Bear Down Wildcats

dmjcat wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 9:10 pm Tennessee transfer visits AZ

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 10:31 pm I like it when Clip gets excited about a guy.

TucsonClip wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 11:07 pm

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 10:31 pm I like it when Clip gets excited about a guy.

Just wait till I really like a guy.

This portal season has been pretty underwhelming, but this dude is fun to watch bulldoze his victims.

Winger wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 8:33 am

TucsonClip wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 11:07 pm

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 10:31 pm I like it when Clip gets excited about a guy.

Just wait till I really like a guy.

This portal season has been pretty underwhelming, but this dude is fun to watch bulldoze his victims.

He was really good @ U19 FIBA for TUSA. Never could translate that for Barnes, however. At face value this read to me like Johnson “coming to shoot 3s and show my perimeter game” last off season where Awaka is coming in for Lloyd to morph him in to a 4, which is what he likely needs to be if he is going to play at the next level.

Problem there is he is a 5 and lacks the shooting, handle, and perimeter defensive ability to guard quicker players becoming a 4 would require.

As a 5 there are a bunch of questions:

Is Lloyd moving on from Krivas?
Is Awaka content to come in and be the center off the bench?
Is this another example (Kriisa, Maruskas, Boro, etc.) of Lloyd morphing his roster into one that can compete in the B12?
Is this a NIL move where he is going to the highest bidder or maximizing his number for a return to UT?

Unless Krivas is moving on this one doesn’t make a lot of sense: no position/minutes, Lloyd loves tall 5s, could start at a number of other high profile programs, etc.

Feels a bit like his posse is calling the shots.

TucsonClip wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 9:41 am

Winger wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 8:33 am

TucsonClip wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 11:07 pm

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 10:31 pm I like it when Clip gets excited about a guy.

Just wait till I really like a guy.

This portal season has been pretty underwhelming, but this dude is fun to watch bulldoze his victims.

He was really good @ U19 FIBA for TUSA. Never could translate that for Barnes, however. At face value this read to me like Johnson “coming to shoot 3s and show my perimeter game” last off season where Awaka is coming in for Lloyd to morph him in to a 4, which is what he likely needs to be if he is going to play at the next level.

Problem there is he is a 5 and lacks the shooting, handle, and perimeter defensive ability to guard quicker players becoming a 4 would require.

As a 5 there are a bunch of questions:

Is Lloyd moving on from Krivas?
Is Awaka content to come in and be the center off the bench?
Is this another example (Kriisa, Maruskas, Boro, etc.) of Lloyd morphing his roster into one that can compete in the B12?
Is this a NIL move where he is going to the highest bidder or maximizing his number for a return to UT?

Unless Krivas is moving on this one doesn’t make a lot of sense: no position/minutes, Lloyd loves tall 5s, could start at a number of other high profile programs, etc.

Feels a bit like his posse is calling the shots.

Feels like he's going to compete with Krivas and each split 20 MPG at the 5. I don't see him as a 4 at all, but that could be the pitch for extra minutes off the bench.

Personally, I want to see Stephen. I don't usually scout HS guys unless I see then in international competitions. But his 247 profile is that if an athletic defender who rebounds and is a vertical spacer. No idea if that's true.

However, it does feel to me like Lloyd is trying to add some bruisers to deal with the physicality in the B12. This dude absolutely fits that bill. None of our current bigs do.

SunnyAZ wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:34 pm starting

Jaden, love, KJ, townsend, and Krivas would be pretty terrible for spacing. also extremely small

Beachcat97 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 6:06 pm

SunnyAZ wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:34 pm starting

Jaden, love, KJ, townsend, and Krivas would be pretty terrible for spacing. also extremely small

I really don’t see Love being back.

SunnyAZ wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:25 pm the second I saw we were going after Townsend I assumed he was coming here. he is a perfect fit for what tommy wants even if that isn't ideally how to play basketball in 2024.

assuming both love and KJ come back that should be the team.

if awaka comes I guess Henri would leave

SunnyAZ wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:25 pm the second I saw we were going after Townsend I assumed he was coming here. he is a perfect fit for what tommy wants even if that isn't ideally how to play basketball in 2024.

assuming both love and KJ come back that should be the team.

if awaka comes I guess Henri would leave

Winger wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 6:27 am

SunnyAZ wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:25 pm the second I saw we were going after Townsend I assumed he was coming here. he is a perfect fit for what tommy wants even if that isn't ideally how to play basketball in 2024.

assuming both love and KJ come back that should be the team.

if awaka comes I guess Henri would leave

Seems iffy that Awaka can play the 4, so not sure he effects Veesaar much; but am interested in your comment on Townsend above. Care to expand on that?

