Bear Down Wildcats

SCCats wrote:

84Cat wrote:AZ is 8 pt favorite.

8 is interesting

Already chased to 9 and 9.5.

I would have rather played VCU minus a starter (they are not a 7 seed level team right now), but OSU is a great matchup scenario for us as long as we can keep Rondae on the floor. He is like a cover corner in football...he just puts an end to an entire option. We need to choke Russell and make someone else carry the load, and we definitely have the ability to do so. I am much more fearful of balance than I am a team with a clear superstar and supporting cast considering just how tough and versatile we are on defense. We can make Russell's life miserable.

Baylor losing is a fantastic scenario for us if we do what we need to do Saturday. Teams that play zone as a primary defense will always cause some concern...until we show a consistent ability to destroy the zone. And, well...3 seed is going to be a better team than a 6+ seed. So of course we should all be happy Baylor is coached by Scott Drew and completely crapped the bed of their hourly rate room at the dance. But it doesn't really matter if we play to capability. We should win our next two games, even with average efforts.

Step one is complete. Keep checking the boxes, one at a time....

EVCat wrote:

SCCats wrote:

84Cat wrote:AZ is 8 pt favorite.

8 is interesting

Already chased to 9 and 9.5.

I would have rather played VCU minus a starter (they are not a 7 seed level team right now), but OSU is a great matchup scenario for us as long as we can keep Rondae on the floor. He is like a cover corner in football...he just puts an end to an entire option. We need to choke Russell and make someone else carry the load, and we definitely have the ability to do so. I am much more fearful of balance than I am a team with a clear superstar and supporting cast considering just how tough and versatile we are on defense. We can make Russell's life miserable.

Baylor losing is a fantastic scenario for us if we do what we need to do Saturday. Teams that play zone as a primary defense will always cause some concern...until we show a consistent ability to destroy the zone. And, well...3 seed is going to be a better team than a 6+ seed. So of course we should all be happy Baylor is coached by Scott Drew and completely crapped the bed of their hourly rate room at the dance. But it doesn't really matter if we play to capability. We should win our next two games, even with average efforts.

Step one is complete. Keep checking the boxes, one at a time....

Great post.

rgdeuce wrote:

thenewazcats wrote:Watching this game, I think we clearly want to play OSU. Russell is overrated. VCU plays really quick. I think we win but they would be the tougher opponent.

Come on man, Russell is not overrated

I guess I'm thinking about the time I heard someone say he's a more athletic James Harden. I just don't see that.

Russell welcome to Hollis-Jefferson Island

ASUHATER! wrote:What does my opinion of 4 days have to do with a Georgia state team I've never met? Talk about strange tangents.

It means the degree to which you look for the potential negative and overplay the challenge with every potential roadblock is uncanny in its consistency, if not legendary. If you pull that sh*t in your day job then you must drive your boss f*cking batsh*t crazy.

News flash: if we do not play well, we will not advance. Having lost to 3 non-tournament teams during the regular season makes that abundantly clear to anyone paying attention.

But your definition of insanely brutal is way past comical. We got a pretty good draw all things considered; our fate is in our own hands.

ASUHATER! wrote:

azcat34 wrote:

ASUHATER! wrote:Well I guess I don't have to worry about Baylor

LOL, who is up next for you to freak out about for no discernible reason?

There was a very valid reason to worry about Baylor. Beyond extremely valid reason. But now we don't.

Was it their inflated #3 seed with (now) 10 losses in a conference that was insanely overrated? Suffocating defenses don't lose that many times,

Your "glass half empty" shtick is as old as bc97''s flip-flopping.

thenewazcats wrote:

rgdeuce wrote:

thenewazcats wrote:Watching this game, I think we clearly want to play OSU. Russell is overrated. VCU plays really quick. I think we win but they would be the tougher opponent.

Come on man, Russell is not overrated

I guess I'm thinking about the time I heard someone say he's a more athletic James Harden. I just don't see that.

High Volume shooter. He'll get his, but outside of him..meh, not worried.

ASUHATER! wrote:Your posts makes no sense. Why would I hate us getting an easier road with our toughest obstacle to the elite 8 removed? You people and you nonexistent reading skills...

