Some random thoughts ?️ Ponds shot has been MIA all season . I was up in NY and saw the Iona game . He wasn’t drilling his shots in warm up either . Simon has regressed badly from early season . He is a poor shooter , misses a lot of dunks , layups and for everyone who thought him a PG , turns it over a lot ! Plays great D, rebounds but, you can see why he would not get much PT at Arizona . And, a comment about Arizona and Coach Sean Miller . Much of which we see with our team as well . Miller was quoted as saying ,” I am having a difficult time getting my Players to play hard for me .” Wow! Miller has a squad full of top 100 players and this is some commentary from a guy who as a player , played 100 percent on every play at Pitt. If true , it might be a commentary on this generation of not only players but, all of them . Trophies for everybody , Wins and losses not important as long as I get my PT and points . Coaches and team, School , etc not as important as a Education but, only what it gets me to the next level ! For those nay sayers on here that are already overboard on this Staff and Mullin , consider this . Lavin recruited Jordan and Obepka,both of whom quit on the Team, School, etc . Lavin had major problems with DLO until it finally was dealt with and he calmed down . Remember he was suspended for 1/ 2 a year . Of course , Lavin was not a successful recruiter , especially after his banner first year . Locally , he was pretty much a Zero . Carrington , Rodriguez, Delgado, etc , were never really on Steve’s list . But , he chased the Sampsons, Briscoes, etc in trying to out recruit Calipari, Self, etc . Our Team this year was overrated by us fans , going back to last Season as we opined that Simon and Clark were going to be better than Mussini, Ellison , Williams. Think we would be better off now, if those 3 were still here ! Yes ! But, again is that on Mullin and Staff? Ellison obviously thought he wasn’t going to get enough PT here . Mussini , actually a Lavin recruit , opted early for a Pro Career in Europe . Williams was again a PT issue for a Player always battling injury complications . Much criticism has been directed at not getting a high level 5 th year Player . And, to some extent might be somewhat true . But, could we have gotten a Rousey to come here , when we thought we had Lovett and Ponds plus Simon ? No ? A big , Bruising 6’10” inch Center ? Again , maybe we missed on a few but, that type of 1 and done player wants a lot from a school and program . They want lots of PT, freedom to be more than a role player and a chance to be Showcased . It’s asking a lot for a 1 year contribution by that player . The criticism that exists here on this site , from seat of the pants Home schooled and Amateur Head Coaches is almost laughable , except these folks, including me, think our Opinions are more valuable than 2 HOF Greats . No player on this Team remotely has the skills and talents that Mullin and Richmond did . Thinking that they can inject that level of performance into this Group of Players is wishful but, not realistic thinking . And, it also assumes the Player can and will absorb the Instruction . Ahmed’s game has been formed over years on the Playground, AAU and Juco Ball. Is he going to change what makes his game and has carried him to this level ? He has some incredible skills but, also some unrefined weaknesses . No one doubts that he plays hard , just sometimes a little out of control . Will Owens ever be a under the basket player , capable of boxing out a Govan or Delgado ? Never , but his frame prevents that from happening . Nothing Mullin or Richmond can do there , is there ? We have to accept his game as is . Same with Clark and Simon , nice players who might or might not start elsewhere in the BE on teams with more talent ? They transferred from Elite programs for s chance to play regularly . Something they could not do at Arizona or Mich State . Why? Their Coaches there leveled with them that they were not going to be featured performers and might be recruited over . Thus, they transferred here , to a program in need of some degree of talent . Which , unquestionably , they do but, not at a level that makes them Special Players or game changers . Ponds and Lovett ? Talented ? Sure , but also barely 6’fall and both of small frames . Tough to get to the rim at their size and while they have been very good , they take a physical beating every game in the BE . How many times do we see them bumped under the basket from
Contact ? A lot , and much of it , without getting a foul call from the Refs? Why ? Is it the theory that Mullin complains too much on every call and the Refs left a lot of fouls on Ponds uncalled ? Who knows for sure ? Think about it . Just saying .