Pitino To Onuaku: "The Onus Is On You."

[shadow force]

Pitino told the Courier-Journal's Jeff Greer that
Onuaku hasn't blocked a shot, gotten an offensive rebound or made a put
back in the last two games. He has been quick to remind Onuaku of the
deficiencies as well.

"Effort-wise, he's playing about 60 percent of the game," said Pitino.
"When you're 6-10, 250 pounds and you're not a scorer, if you don't
block shots and get offensive rebounds, then what good are you? So I
said, 'If you don't step up and do this, then we're going to get knocked
out. The onus is on you. I don't need you to score - I need to get
scoring off offensive rebounds, and I need you to block shots.'"

Onuaku

 

[Cue Card]

Originally posted by shadow force:
Pitino told the Courier-Journal's Jeff Greer that
Onuaku hasn't blocked a shot, gotten an offensive rebound or made a put
back in the last two games. He has been quick to remind Onuaku of the
deficiencies as well.

"Effort-wise, he's playing about 60 percent of the game," said Pitino.
"When you're 6-10, 250 pounds and you're not a scorer, if you don't
block shots and get offensive rebounds, then what good are you? So I
said, 'If you don't step up and do this, then we're going to get knocked
out. The onus is on you. I don't need you to score - I need to get
scoring off offensive rebounds, and I need you to block shots.'"

Well it's true and Pitino is using the press to get the message delivered to his best option at center. I've never really been all that crazy about that tactic (please don't attack me ACCCard over that comment about Pitino), but he's done that for decades now so it's just who he is.

 

[jmac1029]

If this is the case, we done.

 

[Cue Card]

Originally posted by jmac1029:
If this is the case, we done.

Maybe. It's been a solid year regardless. I would love to see the Cards make an improbable run and they just might, but the truth is the season was solid no matter what with what we had, what we had to deal with, and what we have left. The team can't lose more than 1 more time and the loss count for the season will still be in the single digits. Any year you can avoid losing 10 or more is a good year.

 

[earsky]

I think that's it in a nutshell.Garbage putbacks and being a presence inside defensively.The last one may be the biggest one.NC basically was having a lay up drill in the second half.Onuaku has to be there and protect the rim.

 

[Rob_deVille]

So expect Onuaku to foul out of the game(s)...

 

[Count Des Moine]

Those big guys for UL aren't mean enough. If they are not going to be scorers, they should aspire to be the enforcer types around the basket that all the other teams hate. A little bit of Oakley, Mason, Lambier, etc. I know a lot of years those were double-double guys so they don't compare to UL's bigs, but they were MEAN, which contributed to those numbers.

 

[earsky]

Originally posted by Rob_deVille:
So expect Onuaku to foul out of the game(s)...

That's pretty much a given,but his fouls don't come trying to block shots,they're of the variety of being out of position when guys put it on the floor or moving screens.If he's getting them being aggressive at the rim,I'm cool with that.

 

[earsky]

Originally posted by Count Des Moine:
Those big guys for UL aren't mean enough. If they are not going to be scorers, they should aspire to be the enforcer types around the basket that all the other teams hate. A little bit of Oakley, Mason, Lambier, etc. I know a lot of years those were double-double guys so they don't compare to UL's bigs, but they were MEAN, which contributed to those numbers.

Teams are not intimidated going inside against our bigs,that is true.Can it change overnight,I don't know.

They have to become a better defensive presence inside.Can't allow teams to boogie on thru(stealing a line from Warriors) and have their way.

 

[silver52]

That player from Egypt, I don't know his name, is one of the most timid guy I have seen play the game. He practically gets out of the way when an opponent comes in his direction.

 

[Count Des Moine]

Originally posted by earsky:

Originally posted by Count Des Moine:
Those big guys for UL aren't mean enough. If they are not going to be scorers, they should aspire to be the enforcer types around the basket that all the other teams hate. A little bit of Oakley, Mason, Lambier, etc. I know a lot of years those were double-double guys so they don't compare to UL's bigs, but they were MEAN, which contributed to those numbers.

Teams are not intimidated going inside against our bigs,that is true.Can it change overnight,I don't know.

They have to become a better defensive presence inside.Can't allow teams to boogie on thru(stealing a line from Warriors) and have their way.

Excellent reference! My reply to that is the big guys need to stop acting like The Orphans. I don't think it can be changed overnight, but with their size surely something can be done. I would have them watching video of the old school rim protectors during the off season and really emphasize the toughness aspect of their game.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Hopefully Nanu responds.

They can't throw him the ball unless he's right at the rim. He'll get better.

 

[Knucklehank1]

Originally posted by silver52:
That player from Egypt, I don't know his name, is one of the most timid guy I have seen play the game. He practically gets out of the way when an opponent comes in his direction.

You really don't know his name?

 

[silver52]

Originally posted by Knucklehank1:

Originally posted by silver52:
That player from Egypt, I don't know his name, is one of the most timid guy I have seen play the game. He practically gets out of the way when an opponent comes in his direction.

You really don't know his name?

That"s right and I don't know the names of the other two guys or how to spell the names of all three of them. All I know is they're big and have not been very good.

 

[WhatMeWorry]

Trolls don't know the names.

 

[Louisville JD]

In our zone offense will TREZ roam the elbows up high because he Can nail the foul line area jumper or drive and Nanu/Mango down line where touches are minimal and offensive rebounding their main goal? I can see it helping the half court offense efficiency!

 

[silver52]

Originally posted by WhatMeWorry:
Trolls don't know the names.

Brilliant response. Accusing someone of being a troll is always a good reply when you don't have anything else to say. Good thinking, pardner.

 

[jldown05]

His name is Anas Momoud. (may have miss spelled) But to the point of moving out of the way, he is light framed at the moment. He also guards a lot like some European players I've seen. He tries to stay out of the way and block as the ball is going up. He also sometimes blocks the ball into the backboard. This is ok to do in the pros but in Ncaa, it seems at least, that this is always called goal tending.

 

[shadow force]

Definitely a message and motivation tactic for Onuaku. Let's see what his response is. It does sound like a lot of pressure to put on a freshman, but maybe it will have the desired effect.

 

[Cue Card]

Originally posted by silver52:
That player from Egypt, I don't know his name, is one of the most timid guy I have seen play the game. He practically gets out of the way when an opponent comes in his direction.

His name is Anas Mahmoud and once he gets some weight and muscle added to his frame, he will be a tough match up. Eventually I think he will slide over to the 4 spot and be a seriously tall stretch 4 since he doesn't seem to like the contact much. You can tell by watching him he has skills. You're right about him being timid. It's because he is from Egypt and they play a more finesse style of basketball there. He'll learn, he'll get stronger and less timid, and he'll be much better once that happens.

He has one thing no coach can teach. He's tall. REAL tall. Pitino turned Nazir Mahammad into a NBA player and he was further behind in his development as a player at this same juncture in his career. Nazir played a total of 88 minutes and scored a total of 37 points as a freshman for Pitino.

 

[earsky]

Originally posted by Count Des Moine:

Originally posted by earsky:

Originally posted by Count Des Moine:
Those big guys for UL aren't mean enough. If they are not going to be scorers, they should aspire to be the enforcer types around the basket that all the other teams hate. A little bit of Oakley, Mason, Lambier, etc. I know a lot of years those were double-double guys so they don't compare to UL's bigs, but they were MEAN, which contributed to those numbers.

Teams are not intimidated going inside against our bigs,that is true.Can it change overnight,I don't know.

They have to become a better defensive presence inside.Can't allow teams to boogie on thru(stealing a line from Warriors) and have their way.

Excellent reference! My reply to that is the big guys need to stop acting like The Orphans. I don't think it can be changed overnight, but with their size surely something can be done. I would have them watching video of the old school rim protectors during the off season and really emphasize the toughness aspect of their game.

Ha ha!! We rumble anyway.Can you digggggg it?

 

[zipp]

Watching Onuaku wolfing down chicken fingers or potato wedges in the locker room right after the Carolina game, I could only think

...

 

[No.1Cardfan]

Originally posted by zipp:
Watching Onuaku wolfing down chicken fingers or potato wedges in the locker room right after the Carolina game, I could only think

 

[beakwithteeth]

Originally posted by Count Des Moine:

Originally posted by earsky:

Originally posted by Count Des Moine:
Those big guys for UL aren't mean enough. If they are not going to be scorers, they should aspire to be the enforcer types around the basket that all the other teams hate. A little bit of Oakley, Mason, Lambier, etc. I know a lot of years those were double-double guys so they don't compare to UL's bigs, but they were MEAN, which contributed to those numbers.

Teams are not intimidated going inside against our bigs,that is true.Can it change overnight,I don't know.

They have to become a better defensive presence inside.Can't allow teams to boogie on thru(stealing a line from Warriors) and have their way.

Excellent reference! My reply to that is the big guys need to stop acting like The Orphans. I don't think it can be changed overnight, but with their size surely something can be done. I would have them watching video of the old school rim protectors during the off season and really emphasize the toughness aspect of their game.[/QUOTE]Ha ha!! We rumble anyway.Can you digggggg it?


" Is everybody packing?"... We should "take them out to the sand."

Great old flick

 

[WKCard]

Would love to see some "tremendous upside" from Onuaku tonight.

 

[beakwithteeth]

I'm getting confused...Is Onus guarding Onuaku or is On You? If it's On You, then who's guarding Onus?

bwt