Zeke Nnaji

[FreeSpiritCat]

I never watch the NBA, but is he a real prospect for a one and done?

If Zeke improves much more he may have a chance to be the #1 pick.

[scumdevils86]

Averaging about 22/7 so far

[dovecanyoncat]

Somebody whinged and farted several posts back.

[ASUHATER!]

Here's at look at where Nnaji's scoring output in his first two games ranks among other UA standouts from the past 20 years:
Chase Budinger: 49 points
Hassan Adams: 43 points
Zeke Nnaji: 39 points
Lauri Markkanen: 39 points
Jerryd Bayless: 39 points
Deandre Ayton: 38 points
Mike Bibby: 35 points
Kobi Simmons: 31 points
Allonzo Trier: 30 points
Solomon Hill: 29 points
Aaron Gordon: 27 points
Mustafa Shakur: 27 points
Jason Gardner: 26 points
Stanley Johnson: 25 points
Gilbert Arenas: 24 points
Derrick Williams: 18 points
Richard Jefferson: 11 points

https://arizonawildcats.com/news/2019/1 ... night.aspx" target="_blank

Money and Norman would both be somewhere around the 30 point mark - and there was no 3 point line. In 1972 Norman was top scorer with 37 in the exhibition against Cal State Bakersfield. Then Money was top with 20 in a loss against San Francisco and Norman was top with 20 in a loss against Stanford. I can't see what they got when they were not top, but I'm sure they had to have gotten 10 or more.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/sc ... edule.html" target="_blank

Norman always got most of his points from a million miles out - oh for a three point line back then.

Edit: I don't know how that sports-reference site figures we got 13,000 people into Bear Down Gym. I think the 3,200 they list at the start of the season was a stretch.

Since you brought up money, can you explain the following to me?

Tarczewski - Kansas lean, picks Arizona.
Ayton - Kansas lean, picks Arizona.
Nnaji - Kansas lean, picks Arizona.

They didn't want to play where they'd be useless and in the middle of nowhere in bumfuck Kansas.

[YoDeFoe]

I never watch the NBA, but is he a real prospect for a one and done?

The trouble for Zeke will be his lack of wingspan and what that means for his rim protection and rebounding. He's a 7'1" wingspan on a 6'11" height. You can see in his numbers so far that he's got mediocre advanced stats in blocks and rebounding - if that keeps up through the season then there's going to be some real risk for a team that he's an excellent college basketball player but is questionable for the NBA.

Without the length... can you play him at the five?
Without perimeter skills... can you play him at the four?

He's not going to get longer so he needs to develop a three point shot and some perimeter ball handling skills in order to get higher into the first round. Otherwise he's a late first round pick / early second who will need to develop those skills in the NBA to have a shot at PT at the four in the NBA. He's a fluid athlete with nice touch, a great motor, and a high IQ... so the ingredients are there. But without either the length or the perimeter skills its tough to see him breaking through "fringe first round" status heading into the draft.

[RondaeShimmy]

less talented Marvin Bagley?

[Chicat]

I wonder what he looks like in practice against Jeter. Because no one yet on any other team has been able to come close to stopping him.

[YoDeFoe]

less talented Marvin Bagley?

Not a bad call at all. Yeah Nnaji lacks the perimeter skill and the elite athleticism and motor of Bagley. Very good athlete and motor, far lower in perimeter skills. I don't think he'll ever catch up in the first department but Nnaji could develop the perimeter skills - just won't be likely this season.

I could see a team falling in love with him in a draft interview and workout though and taking Zeke in the 20's.

Then again - Zach Collins and TJ Leaf were top 20 picks so I could be underselling our guy.

[84Cat]

Here's at look at where Nnaji's scoring output in his first two games ranks among other UA standouts from the past 20 years:
Chase Budinger: 49 points
Hassan Adams: 43 points
Zeke Nnaji: 39 points
Lauri Markkanen: 39 points
Jerryd Bayless: 39 points
Deandre Ayton: 38 points
Mike Bibby: 35 points
Kobi Simmons: 31 points
Allonzo Trier: 30 points
Solomon Hill: 29 points
Aaron Gordon: 27 points
Mustafa Shakur: 27 points
Jason Gardner: 26 points
Stanley Johnson: 25 points
Gilbert Arenas: 24 points
Derrick Williams: 18 points
Richard Jefferson: 11 points

https://arizonawildcats.com/news/2019/1 ... night.aspx" target="_blank

Money and Norman would both be somewhere around the 30 point mark - and there was no 3 point line. In 1972 Norman was top scorer with 37 in the exhibition against Cal State Bakersfield. Then Money was top with 20 in a loss against San Francisco and Norman was top with 20 in a loss against Stanford. I can't see what they got when they were not top, but I'm sure they had to have gotten 10 or more.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/sc ... edule.html" target="_blank

Norman always got most of his points from a million miles out - oh for a three point line back then.

