The 2021-2022 Season Thread

[Jefe]

Got my Red Blue tickets. Oct 2! A ton of tickets left

[gronk4heisman]

I will approach tickets like Tommy Lloyd approaches recruiting, complain about how hard it is to find the time to go and at the last minute if a ticket falls in my lap and I am free I will go.

[Merkin]

Josiah Turner has to be #1. Dude was a 5 star who did squat in college

At least he didn't end up in prison like Sidiki Johnson for armed robbery.

[dmjcat]

Josiah Turner has to be #1. Dude was a 5 star who did squat in college

At least he didn't end up in prison like Sidiki Johnson for armed robbery.

Armed Robbery........no

DUI/Pimping on the other hand

https://www.publicpolicerecord.com/ariz ... ah/T620242

[Merkin]

Josiah Turner has to be #1. Dude was a 5 star who did squat in college

At least he didn't end up in prison like Sidiki Johnson for armed robbery.

Armed Robbery........no

DUI/Pimping on the other hand

https://www.publicpolicerecord.com/ariz ... ah/T620242

Also in more trouble! Dude, just play basketball. You can make a good living in most places.

https://www.publicpolicerecord.com/ariz ... ah/T589071




(001) Count of BURGLARY 2ND DEGREE
(001) Count of AGG ASLT-ENTER RESIDENCE
(001) Count of DISORDERLY CONDUCT-FIGHTING
(001) Count of ASSAULT-INTENT/RECKLESS/INJURE
(001) Count of AGG ASLT-SERIOUS PHY INJURY
(001) Count of NARCOTIC DRUG-POSSESS/USE
(001) Count of MARIJUANA-POSSESS/USE

[Spaceman Spiff]

I will approach tickets like Tommy Lloyd approaches recruiting, complain about how hard it is to find the time to go and at the last minute if a ticket falls in my lap and I am free I will go.

Hey, that's a little unfair to Lloyd. He's only had months to recruit. How about this?

I will approach tickets like Bobby Robbins's favorite coaching candidate. I'll watch him spend 250k on a search committee to find the best fan, then he'll just give me two front row seats because he likes me.

[Postmaster]

Mayes was more of a foot case.

[Postmaster]

Donelle “Snoop” Harris was a head case, but more in the way “head” was used in the 70s and 80s.


Head shop
Pothead

[dmjcat]

PAC12 Weekly Pairings (schedule) is out:

https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketbal ... -date-time

[Irish27]

Larsson on crutches with a broken foot.

[UAEebs86]

Larsson on crutches with a broken foot.

[IndianaZonaFan]

We are around 12 weeks away from season starting. Should be good by then right?

[Beachcat97]

https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/P ... 69419898_7

This is the highest I've seen us predicted in the Pac standings for next season.

[U.P. Zona Fan]

Hmm, not seeing the reason for the love on usc, can see wazzu #5 but there is gonna be a cluster below Oregon and UCLA, as much as it pains me to say it. Like a 4 way tie for 3rd or 4th. I do think we are in that second tier cluster. Just my thoughts. Gonna need to separate from the group.

[Beachcat97]

Hmm, not seeing the reason for the love on usc, can see wazzu #5 but there is gonna be a cluster below Oregon and UCLA, as much as it pains me to say it. Like a 4 way tie for 3rd or 4th. I do think we are in that second tier cluster. Just my thoughts. Gonna need to separate from the group.

I'm not understanding the USC love either. They're getting a little bump from how they finished last season, I think. Call me crazy, but maybe UCLA is too? I'm probably in the minority, but I think Oregon is the favorite. Best coach, best roster.

[IndianaZonaFan]

Hmm, not seeing the reason for the love on usc, can see wazzu #5 but there is gonna be a cluster below Oregon and UCLA, as much as it pains me to say it. Like a 4 way tie for 3rd or 4th. I do think we are in that second tier cluster. Just my thoughts. Gonna need to separate from the group.

I'm not understanding the USC love either. They're getting a little bump from how they finished last season, I think. Call me crazy, but maybe UCLA is too? I'm probably in the minority, but I think Oregon is the favorite. Best coach, best roster.

Tier 1- UCLA, Oregon
Tier 2- Arizona, Colorado, USC
Tier 3- Wazzu, OSU
Tier 4- ASU, Stanford, Utah
Tier 5- Wash, Cal

I feel like this is where we should be this year. Finishing 3-5 in conference. Translating to a 5-9 seed in the tourney. Depending on health of course.

[FreeSpiritCat]

Hmm, not seeing the reason for the love on usc, can see wazzu #5 but there is gonna be a cluster below Oregon and UCLA, as much as it pains me to say it. Like a 4 way tie for 3rd or 4th. I do think we are in that second tier cluster. Just my thoughts. Gonna need to separate from the group.

