Bear Down Wildcats

AZCatGirl wrote: Tue Jan 21, 2025 9:23 pm Glad we got this must win game. Now Colorado is another must win. Not just because they haven't won a Big 12 game yet (as of this post), but because with Iowa State coming in Monday we can't afford to drop games we should win.

Colorado is a must win game because Tad Boyle is an itchy crotch.

Chicat wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 10:31 am

AZCatGirl wrote: Tue Jan 21, 2025 9:23 pm Glad we got this must win game. Now Colorado is another must win. Not just because they haven't won a Big 12 game yet (as of this post), but because with Iowa State coming in Monday we can't afford to drop games we should win.

Colorado is a must win game because Tad Boyle is an itchy crotch.

If we can't beat CU we don't deserve a tourney birth. CU is 0-7 in the Big12

84Cat wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 10:36 am

Chicat wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 10:31 am

AZCatGirl wrote: Tue Jan 21, 2025 9:23 pm Glad we got this must win game. Now Colorado is another must win. Not just because they haven't won a Big 12 game yet (as of this post), but because with Iowa State coming in Monday we can't afford to drop games we should win.

Colorado is a must win game because Tad Boyle is an itchy crotch.

If we can't beat CU we don't deserve a tourney birth. CU is 0-7 in the Big12

Bad games happen for every team. If it happens Saturday it will be fine

R

E

L

A

X

Things are coming along nicely and improving

All of our losses thus far are Quad 1 losses. A loss to Colorado at home would be a Quad 3 loss... by far would be the worst loss all year.

I do not see us losing this game... but if we did... it would certainly be a very bad loss

Alieberman wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 10:57 am All of our losses thus far are Quad 1 losses. A loss to Colorado at home would be a Quad 3 loss... by far would be the worst loss all year.

I do not see us losing this game... but if we did... it would certainly be a very bad loss

And it would not impact anything at all come Selection Sunday

We just need some consistency with our shooting.

Merkin wrote: Tue Jan 21, 2025 3:52 pm If I was Stephen or a family member of his, that sure makes it seem like he isn't in the picture for the future.

On Townsend, his stats with about half the games he played last season and about 1/3 the minutes compared to today.

I guess what we all missed is what Stephen wanted. Tommy addressed this in his press conference and that Stephen was insistent on it.

For the stat nerds. Delly makes the list twice

84Cat wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 1:41 pm For the stat nerds. Delly makes the list twice

As did Veesaar, which might explain why lots of Arizona fans have felt the team plays best when he is in.

Though you don't hear the same regarding ADO.

Agree with AzCatGirl - last night's win was big and so is Saturday's game.

While, due to Arizona's lousy OOC performance, all the games are big when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament, the games vs our lesser BXII foes are more important given that wins against the best teams will be harder to come by. Which is why it was imperative that Lloyd and crew got off to a good start in conference play.

Course the ISU game is going to be big because we need some legit wins to cement our bid lol.

Winger wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 2:29 pm

84Cat wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 1:41 pm For the stat nerds. Delly makes the list twice

As did Veesaar, which might explain why lots of Arizona fans have felt the team plays best when he is in.

Though you don't hear the same regarding ADO.

Agree with AzCatGirl - last night's win was big and so is Saturday's game.

While, due to Arizona's lousy OOC performance, all the games are big when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament, the games vs our lesser BXII foes are more important given that wins against the best teams will be harder to come by. Which is why it was imperative that Lloyd and crew got off to a good start in conference play.

Course the ISU game is going to be big because we need some legit wins to cement our bid lol.

I agree, think that Veesaar is the key more than ADO. I think the ability of Henri to open up the offense and spread the floor with his shooting/passing is what helps out ADO (allowing him to get good looks from 3PT on reversals, screens, etc). When Awaka/Townsend are in there the opposing defense is able to play them much differently than Veesaar.

