The future of Uof A basketball.

[Russ Smith]

Shakur would not even get drafted if he came out early. Prince will play pg and off guard, just like Rodgers does. The UofA already has a verbal from one of the top junior point guards in the country in Nic Wise. I can see someone like Verdejo leaving. I have read that Dillon is not happy and will probably be transferring after this year. In my opinion he was a project anyway.

Forgot about Rodgers, seems like he's been there for years but he'll be a senior next year.

I've been seeing a lot of stuff recently about Wise being vastly overrated but keep in mind much of it is on UCLA fan boards and they obviously have a vested interest in Wise not being as good as advertised.

UA is at the point where as others said they don't rebuild they reload, I think even if Olson did retire that would be the case for a few years.

Look at UCLA, Harrick's program was in far worse shape than UA's is now and UCLA hired a joke like Lavin and the program STILL essentially ran itself for 2-3 years before it became crystal clear to kids in highschool that going to UCLA was not the best move if you wanted to play in the NBA. That's what Howland is digging out from under now. As long as UA is smart in replacing Olson when he does finally retire they should come out just fine.

 

[overseascardsfan]

Forgot about Rodgers, seems like he's been there for years but he'll be a senior next year.

I've been seeing a lot of stuff recently about Wise being vastly overrated but keep in mind much of it is on UCLA fan boards and they obviously have a vested interest in Wise not being as good as advertised.

UA is at the point where as others said they don't rebuild they reload, I think even if Olson did retire that would be the case for a few years.

Look at UCLA, Harrick's program was in far worse shape than UA's is now and UCLA hired a joke like Lavin and the program STILL essentially ran itself for 2-3 years before it became crystal clear to kids in highschool that going to UCLA was not the best move if you wanted to play in the NBA. That's what Howland is digging out from under now. As long as UA is smart in replacing Olson when he does finally retire they should come out just fine.

I just read on Scout.com that Wise just lead his team to the H.S championship. He's a player that will improve under the tutledge of Olsen, that's why the kid committed after his freshman year.

 

[Dback Jon]

I never denied Lute backing out on these teams, I'm actually very aware of it happening. However, if you look at the cost/benefit of playing those teams on the road in comparison with other squads, Lute's decision made perfect sense.

So Lute is afraid he would lose? Not sure which was worse, backing out at the last minute on St. Joe's (after St. Joe's had played in Tucson the previous year) or ending a long-standing home and home with an in-state school. U of A IS a public university just like NAU, both taxpayer suppported.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

So Lute is afraid he would lose? Not sure which was worse, backing out at the last minute on St. Joe's (after St. Joe's had played in Tucson the previous year) or ending a long-standing home and home with an in-state school. U of A IS a public university just like NAU, both taxpayer suppported.

What does taxpayers have to do with this? ASU doesn't play NAU in Flagstaff. Does Lute have to schedule road tilts with the Artichokes and Phoenix College too? Do your Illini play road games against WIU, SIU, UIC, and the other public universities that reside in-state?

The fact remains that NAU is annually a sub-150 RPI program and honestly isn't worth it. UA (and ASU for that matter) have nothing to gain if they win and everything to lose. If NAU was a legitimate program then Lute would have no problem playing in Flagstaff, just like he has no problem playing other legitimate programs and national powers on the road.

 

[Dback Jon]

What does taxpayers have to do with this? ASU doesn't play NAU in Flagstaff. Does Lute have to schedule road tilts with the Artichokes and Phoenix College too? Do your Illini play road games against WIU, SIU, UIC, and the other public universities that reside in-state?

The fact remains that NAU is annually a sub-150 RPI program and honestly isn't worth it. UA (and ASU for that matter) have nothing to gain if they win and everything to lose. If NAU was a legitimate program then Lute would have no problem playing in Flagstaff, just like he has no problem playing other legitimate programs and national powers on the road.

There are three Division I programs in the state - would it kill U of A and ASU to do home and home series? NOPE. Did it for years pre-Lute.

Even when NAU had very good teams under Ben Howland, UofA would not play them in Flagstaff. And that is one of the problems for mid-majors - the big guys WON'T give them the ability to get the good home games....