Edit: I don't know how that sports-reference site figures we got 13,000 people into Bear Down Gym. I think the 3,200 they list at the start of the season was a stretch.

I was in middle school during the early Snowden years and we went to many of the games. Money & Norman were so fun to watch but it was a different game back then. 20 to's a game and very little defense. If Norman had a 3 point line, he could have averaged 30+ ppg.

[ChooChooCat]

Here's at look at where Nnaji's scoring output in his first two games ranks among other UA standouts from the past 20 years:
Chase Budinger: 49 points
Hassan Adams: 43 points
Zeke Nnaji: 39 points
Lauri Markkanen: 39 points
Jerryd Bayless: 39 points
Deandre Ayton: 38 points
Mike Bibby: 35 points
Kobi Simmons: 31 points
Allonzo Trier: 30 points
Solomon Hill: 29 points
Aaron Gordon: 27 points
Mustafa Shakur: 27 points
Jason Gardner: 26 points
Stanley Johnson: 25 points
Gilbert Arenas: 24 points
Derrick Williams: 18 points
Richard Jefferson: 11 points

https://arizonawildcats.com/news/2019/1 ... night.aspx" target="_blank

Money and Norman would both be somewhere around the 30 point mark - and there was no 3 point line. In 1972 Norman was top scorer with 37 in the exhibition against Cal State Bakersfield. Then Money was top with 20 in a loss against San Francisco and Norman was top with 20 in a loss against Stanford. I can't see what they got when they were not top, but I'm sure they had to have gotten 10 or more.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/sc ... edule.html" target="_blank

Norman always got most of his points from a million miles out - oh for a three point line back then.

Edit: I don't know how that sports-reference site figures we got 13,000 people into Bear Down Gym. I think the 3,200 they list at the start of the season was a stretch.

Since you brought up money, can you explain the following to me?

Tarczewski - Kansas lean, picks Arizona.
Ayton - Kansas lean, picks Arizona.
Nnaji - Kansas lean, picks Arizona.

Josh Jackson - Arizona lean, picks Kansas.

Fuck off.

[TucsonClip]

I never watch the NBA, but is he a real prospect for a one and done?

The trouble for Zeke will be his lack of wingspan and what that means for his rim protection and rebounding. He's a 7'1" wingspan on a 6'11" height. You can see in his numbers so far that he's got mediocre advanced stats in blocks and rebounding - if that keeps up through the season then there's going to be some real risk for a team that he's an excellent college basketball player but is questionable for the NBA.

Without the length... can you play him at the five?
Without perimeter skills... can you play him at the four?

He's not going to get longer so he needs to develop a three point shot and some perimeter ball handling skills in order to get higher into the first round. Otherwise he's a late first round pick / early second who will need to develop those skills in the NBA to have a shot at PT at the four in the NBA. He's a fluid athlete with nice touch, a great motor, and a high IQ... so the ingredients are there. But without either the length or the perimeter skills its tough to see him breaking through "fringe first round" status heading into the draft.

Agree with you on what he needs to add.

[ChooChooCat]

I never watch the NBA, but is he a real prospect for a one and done?

The trouble for Zeke will be his lack of wingspan and what that means for his rim protection and rebounding. He's a 7'1" wingspan on a 6'11" height. You can see in his numbers so far that he's got mediocre advanced stats in blocks and rebounding - if that keeps up through the season then there's going to be some real risk for a team that he's an excellent college basketball player but is questionable for the NBA.

Without the length... can you play him at the five?
Without perimeter skills... can you play him at the four?

He's not going to get longer so he needs to develop a three point shot and some perimeter ball handling skills in order to get higher into the first round. Otherwise he's a late first round pick / early second who will need to develop those skills in the NBA to have a shot at PT at the four in the NBA. He's a fluid athlete with nice touch, a great motor, and a high IQ... so the ingredients are there. But without either the length or the perimeter skills its tough to see him breaking through "fringe first round" status heading into the draft.

Perfect summation YDF.

[97cats]

game - 3

21mins - 8-8fg - 10-12ft - 11rb - 2ast - 1blk - 2to - 26pts

[Beachcat97]

Zeke the Freak.

[U.P. Zona Fan]

I knew he'd be good but wow, this is ridiculous. He is torching my expectations.

[Chicat]

I know that officially he was 8-8 but didn’t he miss a lob from Nico? Does that go as a turnover and not a shot?

[Spaceman Spiff]

I never watch the NBA, but is he a real prospect for a one and done?

The trouble for Zeke will be his lack of wingspan and what that means for his rim protection and rebounding. He's a 7'1" wingspan on a 6'11" height. You can see in his numbers so far that he's got mediocre advanced stats in blocks and rebounding - if that keeps up through the season then there's going to be some real risk for a team that he's an excellent college basketball player but is questionable for the NBA.

