Brockway: Billy D doesn't rule out coaching in NBA

[grant1]

He needs to have another baby and stay until graduation.

[qwghlmgator]

Originally Posted by Ahab

How is the money ball approach to the NBA a bad thing? I understand some moves can put pressure on a coach trying to win games but ultimately it should lead to more success.

I don't think it's a bad thing at all. I've been a Bill James fan since I was a kid. I just don't think that's that kind of basketball Billy wants to coach. Just like I don't think that Stan Van Gundy would have the patience to build a team class by class in college. There's a reason you don't see many college coaches going to the NBA (much less having success) and vice versa...

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Sounds to me that as long as Foley is here Billy will be here, after that, all bets are off

[NoahBeanBizzel]

"I can shoot threes now. I can finesse you. I can dunk on you. I can guard anything, and I'm rebounding better. When I block shots I catch the ball. I can post you up with my back to the basket and hit you with a post move. Or I can face you up and use my quickness to blow by you."

All of that noise, of course, was delivered from Chris Walker's mouth. I like how he basically cut his own promo during the interview with the Panama City News-Herald, while evaluating how his game had improved. I wonder if that's what Donovan was referencing when he talked about the "other things" you have to do in college. Sitting in living rooms, recruiting top players, and having to listen to that kind of rhetoric every year would probably wear you down.

Doesn't it actually get worse once they start playing professionally?

[tupacbiff]

Originally Posted by NoahBeanBizzel

"I can shoot threes now. I can finesse you. I can dunk on you. I can guard anything, and I'm rebounding better. When I block shots I catch the ball. I can post you up with my back to the basket and hit you with a post move. Or I can face you up and use my quickness to blow by you."

All of that noise, of course, was delivered from Chris Walker's mouth. I like how he basically cut his own promo during the interview with the Panama City News-Herald, while evaluating how his game had improved. I wonder if that's what Donovan was referencing when he talked about the "other things" you have to do in college. Sitting in living rooms, recruiting top players, and having to listen to that kind of rhetoric every year would probably wear you down.

Doesn't it actually get worse once they start playing professionally?

You make a great point. I'm sure most coaches prefer to recruit players with no confidence.

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by tupacbiff

You make a great point. I'm sure most coaches prefer to recruit players with no confidence.

It's always easier to knock them down a peg or two than to try to build them up.

[regurgigator]

Originally Posted by NoahBeanBizzel

"I can shoot threes now. I can finesse you. I can dunk on you. I can guard anything, and I'm rebounding better. When I block shots I catch the ball. I can post you up with my back to the basket and hit you with a post move. Or I can face you up and use my quickness to blow by you."

I suppose I'm getting off topic, but I love that he mentions catching a blocked shot. Too many players seem to have no idea that keeping a blocked shot in play is so much better than an impressive swat into the stands.


Yes, a swat into the stands can be intimidating, but most of the top teams/players aren't going to be intimidated.

[NoahBeanBizzel]

Originally Posted by tupacbiff

You make a great point. I'm sure most coaches prefer to recruit players with no confidence.

There was really no point. Walker's comments just sum up the reality of what college-and pro-coaches have to deal with. I tend to enjoy watching guys like Beal, Brewer, Bonner, David Lee and Udonis Haslem over a loudmouth who isn't good for the program. I'm not implying that Walker is the type of guy who will come in and stir things up, but the kid definitely thinks very highly of himself. And that's fine if he can learn how to play team basketball.

Donovan said that he loves Florida, and I'm sure that's a true statement. However, recruiting is something that drives college coaches away from the college scene. It's a taxing process. If he indeed decides to coach at the professional level a few years down the road, it wouldn't surprise me at all. I'm just enjoying the ride.

[tupacbiff]

Originally Posted by NoahBeanBizzel

There was really no point. Walker's comments just sum up the reality of what college-and pro-coaches have to deal with. I tend to enjoy watching guys like Beal, Brewer, Bonner, David Lee and Udonis Haslem over a loudmouth who isn't good for the program. I'm not implying that Walker is the type of guy who will come in and stir things up, but the kid definitely thinks very highly of himself. And that's fine if he can learn how to play team basketball.

Donovan said that he loves Florida, and I'm sure that's a true statement. However, recruiting is something that drives college coaches away from the college scene. It's a taxing process. If he indeed decides to coach at the professional level a few years down the road, it wouldn't surprise me at all. I'm just enjoying the ride.

So essentially you took a shot at walker, got called out, then admitted you really know nothing about him.

[NoahBeanBizzel]

Originally Posted by tupacbiff

So essentially you took a shot at walker, got called out, then admitted you really know nothing about him.

