Lets Talk '24

[ChooChooCat]

What do the people who run the NIL collectives say about Love returning? Lloyd still can't offer NIL money, but can only offer negotiating assistance with the player and the collective.

Although like tampering, it seems like a wink wink rule.

Love has a larger NIL package on the table from us than he previously had.

[Merkin]

No wonder Boswell and Ballo bailed. I am certainly with Gumby here.

[TucsonClip]

What do the people who run the NIL collectives say about Love returning? Lloyd still can't offer NIL money, but can only offer negotiating assistance with the player and the collective.

Although like tampering, it seems like a wink wink rule.

Love has a larger NIL package on the table from us than he previously had.

The rumor is it is significantly larger than last year...

[RawleArenas]

So for those of you who have looked into Damon more than I have (minimal) who would you rather have?

Freshman Sanon (is he a 1&Done?)
Or Super Senior Love?

Love was my favorite player to watch in an Arizona uniform this past season. I am not big on 1&Ds who aren’t game changers from day 1, which Sanon is not. But, you can’t run Love back this season. He will kill you too often by shooting and TOing you out of games and Lloyd isn’t a dude who can rein in players and his offense specifically isn’t designed with that in mind. If Love comes back that would be a black mark for me on Lloyd’s ability to coach and manage a roster.

Until he does in fact rein him in and improve his efficiency, of course. Then I will apologize and take it back. But, that ain’t happening.

Not really understanding your logic Winger. We seem to forget Love was basically booted out of Chapel Hill the year before because of his poor performance and Lloyd helped turn his career around including Love winning the PAC POY award. What makes you think CTL wouldn’t help him take the next steps in his player growth?

I just can’t see turning our back on a POY winner if he wants to come back and commits to taking the necessary next steps to be even better next year.

But that’s just me I guess…

One thing that most Arizona losses shared was Love shooting and missing a lot. At the end of the season as he was shooting and missing and turning the ball over a lot he didn’t selfcontrol and Lloyd didn’t or couldn’t do anything about it and we lost a lot of games.

I value efficiency and what it means to winning, especially when it matters and particularly when our opponents can slow the game down. I have seen the Love Arizona experiment and it didn’t work.

Time for Lloyd to move on.

For me, it always comes down to leadership. Can Love be the guy we need him to be in the Big 12? From what I've seen he plays from the gut
too much and lets that interfere with team dynamics. Put another way, If Dan Hurley was coaching the team using Tommy's system, do you think Love would have the rope that he has right now?

Of course if Love was Mathurin 2.0 then his return's a no brainer. I actually think his north/south speed is better than Mathurin's. Which is why it was such a head scratcher that Lloyd didn't design more plays to get Love to the hoop. It's a major reason why I didn't want Boswell or Ballo as team leaders for next year. You need guys that can lead by example so that in tough games the team can rely on them to be coaches on the floor.

Merk made a point a while back about RJ and Luke partying when they were here. I can attest to that, I ran into Luke at Dirtbags as an undergrad and we'll just say that he knew how to have a good time. But just like some people can hold their liquor, there are others that can hold their party. Boswell couldn't. Ballo had trouble staying in shape coming into the season as a 5th year. Love got into his emotions too much in big games and hurt our offense. So with that in mind, I think it's time to embrace the youth movement. We've already seen it work with Alabama, UCONN and even (womens) South Carolina making deep runs with heavy roster turnover featuring young players.

[Winger]

Don’t know what the deal was last season, but this one is $1 mil, for Love. If CCC was told that Lloyd would welcome him back that is good enough for me.

[Merkin]

Doesn't read very promising for getting some killer transfers if they are offering Love a cool mil to come back. He will never come close to that overseas.

Just nuts that non-NBA caliber players like Ballo and Love can command that kind of money.

[Winger]

What I heard wasn’t a “they”, it was money from a “booster”, earmarked for Love.

[TucsonClip]

What I heard wasn’t a “they”, it was money from a “booster”, earmarked for Love.

