December 6, 2014 -- Arizona vs Gonzaga

Olsondogg · Post by **Olsondogg** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:25 pm

Oh man, my source came through...not behind bench, but still got me tix. Taking the wife (only likes the big games!!)

Frybry02 · Post by **Frybry02** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 6:37 pm

I will be there. Heading down Friday after work. Plan on watching the pac 12 championship game downtown or on 4th. Got a room at Aloft. Waking up eating at frog before the game!

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 10:07 am

gumby wrote: I would rather not watch than be in the "we can put the game on" situation. Can't bear the stupid comments and small talk when my mind is 100 percent on the tube. My kids know when to clear out. Adults do not. Had a neighbor visit in the midst of the Illinois meltdown game. "Oh, I thought it was over."

Yeah, me, too.

Kids have to adapt to adults with this affliction. I don't have kids, but I have nephews and nieces and friends' children who have to adapt to mine. Adults generally don't get anything that they or someone close to doesn't suffer from. No host with dogs and cats really gets that somebody with allergies has to leave their house right this very minute.

The only adults who truly recognize and share our illness are students currently in college, or older adults who went to one of:

Ohio State
Notre Dame
Penn State
Indiana
Syracuse
North Carolina
Duke
Florida
Florida State
Alabama
Auburn
Louisville
Kentucky
Texas
Michigan
Michigan State
Arizona
USC

I don't know if I'm missing any on that list. UCLA should maybe make it, though its sickos are further and farther between. Oregon might get there.

cats101 · Post by **cats101** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 10:30 am

Nothing better than a Saturday afternoon/evening game in McKale.

PerpEph · Post by **PerpEph** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 10:33 am

I'll be there. 7th row. Unreal.

Anybody want to grab drinks after the game? We are spending the night in Tucson.

97cats · Post by **97cats** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 11:21 am

PerpEph wrote:I'll be there. 7th row. Unreal.

Anybody want to grab drinks after the game? We are spending the night in Tucson.

you know it!!!

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 11:53 am

Longhorned wrote:
gumby wrote: I would rather not watch than be in the "we can put the game on" situation. Can't bear the stupid comments and small talk when my mind is 100 percent on the tube. My kids know when to clear out. Adults do not. Had a neighbor visit in the midst of the Illinois meltdown game. "Oh, I thought it was over."

Yeah, me, too.
Kids have to adapt to adults with this affliction. I don't have kids, but I have nephews and nieces and friends' children who have to adapt to mine. Adults generally don't get anything that they or someone close to doesn't suffer from. No host with dogs and cats really gets that somebody with allergies has to leave their house right this very minute.

But we vacuumed! Fluffy never goes into that room!

Alieberman · Post by **Alieberman** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 6:51 pm

I love my wife!

PieceOfMeat · Post by **PieceOfMeat** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 9:09 pm

wtf is wrong with Pitts' elbow?

Olsondogg · Post by **Olsondogg** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 9:15 pm

Last night I was excited for Saturday...couldn't sleep. Love big games in McKale...I can't think of another regular season sporting event I'd prefer.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Tue Dec 02, 2014 9:17 pm

PieceOfMeat wrote:wtf is wrong with Pitts' elbow?

Nothing it just grew an acorn.

HiCat · Post by **HiCat** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:38 am

When: Saturday, Dec. 6, 5:15 p.m.

TV: ESPN

The best-of-the-West list is a short one, with Arizona reigning over the likes of Gonzaga, San Diego State and fellow Pac-12 team UCLA. Thankfully, these teams tend to play each other quite frequently, and Gonzaga's visit to Arizona makes for one of the biggest non-made-for-TV games of the month.

Labeled as coach Mark Few's best team yet, Gonzaga has looked very good so far. The Bulldogs had three wins of 50-plus points at home before handling both Georgia and pseudo-home team St. John's in the NIT Season Tip-Off in New York City. It's been a mix of old and new for this squad, with point guard Kevin Pangos looking like the best guard in the country thanks to having new weapons Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis to work with.