I'm not understanding the USC love either. They're getting a little bump from how they finished last season, I think. Call me crazy, but maybe UCLA is too? I'm probably in the minority, but I think Oregon is the favorite. Best coach, best roster.

Tier 1- UCLA, Oregon
Tier 2- Arizona, Colorado, USC
Tier 3- Wazzu, OSU
Tier 4- ASU, Stanford, Utah
Tier 5- Wash, Cal

I feel like this is where we should be this year. Finishing 3-5 in conference. Translating to a 5-9 seed in the tourney. Depending on health of course.

The wild card is coaching. Let's see how well CTL coaches them up. My biggest complaint with CSM is that the players didn't seem much better as the season progressed, or wound down. I don't know why. I have a hunch that it was too rigorous and the players stopped having fun and it became more of a chore. I don't know what I think of CTL yet. But I have a gut feeling the players will love him and want to play for him. If a person bets I would put a little money down for him to overachieve. I don't know how to phrase this correctly, but I find CTL just may have the "it" factor. He knows how to coach and knows how to get into a player's head to make the player better.

[Irish27]

Under Lute, the players definitely got better. You did not really see that under Miller.

[YoDeFoe]

We are around 12 weeks away from season starting. Should be good by then right?

He broke his foot about 3 weeks ago and we've got about 11 weeks until the first non-exhibition game... a non-surgical recovery is 6-8 weeks if it's an easy break but a bad break could hold a player out for 12-16 weeks. It just depends on the location of the break and the individual's response. Hopefully its an easy one and he gets back on the floor and in rhythm in time for the Vegas event in mid-Nov (13 weeks from now, 16 weeks post-injury or so).

[Spaceman Spiff]

We are around 12 weeks away from season starting. Should be good by then right?

He broke his foot about 3 weeks ago and we've got about 11 weeks until the first non-exhibition game... a non-surgical recovery is 6-8 weeks if it's an easy break but a bad break could hold a player out for 12-16 weeks. It just depends on the location of the break and the individual's response. Hopefully its an easy one and he gets back on the floor and in rhythm in time for the Vegas event in mid-Nov (13 weeks from now, 16 weeks post-injury or so).

The bolded is true. Broken foot can be pretty finicky. It's just an area that receives so much pounding.

Here's hoping for a quick recovery. It's tough because the foot also tends to be an area that kills conditioning and game readiness. I'll go to bat for the foot being a reason Rawle struggled for a bit in 17-18.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Under Lute, the players definitely got better. You did not really see that under Miller.

I've never really agreed with this. It depends wholly on who you look at.

If you compare Gabe York to Mustafa Shakur, Miller looks fantastic. Or Dusan Ristic to Chris Rodgers.

The part of the comparison that makes a more direct comparison impossible is that Miller's era had players leaving who Lute would have had for 3-4 years. Lauri Markannen as a junior might have been Sean Elliott level.

[YoDeFoe]

Some really interesting breakdowns of the evolution of Gonzaga's offense, along with a review of where that evolution took them last season:

https://skarrgozags.substack.com/p/the- ... as-offense

https://skarrgozags.substack.com/p/gonz ... -breakdown

These are both deeeeeep dives but if you've got time on your hands and the appetite for it, they're pretty satisfying.

A fun insight from the second link is just how often the Zags score in the first 10 seconds of the shot clock, regardless of whether the opposing team missed or made their attempt. And its not just last season: Gonzaga has been top ten in the nation in possession length the last three seasons. Watch the "GU Throw Ahead" video to see the comedy of the Zags putting up easy buckets in seconds against even very good teams, just by consistently making outlet passes to their streaking wings. With our size and passing and athleticism we ought to see a lot of similar transition scoring. The "GU Rim Run" video follows - you can squint and see Tueblis and Aiken filling the Timme and Watson roles perfectly. Fun stuff.

I don't know if we have the chemistry and practice time to achieve this level of beautiful offensive basketball but we have the personnel.

[goslingswagg]

Hmm, not seeing the reason for the love on usc, can see wazzu #5 but there is gonna be a cluster below Oregon and UCLA, as much as it pains me to say it. Like a 4 way tie for 3rd or 4th. I do think we are in that second tier cluster. Just my thoughts. Gonna need to separate from the group.

I'm not understanding the USC love either. They're getting a little bump from how they finished last season, I think. Call me crazy, but maybe UCLA is too? I'm probably in the minority, but I think Oregon is the favorite. Best coach, best roster.

wholeheartedly agree on both of these takes - feels like they are getting a March Madness bump, which, fair enough I guess, but totally agree that Oregon should be the betting favorite in the conference, and I would be pretty surprised if USC finished #3 in the conference.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Some really interesting breakdowns of the evolution of Gonzaga's offense, along with a review of where that evolution took them last season:

https://skarrgozags.substack.com/p/the- ... as-offense

https://skarrgozags.substack.com/p/gonz ... -breakdown

These are both deeeeeep dives but if you've got time on your hands and the appetite for it, they're pretty satisfying.

