Bear Down Wildcats

85Cat wrote:And two 40-pointers.

I wonder if anyone on our team will score more than 30 this year?

Hope not. Balance is better.

I agree that balance is better. As much as I loved some of the great performances in the past by individuals, it does become reliant on that individual to score.

Olsondogg wrote:I agree that balance is better. As much as I loved some of the great performances in the past by individuals, it does become reliant on that individual to score.

True. On the other hand I doubt there will be many objections to having a Wooden Award candidate on the team. If RHJ has gotten his shooting ability up to snuff. . . Sean Elliott 2.0 is not a bad thing. Having a capable leader is as important has having balance.

Oh yeah. Well, how many titles did Elliott win?

















































J/k, St. Sean.

If Rondae Hollis-Jefferson were an animal, he'd be a golden retriever.

If Sean Elliott were an animal, he'd be a deer.

Two different animals.

Longhorned wrote:If Rondae Hollis-Jefferson were an animal, he'd be a golden retriever.

If Sean Elliott were an animal, he'd be a deer.

Two different animals.

Sean Elliott has never been stunned by bright head lights. . . and I doubt RHJ is easily distracted by squirrels.

Yeah but look at them. I nailed it!

UPDATED

45% | 42% | 83% = Final Four

Mine coincide, to a degree, but extend a bit...

I'm looking at 11, 52, 2.7/1

11 as in I want a minimum of 11 shots a game, be it from FG, 3FG or FT. I want a more aggressive TJ to keep defenses honest.

52 as in Effective FG%, as I not only want more shots, I want good shots, and taken advantage of opportunities.

2.7/1 as in Assist/Turnover ratio, as if he's aggressive and making his shots, the floor will be more open for cleaner passing lanes, crisper passing.

We need TJ to play instinctually, not with the occasionally timid, reactive mentality that found him second-guessing too many open shots, paralyzed by over-analysis mid-dribble, and a few too many lapses when passing.

He has to lead, not react. See and do. Not examine and think.

Yes, play smart, but have confidence in those split-second reads and then act.

He doesn't have to be Steve Nash, but we need a Travis Diener type of lead guard. The days of trying to win games without taking shots needs to be abandoned. He has to be a threat to maximize the surrounding talent. An Elbow Jumper would go a long way here.

He didn't shoot well tonight, but look at his stat line. 12 pts, NO turnovers, 6 steals (yes, 6 steals), 4 assists, and 9 rebounds. Damn.

Airizona wrote:He didn't shoot well tonight, but look at his stat line. 12 pts, NO turnovers, 6 steals (yes, 6 steals), 4 assists, and 9 rebounds. Damn.

Impressive!

TJ and Rondae turned the momentum in the second half. Credit to both of them for a hanging tough and finding a way to get the win. Anteaters a very solid team. They play smart and are well coached. I was getting a little nervous in the second half waiting for a run. Rondae came through with the slam on the big man.

Arizona took a leap with last nights win.

His shooting is still puzzling. Much better as an underclassman. But he does make up for it in other ways. Maybe, like Bullwinkle the Magician, he just needs another hat.

Through 4 games he has 28 assists and 6 turnovers

shooting 28% and 22% from 3

through four

28% | 21.4% | 100%

not magic

97cats wrote:through four

28% | 21.4% | 100%

not magic

Certainly we need those numbers to get better...but in the mean time, the nearly 5:1 a/to and 2.5:1 st/to ratios help balance it out. I haven't been able to watch much yet, but it seems he's playing at a pretty high level overall....just gotta start getting shots to drop.

He's averaging 5.5 rebounds too. His game is A plus right now other than the fact he can't hit the broadside of a barn

97cats wrote:through four

28% | 21.4% | 100%

not magic

More like tragic.

But his defense is phenomenal.

gumby wrote:His shooting is still puzzling. Much better as an underclassman. But he does make up for it in other ways. Maybe, like Bullwinkle the Magician, he just needs another hat.

