Reason No. 3: Time for Horne to sound
Junior forward must step forward to help UA’s hopes
STREAK FACT: When the UA’s streak began on March 15, 1985, Nebraska’s 10-2 football team was coming off a victory over LSU in the Sugar Bowl. It was the Cornhuskers’ 23rd bowl appearance in school history. They had two national titles (1970 and 1971) at that time. Arizona had only four bowl games in its history before the Wildcats qualified later that year for the 1985 Sun Bowl.
By Javier Morales
Part of me wishes this countdown was over, say about 7-8 months ago when Sean Miller was hired and many people were saying: “26 reasons? Try 260.” But I don’t want the UA to stop in its quest to right its ship and sail toward No. 26, so I’m not about to stop.
When I spoke to Jamelle Horne before the season, he looked at a group of freshmen and a couple of walk-ons horsing around on the McKale Center court and said, “These guys are sooooo young.”
He talked like the elder statesmen, although, in reality, he was as green as the youngsters when it came to being a responsible member of the team. In fact, Arizona basketball is not accustomed to a junior being so inexperienced in a pivotal role.
It’s uncanny how Lute Olson developed his program so one player would not have to carry the load, which is where the Wildcats are perceived to be at today with senior Nic Wise.
Hassan Adams knows what Nic Wise is going through as the lone senior in a lineup with struggling juniors as was the case in Arizona’s 20-13 season in 2005-06Many people argue that Wise is no Jason Terry when it comes to senior leadership. That’s true, partly because Terry had some help. A.J. Bramlett was also a senior in 1998-99.
Hassan Adams was the lone senior starter in the 2005-06 season but he had a couple of credible junior starters — Mustafa Shakur and Ivan Radenovich — to help lighten the load.
That team, which limped to a 20-13 overall record, is the most similar to this one in terms of its struggles because Adams bided his time behind Salim Stoudamire and Channing Frye before acquiring a leadership role as a senior (just like Wise did with Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill). Shakur and Radenovich were also beset by inconsistent performances (as we’ve seen thus far from Horne).
Loren Woods was the only senior starter for the 2001 Final Four team. That team also included talented juniors Richard Jefferson and Michael Wright and the valuable sophomore backcourt combo of Gilbert Arenas and Jason Gardner.
Khalid Reeves was the lone senior in the 1993-94 starting lineup but he was supported by two tough-minded and talented juniors: Damon Stoudamire and Ray Owes, who combined for 31.2 points and 12.6 rebounds a game.
Matt Muehlebach, the radio color commentator for the Cats, can relate to being the only senior in a starting lineup. But when he did so in 1990-91, he also had Chris Mills, Brian Williams and Sean Rooks — all future NBA players — in the lineup with him.
The only starting lineup under Olson with the same classification (one senior, one junior, one sophomore and two freshmen) as this year’s lineup for Miller was the 1985-86 team. John Edgar was the only senior but was not the standout of the team, although he led the Cats with 7.3 rebounds a game. Steve Kerr was the steady junior, averaging 14.4 points a game. Craig McMillan was the sophomore and the freshmen were Sean Elliott and Anthony Cook.
That team won Arizona’s first Pac-10 championship. It also happened to be Olson’s third team at Arizona. Wildcat fans should afford Miller the same amount of time, whether they make the NCAA tournament or not.
The difference in the UA having a successful season or not boils down to Horne and whether he develops into a reliable player. He has shown flashes of good play, such as the 19 points and 13 rebounds he had against Kansas last year. However, Horne scored in double figures only four more times last season and never cracked 20.
He finally broke the 20-point plateau against Louisiana Tech last week, but followed that with a disappointing six-point, five-rebound performance against San Diego State. The way Horne has played makes it more difficult for us to forget his intentional-foul blunder against Alabama-Birmingham last season.
What will it take for Horne to finally turn the corner after 70 games and 40 starts in his career?
- Play within himself. Sounds cliche and corny, but Horne often gets caught up in the moment and launches a three-pointer or becomes dribble-happy when its best to find a better alternative.
- Concentrate his game within 10 feet of the basket and think defense and rebounding before anything else. With his leaping ability, he can become a rebounding and blocked-shot extraordinaire. That, in turn, will get his teammates involved. Many NBA players make their living off A) Rebounding; B) Defense; and then C) Offense. The names Kendrick Perkins of Boston and James Posey of New Orleans immediately come to mind.