I don't know if I'm nitpicking, but in the game yesterday in first half ADO seemed to have the ball in his hands way too much - trying to initiate the offense himself (with his subpar ballhandling) and we stalled out.

I was going to same thing. Offense seems to move more and quicker with HV on the floor (often paired with CB) which I think gives ADO better looks.

Re: Stephen. I still think CTL should have gotten him in more. There were times when we had huge leads, get a minute or two. Also times when nobody would rebound. That might have been time to put him out there just to make a point with the other bigs.


What is RS rule now? Does it have to do with games played or when you play games during season?

Postmaster wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 3:28 pm I was going to same thing. Offense seems to move more and quicker with HV on the floor (often paired with CB) which I think gives ADO better looks.

Re: Stephen. I still think CTL should have gotten him in more. There were times when we had huge leads, get a minute or two. Also times when nobody would rebound. That might have been time to put him out there just to make a point with the other bigs.


What is RS rule now? Does it have to do with games played or when you play games during season?

Yep, I think give Stephen as many minutes as you can when games are in hand. Could pay off down the road this year.

Believe you can't have played in any games to be eligible for RS unless its an injury related RS (which you have to apply for - IE Krivas)

I feel like redshirting is a waste these days. It seems highly unlikely that a player will stay at any one school for 4 years, let alone 5 (or however many they can play now).

Postmaster wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 3:28 pm What is RS rule now? Does it have to do with games played or when you play games during season?

Same as it's always been. Once you set foot on the court in a regular season game your redshirt is finished.

Not sure why football gets 4 games out of 12 to keep a redshirt, but you get none in 30 basketball games?

Although the NCAA is pushing to give everyone 5 years to play 5, and no more traditional redshirts, so I guess it doesn't matter anymore.

gouacats wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 5:05 pm I feel like redshirting is a waste these days. It seems highly unlikely that a player will stay at any one school for 4 years, let alone 5 (or however many they can play now).

This x 1000%

PHXCATS wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 11:00 am

Alieberman wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 10:57 am All of our losses thus far are Quad 1 losses. A loss to Colorado at home would be a Quad 3 loss... by far would be the worst loss all year.

I do not see us losing this game... but if we did... it would certainly be a very bad loss

And it would not impact anything at all come Selection Sunday

Are you this simple minded in all aspects of life? Does cause and effect not resonate with you? If we are say 19-13 and firmly on the bubble a bad loss to a Colorado team is absolutely something that would impact us come Selection Sunday.

gronk4heisman wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 8:11 am

PHXCATS wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 11:00 am

Alieberman wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 10:57 am All of our losses thus far are Quad 1 losses. A loss to Colorado at home would be a Quad 3 loss... by far would be the worst loss all year.

I do not see us losing this game... but if we did... it would certainly be a very bad loss

And it would not impact anything at all come Selection Sunday

Are you this simple minded in all aspects of life? Does cause and effect not resonate with you? If we are say 19-13 and firmly on the bubble a bad loss to a Colorado team is absolutely something that would impact us come Selection Sunday.

After watching some of Rado’s act the other night, if UofA loses to them, they don’t even belong in the NIT.

5th on this list it is since the tournament extended to 64 teams in 79.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-me ... no-1-seeds

azcat49 wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2025 9:38 am 5th on this list it is since the tournament extended to 64 teams in 79.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-me ... no-1-seeds

Among other things like the nonsense that is "Baylor is the best program in America" I used to argue with Luke OTOS regarding how many blue bloods there are.

There are 4. Apologies to UConn, UCLA, and all the other pretenders.

Wish I had thought to look this up, but the dramatic drop in #1 seed bids from the 4 blue bloods to the next best programs is another piece of evidence to support that argument. Though it doesn't really need supporting.

#1 seeds are important if you want to make multiple Final Fours. The frequency of making a F4 as a 1-seed (40%) is significantly higher than a 2-seed (20%); and the chance of making it as a 2-seed is significantly higher than as a 3-seed (10%). These statistical facts are why I used to post:

"If you want to make Final Fours with some consistency you need to be good enough to garner 1- and 2- seeds frequently."

