Lucas with the lid on?

by JL Blue on Jun 2, 2007 1:24 PM EDT in Basketball Comment 17 comments

No movement on the Jai Lucas front yet, as all signs point toward Lucas waiting to meet the next Florida coach -- likely former top assistant and current Virginia Commonwealth head coach Anthony Grant -- before making any decision.

FOXSports.com's Jeff Goodman writes in his blog:

Florida signee Jai Lucas, who inked a letter-of-intent towards the end of the spring signing period with the Gators, will take things slow, according to his father, John Lucas. ... The former NBA player/coach told FOXSports.com that there was an agreement in place that if Donovan left for the NBA, Lucas would be allowed out his letter.

Florida AD Jeremy Foley, whose lovefest with national sports columnists is bordering on the absurd, has stated that he would let signees out of their LOIs, but only after meeting with a new coach.

Regardless, it all reminds one of this scenario, so eloquently debated in these pages some time back.

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Take Things Slow

"Florida signee Jai Lucas, who inked a letter-of-intent towards the end of the spring signing period with the Gators, will take things slow, according to his father, John Lucas. ..."

Take things slow, that is a real suprise! Does he require another 2 years to make up his mind? If he does not remain at FU Jai will collect S.S. before he enters college to play basketball.

by lccat on Jun 2, 2007 3:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If he wants to go he will be allowed to go

Lucas will not be held at Florida. If he wants to leave due to the coaching change, and joins his friend P-Pat at UK, he will go with the well-wishes of Gator Nation. That is how we do things at Florida.

The latest words outta his mouth seem to indicate he'll stay, but I think it's 50-50 either way. I think once he meets Anthony Grant he'll want to stay. He may not yet understand the role Grant played in the last decade to build Florida basketball. Among other things, Grant identified, recruited, and developed Al Horford and Joakim Noah... both guaranteed 1st round NBA picks. If Lucas wants to exceed his Webster-like height status and become a legitimate pro prospect, Florida's the right place for him. On the flip side, I'm sure Gillispie could do a nice job too.

Orange & Blue Hue http://www.orangeandbluehue.com

by Gatorpilot on Jun 2, 2007 4:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not bold prediction

I happen to think that he will stay at Florida.

Grant's M.O. as I remember it was as a super-recruiter, the guy who helped get the core of the two-time NCAA champs.

Something tells me that unless Lucas really wants OUT of his LOI, he'll opt to stay and play for Grant, assuming Grant is the pick.

The Online home of Big Blue Nation ...

by JL Blue on Jun 2, 2007 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where do you get this stuff?

I attended most of UF's home games last year. If those games weren't sellouts, then I don't know what is... because that arena (which by the way is far louder and more intimidating than Rupp) was packed to the gills.

This "lack of interest" thing is perpetuated by people who obviously have no clue just how big basketball is in Gainesville.

Orange & Blue Hue http://www.orangeandbluehue.com

by Gatorpilot on Jun 2, 2007 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, right...

Unfortunately for you, I actually do attend games both home and away and I know you're full of it when you insinuate that Florida doesn't have tons of home fan support.

Rupp is big, but it's quiet. We all know that. Don't try to pretend otherwise. I believe one of your players even made a comment to that effect in the past year or two.

We don't travel as well for basketball as does the Big Blue Nation, but who does? Besides, I don't know if it's possible for a two-sport school to travel well in both sports. I confess I have been to far more away football games than basketball. It is expensive and time-consuming, and at some point you have to accept that your whole life can't revolve around following your team -- fun as that might be.

I'm afraid that while you're desperately hoping the "lightning in a bottle" concept applies, it is far from being a reality. Top recruiting class, another great coach coming in... like it or not, Florida is a member of the hoops elite fraternity now. You can stomp your feet and shout as much as you like, pretending it's not true, but no one is paying attention.

We're coming off of back to back national titles. We're sure to get another rising star for a coach rather than a drunk re-tread. Remember our motto, sir: "Championships... it's what we do."

Orange & Blue Hue http://www.orangeandbluehue.com

by Gatorpilot on Jun 3, 2007 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

drunk retread?

you know bob huggins went to west virginia, right?

and as for selling out your home games last year, espn's own pat forde mentioned a couple times in articles that UF only sold out 1 non-conference home game (vs. OSU).

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on Jun 3, 2007 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Calling Anthony Grant ....

A great coach is a going over the top. One year at a CAA school, and beating a weak Duke team doesnt make you a great coach. Good recruiter, maybe, but last time I checked the 04's weren't Mcdonalds All americans or anything.

by tiger85 on Jun 3, 2007 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uncalled for...

