Channing Frye?????????

[Lefty]

I take that back then. All those guys were ready for the pros in just a few years. These are very physically talented guys. I dont know if I can give Lute credit for that, though. Of the Dukies maybe Boozer, Battier, Hill, Duhon were physically talented. I think Laettner was physically too slow for 3/not strong enough fopr a 4 or 5.

Please, Lute gets a lot of the credit. I have gone to many of the open practices the past 10 years and Lute just doesn't sit there and watch them practice. For those who have been to a UofA practice, you know what I mean.

The UofA guys might have talent but so do a lot of other college players, but many don't make it because they are not fundamentally sound.

Hassan Adams wanted to go to UCLA but he picked Arizona because he said after watching Lute's practices compared to Lavin's, it was no contest. He wanted a chance at making it to the NBA and said he had a better shot with learning from Lute.

Lute's track record speaks for itself. Of course there are those who don't like the UofA and Lute so they don't give him much credit, which is fine because when I hear comments from the likes of Larry Brown and Andy Katz about Lute being a great teacher and coach, I know who to listen to.

The UofA had a bunch of the former players come back and play in a fund raising game this past August and almost all of them mentioned how if it was not for Lute, they would not be in the NBA making the money they were making.

 

[TucsonDevil]

Being a transplant from the Valley and now living in Tucson, I used to watch and admire the 'Cats B-Ball from a far. Now that I live here, I have gone to several games and LOVE the program. Lute is God in Tucson, and for good reason.

Two years ago, I never would have guessed that Channing would make it into the NBA, even though he was gifted. Lute and the staff worked like maniacs to bulk him up a couple of years ago, and then he had a great senior year and carried the 'Cats during most of the Tourney last year (with Salim). I wasn't surprised the Knicks took him early, and not surprised he is doing well. All that being said, I think Lute has the most success at the guard and 3 spot than big men down low.... but how many programs have turned out more than one All-Star big man? Georgetown? That's it. Athletic big men are hard to find.

Could we trade for Channing? - doesn't look like it. Should we? That depends. I do believe we have that dominent big man, but he is laid up right now. When he comes back and plays at 100%, we will soon forget how good Channing Frye looks in NY - we will be seeking the ring.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I take that back then. All those guys were ready for the pros in just a few years. These are very physically talented guys. I dont know if I can give Lute credit for that, though. Of the Dukies maybe Boozer, Battier, Hill, Duhon were physically talented. I think Laettner was physically too slow for 3/not strong enough fopr a 4 or 5.

Does Lute get credit for Luke Walton and Gilbert Arenas who nobody but him wanted out of high school and who became NBA players at Arizona? Or perhaps for slow, unathletic white guys like Tolbert and Kerr? Channing Frye ran like a newborn calf when he left St. Mary's and a few short years later he was a lottery pick. Lute's in the Basketball Hall of Fame for a reason and it's for a lot more than just recruiting good players.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Does Lute get credit for Luke Walton and Gilbert Arenas who nobody but him wanted out of high school and who became NBA players at Arizona? Or perhaps for slow, unathletic white guys like Tolbert and Kerr? Channing Frye ran like a newborn calf when he left St. Mary's and a few short years later he was a lottery pick. Lute's in the Basketball Hall of Fame for a reason and it's for a lot more than just recruiting good players.

Mao we are on the level dogg...

ouchie i get what you are saying bu i think thats because not too many athletic big men have come to Zona due partially to their rep as a guard school. But i actually really like what he has done with the limited big men he has had, esp. in the last few years. Channing was a "baby calf" when he came to Tucson and Tolber, Dele and Bucheler are all limited physically.(side note: i remember after a night of drinking and seeing him in a bar parking lot. As we were driving by i leaned out the window and said "EAT SOMETHING!" very derisivley. I swear him and Salim used to just frustrate the hell out of me over their first three seasons, but Lute developed them over the four years. He is just phenomenal at that) but i think Loren Woods played abouve his head as well as Channing. He got a hell of alot out of Micheal Wright and AJ Bramlett too.

And i love what i see out of Walters. Alot of programs have players that physically are comprable to Kirk. But look at his touch, look at his foot work. Thats coaching. The kid will be a great player by his senior year and all that goes to the coaching staff.

What the hell are we going to do when Lute decides to hang em up....?

 

[Lefty]

When Lute retires, which right now does not look to be for at least another 4-5 years, a majority of the top coaches will apply. Lute has built the UofA into one of the top programs and they will hire someone who will keep it at that level. I would like to see Mark Few replace Lute but I doubt he would ever leave Gonzaga.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

When Lute retires, which right now does not look to be for at least another 4-5 years, a majority of the top coaches will apply. Lute has built the UofA into one of the top programs and they will hire someone who will keep it at that level. I would like to see Mark Few replace Lute but I doubt he would ever leave Gonzaga.