Two potential scenarios at play here:

1) You are erudite and your opinions and the posts which illustrate them are well thought-out and clearly presented, which implies the rest us us are blithering idiots with limited reading comprehension skills.

2) The opposite of #1 is true.

Which is more likely?

Don't give ASUHATER a hard time. He worries so the rest of us don't have to

thenewazcats wrote:

rgdeuce wrote:

thenewazcats wrote:Watching this game, I think we clearly want to play OSU. Russell is overrated. VCU plays really quick. I think we win but they would be the tougher opponent.

Come on man, Russell is not overrated

I guess I'm thinking about the time I heard someone say he's a more athletic James Harden. I just don't see that.

I don't think that comp is that far off TBH. He is better than Harden was in college, at the very least as a freshman. He can shoot, he can get to the basket, he is crafty as all hell but is quicker than Harden and has a better handle than Harden did at that stage of Harden's career, he is a lefty, high-volume shooter. He's a scorer and doesn't defend that well. Harden's got a little size on him but thats about it.

AZ should win this one. The game that stands out the most for OSU is the home game against Wisconsin when they got blown out. VCU was only their 2nd top 50 rpi win of the season. And their O rating is 27th while their D rating is 40th. They remind me of Stanford in so many ways.

Katzenfreund wrote:I wouldn't mind playing Oregon for a fourth time.

Don't look ahead.

Russell will be the best player that RHJ has and ever will guard in the entirety of his collegiate career. That isn't hyperbole and you know it if you have Big Ten affiliation. RHJ is the best defender that Russell will have ever faced in college. In that kind of match-up, I give the advantage to the offensive talent. Arizona's 1-6 will need a solid defensive and rebounding effort to avoid the upset. If both teams play up to their potential, Arizona will win by double-digits.

Baylor was a potential challenge. All 3-seeds are. But I wouldn't have traded them for a different 3-seed.

It still holds that Arizona has a nice road to the Final Four. There's just one fewer Subway stop for lunch, and a Blake's Lotta Burger in its place.

Anyone still complaining that we were a #2 and Wisconsin a #1?

Our path is now #15, #10 then (#6 or #14)

Wisconsin is #16, (#8 or #9) then (#4 or #5)

Alieberman wrote:Anyone still complaining that we were a #2 and Wisconsin a #1?

Our path is now #15, #10 then (#6 or #14)

Wisconsin is #16, (#8 or #9) then (#4 or #5)

My only complaint was not getting Duke as our 1-seed. But now that I've rewatched our Wisconsin game from a year ago, I'm just sweating out my hope that Wisconsin gets past their Sweet 16 game. I'll do everything in my power to jinx UNC or Arkansas.

Longhorned wrote:

Alieberman wrote:Anyone still complaining that we were a #2 and Wisconsin a #1?

Our path is now #15, #10 then (#6 or #14)

Wisconsin is #16, (#8 or #9) then (#4 or #5)

My only complaint was not getting Duke as our 1-seed. But now that I've rewatched our Wisconsin game from a year ago, I'm just sweating out my hope that Wisconsin gets past their Sweet 16 game. I'll do everything in my power to jinx UNC or Arkansas.

Wait, you'd rather play Wisky than Arkansas? Is that a revenge thing or because you think we match up better with Wisky, because, erm, we don't. Arkansas is simply not that good.

I rather play the kansas, the Ar-kansas

salim'sheadband wrote:

EVCat wrote:

SCCats wrote:

84Cat wrote:AZ is 8 pt favorite.

8 is interesting

Already chased to 9 and 9.5.

I would have rather played VCU minus a starter (they are not a 7 seed level team right now), but OSU is a great matchup scenario for us as long as we can keep Rondae on the floor. He is like a cover corner in football...he just puts an end to an entire option. We need to choke Russell and make someone else carry the load, and we definitely have the ability to do so. I am much more fearful of balance than I am a team with a clear superstar and supporting cast considering just how tough and versatile we are on defense. We can make Russell's life miserable.