I know nothing more about Walker than you do. Or anyone else on the board. I DO know that anyone who says, "I'm like a sick mix of Kevin Garnett and Perry Jones III." thinks pretty highly of himself-especially for a high school senior. Is there a problem with finding humor with/commenting on a player who makes comments like that? I mean, that's what message boards are for, right?

I also know this about him: "I can shoot threes now. I can finesse you. I can dunk on you. I can guard anything, and I'm rebounding better. When I block shots I catch the ball. I can post you up with my back to the basket and hit you with a post move. Or I can face you up and use my quickness to blow by you."

I guess I know a whole lot more about Walker than I thought.

[rserina]

Stop being a **** and picking fights, Tupac.

[tupacbiff]

Originally Posted by rserina

Stop being a **** and picking fights, Tupac.

I don't like your accusation.

I'm simply calling out some ridiculous baseless statements about one of our signees. If a poster wants to comment on walkers attitude I would expect them to have some knowledge of him and not admit shortly thereafter they know nothing about him.

[REM08]

Originally Posted by tupacbiff

So essentially you took a shot at walker, got called out, then admitted you really know nothing about him.

No, he spoke what many believe to be the case with Walker - by using quotes from...Chris Walker. Tupac you've been one of the most vocal critics of some of UK's past players. Don't for a second try and pretend like you've got a leg to stand on if you're going to defend the vibe coming from Walker. He's got quotes I can't remember hearing from another high school prospect - certainly none of the ones you've bashed at UK. Doesn't mean he's a bad kid and I'm not bashing him, but you can't praise Brad Beal for the many intangibles he had without acknowledging a recruit that is missing some of them apparently.

I agree with the above mentioned notion that its easier to knock players down a peg than have to boost their confidence. This is something that's required from college and NBA coaches.

A player with an ego like Walker will either have to shelve it and buy into what Donovan is preaching, or he'll get to sit on the bench behind the other talented post players next year. While I'll criticize some of Walker's quotes, I'll never criticize Donovan for taking a chance on him.

[tupacbiff]

You ever think for a second it's just an act or hyperbole?

[gatorbogey]

i'd like to hear the interview before passing judgement. i've been quoted/mis-quoted in newspapers and came off sounding like an arrogant baffoon before. believe me: quotes are not what they seem to be. some of the stuff i was quoted as saying were not my words but the authors or he took bits of different sentences and mixed them together to condense the article.

walker may have prompted by the interviewer on who he plays like...heck back in my h.s. days i patterned myself have tom watson on the links. hit bunker shots like lee trevino and putted like hubert green. :-) wasn't necessarily arrogant, but w/out the context, the printed words may seem like that.

[REM08]

Originally Posted by gatorbogey

i'd like to hear the interview before passing judgement. i've been quoted/mis-quoted in newspapers and came off sounding like an arrogant baffoon before. believe me: quotes are not what they seem to be. some of the stuff i was quoted as saying were not my words but the authors or he took bits of different sentences and mixed them together to condense the article.

walker may have prompted by the interviewer on who he plays like...heck back in my h.s. days i patterned myself have tom watson on the links. hit bunker shots like lee trevino and putted like hubert green. :-) wasn't necessarily arrogant, but w/out the context, the printed words may seem like that.

I agree with you about interviewers having agendas or angles at times. But, most of these quotes were from an article that was written by a slam magazine writer that Chris Walker actually called to see if he would write an article about him. I think the writer even added that Chris Walker called him back after the interview to make sure his twitter handle was included in the article. I believe there were fairly emphatic quotes about planning on being a one-and-done as well (who cares as far as I'm concerned, but must irk some around here...)

I'm with you on some of the concerns, and definitely feel you get much more out of a quote when you hear it, or even better, see video of it. The interview I'm thinking of is just in writing, however.

Lets also keep this in context here. Walker, unlike some top recruits occasionally, doesn't have disciplinary issues, hasn't been arrested, isn't beating up teammates, etc. His issues, for lack of a better term, are more common than those types - especially among 17 or 18 year olds who know they are soon to be millionaires.

[rounds]

Might be better to be concerned about who Foley is grooming to replace Foley.

[rounds]

Why not Billy in a dual role?

[tupacbiff]

Originally Posted by rounds

Why not Billy in a dual role?

Dual role? Why stop there... I could see him as the AD and coaching hoops and football.

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by REM08

His issues, for lack of a better term, are more common than those types - especially among 17 or 18 year olds who know they are soon to be millionaires.

I watched some of his highlight video. After seeing it, I guess I can't argue with his opinion of himself.

However, facing physically inferior competition in high school and thinking that it will just carry over to college is another story.

That's what coaches are for....