Since the beginning of the semester, we have had two interns helping us out around the station and during my show. Though they are not allowed to make eye contact or address anyone by their first name, so far they have been excellent in their abilities to answer phones. As a reward for good behavior, I'm publishing Intern Tom's first blog on the Arizona Wildcat Basketball season. He's a journalism major at UofA and one of the finest human beings I have ever met. Actually, only one of those things is true. Anyway, here's his first crack in the hyper competitive world of blogging...
INTERN TOM's BLOG
The 2007-08 season was a trying one for anyone who bleeds red and blue. From Lute going on a sabbatical to the early first round exit (again) it was a rough one to watch.
The guards for the ‘Cats were the bright points for the team. Nic Wise was the surprise of the season, after having to watch Mustafa Shakur for a year you would have figured that he would have regressed but he should that he could control the ball and run the team. Jerryd Bayless was the star of the team. He was absolutely dominant when Wise went out with the injury and showed the promise that many thought he when coming out of high school. Chase Budinger went from being the leader and returning hero of the team to Amelia.
The big men for UofA struggled, Jordan Hill was in foul trouble for half the season, Fendi is strong and good for 4 fouls a game, Jamelle Horne showed some promise when Kevin O’Neill let him out of the doghouse and Kirk Walters should have taken the shot against UCLA instead of passing (joking, why was he in the game at the point anyways?).
Now that the 2007-08 season is done (finally), it is time to see what lies ahead for the 2008-09 season.
Coaches
Lute Olson: The white haired one has said he is coming back and that he will fulfill his contract through 2011. Many people are excited to see Coach O back at the helm after whatever Kevin O’Neill was doing on the sidelines. Olson will bring the up tempo style back to UA that this team needs in order to score. Will we see zone defense? You better believe it.
Around the beginning of the school year, expect to see Olson announce that he will retire after the upcoming season. Olson did not want to retire with the disaster that was the 07-08 season and will want to go out with dignity and class. Plus it will help bring some closure to not only Olson but Tucson. There is a possibility of the team announcing a head coach in waiting. My sleeper pick is former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery. Which brings us too…
Kevin O’Neill: Au revoir, Adios, Hasta La Vista. No matter what language you speak there is no other way to put it, KO is gone. The body language, the avoidance of the topic in his press conference, everything says that he is leaving. Sure UA will have to buy him out and we will hear about how much money the athletic department had to spend to get rid of him but it is worth the money.
The riff between KO and Olson is too wide and mostly from KO’s side. Olson talked to players “behind KO’s back” and we heard about through “anonymous sources” (I wonder who it was? hint hint). The style of play between the two coaches clashed. KO offering recruits scholarships that Olson says he has no interest in even talking to. Even the style of calling timeouts, “TO” using them all up in the first half while Olson saves them and uses them in the last two minutes. Plus, how will KO deal with going from calling the shots one year to being a minor voice on the team?
Replacement: Former UA assistant and Oregon State coach Jay John
Josh Pastner: Pastner has a coaching spot as long as Olson is the coach. He is the best recruiter on the coaching staff and is probably the coach that players can relate to most. There has been rumors that he is up for the Rice head coaching job. This could be a good audition for him taking over the Arizona basketball program in 10 years, maybe even 5.
Miles Simon: Wow, did Lute blow the Reggie Geary thing or what? Expect him to leave due to “personal reasons”.
Replacement: I would like to see them right their mistake and have Reggie Geary back but another possibility is another former UA aide Jessie Evans.
Players
Jerryd Bayless: The best player from the team would benefit from another year in the program. His left hand is weak and can sometimes play out of control and take bad shots. OK, I’m getting picky but it would be nice to see him back. The downside of him coming back is 1) he gets hurt or 2) he does not get as many touches with Brandon Jennings at the point. Both of these could hurt his draft stock.
Bayless’ decision: With the fifth pick in the NBA Draft the _____ pick…Jerryd Bayless.
Chase Budinger: Chase was a ghost for half of the season. You did not know what you were going to get with Chase. Sometimes he would be lights out and score 25 and other nights Wilma the Wildcat showed more aggression on the court. Chase NEEDS another year to learn to become more of a leader and more aggressive on the court. Teams are licking their chops at getting an athlete that can shoot and jump out of the gym but the passion is lacking for Chase.
Budinger’s decision: Chase will be the feature on the Arizona men’s basketball media guide for his last season.
Jordan Hill: Hill is the biggest question mark of them all for these three and is the most important player for UofA to get back next season. Without him they have no proven post presence and their next best option is incoming freshman Jeff Withey. Hill could use another season to refine his low post moves and not rely on his jumper so much. Hill has off the court issues that could lead to him leaving. He is at best a second-rounder this season and would benefit greatly with staying another year when the talent in next year’s draft is worse and putting on some weight to bang with the pros.
Hill’s decision: He’ll be back and if Kevin Love and Brook Lopez leave, he’ll be the best big man in the Pac-10.
Nic Wise: There have been rumors that if the above three come back that Wise would leave because he would be coming off the bench again. Wise will most likely lose the starting PG spot to Brandon Jennings if Bayless stays but BJ would move to SG if Bayless leaves. Wise improved over the offseason and will only get better after recovering from knee surgery.
Wise’s decision: Wise will be the heart and soul of next year’s squad dishing assists and starting the break alongside Brandon Jennings for Olson.
Jamelle Horne: Most of you are thinking why are you putting a guy who hardly played in the top 5 question marks for next year? Well, Horne will play a big role and will either start or be the first one off the bench depending on what others decide. Horne was solid on defense but made mental errors on offense. Most of those errors can be attributed to being afraid to make mistakes and being pulled by KO.
Horne’s decision: 42 stays. He’ll play a big role for the ‘Cats coming off the bench to give the starters a breather, something they did not get all season.
Athletic Director Jim Livengood: After he apparently wanted to let KO take over and let Olson go, he is second to KO on the hot seat. Lute has enough pull in the community to make anything happen, so getting on his bad side is not a good idea. Livengood has done a terrible job at hiring coaches (that’s an understatement), so why should he be allowed to hire a replacement? He shouldn’t and the University should start their first job search over the summer with finding an athletic director who has a good track record of hiring coaches. (Especially if the football team falls short, again.)