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Do we now pivot to Aday Mara? And what is the PG plan....

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Jgrass34

Mar 3, 2024
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Magoon gooned us. Kidding. Can't blame a kid for wanting to stay somewhere he's comfortable. Some kids are just tough to pull away from the west coast. That being said, in my opiniom, Mara is now one of the most coveted big men in the portal. And yes, another west coast guy. Do we transfer all our magoon eggs to the Mara basket?

And any intel whatsoever on what we're gonna do at PG? Alot of names are falling off the list. I know it's still early portal wise. But I would think alot of these kids have had their minds made up a while about entering, and most would have entered by now? However, I'm sure some may consider later due to who their team is gaining/losing in the portal. Pope pulled a rabbit out of his hat in Butler. He was not highly ranked or mentioned much. I'm ok with the same scenario playing out because Butler became my favorite player on this team.
 
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I have no idea if we are looking at this kid but he looks to be a good option to me. DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A PAID COACH SO MY OPINION MEANS NOTHING

Quimari Peterson, 6-1, PG, Sr., East Tennessee State

Peterson won SoCon Player of the Year honors after averaging 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists for Brooks Savage and the Bucs, shooting better than 46% from the field, 42% from beyond the arc and 73% from the free throw line. He had 21 or more points in seven of his final eight games.
 
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Creed Bratton said:
I have no idea if we are looking at this kid but he looks to be a good option to me. DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A PAID COACH SO MY OPINION MEANS NOTHING

Quimari Peterson, 6-1, PG, Sr., East Tennessee State

Peterson won SoCon Player of the Year honors after averaging 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists for Brooks Savage and the Bucs, shooting better than 46% from the field, 42% from beyond the arc and 73% from the free throw line. He had 21 or more points in seven of his final eight games.
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Peterson sounds more like a 2G than a PG. Good scorer, but subpar assist number for a PG.
 
Lots of names aren't in the portal yet. More will jump out as coaches move to different schools. I think UK goes after the two Spaniards with a lot of urgency. Can't teach Mara's 7'3 and the court vision that Folgueiras has. Neither of them is the most athletic, but they're skilled and have time to learn a college system and improve their skillsets.

I also think we empty a large portion of the bank for Lendenborg and give him every reason to tell us yes. Look at what we did to Amari in one year. Look how Carr was improving up until he threw his back out.

As far as PG, I'm not convinced our starter is in the portal yet. If he is, I suspect there's a reason we're hearing absolutely nothing. Just about every leaked prospect is getting sniped by programs that are willing to empty the bank on one or two guys.

I don't feel like Pope is willing to have a couple go-to guys that are paid $4 mil. I feel like he wants everyone to be able to contribute, even if it's not as a super star. That prevents things like what happened this season where one or two injuries kneecapped us.

I think we'll be fine. I trust Pope even if we're getting shafted by the portal right now.
 
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JPFisher said:
Lots of names aren't in the portal yet. More will jump out as coaches move to different schools. I think UK goes after the two Spaniards with a lot of urgency. Can't teach Mara's 7'3 and the court vision that Folgueiras has. Neither of them is the most athletic, but they're skilled and have time to learn a college system and improve their skillsets.

I also think we empty a large portion of the bank for Lendenborg and give him every reason to tell us yes. Look at what we did to Amari in one year. Look how Carr was improving up until he threw his back out.

As far as PG, I'm not convinced our starter is in the portal yet. If he is, I suspect there's a reason we're hearing absolutely nothing. Just about every leaked prospect is getting sniped by programs that are willing to empty the bank on one or two guys.

I don't feel like Pope is willing to have a couple go-to guys that are paid $4 mil. I feel like he wants everyone to be able to contribute, even if it's not as a super star. That prevents things like what happened this season where one or two injuries kneecapped us.

I think we'll be fine. I trust Pope even if we're getting shafted by the portal right now.
Click to expand...
I think Pope likes to use a deep bench. He likes rotations. He doesn't want to be obligated or locked into playing certain guys 30+ minutes a game. I feel like a lot of these portal guys, at least the highest profile ones, are looking for some sort of guarantee along those lines. Pope isn't going to play that game. He wants team first players.
 
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trueblujr2 said:
Peterson sounds more like a 2G than a PG. Good scorer, but subpar assist number for a PG.
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I haven't watched him play so don't know how much they put the ball in his hands to initiate the offense but he averaged .6 less assist per game than Butler, .5 and more than Demery that a lot of people wanted for next year. Of the final four teams only Walter Clayton (.5), Cooper Flagg (.5) and Milos Uzan (.7) averaged more assist per game. Most teams run an offense that the assist get spread around. Very few have a PG dominated offense where they distribute the ball and rack up assist.
 
