Bear Down Wildcats

Simon is playing really well this year. Grant got an NBA salary for two years I think, not bad. Chol and Victor were fringe players here or anywhere.

Needs more strength in his legs. The knees are fine.

Miller's comments on Akot's knees.

Miller says a lack of strength in his legs is the cause. Working with the training staff on his flexibility and leg strength.

Would be nice if we were proactive with this stuff prior to them arriving - get them on campus for strength, flexibility, conditioning testing. Even offensive and defensive principles (defensive especially) from a mental aspect. Get them materials and a program to work (like we did for Rawle in his strength training before he got here... think he got materials from Rounds in March before he got here).

Not sure to what degree we're allowed to do that but it's surprising to me that Miller and the coaching squad are surprised by the players they get.

YoDeFoe wrote:Miller's comments on Akot's knees.

Miller says a lack of strength in his legs is the cause. Working with the training staff on his flexibility and leg strength.

Would be nice if we were proactive with this stuff prior to them arriving - get them on campus for strength, flexibility, conditioning testing. Even offensive and defensive principles (defensive especially) from a mental aspect. Get them materials and a program to work (like we did for Rawle in his strength training before he got here... think he got materials from Rounds in March before he got here).

Not sure to what degree we're allowed to do that but it's surprising to me that Miller and the coaching squad are surprised by the players they get.

He did come a year earlier than expected. And I don't think high school bball players are advised to weight lift too much, since most of them don't.

YoDeFoe wrote:Miller's comments on Akot's knees.

Miller says a lack of strength in his legs is the cause. Working with the training staff on his flexibility and leg strength.

Would be nice if we were proactive with this stuff prior to them arriving - get them on campus for strength, flexibility, conditioning testing. Even offensive and defensive principles (defensive especially) from a mental aspect. Get them materials and a program to work (like we did for Rawle in his strength training before he got here... think he got materials from Rounds in March before he got here).

Not sure to what degree we're allowed to do that but it's surprising to me that Miller and the coaching squad are surprised by the players they get.

It can be a variety of issues. One is that I'm sure Akot is being pushed harder to perform than ever before. It wouldn't shock me if his knees were fine for HS or practice speed but that Arizona game speed is too much.

Beyond that, it can be challenging to develop leg strength in basketball players. Squats are a great tool, but it's disproportionately hard to use them for basketball players, who tend towards some of the worst body types for squatting. Leg extensions can exacerbate patellar tendon issues, and that does not necessarily leave a ton of room.

I wouldn't be shocked if it's a combo of both of the above.

Some knees are just less stable. ACLs, like many parts of the body, vary. Some are loose...my daughter had "loose knees". She is 17 and will have her 2nd ACL surgery in January, one for each knee. She walked a touch "toe in"...that impacted it. Also, women are more susceptible to ACL tear because of the angle the femur takes into the knee due to hips. A can't imagine a part of our eval being knee stability tests...we would end up passing on a lot of players who turn out fine, I would guess, because loose ligaments does not guarantee a blowout.

EVCat wrote:Some knees are just less stable. ACLs, like many parts of the body, vary. Some are loose...my daughter had "loose knees". She is 17 and will have her 2nd ACL surgery in January, one for each knee. She walked a touch "toe in"...that impacted it. Also, women are more susceptible to ACL tear because of the angle the femur takes into the knee due to hips. A can't imagine a part of our eval being knee stability tests...we would end up passing on a lot of players who turn out fine, I would guess, because loose ligaments does not guarantee a blowout.

I'm not really suggesting an eval with a pass/fail, I'm suggesting an eval that results in a recommended workload for the player. For a guy like Rawle that would have been a diet plan and conditioning plan (along with preventative exercises) to cut fat and build stability. For Eman, a bulking and strengthening plan.

I'd also suggest a fundamentals of the packline defense "playbook" with video and animations and diagrams - a tablet preloaded with that and then featuring the individual physical workload as well.

Just spitballing between games...

