The 2021-2022 Season Thread

[EastCoastCat]

I love that passion towards our shitty Pac refs. Especially, when they are right which is 90% of the time.

[SabinoDrifter]

I like how Tommy acknowledged the guys were tired on Saturday, but didn't it use it as an excuse immediately after the CU game. It shows this team is really resilient and pretty remarkable for a young group of guys.

[84Cat]

Are we assuming the trophy presentation is Saturday?

[dmjcat]

Are we assuming the trophy presentation is Saturday?

I got a note from the AZ athletics dept. this morning that stated that the BBall team would be cutting down the nets following the Stanford game this thursday

[TheCat]

Figures. Flying in for Sr. Day on Saturday and was hoping to catch the ceremony. Will still enjoy seeing the team in person.

[RondaeShimmy]

Pac-12
Coach of the Year: Tommy Lloyd, Arizona

Player of the Year: Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona

Diaper Dandy of the Year: Harrison Ingram, Stanford

V's views: Arizona had its share of woes under Sean Miller last year, and Lloyd is a legit national Coach of the Year candidate. Mathurin got the nod over Johnny Juzang of UCLA in a close call.

[Beachcat97]

Ju-clang shouldn't even be in the conversation anymore. He's missed several games, and when he has played, he's been average at best.

Benn, TB, Tubelis, and maybe Richardson. Those are the top four, and Benn has clearly separated himself from the others.

[Beachcat97]

Question: when we are at our best, is there any team in the country you think we'd still struggle to beat?

I've seen all the top teams multiple times now. Gonzaga and Auburn are for real. Kentucky is deep and has lots of size. Kansas and Purdue have excellent guards. Baylor, Wisconsin, Villanova...all capable of reaching the FF. And yet, when we play even close to how we did in the first half yesterday, I think we get ahead by double-digits vs. these other teams.

Sure, it's safe to assume we'll have cold-shooting halves (hopefully not entire games) in the tourney, but man, when this team heats up, we are close to unstoppable.

Haven't been this confident in an AZ team since '14 and '15.

[Longhorned]

Question: when we are at our best, is there any team in the country you think we'd still struggle to beat?

I've seen all the top teams multiple times now. Gonzaga and Auburn are for real. Kentucky is deep and has lots of size. Kansas and Purdue have excellent guards. Baylor, Wisconsin, Villanova...all capable of reaching the FF. And yet, when we play even close to how we did in the first half yesterday, I think we get ahead by double-digits vs. these other teams.

Sure, it's safe to assume we'll have cold-shooting halves (hopefully not entire games) in the tourney, but man, when this team heats up, we are close to unstoppable.

Haven't been this confident in an AZ team since '14 and '15.

Good question. USC dropped 11 spots in their defensive efficiency rating in that single home game last night, and that was with Arizona being flexible with two centerpieces on the bench in foul trouble. I don't know what Seth Davis means by "A-game", but it makes sense if by "A-game" he means we're hitting our perimeter shots, because that's what allowed us to dominate the paint. And if that's what you mean by "at our best", then no, no team at their best would beat us. In other words, "Arizona has the best A-game in the country" (Davis). And every top-seeded team in the tourney will be in as much trouble as Arizona in a game where they can't hit shots from the outside, so that's hardly a special worry.

The one thing I'd say is that once we're playing against other high-seeded opponents (1-4), those aren't teams that will want to halt the pace to a grind, pack the paint, and dare us to shoot. And I think what we saw last night was something more than just opening the floor with our shooting. Arizona was deadly in finding small pockets of space through ball movement, and also threading the needle to find high-percentage shots. Along with the elite defense, that's what will matter against the higher seeded teams.

I think we can all agree that any fanbase who saw the first half of last night's game wants no part of facing Arizona in the tourney.

[ASUHATER!]

My dream is Arizona thrashing Duke in the title game by 30 to send K out to pasture.

[Alieberman]

I'd rather see Duke get humiliated in round 1

If we are in Final vs Duke... it will be all about Duke... even if we won

[dovecanyoncat]

I'd rather see Duke get humiliated in round 1

If we are in Final vs Duke... it will be all about Duke... even if we won

Exactly. We'll be blamed for not having enough respect to lose to Rat Man..

