At Least Lute Recruited Some Classy Kids-Miller hires and recruits the Thug Mentality

[Renz]

If Fogg could play against UCLA every night, he'd be first team All-American.

 

[Russ Smith]

If Fogg could play against UCLA every night, he'd be first team All-American.

No kidding, this season can't end fast enough for me in terms of watching Anderson and Drago play. Lee cramps up, Anderson comes in and immediately Fogg goes bananas because Anderson isn't paying attention at the top of the zone.

Then UA has the lead and Drago blows a layup, misses a WIDE open 3, lets Momo go baseline to foul out Lane etc.

Apparently Nelson was cleared to play by doctors but when they did their practice walkthrough he didn't feel right and they decided not to play him, won't play Saturday either. Apparently his grandmother had 2 detached retinas and is now legally blind so since he just had retinal surgery UCLA is opting on the cautious side. Sure would have been nice to have him inside last night though. Lane is just not a 5 and not strong enough yet, had a dunk blocked by Williams and a layup blocked by Hill, just doesn't have the strength yet to power through the way Nelson does.

Momo sure seems to have hit his stride, still not sure he's a PG but he was huge in the 2nd half.

 

[Lefty]

No kidding, this season can't end fast enough for me in terms of watching Anderson and Drago play. Lee cramps up, Anderson comes in and immediately Fogg goes bananas because Anderson isn't paying attention at the top of the zone.

Then UA has the lead and Drago blows a layup, misses a WIDE open 3, lets Momo go baseline to foul out Lane etc.

Apparently Nelson was cleared to play by doctors but when they did their practice walkthrough he didn't feel right and they decided not to play him, won't play Saturday either. Apparently his grandmother had 2 detached retinas and is now legally blind so since he just had retinal surgery UCLA is opting on the cautious side. Sure would have been nice to have him inside last night though. Lane is just not a 5 and not strong enough yet, had a dunk blocked by Williams and a layup blocked by Hill, just doesn't have the strength yet to power through the way Nelson does.

Momo sure seems to have hit his stride, still not sure he's a PG but he was huge in the 2nd half.

I think both teams will be back on top of the Pac-10 very soon. Momo is really playing well and I think he can play the point but if Miller can get a point guard for next year, Momo will play the 2. The future is bright for both teams.

 

[Lefty]

Cats win a thriller as Nic Wise makes the winning basket in the 2nd overtime. Up next will be UCLA. It looks like Nelson will be back and it is very hard for a team to beat another team three times in one year. This will be a tough game for the UofA, especially since it's basically a home game for the Bruins.

 

[Russ Smith]

Cats win a thriller as Nic Wise makes the winning basket in the 2nd overtime. Up next will be UCLA. It looks like Nelson will be back and it is very hard for a team to beat another team three times in one year. This will be a tough game for the UofA, especially since it's basically a home game for the Bruins.

ACtually Nelson is VERY much in doubt in fact according to a Daily News article it's possibly worse than realized. Nelson was cleared to play in Thursdays loss to UA but didn't because he didn't "feel right" at practice.

Apparently he told the Daily News there's some consideration to quitting basketball because he's apparently at some considerable risk of damage to his eyesight should he take hard contact like that again. Given how he plays so recklessly(offensively at least), there's concern continuing to play could be a real problem.

My hunch is an 18 year old kid who plays the way he does isn't going to just quit because of the possibility of a detached retina but it sounds pretty likely he's done for the year. He's going to practice and anything is possible but it sure doesn't sound like they expect him back this year.

 

[Lefty]

ACtually Nelson is VERY much in doubt in fact according to a Daily News article it's possibly worse than realized. Nelson was cleared to play in Thursdays loss to UA but didn't because he didn't "feel right" at practice.

Apparently he told the Daily News there's some consideration to quitting basketball because he's apparently at some considerable risk of damage to his eyesight should he take hard contact like that again. Given how he plays so recklessly(offensively at least), there's concern continuing to play could be a real problem.

My hunch is an 18 year old kid who plays the way he does isn't going to just quit because of the possibility of a detached retina but it sounds pretty likely he's done for the year. He's going to practice and anything is possible but it sure doesn't sound like they expect him back this year.

Nelson will play Thursday, advantage UCLA.

 

[Russ Smith]

Nelson will play Thursday, advantage UCLA.

Yep they announced today he's decided to play. I'm surprised I just figured he'd wait until next year and see how things go. I like his reasoning, he said he wants to play at least one more game with Mike Roll because Roll has become a real role model for him with his work ethic in such a bad year.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Well, let's hope he's not injured. I don't even know why Howland is letting him play but whatever. Should be quite the pillow fight tomorrow in front of about 500 people.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Should be quite the pillow fight tomorrow in front of about 500 people.

Considering it's a packed game for tonight's tilt, I assume it'll be another "Big East Tourney" type atmosphere tomorrow. Why play it at Staples? A nice middle school gym would suffice.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Considering it's a packed game for tonight's tilt, I assume it'll be another "Big East Tourney" type atmosphere tomorrow. Why play it at Staples? A nice middle school gym would suffice.

It'll never happen but they should move it to Vegas and at least draw some vacationers. Fighting LA traffic (downtown LA sucks) for three days of basketball in March makes no sense to me and I've traveled far and wide for UA sports. Been to Iowa City, Eugene, Palo Alto, Vegas, San Diego, Boise, and Albuquerque in recent years for UA sporting events - never made the Pac-10 Tourney though. Playing this thing in a 20k stadium makes no sense when eight of the ten programs in the conference don't really care about hoops.

