Zona Basketball '06

[Lefty]

Lute signs another top-50 player for 2007.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sports/111714

 

[Russ Smith]

Well for the 2nd time this year a pay article on Bruin Report Online about a Bruin injury has turned out false. They said Farmar had a stress fracture, and today they said Aboya had a torn meniscus. 2 hours later Howland announced on radio he'd practiced for an hour today, the MRI showed nothing serious, and he'd play tomorrow night against USC.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I was in tucson to watch both games and it was just depressing. I'm still not giving up all hope because i expected some struggles with McClellan coming back, but those two losses were embarassing. Everyone wants to say the Pac-10 is down, but really i think they are just beating up on each other. The non conference record was not as good as it usually is, but is Oregon State so much worse than say, Indiana? I dont think so. I also think the UA, once everything comes together, could beat a team like the Illinis any given night (yes, im watching the game on ESPN right now)

But i have to admit i am the most uncomfortable i have been in a long time. Even after the hiccups in the fiesta classic after Bobbi died, i knew that team was so loaded that things would work out. I cant say the same thing with this squad. This was just a bad year to not have a big time shooter on the roster (something i cant even remeber on any UA team in recent memory)...I thought the defense could carry us but im starting to lose confidence.

It says here they will turn it around and win the Pac-10 tourney, as i am not overly impressed by any of the other teams. But this is bad, and yes i am worried. Fortunately the next two years we bring in absolute star players, so we got that going for us....

Oh and one more thing:

(BTW this is not directed at anyone on this MB, but rather the idiot Cat fans i have been hearing out of Tucson)

.... any "fan" calling for Lute to be fired or step down is just the kind of "I only know sports based on what Stu Scott tells me" fan that i have no respect for. Quit going with the ebb and flow of a couple months and try to have some damn perspective for a second. If this inconsistency is still the case mid way through 2007, then we can start talking about the subject, but until then, just keep your opinion to yourself as it is likely you will embarass yourself by letting others know your thoughts....

 

[Chaz]

Disappointing season so far.

Next two weeks are HUGE.

 

[Lefty]

I am a little concerned after last week's debacle in Oregon. I think we will know more about this team after the games against Stanford & Cal.

I know i said the Cats would beat ASU in Tempe but if they continue to play like they did last week, the ASU game will be a tossup.

On a final note, Prince is out at least for the Stanford game with a bad foot and McClellan's wrist is hurt.

 

[DevilPrideBAS]

The non conference record was not as good as it usually is, but is Oregon State so much worse than say, Indiana? I dont think so.

Indiana did beat Illinois tonight, I'd say being ranked number 11 in the country and beating Illinois ranked number 5 would put them way above Oregon State, but thats just my opinion...

 

[Russ Smith]

I am a little concerned after last week's debacle in Oregon. I think we will know more about this team after the games against Stanford & Cal.

I know i said the Cats would beat ASU in Tempe but if they continue to play like they did last week, the ASU game will be a tossup.

On a final note, Prince is out at least for the Stanford game with a bad foot and McClellan's wrist is hurt.

UA catches a break with Stanford though. They were just starting to play well and Hernandez tweaks his fragile back and may not play Thursday, Prowitt is out, and Haryasz is still fighting a bad ankle although he played pretty well the last game.

UA should handle them quite easily Thursday, Stanford is nearly as beat up as UCLA.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Indiana did beat Illinois tonight, I'd say being ranked number 11 in the country and beating Illinois ranked number 5 would put them way above Oregon State, but thats just my opinion...

Once again...watch the game and follow the styles of play. national perception doesn't make a team (Unless you are a SunDevil. Which then they are absolutly correct)

I could be wrong. But i thinkits closer than many would think. I really like a few of those players on those Oregon teams and i think being up in the NW and not bing UW or Gonzaga, leads them to not get the credit they deserve,unless they do something insane that HAS to get noticed. And Jay John knows UA basketball better than anyone not named Lute or Roz....

