Uh-oh Eric Mika setting his bar high!

I hope he can do it!

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsbyusports/57025671-65/mika-guys-think-byu.html.csp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"I have goals to average a double-double and then to be the WCC newcomer of the year and to make the all-WCC team. But more important to me is the team goal of winning our conference and getting deep into the tournament,"

[Mika] said.

No press conference at Iggy's?



Then I'm okay with setting your sights high.

That seems like the proper bar height to me. Wouldn't be happy if he said he wanted to score 5-10 a night with 4-5 rebounds and was satisfied backing up the upper classmen , learning from them and just doing what the team needs.

The double digit rebounds is going to be tough. Young bigs usually have foul trouble.

Remember these are goals, not guarantees. Everyone should be setting goals that are possible but not easy. These look great to me.

Like the attitude. Hope he puts the work in to accomplish it.



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I love it when people don't let others expectations hold them back and set their goals high, with the understanding that it's going to take hard work and determination to get to them. I hope Mika has the work ethic to see these goals come to fruition.

This kid is going to be an animal. Oh and Craigo or Spiff is going to owe some lunch after he leads the team in rebounding this season!

mizzoucoug wrote:
This kid is going to be an animal. Oh and Craigo or Spiff is going to owe some lunch after he leads the team in rebounding this season!

Hey I'm in on this too! Don't forget my free future lunch Spiff will be buying! Someone else is taking the bet too... I'll have to pull up the thread to see who it is...

BlueIsBetter wrote:

This kid is going to be an animal. Oh and Craigo or Spiff is going to owe some lunch after he leads the team in rebounding this season!

Hey I'm in on this too! Don't forget my free future lunch Spiff will be buying! Someone else is taking the bet too... I'll have to pull up the thread to see who it is...

I was in on the bet, guaranteeing for BYU Mika would outscore and out rebound Brandon Davies this year. I had a few suckers take the bet before they realized what they were doing. I'm ready for my burger from JCW. ;)

Heaven forbid he have goals. Has Cougar nation been Heap-I-fied? I should have been in on the bet bc I had the nerve to speculate that on the strength of Mika, LP would give Last years team, when they were sucking air, a tough game. Rediculous and absurd, I know. But Mika has game and will at least be in contention for newcomer of the year. Naysayers who are afraid to go all out, go away.

mizzoucoug wrote:
This kid is going to be an animal. Oh and Craigo or Spiff is going to owe some lunch after he leads the team in rebounding this season!

I'm confused. I have been saying Mika was a beast and one of the biggest recruits in BYU history before he even set foot at Lone Peak, and blueisbetter was saying that Mika as a freshman would be better than Davies was last year (though I disagree there, I think Mika will have some growing pains). But we've both been very consistent in saying that Mika is solid and an amazing get by BYU.

craigoscarson wrote:

This kid is going to be an animal. Oh and Craigo or Spiff is going to owe some lunch after he leads the team in rebounding this season!

I'm confused. I have been saying Mika was a beast and one of the biggest recruits in BYU history before he even set foot at Lone Peak, and blueisbetter was saying that Mika as a freshman would be better than Davies was last year (though I disagree there, I think Mika will have some growing pains). But we've both been very consistent in saying that Mika is solid and an amazing get by BYU.

He'll be better in certain categories... those being rebounds both offensive and defensive, second chance points, and I think he will probably have more blocks (though points and blocks aren't part of the bet). He will also have less fouls guarding shooting guards around the 3 point line, or trying to poke the ball out from a guard on the other end of the court on defense. ;)

craigoscarson wrote:

This kid is going to be an animal. Oh and Craigo or Spiff is going to owe some lunch after he leads the team in rebounding this season!

I'm confused. I have been saying Mika was a beast and one of the biggest recruits in BYU history before he even set foot at Lone Peak, and blueisbetter was saying that Mika as a freshman would be better than Davies was last year (though I disagree there, I think Mika will have some growing pains). But we've both been very consistent in saying that Mika is solid and an amazing get by BYU.

