Mark Williams PT

[Hammertime57]

Is there a reason that Mark has only played 12 and 14 minutes in the last 2 games? It doesn't look like foul trouble. I think that I read something about VT playing small ball and Mark was out of place. What about Elon? Do you think this trend will continue going forward? Thanks.

 

[christophero]

He doesn't match up with certain teams. It is what it is I guess. Coach likes small ball.

 

[sheyduke]

He doesn't match up with certain teams. It is what it is I guess. Coach likes small ball.

And this is what becomes his deciding factor to leave after this year. Lack of teams with his size to let him show his offensive moves. The down size is also it opens him up to being less effective in the paint when he can’t dominate smaller teams .

 

[timritterus]

I think it has a lot more to do with how he sometimes struggles defensively in the pick and roll. Smaller teams are always looking to get him out on the perimeter. If they do that, it takes a way his biggest strength as a disrupter around the rim.

 

[geddoughton23]

I think it has a lot more to do with how he sometimes struggles defensively in the pick and roll. Smaller teams are always looking to get him out on the perimeter. If they do that, it takes a way his biggest strength as a disrupter around the rim.

I guess.... There are very few 7 footers with wide shoulders, good hands and speed. I say play him 30 minutes per game. A couple of losses in January and February don't matter. Duke will only win the title if Williams is a big contributor

 

[jamsession3]

You must play in situations that allows for him to be an offensive force.

People always say the BIG is not necessary in small ball schemes with switches and stepping out to the perimeter. Who Cares! If the BIG is a guarantee bucket 🪣 on offense every trip, you can disregard a switch that leads to a layup. You want the BIG to get the old fashion 3pt play, get their man in foul trouble, and pass out of the post when necessary. The problem with this narrative is DEVELOPMENT.

A BIG is not meant to only be a good pic/screener.

BIG Mark is an Asset. I pray his confidence and touches increase.

 

[jamsession3]

You must play in situations that allows for him to be an offensive force.

People always say the BIG is not necessary in small ball schemes with switches and stepping out to the perimeter. Who Cares! If the BIG is a guarantee bucket 🪣 on offense every trip, you can disregard a switch that leads to a layup. You want the BIG to get the old fashion 3pt play, get their man in foul trouble, and pass out of the post when necessary. The problem with this narrative is DEVELOPMENT.

A BIG is not meant to only be a good pic/screener.

BIG Mark is an Asset. I pray his confidence and touches increase.

Kofi Cockburn of U of I is an example of a BIG that is dominant.

 

[HeLooks2MuchLikeDave]

I actually like our closing lineup with AJ at the 4 and Paolo at the 5

 

[CharlieBum]

Yeah, we adjusted to Elon and VT. I guess he doesn't pose enough threat offensively to have them adjust to us though. That used to be how games were won. Teams adjusted to us. Now, we adjust to Elon... :-/

 

[DukeJim99]

He's been struggling and his PT reflects that. He is a great rebounder and a good rim protector, but he's pretty loose with the ball and his finishing percentage around the rim isn't high unless he's dunking. I like him and agree with everyone who wants to see him get more PT so that he can improve and has more confidence come March/April.

But... I say that every year about at least a player or two. K seems more interested in putting his best team on the floor in the moment than developing players for later in the season. I'm sure he has his reasons. Maybe he'd say Mark can develop in practice, an extra 10 min of in-game playing time twice a week isn't determinative of whether he improves or not.

 

[Mac9192]

Mark, and Theo, for whatever reason, look to have regressed. Mark is just very raw. Sometimes it looks like he hasn’t played organized ball very long.
Hopefully things change for him. He will be needed as the season goes.

 

[geddoughton23]

I tried to watch the game. It just didn't hold my interest. Duke looked really small except for Banchero. Maybe it was the camera angle? I didn't even notice Mark Williams. I was shocked to see the boxscore. Williams had 10 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks in only 21 minutes. Excellent stats

 

[sheyduke]

Corey Alexander said he asked K about Mark and how he had to be glad with his progress. K said no , Mark is way better and needs to be more physical and aggressive especially when he’s the tallest player on the floor johns as well.
He just plays soft and loose at times but in his defense Duke is still having a hard time getting the ball into the low post more.

 

[christophero]

One thing I've noticed is coach K gave Roach huge minutes from the start of the season, knowing we will need him to be seasoned at the end of the year. I agree with coach that Mark needs to get a little tougher. Banchero as well, but we have seen progress with him recently and he seems to be going inside more.

 

[sheyduke]

Mark is a good player . IMO he just has that lost in the moment reaction . Like during the one inside pass to him in the second once receiving the ball. Instead of going straight up against the double team he brought the ball down to take a dribble allowing the defense to collapse on him. That’s one area I see K during film study saying,” go straight up get the foul !”

 

[jamsession3]

Mark is a good player . IMO he just has that lost in the moment reaction . Like during the one inside pass to him in the second once receiving the ball. Instead of going straight up against the double team he brought the ball down to take a dribble allowing the defense to collapse on him. That’s one area I see K during film study saying,” go straight up get the foul !”