The sky is not falling YET...but storm clouds are on the horizon

 

[Russ Smith]

Once again...watch the game and follow the styles of play. national perception doesn't make a team (Unless you are a SunDevil. Which then they are absolutly correct)

I could be wrong. But i thinkits closer than many would think. I really like a few of those players on those Oregon teams and i think being up in the NW and not bing UW or Gonzaga, leads them to not get the credit they deserve,unless they do something insane that HAS to get noticed. And Jay John knows UA basketball better than anyone not named Lute or Roz....

The sky is not falling YET...but storm clouds are on the horizon

If Jay John were coaching Oregon and not Oregon State he'd probably be in first place all alone.

Its' criminal what Ernie Kent is doing with that team. He's got Aaron Brooks, Bryce Taylor, Malik Hairston, Marty Leunen, Chamberlain Oguchi, adam zahn and he's 9-8 with losses to Portland and Portland State.

Being a UCLA fan I know for a fact UCLA heavily recruited every guy on that list except Oguchi. Oguchi didn't have the grades, and they don't typically recruit Texas very well, especially since Oguchi played AAU ball for Pastner's dad. In fact it's a miracle he didn't go to UA but I don't think UA wanted him.

Oregon State doesn't have a single kid on their roster who UCLA seriously recruited and they have a better record than Oregon.

If Kevin Love and Kyle Singler don't wind up at UCLA I hope they wind up at Oregon state, love to see what John could do with some talent. but unfortunately both kids probably go to Duke.

 

[Lefty]

Just got back from the UofA/Stanford game and wow, the place was jumping. The officiating was horrible for both teams. It was nice to see Ivan and Marcus play very well and Fox and Fendi contributed. Shakur looked more comfortable without Rodgers. It's his and Hassan's team now.

Also, I really feel bad for Jawann. The kid can't catch a break(no pun intended). Hopefully the wrist heals well enough that he'll be able to participate when the Cats go to Europe in May.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Just got back from the UofA/Stanford game and wow, the place was jumping. The officiating was horrible for both teams. It was nice to see Ivan and Marcus play very well and Fox and Fendi contributed. Shakur looked more comfortable without Rodgers. It's his and Hassan's team now.

Also, I really feel bad for Jawann. The kid can't catch a break(no pun intended). Hopefully the wrist heals well enough that he'll be able to participate when the Cats go to Europe in May.

The officiating was horrific and definitely helped out in this one. I know Stanford has been playing well as of late but we should have sealed the game early in the second half instead of letting them get back in it. I'll take any win at this point though. It should be interesting how we decide to go at Cal's frontcourt.

Marcus Williams is legit. That guy is going to be ridicluous when he actually grows into his body.

 

[Russ Smith]

The officiating was horrific and definitely helped out in this one. I know Stanford has been playing well as of late but we should have sealed the game early in the second half instead of letting them get back in it. I'll take any win at this point though. It should be interesting how we decide to go at Cal's frontcourt.

Marcus Williams is legit. That guy is going to be ridicluous when he actually grows into his body.

The game wasn't on in the Bay Area oddly but I did see replays of those 2 bad calls where the ball clearly went out on Arizona and they ruled it Arizona ball.The local sports guy was blaming the last call for essentially costing Stanford the game because UA scored on that possession to go up 5.

Trent Johnson was furious about some of the calls and also really mad about his technical apparently.

Looks like Stanford has found a couple of players in freshman forward Lawrence Hill and freshman PG Mitch Johnson. They are 2 of the biggest reasons Stanford is playing better.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Looks like Stanford has found a couple of players in freshman forward Lawrence Hill and freshman PG Mitch Johnson. They are 2 of the biggest reasons Stanford is playing better.

Yeah, Lute and Rob Evans really missed the boat on Hill and Matt Haryasz both of which are in-state kids. Lute looked at both of them but never offered either although they both supposedly would have gone to Arizona in a heartbeat. I'm not sure what Evans' excuse is but a Haryasz/Diogu frontcourt the last few years would have been dominant and they obviously could use Hill this year.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Arizona looked tired and got ran out of the gym by Carolinain probably one of the most pathetic defensive performaces I have ever seen. They'll get swept next week in LA if they continue to be that lazy on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[Renz]

This was supposed to be a good defensive team, yet an average UNC team shot 58% and made UA look like Stetson.