Drunk retread?

We may be, heck we ARE, obstinate, spoiled brats, but Eustachy is not walking that door.

The Online home of Big Blue Nation ...

by JL Blue on Jun 3, 2007 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Drunk re-tread"?

This is the sort of nonsense I would normally associate with a Louisville fan.

Did you wish to jump into the muck with them, or did your passion momentarily overcome your reason?

by Truzenzuzex on Jun 4, 2007 8:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stay?

No matter what your first impression is, would you want to put your career in the hands of a 2nd year coach you have only just met for the first time? Not me. In all honesty, if Jai wants the safest bet for playing time, I think he should stay at Florida. Having said that, I hope his man crush on Patterson is enough to bring him to the Blue and White.

by T Svoboda on Jun 2, 2007 5:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Florida

First I think it way too early for either UF or UK fans to make the call about Florida being a member of the basketball elite. UF hasnt yet sunk back into obscurity so as UK fans we cant yet call them an Arkansas but UF fans shouldnt go spouting off about being the next Duke. Until you prove you can win again without that 04 class you arent yet a basketball powerhouse you had a great team.

Also Rupp is really quite and it pisses me off. Rupp gets up for the big games but most of the time the old folks down front are just sitting on their hands. Part of the problem is the money the goes into buying those seats. There isnt enough student seating in Rupp to make it really rock unless its a really important game and the old people get off their butts. The 03 UF game when Florida came in ranked #1 in the country and left with a butt whooping was abolutley the loudest game I have ever been to. The stands were litteraly shaking from all the students jumping around.

by davw83 on Jun 4, 2007 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's hard to compare...

the fan support during the Tubby era. I think he really took the fans out of it by not being very personable with the media. It's like he was working for the CIA with his vague answers and redirects, maybe Tubby should run for President, he sure knows how to evade the media.

by blueblood on Jun 4, 2007 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lucas

I forgot to add my thought about Lucas.

There is definitley more playing time at UF but if you wanted to go with a coach that is a proven point guard developer you go with Billy G. Acie Law and Deron Williams. Enough said. Grant developed Noah and Horford, two power forwards. That argument doesnt make much sense.

by davw83 on Jun 4, 2007 11:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Compare

I dont see how Tubby's relationship with the media affects the noise in Rupp at all.

by davw83 on Jun 4, 2007 12:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

his demeanor in interviews ...

is sullen and unimpressive to say the least. That is only when he actually gives an interview. Since interviews and Press Conferences are the fans' only chance to get to know a coach on a personal level (which most UK fans want), his demeanor in interviews is what most fans will "see" as his personality, which is the intial effecation. The second effacation is that his teams just haven't played a very exciting style of basketball. Which would also not lean the fans to get into the game very much.

Also, fans over the last few years have been going to Rupp without the confidence of knowing whether the "good Cats or the "bad Cats" are gonna step out on the floor, which makes the fans be a little hesistant to get into the game.

I'd say that has a lot to do with how the fans react in Rupp.

by blueblood on Jun 4, 2007 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tubby

I agree with you about his teams style of play affecting the crowd but I completely disagree with you about his relatisonhip with the media. I just dont think that that has any bearing come game time as the vast majority of fans who attend games arent like you and me and dont pay much attention to whats going on.

I argue that the people who own the good seats are the primary problem and as that is not changing becuase the world just doesnt work that way Rupp will be quiter than such a hallowed basketball mecca should be.

by davw83 on Jun 4, 2007 3:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't disagree..

with the stuffed shirts in the good seats theory... I'm sure that they aren't as vocal as an expanded student section would be. Also, commercialization is, IMO, far past an acceptable level. I would really like to see the world shift back to holding people responsible for their actions and placing the moral importance on their actions over how deep their pockets are, but this isn't the place for that discussion as we both know.

I will, however, stick with my thought that Tubby's personality didn't lend itself to promoting a charged fan base. I really couldn't sit through his press conferences. I tried to make myself watch some of the ones that were available on UKathletics.com. I really wanted to try to understand what he was doing over the last few years. I wanted to believe that he had a plan. I just couldn't see it. Hell, I couldn't even stay interested in what he was saying, much less follow his train of thought. If you don't believe in your leader, then you won't have much confidence in the job he is doing and you won't be that excited about it. Once again, this is just my opinion, and that isn't worth much.

by blueblood on Jun 4, 2007 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs