re: Who we picking at 8?

quote:

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Defensive focus and intensity can be coached.

He has all the tools and has SHOWN the ability to defend at a high level.

I have no doubts Coach Willie can bring out the focus and hunger like he did all of our players last year.

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I agree to a certain point. I think just about anything can be coached. I also have him 9th or 10ish on my board, so I like him a good bit, so please don’t take that the wrong way.

BUT, with that said, if Sean Miller couldn’t get the focus and intensity out of him consistently, and Tommy Lloyd couldn't do it consistently as a Sophomore, it’s a deserving red flag. It’s a lot harder to get a guy to buy in than we make it out to be, and it’s exceptionally even harder than that to keep a guy bought in. Plus, sometimes it’s not always about focus, intensity, or being bought in. Some guys just don’t have it.

Honestly, from the most simplistic point of view, if Mathurin is the player and prospect this board makes him out to be, he will be off the board before we pick anyway, so it’s all kind of irrelevant. We’ll see.