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Arizona Vs Bethune-Cookman 🏀 Game Preview/Discussion Thread 12/22 at 7pm ESPN+
Arizona enters the matchup unbeaten and firmly established as the nation's top-ranked team, carrying an 11-0 overall record into the contest while remaining perfect at home (6-0) this season. The Wildcats have been dominant on both ends of the floor, shooting over 51 percent from the field while holding opponents to roughly 65 points per game. Arizona's defense has been particularly stingy, highlighted by a recent win over San Diego State in which the Aztecs were held below 27 percent shooting. Offensively, the Wildcats feature strong balance and depth, led by Koa Peat, who has averaged around 14 points per game, and Anthony Dell'Orso, a reliable perimeter shooter averaging nearly 11 points and over one made three-pointer per game. Arizona's ability to control the glass, push the tempo, and score efficiently inside has resulted in several comfortable double-digit victories early in the season.
Bethune-Cookman arrives in Tucson with a 3-8 record and has faced challenges away from home, posting a 1-6 road mark. The Wildcats of the SWAC average about 70.6 points per game while shooting roughly 42 percent from the floor, and they will be tested against Arizona's elite defense and rebounding. Jakobi Heady leads Bethune-Cookman in scoring at approximately 16.3 points per game, adding around five rebounds, while guard Arterio Morris contributes double-figure scoring along with solid playmaking and defensive pressure. Bethune-Cookman has shown effort on the offensive glass, ranking among the top teams in its conference in offensive rebounds, but consistency has been difficult to find, especially against high-major opponents. Facing the nation's No. 1 team on the road presents a steep challenge, as Arizona's depth and physicality will look to overwhelm Bethune-Cookman from the opening tip.
Let's talk about the Wildcats Vs Wildcats!
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This is for KC CAT!
Go get'em COOKMAN
Quote from: arxpert on December 22, 2025, 05:58:09 PMThis is for KC CAT!
Go get'em COOKMAN
You're quite fixated on my comment that BCU took Auburn to OT. Glad I could positively impact the forum.
Quote from: KansasCityCats on December 22, 2025, 09:24:34 PMQuote from: arxpert on December 22, 2025, 05:58:09 PMThis is for KC CAT!
Go get'em COOKMAN
You're quite fixated on my comment that BCU took Auburn to OT. Glad I could positively impact the forum.
There aren't many people on the forum who speak outside of being a Homer as it is.
Bright sides.
-SloMo Krivas with the big 10-11 from the charity stripe. Can't discount that. I hope he can continue hitting at that type of clip though 9 missed Free Throws is pretty rough.
-Right on Cue. Aristode with that 4/5 from 3pt Land.
----> While I disagree with how Tommy is deploying Aristode, I think his talent is shining through. He really should not be limited to a spot shooting 3pt man. He is a very athletic, tall and lengthy player with good ability to get to the rim.
-The team seems to have transitioned to become Burries team. He just becomes more and more like Tyrese Maxey every game. Don't let that music stop. He is locked in. It is a bit early to peak, but I think he can continue his 3 level offensive assault into Conference Play, though there will be resistance to him. We will have to wait and see if he can navigate bigger, stronger defenders.
-"Karen" and "Bradley" are fury swiping defensively lately. The Steals are very important to generate. I think The Crimson Dynamo Ivan is able to negate some poor performances by The Bearded Deli.
-On Delly... Slowly fading in production, but I think he is still one of the better bench players in the Nation. We have 3 players who I feel we can count on for Free Throws late in games. Maybe 4 or 5 in some respects. Even Tobe Rodman Awaka has been able to clink some in. We really just need to continue to offset a bad game with a good game from another player. In this case, I don't mind seeing Aristode pick up some slack.
-Didn't like how Sidi Gueye didn't get minutes in this one. Even though the team was on the ropes early in a fight for their lives, I think Tommy could have navigated 15 minutes to him. He is squandering an opportunity to get some reps in for Sidi and there may come a time we will need him whether it is to protect the rim or finish off an Alley Oop. It doesn't hurt to be 9 deep overall with emphasis on a Core 8.
-Finally Koa Peat. He seems to be a player who doesn't forcibly need the ball to be effective. The unselfishness is very admirable. He is allowing Burries to shine. Even Aristode now. He isn't suppressing Ivan nor Awaka out there. Not turning the ball over in any sort of notable volume trying to force his stats or for something to happen. 4 Rebounds, 4 Assists. I used to say Aaron Gordon was the ultimate Arizona Glue Guy, but I am starting to wonder if Koa is overtaking Air-Gordo already.
I had a feeling that Tommy was going to lose focus and completely unravel defensively tonight. We are just lucky that it was the Cook Men of Bethune and not a better squadron. There are reasons that Michigan keeps getting those #1 votes. Tommy should be holding teams like this down under 60 points and I don't care how much was gained in garbage time. It is a matter of principle.
