Just had a pretty beastly sequence vs. Colorado.

First got an offensive rebound among 3 CU posts, kicked it out for a 3 that was missed but then got that rebound out by the 3 pt line, drove to the basket, spun around a defender and then threw down a dunk over a 6-10 guy.

It'll probably be on the Sportscenter top 10 later. Game is ongoing on ESPNU.

They mentioned "the transfer from Rice" many times throughout the game. He does a lot of things right but still has no offensive game except layups and dunks. When he gets the ball it's just pass and screen with no attempt to score.

I think saying he has no offensive game is incorrect. He doesn't have much offensive initiative which prevents anyone from fully evaluating his offensive skills. He clearly moves very well away from the ball, getting himself open for dunks and layups. We've all seen him drive the length of the floor in a fastbreak situation and weave around quick defenders on the way to the basket. Why he doesn't try the same thing against bigger, slower players as part of the set offense has always mystified me. The few short jumpers I saw him take during his time at Rice, he probably made half (but I saw less than 10, not that I watched even close to all of every game, but it was a rarity).

I watched most of the first half of that game last night. Now that he's on a team that doesn't need him to be a top scorer it's apparent how unselfish a player he really is. His first look after an offensive rebound is to look for the open 3 pt shooter. Of course he may now be coached to do that, but it looked pretty instinctive.

He's a very good team player, clearly helped out Oregon with his rebounding and propensity for getting steals. He's also a good passer in the fast break, and runs through the Oregon half-court offense with good effort.

That being said his jump shot is still very rare.

Kazemi features prominently in the video recap at ESPN.

what a shame

Sorry, I can't view him as someone that I have any reason to care about anymore.

(02-09-2013 01:27 AM)RiceDad Wrote:  Sorry, I can't view him as someone that I have any reason to care about anymore.

Same here.

Are we turning Kazemi into the next Todd Graham?

He's gone, he's not coming back, let's focus on us, not him.

First, I would not go so far as to think that Arsalan is not coming back. I wouldn't be surprised at all if graduates with a Rice degree.

Second, you probably have no idea what he went through last year (and I know nothing about any alleged internal issues).

The taunts that he and Omar endured at road games were simply embarassing but he never reacted. (I personally heard some of the taunts and I spoke with Arsalan after two road games). I'm surprised that the administration at the other schools would allow that sort of conduct at their basketball games. The taunting was very vicious and very, very personal.

He's not without his own issues, and I can't begin to imagine the personal issues he has had to endure. I respect him greatly and I hope he does graduate from Rice.

(02-09-2013 09:52 AM)Houston Owl Wrote:  The taunts that he and Omar endured at road games were simply embarassing but he never reacted. (I personally heard some of the taunts and I spoke with Arsalan after two road games). I'm surprised that the administration at the other schools would allow that sort of conduct at their basketball games. The taunting was very vicious and very, very

I'm not trying to disagree with you, but if it was as bad as you say, then I am surprised that issue wasn't more public during all of the discussions of the hardship waiver. It certainly would have, at least, helped explain why he left. Maybe I wasn't paying attention.

(02-09-2013 09:52 AM)Houston Owl Wrote:  First, I would not go so far as to think that Arsalan is not coming back. I wouldn't be surprised at all if graduates with a Rice degree.
Second, you probably have no idea what he went through last year (and I know nothing about any alleged internal issues).
The taunts that he and Omar endured at road games were simply embarassing but he never reacted. (I personally heard some of the taunts and I spoke with Arsalan after two road games). I'm surprised that the administration at the other schools would allow that sort of conduct at their basketball games. The taunting was very vicious and very, very personal.
He's not without his own issues, and I can't begin to imagine the personal issues he has had to endure. I respect him greatly and I hope he does graduate from Rice.

Is this responding to my post?
Trying to figure out whether, or how, it might relate.

I am interested in hearing how former Owls are doing elsewhere. Thanks, Talon.

How can you possibly compare Kazemi and Toad? Toad left of his own volition after one year and after stringing Rice along and calling Rice his dream job. Kazemi played his guts out for 3 years and left after half his teammates transferred and he was allegedly insulted multiple times on the basis of his national origin by someone within the athletic department.

