're better with him in there right now than not.
Derek is not a good on-ball defender. His man went around him twice, for layups, on Sunday. But, sometimes he will come out of nowhere and make a block, and without his offense, we probably will not go very far. Yes, I hope his defense gets better, but we cannot afford to be without him, either.
I'm talking about what Coach Cal said, and how some on here want to blame the whole defensive struggles on Willis. Hell, we're bad even when he's not in the game.
I agree. I think that this kind of singling out Willis is just bush league. None of our front line guys are good defenders. I have no idea what the deal is with Cal. His team cannot win without Willis and the kid is playing with a bad ankle. His blocks and steals were critical.
Everyone needs to calm down. Cal always identifies the people on the team he can be hard on and it have the right effect. I think Willis has made great strides and made a couple huge plays at the right time. The offensive rebound in OT he bounced off House's leg was a huge effort play. He does struggle to guard laterally and, hopefully, will work on it. But, this is all motivational.
All that matters is Willis hit the "3" in overtime. Derek's job is to hit shots and rebound. He did his job when it counted the most.
That three with a minute to go was cold.
Cal called out Murray after the game during the tv interview for not playing defense. Cal will call out any of his players.
Willis actually impresses me with his edge and hustle...I think he's turned into a pretty good rebounder. But he does struggle at times defensively with wing players and athletic, dynamic 4s.
Willis actually impresses me with his edge and hustle...I think he's turned into a pretty good rebounder. But he does struggle at times defensively with wing players and athletic, dynamic 4s.
Almost wonder if you don't try a zone at times when Willis is in and see if that changes anything? I'm not usually a zone guy but ya never know till you try it.
One of the biggest when you look at the score and the momentum at the time.
If Willis improves a lot on defensive end, he'll be NBA player.
Why do you think Coach Cal is telling him to guard harder....
Look at Murray, and how his reputation has changed over the season.
Willis has higher ceiling than Murray. He is long, and sometimes he gets block because of his poor on ball defense.
He's great potential..the more i see him. He can become MUCHHHH better. Coach Cal should keep pushing him. He's far bigger key than Skal. We can expect more from him than Skal.
Why do you think Coach Cal is telling him to guard harder....
Look at Murray, and how his reputation has changed over the season.
Willis has higher ceiling than Murray. He is long, and sometimes he gets block because of his poor on ball defense.
He's great potential..the more i see him. He can become MUCHHHH better. Coach Cal should keep pushing him. He's far bigger key than Skal. We can expect more from him than Skal.
Damn......Willis is so bad defensively that he hurts us even when he is on the bench......That Willis is a bad boy.....!
[QUOTE="JohnnyGentle, [/QUOTE]
Whether it is discussing players or debating other posters you are just a major d!*khead aren't you?
I dont necessarily disagree with your premise many times but your tone is pathetic.
I have finally realized that you were originally banned and one of the @ssholes who has returned to prove that whatever mod did ban you did a great job.
Whether it is discussing players or debating other posters you are just a major d!*khead aren't you?
I dont necessarily disagree with your premise many times but your tone is pathetic.
I have finally realized that you were originally banned and one of the @ssholes who has returned to prove that whatever mod did ban you did a great job.
While DW could certainly improve on defense, Cal is pretty adept at handling the psychology of coaching. The fact that he is willing to call DW out publicly tells me two things. First, it tells me that DW can handle it without it adversely affecting his game. Second, the other players in that locker room care enough about DW that they will work to be better on his behalf. They know that some of the breakdowns falling on DW's shoulder were not his fault. It is a manner of building a team that will fight for each other by using DW's ability to carry the load. It is part of what he does for the team. It is not uncommon for a junior or senior to be the focal point of almost all negative criticism, both public and private. The rest of the team rallies around that player and messages are delivered without singling out individuals who do not respond well to it. Instead of feeling sorry for DW, know that he is making this team better in more ways that can be quantified statistically. GBB.