YoDeFoe wrote:

EVCat wrote:Some knees are just less stable. ACLs, like many parts of the body, vary. Some are loose...my daughter had "loose knees". She is 17 and will have her 2nd ACL surgery in January, one for each knee. She walked a touch "toe in"...that impacted it. Also, women are more susceptible to ACL tear because of the angle the femur takes into the knee due to hips. A can't imagine a part of our eval being knee stability tests...we would end up passing on a lot of players who turn out fine, I would guess, because loose ligaments does not guarantee a blowout.

I'm not really suggesting an eval with a pass/fail, I'm suggesting an eval that results in a recommended workload for the player. For a guy like Rawle that would have been a diet plan and conditioning plan (along with preventative exercises) to cut fat and build stability. For Eman, a bulking and strengthening plan.

I'd also suggest a fundamentals of the packline defense "playbook" with video and animations and diagrams - a tablet preloaded with that and then featuring the individual physical workload as well.

Just spitballing between games...

I would be really surprised if this is not happening. I got a similar plan entering HS in the mid 1990's.

How well players stick to it, especially with AAU stuff, that's another matter.

Here's hoping he can get to where he's a key contributor, because next year is looking thin. All starters departing.

I think Akot is going to cost Sean Miller a game at the free throw line. He's been playing well though.

NYCat wrote:I think Akot is going to cost Sean Miller a game at the free throw line. He's been playing well though.

He is god awful so while you maybe right gotta love Pinder's new silky smooth release at the line. Lol.

NYCat wrote:I think Akot is going to cost Sean Miller a game at the free throw line. He's been playing well though.

Akot simply can't be in the game in a bonus situation, other than quick substitutions for single defensive possessions.

And otherwise, Akot shouldn't be doing anything other than passing around the perimeter. If he can learn to recover on team defense, and not try to do anything on offense, he'll be an enormous improvement on Smith.

When Smith is in the game, all you can do is hold your breath and close your eyes and hope the opponent's run won't be insurmountable by the time Miller can substitute him out again. Akot needs to keep developing in order to keep Smith on the bench.

Longhorned wrote:

NYCat wrote:I think Akot is going to cost Sean Miller a game at the free throw line. He's been playing well though.

Akot simply can't be in the game in a bonus situation, other than quick substitutions for single defensive possessions.

And otherwise, Akot shouldn't be doing anything other than passing around the perimeter. If he can learn to recover on team defense, and not try to do anything on offense, he'll be an enormous improvement on Smith.

When Smith is in the game, all you can do is hold your breath and close your eyes and hope the opponent's run won't be insurmountable by the time Miller can substitute him out again. Ayton needs to keep developing in order to keep Smith on the bench.

Solution is simple. More Akot/bench early, less late. I know people rip on Miller for the hockey line substitutions early, but I think that's his goal. Get bench minutes so the starters don't die, and have them early enough so that we can have the guys we trust down the stretch.

I don't get why he was shooting 3s tonight

Akot shot 37.5% on the year from 3 and 80% in conference play, small sample size for both obviously. Wasn't the right shot, but we weren't doing anything else on that particular possession anyhow.

Akot really deserves some more love. Dug himself out of Miller's dog house and provided helpful minutes off the bench in the late conference season and Pac 12 tournament. During the most important time of our season, he stepped up more than any freshman besides Ayton and he did it during what should have been his senior season in high school. Really hope he sticks around, he is going to be a stud in a couple years.

rgdeuce wrote:Akot shot 37.5% on the year from 3 and 80% in conference play, small sample size for both obviously. Wasn't the right shot, but we weren't doing anything else on that particular possession anyhow.

Akot really deserves some more love. Dug himself out of Miller's dog house and provided helpful minutes off the bench in the late conference season and Pac 12 tournament. During the most important time of our season, he stepped up more than any freshman besides Ayton and he did it during what should have been his senior season in high school. Really hope he sticks around, he is going to be a stud in a couple years.

I posted this in another thread, but I like Akot, Lee, etc better in terms of the culture they bring than I liked our culture this year.

Why wouldn't he transfer a week or two ago so he could play next December?

QUITTER

UAEebs86 wrote:Why wouldn't he transfer a week or two ago so he could play next December?

Has to be more to it than just lack of minutes next year.

Did he talk to Dennis Latimore? More Lee, if he can stay out of foul trouble.

I wasn't expecting that on this Monday night.