Arizona hasn't been dominant, but it's also continued to keep winning the way it wants to—with tough defense and balanced offense. The Wildcats plodded through to the Maui Invitational title last week, edging San Diego State in the final for their fourth win in three seasons over the Aztecs and maintaining their spot atop the West Coast hoops hierarchy.

This is a rematch of last year's third-round West Region NCAA tournament game (which Arizona handily won 84-61).

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2281 ... er/page/11

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:03 am

It will be worthwhile to see how a plodding team like Arizona does against a dominant team like Gonzaga. Does Arizona make Gonzaga carry buckets of gravel up a hill? Or does Gonzaga blow out Arizona by 50? Either way it will be interesting, if you find the only three noteworthy examples of college basketball in the west interesting. We'll show the game right here on ESPN just in case you want to watch the same Arizona team who slid down the rankings a bit after squeaking by that third team in the west in Maui right here on ESPN while you all slept. They did it their way, rather than in a convincing way like Duke would have. But first, tune in right here to ESPN to listen to Seth Greenberg wonder whether Arizona can shoot well enough.

Olsondogg · Post by **Olsondogg** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:27 am

Will Arizona continue their tradition of disappointing victories?

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:57 pm

Olsondogg wrote:Will Arizona continue their tradition of disappointing victories?

Reminds me of what Gary Danielson said of Florida State's football team. One more victory and they're out of the playoffs.

3goggles · Post by **3goggles** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:57 pm

I just scored tickets for me and 4 year old daughter from my BOSS!!!

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:59 pm

Not sure a 4-year-old should be exposed to such an intense event. Better give that to a local poster.

3goggles · Post by **3goggles** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 1:22 pm

gumby wrote:Not sure a 4-year-old should be exposed to such an intense event. Better give that to a local poster.

Shit she loves her some UA Basketball brother! She can name you the whole roster and still asks me daily how Nick Johnson is doing with the Rockets. One of these moments I charish with my Daughter!!!

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 1:28 pm

Biggest game of the year.

Katzenfreund · Post by **Katzenfreund** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 2:07 pm

catgrad97 · Post by **catgrad97** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 2:44 pm

Gonzaga fanbase is probably the most real and respectful I have ever made acquaintance.

As well as the Cats were hitting the three ball last night, that covered for some bad lapses in defensive recovery.

Gonzaga's at a different level, and I expect Pangos to make the Cats pay for those attention deficits and for the Bulldogs to go aggressive man and make Zeus beat them one-on-one.

It's really important to an Arizona victory that the Cats dial in and attack the Zags from the opening tip. Screw the fouls, use our bench and make them play uncomfortably fast just like they did in the tournament last year.

Give them time to set up in their offense while having another slow first 10 minutes and Gonzaga can break the non-conference winning streak and McKale Magic IMHO.

dirtbags · Post by **dirtbags** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 3:26 pm

gumby wrote:Biggest game of the year.

yeah, i think you're right (though michigan could be really good for our rpi if they can beat wisconsin) - big statement game for both teams. i think i read somewhere (here?) that our last reg season non-conf loss was to gonzaga in 2011.

saturday's game will not only be a huge test for our team, but a real opportunity to take a big step forward in creating the kind of identity we'd like our team and program to have. as fans, we often sense that other teams don't get the type of stage fright they might get when playing duke at cameron or uk & the bbn or (for you fellow old-schoolers) 90s-era arkansas & their 40 minutes of hell. we want to strike fear into the hearts of our opponents. we want other teams to loathe playing arizona.

go 'cats.

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 6:41 pm

Zags fans are pretty realistic.

This is a good post:

A few keys:

1) The Zags must keep turnovers to a minimum. Pangos, Bell and company will have defenders in their grill all game long. The bigs must be decisive with their offensive moves and passes. The Zags need to do everything possible to make Arizona run halfcourt offense and keep the crowd out of the game. They must reduce Zona's transition game.

2) Karnowski and Sabonis must stay out of foul trouble. They have to stay away from cheap fouls so that the fouls they give are legit. They will be battling an elite frontcourt. I expect Wiltjer to struggle in this game defensively (he is going to have a hard time containing almost anyone he is assigned to). Karno and Sabonis need to play a lot of minutes together in order for the Zags to excel in this game.