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Have you all heard what Mara and his camp reportedly were demanding from Cronin to stay at UCLA?

He wanted to practice when he felt like it.

He wanted to be able to fly back to Spain when he pleased.

Wanted to be guaranteed minutes/shots, etc.....

Now it's Mick Cronin. I get it. His idea of offense is fouling to an extent that he can pad his rebound total on missed FT's. That being said, there's more to this than talent---and you have to be crystal clear on what is expected/demanded before you go into a deal with a guy who has immense talent/potential but his idea of a workout is to decide which day he has to carry his bags to a plane to fly back to Europe. If any of that information is true, he's going to be a headcase and more of a problem than worth the investment.
 
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ralphdaltonfan said:
Have you all heard what Mara and his camp reportedly were demanding from Cronin to stay at UCLA?

He wanted to practice when he felt like it.

He wanted to be able to fly back to Spain when he pleased.

Wanted to be guaranteed minutes/shots, etc.....

Now it's Mick Cronin. I get it. His idea of offense is fouling to an extent that he can pad his rebound total on missed FT's. That being said, there's more to this than talent---and you have to be crystal clear on what is expected/demanded before you go into a deal with a guy who has immense talent/potential but his idea of a workout is to decide which day he has to carry his bags to a plane to fly back to Europe. If any of that information is true, he's going to be a headcase and more of a problem than worth the investment.
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He can go back to Spain for all I care if that’s true.
 
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ralphdaltonfan said:
Have you all heard what Mara and his camp reportedly were demanding from Cronin to stay at UCLA?

He wanted to practice when he felt like it.

He wanted to be able to fly back to Spain when he pleased.

Wanted to be guaranteed minutes/shots, etc.....

Now it's Mick Cronin. I get it. His idea of offense is fouling to an extent that he can pad his rebound total on missed FT's. That being said, there's more to this than talent---and you have to be crystal clear on what is expected/demanded before you go into a deal with a guy who has immense talent/potential but his idea of a workout is to decide which day he has to carry his bags to a plane to fly back to Europe. If any of that information is true, he's going to be a headcase and more of a problem than worth the investment.
Click to expand...
Dang. If true, it's hard to see any coach/program willing to meet those demands.
 
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ralphdaltonfan said:
Have you all heard what Mara and his camp reportedly were demanding from Cronin to stay at UCLA?

He wanted to practice when he felt like it.

He wanted to be able to fly back to Spain when he pleased.

Wanted to be guaranteed minutes/shots, etc.....

Now it's Mick Cronin. I get it. His idea of offense is fouling to an extent that he can pad his rebound total on missed FT's. That being said, there's more to this than talent---and you have to be crystal clear on what is expected/demanded before you go into a deal with a guy who has immense talent/potential but his idea of a workout is to decide which day he has to carry his bags to a plane to fly back to Europe. If any of that information is true, he's going to be a headcase and more of a problem than worth the investment.
Click to expand...

This right here is why Im not gonna lose any sleep over who we do or don’t get in the portal. There is SO MUCH going on behind the scenes… and all the average Raftard sees is a 247 ranking.

Pope has said from day 1 he’s looking for specific traits. Not just rankings, not just “system fits”. Character matters. Work ethic matters. So everybody just relax. We’ll be stacked.
 
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Creed Bratton said:
I haven't watched him play so don't know how much they put the ball in his hands to initiate the offense but he averaged .6 less assist per game than Butler, .5 and more than Demery that a lot of people wanted for next year. Of the final four teams only Walter Clayton (.5), Cooper Flagg (.5) and Milos Uzan (.7) averaged more assist per game. Most teams run an offense that the assist get spread around. Very few have a PG dominated offense where they distribute the ball and rack up assist.
Click to expand...
I never considered Butler to be a high assist guy either. I looked at him as more of a defensive stopper and slasher more than a facilitator. His assist numbers were higher here than he ever had at SDSU, so was his scoring. Butler never averaged double digit scoring until this year. I think at over 19 points per game, Peterson seems like a shoot first point guard. Maybe that's a product of the system he was playing in or the fact he was just the best athlete on the team and had to carry the scoring as well. I'm always for having great scorers, and would welcome him, but I do want a PG that looks to pass and share first before getting his points.
 
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Aday Mara was the centerpiece of the Spain U17 FIBA team that played the US team with Cooper Flagg, Ron Holland, DJ Wagner and Boogie Fland in a really good game in the World Cup championship. I’m kind of surprised he wasn’t more productive at UCLA his first two years. He was a high high level prospect.
 
ralphdaltonfan said:
Have you all heard what Mara and his camp reportedly were demanding from Cronin to stay at UCLA?

