2023-2024 Arizona Basketball

[Merkin]

Just getting out of the first weekend would be a win for me. Guards are in a terrible rut and LBSU is really hot right now, along with being the Cinderella story of the tourney. Even Lester Holt was commenting on them the other night.

[Beachcat97]

But, let's be honest, he will have to make a huge leap to surpass Kerr's floor generalship, and assist performance.

One thing Kriisa did excel at was his court vision. Boswell doesn't even come close to it, at least yet.

Sorry, my recollection of Kriisa is different. In his final game at AZ, he went 1-7 (all 3 point attempts) with 4 turnovers. That’s the kind of stat line I remember Kriisa putting up, even if he occasionally had a good game.

We are a better team without Kriisa. I’ll take Boswell’s B game over Kriisa’s average game 7 days a week and twice on Sunday.

[Merkin]

But, let's be honest, he will have to make a huge leap to surpass Kerr's floor generalship, and assist performance.

One thing Kriisa did excel at was his court vision. Boswell doesn't even come close to it, at least yet.

Sorry, my recollection of Kriisa is different. In his final game at AZ, he went 1-7 (all 3 point attempts) with 4 turnovers. That’s the kind of stat line I remember Kriisa putting up, even if he occasionally had a good game.

We are a better team without Kriisa. I’ll take Boswell’s B game over Kriisa’s average game 7 days a week and twice on Sunday.

In all fairness, that post was from almost exactly a year ago. I was calling for Boswell to come in the last 5 minutes v. Princeton since Kriisa was hurt and gassed, and did nothing.

I don't miss Kriisa at all. Boswell's court vision is good. He just lacks confidence.

[dmjcat]

But, let's be honest, he will have to make a huge leap to surpass Kerr's floor generalship, and assist performance.

One thing Kriisa did excel at was his court vision. Boswell doesn't even come close to it, at least yet.

Sorry, my recollection of Kriisa is different. In his final game at AZ, he went 1-7 (all 3 point attempts) with 4 turnovers. That’s the kind of stat line I remember Kriisa putting up, even if he occasionally had a good game.

We are a better team without Kriisa. I’ll take Boswell’s B game over Kriisa’s average game 7 days a week and twice on Sunday.

I just went back and looked at KKriisa's stats from 2023 vs. Boswell in 2024

Kerr K. 3P% 36.6, Steals 20, A/TO ratio 2/1
Boswell 3P% 41%, Steals 43, A/TO ratio 2.12/1

[Beachcat97]

But, let's be honest, he will have to make a huge leap to surpass Kerr's floor generalship, and assist performance.

One thing Kriisa did excel at was his court vision. Boswell doesn't even come close to it, at least yet.

Sorry, my recollection of Kriisa is different. In his final game at AZ, he went 1-7 (all 3 point attempts) with 4 turnovers. That’s the kind of stat line I remember Kriisa putting up, even if he occasionally had a good game.

We are a better team without Kriisa. I’ll take Boswell’s B game over Kriisa’s average game 7 days a week and twice on Sunday.

In all fairness, that post was from almost exactly a year ago. I was calling for Boswell to come in the last 5 minutes v. Princeton since Kriisa was hurt and gassed, and did nothing.

I don't miss Kriisa at all. Boswell's court vision is good. He just lacks confidence.

My bad, Merk. I missed the time stamp!

Think you and I agree on this one.

[TheCatInTheHat]

If anybody thinks we've got a cake walk to the second weekend with 7-seed Dayton, I don't see it. They were pretty battle-hardened in the A-10.

They went 15-0 at home, but none of the wins there particularly jump out at you. On the road, they beat SMU, Duquesne, and Saint Louis, while losing at Northwestern, VCU, and Loyola of Chicago. On neutral courts, they beat LSU and St John's in a tournament at Charleston before losing to Houston. After beating them twice, they lost to Duquesne at the A-10 tournament in Brooklyn, and now they've come from behind to beat Nevada in the NCAAs. Maybe, the NCAA can fix the nets, basketballs, tight rims, thermostat, and bad attitudes of the Utah fans that I keep hearing about. Otherwise, I guess we'll have to play through it, just like everybody else.

[TheCat]

Holmes will be a nightmare. Not sure who will cover him because he is mobile and would move Ballo away from the basket. They're all good shooters. Not an easy game at all.

[AZCatGirl]

20th Sweet 16.

Enjoy the week everyone!

[Alieberman]

So nice to now relax until next week!

SWEET 16!!!!

[EastCoastCat]

We are…..ARIZONA. Back to where we belong.

Enjoy the weekend everyone with a big and relaxing smile.

[AZCatGirl]

Want to give the team credit for not folding when Dayton went on that run and we went ice cold. We could've easily given up the lead but we didn't. We played like grown ass men.

[Alieberman]

I always feel like Sweet 16 is to be expected every year with AZ basketball.

Now that we are there...

BTFD and keep this thing going!!!!!

[PHXCATS]

Ugly game but great game in the sense that people stepped up when Dayton did certain things or other guys struggled a little bit

Tighten up the fundamentals, take care of the ball and make free throws and the sky is the limit for this team

[MrKyle]

Think Krivas had a really good showing in this Dayton game too - was able to provide some good minutes and not a huge defensive liability

[PHXCATS]

Think Krivas had a really good showing in this Dayton game too - was able to provide some good minutes and not a huge defensive liability

He has played much better defense lately

[IrishAzCat]

[Chicat]

Last year’s team loses that game today. No doubt in my mind.