Without the length... can you play him at the five?
Without perimeter skills... can you play him at the four?

He's not going to get longer so he needs to develop a three point shot and some perimeter ball handling skills in order to get higher into the first round. Otherwise he's a late first round pick / early second who will need to develop those skills in the NBA to have a shot at PT at the four in the NBA. He's a fluid athlete with nice touch, a great motor, and a high IQ... so the ingredients are there. But without either the length or the perimeter skills its tough to see him breaking through "fringe first round" status heading into the draft.

I was happy to see 11 rebounds last night. If that becomes more the norm, he'll do a lot for his draft stock getting out of that tweener range.

[Olsondogg]

He's a good basketball player...really good.

[Jefe]

Thru 3 games:

Chase Budinger: 68 points
Zeke Nnaji: 65 points
Lauri Markkanen: 61 points
Jerryd Bayless: 59 points
Deandre Ayton: 56 points
Hassan Adams: 53 points

[YoDeFoe]

I never watch the NBA, but is he a real prospect for a one and done?

The trouble for Zeke will be his lack of wingspan and what that means for his rim protection and rebounding. He's a 7'1" wingspan on a 6'11" height. You can see in his numbers so far that he's got mediocre advanced stats in blocks and rebounding - if that keeps up through the season then there's going to be some real risk for a team that he's an excellent college basketball player but is questionable for the NBA.

Without the length... can you play him at the five?
Without perimeter skills... can you play him at the four?

He's not going to get longer so he needs to develop a three point shot and some perimeter ball handling skills in order to get higher into the first round. Otherwise he's a late first round pick / early second who will need to develop those skills in the NBA to have a shot at PT at the four in the NBA. He's a fluid athlete with nice touch, a great motor, and a high IQ... so the ingredients are there. But without either the length or the perimeter skills its tough to see him breaking through "fringe first round" status heading into the draft.

I was happy to see 11 rebounds last night. If that becomes more the norm, he'll do a lot for his draft stock getting out of that tweener range.

Yeah his rebounding rate made a big jump after last night. Not sure he can keep up that kind of production against higher level bigs. We'll see in our games against Baylor and Gonzaga.

[ghostwhitehorse]

Thru 3 games:

Chase Budinger: 68 points
Zeke Nnaji: 65 points
Lauri Markkanen: 61 points
Jerryd Bayless: 59 points
Deandre Ayton: 56 points
Hassan Adams: 53 points

[Spaceman Spiff]

Thru 3 games:

Chase Budinger: 68 points
Zeke Nnaji: 65 points
Lauri Markkanen: 61 points
Jerryd Bayless: 59 points
Deandre Ayton: 56 points
Hassan Adams: 53 points

I don't mean to take away from Nnaji, who looks great, but a certain percentage of that is attributable to a ginger PG, who would have given us a natty in Markannen's year.

[Frybry02]

This is just bad journalism. Crazy that there is no mention of Nnaji on this list of Freshmen is a joke.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... irst-week/

[Chicat]

Let’s not use the term “ginger”.

Instead, let’s say .... ”arancione“.

Seems more appropriate.

[zonagrad]

This is just bad journalism. Crazy that there is no mention of Nnaji on this list of Freshmen is a joke.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... irst-week/

I won’t excuse the bad journalism, but the SID needs to be in the ear of some of these outlets promoting Arizona. It’s laughable that Zeke hasn’t been noticed. I guarantee that Illinois and San Jose are saying, “Fuck, those Arizona freshmen are unbelievable.”

[btfd16]

Thru 3 games:

Chase Budinger: 68 points
Zeke Nnaji: 65 points
Lauri Markkanen: 61 points
Jerryd Bayless: 59 points
Deandre Ayton: 56 points
Hassan Adams: 53 points

Six to midnight.

[ghostwhitehorse]

This is just bad journalism. Crazy that there is no mention of Nnaji on this list of Freshmen is a joke.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... irst-week/

I won’t excuse the bad journalism, but the SID needs to be in the ear of some of these outlets promoting Arizona. It’s laughable that Zeke hasn’t been noticed. I guarantee that Illinois and San Jose are saying, “Fuck, those Arizona freshmen are unbelievable.”

Definitely a "preseason hype" influenced list.

[YoDeFoe]

This is just bad journalism. Crazy that there is no mention of Nnaji on this list of Freshmen is a joke.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... irst-week/

I won’t excuse the bad journalism, but the SID needs to be in the ear of some of these outlets promoting Arizona. It’s laughable that Zeke hasn’t been noticed. I guarantee that Illinois and San Jose are saying, “Fuck, those Arizona freshmen are unbelievable.”

They're just assessing the top incoming freshmen based on incoming class ranking. It's okay.