 

[Mrh182]

We all just need to realize this is a down year for Arizona...we can pray for a miracle come tourney time...but I've come to the conclusion that this team is a bit young still and needs more time to mesh. Hopefully Chase coming in next year will help things out

 

[Arizona's Finest]

we suck.....no leaders, no shooters, no rebounders and now the defense has just fallen off the face of the earth......

we will make the tourney (keeping our record streak in tact and get knocked out in the first weekend)

My only hope is that Williams, Prince and Onubon all develop enough with the extra time that they are big time players going into next year (especially Williams)....

I like what i hear out of McClellans mouth so hopefully he has alot of drive this summer and becomes a team leader cause you know Shakur wont ever grow into that role.....

Budinger should be good but i wish Bayless was coming next year....

 

[boondockdrunk]

Budinger should be good but i wish Bayless was coming next year....

I wish we got a big inside man coming next year. That is what we really need. Someone to rebound the ball and go strong to the hole.

 

[AZBALLER]

Yeah, Lute and Rob Evans really missed the boat on Hill and Matt Haryasz both of which are in-state kids. Lute looked at both of them but never offered either although they both supposedly would have gone to Arizona in a heartbeat. I'm not sure what Evans' excuse is but a Haryasz/Diogu frontcourt the last few years would have been dominant and they obviously could use Hill this year.

Matt came down to ASU and Stanford. Rob went after him hard, but Matt made the intelligent decision in the end and picked the place that he could get the best education at...

 

[boondockdrunk]

..........
..........
uummmmm.... yeaaaaa.

So baseball season is about underway... let's go baseball team!!

Is anyone else tired of seeing Shakur on the court?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Nit! Nit!

 

[Russ Smith]

Wow UA is in 5th place in a conference that MIGHT get 4 teams at most into the NCAA's. Pretty amazing. I still figure Lute will find a way to pull it out.

Gotta give trent Johnson and Stanford credit, they keep getting lucky, last 2 wins should have been losses, but they continue to win. Their experience is paying off. Cal also continues to win. UCLA keeps winning ugly, if Ryan hollins hadn't returned playing well they'd be dead, Aboya and Wright have really been struggling the last 4-5 games.

Oregon just keeps putting nails in Kent's coffin. What a crazy year.

 

[Mrh182]

I thought Arizona was in a tie for 3rd within the pac 10..?

None the less...like I said a few days ago...this is obviously a transition year...Lute's best bet is to get some of the freshman more time to get them better prepared for next season

 

[Russ Smith]

I thought Arizona was in a tie for 3rd within the pac 10..?

None the less...like I said a few days ago...this is obviously a transition year...Lute's best bet is to get some of the freshman more time to get them better prepared for next season

UCLA is in first all alone, Cal and Stanford are tied for 2nd, USC is 4th tied with UA, for some reason when I looked at ESPN's standings I thought UA had one less win than USC.

So technically UA is tied for 4th. I still think Lute finds a way into the tourney but this is surprising to me.

Just such a crazy year.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I still think Lute finds a way into the tourney but this is surprising to me.

Thankfully they played such a brutal non-conference schedule which is keeping their RPI up but they can't afford any more bad losses like this. Before tonight Arizona's RPI was 16 and no major conference team with a RPI below 40 has ever not made the NCAAs with a confernce record over .500.

And I'm not sure Lute has anything to do with whether this team gets into the tourney or not. Players like Hassan Adams and Shakur have been coached by him for a combined seven years and still haven't figured out how to play Arizona basketball. Those two guys are supposedly the leaders of this team and were severely outplayed and outhustled by a couple headcases (albeit very talented ones) in Nick Young and Gabe Pruitt. Completely inexcusable.

EDIT - Today, Arizona's RPI is 19 which still gets the in. If they find a way to win six games they're in and if not they're going to need a lot of help.