Bear Down Wildcats

Back on topic: official practices start next week. Get hyped.

RANDOLPH 2.0



Slim got swole.

Omar is built like a brick house.

Have a really good feeling about Omar for some reason...very excited for practice to start so we can hear about how the newbies/sophomores look.

YoDeFoe wrote:RANDOLPH 2.0



Slim got swole.

Hoping for a big year from him.

All I want is more practice notes and photos.

Agreed 100%...this is always the most exciting time of the off-season for me, I love hearing about guys making jumps year to year, and hearing about how all of the frosh look. If anyone gets any insider practice info, I'd love to hear about it.

Arizona is going to be much better than people think

97cats wrote:Arizona is going to be much better than people think

Better than my prediction of 3rd in the PAC-12 and a 7 seed in the NCAA?

97cats wrote:Arizona is going to be much better than people think

You're getting me pumped up, 97. I've been bracing for a rough 2018-19 season.

If we finish top 3 in the Pac and get to the tourney, I'll be as impressed as ever with Miller.

Beachcat97 wrote:
You're getting me pumped up, 97. I've been bracing for a rough 2018-19 season.

If we finish top 3 in the Pac and get to the tourney, I'll be as impressed as ever with Miller.

a top three finish and tourney bid is better than what I’ve seen predicted - how bout you??

97cats wrote:

Beachcat97 wrote:
You're getting me pumped up, 97. I've been bracing for a rough 2018-19 season.

If we finish top 3 in the Pac and get to the tourney, I'll be as impressed as ever with Miller.

a top three finish and tourney bid is better than what I’ve seen predicted - how bout you??

I have a tough time visualizing any Arizona basketball team that isn't a top 3 Pac and tourney team.

Does not compute.

97cats wrote:

Beachcat97 wrote:
You're getting me pumped up, 97. I've been bracing for a rough 2018-19 season.

If we finish top 3 in the Pac and get to the tourney, I'll be as impressed as ever with Miller.

a top three finish and tourney bid is better than what I’ve seen predicted - how bout you??

Machina only listens to Machina, so that’s probably literally the only prediction he’s seen.

Beachcat97 wrote:

97cats wrote:Arizona is going to be much better than people think

You're getting me pumped up, 97. I've been bracing for a rough 2018-19 season.

If we finish top 3 in the Pac and get to the tourney, I'll be as impressed as ever with Miller.

I think the tourney is the baseline for this season but am expecting us to be a 5 seed ish team. Very excited for the uncertainty of this year though.

97cats wrote:

Beachcat97 wrote:
You're getting me pumped up, 97. I've been bracing for a rough 2018-19 season.

If we finish top 3 in the Pac and get to the tourney, I'll be as impressed as ever with Miller.

a top three finish and tourney bid is better than what I’ve seen predicted - how bout you??

I'd take that. I think that's if things go well. I do worry about a soft Pac devaluing our conference wins. I think we'll be better than the outside perception just because our unknowns have been discounted. Guys like Randolph and Akot have high ceilings.

97cats wrote:

Beachcat97 wrote:
You're getting me pumped up, 97. I've been bracing for a rough 2018-19 season.

If we finish top 3 in the Pac and get to the tourney, I'll be as impressed as ever with Miller.

a top three finish and tourney bid is better than what I’ve seen predicted - how bout you??

I haven't seen anyone rank us in the preseason top 25, and the Pac ranking is trending in the 4 to 6 range. Expectations are clearly lower than usual in Tucson, which is what can happen when you lose your entire starting 5 and have such a young team.

The only time I can remember expectations being this low were in Miller's first two seasons in Tucson. The first season he missed the tourney altogether. The next year, he got to the E8, and was a Jamelle Horne 3 away from the FF. Not bad. 2011-12 was a down year (another missed tourney, finished 4th in the Pac). Otherwise Miller has set a pretty high bar from himself. Conference titles are commonplace, as is getting to the tourney's second weekend.

I'm excited about this season, not just because 97 and some others are more optimistic than the national media, but because Miller seems to relish this kind of challenge: a young, hungry team. Guys fighting for playing time. It feels like Jeter is expected to do a LOT, and I hope he can make the most of this new start at AZ. Randolph and Akot should be better. No idea what to expect from the transfers. I love the freshman class.

Here's hoping they can stay healthy, build some momentum and surprise some people in March. Bear down!

Lindy's ranked us like 16th I think. Sporting News at #25.

I'm still at share of the Pac 12 reg season title, play in the Pac 12 tourney championship game, 6 seed or better in the ncaas.

Stamp it!

Until further notice, the Pac12 title still runs through Tucson

prh wrote:Until further notice, the Pac12 title still runs through Tucson

Amen bro.