 

[Russ Smith]

Well, let's hope he's not injured. I don't even know why Howland is letting him play but whatever. Should be quite the pillow fight tomorrow in front of about 500 people.

Yep I'm watching the 8/9 game right now the place is empty. Good game though.

Nelson's interview he said the doctors cleared him to play but he didn't feel right the first practice and he talked to his mother and decided he'd sit. then he talked to her again this week and she was much more comfortable with him playing. So it sounds like it was really his mom's opinion that ruled out, Nelson said his mom called the doctor and had a talk with him and then talked to Reeves and said she was convinced he could play. He doesn't know if he'll wear goggles or not.

He's completely medically cleared, has been for a week, so it's really up to him he said he wanted to contribute to the team, watching on the bench was killing him last week.

I'm surprised I assumed he was done for the season but it's apparently totally his(and his mom's) decision.

I'm just hoping UCLA decides to guard Kyle Fogg this time, he's killed us the first 2 times. I probably won't see the game I'll be driving so maybe we'll win without me.

 

[HooverDam]

It'll never happen but they should move it to Vegas and at least draw some vacationers. Fighting LA traffic (downtown LA sucks) for three days of basketball in March makes no sense to me and I've traveled far and wide for UA sports. Been to Iowa City, Eugene, Palo Alto, Vegas, San Diego, Boise, and Albuquerque in recent years for UA sporting events - never made the Pac-10 Tourney though. Playing this thing in a 20k stadium makes no sense when eight of the ten programs in the conference don't really care about hoops.

Vegas would be my 2nd choice, just because I hate that city and personally would never go. Though I agree its better than having it in LA.

I think a better system is a rotation between the Key Arena, Rose Garden, Oracle Arena, Staples Center and USAC. If you have the event in your region once every 5 years it becomes more of a special event and theoretically the attendance would climb.

Plus as far as AZ is concerned it would overlap with Cactus League season and Im sure people looking for something to do on days when their team doesn't have a game or in the evening would buy up Pac 10 tourney tickets.

I know personally Id be far more likely to go to the Bay, Seattle or PDX to see the tourney than I would LA or LV.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Vegas would be my 2nd choice, just because I hate that city and personally would never go. Though I agree its better than having it in LA.

I think a better system is a rotation between the Key Arena, Rose Garden, Oracle Arena, Staples Center and USAC. If you have the event in your region once every 5 years it becomes more of a special event and theoretically the attendance would climb.

Plus as far as AZ is concerned it would overlap with Cactus League season and Im sure people looking for something to do on days when their team doesn't have a game or in the evening would buy up Pac 10 tourney tickets.

I know personally Id be far more likely to go to the Bay, Seattle or PDX to see the tourney than I would LA or LV.

Except sports fans are generally 18-49 year old males and that group drives Vegas. Toss in the March weather and it would be perfect. Will never happen though unless the Vegas Tourism Authority threw a bunch of money at the conference. Nobody would go to Seattle or Portland. Considering how dead Staples is at this point you might as well give hosting rights to whoever finishes first.

 

[HooverDam]

. Nobody would go to Seattle or Portland.

Whats that based on? The fact that you don't want to go there? I sure as heck would, and Im sure the fine folks in Oregon and Washington would go. Don't you think more OSU and OU folks would go the year its in Portland, same with the Washington schools in Seattle. Of course they would.

 

[Lefty]

Congrats to UCLA. Nelson was definitely the difference maker. Will be interesting to see if the Bruin fans show up tomorrow for the game against Cal. Could we be looking at a USC run this year for UCLA?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Whats that based on? The fact that you don't want to go there? I sure as heck would, and Im sure the fine folks in Oregon and Washington would go. Don't you think more OSU and OU folks would go the year its in Portland, same with the Washington schools in Seattle. Of course they would.

Based on the fact that when the Pac-10 Tournament was in it's former state and switched locations there were major attendance issues.

 

[Russ Smith]

Congrats to UCLA. Nelson was definitely the difference maker. Will be interesting to see if the Bruin fans show up tomorrow for the game against Cal. Could we be looking at a USC run this year for UCLA?

Yeah Nelson was really good tonight, considering he hadn't practiced for 2 weeks before yesterday he was pretty sharp.

ASU lost to Stanford and OSU is beating UW late in the first half by 11, both ASU and UW could be in trouble with first round losses

 

[Lefty]

Yeah Nelson was really good tonight, considering he hadn't practiced for 2 weeks before yesterday he was pretty sharp.

ASU lost to Stanford and OSU is beating UW late in the first half by 11, both ASU and UW could be in trouble with first round losses

Washington came back and won, which is huge for them. If they get to the final game, I think they will represent the Pac-10 with Cal. ASU being beat by Stanford was a bad loss. It will be a shocker if they get an invite.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

You guys are all forgetting that in addition to our deal with Fox sports, Fox has a studio located in Staples, not to mention they help pay for the construction of Staples.

The tournament isnt moving unless we get a new TV deal.

Regardless, Staples is the best place to have the tournament outside of Vegas. Its in the #2 media market in the US and draws from two hometown fan bases. Like it or not if UCLA or SC make it to the semis and especially the finals, the place is rocking.

Ive been the the tournament twice and that place is electric when UCLA is playing outside of the opening rounds.