Bear Down Wildcats

Bangkok Wildcat wrote: ↑Sat Mar 05, 2022 11:32 pm Anyone in the know care to predict in % what the odds are he bounces after this season?

Sure hope not….I love seeing the “Twin Towers” in action! So much fun to watch and amazing to see how much better he’s gotten this year.

I've said before, I think his draft stock is peaked right now. If I were advising him purely on stock, I'd say go.

That said, zero idea what he wants and values. That part matters a lot and I have no idea. His game right now...I feel like the NBA's seen all they need.

Kinda interesting if you ask me

RondaeShimmy wrote: ↑Sun Mar 13, 2022 11:45 am Kinda interesting if you ask me

Wrong. You don’t retire it because any way you slice it CSM brought these players to Arizona. It has to be part of the narrative along with CTL coming in and keeping them and helping to make them better.

Spaceman Spiff wrote: ↑Fri Mar 11, 2022 11:50 am

Bangkok Wildcat wrote: ↑Sat Mar 05, 2022 11:32 pm Anyone in the know care to predict in % what the odds are he bounces after this season?

Sure hope not….I love seeing the “Twin Towers” in action! So much fun to watch and amazing to see how much better he’s gotten this year.

I've said before, I think his draft stock is peaked right now. If I were advising him purely on stock, I'd say go.

That said, zero idea what he wants and values. That part matters a lot and I have no idea. His game right now...I feel like the NBA's seen all they need.

I don't think he has peaked. I think he's borderline 1st round. Add 20 lbs of muscle and make close in shots automatic he would be a lottery pick. To me today's NBA requires you to make scoring at least a second strength and you must be able to make the shots you should. Kind of like Kentucky's center. Can rebound well, shot block in close and score underneath. I see C-Lo in that same light. If he adds muscle and some weight to strengthen his base he will be unstoppable.

For Ballo I want him to add 15 lbs of muscle but come back 5 lbs lighter. Unstoppable.

TheCat wrote: ↑Sun Mar 13, 2022 1:38 pm

Spaceman Spiff wrote: ↑Fri Mar 11, 2022 11:50 am

Bangkok Wildcat wrote: ↑Sat Mar 05, 2022 11:32 pm Anyone in the know care to predict in % what the odds are he bounces after this season?

Sure hope not….I love seeing the “Twin Towers” in action! So much fun to watch and amazing to see how much better he’s gotten this year.

I've said before, I think his draft stock is peaked right now. If I were advising him purely on stock, I'd say go.

That said, zero idea what he wants and values. That part matters a lot and I have no idea. His game right now...I feel like the NBA's seen all they need.

I don't think he has peaked. I think he's borderline 1st round. Add 20 lbs of muscle and make close in shots automatic he would be a lottery pick. To me today's NBA requires you to make scoring at least a second strength and you must be able to make the shots you should. Kind of like Kentucky's center. Can rebound well, shot block in close and score underneath. I see C-Lo in that same light. If he adds muscle and some weight to strengthen his base he will be unstoppable.

For Ballo I want him to add 15 lbs of muscle but come back 5 lbs lighter. Unstoppable.

Oh man, I will be ecstatic if we have both of the Twin Towers for another year….would give Dylan Anderson time to redshirt and/or develop further before he’s needed. I’m assuming he’s nowhere near ready to take up the slack at Center as a Frosh.

TheCat wrote: ↑Sun Mar 13, 2022 1:38 pm

Spaceman Spiff wrote: ↑Fri Mar 11, 2022 11:50 am

Bangkok Wildcat wrote: ↑Sat Mar 05, 2022 11:32 pm Anyone in the know care to predict in % what the odds are he bounces after this season?

Sure hope not….I love seeing the “Twin Towers” in action! So much fun to watch and amazing to see how much better he’s gotten this year.

I've said before, I think his draft stock is peaked right now. If I were advising him purely on stock, I'd say go.

That said, zero idea what he wants and values. That part matters a lot and I have no idea. His game right now...I feel like the NBA's seen all they need.

I don't think he has peaked. I think he's borderline 1st round. Add 20 lbs of muscle and make close in shots automatic he would be a lottery pick. To me today's NBA requires you to make scoring at least a second strength and you must be able to make the shots you should. Kind of like Kentucky's center. Can rebound well, shot block in close and score underneath. I see C-Lo in that same light. If he adds muscle and some weight to strengthen his base he will be unstoppable.

For Ballo I want him to add 15 lbs of muscle but come back 5 lbs lighter. Unstoppable.

I don't think peaking your draft stock = peaking your game. Koloko made such a rapid improvement this year, the NBA will see potential to continue to develop.