He wanted to practice when he felt like it.

He wanted to be able to fly back to Spain when he pleased.

Wanted to be guaranteed minutes/shots, etc.....

Now it's Mick Cronin. I get it. His idea of offense is fouling to an extent that he can pad his rebound total on missed FT's. That being said, there's more to this than talent---and you have to be crystal clear on what is expected/demanded before you go into a deal with a guy who has immense talent/potential but his idea of a workout is to decide which day he has to carry his bags to a plane to fly back to Europe. If any of that information is true, he's going to be a headcase and more of a problem than worth the investment.
Click to expand...
PASS PASS PASS !!!!!!
 
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Creed Bratton said:
I have no idea if we are looking at this kid but he looks to be a good option to me. DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A PAID COACH SO MY OPINION MEANS NOTHING

Quimari Peterson, 6-1, PG, Sr., East Tennessee State

Peterson won SoCon Player of the Year honors after averaging 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists for Brooks Savage and the Bucs, shooting better than 46% from the field, 42% from beyond the arc and 73% from the free throw line. He had 21 or more points in seven of his final eight games.
Click to expand...
Same, I liked his #'s a couple weeks ago. But I trust more when our coaches watch a player's film.
 
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Inlumine said:
Aday Mara was the centerpiece of the Spain U17 FIBA team that played the US team with Cooper Flagg, Ron Holland, DJ Wagner and Boogie Fland in a really good game in the World Cup championship. I’m kind of surprised he wasn’t more productive at UCLA his first two years. He was a high high level prospect.
Click to expand...
Think I read he had some medical stuff this year.
 
trueblujr2 said:
I never considered Butler to be a high assist guy either. I looked at him as more of a defensive stopper and slasher more than a facilitator. His assist numbers were higher here than he ever had at SDSU, so was his scoring. Butler never averaged double digit scoring until this year. I think at over 19 points per game, Peterson seems like a shoot first point guard. Maybe that's a product of the system he was playing in or the fact he was just the best athlete on the team and had to carry the scoring as well. I'm always for having great scorers, and would welcome him, but I do want a PG that looks to pass and share first before getting his points.
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As conference POY, he was clearly the best player on his team, so no surprise he scored a lot. I don't think that is a problem as long as he was efficient, which his stats show he was, AND in talking to him Pope/staff take away that he would play in the team concept.
 
ralphdaltonfan said:
Have you all heard what Mara and his camp reportedly were demanding from Cronin to stay at UCLA?

He wanted to practice when he felt like it.

He wanted to be able to fly back to Spain when he pleased.

Wanted to be guaranteed minutes/shots, etc.....

Now it's Mick Cronin. I get it. His idea of offense is fouling to an extent that he can pad his rebound total on missed FT's. That being said, there's more to this than talent---and you have to be crystal clear on what is expected/demanded before you go into a deal with a guy who has immense talent/potential but his idea of a workout is to decide which day he has to carry his bags to a plane to fly back to Europe. If any of that information is true, he's going to be a headcase and more of a problem than worth the investment.
Click to expand...
Yes on all of it. This is all over the UCLA message boards and they are PO at Mara.
 
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BlueBloodKyFan said:
Yes on all of it. This is all over the UCLA message boards and they are PO at Mara.
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I watched a recap on YouTube where the man sharing the info referenced the UCLA fan site (Bruin Online).

Mara in games I watched was freaky talented but how the hell do you have rounded shoulders when you've been in a CBB program for 2 yrs? Get in the weight room. Get how many distractions there are around UCLA Campus/area--but for all the talk of aspiring to be in the NBA, how do you never lift a finger in the weight room? Pathetic.
 
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Creed Bratton said:
I haven't watched him play so don't know how much they put the ball in his hands to initiate the offense but he averaged .6 less assist per game than Butler, .5 and more than Demery that a lot of people wanted for next year. Of the final four teams only Walter Clayton (.5), Cooper Flagg (.5) and Milos Uzan (.7) averaged more assist per game. Most teams run an offense that the assist get spread around. Very few have a PG dominated offense where they distribute the ball and rack up assist.
Click to expand...

ImTheVillageIdiot said:
I am officially moving up to about a 4 or 5 on the point guard concern level. Hoping there’s still a rabbit to pull out of the hat somewhere.
Click to expand...

JonathanW said:
Same, I liked his #'s a couple weeks ago. But I trust more when our coaches watch a player's film.
Click to expand...