3) The Zags must hit their free throws. Arizona may only be shooting 71% from the foul line, but they can stick a lineup out there that consists of 75%+ foul shooters. I don't expect Zona is misfire on the foul line that much in their home arena.

4) Hollis-Jefferson needs to be boxed out. He is a nuisance on the offense glass and loves blocking shots and stealing the basketball from big men and wings who aren't decisive in their moves going toward the hoop. He is the kind of guy who can completely turn a game around and ignite a crowd with his electric athleticism and ceaseless motor.

The biggest thing the Zags need to do is just stay in the game. If they can build a lead and maintain it, all the better because Arizona is so good when it comes to getting stops in the final 3-4 minutes. Their defense, which is already elite, goes up a notch in crunch time.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:52 pm

Gonzaga fan is coming to the right place. Arizona loves to let good opposition build up a lead and maintain it. They like to pick that pattern up and fondle it.

HiCat · Post by **HiCat** » Thu Dec 04, 2014 10:44 am

Zag fan talk ...predictions

http://guboards.spokesmanreview.com/sho ... 8f4d954c22

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Thu Dec 04, 2014 10:52 am

HiCat wrote:Zag fan talk ...predictions

http://guboards.spokesmanreview.com/sho ... 8f4d954c22

Some of those predictions for Gonzaga or Arizona winning are ridiculous. The worst is that fan who thinks Gonzaga will win by 10 points while carrying as much as a 20-point lead.

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Thu Dec 04, 2014 1:48 pm

Those scores they're predicting are much too high as well. Unless it goes to OT I doubt it'll be in the 70s.

azcat34 · Post by **azcat34** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 8:55 am

I know this is pretty shocking, but Seth Davis picked Gonzaga:

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 9:33 am

Seth Davis is a major tool.

97cats · Post by **97cats** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 9:54 am

i depart LAX at 5pm tonight -- to say im excited for this one is an understatement.

32 straight OOC victories
25 straight home wins

last OOC loss -- December 17, 2011 vs Gonzaga on a neutral floor in Seattle

scumdevils86 · Post by **scumdevils86** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 9:55 am

very excited....but i can't put my full effort into this game until about 10:30 tonight! maybe not until the morning depending on if i'm celebrating or not tonight.

pokinmik · Post by **pokinmik** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 10:05 am

97cats wrote:i depart LAX at 5pm tonight -- to say im excited for this one is an understatement.

32 straight OOC victories
25 straight home wins
last OOC loss -- December 17, 2011 vs Gonzaga on a neutral floor in Seattle

Bear Down 97... We need to keep those streaks going!

This is gonna be a hell of a 24-hour stretch starting at 9EST tonight...

CalStateTempe · Post by **CalStateTempe** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 10:14 am

24hours of intense CATS sports.

What a great time to be a CATS fan.

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 11:42 am

Good column

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/d ... t-friendly

You could certainly infer as much talking to Arizona coach Sean Miller three Decembers ago, when he was trying to swallow a pretty fair beatdown the Zags had administered to his team in KeyArena. It ended 71-60, but was 34-15 at one point and Miller was chain-smoking timeouts.

This was the game in which Elias Harris rediscovered his freshman self and tortured the Wildcats inside, and when Miller took a swing at an analogy afterward he found the sweet spot.

“If this was a football game,” he said, “they would have 180, 200 yards running – 5 yards on every carry.”

Miller felt bullied. So he kicked his chair and gambled a stamp and did the Charles Atlas thing, and over the next few years some big, strong types like Aaron Gordon, Kaleb Tarczewski, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Stanley Johnson have made their way to UA. Gordon has moved on to the NBA, but the Zags must deal with the other three come Saturday.

That is some fine writing.