Nice thats what i was looking for...im thinking/hoping Few is the choice as well

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Mao we are on the level dogg...

ouchie i get what you are saying bu i think thats because not too many athletic big men have come to Zona due partially to their rep as a guard school. But i actually really like what he has done with the limited big men he has had, esp. in the last few years. Channing was a "baby calf" when he came to Tucson and Tolber, Dele and Bucheler are all limited physically.(side note: i remember after a night of drinking and seeing him in a bar parking lot. As we were driving by i leaned out the window and said "EAT SOMETHING!" very derisivley. I swear him and Salim used to just frustrate the hell out of me over their first three seasons, but Lute developed them over the four years. He is just phenomenal at that) but i think Loren Woods played abouve his head as well as Channing. He got a hell of alot out of Micheal Wright and AJ Bramlett too.

And i love what i see out of Walters. Alot of programs have players that physically are comprable to Kirk. But look at his touch, look at his foot work. Thats coaching. The kid will be a great player by his senior year and all that goes to the coaching staff.

What the hell are we going to do when Lute decides to hang em up....?

i suppose that's mostly true (but to say brian williams was limited physically is WAY ridiculous. that dude was an extremely athletic 6'11 guy with some bulk. he underachieved as much as most of the other guys you named overachieved).

as for walters . . . have you had the opp to watch him yet this season??? he's a total stiff. he gets the ball in the post and clangs it HARD off the backboard if anyone is even near him. i'll be shocked if develops any game that he can play against any legitimate size.

i guess there's a part of me that's always frustrated that lute isn't successful (or doesn't try) in recruiting bigs.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Does Lute get credit for Luke Walton and Gilbert Arenas who nobody but him wanted out of high school and who became NBA players at Arizona? Or perhaps for slow, unathletic white guys like Tolbert and Kerr? Channing Frye ran like a newborn calf when he left St. Mary's and a few short years later he was a lottery pick. Lute's in the Basketball Hall of Fame for a reason and it's for a lot more than just recruiting good players.

i think you're right, and most of you are gonna think me crazy for this, but i honestly wouldn't mind seeing josh pastner get the slot. he's a total gym rat. apparently his AAU teams never lose (he's been coaching them for years i believe). he's getting invaluable bench time with lute as it is. he's young. and i dated his former fiancee.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

i suppose that's mostly true (but to say brian williams was limited physically is WAY ridiculous. that dude was an extremely athletic 6'11 guy with some bulk. he underachieved as much as most of the other guys you named overachieved).

as for walters . . . have you had the opp to watch him yet this season??? he's a total stiff. he gets the ball in the post and clangs it HARD off the backboard if anyone is even near him. i'll be shocked if develops any game that he can play against any legitimate size.

i guess there's a part of me that's always frustrated that lute isn't successful (or doesn't try) in recruiting bigs.

I have watched the first three games and dude jumps out of the gym....ift you look at the box score he doesnt seem like much but he has things you can teach plus i like his foot work in the post. Lets just say i have seen Lute do alot more with alot less. I expect him to steadly improve this year and break out next year...

BTW Im too young to have seen Dele in college and he was an athletic (but fat) big man for most of the time he was playing in the NBA. Still like wine, Lute has become a better coach with age....

 

[Arizona's Finest]

i think you're right, and most of you are gonna think me crazy for this, but i honestly wouldn't mind seeing josh pastner get the slot. he's a total gym rat. apparently his AAU teams never lose (he's been coaching them for years i believe). he's getting invaluable bench time with lute as it is. he's young. and i dated his former fiancee.

I actually agree provided Lute stays on till 2015. This program is just too big time to put it in the hands of a guy younger than 35 with no HC experience. I forsee a scenario where he leaves for a mid major, does well and they hand the reigns to him four or five years down the road. I want to see him do it on some level first however

 

[overseascardfan]

When Lute retires, which right now does not look to be for at least another 4-5 years, a majority of the top coaches will apply. Lute has built the UofA into one of the top programs and they will hire someone who will keep it at that level. I would like to see Mark Few replace Lute but I doubt he would ever leave Gonzaga.

Nice thats what i was looking for...im thinking/hoping Few is the choice as well

I like Few, Donovan, Romar, and Alford. Young coaches who have done well in their careers taking over rebuilding programs.

 

[George O'Brien]

Back to Frye... during the run up to the draft he was not well regarded on this board. He was considered too "soft" and not athletic enough. I was more interested in him because he's a big that runs the floor well, blocks shots, passes the ball, rebounds, and can shoot from the outside. I figured the toughness would come eventually.

 

[PHXviaDTW]

Frye had 30 points and 7 rebounds last night against Bogut.