- Become a leader through positive reinforcement. How many times have you seen Horne shrug his shoulders or show disdain on his face? Not too often have we seen him get in front of his teammates and clap his hands, slap their backside and lead the charge when things are not going in Arizona’s favor. The same goes for Wise. An in-your-face “Let’s go!” would be a welcome sight from Wise and Horne.
The bottom-line: When things are rough for a team, that team should make things simple. Horne must stick to these basics. He should understand by now how he should play to make the Wildcats a viable candidate for another NCAA tournament appearance.
Miller had this to say in the Pac-10 teleconference this week: “We’re a very mediocre team on a quest to get better. A lot of it will depend on just our daily approach, how hard we work and the improvements some of the young players can make so that when the games take place, they’re more ready to be successful.”
The young players he talks about should include Horne when it comes to the total picture of what Horne has meant to the program before now. It’s about time for the Horne to sound.
THE TWENTY-SIX REASONS WHY UA WILL GET ITS FIX WITH NO. 26:
2. Hint: A Wise move
3. The Horne is sounding; time to work
4. New blood means new hope
5. It’s about time UA got defensive again
6. Finally, some good depth perception
7. No expectations equals focus
8. All’s well that ends well
9. Those closest to Miller on the bench
10. Wise motivations
11. Hill climbing once again
12. Home cooking non-conference style
13. These teams don’t Pac a punch
14. The Fogg will be rolling in
15. A fire is lit under Derrick Williams
16. Players X, Y and Z
17. Don’t tread on McKale Center
18. Re-energized with Miller High Life
19. The Joe Lunardi Factor
20. The New York state of mind
21. Would a marathon runner stop at Mile 25?
22. The Streak Mystique
23. The Olson Presence Factor
24. Not OK with Coach K’s streak
25. Two Wises make for a smart team
26. 2010: The Year We Make Contact
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Tags: Hassan Adams, Jamelle Horne, Nic Wise, Sean Miller
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December 17th, 2009 at 5:57 PM
I have mentioned this before … but -
Imagine the returning players – one senior, one junior and two sophomores – played as if they had some experience … reliable … fundamentals.
Then, the incoming freshmen would have a framework in which to develop and contribute at times. Some would excel – like Williams and Hill.
Horne needs to become a player. He has the potential. But it shouldnt stop at Horne. Nic, Horne, Fogg and even Jacobson need to provide a stable core. I think that would quickly become four plus two (or three, parrom is unknown to some extent at this point).
Millers problem appears two fold.
1) Lots of players with no PT.
2) Players with some experience … just not in Millers system. They are starting over.
… which means two inexperienced groups for two different reasons. That may be part of the reason this team is struggling.
I wonder if it would have been feasable for Miller to create a blended system over the next several years with the goal of ending with his system? Or would that have helped at all.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:01 PM
I agree entirely with Javier’s observations about Horne. However good he thinks he is as a three-point shooter, he’s only ordinary. But he’s not ordinary around the rim. His length, his quickness at the post and his instinct to score make him a factor in any game, even at 6’7″, when matched against other players down low. But when he launches threes, his team loses his rebounding ability altogether. Perhaps this is called “playing within himself,” but I call it common sense, which, in my view, Horne has yet to display.
December 17th, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Couldn’t agree with you more, Jay. With so little height, experienced height, down low, why is it that Horne uses the 3 in his aresnal as his first option That puts the most athletic ‘Cat, the jumper, way out there and helps no one, should there be a miss, on the boards. I’m surprised Miller has let this happen.
Now if Jake and Kyryl develop, and when Parrom returns with that body and aggressiveness that he’s known for, then…BTW, Jay, wasn’t Jake, otherwise known as Tree, a **** coming out of HS? There’s a big kid, an upperclassman who got mentored and tutored by the Miller regime, who comes off the bench at Xavier and plays the exact same role Alex plays on this team. Anyone else happen to get a glimpse of him vs. Cincy last week? The guy is decent – better than decent. If Miller & Co can do the same job on Jacobson, and Kyryl can get his buck instead of Bambi legs underneath him, look out! Until then, Horne is going to have to reign it in and make his shot a compliment to what the overall scheme is.
Anyone else just see Bayless light up…our beloved…Suns? It was classic Bayless vs. Nash to the death, or buzzer. ‘Blazers up one and mere seconds on the clock and Stevie Wonder With the Ball In His Hands Nash draws iron on a jumper…Game over. And let the high fivin’, and JB smile from ear to ear, begin?
Is this a man on rhe way out, Jay? Or, was this another job interview for a ‘Cat with game from St. Mary’s High…in Phoenix?
