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Maybe Big Z Comes Back?

For everything he does offensively he gives up a significant amount on defense. While I’m not gonna root against his success, I think the way it worked out is best.
He’s not gonna switch onto guards at the top of the arc and look good. That’s why Cal being his coach is such a bad fit. Some guys who can help your team, you have to unfortunately hide defensively. Cals too stubborn or stupid to do that.
 
I believe his brother is better
He’s not more skilled than Z, but yeah, his brother certainly is doing a LOT better in terms of statistics and playing time …and for a better team.

So it’s easy to see why Z would be interested in Illinois. The place had worked out damn well for his bro.
 
I can understand if Pope wants to stay away from Cal players due to the PR.
But Z would fit perfectly into Pope’s offense, and it was clear last year Cal is trying to insert square peg into round hole with how he wants Z to play.
 
Arkansas boards already saying he's heading to Illinois
Probably a good move. Go team up with Antigua so is a familiar connection but with a better coaching staff that is willing to put in work.

There is a reason OA didn’t follow Cal and tried to stay in Lexington and it wasn’t only bc he and his wife were happy in Lex.
 
I can understand if Pope wants to stay away from Cal players due to the PR.
But Z would fit perfectly into Pope’s offense, and it was clear last year Cal is trying to insert square peg into round hole with how he wants Z to play.
Just check out Garrison in Pope’s system as an example.

At OSU, Garrison averaged 2.6 assists per 40.

This year, he is averaging 5.3 assists per 40. That’s a huge number for a center.
 
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Totally agree. The kid is 7-2 & he can shoot from the perimeter, handle the ball well enough to lead fast breaks & is a slick passer. Guys like that don’t grow on trees. He’s a borderline unicorn, with his size & skill level.

And, Pope is the ideal coach for him at the college level, IMO. Not only bc he was a big man himself & his offense is tailor made for skilled bigs. But, I think he also needs a coach with Pope’s demeanor as opposed to the raving lunatic he’s stuck with, now. I think Z would absolutely flourish in Pope’s system.

But, regardless, I think Z is gonna be a major problem when everything finally clicks for him. Or, when the right coach can bring it out of him. He’s basically a lottery ticket that will be a MASSIVE payoff for somebody, eventually, IMO.
This ! ... and I dont see why people dont get it . Yes he struggles in Cals 1986 system , it play directly to his weaknesses and hides his strengths . He will be great in the proper system .. like Mark Pope's !
 
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as far as being soft , yes , hes always going to be a finesse player , go get a brute to hold down the paint , he's really not a 5 , hes a huge great passing , great shooting 4 . Quit viewing him as Shaq and you might get it in your head hes not a power player .
 
Sorry I offended you. He's shooting 43% from the 3 point line (best on the team). Maybe a real coach could bring out the best in him...just sayin'.
Agree. The kid looked at Cal as a father figure, but under Pope he could be an offensive weapon, quite possibly. He can’t play a lick of defense but he sure can shoot it.
 
The fan base went to great lengths to help him try to get eligible, his allegiance was to Cal and now it looks like he will be leaving Arkansas too according to their fans. He had his chance here, playing at Kentucky is a privilege he didn't appreciate or understand.
 
Agree. The kid looked at Cal as a father figure, but under Pope he could be an offensive weapon, quite possibly. He can’t play a lick of defense but he sure can shoot it.
That’s not true .He didn’t look at Cal as a “father figure “ . He just did what his handlers told him to do .
 
He seems immature really. I mean this is a kid with millions of dollars and a career ahead of him. How do you show back up to campus looking exactly the same as the year before? Mind blowing.
Maybe being a pro isn’t important to him or he knows he can play euro style the exact way he is IDK.
 
He seems immature really. I mean this is a kid with millions of dollars and a career ahead of him. How do you show back up to campus looking exactly the same as the year before? Mind blowing.
He absolutely is . Someone that has been around him a lot once told me, “he’s kind of a goofy kid” .
 
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