This might change a little in the Free Transfer Era but I doubt it changes much.

azcat49 wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2025 9:38 am 5th on this list it is since the tournament extended to 64 teams in 79.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-me ... no-1-seeds

Stanford with 3 from 2000 - 2004 !!

There are the 1 seeds and every other team chasing lightning in a bottle

Occasionally teams might be miss seeded like we were in 94 when we were clearly better than Missouri. Still if a one seed plays to its potential, they are likely going to the FF

Siempre Verde wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 1:37 pm

gronk4heisman wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 8:11 am

PHXCATS wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 11:00 am

Alieberman wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 10:57 am All of our losses thus far are Quad 1 losses. A loss to Colorado at home would be a Quad 3 loss... by far would be the worst loss all year.

I do not see us losing this game... but if we did... it would certainly be a very bad loss

And it would not impact anything at all come Selection Sunday

Are you this simple minded in all aspects of life? Does cause and effect not resonate with you? If we are say 19-13 and firmly on the bubble a bad loss to a Colorado team is absolutely something that would impact us come Selection Sunday.

After watching some of Rado’s act the other night, if UofA loses to them, they don’t even belong in the NIT.

Just a reminder this Colorado team beat UCONN early in the year. They were also up double digits in the second half against ISU. No game is going to be easy for this team as we are replacing 80% of our starters. Get use to the struggle. I will also tell you I have seen ASU a few times and they are better than their record.

Line opened at AZ -15.5 and I would be laying that lumber. Anything can happen but I think we will see a focused team this homestand

Arizona is #8 - ESPN BPI rankings.

KaibabKat wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2025 11:29 pm Arizona is #8 - ESPN BPI rankings.

My eyes deceive me.

Shocked to see Arizona as high as #8 at this point in the season in any kind of ranking. Tho, alas, I don’t have any experience with BPI.

But, I do have experience with KenPom.

And, we are to the point in the season where last season’s performance/metrics no longer affect this season’s ratings. And, Arizona’s offense currently sits at #16 (my eyes haven’t seen that either) and defense #27 (that I think I have seen).

Lot of season and possessions to go, but the Cats are moving toward that “top 20/top 20” position heading in to the Tournament that I used to harp about so much on GoAzCats and then WA. And, importantly, imo have been playing better of late. Tho we still go in to too many scoring/assiting/backdoor cutting/movement/big man pin downing lulls for my liking.

Imv the Cats need to put CU away early today and then start to put up some quality performances on the remaining elite opponents, which is something that both hasn’t yet transpired and has a chance to begin in about 60 hours.

Part of that imo will depend on Lloyd realizing that this team is better suited to more sets and less Tommy Lloyd Free Love offense. Might also depend some on not giving too many possessions and points away due to starting a couple of the scrubs.


If I had Lloyd’s ear I’d be telling him to put KON up in an apartment close to campus for the next 2 months …

KON? Kevin O’Neil? Why him?

Can we be #16/27 vs elite opponents? I guess we will find out soon

IMNSHO, mentioning KO around here should merit neg rep!!! Quit it!!!

Delly is really becoming a much needed weapon

I love how Tad's game plan was to not let Delly shoot, and he gets 20 points.

Alieberman wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 3:25 pm Delly is really becoming a much needed weapon

One of the best shooters in the country but quite possibly the worse defender in the country. We need him though

Lovin' what Henri has been doing.

azcat49 wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 9:01 am KON? Kevin O’Neil? Why him?

Can we be #16/27 vs elite opponents? I guess we will find out soon

Your question is a good one.

I liked what KON did w sets to get looks for Bayless and Budinger. If he is too toxic I like Altman as a set caller as well.

From the game today:

Boyle ran a lot of zone D and a bunch of offense straight at ADO.