Hmmm...very strange timing. Really don't get it at this point.

got a link to the story for us foreign underpriviledged

edit: never mind a found a link on 'the' facebook page

I kept waiting for his breakout game. Now I’ll have to wait another 1.5 years.

Olsondogg wrote:I kept waiting for his breakout game. Now I never will.

FTFY

Olsondogg wrote:I kept waiting for his breakout game. Now I’ll have to wait another 1.5 years.

Think he had it already.

I woke up this morning still trying to wrap my head around this. A guy who was starting on our team playing almost 20min a game, decided to quit mid-season and then will finish out school and transfer at the end of the semester



I am assuming Miller is numb to all this shit now.

I woke up realizing there has to be more to this story.

It's just too stupid looking at it from the outside.

Alieberman wrote:I woke up realizing there has to be more to this story.

It's just too stupid looking at it from the outside.

Well I set the table in my previous posts why he would transfer. The reason he's leaving now though is the same reason he's shooting like Lonzo fucking Ball. He's just listening to some extraordinarily dumb people.

ChooChooCat wrote:

Alieberman wrote:I woke up realizing there has to be more to this story.

It's just too stupid looking at it from the outside.

Well I set the table in my previous posts why he would transfer. The reason he's leaving now though is the same reason he's shooting like Lonzo fucking Ball. He's just listening to some extraordinarily dumb people.

I understand why he may want to transfer after the season.... or even somewhat understand if he did this 2 weeks ago... but now.....??????

Newportcat wrote:I woke up this morning still trying to wrap my head around this. A guy who was starting on our team playing almost 20min a game, decided to quit mid-season and then will finish out school and transfer at the end of the semester

I am assuming Miller is numb to all this shit now.

Something like this makes me wonder if there's just an issue between the player and coach.

What I mean is, regardless of playing time, is there some issue that (in the player's mind) causes the player to hate the coach so much he wants off the team that badly despite the starting and playing time.

Akot isn't just transferring, he's outright quitting the team, staying in school, and then transferring later with 2 years of eligibility which he won't get to use for a long while.

There has to be something there that causes the player to hate the coach, right?

PieceOfMeat wrote:

Newportcat wrote:I woke up this morning still trying to wrap my head around this. A guy who was starting on our team playing almost 20min a game, decided to quit mid-season and then will finish out school and transfer at the end of the semester

I am assuming Miller is numb to all this shit now.

Something like this makes me wonder if there's just an issue between the player and coach.

What I mean is, regardless of playing time, is there some issue that (in the player's mind) causes the player to hate the coach so much he wants off the team that badly despite the starting and playing time.

Akot isn't just transferring, he's outright quitting the team, staying in school, and then transferring later with 2 years of eligibility which he won't get to use for a long while.

There has to be something there that causes the player to hate the coach, right?

Or he just listens to his AAU coach who is currently going through a complete meltdown.

ChooChooCat wrote:

PieceOfMeat wrote:

Newportcat wrote:I woke up this morning still trying to wrap my head around this. A guy who was starting on our team playing almost 20min a game, decided to quit mid-season and then will finish out school and transfer at the end of the semester

I am assuming Miller is numb to all this shit now.

Something like this makes me wonder if there's just an issue between the player and coach.

What I mean is, regardless of playing time, is there some issue that (in the player's mind) causes the player to hate the coach so much he wants off the team that badly despite the starting and playing time.

Akot isn't just transferring, he's outright quitting the team, staying in school, and then transferring later with 2 years of eligibility which he won't get to use for a long while.

There has to be something there that causes the player to hate the coach, right?

Or he just listens to his AAU coach who is currently going through a complete meltdown.

So his AAU coach hates Miller?

If this decision is influenced by his AAU coach, I guess we’ll be seeing him at an Adidas schoool.

PieceOfMeat wrote:

Newportcat wrote:I woke up this morning still trying to wrap my head around this. A guy who was starting on our team playing almost 20min a game, decided to quit mid-season and then will finish out school and transfer at the end of the semester

I am assuming Miller is numb to all this shit now.

Something like this makes me wonder if there's just an issue between the player and coach.

What I mean is, regardless of playing time, is there some issue that (in the player's mind) causes the player to hate the coach so much he wants off the team that badly despite the starting and playing time.

