Sean Miller and Nic Wise

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Sean - I really don't understand the constant substitutions. Derrick Williams scores six in a row and earns a place on the bench for three minutes up 5 with under eight to go. It was his MO at Xavier but those were deep teams.

Nic - Gotta play every night. You were awful tonight and against Vandy/Wisky. Time to be a senior buddy, your name and number hang from the rafters in McKale if you get this team to the 64 which ain't going to happen at this rate.

Very poor games by Arizona's two leaders tonight in a very important game.

 

[AsUdUdE]

pretty much agree with you... watched tonights game, a VERY entertaining game throughout...

Wise was terrible... and as a team shooting 3/13 from the 3 in a close game won't win very many ball games...

But overall the game was a lot closer than I thought it would be, and pretty exciting from a pure basketball standpoint...

 

[DWKB]

Nic - Gotta play every night. You were awful tonight and against Vandy/Wisky. Time to be a senior buddy, your name and number hang from the rafters in McKale if you get this team to the 64 which ain't going to happen at this rate.

Seriously? What are the requirements of having your number hung at UofA? Also, while I'm asking what do you all hang a banner for?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Seriously? What are the requirements of having your number hung at UofA? Also, while I'm asking what do you all hang a banner for?

I think it's any type of Nat'l POY Award, but the university would make an exception for Wise if he got us through this tumultuous era with the Streak intact. Kind of like the Unforgettables at UK.

Conference championships and Sweet 16's and better I believe. And I do realize the sarcasm of your comment.

 

[DWKB]

I think it's any type of Nat'l POY Award, but the university would make an exception for Wise if he got us through this tumultuous era with the Streak intact. Kind of like the Unforgettables at UK.

Conference championships and Sweet 16's and better I believe. And I do realize the sarcasm of your comment.

Not sarcasm, but surprise that Wise would get his number hung. The banner question was general curiosity.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Not sarcasm, but surprise that Wise would get his number hung. The banner question was general curiosity.

Sentiment. He commited as a Sophomore in HS, has been here through thick and thin (4 coaches) and is bridging the Lute and Miller eras. He is a true Wildcat in every sense of the word.

But I agree with Mao. My thoughts from last night.

Nic needs to step up. For whatever reason he hasn't been what I thought so far but im thinking he will step it up in conference play and end up being the Pac 10 POY. But games like last night and Wiscy and Vandy are on him IMO. He needs to play high percentage and quit trying to be the hero all the time.

Agreed that taking Williams out was overcoaching by Miller. He won't be around 4 years and he is the crown jewel of this class so far. FAR outplaying Jordan Hill as even a sophmore and I would run the offense through him. He had some NBA moves last night and one in particular had the announcers citing Hakeem.

I'm not impressed with this offense so far and would like to see more screening and rolling to the basket. We have no half court offense to speak of other then Williams

Momo will be good but he needs to be harnessed. His defensive rotation leaves alot to be desired and he doesn't play within himself on the offensieve end.

I am not impressed with Lavendar at all and think he needs to be locked to the bench. I am seriously disappointed with Fogg but I think he needs the minutes and B LAV has not been impressive in any game I have seen so far (which is all of Maui, NAU, Rice, and this game...so all of em)

Hill and Kryl have a long way to go. But I think Hill Should be featured more.

I keep hoping that Horne will acquire basketball smarts but it doesn't look like its going to happen. The ball stops with him every time on offense. He is a rebounding machine though and should get on the block more or space out to the FT line when Williams is down there. Hes got a pretty good jumper but he only wants to take threes. He needs to get that midrange game down.

I'm less optimistic about our tourney chances as at least one of these games against ranked teams we should have won. But i think as long as we get a PG and these guys get better we are in a good spot going forward.

And heres news for the Devils fans. You guys are better then I thought too and these games in Feb won't be a easy for us like I originally assumed. I credit Sendek for having a program and getting results with it even without the Harden's of the world. I'm assuming Miller will be able to do the same but unlike Cal, who would have assuredly had us competing for a deep March run this year it will take time.

How is Rudd looking by the way ASU guys? I am interested if he can develop for you guys into a front line player this year or down the road.

 

[Russ Smith]

You gotta love Derrick Williams though? I said last year I thought he was the most underrated player on the West Coast. I just don't get why scouts and college coaches get so concerned about "tweeners". It's not the NBA, it's college, guys like Derrick Williams excel in college every year.

