Kyle Wiltjer was thought to have a breakout season by many, but there is two parts of his game that will have to change for that to happen.
Defense and rebounding.
Kyle is finding himself on the bench more often that not because of his lack of defense, and most can probably figure out, it is hard to put points on the board if you are sitting next to Coach Cal.
Coach Calipari had thoughts on Wiltjer’s 1 rebound, 1 assist performance vs. Northwood.
“There were five or six balls that he could have gotten that he didn’t. You must get those balls. There’s not an option. Now all of a sudden if your game is predicated if he’s making shots, do you really want to be that guy? If I don’t make shots I play three minutes. If I’m making shots, good, I’ll play 28, 30 minutes.”
Wiltjer might be stronger after working out during the summer, but being able to box out and get rebounds is looking like a challenge so far for the 6’10” forward.
There were a couple of times the only returning player from last season that saw considerable playing time was pushed around in the paint after the shot, and it gets to the point that Coach Cal spoke of earlier.
If Kyle Wiltjer doesn’t rebound, he isn’t going to play.
Does it matter if Kyle can shoot the basketball if he is sitting on the bench?
“He is way better than he was, way more athletic than he was, but still has to get in better shape and still anticipate things better,” said Calipari. “I keep telling him, you must anticipate. You have to see, force yourself, because if he anticipates he’s close enough to the guy to guard him. If he doesn’t anticipate, he tries to run and then they just run around him.”
If Wiltjer doesn’t start playing both sides of the basketball, missing shots will put him right back where he was last season.
On the bench.