Akot isn't just transferring, he's outright quitting the team, staying in school, and then transferring later with 2 years of eligibility which he won't get to use for a long while.

There has to be something there that causes the player to hate the coach, right?

I know Jim Rosborough was reputed to be a supportive ear to hear player discontent and smooth out player/coach issues under Lute; wasn't Book Richardson someone who performed a similar role for CSM?

Who fulfills that role now? Is this possibly related to a premature loss like Akot's?

He obviously decided this in the last 2 weeks, or else he could have saved a semester of eligibility.

You just now decide you hate the coaches, playing time, etc? The season is over in 2 months!!!! You can't suck it up for that long? Bite your tongue, play hard when your # is called, practice, improve and then make a decision.... in 2 months!!!!

Alieberman wrote:He obviously decided this in the last 2 weeks, or else he could have saved a semester of eligibility.

You just now decide you hate the coaches, playing time, etc? The season is over in 2 months!!!! You can't suck it up for that long? Bite your tongue, play hard when your # is called, practice, improve and then make a decision.... in 2 months!!!!

He didn't decide anything. An outside party decided it and he said ok.

His defense will be missed a bit as will his fouls and the minutes he allows Luther and Lee to rest but if he is a mental weakling and a quitter get the fuck out

Alieberman wrote:He obviously decided this in the last 2 weeks, or else he could have saved a semester of eligibility.

You just now decide you hate the coaches, playing time, etc? The season is over in 2 months!!!! You can't suck it up for that long? Bite your tongue, play hard when your # is called, practice, improve and then make a decision.... in 2 months!!!!

Especially when you were elevated to starter even though you continue to be a black hole on one side of the court.

I’m not usually one to bash a kid, but this decision was fucking stupid.

Glad he is going to finish out the semester, since that would hurt the team's APR if he left now, if APR is still a thing, but what team would want to take on a quitter? He may just get mad and quit again.

pc in NM wrote:

PieceOfMeat wrote:

Newportcat wrote:I woke up this morning still trying to wrap my head around this. A guy who was starting on our team playing almost 20min a game, decided to quit mid-season and then will finish out school and transfer at the end of the semester

I am assuming Miller is numb to all this shit now.

Something like this makes me wonder if there's just an issue between the player and coach.

What I mean is, regardless of playing time, is there some issue that (in the player's mind) causes the player to hate the coach so much he wants off the team that badly despite the starting and playing time.

Akot isn't just transferring, he's outright quitting the team, staying in school, and then transferring later with 2 years of eligibility which he won't get to use for a long while.

There has to be something there that causes the player to hate the coach, right?

I know Jim Rosborough was reputed to be a supportive ear to hear player discontent and smooth out player/coach issues under Lute; wasn't Book Richardson someone who performed a similar role for CSM?

Who fulfills that role now? Is this possibly related to a premature loss like Akot's?

I don't think any smooth operator coach could've smoothed it out. Akot's camp didn't like the way he was utilized, they saw him as a point forward, not a power forward. Truth be told that was very likely the route that he was going to be groomed for, but the knee issues occurred and then the FBI stuff happened and yeah...

He was always going to be gone after this year, but his AAU coach stomped his feet, became a colossal fucktard over night, and instead of letting the season play out and then leaving here we are.

ChooChooCat wrote:

pc in NM wrote:

PieceOfMeat wrote:

Newportcat wrote:I woke up this morning still trying to wrap my head around this. A guy who was starting on our team playing almost 20min a game, decided to quit mid-season and then will finish out school and transfer at the end of the semester

I am assuming Miller is numb to all this shit now.

Something like this makes me wonder if there's just an issue between the player and coach.

What I mean is, regardless of playing time, is there some issue that (in the player's mind) causes the player to hate the coach so much he wants off the team that badly despite the starting and playing time.

Akot isn't just transferring, he's outright quitting the team, staying in school, and then transferring later with 2 years of eligibility which he won't get to use for a long while.

There has to be something there that causes the player to hate the coach, right?

I know Jim Rosborough was reputed to be a supportive ear to hear player discontent and smooth out player/coach issues under Lute; wasn't Book Richardson someone who performed a similar role for CSM?

