Just talked to Brandon Williams & he told us he is staying at Arizona!

[hamster]

Serious question Hamster have you ever played organized Basketball? Sometimes the statements you make me question your basketball IQ. I can't remember a single positive comment coming from you. Your second only to Liquidated in the regard.

Yes and I've played at a pretty high level. DM if you care for more info.

You question my basketball knowledge because I've posted negative things? Well sorry buddy, the world will not be kind to your snowflake mentality if you need everyone to speak in a manner that makes you warm and fuzzy inside. Other opinions exist, get over it.

And why don't you respond to the actual argument? I'm saying if Smith/Doutrive/Green are handling a portion of 10mpg at pg, Arizona is in bad, bad shape. If you disagree, then maybe it's your bball IQ that needs questioning.

[hamster]

I think Hazzard can fill the void for a few minutes per game, but I don't know how he's better than the others at handling the ball.

Max's career A:TO ratio is 1.37:1.  Not stellar for a guy who played a majority of his games against mid-major competition.

That actually goes against what you were saying about us being ok at backup PG, though. When Nico's not on the court, we essentially don't have a PG.

[KansasCityCats]

I think any of them can fill the position for a limited period of time, but I don't see how Hazzard is that much better than the rest.

Green seems like a solid ballhandler, Doutrive has a quick first step and Smith is a Senior.  Hopefully it isn't similar to the days when Nic Wise gets in foul trouble and the team is screwed...

[hamster]

I think any of them can fill the position for a limited period of time, but I don't see how Hazzard is that much better than the rest.

Green seems like a solid ballhandler, Doutrive has a quick first step and Smith is a Senior.  Hopefully it isn't similar to the days when Nic Wise gets in foul trouble and the team is screwed...

Agreed that Hazzard isn't much better of an option than the other three, but he is the most natural ball handler of them.

Green is a good ball handler for a wing, but the problem with all of them is decision making. DD and Smith are both very turnover prone and have frequently made questionable decisions with the ball. Green is great at pushing the ball in transition, but he's not the type of ball handler who is reliable enough to take the opposing team's on ball pressure for a meaningful amount of minutes. I cringe at the idea of any of them handling backup pg duties.

I would say we generally lack guys that can attack off the dribble outside of Nico and Josh, which is why losing Bwill really hurts. He was really good at attacking the rim and either dishing or getting to the FT line.

[ChrisZona]

WHAT?!

Seriously? A marginal, four star recruit with a decent handle and unimpressive assist to TO ratio who led AZ to its worst finish in conference since before Lute.

Why can't Nico play 40 mins? Or 38? Oh yea, because our coach is an idiot and substitutes like he has the attention span of a coke addict at John Belushi's house on March 5, 1982 (I had to look that up).

Hazzrd was, numerically, far superior to Williams in a conference that was not all that much weaker than the and PAC12 and he has 4 years experience. He shoots better, assist better and has more experience. Hazzard >> Williams.

Would gladly trade Williams for PJC, 7 days a week and twice on game days. PJC has the PG gene. Williams does not. End of argument.

We are loaded with guards. Doutrive would be fine at the point (his skill set is roughly the same as Williams). So would Smith - he's always had a decent handle and we don't need him to shoot much. For 2-5 minutes per game, we'll be fine.

We're NOT F'ed by any one player (including Nico) not being available. We're F'ed because Miller can't behave ethically, can't coach the modern game, can't grasp simple analytics & can't recruit or retain quality players other than the one and dones. So yes, we are F'ed, but not because of Williams. His availability or unavailability is the absolute least of our worries.

Que theme from Jaws.....cut to shark fin moving through the water with the letters 'NCAA' written on it.

I guess in a perfect world where players don't wear out and get hurt then hell yeah lets run Nico out there for 40 minutes but in reality we need at least another quality point guard to help out Mannion. Hazzard is supposedly the better shooter but his (40%/35% from 3) shooting in Big West play was worse than Williams numbers in conference (41%/39% from 3) and his 2.1 ast and 1.6 assist to TO is considerably worse than Williams 3.4 ast/ 1.9 assist to TO. Williams is clearly the better point guard and that was as true frosh without many scoring weapons around him and there are likely no better options available which makes his health even more vital.

I do agree with you on Doutrive I think he could be capable of playing some point if needed his handle is solid and he did show flashes of his playmaking ability particularity in the fast-break. But the half-court is where he would struggle and his 18 assists and 17 turnovers doesn't really install much confidence when talking about letting someone run the point for even 5-8 minutes. And the minute Smith runs point would be the moment the season is officially over.

[KansasCityCats]

Hard to argue that anybody on the roster is a capable long-term backup.

Doutrive plays his ass off, which generally leads to mistakes.  My hope is that he shows significant improvement as a sophomore and plays with patience.

Same expectations with Smith.  As a Senior, he SHOULD hold back on taking contested jumpers and shouldn't turn the ball over in 1-on-1 situations.

Sucks that this wouldn't be an issue if Barcello had returned.  Despite his consistency from beyond the arc, he's an ideal backup PG (if B-Will misses significant time).

[Jdmarti]

Hamster any news on b.will on his situation.

[Jdmarti]

The only difference between dd  an Smith is dd has the chance to improve where Smith is what he is an it is his 5th year in collage an I dont think his ball handling will improve much or at all.

[Jdmarti]

That's one thing that drove me crazy last year is Smith taking contested 3s from beyond 3 line  he needs to take open shots from there.

[Jdmarti]

I know one thing I dont want Smith handling the ball much or  bringing it up the court he  is sloppy  with the ball.