Bear Down Wildcats

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:

Lute4God wrote:Even if Ayton is missing on his post jumper we have the high low with Ristic feeding, which to me is option 1A: If they come out on Ristic the lob to Ayton is unstoppable. If they don't Ristic is hitting that shot maybe even better than Ayton!

Yeah we've seen a lot of Ayton to Ristic passing this year but I'm loving the Ristic to Ayton passing that I've seen recently.

Ristic had a crucial one to Ayton in the P12T that was just unstoppable - one seven footer to another.

Against zone, Ayton and Ristic have become interchangeable from the high post. They can both stick the J and Dusan has become a better passer from that range.

Lute4God wrote:The whole team came together in the P12 tourney focused to feed the post. Even Trier was happy to pass up on shots to work the ball inside. I am sure there will be a game where Trier gets dialed in and wins it for us, but right now it's great to see everyone working together on offense.

jajoyce wrote:Few things that worry me and what I think we will need.

Our defense is still a work in progress. We are no longer seeing entire halves of poor/downright awful defense and we are not seeing even 10 minutes. However, we still have the 4-7 minute stretches where a team will outscore us by 8-12 points without going on a huge run by just making 7 shots in a row type of thing while we make 2 or 3.

Dillon Smith, needs to hit the open 3 at least twice a game. He is fully capable. It will open the lane up for our big guys. I think 5-7 threes for the team is good as long as its 15 shots 3's attempted or less.

The one thing I notice year in/year out is the offensive charge foul. It kills teams because it is usually the teams best player(s) as the defense knows to flop against them and they typically have the ball near or driving to the rim. It seems to always lead to foul trouble and cautious play thereafter. I love what I have been seeing out of Trier (and Rawle should be doing with his awful floater) which is the mid-lane lob to Ayton when the defense collapses. Trier hasn't been taking it to the rim and avoids the charges and he has to draw the defenders. This is especially true with pack line teams like Virginia.

No. 13 Buffalo Bulls vs. No. 4 Arizona Wildcats

Arizona enters the tournament as the Pac-12 champions with a 27-7 record. They feature 7’1 consensus All-American Deandre Ayton who could be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft.

Buffalo got into the tournament by winning the MAC with a 26-8 record. The Bulls feature a quartet of scorers who all averaged between 14.6 to 16.9 points per game highlighted by 6’3 Jr. guard CJ Massinburg and 6’8 Jr. forward Nick Perkins who were both named first team all-conference.

The Pac-12 hasn’t been as good this year as it has in years past, and that was evident by the selection committee only giving Arizona a No. 4 seed as a major conference champion.

The Wildcats have struggled in neutral site games. They lost three games in a row in the Bahamas back in November to NC State, SMU and Purdue; they’ll be playing against Buffalo on a neutral site in Boise, ID.

Buffalo ranks No. 7 in the country in scoring offense (84.8 points per game), and they rank No. 21 in 3-point field goals made. To translate those stats for you; Buffalo can shoot from anywhere and they can score in bunches. And although Sean Miller has made Arizona a tough defensive team in years past, this year’s squad has struggled on defense.

g32knights wrote:Is anyone else as happy as I am that they aren't in the West? They've blown opportunities the last how many times they've been in that region? Glad to be in a different region.

CalStateTempe wrote:That’s what I’m saying. Fuck foreplay let’s just get it on.

We’re either ready to rail or not. Let’s go.

YoDeFoe wrote:No clue who we put on Kevin Knox (6'9" with a 7ft wingspan).

EVCat wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:No clue who we put on Kevin Knox (6'9" with a 7ft wingspan).

This is the match-up that scares me the most if we get to play them. A legit athlete with length who can put the ball on the floor. If you use Rawle, you are giving up size. If Dus ends up on him, Jesus. No, just no with Ayton. Trier?

Maybe PJC can run under him and twist his ankle?