[EastCoastCat]

I just love being able to dream at the moment of what this team might accomplish...

My favorite thing about being a 'Cats bball fan hands down.

[prh]

If Duke makes the FF they're gonna move it to Durham

[UAEebs86]

I'd rather see Duke get humiliated in round 1

If we are in Final vs Duke... it will be all about Duke... even if we won

Exactly. We'll be blamed for not having enough respect to lose to Rat Man..

They owe us one for the refs stealing Lute's championship the year Bobbie passed.

[ZagCatFan]

Question: when we are at our best, is there any team in the country you think we'd still struggle to beat?

I've seen all the top teams multiple times now. Gonzaga and Auburn are for real. Kentucky is deep and has lots of size. Kansas and Purdue have excellent guards. Baylor, Wisconsin, Villanova...all capable of reaching the FF. And yet, when we play even close to how we did in the first half yesterday, I think we get ahead by double-digits vs. these other teams.

Sure, it's safe to assume we'll have cold-shooting halves (hopefully not entire games) in the tourney, but man, when this team heats up, we are close to unstoppable.

Haven't been this confident in an AZ team since '14 and '15.

That first half was magical.

Arizona v Gonzaga the battle everyone should wanna see...in the finals. Lloyd/Few.... Ballo/Timme...

I think Cats have more elite athletes and deeper bench....Zags are younger.

If both offenses are firing it would hinge on who's defense is better that night.

Today my moneys on Cats after last nights game.

Both teams must finish strong and stay away from being put in same region.

#ALLWESTCOASTFINAL

[threenumberones]

This team seems to lay an egg every 10 games. Otherwise steamrolls. I'm ok with that. A natty and then lay a bomb first game of next season - sign me up.

[Alieberman]

I just love being able to dream at the moment of what this team might accomplish...

My favorite thing about being a 'Cats bball fan hands down.

Me too. Although the other side of that coin is that I also have nightmares about what terrible thing is awaiting to completely derail everything.

Like today... immediately after visualizing cutting down the Final 4 nets... I started to think about the possibility of our entire team entering Covid protocols the day before our 1st game of the tournament

[TheCat]

My observation is that last nights first half was as good an exhibition of basketball at Arizona since the 2nd half against Florida in the SM era. Both were magical.

[RondaeShimmy]

[Beachcat97]

My observation is that last nights first half was as good an exhibition of basketball at Arizona since the 2nd half against Florida in the SM era. Both were magical.

Excellent comparison, TC

However, unlike that SM team, this group has shown again and again that they can basically blow a game open within a few minutes. Our methodical dismantling of USC yesterday was a product of great practices, great coaching, and great chemistry. This team BELIEVES they can beat anyone. I haven't seen this kind of swagger since that Alkins/Trier team.

Another thing I'm noticing is that our guys are playing looser. Since we don't rely on Benn to get 20 every game, he doesn't have to press things. He can let the game come to him. Same is true with Kriisa. And our low-key MVP is Dalen freaking Terry. He does everything, and you can see the other guys feeding on his energy.

Still, we are going to go through cold stretches. It hasn't happened often with this team, but it's been the most obvious common element in our two most recent losses (ucla and colorado). We didn't shoot poorly vs. Tennessee; we just lost a tough road game by a few points. It happens. In order for cold shooting to truly doom us in the tourney, we'd need to go an entire half with Benn, Kriisa, and Tubelis all ice cold, and probably also Kier and/or Pelle. This team is deep enough to survive cold shooting from our statistical leaders, just probably not against a high seed like Wisconsin or Villanova or whoever else they're sending to our region.

Nevertheless, I'm pumped. This team is exciting af.

[Jefe]

Got home at 4AM

[EastCoastCat]

I want to hug all of them...

[Alieberman]

I have said out loud or on this message board that this is my favorite player on this year's team:

Benn
Koloko
Kerr
Terry
Zu
Ballo

For the record..... I have never been wrong about this

[Alieberman]

Got back to Tucson at 4am yesterday and have game tonight…. Wouldn’t be surprised with an ugly lackluster game tonight.