A fun insight from the second link is just how often the Zags score in the first 10 seconds of the shot clock, regardless of whether the opposing team missed or made their attempt. And its not just last season: Gonzaga has been top ten in the nation in possession length the last three seasons. Watch the "GU Throw Ahead" video to see the comedy of the Zags putting up easy buckets in seconds against even very good teams, just by consistently making outlet passes to their streaking wings. With our size and passing and athleticism we ought to see a lot of similar transition scoring. The "GU Rim Run" video follows - you can squint and see Tueblis and Aiken filling the Timme and Watson roles perfectly. Fun stuff.

I don't know if we have the chemistry and practice time to achieve this level of beautiful offensive basketball but we have the personnel.

The 10 seconds before a shot is 3 seconds slower than Mike D'Antoni and 5 seconds faster than Rick Pitino.

[YoDeFoe]

The 10 seconds before a shot is 3 seconds slower than Mike D'Antoni and 5 seconds faster than Rick Pitino.

Ayyyyyyyy

[Spaceman Spiff]

The 10 seconds before a shot is 3 seconds slower than Mike D'Antoni and 5 seconds faster than Rick Pitino.

Ayyyyyyyy

If you mention seconds to shoot, I'll bring up Rick Pitino.

If you ask me who I'm going to call, I'll tell you Ghostbusters.

If you say stop, I'll respond drop, shut em down, open up shop.

It's why my wife rolls her eyes when I tell her she's a lucky woman.

[Postmaster]

That took me awhile (no pun intended)

[Spaceman Spiff]

Some really interesting breakdowns of the evolution of Gonzaga's offense, along with a review of where that evolution took them last season:

https://skarrgozags.substack.com/p/the- ... as-offense

https://skarrgozags.substack.com/p/gonz ... -breakdown

These are both deeeeeep dives but if you've got time on your hands and the appetite for it, they're pretty satisfying.

A fun insight from the second link is just how often the Zags score in the first 10 seconds of the shot clock, regardless of whether the opposing team missed or made their attempt. And its not just last season: Gonzaga has been top ten in the nation in possession length the last three seasons. Watch the "GU Throw Ahead" video to see the comedy of the Zags putting up easy buckets in seconds against even very good teams, just by consistently making outlet passes to their streaking wings. With our size and passing and athleticism we ought to see a lot of similar transition scoring. The "GU Rim Run" video follows - you can squint and see Tueblis and Aiken filling the Timme and Watson roles perfectly. Fun stuff.

I don't know if we have the chemistry and practice time to achieve this level of beautiful offensive basketball but we have the personnel.

Interestingly, a lot of the half court sets were pretty similar to Miller's. The ball screen heavy offense was something Miller did a lot of.

Horns, etc., all very similar. Which isn't negative at all. First, fans complained on here, but our offense under Miller was always good to great.

Next, I firmly believe at high levels, personnel and execution dwarf your "system." Most top teams do basically 90% the same stuff. Having Jalen Suggs, who I love, pushing into the teeth of the D will flatten them out. PJC, not so much. And running hard does so much. There's a reason Kaleb Tarcewski helped in ways that didn't show up in the box score. Running hard, hedging, those things matter.

[U.P. Zona Fan]

The biggest advantage we have with coaching this year I think is that there is no tape of CTL coaching, the pac 12 teams had years of experience playing against miller coached teams, now they got nothing, just a few early season games, one to three will be against pac 12 caliber competition.

Won't have that advantage next year.

[YoDeFoe]

Kyle Fogg on campus, watching Kriisa get some shots up.

https://instagram.com/stories/kkriisa/2 ... 2363805174

[Beachcat97]

The biggest advantage we have with coaching this year I think is that there is no tape of CTL coaching, the pac 12 teams had years of experience playing against miller coached teams, now they got nothing, just a few early season games, one to three will be against pac 12 caliber competition.

Won't have that advantage next year.

Interesting take, UP. I like it.

[YoDeFoe]

https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/sta ... 0543447046

Chad Ford lists Benn Mathurin as his number two returning player in terms of NBA draft potential. I can’t read the write up (it’s paywalled) but he’s ranked between Jaden Ivey of Purdue and Jabari Walker of Colorado.

[84Cat]

https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/sta ... 0543447046

Chad Ford lists Benn Mathurin as his number two returning player in terms of NBA draft potential. I can’t read the write up (it’s paywalled) but he’s ranked between Jaden Ivey of Purdue and Jabari Walker of Colorado.

