The 2021-2022 Season Thread

[EastCoastCat]

And they would hack our bigs once they got the ball. Need to just adjust to that strategy which is rotate the ball to wings who can either shoot or attack the rim.

[Beachcat97]

Anyone wanna drop a prediction for tonight?

We’re better than USC, but it’s at their place and our third straight road game. Exact situation heading into ucla. Both these opponents were given a considerable gift.

[MountainCat]

80-71 Cats

Team is at full strength this time, unlike @UCLA, and coming off a uninspired loss to Colorado. Players will be fired up. Not looking forward to Bilas's comments during the game...

[Alieberman]

I'm very interested to see what a Tommy Lloyd team looks like coming off a horrible lackluster loss.

My money is on Tommy

[Beachcat97]

Would be nice to add a second road win over a ranked opponent.

[EastCoastCat]

I think the over/under for Bilas saying arm bar fouls are not getting called is 3.5.

[UAEebs86]

I'm very interested to see what a Tommy Lloyd team looks like coming off a horrible lackluster loss.

My money is on Tommy

What's the status of your lucky underwear?

[RondaeShimmy]

Like I said before, USC is coming off back to back tough, close, emotional wins. It's going to be hard to match the energy and intensity imo.

Especially against a team who had won 9 in a row and lost really badly. Unless they collapse mentally, they'll be back. USC is also turns it over more than us

Keep in mind if it's a close game late, Arizona outscored Trojans 18-4 over final 6:30 mins last time.

[Beachcat97]

Like I said before, USC is coming off back to back tough, close, emotional wins. It's going to be hard to match the energy and intensity imo.

Especially against a team who had won 9 in a row and lost really badly.

USC has the toughest week of any team in the conference, against us today and ucla on Saturday.

Will they really drop two straight to finish the reg season?

[EastCoastCat]

I think this game will be telling for a number of reasons. Mostly, how does this team play after a sub-par effort/loss against a very good team on the road in another "pumped" environment.

I think we will be focused and dialed in. I'd be shocked if the effort wasn't there tonight.

[Alieberman]

I'm very interested to see what a Tommy Lloyd team looks like coming off a horrible lackluster loss.

My money is on Tommy

What's the status of your lucky underwear?

Upgraded to Probable

[Bordercat]

And they would hack our bigs once they got the ball. Need to just adjust to that strategy which is rotate the ball to wings who can either shoot or attack the rim.

yes.

[Bordercat]

Saturday- Gameday emotional win against Oregon
Wednesday- travel
Thursday- easy win against Utah (why did we keep starters in so long)
Friday- travel
Saturday- sell out racous crowd and amped up team-got asses kicked
Saturday- Fly home
Sunday-off?
Monday- Fly to LA
Tuesday- Late game... wtf is with the 9pm games?!

SC has had a tough go as well but this isn't easy.

Had we taken care of business against the Buffs like we should have this game is inconsequential. A win keeps SC with a glimmer of hope to share a conference title- gives them a nice resume booster, prob moves AZ off the 1 line.

Aint gonna lie big, big game.

We are better than SC but tough circumstances. I think we can do it but I also didn't think the Buffs had a chance in hell to beat us.

[Beachcat97]

I think we can do it but I also didn't think the Buffs had a chance in hell to beat us.

It's important to factor in that every remaining opponent, from here forward, will shoot significantly above their usual FG%.

If we happen to be cold from the field, as was the case vs. Colorado, we're suddenly quite beatable.

[TheCat]

My concern is USC shot terrible in their game against us in Tucson. This is our third game in a row on the road which has not faired well for those playing it. Saw that USC gave tickets away and that it will be a full house. Is it also Senior day for the Trojans?

[Bordercat]

My concern is USC shot terrible in their game against us in Tucson. This is our third game in a row on the road which has not faired well for those playing it. Saw that USC gave tickets away and that it will be a full house. Is it also Senior day for the Trojans?

they got UCLA this weekend no?

[Bordercat]

such bs how our conf let the LA schools dictate terms of the makeup games.

[Alieberman]

Game thread up... what the hell am I going to do for the next 5 hours?

[EastCoastCat]

Game thread up... what the hell am I going to do for the next 5 hours?