I thought it was due to the lesser competition Duquesne faced, but TJ is getting plenty of good looks this year.

His form actually looks better, shoots higher up and less like a girl, and the rotation on the ball looks better, but they are still missing badly.

One thing I recall about Simon and Shakur is that you don't mess with a shot that goes in, although their funky shot mechanics cost them a NBA career.

I'm not worried about TJ

Well he and York won't shoot this poorly all year. Keep winning and watch those % go up. At least he is looking for his shot.

If nothing more it should shut Jay Williams up. Man he is annoying when he talks about how much he hates AZ

azcat49 wrote:Well he and York won't shoot this poorly all year. Keep winning and watch those % go up. At least he is looking for his shot.

If nothing more it should shut Jay Williams up. Man he is annoying when he talks about how much he hates AZ

You are assuming the "body surfer" knows how to. . .

He's becoming Doug Gottlieb! Or Russell Brown.

Yeah, his shooting is horrible and he's taking a lot of shots. Teams leave him wide open and will continue to do so. He does everything else well, including rebounding. So, need to figure out if he CAN shoot. Hasn't shown it yet. If it's a matter of finding the groove and he can shoot 35-40%, keep firing it up when you get those wide open looks. Otherwise, he's gonna have to start passing it up. He's killed a good number of offensive possessions very quickly firing it up very early in possession.

51/43/84 his sophomore season. Too many tacos? Too much weight-lifting? Too much sunshine?

gumby wrote:51/43/84 his sophomore season. Too many tacos? Too much weight-lifting? Too much sunshine?

He actually did pretty well against some stiff competition. UA excepted of course.

But he was also nails on FTs! WTF happened on those?

Lofty wrote:Yeah, his shooting is horrible and he's taking a lot of shots. Teams leave him wide open and will continue to do so. He does everything else well, including rebounding. So, need to figure out if he CAN shoot. Hasn't shown it yet. If it's a matter of finding the groove and he can shoot 35-40%, keep firing it up when you get those wide open looks. Otherwise, he's gonna have to start passing it up. He's killed a good number of offensive possessions very quickly firing it up very early in possession.

Miller keeps insisting that TJ is our best shooter and wants/needs TJ to shoot when he is open.

Better to be in a shooting funk now then when it really matters.

Miller also said that TJ's shooting is mental right now. He's thinking about it too much and making too big a deal about hitting shots. Once he relaxes and takes shots in the flow of the game, he should be fine.

Alieberman wrote:
Miller keeps insisting that TJ is our best shooter and wants/needs TJ to shoot when he is open.

Better to be in a shooting funk now then when it really matters.

I want TJ to keep shooting, the sooner he finds his shot the deadlier our offense will be. He really just needs to stop taking NBA 3's and move two steps in. I don't understand why he always allows himself to stay 2-3 feet too far back, maybe it's just a spacing thing on offense but if he could step up when he is wide open it would really help

AZCatGirl wrote:Miller also said that TJ's shooting is mental right now. He's thinking about it too much and making too big a deal about hitting shots. Once he relaxes and takes shots in the flow of the game, he should be fine.

If he keeps thinking this much, his last best chance at a basketball legacy is going to be over before it even started.

Two problems keeping this team from greatness right now:

1) Soft starts from starters not comfortable with their shooting; and

2) Miller not letting the bench compete during games.

Both problems are interrelated, purely perceptual but deepening. Without any "wear down" tonight, the point of no return for "This is who we are" is approaching sooner than we think with this roster.

catgrad97 wrote:

AZCatGirl wrote:Miller also said that TJ's shooting is mental right now. He's thinking about it too much and making too big a deal about hitting shots. Once he relaxes and takes shots in the flow of the game, he should be fine.