December 18th, 2009 at 6:05 AM
Javier,
I’ve also noticed Horne expression during the games. That bothers me more than him jacking up the 3′s. A true leader leads through example and attitude. I wish he wouldn’t get so down on himself and the team after EVERY turnover.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:23 AM
Last year there were poison pills on the team. (They played their hearts out – dont get me wrong – just attitudes) Players that felt they had been ‘wronged’. At times I heard things that indicated a degree of bitterness towards the fans even.
Players that werent sure or didnt want to be here … a little bitter. I suspect Budinger and nic were in that category. It never occured to me that Horne may have as well. But there may be an odd situation on the team right now. One group that is excited to be here and another not so much. That would affect team chemistry and possibly at times performance.
Makes me wonder. I mentioned during a game I noticed players on the bench that had hung their heads … Horne was one of those players. (I didnt mention that at the time. But he was staring at the floor. Do players do that?)
I’m going to wait and see how they play after this break and during the start of the conference season. Maybe its nothing.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:43 AM
noone: What you noticed is what many people have seen. A lot of it had to do with the fact they came to Arizona because of Lute Olson (and Josh Pastner to a degree), not because of Kevin O’Neill, Russ Pennell and Mike Dunlap. The fact that Nic was certain that he played his last game against Louisville adds credence to your statement.
During that seven-game winning streak last year, it appeared the team was going back to the feel-good days earlier in the decade. Then that demoralizing and frustrating loss to ASU happened at home. The Cats never seemed to get out of the funk until the NCAA tournament where they were almost relieved to be there and played loose accordingly. Louisville was just too good of a team for Arizona to handle in the Sweet 16. So what you’re getting at is true: A lot of it is about attitude, because Arizona certainly has the talent, especially matched against the teams the Pac-10 has this year.
I like MoMo Jones’ attitude as far as being fearless and always intense. If he was a senior with that attitude, Arizona would be a much better team, in my opinion because the younger players would be obligated to listen to him. They would have that respect for him because he would have paid his dues. However, his statement to Bruce Pascoe recently (I am paraphrasing) that it does not matter if a player is a senior or a freshman — everybody is equal on the team — does not settle well with me. It should matter. Nic Wise should be put on a pedestal above his teammates and he should be a leader.
One of Olson’s trademarks: He put great responsibility on the upperclassmen — it did not matter if it was Justin Wessel or Miles Simon. Olson made it so they were the leaders and the team knew about it and respected it. The Arizona media guide during the Olson years always featured the senior on the team no matter who it was.
Wise and Horne must step forward now and the younger players should look at them as an extension of Miller on the court. Horne and Wise in no way are equal to the nine freshmen and sophomores when it comes to being responsible leaders. That should not even be up for debate.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:34 PM
I feel that last year’s team was a close knit group. I would see them at the mall together all the time. It was not always the same group, sometimes it would be Jordan, Chase and Zane then I would see Jordan, Lavander, Wise, and Chase. I can understand that the situation might have made for some poor attitudes on the court, but away from it the team seemed to get along very well.
As for Wise and Horne taking a more vocal role, I don’t think they have had any true leaders on the team for a while. Maybe McClellan, but before that I would go back to Gardner as the last true leader. Hill and Chase were not in your face kind of guys, so Wise and Horne really don’t have an example of a leader to emulate during the game or in practice. I would think that McClellan would have rubbed off a little on Nic and Horne, but I also relize that they are learning this system just the same as the freshman. Kind of hard to yell at a younger guy on a missed defensive assignment when you are still trying to understand the system yourself.
I remember watching a Duke game years ago when Wojakowski (sp?) was playing at point. They were playing in a tight game and coach K called a time out. When they returned to the game the commentators showed what happened during the break. Coach K never said a word, insted Wojakowski was standing in front of the team screaming them all down for their lack of effort. When he was done Coach K drew up a play and sent them on to the court. After the game they asked him what he told his teamates. He said something like he just reminded them what it said on the front of the jersey they were wearing. We could use that on this team and I would not be upset to see Nic or Horne take over a timeout like that.
December 18th, 2009 at 3:37 PM
JT, I would love to see one of those two take control like that, but I don’t think it will ever happen. I just don’t think they have that innate leadership quality – they weren’t born with it and at this point it’s pretty tough to teach. I am surprised that Miller isn’t noticing this seemingly obvious lack of leadership and getting in Nic’s ear to push him to lead more on the court. Maybe he has, but if that’s the case Nic doesn’t seem to be responding.