The 2021-2022 Season Thread

[EastCoastCat]

random thought but I'm thinking perhaps the high ankle sprain with AT could be gamesmanship from Lloyd? I'm hoping.

Maybe he's exaggerating?

I don't get the feeling Lloyd is that type of coach.

[Spaceman Spiff]

These proprietary rankings are multiplying. Bayesian Performance Rank?

I'm going to start my Spiff Performance Quotient Ranking (SPQR) which will combine other advanced ratings that are accessible for free or via someone else's paid account they let me use. I combine those ratings, then disregard the ones that don't agree with my preconceived notions and publish the SPQR.

The SPQR, "Are You Not Entertained?"

[Beachcat97]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk ... NewsSearch

Can't believe we haven't beaten these fuckers at McKale since '16. Had to read that twice to make sure I saw it clearly.

[Bordercat]

makes me want to puke.

and it's all in our heads man.

they are not that good.

[Beachcat97]

makes me want to puke.

and it's all in our heads man.

they are not that good.

they're pretty good, but not unbeatable. Gonzaga blew them out, and Oregon won at Pauley only a few weeks ago. I would expect that Coach Lloyd has spent time looking at video of those games. Few and Altman have figured out how to beat them. Others can too, especially a team like AZ who has a true inside/outside game, bench depth and lots of size.

It sounds too simplistic, but whoever shoots better on Thursday is going to win. If we can at least shoot the *same* FG% as them, I love our chances. If our horrible perimeter shooting continues, it'll be easy for ucla to control tempo and impose their style of play.

[TheCat]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk ... NewsSearch

Can't believe we haven't beaten these fuckers at McKale since '16. Had to read that twice to make sure I saw it clearly.

Some teams just have your number for whatever reason. Did you know that Cronin had never beaten Stanford until a few nights ago even though the talent is no where near the same. Do you know that UCLA has not beaten their rival in two years? Don't really know why that occurs but it does. You can also see in our win streak against certain teams.

[Alieberman]

I will be at the game... and I'm not going there to witness an Arizona loss

Fuck the Bruins

[Beachcat97]

I will be at the game... and I'm not going there to witness an Arizona loss

Fuck the Bruins

We'll be with you in spirit, Alieberman!

Really hope they get it done for you.

[Beachcat97]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk ... NewsSearch

Can't believe we haven't beaten these fuckers at McKale since '16. Had to read that twice to make sure I saw it clearly.

Some teams just have your number for whatever reason. Did you know that Cronin had never beaten Stanford until a few nights ago even though the talent is no where near the same. Do you know that UCLA has not beaten their rival in two years? Don't really know why that occurs but it does. You can also see in our win streak against certain teams.

These are excellent points, TC, but ffs, if we can't beat our biggest rival in our house, it's bad. Like, I'm beginning to understand what Michigan has felt like vs. Ohio State the last several years, up until this past fall.

I think our guys will be very fired up for this game. It's crazy that no one on the team has ever beaten ucla.

[azcat49]

Interesting that Gonzaga just took them to the woodshed and we got bitch slapped running the same tempo and offense for the most part.

Could just be it was just not making shots but I think it’s more of Cronin doing his homework and game planning what went wrong for them against the zags.

Our move now so let’s see how we counter. It’s tough without a healthy Tubelis but we are at home. Krissa has to play better though for us to have any chance

[ChooChooCat]

Interesting that Gonzaga just took them to the woodshed and we got bitch slapped running the same tempo and offense for the most part.

Could just be it was just not making shots but I think it’s more of Cronin doing his homework and game planning what went wrong for them against the zags.

Our move now so let’s see how we counter. It’s tough without a healthy Tubelis but we are at home. Krissa has to play better though for us to have any chance

At this point we don't run the exact same offense that Gonzaga runs, basically because our team hasn't been able to fully grasp the concepts that Tommy wants them to. We run a more dumbed down version of what Gonzaga does at this point.