YoDeFoe wrote:Lindy's ranked us like 16th I think. Sporting News at #25.

if thats the case, my comment needs to be amended - Arizona, imo, should be slotted somewhere in the 15-30 range to begin the year thus those two particular rankins seem fair, even if i think Lindy's is too high....what the hell do you mean too high? who gives a shit its gone.

ive seen Arizona ranked as low as outside the top 50 and picked to finish 8th in the conf - based on those projection(s), my comment(s) earlier in this thread still stand.

97cats wrote:....what the hell do you mean too high? who gives a shit its gone.

I mean, the trajectory of the ball...it looked like it was going too high!

97cats wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:Lindy's ranked us like 16th I think. Sporting News at #25.

if thats the case, my comment needs to be amended - Arizona, imo, should be slotted somewhere in the 15-30 range to begin the year thus those two particular rankins seem fair, even if i think Lindy's is too high....what the hell do you mean too high, who gives a shit its gone.

ive seen Arizona ranked as low as outside the top 50 and picked to finish 8th in the conf - based on those projection, my comment(s) earlier in this thread still stand.

Seen the same and I agree - crazy to look at the collective talent here and the historical production by Miller and say "not a top half Pac-12 team, not a top 50 national team." I equally bracket my expectations: between just outside the top 25 and just outside the top 15 on the season.

This doesn't strike me as a "finish outside the top 50, lose to Bucknell in the first round of the NIT" kind of team. That 2012 team was Miller's worst - with two highly ranked recruits turning out to be headcases, Kevin Parrom getting shot, and 6'6" Solo Hill as the second tallest impact player. It would take similar calamity for this team to miss like that team.

Didn't know where to post this but Shareef is getting heart surgery and will sit out this season. Hopefully everything turns out well for him.

Shareef O'Neal in case anyone else other than me did not get the reference and resorted to Google. Wish him the best as well.

Figured that Jeter would get the nod here, he sounded great in his interviews and stressed the leadership qualities that he took on even last year in practice. Surprised to see Justin Coleman to get the nod, though I probably shouldn't be. He's at his third program as a grad transfer - he's the oldest and most experienced player on the team. Glad that he's living up to his potential as a leader in practice.

Two guys who have never played a second for Arizona are captains this year. That just about sums up Arizona basketball going into this season doesnt it?

ChooChooCat wrote:Two guys who have never played a second for Arizona are captains this year. That just about sums up Arizona basketball going into this season doesnt it?

Do they get to pick the teams for the red blue practice?

PHXCATS wrote:

ChooChooCat wrote:Two guys who have never played a second for Arizona are captains this year. That just about sums up Arizona basketball going into this season doesnt it?

Do they get to pick the teams for the red blue practice?

Usually the coaching staff does. Remember they treat the R/B game as a practice (outside of the festivities of course).

ChooChooCat wrote:Two guys who have never played a second for Arizona are captains this year. That just about sums up Arizona basketball going into this season doesnt it?

No doubt.

This team is impossible to project. There is not one player on this roster who does not have a huge question mark as to role/performance.

Coleman - Can he translate game to tougher comp? Can he fit with Williams?
Williams - Freshman 0 NCAA minutes. Can lead this group?
Barcello - Stage was too big as a Freshman
Randolph - inconsistent as Freshman (looks to have put on strength)
Doutrive - Freshman
Smith - can he be a net positive and reduce boneheaded plays and bad shot selection
Akot - freshman to sophomore jump? Can he live up to defensive potential? Strong enough for minutes at the 4?
thielmans - new culture/better competition/strength/youth
Lee - add personal issues to lots of inconsistent play. availability?
Luther - injury recovery?
Jeter - improvement and maturity from shaky start to career, has not played in almost 2 years

I so want to believe all of these will be answered positively. Truth is, i am looking forward to seeing how they do.

ChooChooCat wrote:Two guys who have never played a second for Arizona are captains this year. That just about sums up Arizona basketball going into this season doesnt it?

Really hope it's not just me being a homer but I really think we are better than most people expect this year. I think we get positive answers to a lot of our questions heading into the season. Loved Miller's quotes about playing with one true big and 3 guard lineups.

Jeter is a Senior?

Postmaster wrote:Jeter is a Senior?

Academically, yes.

So does he have one or two years of eligibility?

Postmaster wrote:So does he have one or two years of eligibility?

Two. He played 2 at Duke and sat one.

Thanks

Comment from Miller's presser stuck out to me: we played some of our best ball with a three guard line-up of TJ, Gabe, and Nick. By season's end of 2014, those three played as a three guard line-up about 50% of the games.