Returning is a risk because someone doesn't always grow and improve and that drags you down. Koloko's stock is rising and that helps.

I doubt he ever goes lottery. If you look at the bigs that do recently, they heavily trend away from Koloko's type, particularly on offense. Right now I think low teens or 20's is possible, because things like adding size happen just as much in the NBA.

Not a finalist for DPOY.

OK.....

Alieberman wrote: ↑Tue Mar 15, 2022 11:03 am Not a finalist for DPOY.

OK.....

Guess he needs to come back next year and show those idiots just how wrong they are.

There's no way we get another season of CK and OB playing together, right? Like, that's the kind of good luck that only comes to other programs, I'd think.

Beachcat97 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 15, 2022 11:07 am There's no way we get another season of CK and OB playing together, right? Like, that's the kind of good luck that only comes to other programs, I'd think.

While true, now we are other programs.

Thswiebwe, Kessler, Holmgren are good final four candidates but Mark Williams over Koloko is ridiculous

Mark Williams had a bunch of blocks against Gonzaga in that early season game and the sports media wrote down "DPOY candidate" in permanent marker

Again, like what happened to Benn I love the extra motivation that I'm sure C-Lo will have.

I don't want the players to take it to their head. That is rat poison. Make a statement instead.

17 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 blocks

azgreg wrote: ↑Fri Mar 18, 2022 7:00 pm 17 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 blocks

I love this kid! He’s a real stud and hope he comes back next year!

Bangkok Wildcat wrote: ↑Fri Mar 18, 2022 7:13 pm I love this kid! He’s a real stud and hope he comes back next year!

Ditto that!!!

What a game by C-Lo.

I've never been more impressed.

From start to the fucking finish.

About a month ago I made him with goggles my avi and since then his numbers have been down. Had to switch it out.

C-lo with a career high and the dagger to put TCU away for good

Amazing. Koloko and Mathurin absolutely carried us tonight.

I swear, he was wearing a huge “S” for Superman under his uni!

Just wanted to give a quick shout out to our all-conference, Pac defensive player of the year center. He's a special player, and his NBA draft stock is skyrocketing. I think we're in his last few weeks as a Wildcat player. Here's hoping he gets to cut down some nets on Saturday!

I re-watched the entire TCU game last night, mainly because the last 4 days have been a drunken blur, but I wanted to watch Christian and Benn's career nights again.

There was a moment in the 1H where Koloko got a breather but he was still playing defense from the bench. He saw something form before anyone else recognized it. He jumped off the bench to yell at Tubelis about a switch that he missed but by the time he saw, the guy was scoring. Koloko upsettably threw his towel in the air which got Tommy's attention and he quickly subbed him back in.

Tommy's confidence in him late in games to guard anyone who dares to steal the win from us is something to behold. 7 footers are usually a liability on the defensive end against guards but no one told Christian this. This kid just gets it. Please come back!

Nimble 7 footers from other countries that grow up playing soccer all day and night seem to have unbelievable footwork.

Ps if he has a couple more games like last night, I would be surprised if he doesn't go to the league.

I want him to stay but..... Good for him man!!!

In five post season games (Pac-12 tournament & NCAA's) Koloko has a 40 minute Bird Score (think PER) of 31.5. That puts him in extremely rare company. He will be spending June 23rd at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Arizona’s Christian Koloko rises to become dominant force

“Now I have skills that I didn’t have freshman year and my game is still evolving,” he said.

https://apnews.com/article/march-madnes ... bd8b7c379f

It sure sounds like he's peaking at the right time. Go Christian!

KaibabKat wrote: ↑Tue Mar 22, 2022 10:30 pm In five post season games (Pac-12 tournament & NCAA's) Koloko has a 40 minute Bird Score (think PER) of 31.5. That puts him in extremely rare company. He will be spending June 23rd at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

NBA GMs have to be salivating based off of that elite switch out ability alone.

Koloko will likely not be back next year IMO.

“He’s ready to soar: The amazing ascent of Arizona’s Christian Koloko”

He connected immediately with Tommy Lloyd, the new coach’s experience with international players proving invaluable, as well as his reputation as a developer. Lloyd essentially stripped Koloko’s game down to the basics, spending hours on catching the ball, securing it, hitting it properly off the backboard. “Like hundreds or thousands of times,’’ Lloyd says. Koloko never complained. This was, after all, what he did by himself back in Cameroon.
Koloko also enjoyed Lloyd’s approach. He is not a screamer. He likes to crack jokes — though Koloko admits some are lousy dad jokes. “He always begins everything with, ‘I love you. I love you. I love you,’’’ Koloko says. “And then it’s, ‘But…’’’ (Sure enough when asked about how he dealt with Koloko, Lloyd began by saying, “First thing is love him, and let him know how good he can be.’’)

https://theathletic.com/3201964/2022/03 ... an-koloko/

If the Tournament is good to Tommy Lloyd it will demonstrate to me a virtuous universe. For the first time in a long time I will feel existentially fundamentally optimistic.

