Latest news on Azoulus Tubelis, will he stay, go, or transfer?

[WILD]

ZU is the most important piece to next year's team puzzle. It's highly unlikely that he'd transfer to another school as that would mean that he and his brother would be a package deal, so he's either going pro in some form or another or he's coming back to Tucson for another year. ZU will first test the NBA waters and see if anything changes as he's currently projected as a 2nd round pick. He could go back home to Lithuania and play professionally for 6 figures. Some have said that ZU's mother has stressed the importance of an education for her boys, so that may also be a factor in the Tubelis brothers decision. We'll keep you posted on any ZU news we hear.

More on Tubelis in the Star below
https://twitter.com/TucsonStar/status/1639816455402188801

[WILD]

Tommy and the UofA are putting together a Big NIL deal for Tubelis should he decide to stay at Arizona.

[KansasCityCats]

Wow, it would provide a lot of optimism if Tubelis returned.

If he works on his outside shot and timing of his interior shot blocking, he would easily become a lottery pick and have a realistic chance for National POY.

[AztecWildcat]

I hope he stays but I don't blame him 1 bit for leaving.

[arxpert]

Wow, it would provide a lot of optimism if Tubelis returned.

If he works on his outside shot and timing of his interior shot blocking, he would easily become a lottery pick and have a realistic chance for National POY.

Far be it for me to ruffle any feathers, but under Tommy Lloyd, if you are taller than 6'7" you are not allowed to take outside shots to any functional capacity. Zoo Tube does have a jump shot, but Tommy will never let him explore it. I am curious what kind of NIL deal they can give him as I was under the impression that foreign players were unable to officially earn from NIL. So I will wait to see what that means. A lifetime supply of Filiberto's and Eegee's isn't going to get it done IMHO. In the old days, Lute used to take his players down to Tex Ernhardt's and get them situated properly. Those days are long gone. Luis Gonzalez's father, Mr. An? was it? I forget, but he used to do the Asian food commercial on TV. I think that won't be enough either.

If Tommy "L" can pull off this miracle I will be impressed. The biggest miracle he could do IMHO is retain Zoo Tube AND convince Drew Timme to come down to Tucson and get him some sort of mostly worthless MBA from Eller as Timme is unlikely to have a chance to do much vs the likes of Giannis and Jokic in the NBA he could do well to serve out his last year of eligibility in Tucson before settling with an Aussie pro team for 100k or so.

Now that is an actual pipedream, but one that would put Tommy back on the map right before he would have almost zero players left on the team as we are in no way shape or form a school that recruits look to and Bam Bam Boswell will be gone after next season if Tommy is able to retain him this offseason, that is.

[KansasCityCats]

Seriously?  Guys like Tillie, wiltjer, Daye and Harris had the green light to shoot from behind the arc at Gonzaga. Why would Lloyd consider allowing big men to shoot threes when they can't consistently hit them?  Lute prevented bigs from standing on the perimeter but Lloyd would allow it if the rugby personnel were on the roster.

I didn't read the rest of the post but I'm sure it referenced mid-majors and Miller at some point.

[arxpert]

Seriously?  Guys like Tillie, wiltjer, Daye and Harris had the green light to shoot from behind the arc at Gonzaga. Why would Lloyd consider allowing big men to shoot threes when they can't consistently hit them?  Lute prevented bigs from standing on the perimeter but Lloyd would allow it if the rugby personnel were on the roster.

I didn't read the rest of the post but I'm sure it referenced mid-majors and Miller at some point.

Basketball was not played this way when Lute Olson was coaching. It was barely played this way when he was ALIVE. You need to move past certain mental barriers so you can join 2023. Tommy Lloyd is not Mark Few. Tommy has not even given anyone taller than 6'7" a shot. I know with 100% certainty now in hindsight that our players live in perpetual fear that they will never see the court again if they even attempt an unauthorized shot. I can't blame anyone for transferring. People thought the old coaching regime was tight and stuck in their ways. Tommy is on another level of Czar/Dictator

[KansasCityCats]

Tommy Lloyd doesn't have to be Mark Few. If you followed Gonzaga basketball, you'd understand that Lloyd played an instrumental role in the offensive flow of their program for 21 years. Guys like Killian Tillie had freedom to run the ball and take any shot that he's capable of making.

Kerr and Bal are transferring because they aren't capable of consistently making those shots.

[94FinalFour]

My God Pert, you are borderline insane.  Mindless drivel.  No wonder you have the reputation here you do... Tommy Lloyd the utra control freak compared to the previous regime.  Pure comedy and utterly laughable.

[arxpert]

Tommy Lloyd doesn't have to be Mark Few. If you followed Gonzaga basketball, you'd understand that Lloyd played an instrumental role in the offensive flow of their program for 21 years. Guys like Killian Tillie had freedom to run the ball and take any shot that he's capable of making.

Kerr and Bal are transferring because they aren't capable of consistently making those shots.

Killian Tillie is a complete nobody. No idea why you think he is the 2nd coming all the sudden. Tommy Lloyd may have flown all over the globe, but he wasn't doing anything that you are claiming in-game to lead Gonzaga to anything. And if Tommy wants to be successful like Mark Few then he better start coaching in-game like Mark Few otherwise he won't last 5 years in Tucson.

