Bear Down Wildcats

Chicat wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:I'm also partial to The Markksman.

Ooh, I like that...

YoDeFoe wrote:I love that White Death is catching on - pretty sure it started in the Reddit game threads (which are usually pretty fun, feel free to join).

I'm also partial to The Markksman.

gumby wrote:Loved the passing last night. He'll need to be more of a playmaker now.

gumby wrote:Loved the passing last night. He'll need to be more of a playmaker now.

EVCat wrote:Are we sure he isn't the problem?

Seems like since he arrived, players have been falling left and right. Not just in basketball. Does he have access to the water supply? The equipment room? He could be a low key serial, well, not killer, but serial eliminator? Or black majik practitioner?

When did he get on campus? Was he here when the ball bounced just right off the left field wall to stop the tying run from scoring in Omaha? Seems like our program has been on a steady decline across the board since the rain postponed CWS Championship game 3 and our insane pitching advantage...

Do Fins do voodoo?

rgdeuce wrote:Is it possible to have an "off" game like Lauri did (by his standards) and still have your stock rise? He was the best Arizona defender tonight. Karnowsky did close to nothing when Lauri was on him, Lauri wouldnt even let him have the ball. He had multiple strong defensive possessions against guys 7 or 8 inches shorter than him. The open 3 was not there at all all game and he still found ways to help keep his team in it in the second half. And he did it with his dribble. When he went through the legs and shimmied the 6'3 Perkins out of his jock strap, GMs creamed themselves.

Catstatic wrote:Lauri is an absolute stud. Off game tonight, though. It happens. Cats never stopped fighting. Characteristic of a Miller coached team. Just wish someone could have gotten hot tonight.

Go Cats!!

whatisee wrote:The smaller guy they had guarding him the whole game gave him fits. Expect to see more of that until the guards come back.

gumby wrote:

whatisee wrote:The smaller guy they had guarding him the whole game gave him fits. Expect to see more of that until the guards come back.

This. Gonzaga plan was no threes, on his hip on the perimeter and force him left on the drive. If that continues. he'll need to screen a lot and set up on the block more.

Olsondogg wrote:He needs about 5 more shots a game.

Olsondogg wrote:He needs about 5 more shots a game.

gumby wrote:Clearly, we need to devise plays for Pinder. Stats don't lie! Quit hogging the ball, Lauri!

Merkin wrote:

gumby wrote:Clearly, we need to devise plays for Pinder. Stats don't lie! Quit hogging the ball, Lauri!

Haven't seen a single play called for Pinder, although he often thinks so. At least he didn't try for any 3s this game.

Just a garbage guy, which I mean as a complement.

KaibabKat wrote:Lauri Markkanen = 1.63 points/field goal attempt

Keanu Pinder = 1.81 points/field goal attempt

rgdeuce wrote:Kid is so smart. Nearly Every time he got the ball on the wing he looked down to the low post. Crazy that a 7 foot freshman had more entry passes tonight than any guard/wing we have had for a while, save TJ.

Jefe wrote:Wow no Trier ^

NBADraft.net has Lauri at 21st and Alonzo at 45th

Longhorned wrote:Well, Pinder doesn't have a thread. But man, I like Pinder. He'd drive me nuts on a conference foe. Especially a Howland-coached UCLA from a decade ago.

It's been all about the talented point guards, the injuries to the Duke freshman trio and, of course, the Kentucky Wildcats' youngsters.

Lost in the talk of first-year players has been the stellar play of Finnish 7-footer Lauri Markkanen,who, with the absence of Allonzo Trier, has quickly and quietly become the focal point of the Arizona offense.

Markkanen checks in averaging 17.8 PPG, third in the Pac-12, and is fifth in the league in 3-point shooting (46 percent) while also averaging 7.2 rebounds. He has only seven turnovers in the first nine games.

"I think part of the reason is I'm from Europe," Markkanen said of being fairly anonymous on the national landscape thus far. "People don't actually know who I am, but I'm not worried about that. I honestly don't care."

His name gets butchered, and he rarely corrects those who say his name as "Laurie."
It's pronounced "L-Ow-Ree MARK-a-nin."

You may want to learn it now, because as one NBA executive told me, "he's going to be in the NBA for a long, long time." Another who saw him in person recently added that he isn't just going to be in the league for a while, "he may wind up being an NBA All-Star."

When Sean Miller recruited the 230-pounder, he had to beat out Roy Williams and North Carolina, which is no easy task to begin with but was more daunting because Williams coached Pekka Markkanen, Lauri's father, as a player at Kansas in 1989-90.

The younger Markkanen chose Arizona because he felt comfortable, and it didn't hurt that Arizona was losing three frontcourt guys: leading scorer Ryan Anderson, starting center Kaleb Tarczewski and reserve forward Mark Tollefsen.

Without Trier for the first nine games of the season, it hasn't taken long for Miller to alter his offense to run through his skilled import big man.

"When they recruited me, they told me I'd have a chance to play right away," said Markkanen, 19. "But honestly, I didn't expect this. Obviously, Trier not playing gives me more shots, but I've still been surprised about my role."

Miller quickly realized how talented Markkanen was after he arrived in the summer, but what has blown away the Arizona coach is his work ethic and maturity.

"He's got a terrific mental makeup and drive," Miller said. "He's a relentless worker and approaches the game as if he's a senior. He's the real thing."

Markkanen grew up three hours north of Helsinki in the town of Jyvaskyla, which has been nicknamed the Athens of Finland for its major role as an educational center. He spent the past two seasons at Helsinki Basketball Academy, where he was coached by former Utah standout and NBA forward Hanno Mottola, arguably the most notable player in the history of Finnish hoops.

That honor could easily wind up falling to Markkanen in time.

Mottola spent four seasons under Rick Majerus at Utah from 1996 to 2000 and was drafted in the second round with the 40th overall pick -- but wound up spending just two seasons in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks.

Markkanen is considered a potential lottery pick and has drawn comparisons from some to Dirk Nowitzki for his size and scoring ability.

"Most of us knew all about him from the U20 championships, but he's made a quicker adjustment than I thought to college ball," one NBA general manager said.

"What he does as a 7-footer is unique," Miller added. "He can shoot it, handle the ball, pass and can move on the defensive end."

gumby wrote:worst player on the floor

dcZONAfan wrote:

gumby wrote:worst player on the floor

I thought PJC played worse, personally.