Wally can get up

[Ellenson Guerrero]

http://midwestballers.com/wally-ellenson-throws-down-crazy-eastbay-dunk-from-behind-the-backboard/

[Tugg Speedman]

What did you expect from a world class high jumper?

[Texas Western]

Wojo and Staff have a big opportunity with Wally. They have a year to figure convert his athletic potential into basketball productivity. We could have some rotations that are incredibly quick and explosive. Deonte, JJJ, Duane and Wally would be highly entertaining .

[wadesworld]

Wojo and Staff have a big opportunity with Wally. They have a year to figure convert his athletic potential into basketball productivity. We could have some rotations that are incredibly quick and explosive. Deonte, JJJ, Duane and Wally would be highly entertaining .

With a ton of turnovers, a very low shooting percentage, and no defense.

[Nevada233]

Can anyone on Marquette play defense besides derrick....

[4everwarriors]

I would expect no less from any dude in his 20's, hey?

[willie warrior]

Can anyone on Marquette play defense besides derrick....

Several can. And Derrick's D is vastly overrated. Thanks to Bert.

[Sheriff]

I would expect no less from any dude in his 20's, hey?

You beat me to it.

[LAMUfan]

He can def be a high energy effort rotation guy at a minimum, no downside to him at MU.  Love the dunk.

[Tugg Speedman]

Wojo and Staff have a big opportunity with Wally. They have a year to figure convert his athletic potential into basketball productivity. We could have some rotations that are incredibly quick and explosive. Deonte, JJJ, Duane and Wally would be highly entertaining .

Why didn't Richard Pitino do this? 

[Texas Western]

Why didn't Richard Pitino do this? 

Sometimes it takes a change of scenery and personal growth.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Sometimes it takes a change of scenery and personal growth.

This. Also Wally is REALLY excited to play on the same team as his brother again. The two are really close and maybe that is the push he needed to get better so he can actually be on the court with Henry.

[Johnny B]

Athletic team we have.

[Warrior Code]

I thought Wojo was going to recruit basketball players, not just athletes.

[Loose Cannon]

I thought Wojo was going to recruit basketball players, not just athletes.

Check out Miles Plumlee !!

[raul]

Didn't you hear that white men cant jump?Then again even if he could, could he he hit a free throw at 70% +? If so he has a future at MU.

[lurch91]

Athletic team we have.

And traditional too.

[Wade for President]

I see Wally potentially playing a high-energy role like that dude from Florida Gulf Coast a few years ago.  He could add some flair, bounce, and a little swagger.

Loved watching Dunk City.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ue3VM3pyKOE

[ttheisen]

He tried that dunk at Madness, right?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Work on Wally's fundamentals and Wojo could have a player competing for starters' minutes

[leever]

Athletic team we have.

Is that you Yoda?

[Tugg Speedman]

Work on Wally's fundamentals and Wojo could have a player competing for starters' minutes

Wally couldn't get off the bench at Minnesota.  Now is going to compete for starter minutes at Marquette?

Are we down with the depaul or is he going to have some kind of miraculous conversion?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Wally couldn't get off the bench at Minnesota.  Now is going to compete for starter minutes at Marquette?

Are we down with the depaul or is he going to have some kind of miraculous conversion?

Jajuan Johnson couldn't get off the bench last season, now is going to compete for starter minutes in 2014-2015? Buzz isn't the only coach who benched players for reasons other than their playing ability on the court.

Everything I have heard about Wally indicates that he is going to be a contributor. He is the best athlete on the team but doesn't have the best fundamentals. If Wojo can remedy that, I see no reason why he can't compete for starters' minutes.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Wally couldn't get off the bench at Minnesota.  Now is going to compete for starter minutes at Marquette?

Are we down with the depaul or is he going to have some kind of miraculous conversion?

I dont get this. If youve seen him play you can see that hes putting it together. Especially on defense. Afterall, someone has to guard Henry in the Ellenson family back yard pick up games.

[Loose Cannon]

Wally couldn't get off the bench at Minnesota.  Now is going to compete for starter minutes at Marquette?

Are we down with the depaul or is he going to have some kind of miraculous conversion?

Your comment seems to indicate a lot of confidence in Pitino and little in Wojo.  Have you seen that much of Pitino and Wally?

[Tugg Speedman]

Please give me examples of someone that does not see the floor then transfers to a BETTER program and becomes a starter?

I'm not dissin Wally, I'm saying you expect too much ... Yes I think he can work into the rotation, but start?  Try this, he will never be ahead of Sandy Cohen.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Please give me examples of someone that does not see the floor then transfers to a BETTER program and becomes a starter?

I'm not dissin Wally, I'm saying you expect too much ... Yes I think he can work into the rotation, but start?  Try this, he will never be ahead of Sandy Cohen.

I dont think he will start but he can be a 15 mpg player. I personally havent seen what the hype is about Sandy. Granted, he is a freshman but not many flashed. Also, Sandy and Wally play different positions. Wally will be more of a 3/4 and Sandy can play point guard.

[JakeBarnes]

Please give me examples of someone that does not see the floor then transfers to a BETTER program and becomes a starter?

I'm not dissin Wally, I'm saying you expect too much ... Yes I think he can work into the rotation, but start?  Try this, he will never be ahead of Sandy Cohen.