[azcat49]

Interesting and thanks for that info. Sounds like time in the system is important and a reason why Gonzaga always seems to have guys that are 3 and 4 years players in the program.

Hopefully we bust out a few new wrinkles that our players can execute and get some easy ones this week

[Beachcat97]

Interesting that Gonzaga just took them to the woodshed and we got bitch slapped running the same tempo and offense for the most part.

Could just be it was just not making shots but I think it’s more of Cronin doing his homework and game planning what went wrong for them against the zags.

Our move now so let’s see how we counter. It’s tough without a healthy Tubelis but we are at home. Krissa has to play better though for us to have any chance

At this point we don't run the exact same offense that Gonzaga runs, basically because our team hasn't been able to fully grasp the concepts that Tommy wants them to. We run a more dumbed down version of what Gonzaga does at this point.

This is about as pessimistic (but probably spot on) a post as I've seen lately.

It's not necessarily a knock on Lloyd or our players. Just a clear-eyed assessment of the program in 2021-22. There are some very good players on this roster, and Lloyd clearly knows a thing or two. Hence our current record. But the deeper reality is that we're not there yet. It takes time for a new coach to install a system and build a roster full of his players.

[azgreg]

Pound the paint!!!

[Beachcat97]

More shots in (or near) the paint for CK and AT, fewer 3-point attempts for Kriisa and Mathurin.

[Postmaster]

More dunks, fewer chucks

[Beachcat97]

More dunks, fewer chucks

We just need a higher FG%, and you'd think that would come from getting our bigs more touches. If Kriisa decides to find his inner Salim (or even his inner Gabe York!), even for one night, it would make ucla shit their pants. Kriisa is streaky. Feel like he's gonna break out of his slump in a dramatic way soon.

[dovecanyoncat]

I picked Koloko and Kriisa for these reasons: fouls on home court and big balls. Die Trollops! Die! Die! Fucking Die!

[Merkin]

Sadly, the PAC loves USC and UCLA, and I would not expect any homer calls.

[dovecanyoncat]

OK Boomer.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Interesting that Gonzaga just took them to the woodshed and we got bitch slapped running the same tempo and offense for the most part.

Could just be it was just not making shots but I think it’s more of Cronin doing his homework and game planning what went wrong for them against the zags.

Our move now so let’s see how we counter. It’s tough without a healthy Tubelis but we are at home. Krissa has to play better though for us to have any chance

At this point we don't run the exact same offense that Gonzaga runs, basically because our team hasn't been able to fully grasp the concepts that Tommy wants them to. We run a more dumbed down version of what Gonzaga does at this point.

I can't help but remember what was said about Miller on systemic stuff. Reason being, I consistently harped on learning and execution vs what scheme a coach runs.

I probably beat it to death, but there are like 10 equally valid systems you can win a championship with. Neither Lloyd or Miller has, but I'd put both their systems in that realm.

I think people underrate the degree to which coaches have to coach to their team and personnel. I love Koloko, but you can't run the same actions you can with Drew Timme. Similarly, this group has some decent returning experience but is in a first year with a new system. I said a similar thing about Miller when he was patching holes in a post-FBI year to year reset.

It limits things.

[YoDeFoe]

I picked Koloko and Kriisa for these reasons: fouls on home court and big balls. Die Trollops! Die! Die! Fucking Die!

Your maniacal energy is a genuine gift to this sub

[Beachcat97]

We're at the eve of a pivotal game. Any predictions?

[84Cat]

100-0 Cats

[Alieberman]

Cats 74
Bruins 68

[Chicat]

We're at the eve of a pivotal game. Any predictions?

The sun will rise in the east.

[Longhorned]

We're at the eve of a pivotal game. Any predictions?

The sun will rise in the east.

If so, who's the naked guy next him in the west?

[Beachcat97]

We're at the eve of a pivotal game. Any predictions?

The sun will rise in the east.

Pretty conservative outlook.

[EastCoastCat]

We touch the ball...