Baylor losing is a fantastic scenario for us if we do what we need to do Saturday. Teams that play zone as a primary defense will always cause some concern...until we show a consistent ability to destroy the zone. And, well...3 seed is going to be a better team than a 6+ seed. So of course we should all be happy Baylor is coached by Scott Drew and completely crapped the bed of their hourly rate room at the dance. But it doesn't really matter if we play to capability. We should win our next two games, even with average efforts.

Step one is complete. Keep checking the boxes, one at a time....

Great post.

When Baylor lost I immediately thought of your UCONN comparison post & how Arizona hasn't gotten as "lucky" with draws in the dance. Baylor losing, should Arizona win tomorrow, should be the first of the "lucky breaks" for us in a good bit.

Puerco wrote:

Longhorned wrote:

Alieberman wrote:Anyone still complaining that we were a #2 and Wisconsin a #1?

Our path is now #15, #10 then (#6 or #14)

Wisconsin is #16, (#8 or #9) then (#4 or #5)

My only complaint was not getting Duke as our 1-seed. But now that I've rewatched our Wisconsin game from a year ago, I'm just sweating out my hope that Wisconsin gets past their Sweet 16 game. I'll do everything in my power to jinx UNC or Arkansas.

Wait, you'd rather play Wisky than Arkansas? Is that a revenge thing or because you think we match up better with Wisky, because, erm, we don't. Arkansas is simply not that good.

Arkansas is a truly flawed team. They're very well-conditioned for endurance in high-intensity games, and they play with great effort. But that press just doesn't work against teams that have good floor leaders, discipline, or athletes. UNC is just undisciplined enough that I wouldn't put it past them, but I think they'll advance, as will Wisconsin against either Oregon or Oklahoma State. If Wisconsin plays Arkansas, I expect Wisconsin to advance, but I'm a little shell-shocked from the upsets so far so I'm getting irrational and unsure of sure things.

Arizona matches up better with UNC than Wisconsin, but UNC could cause problems for Wisconsin. Wisconsin's defense may not be effective enough to manage the pace of the game.

As I posted above, I have a lot of specific thoughts about a Wisconsin-Arizona match-up. I'm as confident in Arizona over Wisconsin as I am Arizona over UNC, but even a touch more so because Wisconsin comes in a ready package with regards to game plan. Kaminsky will have a big game, but let's not get nuts about this. Arizona outplayed Wisconsin a year ago with an awful offensive performance. At positions 1-5, Wisconsin is fighting an uphill battle in trying to guard Arizona. Kaminsky can't guard either Ashley or Tarc. And if anyone thinks that Kaminsky steamrolls Tarc's offense, go back and rewatch the Elite Eight game again. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is a nightmare even on offense against Wisconsin's man-to-man, let alone is disruptions on defense. Stanley Johnson won't help matters for them. They have to face this year's TJ, not the TJ of poor-shot-choice-brick-extraordinaire they got last year. It isn't just revenge. It's the confidence that comes with familiarity. Bring on the Badgers.

I found myself rooting for the upsets...except for UNC since I too think they have a shot against Wiscy

Gilbertcat wrote:I found myself rooting for the upsets...except for UNC since I too think they have a shot against Wiscy

For that to happen, UNC needs a really good game and to dial up the speed of the game. Even then, Wisconsin won't have a bad game because here's the thing about Wisconsin, both last year and this year: They're probably the only team in all of Division 1 that doesn't have bad games. Arizona has bad games and can lose to teams worse than anyone they'll face in the tournament. Kentucky has bad games. When they have their full roster, Wisconsin consistently makes very few mistakes. It pisses me off. Wisconsin consistently plays to their ceiling, which isn't as high as some other elite teams. Last year's Wisconsin is very similar to this year's.

Usually at some point in the tourney, teams other than Wisconsin play a bad game. The teams that win in spite of a bad game obviously keep going. Going back to 1988, Arizona's bad tourney games are obvious, including the ones they won. Arizona played a bad game against Wisconsin last year and still should have won. I don't know what would happen if Arizona were to have a bad game against the Tar Heels. But as long as Arizona brings its defense, I think they'd have a shot to beat Wisconsin during a poor performance on offense. If we're clicking, I think it's as good a draw as many for the Elite Eight.

