Bear Down Wildcats

“It’s all about sacrifices,” Allen said. “We’re all in. ... We’re all sticking together, and we’re gonna get it done this year.



Q & A with the Star:

How do you like it at Arizona so far after playing at a junior college in Kansas?

A: It’s different. Real hot here, it’s different here. More people, different environment, the coaching staff is way different. I’m real happy.

How was your experience with junior college?

A: It was fun, but being there was hectic sometimes. Sometimes, you want to give up and leave, and quit, but I just had to stick it out to get here.

Why did you ultimately choose to play at Arizona?

A: Coach Miller and the assistants are great coaches, they stay on top of you, on top of everything you do. Make sure you have everything in order and that’s the difference between this and any other school.

What’s it like practicing against a team with so much talent top-to-bottom?

A: It’s great. Everyone’s getting better every day. We’re gonna push every day. Coach Miller is pushing us the best we can be pushed, the hardest we can be pushed, and every day we’re just scrambling and going out there and competing.

After dominating so much for your team at Hutchinson, what’s it like having some other talented guys you can lean on?

A: It’s great knowing that all the pressure is really off you. You have a team around you. Everyone believing and trusting in your team that they can get it done. It’s what we saw last year, and bringing in five, six other guys is a great addition to the team.

I hope he figures out Miller's system quickly and gets some playing time. He looks
like a gamer.

article dated Oct 29, 2013
http://tucsoncitizen.com/wildcatreport/ ... -a-player/

No apostrophe or capital D necessary.

Those are some pretty pointed yet indirect questions. Might as well have just come right out with it: "What's it like to go from the big fish in a small pond to riding pine?"

It’s what we saw last year, and bringing in five, six other guys is a great addition to the team.

Who is answering that question? Allen was tearing up the Jayhawk conference last year.

Side note, Kadeem was 1890th in the conference last year picking up fouls. Either he is very good at defense, or he is not playing defense. Probably the latter, at the insistence of his coach in not fouling out.

Merkin wrote:It’s what we saw last year, and bringing in five, six other guys is a great addition to the team.

Who is answering that question? Allen was tearing up the Jayhawk conference last year.

Side note, Kadeem was 1890th in the conference last year picking up fouls. Either he is very good at defense, or he is not playing defense. Probably the latter, at the insistence of his coach in not fouling out.

Funny that for all his offensive exploits, he is known as a great defender.

Did he red shirt or did I miss something? I didn't know if he needed to red shirt because of the transfer. I didn't see him in the game at all tonight.

What is his number? Did he play?
I totally forgot about him?

CBCat wrote:What is his number? Did he play?
I totally forgot about him?

I saw him on the bench next to Korcheck but I had no idea why he didn't play. I thought he was eligible to play this year.

Word is he's redshirting.

ASUHATER! wrote:Word is he's redshirting.

From Miller's presser it sounds like they are going to red shirt him but they will decide before the first game.

jsbowl16 wrote:

ASUHATER! wrote:Word is he's redshirting.

From Miller's presser it sounds like they are going to red shirt him but they will decide before the first game.

Yep

A red shirt would be a great thing for him and us! We have a log jam at the 2 right now and could use his scoring the next 2 years! Perfect scenario!

We'll still have Gabe/Pitts/Trier next year

Makes sense, as long as somebody can be a second option at point guard next year.

Don't care if it's Kadeem, Pitts, Trier, Simon or Hazzard at this point--somebody needs to keep the O going and/or push Parker Jackson-Cartwright after this season. Biggest question mark I have for '15 at this point.

Main Event wrote:We'll still have Gabe/Pitts/Trier next year

and he's still got two more years in the program beyond that year. He's got all the opportunity in front of him.
Aren't these the type of guys, given this one and done or two and done atomosphere, you need in your program?
Method to the madness. no?

First year players can still play in exhibition games even if they are going to redshirt so would have liked to see him in garbage time.

Merkin wrote:First year players can still play in exhibition games even if they are going to redshirt so would have liked to see him in garbage time.

