Searching For Luke Walton

[BeachCat97]

Like the rest of you, I am hugely disappointed by last night's result. I'm no where near being ready to say that this team is overrated or that we're unlikely to fare well in conference play, but there are certainly some concerns.

My biggest concern is that I don't see a leader on this team. Marcus and Chase are our two most talented players, but they're underclassmen. Sound leadership tends to come from the veterans, which means that Mustafa, Ivan, Kirk, and DD need to step up and create a sense of urgency.

In the past, Arizona has certainly had their share of players who perform this role. D Stoudamire comes to mind, as do Reeves, Simon, Terry, and Gardner. But no one, in my opinion, has done a better job of this than Luke. His tenacity and leadership made him special, and this year's team needs someone to step forward, like Luke always did, and demand a competitive intensity.

I'm not saying this team lacks heart or determination. But if what people are saying about last night's game is true, it really seems that no one on our team was able to calm us down or stifle our opponent's momentum. Like so many times last year, we simply lost focus and let the other team have their way. This happened thrice against UCLA.

I just hope that Mustafa in particular realizes that his legacy at Arizona and his NBA Draft status largely depend on how well he is able to lead this team over the next three months. I'm picking on him because he's our senior starting point guard. Like Damon Stoudamire and Jason Terry and Jason Gardner before him, Mustafa is the most recent in a tradition of phenomenal fourth year PGs at U of A. All that's transpired since Mustafa got to Tucson, the good and the bad, means very little. What matters is how he does now, as a fourth year starter, on a team many people think has the talent to reach Atlanta.

I wouldn't worry too much about the Virginia game. What I'd worry about is the question of who our floor leader will be. Maybe if Luke has a couple days to kill, he can jet over from L.A. and light a fire under this team.

[Cubix]

Ivan and Jawann

[ZonaCats8]

I think Jawann will emerge as a star and the leader of this team within a few weeks.

[EastCoastCat]

Originally Posted by BeachCat97

Like the rest of you, I am hugely disappointed by last night's result. I'm no where near being ready to say that this team is overrated or that we're unlikely to fare well in conference play, but there are certainly some concerns.

My biggest concern is that I don't see a leader on this team. Marcus and Chase are our two most talented players, but they're underclassmen. Sound leadership tends to come from the veterans, which means that Mustafa, Ivan, Kirk, and DD need to step up and create a sense of urgency.

In the past, Arizona has certainly had their share of players who perform this role. D Stoudamire comes to mind, as do Reeves, Simon, Terry, and Gardner. But no one, in my opinion, has done a better job of this than Luke. His tenacity and leadership made him special, and this year's team needs someone to step forward, like Luke always did, and demand a competitive intensity.

I'm not saying this team lacks heart or determination. But if what people are saying about last night's game is true, it really seems that no one on our team was able to calm us down or stifle our opponent's momentum. Like so many times last year, we simply lost focus and let the other team have their way. This happened thrice against UCLA.

I just hope that Mustafa in particular realizes that his legacy at Arizona and his NBA Draft status largely depend on how well he is able to lead this team over the next three months. I'm picking on him because he's our senior starting point guard. Like Damon Stoudamire and Jason Terry and Jason Gardner before him, Mustafa is the most recent in a tradition of phenomenal fourth year PGs at U of A. All that's transpired since Mustafa got to Tucson, the good and the bad, means very little. What matters is how he does now, as a fourth year starter, on a team many people think has the talent to reach Atlanta.

I wouldn't worry too much about the Virginia game. What I'd worry about is the question of who our floor leader will be. Maybe if Luke has a couple days to kill, he can jet over from L.A. and light a fire under this team.

Can you explain how this determination can be made after the first game? If half the season was completed, I can understand your point.

Bearing down on the pre-Pac games being the time where roles and responsibilities are defined...not after the first game.

[Longhorned]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCat

Can you explain how this determination can be made after the first game? If half the season was completed, I can understand your point.

Bearing down on the pre-Pac games being the time where roles and responsibilities are defined...not after the first game.

And can you explain how this determination can be made after a game you admit to not having seen?

[Cubix]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCat

Can you explain how this determination can be made after the first game? If half the season was completed, I can understand your point.

Bearing down on the pre-Pac games being the time where roles and responsibilities are defined...not after the first game.

It's obvious who the leaders are, especially after a game like that. Ivan is the calming presence, Jawann is the intense, fiery guy.

[Zero]

Originally Posted by Cubix

It's obvious who the leaders are, especially after a game like that. Ivan is the calming presence, Jawann is the intense, fiery guy.

i like jawann as a leader, after he hit a three to put us back up you can see he was trying to pump the team up.

[ZonaCats8]

Originally Posted by UofA Owns Aswho

i like jawann as a leader, after he hit a three to put us back up you can see he was trying to pump the team up.

He has such a smooth J, especially from 3. I think it was his first 3, when it went straight through, barely moved the net, I just turned to my friend and said "He's back." He just nodded his head. Great to have a guy like him back on the floor.

[TucsonSean]

JMAC will add the most emotion to the team as well. I believe that UA needs someone to consistently keep this team fired up or, as we have all seen, they get complacent and end of playing lackluster ball.

[EastCoastCat]

Originally Posted by Longhorned

And can you explain how this determination can be made after a game you admit to not having seen?

Huh? I saw this game...I didn't see the Cal football game if that's what you are inferring.

[Longhorned]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCat

Huh? I saw this game...I didn't see the Cal football game if that's what you are inferring.

No, EC, I was adding to your comments about someone else, not commenting on you. I was agreeing with you, and I didn't know you missed any game, let alone Cal!

[DCCat]

Jason Gardner was the leader of the Walton-era teams. Walton was more of a quiet, lead-by-example type. Gardner wasn't my favorite player, but we could use someone like him to direct the offense and be the unquestioned leader on the floor. Wise will probably grow into that, but he's not ready yet.

[PerpEph]

A leader? It's the FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON.

Can we pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease take a step back and realize it might take more than one game against a real opponent for this team to figure out its identity and for a leader to emerge?

People are reading waaaaay too much into one game.

[EastCoastCat]

Originally Posted by Longhorned

No, EC, I was adding to your comments about someone else, not commenting on you. I was agreeing with you, and I didn't know you missed any game, let alone Cal!

My bad Longhorned...

I thought you were referring to my post on the football board where I basically said I jinx the football team every time I watch or listen to them this season. Missed the WSU game...and they won. Purposely missed the Cal game (it wasn't shown on T.V. back here so take that with a grain of salt) and we won again.