Word on Wise?

[carey]

I haven't heard anything yet for some reason. Is he staying next year or going for the draft?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

He won't get drafted.

 

[Chaplin]

I always thought the choice was between returning and playing overseas. I don't think anyone believes he could get drafted.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

He's had a lot of people to tell him about Europe (I think he's even spoken to Brandon Jennings) and how it's not all it's cracked up to be. At this point he'd be smart to return, have an All Pac-10 season, and watch Aaron Brooks excel as Houston's starting PG next year giving him a better shot at getting a chance. Everyone I've spoken with seems to think he'll return.

 

[Lefty]

It's looking good according to Goodman.
http://community.foxsports.com/blog...6/04/WISE_LEANING_TOWARDS_RETURNING_TO_TUCSON

 

[Wildcat05]

It's looking good according to Goodman.

Good stuff. But I'll feel much better once it's official. Nic's last tweet (Twitter) was "Back in Tucson" a few days ago. He doesn't tweet too often, could there be a hidden message in there?

 

[arvestal]

agreed

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4233722&name=katz_andy

Some interesting notes from Katz on Nic. Looks like he'll likely end up back in school as he's already in Tucson. Mentions that Arizona has no interest in Lance Stephenson which was confirmed by Miller holding his allotted 2009 recruiting class presser last week.

Also is a blurb that as of now the starting five will be Wise/Fogg/Lavender/Horne/Kyryl.
Lavender is obviously the surprise, but I saw Brendon play in high school several times and always loved his game. He didn't get off on the right foot with Pennell and Dunlap, some of which was rumored to be lingering effects of BLav spurning Russ' AAU academy. But Brendon had some big-time offers out of high school so it should be interesting to see how he does with the new staff. He's very much the type of player that Miller excelled with at XU.

 

[Lefty]

Nic is coming back!!! Great news for the UofA, bad news for the Pac-10.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/ua/articles/2009/06/06/20090606uawise.html

 

[Skkorpion]

Wise move by the player, even better for UA.

 

[Wildcat05]

Great, great news! I'm definitely more excited about next season, the chances of us making the tourney have improved immensely.

 

[DWKB]

Also is a blurb that as of now the starting five will be Wise/Fogg/Lavender/Horne/Kyryl.

Looks like a starting five that could walk away with the A-10 championship

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Looks like a starting five that could walk away with the A-10 championship

As long as you guys stay behind us in the streak chase this year I am confident in a couple years after we restock you will be eating those words.

With his recruting prowess so far I would be hard pressed to find 5 coaches better at both recruiting AND in game coaching. Maybe your guy Bill Self but certainly not everyone's savior John Calipari who could get out coached by Lon Kruger if they had the same personnel.

Time will tell. Personally I love me some Miller.

 

[carey]

I could just be drinking the kool-aid but I think we'll make the tournament next year for sure now that Nic is staying.

 

[HooverDam]

I could just be drinking the kool-aid but I think we'll make the tournament next year for sure now that Nic is staying.

UA was a surprise entry into last years tournament by most accounts when Nic Wise had 2 NBA first rounders as his running mates. With those two gone its pretty crazy to think they're going to make the tourney 'for sure.' Any team starting Jamelle Horne, one of the biggest boneheads of all time, has got an uphill battle to climb.

Please note: I am not saying ASU is a lock for the tourney either. ASU and UA could both finish anywhere from 4 to 8 depending on how their Freshman do.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

UA was a surprise entry into last years tournament by most accounts when Nic Wise had 2 NBA first rounders as his running mates. With those two gone its pretty crazy to think they're going to make the tourney 'for sure.' Any team starting Jamelle Horne, one of the biggest boneheads of all time, has got an uphill battle to climb.

Please note: I am not saying ASU is a lock for the tourney either. ASU and UA could both finish anywhere from 4 to 8 depending on how their Freshman do.

I guess thats one way to look at it.

The other would be we were had an AAU coach and those kids were just dealt three years of absolute turmoil making it a minor miracle that the players were able to focus at all and do what they did. Especially since those 3 players you listed were the only three players on the team.

Also keep in mind that in year 4 of your miracle savior coaches tenure and arguably the best player in your programs history, ASU STILL finished the season watching us play and all of a sudden the perspective you offered is a little different.

So yeah with the presumptive favorite for Pac-10 POY coming back, one of the top incoming conference classes, and now that we are coached by one of the best strategic minds in the game - yeah I am pretty confident about continuing the streak.

Especially with as bad as the rest of the conference is. A top 3 finish is not out of the realm at all IMHO.

 

[HooverDam]

Also keep in mind that in year 4 of your miracle savior coaches tenure and arguably the best player in your programs history, ASU STILL finished the season watching us play and all of a sudden the perspective you offered is a little different.

Are you really trying to imply that UA was better than ASU last year? Or the last 2 years? 5-0 ought to tell you something. UA got lucky getting into the tourney and got an insanely lucky draw.

So yeah with the presumptive favorite for Pac-10 POY coming back

Wait- what?

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Are you really trying to imply that UA was better than ASU last year? Or the last 2 years? 5-0 ought to tell you something. UA got lucky getting into the tourney and got an insanely lucky draw.

Ahh the 5-0 run. The "glory" years of ASU basketball. LOL

Bro facts are facts. No one is going to really care about the 5-0 record you guys culled against interim coaches. Congratulations. When people look at the record books they will see another Sweet 16 for our illustrious program and a second round flameout for you guys. Hell Creighton has a better program then you at this point.

The Cardinals got "lucky"in their draw to the Super Bowl. Are we taking away that NFC championship too?

Say what you like. You better get "5-0" T-shirts made because the way it seems to be headed with Miller now here (who has a better coaching resume then Herb in 1/4 the time) you are going to go back to being our punching bag starting no later then 2010.