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:19 pm If the Tournament is good to Tommy Lloyd it will demonstrate to me a virtuous universe. For the first time in a long time I will feel existentially fundamentally optimistic.

Huh wait...no more Skullfucking and DIE, DIE, DIE?

Say it ain't so Joe.

EastCoastCat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:25 pm

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:19 pm If the Tournament is good to Tommy Lloyd it will demonstrate to me a virtuous universe. For the first time in a long time I will feel existentially fundamentally optimistic.

Huh wait...no more Skullfucking and DIE, DIE, DIE?

Say it ain't so Joe.

Being an optimistic humanitarian is just a hobby. Being a petty vulgar asshole is my day job. It's a conundrum, especially when the hours overlap.

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:34 pm

EastCoastCat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:25 pm

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:19 pm If the Tournament is good to Tommy Lloyd it will demonstrate to me a virtuous universe. For the first time in a long time I will feel existentially fundamentally optimistic.

Huh wait...no more Skullfucking and DIE, DIE, DIE?

Say it ain't so Joe.

Being an optimistic humanitarian is just a hobby. Being a petty vulgar asshole is my day job. It's a conundrum, especially when the hours overlap.

IMNSHO, if we're looking for validation of a "virtuous universe", we're fucked!! Why would the entire course of human history change this week???

I'm looking for validation that the team with the better talent, game plan and execution wins!! And. I'm confident of affirmation in that!!

BTFD!!!!

pc in NM wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:46 pm

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:34 pm

EastCoastCat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:25 pm

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:19 pm If the Tournament is good to Tommy Lloyd it will demonstrate to me a virtuous universe. For the first time in a long time I will feel existentially fundamentally optimistic.

Huh wait...no more Skullfucking and DIE, DIE, DIE?

Say it ain't so Joe.

Being an optimistic humanitarian is just a hobby. Being a petty vulgar asshole is my day job. It's a conundrum, especially when the hours overlap.

IMNSHO, if we're looking for validation of a "virtuous universe", we're fucked!! Why would the entire course of human history change this week???

Human history is not the entirety of the universe, and certainly not its sole measure of virtue.

pc in NM wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:46 pmI'm looking for validation that the team with the better talent, game plan and execution wins!! And. I'm confident of affirmation in that!!

BTFD!!!!

And the virtues of such a project will likely be ignored at by the universe. Affirmation almost certainly lies outside of something so ephemerally personal; it comes indirectly and through the other. In sum: Fuck ASU.

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 3:07 pm

pc in NM wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:46 pm

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:34 pm

EastCoastCat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:25 pm

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:19 pm If the Tournament is good to Tommy Lloyd it will demonstrate to me a virtuous universe. For the first time in a long time I will feel existentially fundamentally optimistic.

Huh wait...no more Skullfucking and DIE, DIE, DIE?

Say it ain't so Joe.

Being an optimistic humanitarian is just a hobby. Being a petty vulgar asshole is my day job. It's a conundrum, especially when the hours overlap.

IMNSHO, if we're looking for validation of a "virtuous universe", we're fucked!! Why would the entire course of human history change this week???

Human history is not the entirety of the universe, and certainly not its sole measure of virtue.

Well, I guess we could ask the dinosaurs... if they weren't EXTINCT!!

dovecanyoncat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 3:07 pm

pc in NM wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:46 pmI'm looking for validation that the team with the better talent, game plan and execution wins!! And. I'm confident of affirmation in that!!

BTFD!!!!

And the virtues of such a project will likely be ignored at by the universe. Affirmation almost certainly lies outside of something so ephemerally personal; it comes indirectly and through the other. In sum: Fuck ASU.

Fuckin' ASU feels virtuous, I'll give you that!! I'll take a victory tomorrow, and feel both virtuous AND vicious, thank you!!

BTFD!!!!

This is like I’m reading Kant.

CalStateTempe wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 4:12 pm This is like I’m reading Kant.

This is like I’m a reading cunt.

ZagCatFan wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 1:54 pm Koloko will likely not be back next year IMO.