If he keeps thinking this much, his last best chance at a basketball legacy is going to be over before it even started.

what the FUCK are you babbling about?

catgrad97 wrote:

AZCatGirl wrote:Miller also said that TJ's shooting is mental right now. He's thinking about it too much and making too big a deal about hitting shots. Once he relaxes and takes shots in the flow of the game, he should be fine.

If he keeps thinking this much, his last best chance at a basketball legacy is going to be over before it even started.

Two problems keeping this team from greatness right now:

1) Soft starts from starters not comfortable with their shooting; and

2) Miller not letting the bench compete during games.

Both problems are interrelated, purely perceptual but deepening. Without any "wear down" tonight, the point of no return for "This is who we are" is approaching sooner than we think with this roster.

What are you talking about? "Perceptual but deepening"… please. Not sure if you're trying to talk in riddles or not, but this reads like something scripted by the Sphinx.

#1 has some merit... #2 doesn't. His use of the bench this year has been refreshing. You mean the top seven gobble up most of the minutes in the second half of a tight game? Not exactly shocking.

On a final note... I'm not expecting "" Greatness" in November, but I still have high expectations for March.

Catgrad is summoning his inner Machina...

Olsondogg wrote:Catgrad is summoning his inner Machina...

Are you summoning your inner bruins? Because you're sure on my nuts tonight for having a differing opinion.

Sorry I can't join in hailing a four-point win over Kansas State in Maui as the building block of a championship season. CatintheHeat feels the same way I do and apparently you and pokinmik had no problem understanding what the f*ck he was talking about.

But I'm just complaining to complain. Gotcha. I love our streaks of struggles to score and pull away from a one-scorer team. No, really!

Considering the missed FTs tonight and the open looks late, I have no doubt Miller is p*ssed that this team didn't finish off that d-bag Bruce Weber sooner--especially after he sneaks one of his players into our FT line huddle then tells Foster to act like he was in the act of shooting no matter where he was fouled on the last KSU possession.

Yeah, I love it when Arizona gives the Tad Boyle of the Big 12 hope. Kansas State doesn't freaking deserve to hold Arizona's jockstrap, but the Cats sure do enjoy letting 'em hang around!

I think the problem here is that even if we end up 20-0 OOC the general perception is that you will still be moaning that we didn't blow out enough of them, we're soft, etc etc. Sometimes you just gotta look at results and be happy.

PS Under Sean Miller we are not and will not have Lute-like teams wrt scoring. But we have a hardassed defense team reminiscent of Desert Swarm in football and we won't be losing to scrub teams in the first or second round of the tourney either. You might as well embrace it.

cats101 wrote:But his defense is phenomenal.

#2 for K State absolutely abused TJ. We had to switch Jefferson on that guy at the end so we could eek out a win. And even then, he shook and stutter stepped and nailed a 3 on Rondae. But I think we should've checked McConnell's ego and had Rondae on Foster MUCH earlier.

Having said that, Marcus Foster for Kansas State is playing in the NBA next year. He is way too strong, fast (how many times did he blow by TJ??) and has way too good of an outside shot not to.

catgrad97 wrote:

Olsondogg wrote:Catgrad is summoning his inner Machina...

Are you summoning your inner bruins? Because you're sure on my nuts tonight for having a differing opinion.

Sorry I can't join in hailing a four-point win over Kansas State in Maui as the building block of a championship season. CatintheHeat feels the same way I do and apparently you and pokinmik had no problem understanding what the f*ck he was talking about.

But I'm just complaining to complain. Gotcha. I love our streaks of struggles to score and pull away from a one-scorer team. No, really!

Considering the missed FTs tonight and the open looks late, I have no doubt Miller is p*ssed that this team didn't finish off that d-bag Bruce Weber sooner--especially after he sneaks one of his players into our FT line huddle then tells Foster to act like he was in the act of shooting no matter where he was fouled on the last KSU possession.

Yeah, I love it when Arizona gives the Tad Boyle of the Big 12 hope. Kansas State doesn't freaking deserve to hold Arizona's jockstrap, but the Cats sure do enjoy letting 'em hang around!