But you'll always have 07/08! LOL

Just so you are sure what I am "implying":

Team results
07 ASU - NIT
07 UA - NCAA Tourney

08 ASU - 2nd round loss
08 UA - Sweet 16 finish

Am I missing something here? Do I really need to "imply" who had the better seasons?

Wait- what?

I know ASU fans by nature don't know much about college hoops but the only returning Pac-10 player who will even give Nic a run is Isaih Thomas (who is a soph), his running mate Quincy Pontdexter and maybe one other Cal guy I am forgetting. Other then that Nic has the best numbers and played for the team that advanced the furthest.

Can I break it down any simpler for you or do you want charts, graphs and an accompanying puppet show to help?

Better yet - who do you like?

 

[HooverDam]

Ill put my money on Isiah Thomas from Washington for P10 POY, though Wise can certainly make the All Pac 10 1st team now since its 10 players.

Obviously you've somehow diluted yourself into thinking UA had a better team than ASU last year, so God bless. No logic is going to convince you otherwise, so Ill leave the thread now and you can guys can get all excited about the Wise to Horne combo that will surely lead to glory

 

[Russ Smith]

Ill put my money on Isiah Thomas from Washington for P10 POY, though Wise can certainly make the All Pac 10 1st team now since its 10 players.

Obviously you've somehow diluted yourself into thinking UA had a better team than ASU last year, so God bless. No logic is going to convince you otherwise, so Ill leave the thread now and you can guys can get all excited about the Wise to Horne combo that will surely lead to glory

I hadn't even considered POY yet but Wise and Thomas certainly make sense.

My darkhorse pick would be Malcolm Lee at UCLA but I think it's a year early for him to be that good, he has a chance but probably next year not this one.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Assuming Arizona finishes in the top 3 I think Wise would have a good shot at POY. I see us finishing 4th maybe 5th. Making the tournament will depend on how quickly the freshman develop and if we can find a reliable 2nd option.

The 4th place team in the Pac-10 this year will be a near bubble team.

 

[Wildcat05]

As much as I would love to say the contrary, I don't think the tourney is a lock. But, Wise coming back gives us a chance. If the Trinity (I'm going to call them the saviors of the streak to appease my inner-fan) can stay healthy and provide solid support for Wise, a bubble team is not out of the question.

The problem will be our RPI in a weak conference (USC will be what Oregon was last year) so we'll need to beat some good teams to stay on top of the bubble.

 

[DWKB]

I'm sure most UofA fans are ready to get back to the days when a PAC 10 Championship and Final Four was the goal in the offseason and that they are kinda tired of the squeak in 8 seed or higher to keep some tournament appearance streak in tact.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I'm sure most UofA fans are ready to get back to the days when a PAC 10 Championship and Final Four was the goal in the offseason and that they are kinda tired of the squeak in 8 seed or hire to keep some tournament appearance streak intact.

Well, I'd rather compete for championships while keeping the Streak intact but that is of course unrealistic. I don't have many expectations for Arizona next season although I do think they're an NIT team on paper. Not too concerned, the way Miller and his assistants are recruiting tells me all I need to know about where the program is heading.

It's unlikely Arizona makes the Tournament in 2010, too many guys not named Nic Wise would have to make huge leaps in the offseason. Should we miraculously make it however the number 13 should be hanging in the McKale rafters. And everyone really needs to stop getting in pissing contests with ASU fans regarding basketball and admit they were (marginally) better than Arizona (yet accomplished next to nothing) during the inevitable post-Lute down cycle. However Herb never capitalized on it much like he never did at State when UNC was faced with down years after Dean Smith. And like UNC, Arizona is going to be competing for Final Four's within five years and won't stop until Miller either goes somewhere else or retires at which point Pastner will take over and the cycle will continue. Herb Sendek or ASU isn't going anywhere close to that point in the foreseeable future. Honestly - don't worry about it.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Well, I'd rather compete for championships while keeping the Streak intact but that is of course unrealistic. I don't have many expectations for Arizona next season although I do think they're an NIT team on paper. Not too concerned, the way Miller and his assistants are recruiting tells me all I need to know about where the program is heading.

It's unlikely Arizona makes the Tournament in 2010, too many guys not named Nic Wise would have to make huge leaps in the offseason. Should we miraculously make it however the number 13 should be hanging in the McKale rafters. And everyone really needs to stop getting in pissing contests with ASU fans regarding basketball and admit they were (marginally) better than Arizona (yet accomplished next to nothing) during the inevitable post-Lute down cycle. However Herb never capitalized on it much like he never did at State when UNC was faced with down years after Dean Smith. And like UNC, Arizona is going to be competing for Final Four's within five years and won't stop until Miller either goes somewhere else or retires at which point Pastner will take over and the cycle will continue. Herb Sendek or ASU isn't going anywhere close to that point in the foreseeable future. Honestly - don't worry about it.

Bashing ASU for any and all reasons is all good by me. I could be indifferent to them but growing up in Tempe and the fact that my current boss is a Sun Devil I like to talk as much ish as possible and get them all worked up

As for the tourney - I agree the RPI piece is a little troubling. But what I am hanging my hat on is the conference depth. It is TERRIBLE next year. With one elite player, couple solid role guys like Fogg and Horne, and 1 of the 3 freshman being a solid contributor I think if I had to bet at the point I would put in our favor.

Again there is NOTHING coming back so with reasonable expectations of growth from the three returning players and 2 of the 3 freshman contributing I think we will be competitive in more games then not. If this was the conference of even 2 years ago I would say we had no chance but what team really looks to be THAT much better next year? UW maybe. Cal maybe. UCLA has talent but..

Of course I am bias. Time will tell.