My opinion matter pretty much zilch, but of the PGs I've seen in the portal, I like both Demary from UGA and Pierre from Jax St... love that both have good size for defense, both can get to AND finish at/above the rim, and both are good shooters.

Considering Pope was able to use Jaxson Robinson a serviceable PG combined with the way he built the guys into a brotherhood/team, I like Pope's potential of getting either of these guys to "buy in" to the role of PG. Plus, for those guys, IF they can develop into a standout PG, it also bodes well for their NBA prospects.
 
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JonathanW said:
Think I read he had some medical stuff this year.
Click to expand...
He had upper resp infection. Everything
ralphdaltonfan said:
I watched a recap on YouTube where the man sharing the info referenced the UCLA fan site (Bruin Online).

Mara in games I watched was freaky talented but how the hell do you have rounded shoulders when you've been in a CBB program for 2 yrs? Get in the weight room. Get how many distractions there are around UCLA Campus/area--but for all the talk of aspiring to be in the NBA, how do you never lift a finger in the weight room? Pathetic.
Click to expand...
Correct. They said he was always going back to Spain never conditioned that's another reason why his playing time was limited could play in 5 minute spurts. Came back because he was told the offense would run through him. There's no telling but they are saying Mara is on Instagram saying those are lies about him.
 
ralphdaltonfan said:
Have you all heard what Mara and his camp reportedly were demanding from Cronin to stay at UCLA?

He wanted to practice when he felt like it.

He wanted to be able to fly back to Spain when he pleased.

Wanted to be guaranteed minutes/shots, etc.....

Now it's Mick Cronin. I get it. His idea of offense is fouling to an extent that he can pad his rebound total on missed FT's. That being said, there's more to this than talent---and you have to be crystal clear on what is expected/demanded before you go into a deal with a guy who has immense talent/potential but his idea of a workout is to decide which day he has to carry his bags to a plane to fly back to Europe. If any of that information is true, he's going to be a headcase and more of a problem than worth the investment.
Click to expand...
I much rather have the big from zona that entered, or the Payne kid from A&M that just entered
 
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If there is one thing I am certain about in college basketball it’s that Mick Cronin would absolutely lie about a player to make him look bad and sow discontent and division.

Not saying that’s the case here but I firmly believe Cronin is a petty little shit.
 
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JPFisher said:
Lots of names aren't in the portal yet. More will jump out as coaches move to different schools. I think UK goes after the two Spaniards with a lot of urgency. Can't teach Mara's 7'3 and the court vision that Folgueiras has. Neither of them is the most athletic, but they're skilled and have time to learn a college system and improve their skillsets.

I also think we empty a large portion of the bank for Lendenborg and give him every reason to tell us yes. Look at what we did to Amari in one year. Look how Carr was improving up until he threw his back out.

As far as PG, I'm not convinced our starter is in the portal yet. If he is, I suspect there's a reason we're hearing absolutely nothing. Just about every leaked prospect is getting sniped by programs that are willing to empty the bank on one or two guys.

I don't feel like Pope is willing to have a couple go-to guys that are paid $4 mil. I feel like he wants everyone to be able to contribute, even if it's not as a super star. That prevents things like what happened this season where one or two injuries kneecapped us.

I think we'll be fine. I trust Pope even if we're getting shafted by the portal right now.
Click to expand...
Have we given up on the point guard from Maryland?
 
Jgrass34 said:
Magoon gooned us. Kidding. Can't blame a kid for wanting to stay somewhere he's comfortable. Some kids are just tough to pull away from the west coast. That being said, in my opiniom, Mara is now one of the most coveted big men in the portal. And yes, another west coast guy. Do we transfer all our magoon eggs to the Mara basket?

And any intel whatsoever on what we're gonna do at PG? Alot of names are falling off the list. I know it's still early portal wise. But I would think alot of these kids have had their minds made up a while about entering, and most would have entered by now? However, I'm sure some may consider later due to who their team is gaining/losing in the portal. Pope pulled a rabbit out of his hat in Butler. He was not highly ranked or mentioned much. I'm ok with the same scenario playing out because Butler became my favorite player on this team.
Click to expand...
It's Pierre or bust imo
 
Wonky said:
This right here is why Im not gonna lose any sleep over who we do or don’t get in the portal. There is SO MUCH going on behind the scenes… and all the average Raftard sees is a 247 ranking.

Pope has said from day 1 he’s looking for specific traits. Not just rankings, not just “system fits”. Character matters. Work ethic matters. So everybody just relax. We’ll be stacked.
Click to expand...
Is the Davidson center from Nevada a possibility?
 
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