Is Luka Getting Too Cocky?

MelroseHawkins

MelroseHawkins

Well-Known Member
Don't get me wrong. I like the intensity if it's genuine. It's just different than how he previously carried himself. Jo Bo is one to work the opposing fans or get under their skin a bit, but Garza has always been the steady Eddy that just worked hard and let his play do the talking.

Kisses and Muscles

In the past few games, we now see Garza throwing kisses to the opposing fans and muscle flexing to fans and the opposing bench. Is this good or does he need to try to tone it down just a bit? Is he straddling that fine line from showing emotion and passion vs thug behavior? My only concern is that now and going forward he's going to have many eyes on him nationally which will increase as the season goes. He's being mentioned during blue blood games being telecast about him as a Player of The Year candidate. People will tune in to watch him to see what he is all about. I'd hate for them to think of him as a thug player, like a Mich St. player, since we all know he is not that way, but compassionate and hard working.

I like his intensity, but just wondering if he's getting to the point of crossing the line a bit? Can he play well as the villain similar to Jo Bo or could it be detrimental to his game?
 
MelroseHawkins said:
Don't get me wrong. I like the intensity if it's genuine. It's just different than how he previously carried himself. Jo Bo is one to work the opposing fans or get under their skin a bit, but Garza has always been the steady Eddy that just worked hard and let his play do the talking.

Kisses and Muscles

In the past few games, we now see Garza throwing kisses to the opposing fans and muscle flexing to fans and the opposing bench. Is this good or does he need to try to tone it down just a bit? Is he straddling that fine line from showing emotion and passion vs thug behavior? My only concern is that now and going forward he's going to have many eyes on him nationally which will increase as the season goes. He's being mentioned during blue blood games being telecast about him as a Player of The Year candidate. People will tune in to watch him to see what he is all about. I'd hate for them to think of him as a thug player, like a Mich St. player, since we all know he is not that way, but compassionate and hard working.

I like his intensity, but just wondering if he's getting to the point of crossing the line a bit? Can he play well as the villain similar to Jo Bo or could it be detrimental to his game?
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No. And no.
 
Luka did it last year too. The whole team was flexing when they made an "and 1". I also don't think of those things of being thuggish. Players like McCabe played a thuggish style. Luka doesn't do anything towards opposing players other than embarrass them with his play. Remember last year he got a T for yelling after making a basket. He has always done this stuff.
 
sioux34 said:
I dont find his actions "thugish", just a little over the top. I would like to see him tone it down a bit, but of course I'm old.
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This is how I see it. I think he does it more to PUMP himself up which is a good thing but it does need to be tempered.

He is at the point that he has done this before and many times so he should expect to do it at a high rate and mainly go about his business.

I think the very overt acts of 'balling' and making a big play should wait more for the later stages of a close game

I dont like blowing kisses at the other team or their fans. Stupid
 
I have noticed it to but not just from Luka. I guess I was from the mindset that you act like you have been there before and you should expect to make a great play so there is no need to celebrate just go about your business and let your play do the talking.

It is a different world now especially when you coach any youth athletics. Everyone wants to break ankles or make the great play but they don't understand that it doesn't mean squat if you lose the game or you did that on one out of 100 plays.
 
uihawk82 said:
This is how I see it. I think he does it more to PUMP himself up which is a good thing but it does need to be tempered.

He is at the point that he has done this before and many times so he should expect to do it at a high rate and mainly go about his business.

I think the very overt acts of 'balling' and making a big play should wait more for the later stages of a close game

I dont like blowing kisses at the other team or their fans. Stupid
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Pump him up and deflate the opponent.

Rutgers big man was frustrated last night that Luka was scoring on him even with some M2M decent defense Pickel had to calm him down.
 
I have zero problem with either one. He usually only flexes if he gets an "and 1" or makes a basket where he was clearly fouled and it doesn't get called. I'm guessing the kisses are only coming out if opposing fans are talking a lot of smack but that's just a guess.
 
It would be nice if we could dominate an opponent without the side acts. That said, Iowa (under Fran) has played like a mental midget for far to long (emotionless, hanging heads on the court, complaining on social media, etc). It is refreshing to see a team playing with some confidence. Let's see how they handle it when the shots aren't falling moving forward.
 
Christian Laettner was an example of a "thug" player. Always playing dirty, stomping on players who tried to take a charge, throwing elbows....basically any dirty trick that would get under a player's skin.

Luka is just a big kid. He's excitable and demonstrative, but not dirty.

But I do agree with others that I'd like him to take the "no big deal, I've done this before" sort of mentality....but at the end of the day, he's a college kid, so let him have his fun as long as it doesn't become dirty or overtly taunting actions.
 
I mean I could do without some of it... I just mainly don't want it to cross the line. By no means do I want to see what happened in KS the other night ... All it would take is a kid on the other team to get butt hurt over it and take a swing. There was way more to what happened there then that but never the less you just never know. It won't endear him to opposing players/fans one little bit to continue doing what he does. Not that we care about that but the risks to that may be what they are.
 
MelroseHawkins said:
Don't get me wrong. I like the intensity if it's genuine. It's just different than how he previously carried himself. Jo Bo is one to work the opposing fans or get under their skin a bit, but Garza has always been the steady Eddy that just worked hard and let his play do the talking.

Kisses and Muscles

In the past few games, we now see Garza throwing kisses to the opposing fans and muscle flexing to fans and the opposing bench. Is this good or does he need to try to tone it down just a bit? Is he straddling that fine line from showing emotion and passion vs thug behavior? My only concern is that now and going forward he's going to have many eyes on him nationally which will increase as the season goes. He's being mentioned during blue blood games being telecast about him as a Player of The Year candidate. People will tune in to watch him to see what he is all about. I'd hate for them to think of him as a thug player, like a Mich St. player, since we all know he is not that way, but compassionate and hard working.

I like his intensity, but just wondering if he's getting to the point of crossing the line a bit? Can he play well as the villain similar to Jo Bo or could it be detrimental to his game?
Click to expand...
tenor.gif
 
I could definitely do without some of it, but if he keeps playing like he has been I’m not saying shit to the guy as a coach or anyone else.

I’ve enjoyed his postgame interviews as well. Seems fairly humble and gives a lot of credit to his teammates.
 
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