Hey I didn't say anything cg97! DC and I have similar avis. But since you summoned me I do think it's still so early to be jumping to conclusions. The team is still gelling, I'm not worried one bit, we'll get into a rhythm eventually and everyone will become more comfortable and confident during the games.

Before last night some people were hating on York and Tarc hardcore, and I bet they feel like boobs this morning. Patience everyone, we are going to be a damn good team.

I fear we are going to lose tonight.

catgrad97 wrote:

Olsondogg wrote:Catgrad is summoning his inner Machina...

Are you summoning your inner bruins? Because you're sure on my nuts tonight for having a differing opinion.

Sorry I can't join in hailing a four-point win over Kansas State in Maui as the building block of a championship season. CatintheHeat feels the same way I do and apparently you and pokinmik had no problem understanding what the f*ck he was talking about.

But I'm just complaining to complain. Gotcha. I love our streaks of struggles to score and pull away from a one-scorer team. No, really!

Considering the missed FTs tonight and the open looks late, I have no doubt Miller is p*ssed that this team didn't finish off that d-bag Bruce Weber sooner--especially after he sneaks one of his players into our FT line huddle then tells Foster to act like he was in the act of shooting no matter where he was fouled on the last KSU possession.

Yeah, I love it when Arizona gives the Tad Boyle of the Big 12 hope. Kansas State doesn't freaking deserve to hold Arizona's jockstrap, but the Cats sure do enjoy letting 'em hang around!

Never happy unless it's a blowout, gotcha. I don't understand how fans like you operate...you aren't satisfied unless it fits the parameters of what you think a "good game" is.

I hear guys like you whine and bitch all year long about how something "needs to be fixed" or how something isn't right, and then the inevitable "this team isn't going far in March" thread pops up because of something that doesn't look good to you. Meanwhile, the team racks up wins, trophies and accomplishments.

So I get it, you are gonna whine and bitch because games don't look pretty to you.

Keep on.

CalStateTempe wrote:I fear we are going to lose tonight.

I'm pretty confident actually. It's gonna be a battle and every possession will count with all the D being played by both teams. But I think we pull away at the end for a close win and the Maui title.

CalStateTempe wrote:I fear we are going to lose tonight.

You're not alone. It will be our best opponent so far, by far. Not even close. We haven't sniffed playing a ranked team. I kept waiting last night for the pull-away, wear-down, if you will. Never happened. Almost let it get away.

Won't be any pull away tonight no matter what. Just too hard to play so many minutes in so few days. TJ was really dragging end of game last night. Hope to see a lot of PJC tonight. SDSU has been playing a much deeper bench. Like I mentioned in the other thread, SDSU had 5 bench players with 12 or more minutes v. Pitt. UA had only RHJ with more than 7 v. KSU.

The only thing to fear ...

... is being guarded by McConnell.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc ... /19599235/

"My mission every night is to make life miserable for whoever I'm guarding."

Who says that anymore? Our point guard!

Our first goal is to win the conference outright, our second goal is to win the Pac-12 tournament. Then we want to get to Indianapolis. Then we want to win the national championship."

Post edited by POM is laugh out loud funny.

97cats wrote:40% | 40% |80% = Final Four

Arizona's fifth yr Senior PG is the key to the season -- level out the peaks and valley's and the CATS will be close to unbeatable

through 12 Pac12 games its clear McConnell is playing his best basketball of his career

a re-set to the beginning of the year when i mentioned that McConnell, IMO, and his benchmark number production -- 'MAGIC Numbers'-- would be the key to Arizona's chances at a Final Four.

while there has been a few bumps, i believe Arizona has come as close to hitting its apex as a TEAM during the conf portion of the schedule -- there is a direct correlation

31mpg, 12.25ppg, 56%fg, 55.5%3pt, 70%ft 5.6apg, 3.5rpg, 1.9spg