Official 2006 Arizona Wildcats Basketball Thread

[Brian in Mesa]

When does football start?

Isn't Stoops' brother taking the Rice job?

 

[Russ Smith]

This team has no bench, which means all five starters have to play well for the Cats to be successful. And McLellan, Radenovic, and Budinger have been awful the last few weeks. Budinger is a freshman so he has an excuse, not sure what the problem is with the other two.

Seriously, I'd rather watch the football team try hard and go 4-8 than watch this garbage.

I can't remember the source but Budinger was quoted recently as saying he's been a bit tired the last 2-3 games. Gotta be the lack of a bench is wearing them down, for a freshman to play that many minutes will do that, happened to Farmar and Afflalo their freshmen year too and they played less than Chase is IIRC.

USC shot 12 FT's in the last 2+ minutes of the game as UA fouled to catch up, and 7 in the first 38 minutes. That's what scares me because UCLA is jacking up too many 3's and you just know UA will zone like ASU did. UCLA settles for the 3 too much, if they do that they'll allow UA to keep their starters out of foul trouble.

Josh Shipp looked pretty good tonight so both teams should be relatively at full strength on Saturday. Can't wait, got to assume both teams struggled tonight in part because they were looking ahead?

 

[devilfan02]

Isn't Stoops' brother taking the Rice job?

I heard he didn't get it

 

[boondockdrunk]

Watched the Oregon game and this one. Pretty sloppy for an Olsen team. Not having a big man is killing you guys. Do you have anyone on your bench that can contribute? Anyone?

Do you guys have anyone on your team who can contribute? Seriously...

 

[Renz]

Isn't Stoops' brother taking the Rice job?

Mark Stoops withdrew from consideration for the Rice HC job.

 

[devilfan02]

Do you guys have anyone on your team who can contribute? Seriously...

If you couldn't tell, Mr. Sensitive, I wasn't being an ass on my assesment of your team. I've watched the last 2 games of which I've seen little contribution from your bench and a lack of center play. I wasn't trying to talk trash, rather see if I could get input on what some of you au fans had to say (Maotosi had no problem with what I had to say. He acknowledged what I saw is the indeed the problem).

As for our delightful team, we have one player on our entire team this season (Pendergraph). We have 2 that should develop into good college players down the road (Polk and Shipp). Next year, we'll have players who can contribute immediately (Harden, McMillan, Boateng, Woods) which is when we will see what Sendek can do.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Next year, we'll have players who can contribute immediately (Harden, McMillan, Boateng, Woods) which is when we will see what Sendek can do.

Don't so sure of that. The only player that has a good chance of making an instant impact will be Harden. Boateng is a slight upgrade over Kirk Walters (ignore the McD's hype and watch him play), McMillan supposedly can't shoot, and the other two are marginal prospects at best.

 

[Mulli]

Don't so sure of that. The only player that has a good chance of making an instant impact will be Harden. Boateng is a slight upgrade over Kirk Walters (ignore the McD's hype and watch him play), McMillan supposedly can't shoot, and the other two are marginal prospects at best.

Woohoo marginal prospect at best is a shining beacon of hope for ASU bball.

 

[TucsonDevil]

Don't so sure of that. The only player that has a good chance of making an instant impact will be Harden. Boateng is a slight upgrade over Kirk Walters (ignore the McD's hype and watch him play), McMillan supposedly can't shoot, and the other two are marginal prospects at best.

Mao, your assesments might be 100% correct, but still, those players will have an immediate positive impact. The Devils would LOVE to have Kirk Walters right now!

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Mao, your assesments might be 100% correct, but still, those players will have an immediate positive impact. The Devils would LOVE to have Kirk Walters right now!

Obviously, these guys are probably better than the mash unit ASU is currently running out there (Derek Glasser owes James Harden for his free college education and Allen Morril/Serge Angounou are WCC players on their best days). I'm just saying the recruits that ASU fan is hyping up are soid but not instant impact players they make them out to be. ASU probably have the fourth best recruiting class in the Pac-10 coming in next year.