[Chicat]

We're at the eve of a pivotal game. Any predictions?

The sun will rise in the east.

Pretty conservative outlook.

I could still be wrong. Time will tell.

[gronk4heisman]

How we have looked the last two games without a healthy Tubelis, I would predict we lose by 6. I'll go 75-69 UCLA. If Juzang isn't playing that changes things, but I am almost certain they will find a way for him to play.

[Beachcat97]

How we have looked the last two games without a healthy Tubelis, I would predict we lose by 6. I'll go 75-69 UCLA. If Juzang isn't playing that changes things, but I am almost certain they will find a way for him to play.

He's playing. Clark is out, though.

In the game at Pauley, we cut their lead to 7 pretty late in the 2nd half. If our shooting were even marginally better, it becomes a one or two possession game, and suddenly all those octogenarian Bruin fans are seated and sweating.

It really seemed like our inability to string together, say, four minutes of good offense made it possible for ucla to maintain and add to their league. We just couldn't match their shooting consistency, which was the first time all season this happened.

I'll be watching to see what kinds of adjustments Lloyd has in store for tomorrow.

[Spaceman Spiff]

We're at the eve of a pivotal game. Any predictions?

The sun will rise in the east.

Typical ESPN Eastern bias.

[Jefe]

[Chicat]

With how much Torres has gone to bat for our program in the past I would have sworn he was a Tucson native.

[ChooChooCat]

100-0 Cats

Come on let’s be sensible here.

1000-0 Cats

[azgreg]

Eleventy hundred to -74

[Beachcat97]

First Vegas line is out: AZ -7

That's a ton of points ucla's getting, imo.

[EastCoastCat]

I want to run them out of the fucking gym and send a message to...

[SCCats]

Pretty easy: take UCLA money line as a hedge.

If Arizona wins, you don’t care about the $100 you just lost.

If UCLA wins that $100 turns into $250 and you buy as many Jell-O shots as you can (about 80) and get you and everyone you see completely wasted to forget the pain.

[Beachcat97]

Pretty easy: take UCLA money line as a hedge.

If Arizona wins, you don’t care about the $100 you just lost.

If UCLA wins that $100 turns into $250 and you buy as many Jell-O shots as you can (about 80) and get you and everyone you see completely wasted to forget the pain.

Pretty genius, SC.

[Merkin]

Pretty easy: take UCLA money line as a hedge.

If Arizona wins, you don’t care about the $100 you just lost.

If UCLA wins that $100 turns into $250 and you buy as many Jell-O shots as you can (about 80) and get you and everyone you see completely wasted to forget the pain.

[Bordercat]

UCLA -7?! omg

[Beachcat97]

UCLA -7?! omg

It's almost like they didn't see the game last week, not to mention the ASU game.

[Bordercat]

UCLA -7?! omg

It's almost like they didn't see the game last week, not to mention the ASU game.

very funny!

well they are usually right!

[Beachcat97]

UCLA -7?! omg

It's almost like they didn't see the game last week, not to mention the ASU game.

very funny!

well they are usually right!

"Usually" is the key word there. We were favored by 2 at Pauley.

[U.P. Zona Fan]

Down to Zona -6

[Bordercat]

here is what this fan wants to say to the team.

Thank you for making this season so much fun to watch you guys play. It has been a painful few years getting our program and coach dragged through the mud, and slowly watching the program crumble. It has been an absolute joy to watch you guys play.

UCLA is a good team who brings back every starter from their FF run last year. A loss to them while painful, as it is our rival, is completely understandable. What we mostly want, as fans, is for you guys to go out there and play the brand of basketball you have been playing all season. Have fun, but start it with defense, get the crowd involved, and let it rip. Play free.

[Beachcat97]

Down to Zona -6

Because that opening spread was insane. I'll bet it moves to at least 5 by tipoff.

[Merkin]

Well, remember Vegas is not there to predict the final score, they are meant to get 50/50 bets on both sides.

Guess we will have to see what happens when the sharps start betting.