[UAdevil]

^that

[U.P. Zona Fan]

Game thread up... what the hell am I going to do for the next 5 hours?

Lucky SOB's, I gotta track down an air leak on my truck tonight, oh and the price of fuel went up .15 tonight. So that'll be fun to tell all my customers.

So go get gas before the game!

[U.P. Zona Fan]

My concern is USC shot terrible in their game against us in Tucson. This is our third game in a row on the road which has not faired well for those playing it. Saw that USC gave tickets away and that it will be a full house. Is it also Senior day for the Trojans?

they got UCLA this weekend no?

Yes, at Pauley, so I'd imagine it's senior day.

Unless they did it for their previous home game since this one was scheduled late.

[Alieberman]

I'm very interested to see what a Tommy Lloyd team looks like coming off a horrible lackluster loss.

My money is on Tommy

Yeah.... I thought so.

[RondaeShimmy]

Arizona coming off a close emotional win vs Oregon I thought they would lose soon, because that's usually how it works in basketball.

Utah wasn't good enough to do it, but there was no energy there for that Colorado loss. Usc just came off a close emotional win

Like I said before, USC is coming off back to back tough, close, emotional wins. It's going to be hard to match the energy and intensity imo.

Especially against a team who had won 9 in a row and lost really badly. Unless they collapse mentally, they'll be back. USC is also turns it over more than us

Keep in mind if it's a close game late, Arizona outscored Trojans 18-4 over final 6:30 mins last time.

They couldn't get up yet again. From the start that was obvious

[Beachcat97]

#1 seed is now a lock.

Really can’t say enough about this coach and this team. What an incredible achievement this year. With more to come!

[dovecanyoncat]

Honestly, given from where we started this season we want too much. Everything from now on should be as gravy if we as fans have any realistic perspective.

But. We. Don't.

And I want Thunderdome!!!!

[84Cat]

[Postmaster]

Kier doing a live video from locker room.
Probably not the best decision.

[Alieberman]

Simply Amazing

[RondaeShimmy]

Big balls Kerr hugs the ref after winning conference championship

[SabinoDrifter]

Holy shit at that performance. That’s a team that wants to win it all.

[TheCat]

My concern is USC shot terrible in their game against us in Tucson. This is our third game in a row on the road which has not faired well for those playing it. Saw that USC gave tickets away and that it will be a full house. Is it also Senior day for the Trojans?

they got UCLA this weekend no?

I think that is at Pauley....not sure.

[RondaeShimmy]

[TheCat]

So my concerns against USC are as follows:
1. Drew Peterson was 1-13 for 5 points and has averaged 20+ in last 3 games
2. Boogie was 3-12 which is considerably below his average.
3. They manhandled us on the OFFENSIVE board with 19 OR

I'm not sure if the top two were do to our defense or bad shooting or a combination of both. If we want to win we need to limit offensive rebounds, Benn has to have a better game than he did the first time (8 pts.) and we need to get to the line more. USC led us with about 5-6 mins left in the game last time. This will be a hell of a challenge at the end of another 3 game road trip (teams in the PAC lose of 70% of those). It will be a packed house and rocking. We will see how we respond.

On the topic of seed, frankly I don't believe their is a huge difference between a 1 or 2 seed. I also do not believe the tourney values the PAC like it should and that is reflected in the initial polls. We don't have enough teams ranked early so every loss is a quad 2 or lower. Is there anyone here that thinks Oregon is a bubble team? I don't. They made their own bed by early losses and the 25 point loss to ASU. But Colo. lost to ASU by a ton also. Bottom line if we lose to USC we will not be a one seed unless we play well in the PAC tourney and beat either Or, USC or UCLA.

Simple solution beat the Trojans.

Happy to win the PAC and USC has to play UCLA on Saturday which will determine if we win it by 2 or 3 games. Remarkable!!!!!!

So I think it is our defense against Boogie and Drew. I think Drew scored 3 baskets in 2 games with over 20 shots and this is against the reigning PAC player of the week.. WOW.

[YoDeFoe]

That was a very fun game. The USC crowd brought it (for USC) and their team played with great energy until the end. Arizona was just unstoppable.

[ALASKACAT]

Kier doing a live video from locker room.
Probably not the best decision.