 

[devilfan02]

Obviously, these guys are probably better than the mash unit ASU is currently running out there (Derek Glasser owes James Harden for his free college education and Allen Morril/Serge Angounou are WCC players on their best days). I'm just saying the recruits that ASU fan is hyping up are soid but not instant impact players they make them out to be. ASU probably have the fourth best recruiting class in the Pac-10 coming in next year.

I see where your coming form but like TucsonDevil said, their impact players on our team. They will immediately contribute and will be better then our current lineup of trash cans. Everyone knows Harden is legit, IMO you undervalue Boateng, McMillan has his shooting problems but plays relentless defense and is a good ball handler, and Woods is the wildcard that IMO is better then Serge and Morrill. Overall, Sendek has some impact players coming in (for our team) which should help immediately. Also, bringing guys like Harden and Boateng may open recruiting pipelines that will bring in future elite talent. Hey, we can only hope. Quit raining on our parade!

 

[Russ Smith]

Don't so sure of that. The only player that has a good chance of making an instant impact will be Harden. Boateng is a slight upgrade over Kirk Walters (ignore the McD's hype and watch him play), McMillan supposedly can't shoot, and the other two are marginal prospects at best.

Yeah I saw McMillan on Vs(used to be OLN) playing against Fairfax(Chace Stanback going to UCLA). He's very athletic, quick etc but he's not a very good shooter nor does he seem to be a pure PG. I think he can play and will play right away but he's not going to step in and take over a team as a PG as a freshman I doubt.

harden is great, instant impact. Boateng maybe he'll get better this year practicing but I never understood how he was so heavily touted everytime I saw him play at Duke he looked lost.

ASU will be better next year without question but they probably need one more recruiting class the Pac 10 is so much better than in recent years.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Quit raining on our parade!

Just wanted to prevent you guys from being UA football fans who were dismayed to find out that good recruiting classes do not turn into W's overnight when there is nothing in the pipeline. And by Harden opening up pipelines, I really hope you're not referring to Renardo Sydney. That guy is supposedly only being recruited by two schools - USC and Kansas State, which tells you something considering his talent.

 

[Absolute Zero]

What's up the the Cats? Off to a dissappointing start I must say. We'll see if the can get redemption v. UCLA.

 

[devilfan02]

I really hope you're not referring to Renardo Sydney. That guy is supposedly only being recruited by two schools - USC and Kansas State, which tells you something considering his talent.

No, not talking about him at all. In fact, that's the first I've heard of him. I'm talking more about guys like Jrue Holiday or other elite talent out of Southern California. I know it's a long shot but one can dream. A guy like Harden will open the eyes of other blue chips that ASU is an option to take a hard look at. Holidays parents went to ASU and he seems to like Sendek and ASU. That benig said, he'll probably end up choosing between UCLA and uofa

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

No, not talking about him at all. In fact, that's the first I've heard of him. I'm talking more about guys like Jrue Holiday or other elite talent out of Southern California. I know it's a long shot but one can dream. A guy like Harden will open the eyes of other blue chips that ASU is an option to take a hard look at. Holidays parents went to ASU and he seems to like Sendek and ASU. That benig said, he'll probably end up choosing between UCLA and uofa

I think he'll end up at UW, they (and ASU) are the two that sacked up and offered his brother the Pac-10 scholarship that he probably did not deserve. UCLA has a chance as well, don't see it happening with Arizona.

 

[Russ Smith]

Sidney is a funny one. He didn't even play HS ball last year, said he preferred AAU ball. His dad is being paid by NIKE to run grassroots basketball in LA, he's from Miss.(?). He keeps saying he wants to go to UCLA, they're not currently recruiting him because of his grades.

FYI looks like UA might catch a big break tomorrow. No idea if it's true but there are reports that Mbah A Moute won't play tomorrow. he's been clearly struggling for a few games now, various reports he had either tendonitis or a groin pull. Someone on BRO posted that they saw him going into UCLA's athletic training center limping noticeably with his right leg heavily wrapped from mid thigh to just above the ankle. I've seen nothing official but UCLA fans have been wondering for days now about his health it was obvious he was hurting.