I'll need to resurrect the thread where the challenge was put out about whether or not Mika would exceed our past centers' rebounding production in his freshman year. My answer was "yes, he will." I guess it wasn't you then...

mizzoucoug wrote:

mizzoucoug wrote:
This kid is going to be an animal. Oh and Craigo or Spiff is going to owe some lunch after he leads the team in rebounding this season!

I'm confused. I have been saying Mika was a beast and one of the biggest recruits in BYU history before he even set foot at Lone Peak, and blueisbetter was saying that Mika as a freshman would be better than Davies was last year (though I disagree there, I think Mika will have some growing pains). But we've both been very consistent in saying that Mika is solid and an amazing get by BYU.

I'll need to resurrect the thread where the challenge was put out about whether or not Mika would exceed our past centers' rebounding production in his freshman year. My answer was "yes, he will." I guess it wasn't you then...

Could have been, I'll take that bet for kicks anyhow. If I took that challenge, it would appear that I could be wrong. Will be fun to find out.

I still believe Mika will be in foul trouble too often to set any high rebounding marks.

Qman wrote:
I still believe Mika will be in foul trouble too often to set any high rebounding marks.

You might be right. I may have been wrong. So many expectations and national attention in HS. He seems tight and lost, foul prone and maybe too weak at his base to play the five. Might be better at the four.

Worthington looked stronger/better on D. But too early to tell. We'll know more in a few games.

Cougs_Rule wrote:

I still believe Mika will be in foul trouble too often to set any high rebounding marks.

You might be right. I may have been wrong. So many expectations and national attention in HS. He seems tight and lost, foul prone and maybe too weak at his base to play the five. Might be better at the four.

Worthington looked stronger/better on D. But too early to tell. We'll know more in a few games.

Mika looked a little tense and I could tell he took it personally when that 6'6" center from the other team scored on him a couple of times. I like the anger, but he has to convert it to smart play not brute force.



I also dont' think Mika has any problem with strength. In fact I think he's afraid to use it 1. Because you could have breathed on the others teams big men and they would have fallen over (think 6'6" Nate Austins) 2. The refs were whistle happy



AMAZING:

I wish I would go back and pull the video where Skyler Halford stole the ball and went down court on a fast break because Mika outran everyone to the hoop and Halford either didn't see him or wanted to score himself... Mika with a pass or oop there would have torn down the backboard. Davies was good at running the court, but nowhere as good as Worthington and Mika... especially Mika. He's a freak and the closest thing BYU will ever have to Blake Griffin.



When the game catches up with the body... this kid is going to be amazing. (and after his mission and 2 years for that body to mature? get out of here....)



He'll still get in foul trouble this year and BYU should be advised not to bother having him post up and create his own shot (not ready and doesn't think about the pass) but as a garbage man that can put back shots, play defense, and rebound, he's going to be just fine... and opposing teams are going to tear their hair out trying to cover him on the fast break.

Great points. Yes, Halford missed a huge opportunity with that that fast break. It would have brought the house down.

I would think Getting Mika in space and not posting up ought to suit Coach Rose just fine. In fact Anae could set the offensive philosophy with this hoops team and talent. I know BYU will need half court sets, but this team finally has enough athleticism and speed to feed Dave Rose's addiction to running the floor. I LOVE IT!!! Run on Cougars!!

I noticed Halford's "I am not going to pass the ball" play too. I was pretty surprised he didn't pass it. It would have been a easy lob. Much easier than the layup he attempted.



It seems like when talented bigs move up a level of basketball even if they have the physical tools it takes a while before they learn what kinds of pushing are acceptable.



I think Rose feels like he needs to enter the ball into the post as a part of his ball movement. That works when you have bigs who are ready and able to move the ball to the next spot. But Worthington and Mika have a long ways to go as passers.