Beyond that, their non-descript season and SEC run and ours have similarities, except we had legit reasons that seem to have been released recently, while they have just been inconsistent.

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

EVCat wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:No clue who we put on Kevin Knox (6'9" with a 7ft wingspan).

This is the match-up that scares me the most if we get to play them. A legit athlete with length who can put the ball on the floor. If you use Rawle, you are giving up size. If Dus ends up on him, Jesus. No, just no with Ayton. Trier?

Maybe PJC can run under him and twist his ankle?

Beyond that, their non-descript season and SEC run and ours have similarities, except we had legit reasons that seem to have been released recently, while they have just been inconsistent.

Knox doesn't super freak me out. Unless I missed it, he is mostly a perimeter guy without a highly developed post game. If he could really do it in the post, I'd worry more, but he's not dominant down there. I think Rawle and Akot can do ok. He's a good player and will get his, but I don't think he beats us solo if we play good team D.

I'm more worried about their 3 point shooting. They have a bunch of guys, but no snipers. If they start stroking it, though, that's a big problem.

azgreg wrote:So, if the first round goes chalk Arizona will play Kentucky in the south region in Idaho.

CalStateTempe wrote:Recently Acquired Outlaw Image (RAOL) would make a killer band name.

NYCat wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:I'm not at all thrilled with our Kentucky match-up. On paper, I'd rather play UVA than UK.

A line-up of 6'6" / 6'5" / 6'7" / 6'9" / 6'11" - all athletes and long - is not ideal for us when we lack anyone of measure between 6'5" and 7'0".

I have no idea what we plan to do about SGA, their 6'6" PG (with a fucking seven foot wingspan) who is hitting on all cylinders right now. No clue who we put on Kevin Knox (6'9" with a 7ft wingspan).

I know we've got guys too but goddamn... this is a match-up nightmare, probably for both teams.

NYCat wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:I'm not at all thrilled with our Kentucky match-up. On paper, I'd rather play UVA than UK.

A line-up of 6'6" / 6'5" / 6'7" / 6'9" / 6'11" - all athletes and long - is not ideal for us when we lack anyone of measure between 6'5" and 7'0".

I have no idea what we plan to do about SGA, their 6'6" PG (with a fucking seven foot wingspan) who is hitting on all cylinders right now. No clue who we put on Kevin Knox (6'9" with a 7ft wingspan).

I know we've got guys too but goddamn... this is a match-up nightmare, probably for both teams.

The more that I think about this potential game the more I think we lose. Their length on the wing and backcourt is going to give us problems. Even though Ayton is great, 3pts > 2pts. Virginia would steal the entry passes all day.

azgreg wrote:A couple of fun threads.

https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/thre ... 16.261245/" target="_blank

https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/thre ... le.261247/" target="_blank

prh wrote:It's really just one guy that pushes the narrative that we aren't any good. The rest of them are reasonable.

One thing that's never, ever talked about it how difficult it is to be consistent in the Pac12 because of the travel. SEC play is about equivalent to LA trip or shorter every week.

NYCat wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:I'm not at all thrilled with our Kentucky match-up. On paper, I'd rather play UVA than UK.

A line-up of 6'6" / 6'5" / 6'7" / 6'9" / 6'11" - all athletes and long - is not ideal for us when we lack anyone of measure between 6'5" and 7'0".

I have no idea what we plan to do about SGA, their 6'6" PG (with a fucking seven foot wingspan) who is hitting on all cylinders right now. No clue who we put on Kevin Knox (6'9" with a 7ft wingspan).

I know we've got guys too but goddamn... this is a match-up nightmare, probably for both teams.

The more that I think about this potential game the more I think we lose. Their length on the wing and backcourt is going to give us problems. Even though Ayton is great, 3pts > 2pts. Virginia would steal the entry passes all day.

YoDeFoe wrote:

NYCat wrote:

YoDeFoe wrote:I'm not at all thrilled with our Kentucky match-up. On paper, I'd rather play UVA than UK.