Zeke deserves note though but it would be helpful if we played a game on something other than the Pac-12 network.

We'll have to wait until the Wooden Legacy games for ESPN coverage. Competition won't be attention grabbing with a couple 100-ish teams in Pepperdine and UCF to start. Beating Providence in the finals will get some attention but they're still in the bottom half of the Big East. We'll then have a marquee match-up at Baylor... at 10am on ESPNU. For fucks sake.

At least there will be highlights all day on ESPN of us... here's hoping it goes well.

[terryarms]

Zeke should be at 20 rebounds

[U.P. Zona Fan]

So I used to listen to osp, titus' pod, now I suffer through Parrish's pod.

I find it interesting he has nothing to say about nnaji. He talks about way less interesting or impressive performances. I think his motto must be, if you can't say anything bad about Arizona, say nothing about them at all.

[RaisingArizona]

I thought he could be a lottery pick in the summer. Now I’m not so sure he can’t go top 5. Zeke will definitely be quite coveted in the upcoming draft.

[Main Event]

Zeke Nnaji's incredible shooting accuracy might be unsustainable, but even 'his' normal is likely abnormal

Arizona is in the enviable position of having a battle on its hands for the title of most amazing freshman. Nico Mannion, for example, has been sensational, scoring 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting in the Wildcats' impressively easy 90-69 win over Illinois in Tucson.

Still, when recognizing outstanding first-year performances on Sean Miller's roster, it's awfully tough to look past the guy that is shooting 84% on his 2s.

Yes, 84%. Eat your heart out, Zion Williamson. Zeke Nnaji scoffs at your pitifully pedestrian 75% shooting inside the arc last season.

Now, will Nnaji continue to make 84% of his 2s? Why must people always be so skeptical, but, no, probably not. The only thing even more incredible than connecting 84% of the time inside the arc is to record a 77% success rate specifically on 2-point jumpers. That is precisely what the 6-foot-11 freshman has done after his first three games. Conversely, a more typical level of accuracy for that particular shot type in Division I is something around 36%.

So, yes, Nnaji might be looking at a correction in both his 2-point jumper accuracy and his overall 2-point success rate. Nevertheless, the early indications are that his level of production is no accident. So far, Nnaji has recorded 58% of his 2-point attempts at the rim. That's not quite on the same insane level as what we saw from Williamson last year (86% of his 2-point tries occurred at the tin), but it is still outstanding.

Nnaji and Mannion might indeed prove to be one of the better inside-outside freshman duos we've seen in recent years.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... akes-prove" target="_blank

[enfuego]

Before anointing him the second coming, have you played anyone yet?

[Spaceman Spiff]

Before anointing him the second coming, have you played anyone yet?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B47DuxYHQG- ... svsao3ao1o" target="_blank

[YoDeFoe]

7-7 from the field, 5-5 from the line.

Zeke is a one name athlete

[ByJoveByJingle]

Before anointing him the second coming, have you played anyone yet?

I’m still trying to figure out if Baker is ever going to play.

[AZCatGirl]

Just give him Pac freshman of the year now. Good Lord he's unreal.

[Longhorned]

Before anointing him the second coming, have you played anyone yet?

I'm still wondering about that wet firecracker up your rectum.

[UAEebs86]

Before anointing him the second coming, have you played anyone yet?

I’m still trying to figure out if Baker is ever going to play.

[dovecanyoncat]

Before anointing him the second coming, have you played anyone yet?

Your disease is magnificent, enfuego!

[scumdevils86]

2nd highest FG % in the nation.

[Longhorned]

2nd highest FG % in the nation.

That's only because he gets any shot he wants.

[97cats]

game - 4

29mins - 7-7fg - 5-5ft - 4rb - 1st - 2blk - 3to - 19pts

[ChooChooCat]

Has made 17 field goals in a row.

[YoDeFoe]

Has made 17 field goals in a row.

Team record? NCAA record is 30... let's get it, Zeke!

[Merkin]

FTs impressive too for a big man being 15 feet away.

[Beachcat97]

Someone upthread compared him to M Bagley. It's a good comparison. Similar size and athleticism. Zeke probably doesn't have quite the overall skill set of MB, but there are definitely some similarities.

Zeke the Freak. So excited about him and this team.

Bear Down!

[Alieberman]

It's going to be shocking when he eventually misses a shot.

[Kiyama]

He just seems to have an excellent Bball IQ, he is patient and I do not recall him taking a bad shot (or any silly fouls). As others have pointed out, I wish he had a few more rebounds a game.

[PieceOfMeat]

He just seems to have an excellent Bball IQ, he is patient and I do not recall him taking a bad shot (or any silly fouls). As others have pointed out, I wish he had a few more rebounds a game.

He'd probably have a few more rebounds if he missed a few more shots during the games.

I'll take the never missing a shot