As the saying goes.
Survive and Advance.
ONWARD AND UP
BEARDOWN!
I'm celebrating a historic start to the season. Elite 8 or BUST!
Comparing with previous greatness...
2025-26: 12-0 (TBD)
2014-15: 12-0 (Elite Eight)
2013-14: 21-0 (Elite Eight)
2012-13: 14-0 (Sweet 16)
#BearDown
The loss to #1 Arizona dropped Bethune Cookman from Kenpom #261 to #263
Quote from: CactusCat on December 22, 2025, 10:56:40 PMThe loss to #1 Arizona dropped Bethune Cookman from Kenpom #261 to #263
Bummer. Now they're not a Quad 1 win anymore.
Quote from: CactusCat on December 22, 2025, 10:51:53 PMElite 8 or BUST!
While I can appreciate your spirt here in this comment, I would caution that putting such a low value standard on this season is a path to allowing the manifestation of letting go of the rope.
This team needs the encouragement from us right now more than ever.
They are a group that has proven a certain level of ability that where even I can say the standard is a National Championship.
While I personally always value the Conference Title and Conference Tournament Banner above March Madness (and also value Recruiting over March Madness as a factor of Controllable Consistent Program Success via the Scheduling/Conference Play), this is a specific situation that calls for the support that provides compassion for a stumble (IFF ---> IF AND ONLY IF they can finish this OOC Undefeated and Unscathed).
I do not expect us to go undefeated in Conference Play.
I expect some Herculean matchups. Mega, mammoth showdowns of Future NBA Legends.
Koa vs Dysbanta
Burries vs Kingston
Koa again vs Cenac
Burries again vs Peterson (if he decides to not be a diva and actually play)
Then we move to the teams of Teck's Ass Teck and JT Toppin... A team that went in and smacked Duke I believe in MSG since Duke will only usually play
@DUKE or MSG for some weird scared reason.
Then ARIZONA vs "Iowa State", a well rounded and vaunted adversary. A team that didn't fear us in Football at all. A team that will have no chill vs us in basketball.
We have what I would say an Elite 8 Matchup almost any given night in the Big12 coming.
It is Showtime/Hollywood/Primetime level matchup quality.
Our season is now set up that we can be fully entertained throughout the process.
I will continue to write up the Cats as appropriately so, but no one here should think that I am not enjoying seeing this process play out. No one should be happier today than Tommy Lloyd in my opinion. He has taken something of an evolutionary step and his knuckles are rising off of the ground as he has found a new area of his brain to explore where the Caveman Approach of the Moonball Lob + 3pt Chucking PG has Evolved into utilizing the Gortat Seal and taking the ball to the rim with Guards.
If you like a little throwback 2000s-2010s Basketball before the Chef Curry Legacy Impact changed the entire sport, you should be entertained by Arizona Basketball right now.
We have a ton of room to improve and we will certainly face adversity along the way.
TLDR; National Championship or Bust. (But I appreciate the thought of applying pressure to Tommy to win more than 2 games in March as I don't know when his next best opportunity will be.)
ONWARD AND UP
BEARDOWN
Quote from: |ᴘ|ʀ|ʏ|ᴍ|ᴇ| on December 23, 2025, 11:28:03 AMQuote from: CactusCat on December 22, 2025, 10:56:40 PMThe loss to #1 Arizona dropped Bethune Cookman from Kenpom #261 to #263
Bummer. Now they're not a Quad 1 win anymore.
I am sorry to do this, but I have to blame my friend the KC Cat for that one. He should be standing by his adopted team and helping to Coach them to the Quad 1 area night in night out.
Quote from: CactusCat on December 22, 2025, 10:51:53 PMComparing with previous greatness...
2025-26: 12-0 (TBD)
2014-15: 12-0 (Elite Eight)
2013-14: 21-0 (Elite Eight)
2012-13: 14-0 (Sweet 16)
Whichever year the Brandon Ashley incident went down was the last real opportunity Arizona Basketball truly had from a talent, depth, coaching, and Cohesive Unit standpoint to win it all.
This is the closest to that, that I have seen.
Hopefully Tommy can deploy Sidi Gueye in these final OOC moments and build up a "9th Man" that is a "big" even if he is a stick bug.
Aristode is really coming along and thankfully just in time to help with the Bearded Delly's drop off. I would like to see Tommy allow him to come inside the arc a little bit more, but I can't complain about hitting over 50% of 3's either way at his size and length it is very difficult to defend.
Momcilovic might be the best player in the conference. He's efficient on offense and hustles on D. Can't wait to see the Arizona/ISU matchup this season.