Wally

[WarriorFan]

Wally is proving to be a reliable contributor.

More hustle than anyone else.

Boards well for his size.

Mature - makes good decisions and always in the right place.

Not a bad shot either.  I'd like to see him get more minutes and more touches. 

[🏀]

Wally is proving to be a reliable contributor.

More hustle than anyone else some.

Boards well for his size.

Mature - makes good decisions and always in the right place.

Not a bad shot either.  I'd like to see him get more minutes and more touches. 

FIFY.

Wally plays the right amount of minutes, he's not an offensive threat.

[GGGG]

I think he should be playing more.  Good things have been happening with him on the floor. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I agree about the hustle part. He jumps on loose balls like a starving man on a Christmas turkey

[brewcity77]

I'd like to see him be a 10-15 minute guy that plays in 2 minute bursts. I love his energy when he comes in and, unlike players we've discussed in the past, he doesn't seem to need long runs to get into the flow of the game. Great option to give rests to guys and provide defense and hustle. He won't be taking anyone's starting job any time soon, but I like the idea of inserting him around the 14, 10, and 6 minute marks of the first half and playing until the TV timeouts, and using him situationally at similar times in the second.

[The Lens]

Wally may be our best post defender, in part because he doesn't worry about accumulating fouls.  And since he is actually willing to go for loose balls, he becomes our #1 option in going for loose balls.

[injuryBug]

Both BE games he has been on the floor during our best play.  He is a glue guy that provides energy.  Not saying he should be getting 30+ minutes but 20-25.  He can defend multiple positions as well

[warriorchick]

Wally is proving to be a reliable contributor.

More hustle than anyone else.

Boards well for his size.

Mature - makes good decisions and always in the right place.

Not a bad shot either.  I'd like to see him get more minutes and more touches.

What the hell are you talking about?  Everyone knows that we only gave Wally a scholarship to get Henry and that he never plays.

[Dawson Rental]

No doubt Wally has been a pleasant surprise this season, particularly given his two lost seasons at Minnesota.  I still think that counting on increased minutes from him to lift up MU's fortunes is a reach.

[GooooMarquette]

What the hell are you talking about?  Everyone knows that we only gave Wally a scholarship to get Henry and that he never plays.

Wally is proving to be a reliable contributor.

More hustle than anyone else.

Boards well for his size.

Mature - makes good decisions and always in the right place.

Not a bad shot either.  I'd like to see him get more minutes and more touches.

Playing him more would piss off the commentators at the Big Twelethirfourteen Network.

[Dawson Rental]

Wally is proving to be a reliable contributor.

More hustle than anyone else.

Boards well for his size.

Mature - makes good decisions and always in the right place.

Not a bad shot either.  I'd like to see him get more minutes and more touches.

Playing him more would piss off the commentators at the Big Twelethirfourteen Network.

Since she was lampooning our friends to the west, maybe Warriorchick should have used pink if she didn't want to use teal.

[Benny B]

Wally may be our best post defender, in part because he doesn't worry about accumulating fouls.  And since he is actually willing to go for loose balls, he becomes our #1 option in going for loose balls.

The paradox is that this is only true because of how little he currently plays; i.e. if his minutes were increased, he'd be less likely to play at this level (i.e. he would be more conscious of fouls, injury, and/or more fatigued).

[MerrittsMustache]

Wally's job is to go all-out for 2-4 minutes stretches while a starter gets a breather. He's a hustle/energy guy. That's his role and he's very good at it, but he can't go like that for 25+ minutes a night, not to mention that his primary basketball skill is being a freakish athlete.

He's similar to a pinch-hitter in baseball. He may hit .300 and cause fans to wonder why he isn't getting more ABs, but when he does, it becomes obvious that he has some glaring weaknesses to his game that can be covered up somewhat by putting him in the right situation at the right time.

[MomofMUltiples]

Wally has unfortunately been followed around by some myths in his college career, i.e. that he isn't D1 talent (just ask the folks on the Badger Boards).  Wally chose Minnesota in part because Tubby was supportive of him also participating on the track team.  Folks at Minnesota really liked his energy and leaping ability (Mo Walker threw ally-oops up to him in freshman year).  Then he broke his hand and sat for much of the season; never really got into the flow.  The second year was year 1 with Pitino, who was not in favor of Wally participating in both Basketball and Track&Field, so Wally was benched and by the end of the first semester he was off the team.  He's never really had a chance to show what he can do or be a regular substitute in the lineup.  I think Wojo recognizes his role and plays him appropriately. Plus, there's always the hope of making the ESPN highlight reel whenever he's in.

[We R Final Four]

Both BE games he has been on the floor during our best play.  He is a glue guy that provides energy.  Not saying he should be getting 30+ minutes but 20-25.  He can defend multiple positions as well

Wally should be getting 20-25 MPG???

Im good with 10 or less.  All the good that WE brings can be realized in (3) 3 min segments.

[Herman Cain]

Wally makes the most of his minutes. I like his role exactly as it is. Anything more would be a problem and anything less would not be enough.  Very dependable for what he is asked to do. When guys eventually start fouling out his minutes will naturally increase.

