Demarion Watson

[AuH2O]

Hot take: there were times during this game that I was happy Watson was out there instead of Milan.

His block being one, but also he had some key, really tough rebounds, that there’s no way Milan would have gotten.

I don’t think there’s any doubt, but they are wildly different players. Hell there are probably rebounds Watson can get that almost no one on the team can get. Last night with KUs size, the recipe for rebounding was what it needs to be. Bigs keep their guy off the glass and the guards rally to the glass. Jones and Gilbert got a lot of boards too.

Heise and Watson are really great rebounders. Jefferson did a great job on the glass. Adam’s is a beast on the glass, so great job by him.

And I get that Storr has really regressed, but when KU went small, Jefferson did a great job on Storr defensively. That was probably the matchup KU wanted, and Jefferson was awesome. His D has really come around. Jackson also did a great job when he was on a G on the switch.

 

[Drew0311]

I don’t think there’s any doubt, but they are wildly different players. Hell there are probably rebounds Watson can get that almost no one on the team can get. Last night with KUs size, the recipe for rebounding was what it needs to be. Bigs keep their guy off the glass and the guards rally to the glass. Jones and Gilbert got a lot of boards too.

Heise and Watson are really great rebounders. Jefferson did a great job on the glass. Adam’s is a beast on the glass, so great job by him.

And I get that Storr has really regressed, but when KU went small, Jefferson did a great job on Storr defensively. That was probably the matchup KU wanted, and Jefferson was awesome. His D has really come around. Jackson also did a great job when he was on a G on the switch.

Storr is a total ball hog chucker and that is why he don't play. He can still score but he is a chucker.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I haven't watched the game yet, but other posters have commented he looked lost on offense. So you don't think mixing him in 20-25 minutes a game in November or Decemeber would have helped his offense in any way?

I'm sorry, I still don't agree with you guys. How is him playing and running sets to get more comfortable on offense from the 3 guards a bad thing?

I honestly think that most people who think he "looks lost" are misinterpreting the fact that they don't run plays for him and any offense he does get is usually in a scramble.

I think it's probably true that he's the 9th best player on this roster, but that speaks to the massive amount of talent in front of him and the fact that he can play an important role coming in cold like that speaks to both his ability and his character.

 

[Marcelason78]

Storr is a total ball hog chucker and that is why he don't play. He can still score but he is a chucker.

Not a good return for $750k. Self is probably thinking he’s got to better at evaluating value. Like TJ.

 

[Clonehomer]

Not a good return for $750k. Self is probably thinking he’s got to better at evaluating value. Like TJ.

He’s still learning. Remember, he had nothing to do with those rotten Adidas guys that were paying the players before. So he never had to rely on his scouting abilities. Top players just randomly showed up in Lawrence wanting to play for Kansas and he had no idea why.

 

[CoachHines3]

Hot take: there were times during this game that I was happy Watson was out there instead of Milan.

His block being one, but also he had some key, really tough rebounds, that there’s no way Milan would have gotten.

no ones ever said he's (milan) is more athletic than watson

watson is very athletic and those skills were on display last night, for sure.

milan can shoot the sh*t outta the ball though

 

[Drew0311]

Not a good return for $750k. Self is probably thinking he’s got to better at evaluating value. Like TJ.

If you look at his stats in the past, it was clear why he was scoring a lot. Ton of shots, low shooting percentage. Wisconsin fans were not that mad when he left because he takes terrible shots. There was also a reason he didn't go to the NBA. Scouts know he just shoots a lot and is not really that good.

 

[AllInForISU]

I haven't watched the game yet, but other posters have commented he looked lost on offense. So you don't think mixing him in 20-25 minutes a game in November or Decemeber would have helped his offense in any way?

I'm sorry, I still don't agree with you guys. How is him playing and running sets to get more comfortable on offense from the 3 guards a bad thing?

No so much lost. More like, he has nothing going on offensively other than O rebounds and out backs/dunks at the rim. That won’t get fixed by playing in games more. That only gets fixed in practice.

Comfort has nothing to do with it. We’ve seen this now for 3 years in the same system.

 

[moores2]

You guys want it both ways, you say he was fine last night on D, rebounding and effort. Well, we've known that for 3 years now. Then you guys turn right back around and say he's lost on offense?

Hmm, so if you're fine on D and lost on O, wouldn't it make more sense more reps with the first team would have improved his offense? Or at least improved enough to where he actually knows how to run the sets?

It has less to do with him being lost in sets on offense, and more to do that he is scared with the ball in his hands. He doesn't possess the offensive skills to be a threat, so defenses sag off in a big way. Any time you take a ball handler off the floor for a Watson type, spacing gets hard. He needs to develop ball handling skills more than anything. He is a hell of a defender though.

 

[Billups06]

Storr is a total ball hog chucker and that is why he don't play. He can still score but he is a chucker.

Storr had a head scratching-contested three point attempt when we were up 6 with about 4 minutes left (during KU's run when they cut our lead from 12 points to 5 points in about 2 minutes) . Critical turn, as I believe the next possession was the Jackson offensive rebound and pass to Lipsey for a 3.

 

[madguy30]

You guys want it both ways, you say he was fine last night on D, rebounding and effort. Well, we've known that for 3 years now. Then you guys turn right back around and say he's lost on offense?

Hmm, so if you're fine on D and lost on O, wouldn't it make more sense more reps with the first team would have improved his offense? Or at least improved enough to where he actually knows how to run the sets?

When did I say he was lost on offense?