Don’t know that Lloyd has had anyone exactly like him yet. He is similar to Awaka in that he is undersized for a 4, doesn’t play like a 3/SF, isn’t a great shooter, and makes his living isoing/backing dudes down, in or near the paint where he can go both ways, shoot with both hands, and finish through contact and over bigger dudes (at least in the Horizon League).

What is interesting to me is that, as far as I know, Arizona hasn’t brought in a guy at one of the main positional needs: a legit PF, yet.

Winger wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 6:27 am

SunnyAZ wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:25 pm the second I saw we were going after Townsend I assumed he was coming here. he is a perfect fit for what tommy wants even if that isn't ideally how to play basketball in 2024.

assuming both love and KJ come back that should be the team.

if awaka comes I guess Henri would leave

Seems iffy that Awaka can play the 4, so not sure he effects Veesaar much; but am interested in your comment on Townsend above. Care to expand on that?

Don’t know that Lloyd has had anyone exactly like him yet. He is similar to Awaka in that he is undersized for a 4, doesn’t play like a 3/SF, isn’t a great shooter, and makes his living isoing/backing dudes down, in or near the paint where he can go both ways, shoot with both hands, and finish through contact and over bigger dudes (at least in the Horizon League).

What is interesting to me is that, as far as I know, Arizona hasn’t brought in a guy at one of the main positional needs: a legit PF, yet.

SunnyAZ wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 9:44 am And Townsend commits to UA

TucsonClip wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 7:29 am

Winger wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 6:27 am

SunnyAZ wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:25 pm the second I saw we were going after Townsend I assumed he was coming here. he is a perfect fit for what tommy wants even if that isn't ideally how to play basketball in 2024.

assuming both love and KJ come back that should be the team.

if awaka comes I guess Henri would leave

Seems iffy that Awaka can play the 4, so not sure he effects Veesaar much; but am interested in your comment on Townsend above. Care to expand on that?

Don’t know that Lloyd has had anyone exactly like him yet. He is similar to Awaka in that he is undersized for a 4, doesn’t play like a 3/SF, isn’t a great shooter, and makes his living isoing/backing dudes down, in or near the paint where he can go both ways, shoot with both hands, and finish through contact and over bigger dudes (at least in the Horizon League).

What is interesting to me is that, as far as I know, Arizona hasn’t brought in a guy at one of the main positional needs: a legit PF, yet.

Not a big fan of Townsend, as you can tell from my scout on him. However, I haven't seen many 4s I would take who are really any good. I liked Mark Mitchell from Duke, but mainly because he is a legit defensive stud. Problem is he wanted more offensive involvement...

gronk4heisman wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 9:10 am

Winger wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 6:27 am

SunnyAZ wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:25 pm the second I saw we were going after Townsend I assumed he was coming here. he is a perfect fit for what tommy wants even if that isn't ideally how to play basketball in 2024.

assuming both love and KJ come back that should be the team.

if awaka comes I guess Henri would leave

Seems iffy that Awaka can play the 4, so not sure he effects Veesaar much; but am interested in your comment on Townsend above. Care to expand on that?

Don’t know that Lloyd has had anyone exactly like him yet. He is similar to Awaka in that he is undersized for a 4, doesn’t play like a 3/SF, isn’t a great shooter, and makes his living isoing/backing dudes down, in or near the paint where he can go both ways, shoot with both hands, and finish through contact and over bigger dudes (at least in the Horizon League).

What is interesting to me is that, as far as I know, Arizona hasn’t brought in a guy at one of the main positional needs: a legit PF, yet.

He looks to me like a shorter Tubelis, which definitely had severe liabilities for Arizona come tournament time. I would have preferred a PF who is a really good defender over a guy who can score in volume. Our offense has shown it can get buckets for bigs who may not have the most developed offensive game.