 

[Lefty]

I don't like the way he weasels out of road games.....

U of A used to have to come to NAU every other year - Lute whined enough until the Board of Regents ended that requirement.

Then he reneged on a return trip to St. Josephs a few years ago at the last minute, do to a non-existant snow storm.

Since Lute has been at the UofA I think they have only played at NAU twice, not every other year. I will verify that when I get home and look at the UofA media guide.

It is not feasible for the UofA to go NAU. It is feasible for NAU to come to Tucson and play. I wonder why ASU does not invite them to Tempe anymore? Could it be because the Lumberjacks beat them last time?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

There are three Division I programs in the state - would it kill U of A and ASU to do home and home series? NOPE. Did it for years pre-Lute.

It wouldn't kill UA but even with a win Arizona's OOC SOS and RPI would fall. And when you're in charge of a program where anything short of a Final 4 is a idsappointment these things matter. Really the only reason to play a game at NAU would be to make the Town of Flagstaff and NAU alums happy and last time I checked that's not Lute's job.

 

[Renz]

As I remember it, the last time U of A played in Flagstaff the students yelled profanity and hurled things on the court and at the U of A coaches and players. After the game Lute vowed never to come back.

 

[Dback Jon]

As I remember it, the last time U of A played in Flagstaff the students yelled profanity and hurled things on the court and at the U of A coaches and players. After the game Lute vowed never to come back.

I was at that game - the reason the students were upset at Lute was HIS comments before the game belittling NAU, syaing we were to small for UofA to have to have a road game with, and his vow that this would be the last time UofA would travel to Flagstaff. I do not remember anything being thrown, but I did hear some obsenities yelled at Lute.

One sign I remember saying "Lute - if you think we are small, look in your pants"....

 

[Lefty]

I was at that game - the reason the students were upset at Lute was HIS comments before the game belittling NAU, syaing we were to small for UofA to have to have a road game with, and his vow that this would be the last time UofA would travel to Flagstaff. I do not remember anything being thrown, but I did hear some obsenities yelled at Lute.

One sign I remember saying "Lute - if you think we are small, look in your pants"....

Lute is totally correct. How many top basketball programs travel to Flagstaff and play NAU? The UofA owes nothing to NAU. If they want to play the UofA and make over $100,000, they will need to play in Tucson. Even ASU does not travel to Flagstaff.

 

[Russ Smith]

I just read on Scout.com that Wise just lead his team to the H.S championship. He's a player that will improve under the tutledge of Olsen, that's why the kid committed after his freshman year.

Yeah I have no doubt he's good, like I said UCLA fans are saying he's overrated, if he was committed to UCLA they'd be raving about him and UA fans would be saying he was overrated.

Wise's commitment really annoyed me because it was so early and then UCLA goes and gets Taylor King to verbal in 8th grade or whatever to "compete" with the Wise thing. Just think it's a bad precedent for kids, if either kid changes his mind and signs elsewhere you just know people will trash them for "reneging on a commitment" forgetting they were 14-15 years old when they committed.

 

[Chaplin]

Lute is totally correct. How many top basketball programs travel to Flagstaff and play NAU? The UofA owes nothing to NAU. If they want to play the UofA and make over $100,000, they will need to play in Tucson. Even ASU does not travel to Flagstaff.

Exactly. In my opinion, NAU might be a fine school, but it's basketball team has no place being mentioned in the same breath as UofA.

 

[PhxGametime]

Let me guess, the Wildcats should play teams like...

Deleware State, Florida A&M, Oakland, Chicago State, Longwood, etc? At least that's what my book shows, I know some of the games were off for the Wildcats on book so...


UofA has 1 of the tougher non-conference schedules for aslong as I can remember.

 

[Gee!]

Let me guess, the Wildcats should play teams like...

Deleware State, Florida A&M, Oakland, Chicago State, Longwood, etc? At least that's what my book shows, I know some of the games were off for the Wildcats on book so...


UofA has 1 of the tougher non-conference schedules for aslong as I can remember.