Are we back to everything hyperbole?

 

[SolterraCyclone]

It has less to do with him being lost in sets on offense, and more to do that he is scared with the ball in his hands. He doesn't possess the offensive skills to be a threat, so defenses sag off in a big way. Any time you take a ball handler off the floor for a Watson type, spacing gets hard. He needs to develop ball handling skills more than anything. He is a hell of a defender though.

I think the poster retracted the “lost” description at this point.

When I watch Watson, I compare him to a poor man’s Aaron Gordon with the Nuggets. Gordon is a great defender and rebounder. He’s a pretty poor shooter and can’t really create his own shot though. So he plays the rim runner role where he looks for lobs from Jokic or cleans up the offensive glass.

It’s an extremely valuable role for the Nuggets, and I could see Watson doing some version of that in a certain game plan for the Clones

 

[madguy30]

Ok, I completely agree, Jefferson and Jackson were new, Watson has been here 3 years.

The problem is some posters are saying practice reps against our giys are more beneficial than playing 20 minutes against Chicago St. But now you're saying it was crucial Jackson and Jefferson got up to speed by game reps.

Everyone is talking around in circles on this.

I think maybe you're just being hyper sensitive on this stuff for whatever reason and somewhere in there mayyyybe want reasons to take digs at TJ.

 

[AllInForISU]

You guys want it both ways, you say he was fine last night on D, rebounding and effort. Well, we've known that for 3 years now. Then you guys turn right back around and say he's lost on offense?

Hmm, so if you're fine on D and lost on O, wouldn't it make more sense more reps with the first team would have improved his offense? Or at least improved enough to where he actually knows how to run the sets?

I’m curious to know what you think these guys do in practice. You don’t get comfortable with the sets by playing in game reps. Not at this level. You run it in practice until you can do it in your sleep, then you run it more.

I was one that originally said lost, but that was the wrong wording. After rewatching and focusing only on Demarion when he was in, the correct wording/phrase after rewatching would be offensively challenged. And because of that, he’s basically gets taken out of every set and just standings in the short corner waiting for a drive and dish for a dunk or an offensive rebound. He’s just not a guy who can score on anything other than that. But let me say this unequivocally, I’m glad we have him as depth when someone goes down and I love that he stuck around when a lot of guys would have bailed to the portal due to the circumstances.

 

[AllInForISU]

Ok, I completely agree, Jefferson and Jackson were new, Watson has been here 3 years.

The problem is some posters are saying practice reps against our giys are more beneficial than playing 20 minutes against Chicago St. But now you're saying it was crucial Jackson and Jefferson got up to speed by game reps.

Everyone is talking around in circles on this.

I feel like you don’t understand the nuance here, and you can’t, or are choosing not to, understand what the general idea of most of the posters here are saying. Because if you did, this would not be the response to give.

 

[RollClones14]

To me it's pretty simple.

We're 15-1 and #2 in the country. TJ obviously has defined roles to everyone while still keeping everyone engaged and bought in at all times. Doesn't matter if they play 0 minutes or 30. Everyone is rowing the boat together.

I have zero reason to question how he has run the rotation and minute usage from minute 1 against Mississippi Valley State until last night. He knows what he is doing and so does his team.

In my opinion, there is nothing currently to critique with this team as far as player usage goes.

 

[AllInForISU]

To me it's pretty simple.

We're 15-1 and #2 in the country. TJ obviously has defined roles to everyone while still keeping everyone engaged and bought in at all times. Doesn't matter if they play 0 minutes or 30. Everyone is rowing the boat together.

I have zero reason to question how he has run the rotation and minute usage from minute 1 against Mississippi Valley State until last night. He knows what he is doing and so does his team.

In my opinion, there is nothing currently to critique with this team as far as player usage goes.

I was interested in seeing how it got adjusted after the Milan injury, and shocker, it couldn’t have worked better. Beating the number 9 team in the country by 17 should quell any roster management questions going forward. It wont, more than likely, but it should.

 

[NWICY]

I honestly think that most people who think he "looks lost" are misinterpreting the fact that they don't run plays for him and any offense he does get is usually in a scramble.

I think it's probably true that he's the 9th best player on this roster, but that speaks to the massive amount of talent in front of him and the fact that he can play an important role coming in cold like that speaks to both his ability and his character.

Post game show TJ said that when Milan got hurt that Watson came in and said (paraphrased )I've been doing the work and can step up. IMO he proved that last night.

 

[Clone95]

I haven't watched the game yet, but other posters have commented he looked lost on offense. So you don't think mixing him in 20-25 minutes a game in November or Decemeber would have helped his offense in any way?

I'm sorry, I still don't agree with you guys. How is him playing and running sets to get more comfortable on offense from the 3 guards a bad thing?

I'd recommend watching the game, it's pretty fun. Also, maybe hold your opinions on Watson until you actually see how he played. Looked ready to play from the jump, to me. I don't think he'd have played any differently with game time minutes in the non-con.

 

[cycloner29]

That's kind of my entire point. You have a roster of 12 guys for a reason. Things happen throughout a season, such as a broken hand. You can't count on anything so wouldn't it make sense to be as prepared and mitigate the most risk possible?

I guess I'll just die on this hill. I refuse to believe that meaningful game minutes doesn't help at all with development.

If a guy is showing out in practice what good does that do himself, the coaches, or us as fans if he's never in the box-score? You don't have to respond to this, that's my final thoughts about it.

Don't die, JUST GO AWAY!!!