“He’s ready to soar: The amazing ascent of Arizona’s Christian Koloko”

He connected immediately with Tommy Lloyd, the new coach’s experience with international players proving invaluable, as well as his reputation as a developer. Lloyd essentially stripped Koloko’s game down to the basics, spending hours on catching the ball, securing it, hitting it properly off the backboard. “Like hundreds or thousands of times,’’ Lloyd says. Koloko never complained. This was, after all, what he did by himself back in Cameroon.
Koloko also enjoyed Lloyd’s approach. He is not a screamer. He likes to crack jokes — though Koloko admits some are lousy dad jokes. “He always begins everything with, ‘I love you. I love you. I love you,’’’ Koloko says. “And then it’s, ‘But…’’’ (Sure enough when asked about how he dealt with Koloko, Lloyd began by saying, “First thing is love him, and let him know how good he can be.’’)

https://theathletic.com/3201964/2022/03 ... an-koloko/

This is a live look at NBA scouts watching Koloko vs TCU.

NCAA Tournament - minimum 100 minutes played - Arizona Top 5 - Career 40 minute Bird Scores (PER):
30.3 Christian Koloko
24.8 Derrick Williams
24.0 Sean Elliott
23.3 Loren Woods
22.8 Brian Williams

https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-draft ... -mock=2022

fwiw, this mock now doesn't even have CK in the 2022 draft. He's projected as a second rounder in '23.

That’s just moronic.

Is draft.net the one everyone consistently derides as god awful? If so, I can see why.

Chicat wrote: ↑Thu Apr 07, 2022 10:35 am That’s just moronic.

Is draft.net the one everyone consistently derides as god awful? If so, I can see why.

They aren't great. They also have Koloko on the list of guys who boosted their 22 stock the most in this NCAA tourney.

https://www.nbadraft.net/stock-watch-ncaa-tournament-5/

Spaceman Spiff wrote: ↑Thu Apr 07, 2022 10:50 am

Chicat wrote: ↑Thu Apr 07, 2022 10:35 am That’s just moronic.

Is draft.net the one everyone consistently derides as god awful? If so, I can see why.

They aren't great. They also have Koloko on the list of guys who boosted their 22 stock the most in this NCAA tourney.

https://www.nbadraft.net/stock-watch-ncaa-tournament-5/

NBADraft.net is bad bad

Honestly, I didn't even realize there was a pecking order with these mocks. Which are the better ones?

I do agree that CK is likely to be drafted higher, if he does come out. I could see him putting his name in, getting a read on things, and then not making his decision until the last possible moment.

Beachcat97 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 07, 2022 12:06 pm Honestly, I didn't even realize there was a pecking order with these mocks. Which are the better ones?

I do agree that CK is likely to be drafted higher, if he does come out. I could see him putting his name in, getting a read on things, and then not making his decision until the last possible moment.

Givony is usually solid but his stuff is all behind the ESPN insider paywall.

Nbadraft.net has some ok articles, but a lot of the info is uninformed. I would not check them for info on who's staying and leaving. My main criticism of them is they aren't plugged in and slow to update stuff.

Beachcat97 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 07, 2022 12:06 pm Honestly, I didn't even realize there was a pecking order with these mocks. Which are the better ones?

I do agree that CK is likely to be drafted higher, if he does come out. I could see him putting his name in, getting a read on things, and then not making his decision until the last possible moment.

For me...

1. The Athletic / Sam Vecenie - Sam is hyper plugged in, watches a ton of basketball throughout the season without a regional bias and produces a MASSIVE draft book every year (140 page pdf last year). I think he's the best of the best based on his depth of knowledge and productivity. Paywalled.

2. ESPN / Givony - Back before their acquisition, Givony and his team at Draftexpress were the clear gold standard. I don't pay for ESPN Premium access and I don't trust ESPN not to taint Givony's good product. But Givony is a real talent and deserves respect. Paywalled.

3. The Ringer / Kevin O'Connor - The Ringer (and O'Connor along with it) has seemed to shift more towards entertainment than sports (even when covering sports), but O'Connor is still a great basketball mind and the The Ringer (with their deep resources) produces a big board that is both slick and in-depth.

Honorable mention: Tankathon - I like Tankathon for their combination of draft order tracking / projections along with a quick and easy look at their big board; you won't get prospect discussions or any qualitative insights, but you will get player stats and a cool player comparison tool for comparing player stats.

Givony currently has Koloko at 36 to the Blazers

prh wrote: ↑Mon Apr 11, 2022 12:08 pm Givony currently has Koloko at 36 to the Blazers

He also has Koloko listed as a 6'10" PF