TucsonClip wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 9:59 pm

dmjcat wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 9:10 pm Tennessee transfer visits AZ

Tobe Awaka Quick Scouting Report

Games watched: vs. Purdont, @ Missouri

This dude is a full on monster. He would immediately be the strongest, most physical guy on the team. However, he is a 5 all the way here and I dont see him playing much 4 unless we just want to mash teams. He is going to be similar to Ballo as a vertical spacer and lob threat. He needs a runway, but he has really good feet and can operate in traffic.

Offensively he is an absolute load in the paint. He is going to put guys into the basket, is a space eater in the heart of the defense, and active on the offensive glass. Good touch, he can finish through contact, has a pretty decent fadeaway jumper in the paint to get a shot up against longer, bigger guys. Good drop step, can work in the dunker spot, and an absolute unit setting screens. He is going to free up guards on those DHOs because hes wide and extremely physical. He is going to make sure guys feel it when he sets a screen.

In transition, he can run the court and moves pretty well for a guy his size. Will easily be able to seal and pin dudes. Definitely a threat on our duck ins. Hasnt shown much of anything as a passer.

Defensively, hes more active and agile than he initially looks. He is a quality defender who can slide his feet laterally, has decent mobility, can play at the level of the screen and in the drop. He actually does a nice job sliding with the guards at the level in ball screens. However, on the block is where you see his value. This dude was holding his own against Edey man up. He uses his strength and leverage to hold position on offense, but especially on defense. Edey wasnt able to back him down, and his footwork allowed him to keep his feet moving and slide to cut off Edey's moves and counters. He can defend any big man in the country on the block because of his strength and IQ.

He does a good job contesting shots just by playing straight up. His size allows him to get into offensive players, which is why his block rate is so high despite not being vertically athletic. When a shot goes up, he is bulldozing through guys to get to a rebound. Oh yeah, good luck boxing him out. He is going right through you.

Overall, he is a nice counter to what we have at C. He is physically imposing, would be the strongest guy on the team, has good feet, and can score around the rim multiple ways, monster on the glass and this is a dude who is NOT getting punked by anyone.

dmjcat wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:02 pm Wonder if we are actually pursuing this kid after the Awaka commitment:

AZCatGirl wrote: ↑Thu May 02, 2024 9:37 pm Dylan Anderson still has eligibility?!

ChooChooCat wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:04 pm

dmjcat wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:02 pm Wonder if we are actually pursuing this kid after the Awaka commitment:

Yeah...I don't think we're pursuing this kid period. Seems like he listed a few real schools and a handful of dream options.

Beachcat97 wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2024 1:57 pm

ChooChooCat wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:04 pm

dmjcat wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:02 pm Wonder if we are actually pursuing this kid after the Awaka commitment:

Yeah...I don't think we're pursuing this kid period. Seems like he listed a few real schools and a handful of dream options.

Choo, are we still recruiting transfers? Any names we should keep an eye on?

84Cat wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2024 3:38 pm

Beachcat97 wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2024 1:57 pm

ChooChooCat wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:04 pm

dmjcat wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:02 pm Wonder if we are actually pursuing this kid after the Awaka commitment:

Yeah...I don't think we're pursuing this kid period. Seems like he listed a few real schools and a handful of dream options.

Choo, are we still recruiting transfers? Any names we should keep an eye on?

This guy picked the school up north

84Cat wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2024 3:38 pm This guy picked the school up north

Beachcat97 wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2024 1:57 pm

ChooChooCat wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:04 pm

dmjcat wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:02 pm Wonder if we are actually pursuing this kid after the Awaka commitment:

Yeah...I don't think we're pursuing this kid period. Seems like he listed a few real schools and a handful of dream options.

Choo, are we still recruiting transfers? Any names we should keep an eye on?

ChooChooCat wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 5:01 am

Beachcat97 wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2024 1:57 pm

ChooChooCat wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:04 pm

dmjcat wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:02 pm Wonder if we are actually pursuing this kid after the Awaka commitment:

Yeah...I don't think we're pursuing this kid period. Seems like he listed a few real schools and a handful of dream options.

Choo, are we still recruiting transfers? Any names we should keep an eye on?

Nah, we're done, barring a world where we neither have Caleb Love nor Joson Sanon.

Merkin wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2024 1:32 pm The longer it takes, the less I believe the $1M NIL offer is real.

I would bet even money that he ends up overseas since the league has no interest in him.