[84Cat]

Last year’s team loses that game today. No doubt in my mind.

No doubt! The toughness of this team is orders of magnitude stronger than last year

[Alieberman]

Last year’s team loses that game today. No doubt in my mind.

No doubt! The toughness of this team is orders of magnitude stronger than last year

Lewis Bradley and Johnson bring the toughness..... we had no one last year who could match that.

[wyo-cat]

That was quick…

[AZCatGirl]

lol damn they must've had someone there during the last few minutes of the game waiting to go.

[IrishAzCat]

[Alieberman]

That was the play of the game

[84Cat]

That was the play of the game

Arizona agrees

[AZCatGirl]

[EastCoastCat]

Our close out on 3pt shots was much better today. And Dayton hit a couple of tough 3pt shots too.

[dovecanyoncat]

Irish, can we get Captain Obvious pounding the floor and predicting we won't get to the Final Four?

[UAEebs86]

Corporal Oblivious simultaneously jinxing Kansas and reverse jinxing Arizona is epic.

[Winger]

You cant defend 3s.

Story of the game for me was Lloyd going no center for like the last 10 minutes and heavy on Bradley and Lewis in the 2nd half.

Everything was going against Arizona from like the 16:00 mark of the 1st half through about the first 8:00 or so of the 2nd, but our guards/wings played good enough defense, allowing for the lead to hold.

Agree with those who believe Arizona loses this game last season. After all, as the great Kriisa said after Princeton, “in Europe we dont care about post-season tournaments”.

[CatsbyAZ]

It isn’t too big of a deal that Dayton marched back against our sizable lead. That can be expected of good rosters like Dayton. It is a big deal that once they got within 5 or 6, Arizona responded by going basket for basket against Dayton’s momentum. A bigger deal given Boswell was off, Caleb Love was getting shut down, and Dayton adjusted for Ballo in the 2nd half. Oh, and not to forget the refs suddenly whistling a bunch of stupid stuff away from the ball.

Adjusting and winning despite misfiring on several cylinders is a big deal. And countering Brea’s deep threat made up for a lot. Holmes still killed us though. Best player on the floor for long stretches.

[IrishAzCat]

Irish, can we get Captain Obvious pounding the floor and predicting we won't get to the Final Four?

[TheCatInTheHat]

Nice! Nothing remotely easy from here on out, but I assume LA-area alumni will snap up the $200 tickets at the Crypt (Vivid or AXS), and hopefully we'll get a little bit of the boost we've gotten in Vegas.

[CalStateTempe]

Get us to sat and I’ll be snapping up a few

[MrKyle]

Get us to sat and I’ll be snapping up a few

Same! Hoping we get there and wife and I can get a babysitter and go Saturday!

Last game we went to was the 2014 E8 game

[UAEebs86]

Last game we went to was the 2014 E8 game

Too soon

[MrKyle]

Last game we went to was the 2014 E8 game

Too soon

One before that we went to was the 2011 S16 at least

[azgreg]

[Postmaster]

Did CSM recruit DaRon Holmes?

[Winger]

Did CSM recruit DeRon Holmes?

Yes.

[UAEebs86]

How the hell did Dayton get him? Family connection?

[Postmaster]

How the hell did Dayton get him? Family connection?

FESPN?

[CalStateTempe]

Last game we went to was the 2014 E8 game

Too soon

One before that we went to was the 2011 S16 at least

Last tourney was 2017 Xavier S16 in San Jose for me

[MrKyle]

Last game we went to was the 2014 E8 game

Too soon

One before that we went to was the 2011 S16 at least

Last tourney was 2017 Xavier S16 in San Jose for me

Oof that was a tough one - that was the head scratcher where Markannen barely got touches the second half right?

[CalStateTempe]

Yup cause Alonzo trier went hero ball with like a -9 plus minus score. Dude just chucked and wouldn’t pass

[FreeSpiritCat]

Ugly game but great game in the sense that people stepped up when Dayton did certain things or other guys struggled a little bit

Tighten up the fundamentals, take care of the ball and make free throws and the sky is the limit for this team

Ugly game? Maybe at times. But the first 17 minutes of the game was art. That was great basketball, and absoLUTEly fun to watch. That is how basketball should be played. Could it be better? yes. But Kylan was injured. And I think it was coming too easy for the team and they became cocky. Still...I loved the fight during the second half. It was a good battle. It's one of the reasons I love college basketball. When the game gets into the trenches and both sides are fighting, makes college basketball one of the most enjoyable sports on earth.

Just get rid of Tony Padilla.

[Beachcat97]

Do we know if AZ plays first or second on Thursday?

[Merkin]

Oof that was a tough one - that was the head scratcher where Markannen barely got touches the second half right?

He had plenty of touches he just immediately passed the ball. No one wanted to be the man that game. Thankfully we have Caleb Love now who is more than willing

[arizonawildcats]

[PHXCATS]

Do we know if AZ plays first or second on Thursday?

All depends on matchups and tv. Will know tonight

[AZCatGirl]

No matter what, we'll be the last Pac 12 team to win a national championship.