Georgia State is going to beat Xavier, especially if Harrow is healthy and plays.

ZONACAT wrote:Georgia State is going to beat Xavier, especially if Harrow is healthy and plays.

Obviously that would be better for us should we win tomorrow...but the potential of OSU, Xavier, Wisconsin is just so juicy & awesome would Arizona win all of those to get to the Final Four. I know that's getting ahead of things but still. It's like - perfect.

Perfect! And what else should we want other than perfect?

Longhorned wrote:Perfect! And what else should we want other than perfect?

Touche - obviously I'd prefer Georgia State should we beat the buckeyes tomorrow.

The theme of this year is "Redemption". I'm not sure that Xavier falls into that category, and in fact it might be redemption for them to beat the coach that abandoned them. So maybe Georgia State is the right choice here as far as marketing, branding, and so forth.

Chicat wrote:The theme of this year is "Redemption". I'm not sure that Xavier falls into that category, and in fact it might be redemption for them to beat the coach that abandoned them. So maybe Georgia State is the right choice here as far as marketing, branding, and so forth.

I agree. I would bet Miller has zero desire to play Xavier, ever. He still has a lot of love and respect for them and coach Mack.

Xavier, on the other hand, would love the chance to stick it to Miller.

Bear Down Vegas wrote:

Longhorned wrote:Perfect! And what else should we want other than perfect?

Touche - obviously I'd prefer Georgia State should we beat the buckeyes tomorrow.

Why touche? I was agreeing with you without irony!

Hahaha!

Damn you context & trying to read into you.

Miller doesn't want to play Xavier, good news is that all of the kids on the XU squad have been recruited by Mack.

Yeah the last Miller recruited Xavier players have been gone for a year or so.

Chicat wrote:The theme of this year is "Redemption". I'm not sure that Xavier falls into that category, and in fact it might be redemption for them to beat the coach that abandoned them. So maybe Georgia State is the right choice here as far as marketing, branding, and so forth.

The biggest redemption I'd be looking for is shaking off the Elite Eight roadblock we've been running into for over a decade. If we went out there again, it would be 3 of the last 5 years and 5 of the last 12.

Shaking that particular monkey off our back is the biggest redemption I would want.

Alieberman wrote:Anyone still complaining that we were a #2 and Wisconsin a #1?

Our path is now #15, #10 then (#6 or #14)

Wisconsin is #16, (#8 or #9) then (#4 or #5)

We'll find something to bitch about.

Good article (at the end) on this being a favorable matchup.

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/ ... ams_n.html

The Wildcats could be the worst matchup for the Buckeyes in the NCAA outside of Kentucky.

• Size: Four of Arizona's five starters are at least 6-foot-7. Small forwards Stanley Johnson and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson are both 6-7, power forward Brandon Ashley is 6-9 and Kaleb Tarczewski is 7-foot.

• Depth: Arizona's rotation goes only seven deep, but the Wildcats have recruited top-five recruiting classes four years in a row. They are loaded with talent.

• Scheme: Arizona runs a packed defense, which will stop Russell from getting into the lane. The Wildcats will give you the three, though, but Ohio State has struggled at times beyond the arc.

"Matchups," Matta said. "We've got to come up with something."

gumby wrote:• Depth: Arizona's rotation goes only seven deep, but the Wildcats have recruited top-five recruiting classes four years in a row. They are loaded with talent.

I'm surprised they didn't say six. If they make it close that's all they'll see unless we get into severe foul trouble.

We can still beat three #1 seeds in this tournament, right? I'm on board with that. Bring on Wisky, UK, and whichever other inferior one seed makes it through.

AZCatGirl wrote:

gumby wrote:• Depth: Arizona's rotation goes only seven deep, but the Wildcats have recruited top-five recruiting classes four years in a row. They are loaded with talent.

I'm surprised they didn't say six. If they make it close that's all they'll see unless we get into severe foul trouble.

Pretty sure we go nine deep. Ristic, Pitts and PJC all get significant minutes. One of my favorite Miller adjustments this season.

gumby wrote:• Scheme: Arizona runs a packed defense,

Packed? Pack line perhaps?

