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SIAP: Wagner Love Thread

Wunky

Wunky

Heisman
Jan 16, 2021
4,402
18,354
78
Unsung hero against Auburn. Unsung hero in all our biggest victories this year. He has fantastic energy and is ALWAYS trying to make things happen. He hits FT’s. Talks a little trash. Finishes through contact. Great handles. Vocal leader.

Should we have lost the games he missed? No. Was his absence a monumental factor in the losses? Absolutely without a doubt yes. Because he isn’t a great shooter, he fails to get credit for all the little things he does (most importantly setting the pace and tempo of the game early). Their games are a little different but he reminds me so much of Briscoe. Will miss him when he’s gone.
 
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M

mcwildcats04

Heisman
Jul 19, 2003
9,186
12,737
93
Wonky said:
Unsung hero against Auburn. Unsung hero in all our biggest victories this year. He has fantastic energy and is ALWAYS trying to make things happen. He hits FT’s. Talks a little trash. Finishes through contact. Great handles. Vocal leader.

Should we have lost the games he missed? No. Was his absence a monumental factor in the losses? Absolutely without a doubt yes. Because he isn’t a great shooter, he fails to get credit for all the little things he does (most importantly setting the pace and tempo of the game early). Their games are a little different but he reminds me so much of Briscoe. Will miss him when he’s gone.
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This rings so true to me. It's why Wagner is one of my favorite players on this team. Love everything he brings to the table. He's going to be a huge piece to any deep March/April? run.
 
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R

richbrookstomato

Heisman
Sep 13, 2003
23,905
33,655
0
He played pretty good on defense. If he can cut down on the turnovers, pass the ball more efficiently and shoot it just a little better, our team will have a real shot at doing some big things!!! I LOVE how he makes FT's!! And he is getting much better at drawing fouls at the rim.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
45,982
83,689
113
Wonky said:
Unsung hero against Auburn. Unsung hero in all our biggest victories this year. He has fantastic energy and is ALWAYS trying to make things happen. He hits FT’s. Talks a little trash. Finishes through contact. Great handles. Vocal leader.

Should we have lost the games he missed? No. Was his absence a monumental factor in the losses? Absolutely without a doubt yes. Because he isn’t a great shooter, he fails to get credit for all the little things he does (most importantly setting the pace and tempo of the game early). Their games are a little different but he reminds me so much of Briscoe. Will miss him when he’s gone.
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I agree man, Wagner gets way too much unessecary crap said about him. He always wanted to play here, he always plays hard, and he’s pretty good. One of our best defenders and we need all we can get.
 
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J

JimBR_rivals319758

All-Conference
May 28, 2003
3,204
1,717
0
Wonky said:
Unsung hero against Auburn. Unsung hero in all our biggest victories this year. He has fantastic energy and is ALWAYS trying to make things happen. He hits FT’s. Talks a little trash. Finishes through contact. Great handles. Vocal leader.

Should we have lost the games he missed? No. Was his absence a monumental factor in the losses? Absolutely without a doubt yes. Because he isn’t a great shooter, he fails to get credit for all the little things he does (most importantly setting the pace and tempo of the game early). Their games are a little different but he reminds me so much of Briscoe. Will miss him when he’s gone.
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His on ball pressure at the start of the game was awesome and disruptive. I believe it was the key to our fast start.
 
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W

westerncat

Heisman
Feb 19, 2012
15,923
20,891
0
I thought he would be much better shooter than he is. I know he won't stay another year but he needs to.
 
A

alwaysblue

Freshman
Feb 5, 2003
46
53
0
Sad,was given pt guard because of relationship with Cal but found out he wasn’t best pt guard.. can’t shoot and but drive and draw fouls ,shoot free throws and has not improved this year
 
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S

Soupbean

All-American
Jan 19, 2007
5,945
8,109
0
Im on board with DJ. He has his limitations like everybody but prior to getting sick he was starting to really find his niche which is breaking down his man and attacking the basket. Without question the best we have at it and had started to go from just attacking to attacking and finishing and scoring and gaining confidence.

Sitting out set him back but I see him rounding back into form just about the time we need him most in tournament when you have to break down tough defenses. When he gets that confidence driving it and scoring back watch his outside shot get better too as he relaxes.

And as others have mentioned his positive attitude and bull dog mentality is great.
 
ib4ky_rivals111873

ib4ky_rivals111873

All-Conference
Dec 18, 2005
1,321
2,300
113
DJ is UK's toughest on-guard defender, doesn't get pushed around against these stronger SEC guards. Not afraid of the contact, great free throw shooter.

If Dilly or Shep are in the game with DJ, they have to be primary offense initiators with DJ playing off the ball, shooting open (non-contested) shots, driving to pass first and drive to shoot secondly.
 