From a fan's perspective I can see this. Miller was treating this as a real game in pretty much every sense...he probably substituted more than he would have normally, but he stated that it made no sense to play Allen if he is planning on redshirting, cause he wouldn't be able to in a normal game.

Olsondogg wrote:

Merkin wrote:First year players can still play in exhibition games even if they are going to redshirt so would have liked to see him in garbage time.

From a fan's perspective I can see this. Miller was treating this as a real game in pretty much every sense...he probably substituted more than he would have normally, but he stated that it made no sense to play Allen if he is planning on redshirting, cause he wouldn't be able to in a normal game.

Yup. Why take valuable PT away from some other guys that will actually play this year?

Plus, that gives Allen & Anderson a brotherhood/partnership situation this season...both working on helping the team from practice & preparing to take leadership roles next season - much like TJ did. I think it's cool as hell Kadeem is buying in.

It's a measure of our depth that I didn't even notice his absence.

catgrad97 wrote:Makes sense, as long as somebody can be a second option at point guard next year.

Don't care if it's Kadeem, Pitts, Trier, Simon or Hazzard at this point--somebody needs to keep the O going and/or push Parker Jackson-Cartwright after this season. Biggest question mark I have for '15 at this point.

I'll Hazzard a guess. Not him.

I guess Coach isn't worried about putting up points. PJC did OK but am I wrong in thinking Kadeem couldn't backup TJ?

Jefe wrote:I guess Coach isn't worried about putting up points. PJC did OK but am I wrong in thinking Kadeem couldn't backup TJ?

Kadeem is Mark Lyons II?

Jefe wrote:I guess Coach isn't worried about putting up points. PJC did OK but am I wrong in thinking Kadeem couldn't backup TJ?

I don't know that his ballhandling is up to the level that CSM looks for in a point guard.

Jefe wrote:I guess Coach isn't worried about putting up points. PJC did OK but am I wrong in thinking Kadeem couldn't backup TJ?

He's known for defense, and we have enough of that plaguing our offense.

gumby wrote:

Jefe wrote:I guess Coach isn't worried about putting up points. PJC did OK but am I wrong in thinking Kadeem couldn't backup TJ?

He's known for defense, and we have enough of that plaguing our offense.

Better not let NYCat see this post.

Looks like the red shirt is a done deal. Must have been an easier sell to just point at TJ and say how well it worked for him.

AZCatGirl wrote:
Looks like the red shirt is a done deal. Must have been an easier sell to just point at TJ and say how well it worked for him.

Apples and oranges. TJ had to sit out.

Yes, but TJ has said multiple times how helpful sitting that year out was. A nice endorsement to help sell Kadeem on it.

Kadeem Allen is a point guard like Mark Lyons was a point guard.

AZCatGirl wrote:Yes, but TJ has said multiple times how helpful sitting that year out was. A nice endorsement to help sell Kadeem on it.

Matt Korcheck is the only player that has sat out a season intentionally under Miller. Didn't really do much for him that I can see, so I guess Sean better not use him as evidence.

AZCatGirl wrote:Yes, but TJ has said multiple times how helpful sitting that year out was. A nice endorsement to help sell Kadeem on it.

Good point, it probably did play a part...that and the logjam at the 2. Glad he is redshirting, should help us in the future

UAEebs86 wrote:

AZCatGirl wrote:Yes, but TJ has said multiple times how helpful sitting that year out was. A nice endorsement to help sell Kadeem on it.

Matt Korcheck is the only player that has sat out a season intentionally under Miller. Didn't really do much for him that I can see, so I guess Sean better not use him as evidence.

Korcheck pretty much knew what role he would be playing when he came to zona, and that wasn't on the court. Allen seems like he will be a contributor and I don't think anyone thought that about Korcheck, I could see TJ having an influence on his decision even though one was forced and the other was voluntary. Both players came from smaller stages and as we have seen, players need to know the offense and defense thoroughly if they want to see pt.