Same result sans the coachspeak. Big picture, people! Bad matchup for THE Ohio State.

rgdeuce wrote:

thenewazcats wrote:

rgdeuce wrote:

thenewazcats wrote:Watching this game, I think we clearly want to play OSU. Russell is overrated. VCU plays really quick. I think we win but they would be the tougher opponent.

Come on man, Russell is not overrated

I guess I'm thinking about the time I heard someone say he's a more athletic James Harden. I just don't see that.

I don't think that comp is that far off TBH. He is better than Harden was in college, at the very least as a freshman. He can shoot, he can get to the basket, he is crafty as all hell but is quicker than Harden and has a better handle than Harden did at that stage of Harden's career, he is a lefty, high-volume shooter. He's a scorer and doesn't defend that well. Harden's got a little size on him but thats about it.

I'll be honest. Work and two kids has kept me from watching as much as I normally have. I've seen a couple moments from a couple games. He may be better than I think, and my claim may be off. I'll go into tomorrow with an open mind, but Harden was one hell of a smooth player as a freshman himself.

Hey, Longhorned, thanks for the breakdown on opponents. Good stuff.

Katzenfreund wrote:I wouldn't mind playing Oregon for a fourth time.

Don't you know Katz that it's very difficult beating a team three...oops, I mean four times a season, lol. I would LOVE to put those sore losing, dbags in their place yet again! Ain't gonna happen though as they don't have enough talent to get there!

No they're crying about their seeding.

I feel like we got a #1 seed in name only.

Arizona - has easier opponents in every round leading up to the elite 8

Arizona - will be playing closer to home

In reality Arizona is set up as the number 1 seed.

What we should have been was the number 1 seed in the south instead of Duke. But Duke got in based on their name:

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=193&f=2565&t=13749383

azgreg wrote:No they're crying about their seeding.

I feel like we got a #1 seed in name only.

Arizona - has easier opponents in every round leading up to the elite 8

Arizona - will be playing closer to home

In reality Arizona is set up as the number 1 seed.

What we should have been was the number 1 seed in the south instead of Duke. But Duke got in based on their name:

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=193&f=2565&t=13749383

I think that guy has a point. if they're a #1 seed, they should have been in the south. we should have been a #1 in the west, and zags should have been a #2 here in the west.

But....the committee did a horrible job seeding, and it is what it is.

PieceOfMeat wrote:

azgreg wrote:No they're crying about their seeding.

I feel like we got a #1 seed in name only.

Arizona - has easier opponents in every round leading up to the elite 8

Arizona - will be playing closer to home

In reality Arizona is set up as the number 1 seed.

What we should have been was the number 1 seed in the south instead of Duke. But Duke got in based on their name:

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=193&f=2565&t=13749383

I think that guy has a point. if they're a #1 seed, they should have been in the south. we should have been a #1 in the west, and zags should have been a #2 here in the west.

But....the committee did a horrible job seeding, and it is what it is.

Definitely. That's what I would have done.

That whole state can S my D. Bunch of gingers

Wisconsin is going to have their hands full with N. Carolina.

I have a question and I didnt want to start a new thread so I'll put it here. I didn't notice Zach Peters on the bench all season but I could have swore that he was in line to shake hands after the Ohio State game. Did anyone else notice that? Was I seeing things? Has he been on the bench all season or did Miller bring him back for the tournament for some reason? I tried to research it but the only articles I find are the ones saying he isn't playing anymore for medical reasons.

jsbowl16 wrote:I have a question and I didnt want to start a new thread so I'll put it here. I didn't notice Zach Peters on the bench all season but I could have swore that he was in line to shake hands after the Ohio State game. Did anyone else notice that? Was I seeing things? Has he been on the bench all season or did Miller bring him back for the tournament for some reason? I tried to research it but the only articles I find are the ones saying he isn't playing anymore for medical reasons.

That wasn't Zach Peters you saw, that was a graduate manager.

http://www.arizonawildcats.com/ViewArti ... EASON=2014

Thanks. That makes sense.

When is the Wisky v. UNC game today?