Just get the win

[EastCoastCat]

They are young, they are focused, they understand what a loss at home what will do.

I expect the fans to keep this team juiced up but you are right it wouldn't be a shock to see us start out slow vs. the 'furd.

[IndianaZonaFan]

Someone please tell me the team will be wearing retro jerseys for the Stanford game. (Lute tribute)

[97cats]

They are young, they are focused, they understand what a loss at home what will do.

I expect the fans to keep this team juiced up but you are right it wouldn't be a shock to see us start out slow vs. the 'furd.

i do expect both these games to be blowouts to end the season at home

[Alieberman]

They are young, they are focused, they understand what a loss at home what will do.

I expect the fans to keep this team juiced up but you are right it wouldn't be a shock to see us start out slow vs. the 'furd.

i do expect both these games to be blowouts to end the season at home

For sure vs Cal... but if we blow out Stanford tonight I will be very impressed

[azgreg]

Did the league office fuck up and forget to schedule the Stanford game for 9:00 PM?

[g32knights]

They are young, they are focused, they understand what a loss at home what will do.

I expect the fans to keep this team juiced up but you are right it wouldn't be a shock to see us start out slow vs. the 'furd.

i do expect both these games to be blowouts to end the season at home

For sure vs Cal... but if we blow out Stanford tonight I will be very impressed

I'm expecting a blowout. They're cutting down the nets after the game tonight, so I'm assuming the guys will be pretty juiced up.

[dovecanyoncat]

18.5 points seems a tad rich.

[SabinoDrifter]

They are young, they are focused, they understand what a loss at home what will do.

I expect the fans to keep this team juiced up but you are right it wouldn't be a shock to see us start out slow vs. the 'furd.

i do expect both these games to be blowouts to end the season at home

For sure vs Cal... but if we blow out Stanford tonight I will be very impressed

I'm expecting a blowout. They're cutting down the nets after the game tonight, so I'm assuming the guys will be pretty juiced up.

The email I got from Arizona Athletics this morning said they're cutting the nets down after the Cal game now.

[pc in NM]

They are young, they are focused, they understand what a loss at home what will do.

I expect the fans to keep this team juiced up but you are right it wouldn't be a shock to see us start out slow vs. the 'furd.

i do expect both these games to be blowouts to end the season at home

For sure vs Cal... but if we blow out Stanford tonight I will be very impressed

I'm expecting a blowout. They're cutting down the nets after the game tonight, so I'm assuming the guys will be pretty juiced up.

The email I got from Arizona Athletics this morning said they're cutting the nets down after the Cal game now.

IMNSHO, that's a shame, because the Cal game will be broadcast only on Pac-12, so invisible to the majority of basketball fans....

OTOH, celebrating Lute tonite will get national exposure - no need to dilute that!!

[Longhorned]

Talking about national exposure, when are the sports national radio broadcasts going to start talking about college basketball? It's literally March and they're still mostly talking about the NFL! I wouldn't mind if they talked about how awesome the Rams are, but instead it's all general NFL minutiae. And then, of course, they rehash how bad the Lakers and Nets suck, then a little on the MLB lockout, and then back to the NFL.

[billk78]

I have said out loud or on this message board that this is my favorite player on this year's team:

Benn
Koloko
Kerr
Terry
Zu
Ballo

For the record..... I have never been wrong about this

Great post! Man, I also love Kier and Pelle (most of the time). Kier/Ballo have to be in the running for best 6th man the team has ever had. Although I believe Terry was a 6th man at some point wasn't he?

[Longhorned]

Yes! Kier and Pelle have been sooooo good.

[Alieberman]

Yeah... Terry was the 6th man on our '97 team.

Best All Time 6th man

[IndianaZonaFan]

Best 6th man:
‘97 Jason Terry
‘14 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
‘22 Kier/Ballo/Pelle (could be any of them each game)

[Beachcat97]

Unpopular opinion: if this team wins the NCAA tournament, feel like there needs to be some way to give Miller props for laying the foundation. Not sure what that looks like. It's not like Miller wants to party with Heeke and Robbins. I just think it's silly to pretend like Sean Miller isn't partially responsible for what's happening this year.