If Townsend does that Miller sumu squat in the lane off of a dribble drive one more time I am going to lose it. He went back to back to back with this move to open the second half and turned it over once or twice and got bailed out the other time.

Both the team and the crowd seemed a bit flat. Trap game of sorts I guess maybe.

Was told Barnes’ contract was not renewed.

Big game monday night!

pc in NM wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 12:50 pm IMNSHO, mentioning KO around here should merit neg rep!!! Quit it!!!

Oh man I remember the “Lute is going” and the “we should just make KO the permanent head coach” period on the old boards, with me on the side saying “We should probably do a national search”.

If you want to talk about KO and negative rep that was it, for me at least. My red bar just lighting up like crazy.

Winger wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 4:47 pm Was told Barnes’ contract was not renewed.

So we're done with Adia at the end of the year?

AZCatGirl wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 5:11 pm

Winger wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 4:47 pm Was told Barnes’ contract was not renewed.

So we're done with Adia at the end of the year?

She still has another year on her contract. I was thinking Winger meant Erika, but he can certainly speak for himself.

Alieberman wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 3:25 pm Delly is really becoming a much needed weapon

He was always good. Needed time to fit in with the role and team.

No one should have wrote him off to fill time

AZCatGirl wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 5:11 pm

Winger wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 4:47 pm Was told Barnes’ contract was not renewed.

So we're done with Adia at the end of the year?

Sorry for the confusion, Erika.

She joined the giant list of UofA “retirements” this year

Zonawildcat3 wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 4:13 pm

Alieberman wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 3:25 pm Delly is really becoming a much needed weapon

One of the best shooters in the country but quite possibly the worse defender in the country. We need him though

How does he end up behind his man giving up easy lay ins so often? It’s baffling how often he’s trying to catch up to a ballhandler.

I guess I can live with it if he gives up 10 but gives us 12. But someone teach ADO how to stay in front of his man in the offseason!

Winger wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 2:29 pm
While, due to Arizona's lousy OOC performance, all the games are big when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament,

Arizona is 16 on Kenpom, 10 on barttorvik, 10 on FTN, and 14 in the NET...

On average the 12th best team in the country, which would be a 3 seed. UA is far from missing the tournament based on how they've played so far.

SunnyAZ wrote: Sun Jan 26, 2025 1:38 am

Winger wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 2:29 pm
While, due to Arizona's lousy OOC performance, all the games are big when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament,

Arizona is 16 on Kenpom, 10 on barttorvik, 10 on FTN, and 14 in the NET...

On average the 12th best team in the country, which would be a 3 seed. UA is far from missing the tournament based on how they've played so far.

But if we would be seeded I doubt we would see anything higher than a 6 seed right now. Competitive losses might help us get in the tournament but to get a top 4 seeds we need some impressive wins which we really lack right now

Tomorrow night could really finally put a great win on the resume

Chicat wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 11:26 pm

Zonawildcat3 wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 4:13 pm

Alieberman wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 3:25 pm Delly is really becoming a much needed weapon

One of the best shooters in the country but quite possibly the worse defender in the country. We need him though

How does he end up behind his man giving up easy lay ins so often? It’s baffling how often he’s trying to catch up to a ballhandler.

I guess I can live with it if he gives up 10 but gives us 12. But someone teach ADO how to stay in front of his man in the offseason!

He’s also extremely slow in closing out on 3 point shooters so he has that going for him too…

Chicat wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 11:26 pmHow does he end up behind his man giving up easy lay ins so often? It’s baffling how often he’s trying to catch up to a ballhandler.

I guess I can live with it if he gives up 10 but gives us 12. But someone teach ADO how to stay in front of his man in the offseason!

I watch him a lot when we are playing defense. Kind of like slowing down and taking a look at a car wreck I guess. He lacks quickness and strength, doesn’t make up for it with anticipation and reads, and comes off as either lost or disinterested on the defensive side of the floor.