Who fulfills that role now? Is this possibly related to a premature loss like Akot's?

I don't think any smooth operator coach could've smoothed it out. Akot's camp didn't like the way he was utilized, they saw him as a point forward, not a power forward. Truth be told that was very likely the route that he was going to be groomed for, but the knee issues occurred and then the FBI stuff happened and yeah...

He was always going to be gone after this year, but his AAU coach stomped his feet, became a colossal fucktard over night, and instead of letting the season play out and then leaving here we are.

Good. Really sucks but if he cant standup for himself and make the best decisions for himself glad he is gone. Bye bye

ChooChooCat wrote:

Alieberman wrote:He obviously decided this in the last 2 weeks, or else he could have saved a semester of eligibility.

You just now decide you hate the coaches, playing time, etc? The season is over in 2 months!!!! You can't suck it up for that long? Bite your tongue, play hard when your # is called, practice, improve and then make a decision.... in 2 months!!!!

He didn't decide anything. An outside party decided it and he said ok.

If that's the case and Akot can't see that these people don't actually have his best interests at heart then he's going to have a tough life and I feel sorry for him.

And now I'm over it. We can plug someone else in to take up his 5 fouls a game and miss wide open shots

Alieberman wrote:He obviously decided this in the last 2 weeks, or else he could have saved a semester of eligibility.

You just now decide you hate the coaches, playing time, etc? The season is over in 2 months!!!! You can't suck it up for that long? Bite your tongue, play hard when your # is called, practice, improve and then make a decision.... in 2 months!!!!

Have to wonder if him only getting 13 minutes at Stanford was the impetus for the timing. Someone somewhere must have been stewing and that was the last straw. Couldn't pull him while on the trip, but sure was quick to make the move getting back to Tucson.

ChooChooCat wrote:

pc in NM wrote:

PieceOfMeat wrote:

Newportcat wrote:I woke up this morning still trying to wrap my head around this. A guy who was starting on our team playing almost 20min a game, decided to quit mid-season and then will finish out school and transfer at the end of the semester

I am assuming Miller is numb to all this shit now.

Something like this makes me wonder if there's just an issue between the player and coach.

What I mean is, regardless of playing time, is there some issue that (in the player's mind) causes the player to hate the coach so much he wants off the team that badly despite the starting and playing time.

Akot isn't just transferring, he's outright quitting the team, staying in school, and then transferring later with 2 years of eligibility which he won't get to use for a long while.

There has to be something there that causes the player to hate the coach, right?

I know Jim Rosborough was reputed to be a supportive ear to hear player discontent and smooth out player/coach issues under Lute; wasn't Book Richardson someone who performed a similar role for CSM?

Who fulfills that role now? Is this possibly related to a premature loss like Akot's?

I don't think any smooth operator coach could've smoothed it out. Akot's camp didn't like the way he was utilized, they saw him as a point forward, not a power forward. Truth be told that was very likely the route that he was going to be groomed for, but the knee issues occurred and then the FBI stuff happened and yeah...

He was always going to be gone after this year, but his AAU coach stomped his feet, became a colossal fucktard over night, and instead of letting the season play out and then leaving here we are.

God I feel so sorry for Miller having to deal with these AAU coaches who have so much control but probably don’t know anything and 99% of the time are only in it for themselves. He is doing his best to run his team with all these hangeroners spitting out all this bullshit constantly in players ears

I guess it makes Miller equal to all of us though having to deal with all of Machina’s bullshit. That’s basically what Machina is, a worthless AAU coach who thinks he knows all

Do what we do?

You all know I am a Miller backer, but we always seem to have a lot of prospects/projects leave early.

At some point it isn’t just on the player and the players camp.

This is pretty shitty news to catch up on even if he kinda sucked in the prerformance/potential ratio.

CalStateTempe wrote:Do what we do?

You all know I am a Miller backer, but we always seem to have a lot of prospects/projects leave early.

At some point it isn’t just on the player and the players camp.

This is pretty shitty news to catch up on.

All programs have transfers. Don’t forget where our starting center came from.

Yeah I know, college bb today isn’t why it used to be. Jarrett Comanche Simmons akot that guy at St. John’s, et al would have been amazing for us as senior leaders