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K

kennyskywalker34

All-American
Jan 22, 2013
4,528
7,453
0
This Kentucky team just doesn't have enough complete players on it.
The best 5 defenders hands down is Wagner,Edwards Thiero and Ugo I'd put Reeves as 5th best.
But you will have a hard time scoring enough points with that group getting the majority of the minutes.
Reed and Rob have to play a lot of minutes and both are terrible defenders. Reed gets a pile of steals but he is awful at the other aspects of Defense.
Reed IMO is also the only true PG on the roster.
It's just not a team with complete players on it. The better defenders aren't good offensive players. And the two best scorers Sans Reeves can't play enough defense.
 
B

Burly

All-American
Sep 3, 2002
17,140
8,642
113
Love the way he plays he tries very hard- burdened with a famous last name and expectations his game cannot match.
Wish he shot better than 28% from three
Really needs to learn a floater but that’s tough cause he only wants to go left
Reeves has that floater going left
 
crashtestdummy_rivals61973

crashtestdummy_rivals61973

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2009
3,907
4,286
113
Wonky said:
Unsung hero against Auburn. Unsung hero in all our biggest victories this year. He has fantastic energy and is ALWAYS trying to make things happen. He hits FT’s. Talks a little trash. Finishes through contact. Great handles. Vocal leader.

Should we have lost the games he missed? No. Was his absence a monumental factor in the losses? Absolutely without a doubt yes. Because he isn’t a great shooter, he fails to get credit for all the little things he does (most importantly setting the pace and tempo of the game early). Their games are a little different but he reminds me so much of Briscoe. Will miss him when he’s gone.
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Is talking trash something to be celebrated?
 
C

ck-2

Heisman
Apr 7, 2007
11,306
19,154
113
Wagner was much more agressive defensively putting pressure on the ball but that’s about all he has brung lately. His outside shot is awful, and he has taken some stupid threes at awful times lately. He’s struggling to finish at the rim now that teams know he’s always going left. It seems when he’s in the ball and offense stalls as he stands at the top of the key and just pounds the dribble until the shot clock is down to nothing.
Reed or Rob needs to start in his place so that the stagnant offensive lineup isn’t in that puts us in a hole.
All that being said I like DJ, he should be a multi year player, but he won’t. He shouldn’t be a starter, but he is. So it is what it is.
 
C

ck-2

Heisman
Apr 7, 2007
11,306
19,154
113
ThunderCat98 said:
I know there's no chance, but if he came back, he'd be a lottery pick next year.
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He should come back, but he’s a long way from being a lottery pick. IMO he’s way behind where Andrew Harrison was when he was here and we see how his career has gone.
 
Wunky

Wunky

Heisman
Jan 16, 2021
4,402
18,354
78
crashtestdummy said:
Is talking trash something to be celebrated?
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If you’re responding rather than initiating, and can back it up, hell yes.

In some cases it’s even good to initiate it. Think DeAndre Liggins. He lived in people’s heads.
 
BC_Wader

BC_Wader

All-American
Aug 13, 2021
4,669
8,726
113
JwUKFan11 said:
Board complains about defense but those same posters all hate Wagner. Make it make sense.
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Our best on ball defender with Thiero a close second. DJ has been that for a while now. He brings toughness to the position. He needs to stop the same drives he does as teams have picked up on it.. Go right for a change. I still like DJ. We went on that losing streak without him. He's a big piece for us and looked rather spry Saturday. Looks like he's over the injury. It's hampered him most of the season.
 
J

JRandoUK

Heisman
Jan 25, 2013
6,331
11,156
113
catben said:
He played pretty good on defense. If he can cut down on the turnovers, pass the ball more efficiently and shoot it just a little better, our team will have a real shot at doing some big things!!! I LOVE how he makes FT's!! And he is getting much better at drawing fouls at the rim.
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Not to be a piss any, but that applies to most of our current players…DJ Dawg mentality is awesome!!
 
J

jc2010

All-Conference
May 13, 2008
4,593
4,369
62
DJ needs to learn to embrace contact and not avoid it when he drives, I’m surprised his dad or granddad didn’t teach him that.
 
C

CatsnRoses

All-Conference
May 13, 2007
6,803
2,716
0
Wagner is going to be fine. He was really taking off before the ankle injury and he's obviously still in the process of reacclimating. Not worried about him at all come March.
 
C

ck-2

Heisman
Apr 7, 2007
11,306
19,154
113
YardCat said:
This is true, on any other team in the country Reed and Rob would start and DJ comes off the bench.
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For those who don’t understand the “frustration with DJ” this is why. So it should be directed at Cal.
 
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