I think even MadGator will concede....

[akaGatorhoops]

....we miss our "zero sum" player, Erving Walker, on the press.
For all of his attributes, Wilby has been largely inept when facing full court pressure.
This team will have to rely on passing and spacing to break pressure... and unless it learns how, that will ultimately be the undoing of our season.

[lean_gator]

Yes, we get it.

[akaGatorhoops]

Originally Posted by lean_gator

Yes, we get it.

There wasn't a punchline in there.

[GatorsGators]

Originally Posted by akaGatorhoops

....we miss our "zero sum" player, Erving Walker, on the press.
For all of his attributes, Wilby has been largely inept when facing full court pressure.
This team will have to rely on passing and spacing to break pressure... and unless it learns how, that will ultimately be the undoing of our season.

That's not true whatsoever. Only one of our turnovers in that run can be attributed to Wilbekin, and that was when he got caught up in a trap already past halfcourt. The other turnovers were due to the bigs (mainly Murphy) not knowing who to pass the ball to.

[akaGatorhoops]

Originally Posted by GatorsGators

That's not true whatsoever. Only one of our turnovers in that run can be attributed to Wilbekin, and that was when he got caught up in a trap already past halfcourt. The other turnovers were due to the bigs (mainly Murphy) not knowing who to pass the ball to.

True... my wording was poor and did not intend to direct blame only to Wilby. When I say inept, it is relating to his inability to simply dribble thru the pressure... which is something we took for granted the past few years.
Again... this team will rely on a more traditional press break, but has yet to master the spacing and passing. And true... not nearly all of that can be put on wilby.

[ufgator4ever]

Somewhere ewalk just jacked up a three.

[cudigator]

Originally Posted by ufgator4ever

somewhere ewalk just jacked up a three.

and it's good!!

[GatorsGators]

Originally Posted by akaGatorhoops

True... my wording was poor and did not intend to direct blame only to Wilby. When I say inept, it is relating to his inability to simply dribble thru the pressure... which is something we took for granted the past few years.
Again... this team will rely on a more traditional press break, but has yet to master the spacing and passing. And true... not nearly all of that can be put on wilby.

I do agree that Walker was great at single-handedly breaking down the press, but I don't think Wilbekin is as bad as some make him out to be in that regard. We'll just have to get better at breaking the press through passing and spacing, which can be just as effective as dribbling through the press when mastered.

[InstiGATOR1]

Originally Posted by akaGatorhoops

....we miss our "zero sum" player, Erving Walker, on the press.
For all of his attributes, Wilby has been largely inept when facing full court pressure.
This team will have to rely on passing and spacing to break pressure... and unless it learns how, that will ultimately be the undoing of our season.

As one of the most vocal critics of E.Walker, this is what I said continually during the off season. However UF has had most of its problems against zone presses this year. Those also gave Walker some problems.

[akaGatorhoops]

Originally Posted by GatorsGators

I do agree that Walker was great at single-handedly breaking down the press, but I don't think Wilbekin is as bad as some make him out to be in that regard. We'll just have to get better at breaking the press through passing and spacing, which can be just as effective as dribbling through the press when mastered.

Agree!

[HALLGATOR]

Originally Posted by GatorsGators

I do agree that Walker was great at single-handedly breaking down the press, but I don't think Wilbekin is as bad as some make him out to be in that regard. We'll just have to get better at breaking the press through passing and spacing, which can be just as effective as dribbling through the press when mastered.

Scottie brings a lot to the team and we are fortunate to have him. The more he has a chance to go against the pressure the better.

[SwampFox]

It is WAY too late for the "Zero Sum Club" to retract their misgivings. Ewalk was a baller. Most of us who know baskeball knew that. The kid was a master at breaking the press. Wilby is simply not at that level.

We are in the SEC schedule part of the season, and we appear to be no better than at the seaons's start in this regard.

Come tournament time, it will be or "wilby" our achilles heel..........

[akaGatorhoops]

Originally Posted by HALLGATOR

Scottie brings a lot to the team and we are fortunate to have him. The more he has a chance to go against the pressure the better.

True, though I think we will attack the press differently than we have in years past. Scottie is less capable of bating pressure with the dribble, but is more apt to see over defenders and make good passing decisions. Our approach is different, and though it should be effective... needs to improve.

[gatorev12]

I'll give Walker credit for two things: he could consistently beat the press and could consistently make FTs. He had a fearless streak in him that helped him at times--and hurt him (and the team) on others.

Overall, his defensive liabilities and his turnovers due to out of control and careless play probably make losing him a "zero sum."

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by gatorev12

I'll give Walker credit for two things: he could consistently beat the press and could consistently make FTs. He had a fearless streak in him that helped him at times--and hurt him (and the team) on others.

Overall, his defensive liabilities and his turnovers due to out of control and careless play probably make losing him a "zero sum."

I think one of the benefits of being shorter is that it's difficult for taller defenders to get at the ball.

Also, as a shorter player, you are forced to work harder at the things that you can control, such as ballhandling.

I've always been a Walker defender, especially after the attacks by some here, who so disliked the idea that we would have someone so short playing here. It was as they were insulted that Florida would stoop so low (no pun intended) to have someone who shouldn't be playing Division hoops on their roster (as opposed to being a ballboy or manager).

Of course, not acknowledging Walker's shortcomings in decision making and his defensive liability that his lack of height created would be misquided as well.

All in all, we were better for having Walker and the record books reflect that. I remind some that in his freshman year, noone (not even our great Parade AA guard) would put their rear end on the line and even attempt to win the game except for the little guy.

[g8tr80]

The problem with breaking the press was not Wilbekin but a couple of our bigs picking up their dribble in really, really bad spots. Screaming at Murphy to dribble the ball AWAY from the corner at the half court line. Stupid rookie mistakes.

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by g8tr80

The problem with breaking the press was not Wilbekin but a couple of our bigs picking up their dribble in really, really bad spots. Screaming at Murphy to dribble the ball AWAY from the corner at the half court line. Stupid rookie mistakes.

I agree with you. Scottie messed up in the half court situation where they trapped him to the mid court, but the other miscues were the fault of Murphy, Yeguette and one other situation were the ball was mishandled by someone besides #5.

[InstiGATOR1]

Originally Posted by tommyuf21

I agree with you. Scottie messed up in the half court situation where they trapped him to the mid court, but the other miscues were the fault of Murphy, Yeguette and one other situation were the ball was mishandled by someone besides #5.

And Young looking up and not handling the easy pass to him in the front court one time. I think that was one of Wilbekin's turnovers.

[tampajack1]

Erv is having a great season in Italy.

[themistocles]

Although on rare occasion, one can find a guard that will single handedly break a press, a press is a team process, no single player can successfully engineer a press and, breaking the press also, always has been, and will remain so forever a team process.

The fact that the Gators fail at breaking pressure sometimes can be attributed to one thing, and one thing only: coaching.

As Billy D noted regarding Roasio's apparent errors at the end of the Arizona debacle, he didn't do it by himself, it took the help of his teammates to cause the mistakes.

The same is always, and will always be true.


PEOPLE LOVE TO CREATE HEREOS AND VILLAINs, but in fact, such are extraordinarily rare phenomena.