He'd be a huge loss at this stage, especially with Shipp just coming back with a similar injury himself.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Sidney is a funny one. He didn't even play HS ball last year, said he preferred AAU ball. His dad is being paid by NIKE to run grassroots basketball in LA, he's from Miss.(?). He keeps saying he wants to go to UCLA, they're not currently recruiting him because of his grades.

I thought his Dad was employed by Reebok? Either way, he's not afraid to admit that he takes his pay check because his son can put a ball in a hoop. Most schools mindset is if the family is willing and publically open to accepting money from Reebok, then who knows how much cash is slipping through the cracks illegally? People around college hoops suggest whoever lands Sidney will inevitably have to forfeit whatever games they win down the road during his one year coollege tenure.

Even without Prince I don't think Arizona is playing well enough to beat UCLA in Pauley.

 

[Russ Smith]

I thought his Dad was employed by Reebok? Either way, he's not afraid to admit that he takes his pay check because his son can put a ball in a hoop. Most schools mindset is if the family is willing and publically open to accepting money from Reebok, then who knows how much cash is slipping through the cracks illegally? People around college hoops suggest whoever lands Sidney will inevitably have to forfeit whatever games they win down the road during his one year coollege tenure.

Even without Prince I don't think Arizona is playing well enough to beat UCLA in Pauley.

Yeah NIKE didn't sound right it probably is Reebok. Either way I agree, I hope UCLA steers clear of him.

Still no confirmation on Luc, guess we'll find out tomorrow.

maybe they'll break out Euro Budinger Dragovic?

 

[Russ Smith]

Confirmed, sprained knee out for tomorrow's game.

UCLA just can't stay healthy.

 

[Russ Smith]

UCLA made it interesting missing a bunch of ft's late but held on to win it.

Both teams are beat up, no Luc, Shipp hurting, Afflalo sick for UCLA(AA also bumped knees with Shakur late in the game and limped around.)

For UA McClellan's knees really bugging him and Marcus Williams apparently had a bad left wrist.

UCLA wore em down, made them work for shots most of the game until the end of the game. Collison dominated Shakur, Afflalo was huge on both ends.

Sounds like Luc will miss the Bay area games too.

 

[sundevilscott]

Mao - What is up with the BBall team? Just a question as I have not watched them. I can't remember the last time they have been on a bad streak like this.

 

[PAQ77]

What in the world is going on??? These guys are in some kind of funk... They go from looking like one of the top teams in the country to a mid-level PAC10 team. When does football season start???

 

[Skkorpion]

Except at Notre Dame of course, the only athletic department in the country where nothing shady ever happens.

Oh bullcrap. Kids screw up everywhere and schools have to decide how to handle things. Notre Dame tries to adhere to strict standards, but still ends up being hypocritical in many instances.

When I was there, in the early seventies, we had a top ten rated basketball team, and I have no illusions -- half those guys couldn't pass a high school English class. However, we fired Johnny Dee, the coach, because of the cheating.

And Lou Holtz successfully recruited Randy Moss until the admissions department said "no way" and a subsequent investigation revealed rampant disregard for admission standards. Then a scandal erupted where a groupie was indicted for stealing from her company to treat Irish players to favors like box seats at Chicago Bulls games. We fired Holtz and terminated the players involved.

It's not about being perfect, it's about trying to do it honestly.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Mao - What is up with the BBall team? Just a question as I have not watched them. I can't remember the last time they have been on a bad streak like this.

Yeah you can, it's called the last four years. Sadly for you though, even past his prime Lute and his band of loyal yes-men (Miles Simon, Jim Rosborough, Josh Pastner) are still better than every coach ASU has ever hired.

PS - It's pathetic I'm comparing Arizona, one of the elite programs of the last twenty years with a laughingstock like ASU but right now that's the reality of Arizona basketball. We're only a 'good' program and have only been one since late March 2003 when we were undoubtedly one of the top 5 programs in the country. It's unacceptable.