basketball? WTF? Please beat Oregon. You're suppose to win those games so you aren't as focused when the Bruins come calling. Ktnx
not one to make excuses but with bayless out we'll have close ones until his return. Thats now 2 loses with him out (memphis, oregon), if we had him in either game we win both or have 1 point games.
Arizona still had their chances yesterday, even without Bayless, but poor perimeter defense and transition defense hurt them. O'Neill may want to play a little zone defense at times, if only to give the players a rest, given the short bench.
Oregon is ok but <t>I kept waiting for that game to turn the corner, and it never did. I'm sure the Bayless injury hurts no doubt but Zona is still more than the Ducks should handle.</t>
Bdr and Zona, What are your thoughts about KON? Lute has built a great program whose primary attributes are its stability and maturity. O'neill, to me, seems almost the antithesis of stabilty never having stayed anywhere for any length of time. In his last two jobs, he left Northwestern just before the start of the season and was canned by the Raptors after a player revolt over his alleged abusive coaching style. I know he is well respected for his technical skills and recruiting ability but it seems that putting him in charge is like handing the keys to a prized Porsche to a guy with a lead foot and multiple past convictions for DUILs.
I think in the present its good for the team...he brings some toughness we've been lacking for some time. The Pac-10 is evolving to being more defensive so he brings some strength in that and he is doing little things right now that promote unity, i.e. same styled shoes, no headbands no tardiness to practice. He is bringing accountability that has been lacking, either do to Lutes lack of care or energy in his later age. I dont know that he is the perfect fit for the post-lute era but in the here and now it is good.
We'll see how things play out under KO. I'm still a little in shock over Lute's abrupt LOA, but depsite the two regressive defensive performances against Virginia and Oregon and the Laval Lucas-Perry transfer I'm happy with the way things are going. The team is playing hard under O'Neill and the kids seem to like him.