Same. One booster, not a collective.

[SunnyAZ]

I have been impressed by Carter Bryant's defense. Carter + Townsend at the 3/4 gives you good size and rebounding. You would have to worry about both of their shot's translating. Also Carter needs to stop jumping at every pumpfake.

[pc in NM]

I have been impressed by Carter Bryant's defense. Carter + Townsend at the 3/4 gives you good size and rebounding. You would have to worry about both of their shot's translating. Also Carter needs to stop jumping at every pumpfake.

Townsend's addition (to Henri & Carter) provides good competition and practice options, allows Carter to ease into the collegiate game, and offers depth on the frontline. As a proven D1 starter with high-level competition experience, it looks all good to me...

[84Cat]

Apparently he is a replacement for Pelle

[LuteIsGod]

So for those of you who have looked into Damon more than I have (minimal) who would you rather have?

Freshman Sanon (is he a 1&Done?)
Or Super Senior Love?

Love was my favorite player to watch in an Arizona uniform this past season. I am not big on 1&Ds who aren’t game changers from day 1, which Sanon is not. But, you can’t run Love back this season. He will kill you too often by shooting and TOing you out of games and Lloyd isn’t a dude who can rein in players and his offense specifically isn’t designed with that in mind. If Love comes back that would be a black mark for me on Lloyd’s ability to coach and manage a roster.

Until he does in fact rein him in and improve his efficiency, of course. Then I will apologize and take it back. But, that ain’t happening.

Not really understanding your logic Winger. We seem to forget Love was basically booted out of Chapel Hill the year before because of his poor performance and Lloyd helped turn his career around including Love winning the PAC POY award. What makes you think CTL wouldn’t help him take the next steps in his player growth?

I just can’t see turning our back on a POY winner if he wants to come back and commits to taking the necessary next steps to be even better next year.

But that’s just me I guess…

One thing that most Arizona losses shared was Love shooting and missing a lot. At the end of the season as he was shooting and missing and turning the ball over a lot he didn’t selfcontrol and Lloyd didn’t or couldn’t do anything about it and we lost a lot of games.

I value efficiency and what it means to winning, especially when it matters and particularly when our opponents can slow the game down. I have seen the Love Arizona experiment and it didn’t work.

Time for Lloyd to move on.

For me, it always comes down to leadership. Can Love be the guy we need him to be in the Big 12? From what I've seen he plays from the gut
too much and lets that interfere with team dynamics. Put another way, If Dan Hurley was coaching the team using Tommy's system, do you think Love would have the rope that he has right now?

Of course if Love was Mathurin 2.0 then his return's a no brainer. I actually think his north/south speed is better than Mathurin's. Which is why it was such a head scratcher that Lloyd didn't design more plays to get Love to the hoop. It's a major reason why I didn't want Boswell or Ballo as team leaders for next year. You need guys that can lead by example so that in tough games the team can rely on them to be coaches on the floor.

Merk made a point a while back about RJ and Luke partying when they were here. I can attest to that, I ran into Luke at Dirtbags as an undergrad and we'll just say that he knew how to have a good time. But just like some people can hold their liquor, there are others that can hold their party. Boswell couldn't. Ballo had trouble staying in shape coming into the season as a 5th year. Love got into his emotions too much in big games and hurt our offense. So with that in mind, I think it's time to embrace the youth movement. We've already seen it work with Alabama, UCONN and even (womens) South Carolina making deep runs with heavy roster turnover featuring young players.

I agree that Love should attack the basket and move without the ball to the basket as his primary offensive strategy, if he returns. Average 12-14 per game with most points scored near the basket and a select few spot up shots per game. Love could be the engine that motivates our youngsters by demonstrating that the easiest scores happen when the defense is lazy or not set.

If he returns and is motivated to avenge last season with an improved version of his current skill set, then I will be concerned, as he has proven that his volume shooting strategy doesn’t work in close games or in the tournament.

