How will Willie be used this season:

[kingsboi]

One thing I took away from Willie's time at Kentucky, and from last year, is Willie does as he's told. He's very coachable, and as a result, I think it's hard to actually know what his tendency's are. Was what he was doing last year a tendency, or was he doing what he was told to do. I honestly don't know, but my bet is he was told to play a certain way, and was trying to do exactly that. Add in mental mistakes from inexperience, and you have a mixed bag of results.

You mentioned that Koufos is good pick and roll defender. Willie is the best pick and roll defender I have ever seen coming out of college, and yet, that wasn't one of the things that stood out from him last year. You have to ask yourself why? Did he suddenly forget? I doubt it! One thing is for sure. We'll have a very good idea of how good a defender Willie is after this season.

Let's also hope that in the process he learns how to properly box out and put a body on someone and not just ball watch.

 

[Gilles]

Let's also hope that in the process he learns how to properly box out and put a body on someone and not just ball watch.

There are 2 things, that would increase Willie's impact on the game at least just as much as 15+ feet shot: good screen and defensive rebounding technique. His screens are really weak, and he doesn't use positioning for defensive rebounding at all, and that needs to change quickly.

 

[kingsboi]

There are 2 things, that would increase Willie's impact on the game at least just as much as 15+ feet shot: good screen and defensive rebounding technique. His screens are really weak, and he doesn't use positioning for defensive rebounding at all, and that needs to change quickly.

You are spot on with this assessment here. I don't think he ever got taught to properly screen and/or position for rebounds, he always got away with it because of his athleticism and length, now that doesn't work so much anymore. This is a grown man sport. Joerger and company need to work all season long with him to get it implanted in his brain that the small things equate to much bigger things in the long haul.