Nick Richards or WCS?

yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
30,249
43,114
102
I’m not saying it’s not close, but I think several of you are forgetting how dominant WCS was as a versatile defensive player. He could literally guard 1-5. He didn’t win National DPOY and 1st team All-American by accident.

I do understand the Wisconsin game left a bad taste in our mouths. Believe me, it did mine, too.
Yep , Willies favorite move was to go out and switch onto an opponents point guard for absolutely no reason so the commentators could brag about his versatility, allthewhile our point guard was stuck underneath on their big guys . Drove me NUTS !
 
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ChicagoCat90

All-American
Oct 12, 2014
2,125
6,368
97
I’d go with Richards. NR has been able to create his own offense and has been CLUTCH from the free throw line. But we can circle back to this debate after the tourney.
 
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Jamal Mercer

Heisman
Feb 7, 2008
10,805
23,537
0
I swear there’s an article out there that said WCS played WR in high school, which is crazy if true...but

I love having a true post presence. I’ll say Nick, barely.
 
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BigBlueFanGA

Heisman
Jun 14, 2005
26,435
23,456
0
They are very different players and overall I don't see a lot of separation between them now. However, I think Nick has a fair amount of room to his ceiling. We saw the best of WCS. When Nick reaches his peak, the clear answer will be Nick.
 
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ManitouDan_anon

Heisman
Dec 7, 2006
20,073
32,434
0
Nick because of more versatility and being valuable on both ends of the floor . Both are great . I liked Willey , but his disappearing act was maddening. Right now Nick is bringing it every game and even doing better in the bigger games where WCS shrank .
 

IndyCat1995

All-American
Nov 21, 2016
2,642
7,672
0
I try my best not to let his last game ruin his legacy.

He was so dominant and completely changed many games. Like Nick is doing now
 
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Lovebaskelball

All-Conference
May 11, 2009
3,011
2,565
113
Richards plays well against small teams and has done zero against any team with length or size. WCS was an All-America.
 

HerrosHeroes

Heisman
Aug 16, 2018
27,234
38,040
0
They are very different players and overall I don't see a lot of separation between them now. However, I think Nick has a fair amount of room to his ceiling. We saw the best of WCS. When Nick reaches his peak, the clear answer will be Nick.
As in 2 months from now if we are heading to the FF, Nick could be nearly twice as good as he is now after another 15-17 games.
 

bigbluelou

All-American
Apr 13, 2011
9,274
5,560
0
Nick is on a great trajectory, and his ceiling is still even higher. Let's hope people don't fall off the NR bandwagon if he has a bad game or two. It's probably gonna happen, so don't lose faith when it does. We know what he can do and his confidence is soaring.
 

Burly

All-American
Sep 3, 2002
17,176
8,749
113
Nick because he is better offensively than WCS
Nick makes open jumpers & free throws. Plus the boy from Wisconsin just embarrassed WCS on the biggest stage
 

cats#1again

All-Conference
Nov 27, 2011
8,011
4,587
0
Ask yourself this. Could Nick guard wcs? Could Wcs guard Nick?
The answer is Wcs is the better of the two. Nick couldn't guard him flying all over the court. Wcs could guard Nick. Easily
 

TurnipDaBeet

All-Conference
Oct 17, 2019
5,500
4,392
0
Nick, even on a bad hair day.

:pimp:

 
Mar 23, 2012
23,493
6,068
0
Depends on what the rest of the roster is like. If you got a bunch of guys that can score/shoot then I'll take WCS for the defense. If you need some offense then Richards.
 
Jan 3, 2003
145,534
15,709
0
Depends on if the team needed more Def or more Off. WCS maybe could have done more offensively, but on the 15 team he didn’t have to. We really needed Nick to step up this year, and he has.

And yes I was the one the past 2 years comparing these 2.
 

TheExhaustedOne

All-Conference
Jan 24, 2020
1,308
1,553
0
Richards and it’s not even close for me. WCS is one of the most overrated players in uk history imo. If UK had been a 3-6 loss team in 2015 he isn’t an all American. He has the team to thank for that.
 
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morgousky

Heisman
Sep 5, 2009
23,959
43,171
0
Willie’s offense wasn’t that far behind Richards.

That is an incredible statement.

Willie didn’t have an offense. He had no finishing ability other than dunking and couldn’t hit outside of 4 feet.

Richards is light years ahead offensively
 

JPScott

All-American
Sep 16, 2001
7,689
7,427
62
Here's some stats comparing Nick Richard's Junior year to date with the three other centers who earned All-American honors under Calipari.

 
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26MichaelUK

All-American
Feb 14, 2013
36,689
5,377
93
I'm not gonna pick one because, and I hate to say this, the memory of WCS complete disappearance from the Wisconsin game after proclaiming over and over he came back to win the Natty has completely made my memory of his junior year cloudy.

I'm thankful we've had both.
 
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