[Beachcat97]

Everything is set up for Mathurin to have a big year. Getting really excited to see this team. A new era begins...

[YoDeFoe]

Everything is set up for Mathurin to have a big year. Getting really excited to see this team. A new era begins...

Mathurin didn't have a ton of success last season in pick and roll derived offense (the only area he struggled in!), which is interesting given that he'll be tasked with making ball screen reads in the Lloyd offense. He'll still find success in this offense with his spot up shooting, cutting, and transition scoring. But man, if he can make a step up in his ball screen offense (either attacking the rim when single covered or making the right pass when the defense commits to him) - he'll be unstoppable.

Mathurin - more than any of the other returning players - was uniquely suited for success in last season's offense as an excellent off ball player. I'll be curious to see if he can pick up the ability to read/react quickly enough to add to that success this season.

[Postmaster]

Kriisa was on radio yesterday. Said they’ve all been in town for a while. Seemed fond of the Utah guy. Said the Euro guys play the right way and the team will be really good this year.

[Beachcat97]

Kriisa was on radio yesterday. Said they’ve all been in town for a while. Seemed fond of the Utah guy. Said the Euro guys play the right way and the team will be really good this year.

On paper, our roster is kind of sneaky loaded. Would've preferred to keep Akinjo and JB, but it's hard not to like a core of Mathurin, Tubelis, Terry, Koloko, Kriisa, Larsson, Aiken, Kier, and Nowell. And I probably left off a name who will end up contributing somehow. And maybe "loaded" is overstating it, but there's enough here to be competitive. Lloyd has a nice roster in his first season.

[azgreg]

Lloyd has a nice roster in his first season.

Not a typical roster for a first year coach after the previous coach was fired.

[Beachcat97]

Lloyd has a nice roster in his first season.

Not a typical roster for a first year coach after the previous coach was fired.

If by "typical" you mean that this roster has much more talent, I'd agree. I'd need to look back, but I'm not sure whether Miller had a better roster in his first season.

[EastCoastCat]

Miller’s first team was less experienced. Jones, Williams, Hill and Parrom were part of a talented Freshman class but would all contribute in upcoming seasons.

[Merkin]

Miller also had to deal with interim coaches after Lute, which never helps recruiting.

[TheCat]

He has 2 of the players on the 1st team all freshman squad. To me one of the keys will be Terry. Can he give us 8-10 points a game and stellar defense. If he can.......and if we hold our own at point guard we have a shot to be in the top 4 in the conference. Those are big ifs.

[Beachcat97]

He has 2 of the players on the 1st team all freshman squad. To me one of the keys will be Terry. Can he give us 8-10 points a game and stellar defense. If he can.......and if we hold our own at point guard we have a shot to be in the top 4 in the conference. Those are big ifs.

Think Terry's going to have a big season.

[azgreg]

[Postmaster]

Seems like a jab at Miller.

[Chicat]

Seems like a jab at Miller.

Seems like a social media team trying to drum up support and notice of a program that no one is talking about, even amongst us fans.

[Longhorned]

Seems like a jab at Miller.

Seems like a social media team trying to drum up support and notice of a program that no one is talking about, even amongst us fans.

I wonder about this often. I can really only follow one team at a time, and starting in November, that's going to be our women's basketball team. That would have shocked the old me, but I suspect that shift is pretty common among our fan base.

The women's program is a true Arizona tradition in the way the men's program used to be. And the sport is truly a college sport in the way men's basketball used to be.

[84Cat]

Seems like a jab at Miller.

Seems like a social media team trying to drum up support and notice of a program that no one is talking about, even amongst us fans.

I don't think I can remember an Arizona team with less media coverage since the Snowden years. This year's team has almost no media presence. UA basketball is the polar opposite of UA football

[Chicat]

Seems like a jab at Miller.

Seems like a social media team trying to drum up support and notice of a program that no one is talking about, even amongst us fans.

I don't think I can remember an Arizona team with less media coverage since the Snowden years. This year's team has almost no media presence. UA basketball is the polar opposite of UA football

That’s been my fear ever since CSM was fired. That we’d slide head first into invisibility.

We’ll see if this is a temporary blip owing to larger issues around the pandemic and media, and local distractions like UA baseball, women’s basketball, and football. If Jedd Lasso turns out to be all talk and the football team sucks just as hard as ever we may see the focus shift back to basketball.

But honestly, Tommy Boy is a little boring. If he’s not giving out soundbites and catching the interest of 5-star recruits, we may not grab that attention we need as a piece of the puzzle of sustaining success.

[EastCoastCat]

I could give 2 shits about social media.

Tommy boy can be as dull as dishwater for all I care as long as he can recruit, coach and win ball games.