[SunnyAZ]

Dell’Orso is saucy. was expecting an off ball shooter type but dude has handles and great finishes.

[TucsonClip]

Going to need to see him in a UA uniform to have a solid opinion, but not the biggest fan. I'm not expecting a 18.6% DRB%, but am expecting his 30% USG to fall off a cliff, his 54% eFG% to potentially slide, and not sure if he's 38% or 32% from three. He's not bringing much on defense either.

I know they aren't the same player, but Ceds efficiency and usage slid when coming here, but he got more catch and shoot 3s so he shot 40% from deep. I would think it Dell'Orso is a solid shooter he should be able to knock down clean looks. His off the dribble game is going to need to adjust to Big 12 play, quite a bit. That said, he can run some backup PG if needed.

Gives me Bal and Boro vibes. That's not exactly a compliment, because neither guy could cut it here. Even after Bal left, I didn't think he was that good either.

If he's the 8th man, that's fine. But I'm keeping my eye on Jamari and how he develops. The reserve guards are a concern.

[dmjcat]

He could have saved a lot of time by simply stating "I'm not going to get much playing time with Caleb Love coming back so I'm going elsewhere"

[Merkin]

Or could have said: "I was never coming to town I never cared enough to learn how to spell".

[dmjcat]

[Merkin]

[Beachcat97]

Choo?

[UAEebs86]

I thought the Euro experiment was over?

[SunnyAZ]

I thought the Euro experiment was over?

Including next year, someone from Europe has started on every team under CTL.

[Abrahamarvel]

Kid reminds me of Adama Bal

[ChooChooCat]

Kid reminds me of Adama Bal

He's so much better than Bal. It's not even close.

We've been involved with him for a good while, but he had signed a pro contract. I guess he's getting out of the contract, so we're back in the mix. Riley is going to decide by next week at the latest, so we'll know soon enough how aggressive to get here.

[ChooChooCat]

I thought the Euro experiment was over?

Euros that can contribute immediately you do not turn down. He can contribute immediately.

[IndianaZonaFan]

Looks very fluid on that tape. Reads the floor well, and makes good decisions. But it’s a highlight tape…it wouldn’t include the clips if they were bad…

But he looks like a great option if we can’t get Riley for ‘24

[dmjcat]

[ChooChooCat]

He's on campus right now.

[Fishclamps]

Does Arizona have any interest in Jeremiah Fears now that he wants to reclassify to 2024?

[84Cat]

Does Arizona have any interest in Jeremiah Fears now that he wants to reclassify to 2024?

Anyone know why he decommitted from Illinois?

https://247sports.com/Player/Jeremiah-Fears-46125648/

[Fishclamps]

It's because he wants to reclassify.

[UAEebs86]

[Merkin]

Too bad the Cats couldn't keep Murauskas. Dude has a really sweet stroke.

https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketbal ... YVR7MpXyXA

While most of Arizona’s 2024-25 roster spent the weekend training in the 110-degree heat in Tucson, two of its promising young international players are hooping it for their home countries.

And so far, so good.

Sophomores Motiejus Krivas (Lithuania) and Conrad Martinez (Spain) helped lead their squads to opening day wins in the FIBA U20 Eurobasket tourney in Gdynia, Poland.

The 7-foot Krivas had 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in just under 20 minutes in Lithuania’s 93-63 win over Israel. He started and was 7 of 11 from the field, including 2 for 2 on 3-point attempts.

One of Krivas’ teammates was ex-Wildcat Paulius Murauskas, who transferred to Saint Mary’s after limited action in 2023-24. Murauskas had 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Martinez, a 6-foot guard, came off the bench for Spain in its 93-38 beatdown of North Macedonia. In 15 minutes he had four points, three rebounds and five assists.

Lithuania faces Slovenia and Spain plays Belgium on Sunday, the second of three days of group play. Bracket play begins Wednesday, with the championship set for July 21.