Kier on winning the regular season title: “This is what we worked hard for. This is why I know guys came here, I know why guys came back. It’s for this reason. We’re really happy, for everybody. We’re really happy for the coaching staff and for us as players. This is a special team, so it just hits different when you’re so close, and a lot of guys ain’t gonna be here next year.”

Sounds like a mass exodus for next years team. This makes me sad.

[Chicat]

I wouldn’t bet the farm on a bunch of guys leaving based on that statement. Him and Benn won’t be here. In his mind that could be “a lot”.

[Alieberman]

Every PAC road game for Cats was decided by 10+ points

That’s nuts

[EastCoastCat]

I wouldn’t bet the farm on a bunch of guys leaving based on that statement. Him and Benn won’t be here. In his mind that could be “a lot”.

I thought the same thing. His "lot" is different than ours.

[UAEebs86]

I wouldn’t bet the farm on a bunch of guys leaving based on that statement. Him and Benn won’t be here. In his mind that could be “a lot”.

And Aiken (not sure if he was here long enough to develop relationships with anybody).

[Alieberman]

Following up your worst game of the season with your best game of the season is really, really special

[Longhorned]

That was a very fun game. The USC crowd brought it (for USC) and their team played with great energy until the end. Arizona was just unstoppable.

You think it will be worth much if we drop BOTH home games against Stanford and Cal?!!! You have poor reading comprehension! Argh! Argh! I'm a pirate!

[ZagCatFan]

Congratulations Tommy Lloyd and Wildcat team on winning PAC 12 Championship.

Haven’t heard much from Lloyds critics since season started.

[RondaeShimmy]

Colorado is now #75 in NET

Which means its now a quad 1 loss

[EastCoastCat]

Btw, props to Kier. He was balling last night - might have been his best game.

That steal and LEFT hand dunk was simply awesome. Love that guy, his story and how he fits so nicely within this team!

[TheCatInTheHat]

No analysis whatsoever...nothing but pure fan celebration from me at a time like this. We were going to hold our hats in our hands and bow down to the LA schools and Oregon and count ourselves lucky to eke into the tournament, if we even did. Talk about making fools out of the "experts" and doing it in style...blowing the doors off Galen Center for about the first time they've had a sellout that wasn't half UCLA fans. Also nice that Jay Bilas had a courtside seat, as I'm sure he was rooting for us all the way. Great job, Cats!

[84Cat]

Yeah, I was thinking we are going to miss Kier next year. He's a solid backup pg that has given us good minutes this year.

[UAEebs86]

[RawleArenas]

This year has been real interesting. I would have bet the farm that Ballo would be a bust, I was admittedly less than excited when he transferred here. And now we're here at the end of the season Pac 12 champs with Ballo being a critical and important part of our rotation. And with his redshirt and COVID year, he has three more years which will likely end with all Pac 12 honors and some NBA buzz.

I will say this about Lloyd: he gets it. Granted it's still a small sample size, but he's gotten a five star guard coming here, secured a likely #1 seed, and has gotten a big chunk of the fan base on his side, no small feat. The biggest accomplishment of all is getting skeptical fans to eat their words. Winning is the best deodorant in all of sports; I'm gonna stop calling him Tommy Boy and start calling him Right Guard.

This year feels so good because the stench that surrounded our program is now replaced by clean, ruthless dominance. UCLA fans are wondering how in the world did they ever beat us. USC fans are calling our loss at Pauley a complete and utter fluke. I like the fact that we've served notice that not only we're back, but we're here to stay. I did notice a few things after the game though.

Like the Tennessee game, Zu and Koloko were somewhat non existent. And yet, we still had our foot on USC's throat. I've said this before, we can go deep in the tournament if Superman decides to put on his cape (and I'm not talking about Mathurin). If this team does what I think it can do, we're gonna look back at this team and find that there were at least 6-7 pros on this squad (and there might be more). But in the meantime, I'm just gonna enjoy the fact Reece Davis almost jumped out of his seat several times in the first half.

[VegasCatFan]

This might be my second favorite team ever after the 87-88 team. The ONLY complaint I have about this team is I wish they wouldn't complain so much to the officials when they disagree with a call. It happens often and in every game. Other than that, there's nothing but love for this team.