That's his downside, still learning how to play with confidence and power. Mark has the potential, but lacks the immediate skills to produce. It's coming. DUKE just does not have the luxury for him to learn. With PB and AJ playing at a high level, and Keels playing strong, Mark will not play down the stretch.

 

[christophero]

It's nice that we have Mark if we need him. But it also limits us in some ways. I don't remember us having to ever pull a (good) big man this much, although usually our centers are 6-9 or 6-10. Small ball may get Banchero in foul trouble. Mark did play well against GT. I think we need him to be a starter. If we want to go small down the stretch that's okay.

 

[timo0402]

Did the Gonzaga game not happen? Was I dreaming or was Mark totally dominant against an elite frontcourt?

 

[christophero]

Yes but the other games where he was "not a good match up" happened too.

 

[Mpm277]

I'm going to get some flack for this, but let me state right up front that I am definitely - definitely - not saying that Cal is a better coach than K.

But one thing I do like about Cal's coaching style (maybe the only thing), is that he'll risk losing games early in the year in hopes that the continued experience of struggling players early in the season will pay off come March. Just in our last game with them earlier this year, one of their players (Tyty Washington, I think?) was struggling badly and Cal kept him in and still played like 30 minutes.

K is looking to win the game that's being played on the floor right then. I get that. But the fact that people have been complaining for literally years upon years of K not allowing players to grow and develop with in-game experience, if even just due to it's reoccurring longevity, should be a valid concern.

 

[christophero]

I think coach has done that with Roach, but not with Mark lately. Coach pretty much flat out said Mark needs to get tougher. If we are going to cut down the nets we need Gonzaga Mark. At the end of last year I think we were all expecting a little more out of mark, and everyone seemed to think we would have the nation's top frontcourt. We still can. I think Roach and Keels and Banchero and Moore have gotten a ton of time and that should pay off later. AJ coming on has something to do with our small ball line up as well.

 

[Liftee]

I'm going to get some flack for this, but let me state right up front that I am definitely - definitely - not saying that Cal is a better coach than K.

But one thing I do like about Cal's coaching style (maybe the only thing), is that he'll risk losing games early in the year in hopes that the continued experience of struggling players early in the season will pay off come March. Just in our last game with them earlier this year, one of their players (Tyty Washington, I think?) was struggling badly and Cal kept him in and still played like 30 minutes.

K is looking to win the game that's being played on the floor right then. I get that. But the fact that people have been complaining for literally years upon years of K not allowing players to grow and develop with in-game experience, if even just due to it's reoccurring longevity, should be a valid concern.

I happen to agree with you but it doesn't matter much. This is his last year, he's not going to change, and we are past the early season games where someone could be allowed to play through his learning curve.

 

[christophero]

3 of our 4 freshman are playing big minutes, (AJ's are increasing) so you could argue that coach is doing that this year. Roach getting huge minutes too. I've been critical of Roach but he is coming along nicely.

 

[timritterus]

There's some truth to what mpm is saying about Cal, but not in all cases. They have a kid named Damion Collins who is/was projected to be a late lottery pick or just outside of that. He played 3 min against us to start the year, then started playing some big minutes after that, and now he's back to about 5 min/game. So even Cal knows some kids aren't quite ready to help them win. That said, I would agree that K is mostly a win now type of coach.

 

[geddoughton23]

Calipari is a good coach. I think that he and K were both energized by disappointing seasons a year ago.

 

[sheyduke]

Mark is good . But K knows he can be better, is better then he’s shown . K isn’t doing anything to Mark that won’t happen in the NBA to him. Only difference is when you don’t constantly produce there’s a gleague in the NBA . K’s trying to bring out the best in Mark but only Mark can play the game . I think he will be fine once he begins trusting himself .

 

[timo0402]

Yes but the other games where he was "not a good match up" happened too.

Right, and in college there will just be bad matchups. In the NBA, there aren’t 10 or so teams a year that can’t field a roster with but one guy over 6’9.

But this really goes back to what I said in the off season. Pump the breaks on Mark. He had a great end to the season- he also wasn’t game planned for. He also had a weak team around him. He was going to have some ups and downs this year. Fans expectations were wildly out of touch for what he can consistently do, especially in the first 1/3 of the season.

Having said that, Mark has shown that he can replicate his finish to the season. Now he has to do it consistently. He has to box out better, he has to have softer hands and has to be stronger with the ball.

 

[geddoughton23]

27 minutes for Williams against Miami. 12 points, 7 rebounds, 6 blocks and 2 assists. 6 blocks! Theo John made his only attempt and had a rebound. Williams had 3 turnovers and John had 1. That's a lot of turnovers from the Center position.

Moore had 6 turnovers, Banchero 3, Roach 3. A total of 17 turnovers for the team . Miami only had 5 turnovers