He loses his guy all the time and when he switches on to someone else he frequently loses them as well. Further I can’t figure out what kind of dude he can actually check. There might not be anyone.

I posted it above but Boyle went right at him numerous times yesterday and it didn’t matter whom he was checking.

Arizona averages about +0.25 points per possession overall. If your lineups aren’t at that number you’re hurting the team. I suspect ADO’s number are ok here, given the best in the country 3-player lineups that Miya posted, of which ADO (and Veesaar) were a part of both of Arizona’s qualifiers.

But as a wild guess, when he is on the court I bet he is responsible for at least 50% of the oppositions’ points.

SunnyAZ wrote: Sun Jan 26, 2025 1:38 am

Winger wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 2:29 pm
While, due to Arizona's lousy OOC performance, all the games are big when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament,

Arizona is 16 on Kenpom, 10 on barttorvik, 10 on FTN, and 14 in the NET...

On average the 12th best team in the country, which would be a 3 seed. UA is far from missing the tournament based on how they've played so far.

I understand but today is a long way from bid Sunday. The Cats’ resume in the eye of the committee is going to lag its rankings as of today (because of its OOC performance). Every win is big because Arizona’s schedule is back loaded which could make today’s computer rankings irrelevant. Even the Cats NET is marred by a 3-6 record in quad 1 games and 3 of those losses were by 14+. Fwiw Arizona is a 6-seed on bracket matrix as of today. I don’t know what Arizona needs to do the rest of the way to be safely in (new conferences everywhere make this challenging and we have 5 games vs KP Top 10 clubs remaining and 8 vs Top 30 plus 6 of our last 12 are roadies). We stack up some wins vs ISU, UH, TTech, and Kansas and stay several game above 500 in conference and I will feel a lot better. The start to conference play has been excellent imo but we need to keep pushing.

Winger wrote: Sun Jan 26, 2025 8:48 am

SunnyAZ wrote: Sun Jan 26, 2025 1:38 am

Winger wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 2:29 pm
While, due to Arizona's lousy OOC performance, all the games are big when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament,

Arizona is 16 on Kenpom, 10 on barttorvik, 10 on FTN, and 14 in the NET...

On average the 12th best team in the country, which would be a 3 seed. UA is far from missing the tournament based on how they've played so far.

I understand but today is a long way from bid Sunday. The Cats’ resume in the eye of the committee is going to lag its rankings as of today (because of its OOC performance). Every win is big because Arizona’s schedule is back loaded which could make today’s computer rankings irrelevant. Even the Cats NET is marred by a 3-6 record in quad 1 games and 3 of those losses were by 14+. Fwiw Arizona is a 6-seed on bracket matrix as of today. I don’t know what Arizona needs to do the rest of the way to be safely in (new conferences everywhere make this challenging and we have 5 games vs KP Top 10 clubs remaining and 8 vs Top 30 plus 6 of our last 12 are roadies). We stack up some wins vs ISU, UH, TTech, and Kansas and stay several game above 500 in conference and I will feel a lot better. The start to conference play has been excellent imo but we need to keep pushing.

We also don’t exist in a vacuum. We are being compared against other teams who may have better wins, wins against teams we lost to, or wins against us. Feels like there are 80+ teams who can make a good case for a bid so we don’t want to be one of the ones who get whittled out of the equation coming down the stretch because we don’t have the quality wins to stack up against other resumes.

Arizona is good. That is all that matters right now

Merkin wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 5:26 pm

AZCatGirl wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 5:11 pm

Winger wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 4:47 pm Was told Barnes’ contract was not renewed.

So we're done with Adia at the end of the year?

She still has another year on her contract. I was thinking Winger meant Erika, but he can certainly speak for himself.

If yesterday is any indication, she is doing a great job with the youngest team in the Big-12. I support her big-time!!!

She got this program to the NC game. Only current coach at Arizona in a significant sport to do so!!!