[pc in NM]

Unpopular opinion: if this team wins the NCAA tournament, feel like there needs to be some way to give Miller props for laying the foundation. Not sure what that looks like. It's not like Miller wants to party with Heeke and Robbins. I just think it's silly to pretend like Sean Miller isn't partially responsible for what's happening this year.

One of my fantasies: CTL credits CSM for the defensive coaching and team skills he inherited on this National Championship team in Monday night postgame interview!!!

[RondaeShimmy]

Unpopular opinion: if this team wins the NCAA tournament, feel like there needs to be some way to give Miller props for laying the foundation. Not sure what that looks like. It's not like Miller wants to party with Heeke and Robbins. I just think it's silly to pretend like Sean Miller isn't partially responsible for what's happening this year.

It's almost certain the Tommy gun will credit him at the podium, IF they win the 'ship

[Beachcat97]

Unpopular opinion: if this team wins the NCAA tournament, feel like there needs to be some way to give Miller props for laying the foundation. Not sure what that looks like. It's not like Miller wants to party with Heeke and Robbins. I just think it's silly to pretend like Sean Miller isn't partially responsible for what's happening this year.

It's almost certain the Tommy gun will credit him at the podium, IF they win the 'ship

If this happens, there won't be a dry eye among AZ alums.

[Chicat]

Unpopular opinion: if this team wins the NCAA tournament, feel like there needs to be some way to give Miller props for laying the foundation. Not sure what that looks like. It's not like Miller wants to party with Heeke and Robbins. I just think it's silly to pretend like Sean Miller isn't partially responsible for what's happening this year.

It's almost certain the Tommy gun will credit him at the podium, IF they win the 'ship

If this happens, there won't be a dry eye among AZ alums.

He’ll go from Tommy Boy to Tommy, My Boy.

[Beachcat97]

Unpopular opinion: if this team wins the NCAA tournament, feel like there needs to be some way to give Miller props for laying the foundation. Not sure what that looks like. It's not like Miller wants to party with Heeke and Robbins. I just think it's silly to pretend like Sean Miller isn't partially responsible for what's happening this year.

It's almost certain the Tommy gun will credit him at the podium, IF they win the 'ship

If this happens, there won't be a dry eye among AZ alums.

He’ll go from Tommy Boy to Tommy, My Boy.

I'd rather he just hire Sean as an assistant, but now I'm getting completely out of touch with reality

The love for Miller will always be there, with me at least. He had an epic run as our coach and is going to succeed at his next job, wherever it is.

[Alieberman]

Stanford game thread is up

[FreeSpiritCat]

The Cats are back, especially in the long. West of Kansa Arizona is the top program. Gonzaga may be the best program for awhile now. But their days are numbered. Few is amazing, but I doubt that a coach as good as Few will be head coach when he retires. I do believe the Zags will be good, but not at the same level. Losing Tommy Lloyd hurt. I don’t blame anyone, but.Tommy Lloyd was ready to shine. UCLA is the Cats biggest competition for decades. And, in most years either Arizona and UCLA are really good. My biggest problem with UCLA is they.don’t have the fan support that should be there for there storied problem.

I have a really good feeling about this season. The last time the Cats won the sip was the year I graduated UA. I will arrive in Maine within a few weeks after the ship. My gut tells me this will be a special year.

[Jefe]

IMNSHO, that's a shame, because the Cal game will be broadcast only on Pac-12, so invisible to the majority of basketball fans....OTOH, celebrating Lute tonite will get national exposure - no need to dilute that!!

They wouldn't have shown it anyways, it takes forever to get the ladder out. I hope they show the Lute tribute but it will definitely be on YT after

I had a memory pop up in my phone this morning from 4 years ago. Ayton had 26pts 20rebs and we cut down the nets after the game. We were there nearly an hour after the game ended.

[TheCat]

Well if Few left Gonzaga we might lose Tommy. In fact I would expected it if the dollars are close. Let's hope we are talking another decade or so.

[prh]

Tommy is not leaving us for Gonzaga