Well I don't think he will be a starter, but he did have some injuries early on that got him off to a slow start. Then there was a coaching change. Those things tend to bury someone on a bench if you aren't that coaches type of guy.

I think what most people are trying to say is that he is more than just a warm body. I like the energy he brings so far. We won't know just how much he brings to the table until next year, but I imagine he could see 10-15 minutes and becomes more focused with his brother on the way.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Please give me examples of someone that does not see the floor then transfers to a BETTER program and becomes a starter?

I'm not dissin Wally, I'm saying you expect too much ... Yes I think he can work into the rotation, but start?  Try this, he will never be ahead of Sandy Cohen.

Luke Fischer?

[NersEllenson]

Well I don't think he will be a starter, but he did have some injuries early on that got him off to a slow start. Then there was a coaching change. Those things tend to bury someone on a bench if you aren't that coaches type of guy.

I think what most people are trying to say is that he is more than just a warm body. I like the energy he brings so far. We won't know just how much he brings to the table until next year, but I imagine he could see 10-15 minutes and becomes more focused with his brother on the way.

Bingo.  You can't coach athleticism, and athleticism can help make plays on the basketball court.  10-15 minutes for the caliber of athlete Wally is, is a reasonable expectation.  Issue for a guy like Wally is that due to the incredible athleticism, and especially while growing up in a place like Rice Lake, WI - he never needed to fully develop a great perimeter shot - as he could likely get to the rack at will.  He comes from a good lineage, and with some work should be able to develop a solid jump shot.  He's a perfect candidate to be an 8th-9th man on a roster...

[wadesworld]

Luke Fischer?

No teal necessary.

[Spotcheck Billy]

and with some work should be able to develop a solid jump shot.

like Derrick Wilson this year?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Please give me examples of someone that does not see the floor then transfers to a BETTER program and becomes a starter?

I'm not dissin Wally, I'm saying you expect too much ... Yes I think he can work into the rotation, but start?  Try this, he will never be ahead of Sandy Cohen.

First, Minnesota was way better than us last season. And will probably be better than us this season.

2nd, as someone else said, Luke Fischer.

3rd, I just said competing for starters' minutes. Meaning he's in the conversation, not necessarily actually starting. It's also assuming that Wally does improve his fundamentals.

[Tugg Speedman]

This entire thread in reminiscence of the thread several years ago praising Erik Williams for having an "NBA body" and it was a given he would star for MU and we wondered if he would leave early for the NBA draft.

We ridocously overvalue our players.

[RJax55]

This entire thread in reminiscence of the thread several years ago praising Erik Williams for having an "NBA body" and it was a given he would star for MU and we wondered if he would leave early for the NBA draft.

We ridocously overvalue our players.

Every fan-base does. This is not unique.

[GGGG]

This entire thread in reminiscence of the thread several years ago praising Erik Williams for having an "NBA body" and it was a given he would star for MU and we wondered if he would leave early for the NBA draft.

We ridocously overvalue our players.

I'm not saying he's going to get starters minutes by any respect.  But I think the reason he couldn't get off the bench at MN was at least partially due to injury and a coaching change.  There is no reason why he can't be a decent contributor next year or the year after. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

This entire thread in reminiscence of the thread several years ago praising Erik Williams for having an "NBA body" and it was a given he would star for MU and we wondered if he would leave early for the NBA draft.

We ridocously overvalue our players.

?

Who has said it is a given that Wally will start? The statement was IF he can improve his fundamentals, he COULD COMPETE for starter's minutes.

[MU82]

Are we down with the depaul or is he going to have some kind of miraculous conversion?

Maybe down with the depaul this season but hopefully up with the georgetown in 2015-16!

[StCroix64]

The biggest knock on Wally...going all the way back to HIGH SCHOOL is his defense.  It was his downfall in Minnesota with both coaches.  You can be athletic as hell, if you can't move laterally quick enough to guard someone, you're going to struggle getting minutes anywhere.

That being said, defense IS coachable...there are lots of guys who are no fleet of foot playing D1 basketball who can get coached up to play position defense.

Wally is too athletic to NOT get minutes, but those minutes WILL be limited if he can't play D.

[Dawson Rental]

I'm not a kinesiology guy, but I find it difficult to believe that a guy could have the hops that Wally does, yet lack lateral movement.  Does anyone know if this can be the case?

[StCroix64]

I'm not a kinesiology guy, but I find it difficult to believe that a guy could have the hops that Wally does, yet lack lateral movement.  Does anyone know if this can be the case?

Take it for what its worth.  I can attest from watching him play dozens of times and talking to people within the program at Minnesota.  Defense is his biggest weakness.

[MomofMUltiples]

Wally's never been given an opportunity to show what he can do in college ball.  Freshman year he broke his hand in late October and never worked his way into the rotation after missing 8 weeks.  Sophomore year, Pitino made it clear that he wanted Wally to commit only to basketball, and punished him when he refused to give up track.  Hopefully, Wojo will give him a chance so folks have some basis to comment on his strengths/deficiencies.

[LAMUfan]

I'm not a kinesiology guy, but I find it difficult to believe that a guy could have the hops that Wally does, yet lack lateral movement.  Does anyone know if this can be the case?

reaction time, anticipation, vision etc also play into that, its not just jumping at a non moving object.  The kinesiology is different too (quick reactionary motion vs pure explosive power) but that is more than I care to go into