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 12:46 pm

azcat34 wrote:I know this is pretty shocking, but Seth Davis picked Gonzaga:

I love that final score prediction. Gonzaga has scored 104, 72, 94, 109, 88, 73, 76 in their seven wins this season. Against the best defense they've seen so far, they'll score the same amount of points they've been scoring? When the game is AT Arizona? Obviously our defense isn't as good as last year's, but we're not giving up 75 points unless the team folds under pressure and stops playing defense for long stretches. I just don't see that happening. We may not win, but Gonzaga won't have as easy a time scoring as they're used to.

97cats · Post by **97cats** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 12:50 pm

thank you, Gumby

Olsondogg · Post by **Olsondogg** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:08 pm

Seth Davis and Jeff Goodman going with the Zags is a great sign.

Can't wait for McKale on Saturday.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:09 pm

AZCatGirl wrote:
azcat34 wrote:I know this is pretty shocking, but Seth Davis picked Gonzaga:
I love that final score prediction. Gonzaga has scored 104, 72, 94, 109, 88, 73, 76 in their seven wins this season. Against the best defense they've seen so far, they'll score the same amount of points they've been scoring? When the game is AT Arizona? Obviously our defense isn't as good as last year's, but we're not giving up 75 points unless the team folds under pressure and stops playing defense for long stretches. I just don't see that happening. We may not win, but Gonzaga won't have as easy a time scoring as they're used to.

That's the thing. When Davis and (before he got canned) Digger Phelps pick Arizona to lose, they're right sometimes. But in any big game they always pick against Arizona. Based on the principle that teams do lose (except Kentucky), Davis gets to be right sometimes, and as a result there's no bearing his haughty looks. Still, Arizona tends not to lose for the reasons that Davis and Phelps give. Davis in particular really has just a casual fan's "eye test" understanding of the game, which is why he can't analyze match ups. Last pre-season he was right about Arizona's limitations, but only after Ashley unexpectedly went down after Arizona dominated college basketball.

I think if you were to ask Davis to sum up Arizona's basketball program in one word, he'd say "pretender". I don't know if it's for real or if he's just a troll, but he consistently lives in a world where the universe over-values Arizona.

Olsondogg · Post by **Olsondogg** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:18 pm

I agree with what Longhorned wrote above.

The "eye test" is what ruins your bracket every March. Zags are a good team, at least I think they are. They have yet to play a really good team.

I have read alot about how great the Zags offense is, and yeah they've shot well. Against SAC, SMU, St Joes, STACY, UGA, SJU and SELA...

Oh and they were down at half, at home, against SELA.

Hats off to them if they pull out a victory in McKale. But I don't see this as the game where the streak ends. I actually worry more about the team visiting next weekend...

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:26 pm

We can handle Utah Valley. C'mon!

Olsondogg · Post by **Olsondogg** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:37 pm

gumby wrote:We can handle Utah Valley. C'mon!

Weekend, gumby...weekend....

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:49 pm

Damn speed reading course. F*ck Evelyn Wood.

Wrong Wolverines.

Jefe · Post by **Jefe** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:58 pm

@GoodmanESPN · 2h hours ago

Good to be home:

97cats wrote:
32 straight OOC victories
25 straight home wins

Gardner-Webb made it 34 actually.

CalStateTempe · Post by **CalStateTempe** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 8:58 pm

So what does everyone think about tomorrows game? Should be a good one.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 8:59 pm

Please salvage the weekend Basket Cats.

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 9:18 pm

I've never been more thankful to have a ticket. Get my mind off tonight. No pressure Cats. The fans just really need you to win this game more than ever.

You know one thing I bet we'll see tomorrow? Arizona basketball for 40 minutes. Not this conservative offense bullshit.

PieceOfMeat · Post by **PieceOfMeat** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 10:06 pm

CalStateTempe wrote:So what does everyone think about tomorrows game? Should be a good one.

I think the zags are gonna win.

making this sports weekend the complete opposite of last weekend.

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 10:56 pm

Jay Williams and Seth Greenburg both picked us to win.

We are fucked...

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 11:16 pm

Screw that. It may not be pretty, but we're winning that game tomorrow.

HiCat · Post by **HiCat** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:50 am

I'm guessing that Arizona is excited and ready for this game. (fired up, and running from the get go)

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