I like that we have him another year after this. He was a good transfer pick up.

[Loose Cannon]

  Folks at Minnesota really liked his energy and leaping ability (Mo Walker threw ally-oops up to him in freshman year). 

I'd like to see him get an Ally-Opps at Home its sure to bring a spark for Players and Fans.

[Jay Bee]

From April 2014:

As for Wally, don't pay much attention his stats at Minnesota. He never got a chance. Also, broke his finger in the fall of his freshman year.. from there, things just didn't work out. Over the years I've seen him do amazing things on the court. Hard worker and ultra-athletic for a trad. Has 3-point range but very aggressive and can attack the rim. High flyer. All over the offensive boards.

He and his two brothers were "Warriors" together at Rice Lake HS and all played with D1 Minnesota AAU (fka Minnesota Pump N Run).

Woah... back to August 2012 for this one:

His brother Wally puts it like this: "I thought about Wisconsin, but then I considered their style of play and it wasn't for me"

The family is in the Twin Cities a lot.. John played at MU, then actually went and played for Becky. 

Wally is at Minnesota now as a freshman...he's ~6'5"... excellent athlete (and not just for a traditional).  Ellwood (seriously) is the middle boy and is kind of a grinder/effort guy.. very athletic as well, but doesn't have the touch the other bros have.

Henry is the biggest.. big fricken kid.  Game is far more than an interior traditional.  Potential is ridiculous if he works hard.  Does some amazing things.. I've watched him in person a lot and dude is the truth.  NOT your traditional traditional and NOT a traditional 'big man'. 

The kids played HS together this past year at Rice Lake WI, but have been in the Minnesota Pump N Run program... this year Ellwood played 17U and Henry has played 15U for a very strong team that's a ton of fun to watch - other notables on that team are Marshawn Wilson (2015 guard with springs under his feet) and 2016 Amir Coffey... very young and thin, but looong and his dad was a late bloomer who filled out and was a tough SOB at Minnesota back in his day.  Amir could turn out stupid good as well - really like him. 

Henry = will be NOTHING like Davante.  Could be a big 3/4 if he plays it right.  Now that I think of it.. and had to throw up a wild MU comp.. might say Chris Crawford.  Potential to be better, though. 

The family is very supportive, always around.  Mom, dad, little sister... they spend a lot of time in the gym.  If he says, "I'm heading to Marquette", be excited.

(PS - I also like Diamond Stone, but they are different players... )

PS - I think folks are familiar with Amir on this board... but Marshawn... he's a frosh at Northern Illinois.. they're 11-2 (7-2 against real teams)...  where he plays with Jaylen Key and Levi Bradley...

115 ORtg for Marshawn.. 28% usage, 32% %Shots.. hello...

[naginiF]

1) it's awesome to see that WE is earning his time on the court especially given the "2 for 1 scholy" stuff from the West.  When spotted at the scorers table, he's earned the official "Oooo, come here boys this'll be fun" naginiF family viewing quote.

2)  This may sound like a negative but it's the opposite.....when he's on ball, or there's a ball in contention, he seems very fluid in his movement.  When he's off ball, or no contention, he seems very "academic/deliberate" in his movement.  Like he's thinking "OK, in practice when we/they run this set and the ball is there i need to be right here".  And every time it's EXACTLY where he should be.  I think that this is why Wojo trusts him as the #8. 
*note:  CBB super(?) fan with 0 actual hand eye coordination

3) Jay Bee - you don't need approval from a Team Captain, but nice job all around on the 2012 Ellenson family and Amir analysis. 

[MU82]

Wally goes right into my "pleasant surprise" category. He clearly is a role player who, as others have pointed out (and I have in other threads), will do best in 2-4 minute bursts. 10-12 minutes seems about the right usage.

[Benny B]

From April 2014:

Woah... back to August 2012 for this one:

PS - I think folks are familiar with Amir on this board... but Marshawn... he's a frosh at Northern Illinois.. they're 11-2 (7-2 against real teams)...  where he plays with Jaylen Key and Levi Bradley...

115 ORtg for Marshawn.. 28% usage, 32% %Shots.. hello...

"Pump and Run"... wasn't that Paul Reubens' nickname for a while?

[Jay Bee]

"Pump and Run"... wasn't that Paul Reubens' nickname for a while?

He didn't do well with the run part.. actually yesterday I saw on a menu an item that reminded me of a Pee Wee joke from back in high school.. I told it to a 25 year old who barely knew who Pee Wee was..

"What's Pee Wee Herman's favorite meal?"

"Beef stroganoff"

[warriorchick]

He didn't do well with the run part.. actually yesterday I saw on a menu an item that reminded me of a Pee Wee joke from back in high school.. I told it to a 25 year old who barely knew who Pee Wee was..

"What's Pee Wee Herman's favorite meal?"

"Beef stroganoff"

That joke  is even older than you think.  Same punchline, but the riddle is "what do you call a herd of masturbating cattle?"

[Jay Bee]

That joke  is even older than you think.  Same punchline, but the riddle is "what do you call a herd of masturbating cattle?"

Nice. I'm workin up an appetite.