A line-up of 6'6" / 6'5" / 6'7" / 6'9" / 6'11" - all athletes and long - is not ideal for us when we lack anyone of measure between 6'5" and 7'0".

I have no idea what we plan to do about SGA, their 6'6" PG (with a fucking seven foot wingspan) who is hitting on all cylinders right now. No clue who we put on Kevin Knox (6'9" with a 7ft wingspan).

I know we've got guys too but goddamn... this is a match-up nightmare, probably for both teams.

The more that I think about this potential game the more I think we lose. Their length on the wing and backcourt is going to give us problems. Even though Ayton is great, 3pts > 2pts. Virginia would steal the entry passes all day.

Kentucky, you mean.

RiseAndFire wrote:#13 Buffalo - W
#5 Kentucky - RPI of 10 and plays zone:

NYCat wrote:Since Ristic is near automatic with the mid range J, vs the zone, just park him near the FT line and let him pass out or hit the shot or post up for a near automatic hook shot or pass it to Ayton who is dominant in the post.

EVCat wrote:

RiseAndFire wrote:#13 Buffalo - W
#5 Kentucky - RPI of 10 and plays zone:

Yeah...at this point, I want to see zone.

Because zone is a weak ass defense that allows you to kill the offensive boards. Once you figure out to interchange your big men against it on high/low, and not chuck...which we did about a month ago...it is the easiest defense we can face. Especially if it is not a zone-only team.

Because zones suck. They have always been for masking deficiencies.

Even better, if a team wants to zone us and extend pressure like USC, making everything below the circle a one-on-one or better matchup.

Because, again...zones are for the weak. Even better, when they lose Ayton and we just throw the ball at the rim and he catches and lays it in. Or when we get a shit ton of offensive rebounds and 2nd chance points with our bigs...

...because, again...zones are for teams with weaknesses, and they give up the O boards for a prayer of hiding their individual weaknesses.

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

EVCat wrote:

RiseAndFire wrote:#13 Buffalo - W
#5 Kentucky - RPI of 10 and plays zone:

Yeah...at this point, I want to see zone.

Because zone is a weak ass defense that allows you to kill the offensive boards. Once you figure out to interchange your big men against it on high/low, and not chuck...which we did about a month ago...it is the easiest defense we can face. Especially if it is not a zone-only team.

Because zones suck. They have always been for masking deficiencies.

Even better, if a team wants to zone us and extend pressure like USC, making everything below the circle a one-on-one or better matchup.

Because, again...zones are for the weak. Even better, when they lose Ayton and we just throw the ball at the rim and he catches and lays it in. Or when we get a shit ton of offensive rebounds and 2nd chance points with our bigs...

...because, again...zones are for teams with weaknesses, and they give up the O boards for a prayer of hiding their individual weaknesses.

Ayton feasted on SC's zone. Not having a designated guy to box him out is asking for him to get 8-10 ORB's. We can miss jumpers this year because we have a vacuum cleaner on the offensive glass.

BE4RDOWN21 wrote:Virginia's 6th MOY just broke his wrist...Missing the entire tourney. Vanderbilt is likely to miss weekend as well...Things are happening already. Lets fuck Buffalo up and burn the rest of the bracket to the ground

Alieberman wrote:

BE4RDOWN21 wrote:Virginia's 6th MOY just broke his wrist...Missing the entire tourney. Vanderbilt is likely to miss weekend as well...Things are happening already. Lets fuck Buffalo up and burn the rest of the bracket to the ground

Virginia 6th man or ACC 6th MOY?

Olsondogg wrote:Calm down. Oregon lost Boucher, and promptly lost the PAC 12 tournament last year...and then went to the Final 4.

Olsondogg wrote:Calm down. Oregon lost Boucher, and promptly lost the PAC 12 tournament last year...and then went to the Final 4.