Some pro's and con's to those three that won't likely translate to this year (Pro: TJ and Nick being all conference defenders, their toughness and grit unmatched; Con: none of the three being all that productive as three point shooters, TJ's lack of scoring in general).

This squad will obviously be different, but the three guard line-up isn't unknown to Miller. Here's hoping we see a highly productive Coleman / Barcello / Williams line-up this season with Jeter and a versatile forward (Akot or Lee) filling the gaps.

Also, Brandon Williams is Jerryd Bayless 2.0?

Discuss.

YoDeFoe wrote:Also, is Brandon Williams is Jerryd Bayless 2.0?

Discuss.

Not for me. Bayless was stronger and had a more developed midrange game. Williams is mainly 3 or to the rim right now, and more slender than JB.

At least from HS. Williams's game is sort of like a bigger Nic Wise.

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:Also, is Brandon Williams is Jerryd Bayless 2.0?

Discuss.

Not for me. Bayless was stronger and had a more developed midrange game. Williams is mainly 3 or to the rim right now, and more slender than JB.

At least from HS. Williams's game is sort of like a bigger Nic Wise.

Except, Bayless had an asshole for a coach

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:Also, is Brandon Williams is Jerryd Bayless 2.0?

Discuss.

Not for me. Bayless was stronger and had a more developed midrange game. Williams is mainly 3 or to the rim right now, and more slender than JB.

At least from HS. Williams's game is sort of like a bigger Nic Wise.

I gotta admit, I'd take JB 2.0 over a bigger Nic 100 out of 100 times. Jerryd was so electric, but that team (and the program at the time) had so many other issues.

I see the same size (6'2"ish / 190ish) and same desire to either attack the rim or hit the three. Bayless did have the ability to get to his spot in the midrange and punish though, that's for sure.

YoDeFoe wrote:I see the same size (6'2"ish / 190ish) and same desire to either attack the rim or hit the three. Bayless did have the ability to get to his spot in the midrange and punish though, that's for sure.

I know BWill is listed close to Bayless, but I just don't see it physically. Bayless was a bowling ball. He was stronger and more physical with the ball then I've ever seen out of BWill.

pc in NM wrote:

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:Also, is Brandon Williams is Jerryd Bayless 2.0?

Discuss.

Not for me. Bayless was stronger and had a more developed midrange game. Williams is mainly 3 or to the rim right now, and more slender than JB.

At least from HS. Williams's game is sort of like a bigger Nic Wise.

Except, Bayless had an asshole for a coach

What do you have against assholes?

Imagine where you'd be without one.

RichardCranium wrote:

pc in NM wrote:

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:Also, is Brandon Williams is Jerryd Bayless 2.0?

Discuss.

Not for me. Bayless was stronger and had a more developed midrange game. Williams is mainly 3 or to the rim right now, and more slender than JB.

At least from HS. Williams's game is sort of like a bigger Nic Wise.

Except, Bayless had an asshole for a coach

What do you have against assholes?

Imagine where you'd be without one.

I’ve made the best possible adjustments to having one, and occasionally to being one, but am in no way willing to have another one, especially in my leisure time....

Bayless was absurdly strong (and consequently fearless) going to the rim. Truth.

YoDeFoe wrote:Bayless was absurdly strong (and consequently fearless) going to the rim. Truth.

Tried to draw fouls all the time too.

Jerryd was a MF-er too, which was needed.

Stole a state playoff game at St Mary's that was done by baiting a shove and a T. Hit the FTs, hit the inbounds shot, moved on. I think it was against Brophy, too.

Also saw him cut a cast/remove the cast his soph year during a playoff game that had cut most of his season and come into the game and flip the result.

I was so excited for JB at UA, but the clown took the first leg of the Lute Hokey Pokey, and while Jerryd put up #s, it was joyless.

Catintheheat wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:Bayless was absurdly strong (and consequently fearless) going to the rim. Truth.

Tried to draw fouls all the time too.

And got the calls early in the OOC season, and didn't get them later in the PAC season, so complained to the refs, meanwhile his teammates had to play 4 on 5 defense.

EVCat wrote:Jerryd was a MF-er too, which was needed.

Stole a state playoff game at St Mary's that was done by baiting a shove and a T. Hit the FTs, hit the inbounds shot, moved on. I think it was against Brophy, too.

Also saw him cut a cast/remove the cast his soph year during a playoff game that had cut most of his season and come into the game and flip the result.

I was so excited for JB at UA, but the clown took the first leg of the Lute Hokey Pokey, and while Jerryd put up #s, it was joyless.

O’Neill = Mackovic