yeah this board is better with more people who don't know basketball, actively hate current kentucky players, second-guess the miraculously successful current kentucky coach, and love bruce pearl
you should be throwing gold at my feet
Willis was bad defensively, no doubt about it. On his big block against A&M, he fronted the guy and allowed the guy to get the ball for what would have been an easy dunk if Ulis (I think it was him, it was a guard from the weak side) didn't come over and disrupt the guy allowing Willis to recover for the block. It was a good recovery by Willis in the end and a momentum changer but Ulis was what allowed him to get that block. Willis is a pretty good help defender and is good at getting blocks when helping from the offside. His problem is when he is the primary defender. He can't stay in front of many people. And I lost count of how many times he backed off his man and allowed them to shoot the jump shot without even putting up a hand. He isn't the only defensive issue on this team.
Just as its hard to argue against his defensive struggles, it is impossible to argue against his importance on offense. He didn't shoot the three as well as usual during the SEC tournament but he hit some big ones and him just being on the court spreads the floor. Him and Ulis in the pick and pop is fantastic for us.
But what I really love about Willis is his attitude. That quote from him in that article shows that he realizes that he needs to improve his defense. And it's clear from some other things he has said that he wants to and will do everything possible to improve and help the team. And he has shown that he will work to improve his deficiencies. He was a pretty bad rebounder to start the year, and he has worked on that and has become a pretty good rebounder (that has dipped a little after his ankle injury. I also think the injury is the reason he didn't shoot as well as usual).
It isn't a Willis or Poythress or Skal or Lee thing. It is a Willis and Poythress and Skal and Lee thing. This team needs all four to be as good as possible. Each player brings something to the table that helps the team and unfortunately each player brings something to the table that hurts the team. But I love all four of them and want all of them to do well.
Just as its hard to argue against his defensive struggles, it is impossible to argue against his importance on offense. He didn't shoot the three as well as usual during the SEC tournament but he hit some big ones and him just being on the court spreads the floor. Him and Ulis in the pick and pop is fantastic for us.
But what I really love about Willis is his attitude. That quote from him in that article shows that he realizes that he needs to improve his defense. And it's clear from some other things he has said that he wants to and will do everything possible to improve and help the team. And he has shown that he will work to improve his deficiencies. He was a pretty bad rebounder to start the year, and he has worked on that and has become a pretty good rebounder (that has dipped a little after his ankle injury. I also think the injury is the reason he didn't shoot as well as usual).
It isn't a Willis or Poythress or Skal or Lee thing. It is a Willis and Poythress and Skal and Lee thing. This team needs all four to be as good as possible. Each player brings something to the table that helps the team and unfortunately each player brings something to the table that hurts the team. But I love all four of them and want all of them to do well.
He's essentially a freshman who wasn't given leeway until after the first 1/3rd of the season. Crap on his defense all you want, I don't necessarily disagree, but keep that in mind.
I hate to bash another player, but he is NOT like Poythress, who had an entire career to figure this out. Derek has passed Poy in my book and he did it within one season.
I hate to bash another player, but he is NOT like Poythress, who had an entire career to figure this out. Derek has passed Poy in my book and he did it within one season.
I love Cal but he maybe setting up his defense to start the Freshmen next year and not Willis. I think he promises playing time to the 5 stars. I have seen bad defense from all 5 starters at different times.
Again, since you missed it the first time. Has nothing to do with your opinion, it is your delivery.
You are not this cool.
You are not smarter than everyone else.
You are not better than anyone else.
If you cannot see that you are being a jerk every time you post then let me help you...
YOU AE BEING A JERK EVERY TIME YOU POST.
Whether it is discussing players or debating other posters you are just a major d!*khead aren't you?
I dont necessarily disagree with your premise many times but your tone is pathetic.
I have finally realized that you were originally banned and one of the @ssholes who has returned to prove that whatever mod did ban you did a great job.[/QUOTE]
I'm surprised you haven't ignored him yet.
Johny Gentle is obviously a UL fan who's baiting every poster on this board. I'm not a mod and don't wanna be, but damn, what exactly would it take to ban someone? At least a few months I would think is necessary. They guy is going thread to thread looking for fight damn near ALL posters.
love our mods, I'm just sayin...
love our mods, I'm just sayin...