[arxpert]

My God Pert, you are borderline insane.  Mindless drivel.  No wonder you have the reputation here you do... Tommy Lloyd the utra control freak compared to the previous regime.  Pure comedy and utterly laughable.

My reputation is exactly where it should be. At the very top and pinnacle of truth, loyalty, and success.

[KansasCityCats]

You and Miller are both very good at defending your reputation. I see why you're always there for him.

Tillie is just one example of the many bigs that Lloyd coaches that had the green light to shoot threes.  I don't care whether he's an NBA all-star; I'm just making a point that our coach isn't restrictive about players' roles.

Few and Lloyd are the same coach. Tommy didn't take the Arizona job because he was unhappy in Spokane. They have similar coaching ideals and we're together for 21 seasons.

None of the three coaches mentioned above made a Fonal Four until six years ago. Lloyd is only in his second year as a head coach so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. As for Miller...keep on making excuses...

[something1]

I'd love to have Zu back. My biggest concern here is that he takes too long on his decision and it results in both a transfer out (Anderson? HV?) and potential replacement pieces coming off the board in the transfer market. He has to do what's best for him and his family; I simply hope for a quick decision whatever that may be.

[GoCats]

Pert- do you ever say anything even remotely important or containing even a resemblance of insight into the actual program? You must be a lonely, sad person and in dire of need an emotional support animal. I actually feel sad for you.

[mvpreed2]

I am not sure how Mama Tubelis's financial situation is Lithuania, but Big A could take classes in between the season to get his degree like most domestic-born prospects do during (or after) their time in the NBA.

As I type this, this Arizona team desperately needs some scoring from the perimeter with the starting backcourt not coming back.
Someone is going to need to step up and be that guy from the wing, and I do not believe he is on this team right now.
#BearDown

[Zona Nation]

I am not sure how Mama Tubelis's financial situation is Lithuania, but Big A could take classes in between the season to get his degree like most domestic-born prospects do during (or after) their time in the NBA.

As I type this, this Arizona team desperately needs some scoring from the perimeter with the starting backcourt not coming back.
Someone is going to need to step up and be that guy from the wing, and I do not believe he is on this team right now.
#BearDown

.  Him and his brother have already graduated

[arxpert]

I am not sure how Mama Tubelis's financial situation is Lithuania, but Big A could take classes in between the season to get his degree like most domestic-born prospects do during (or after) their time in the NBA.

As I type this, this Arizona team desperately needs some scoring from the perimeter with the starting backcourt not coming back.
Someone is going to need to step up and be that guy from the wing, and I do not believe he is on this team right now.
#BearDown

This is accurate. The team is in shambles at the moment. Tommy can only fill it with the portal which is lucky for him that these are the rules otherwise he would be drawing dead.

[KansasCityCats]

"Shambles" is not losing your two worst jump shooters, following a conference tournament title and top-10 finish.

"Shambles" is losing to Buffalo, losing Ayton/Alkins/Trier/Ristic//Pinder/PJC/walk-ons, being under investigation and bringing in desperation transfers like Luther, Coleman and Gettings.

Arizona is fine when you aren't crying for Sean Miller.

[arxpert]

"Shambles" is not losing your two worst jump shooters, following a conference tournament title and top-10 finish.

"Shambles" is losing to Buffalo, losing Ayton/Alkins/Trier/Ristic//Pinder/PJC/walk-ons, being under investigation and bringing in desperation transfers like Luther, Coleman and Gettings.

Arizona is fine when you aren't crying for Sean Miller.

Oh boy, you just can't accept that I've been right the entire time. I think you should just reconcile with it. I'm the only fan on this forum that prioritized Regular season success and Conference tournament success. Then the next priority is Recruiting. Only after that do I pay attention to March Madness. Tommy has 2 of the 3 criteria of success going for him so far, but that is only because of the tools that were in place. If I am correct, we are due to regress again next season and with the lack of recruiting prowess, I don't see how we will maintain this 1-2 seed, top 8 overall ranked type of program. The dust is clearing. Tommy is about to find himself in the deep end without his swimmies on unfortunately. I hope he can swim. I don't want to see him sink. We all know he can't get any worse in March Madness, but he can still regress out of the 1-2 seed area so let's wait and see what he can pull off now that the team needs to fill at least 3 starter positions, possibly 4.

[KansasCityCats]

We don't even know that Arizona NEEDS recruits until the 2024 class.  Boswell is going to take over for Kerr, Pelle will start in place of Henderson and KJ Lewis will replace Ramey.  Nobody needs to fill the void of Bal's 39% FG's.  Dylan/Henri and a likely grad transfer (or last minute frontcourt recruit) can help replace the production of Tubelis and/or Ballo, depending on whether they leave.

If Arizona doesn't have a solid recruiting class in 2024, there would be a need for concern.  Otherwise, this team should mature nicely and continue to build from within for the 2023-24 season.

[94FinalFour]

My God Pert, you are borderline insane.  Mindless drivel.  No wonder you have the reputation here you do... Tommy Lloyd the utra control freak compared to the previous regime.  Pure comedy and utterly laughable.

My reputation is exactly where it should be. At the very top and pinnacle of truth, loyalty, and success.

Pure comedy.  I guess I can give you that.  Either a colossal idiot, or comedic genius.  I'll take the former, but acknowledge the latter is at least plausible, if unlikely.