And the irony, people thought he was a 3 in a 4's body, and he's excelling at the 5 this year! He's got long arms(and big feet) and has a ton of moves on the block, he gets his shot off, and he draws fouls.

and he was the least heralded of the incoming recruits largely because he was a tweener.

 

[AsUdUdE]

Have not really gotten a chance to look at Rudd yet... his first real minutes were last game against Ark-Pine, didn't do much, took a couple 3s and missed them both, but did get to the line 8 times..

we will see as the season progresses, but he should be a starter or 1st off the bench by midseason in my mind....

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

You gotta love Derrick Williams though? I said last year I thought he was the most underrated player on the West Coast. I just don't get why scouts and college coaches get so concerned about "tweeners". It's not the NBA, it's college, guys like Derrick Williams excel in college every year.

And the irony, people thought he was a 3 in a 4's body, and he's excelling at the 5 this year! He's got long arms(and big feet) and has a ton of moves on the block, he gets his shot off, and he draws fouls.

Dude is a David West clone. I'm hoping we get more than two years out of him at this rate. You were right on Momo - the kid is completely out of control. Sol Hill played poorly last night but he'll be a very good college player as will Natayazcko. Really need to improve at SG and find a point going forward. Lavender and Fogg's regression has made the Bejerano recruitment that much more important.

Regardless, Arizona needs Nic Wise to play well to beat any good teams and he's playing pretty poorly thus far every other night out. Very surprising and disappointing start to his senior campaign especially considering what he has on the line.

 

[PoolBoy]

Rudd is just starting to get more PT. he came off the bench last game before Shipp so that is progress. Freak athlete though, the guards love throwin alleyoop passes to him in transition.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

I too wondered about the Williams sub and I said to myself it has to be to give him a quick breather, but still I didnt like the substution.

As for running more ball screens, have you seen our guards dribble drive? The only two guys who can get to the hoop without turning the ball over are Nic and Solomon. Fogg, Lav, Judkins, Horne, Momo, all end up making a bad decision or just get stuck and turn the ball over.

Nic is definitely trying to make it work, and that is the problem. Due to our poor guard play Nic has to force the issue because we arent getting any production from the perimeter.

Momo needs to realize that he has the strength to finish at the rim and the quicknes to create his own shot. All Momo needs to do right now is attack at different speeds like Nic does and not full steam ahead everytime.

Horne is a decent shooter when he spots up and gets an open look. There is no excuse for him pulling a Hassan Adams and stopping continuity and chucking up a shot because he cant create off the dribble. Miller really needs to get Horne going in the pinch post with some high low action with Williams. Solomon should be playing on the perimeter and Horne near the high post. I think Miller will correct this during the season, but it is a glaring weakness in our offense when our best offensive rebounder is chucking threes.

Fogg and Lavender are really hurting us right now. Lavender does a good job on defense, but Fogg has definitely regressed. Fogg is a role player, but you see how much more difficult it is for Fogg this year, because he was able to play off Nic, Chase, and Jordan last year. Lavender's game is hitting the three and playing defense right now. Its all confidence and you can just see Lavender is hesitant on wanting to shoot the ball after he misses a few shots. He needs to keep shooting, regardless.

Overall, I am impressed with the way we have played. I love the intensity on both sides of the ball, even though we arent playing very good defense and are losing games on the offensive boards. It is frustrating watching our guys come out of time outs and turn the ball over (happened 3 or 4 times against UNLV), but that is what happens in a new system with young players.

As for our tournament chances, every other year I would say we needed to win that Wisconsin or UNLV game. However, this year is different. The Pac-10 is so bad that if we win enough conference games to finish 3rd we are on the bubble for certain. I seriously doubt the Pac-10 gets 4 teams in, but its still a longshot. I came into this week thinking that if we split the UNLV/Oklahoma games we would be in very good shape. Odds are we lose to Oklahoma as well, but for once I know that we are going to be in every game. There arent going to be many blowout losses like the ones UCLA used to hand us.

If we can get to the tournament this year, I agree that the new AD should seriously consider retiring Nic's jersey.

Now people are going to see why Bejarano was such a huge recruit for Miller. We lack someone that can score from the perimeter and he will provide just that.