From Kadeem's perspective this seems like a no-brainer. He can either very rarely play this year and hope to play more next year, or he can sit out, get his mind and body to where they need to be, and seriously compete for playing time over the next two years. And if after next year CSM tells him that he's still not where he needs to be, he can be a graduate transfer somewhere that will allow him the playing time he needs to take his game to the professional ranks.

UAEebs86 wrote:

I suggested this when he was first recruited. Makes sense if the upside is there, but not the instincts and experience within a structured system.

I like what I see from his mixtapes. Match his basketball ability with instinct and skill and he'll be a great combo off the bench as uppclassman.

UAEebs86 wrote:

It's not official until the end of the season. There is no paperwork to fill out, you just play or you don't. If Pitts and York go down he will officially be back.

gumby wrote:

Jefe wrote:I guess Coach isn't worried about putting up points. PJC did OK but am I wrong in thinking Kadeem couldn't backup TJ?

He's known for defense, and we have enough of that plaguing our offense.

Got to the game last night real early and watched Kadeem shooting. He is automatic from deep, cant wait to see him get some minutes

How is Kadeem gonna see the floor next season with all of these elite guards/wings arriving next season? Plus, Gabe and PJC and Pitts.

If he shoots 3's well he should see the court. He'll be familiar with Miller's system, this gives him an edge on incoming players? Sounds like a gamer.

HiCat wrote:If he shoots 3's well he should see the court. He'll be familiar with Miller's system, this gives him an edge on incoming players? Sounds like a gamer.

I hope so. But that backcourt's looking pretty crowded next season.

Kadeem couldn't shoot the 3 against JC kids, (30.5%) as the JC NPOY so can't imagine he will be shooting a whole lot better against upper tier Div I defenses.

McConnell still hasn't been able to shoot as well as he did at Div I Duquesne, and that's with a redshirt year.

Allen seems to me to be more of a scorer than a shooter similar to Mark Lyons and less Pitts/York.

Coach has many combinations to use next season. Huge asset.

Airizona wrote:

UAEebs86 wrote:

AZCatGirl wrote:Yes, but TJ has said multiple times how helpful sitting that year out was. A nice endorsement to help sell Kadeem on it.

Matt Korcheck is the only player that has sat out a season intentionally under Miller. Didn't really do much for him that I can see, so I guess Sean better not use him as evidence.

Korcheck pretty much knew what role he would be playing when he came to zona, and that wasn't on the court. Allen seems like he will be a contributor and I don't think anyone thought that about Korcheck, I could see TJ having an influence on his decision even though one was forced and the other was voluntary. Both players came from smaller stages and as we have seen, players need to know the offense and defense thoroughly if they want to see pt.

Pretty robust thread about this when it was announced that Korcheck was coming. i do think there was the thought that Korcheck would contribute more.

gumby wrote:

Airizona wrote:

UAEebs86 wrote:

AZCatGirl wrote:Yes, but TJ has said multiple times how helpful sitting that year out was. A nice endorsement to help sell Kadeem on it.

Matt Korcheck is the only player that has sat out a season intentionally under Miller. Didn't really do much for him that I can see, so I guess Sean better not use him as evidence.

Korcheck pretty much knew what role he would be playing when he came to zona, and that wasn't on the court. Allen seems like he will be a contributor and I don't think anyone thought that about Korcheck, I could see TJ having an influence on his decision even though one was forced and the other was voluntary. Both players came from smaller stages and as we have seen, players need to know the offense and defense thoroughly if they want to see pt.

Pretty robust thread about this when it was announced that Korcheck was coming. i do think there was the thought that Korcheck would contribute more.

Yeah, I know that's not the point Airizona is making, but Korcheck told the press that he wanted to sit out a year to maximize his development into a real contributor. Hard to imagine that he meant on the scout team. Also hard to imagine that Miller told him to say that to the press even though it wasn't going to happen. I mean, was a bench role what sold Korcheck on Arizona over Oklahoma?

When you're worried about the 11th or 12th guy on your team you know you have it good.