If Kazemi had transferred after 1 year for Oregon, I'd feel differently. That's why I don't particularly care about Ennis and Reischel (though I certainly do not wish anything bad upon them).

Who's comparing Kazemi and Toad?

I'm talking about OUR reaction, not them.

(02-09-2013 09:52 AM)Houston Owl Wrote:  The taunts that he and Omar endured at road games were simply embarassing but he never reacted.

Are you implying that they picked Oregon and USC because their road crowds will be less bigoted than the CUSA and TCU/TAMU/UT road crowds?

If crowd behavior had anything to do with their transfer decisions, why did they wait so long to transfer? Multiple years and into the fall semester in both cases.

(02-09-2013 04:51 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(02-09-2013 09:52 AM)Houston Owl Wrote:  The taunts that he and Omar endured at road games were simply embarassing but he never reacted.

Are you implying that they picked Oregon and USC because their road crowds will be less bigoted than the CUSA and TCU/TAMU/UT road crowds?

If crowd behavior had anything to do with their transfer decisions, why did they wait so long to transfer? Multiple years and into the fall semester in both cases.

The fall semester transfer could be explained by Visa concerns. If they announced they were not returning to Rice, they may never have been able to return to the country... I think companies sponsor visas for employees and if the employee quits, they pretty much have to leave the country.

If Kazemi plays three years here and looks like a second round pick, then transfers to Oregon and becomes a first rounder, then it will be harder to keep top talent on campus next time. If he went to Oregon and rode the bench all year, then it would be easier to keep talent here on campus.

I think it's a benchmark of where the program could be if it weren't sunk by our AD. I still view Kazemi and Omar differently than other players who may have transferred, as Kazemi gave us a lot to cheer for over the years and put out a great effort every game. In spite of comments that he was recruited to Kentucky while he was at Rice, I am sympathetic to his decision to leave, based on the rumors.

I appreciate seeing updates about him for those reasons. After this season, then I don't expect to hear much...

(02-09-2013 09:06 PM)I45owl Wrote:  I think it's a benchmark of where the program could be if it weren't sunk by our AD.

Three questions:

1. Do you blame Greenspan for all of the transfers or just Kazemi and Oraby?

2. Did they leave because of Greenspan directly, or indirectly in the sense that his remarks facilitated the waivers?

3. Do you think that Greenspan privately is happy that the Arab and the Persian are off the team?

(02-09-2013 10:17 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(02-09-2013 09:06 PM)I45owl Wrote:  I think it's a benchmark of where the program could be if it weren't sunk by our AD.

hen taht

Three questions:

1. Do you blame Greenspan for all of the transfers or just Kazemi and Oraby?

2. Did they leave because of Greenspan directly, or indirectly in the sense that his remarks facilitated the waivers?

3. Do you think that Greenspan privately is happy that the Arab and the Persian are off the team?

I have no reason to blame Greenspan for those.

I can't answer the second question (I suspect the latte, though, even if I wouldn't say that is indirectly) and have no reason to care about the third. I hope he cares that things are currently a disaster, even if it is of his own making. If he doesn't then that is a far worse situation.

(02-09-2013 10:46 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(02-09-2013 10:17 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(02-09-2013 09:06 PM)I45owl Wrote:  I think it's a benchmark of where the program could be if it weren't sunk by our AD.

hen taht

Three questions:

1. Do you blame Greenspan for all of the transfers or just Kazemi and Oraby?

2. Did they leave because of Greenspan directly, or indirectly in the sense that his remarks facilitated the waivers?

3. Do you think that Greenspan privately is happy that the Arab and the Persian are off the team?

I have no reason to blame Greenspan for those.

I can't answer the second question (I suspect the latte, though, even if I wouldn't say that is indirectly) and have no reason to care about the third. I hope he cares that things are currently a disaster, even if it is of his own making. If he doesn't then that is a far worse situation.

I suspected a latte once. Turns out it was the cappuccino all along. GREENSPAN!!

Wow. AK filled up the box score tonight for the #19 Ducks over Utah; no one else even came close on cross-the-board stats: 11 points, 14 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks, 0 assists, and 1 fuming former AD. Nobody else on either team even had a perturbed or mildly-annoyed former AD. Easily a 1st round pick for any NBA team looking to infuriate its old GM.