As many know I stand in protest of the CBOX, especially being on the landing page for BDU, but in all of these years of protest as I watch all the comments yet hold restraint to not make a comment on anything, I did happen to see this post today and it is irking to me.
https://x.com/haslametrics/status/2008040346878722310
When I look at all of the other teams involved...I am just not sure what more Arizona could possibly do as of Today.
I notice that Michigan is "1" vote behind us for #1, but I see no reason for it. Their OOC does not match ours. Winning with low 100s doesn't matter vs mid 90s scores when the games aren't close for either teams.
I am struggling to understand what more Arizona can even do "today" to not have a post like this exist.
Now, if they flop and flounder, I can begin to understand pundits saying we are fraudulent.
But I personally don't think we are.
Does it mean anything in the long run? Not really.
However, there are many good teams this season and most are in the Big12. Losing to Houston, Iowa State, BYU, or even Kans-ass should really not take much away from what we are.
1 seed, 2 seed, 3 seed, 4. This squad has a lot more going for it than against it.
The key is to win the month of January. If we can somehow withstand the push from the bottom of the Big12, then we are afforded the confidence to push forward when the Ranked Games come up.
It comes down to Tommy actually coaching Defense. He is not "on his players" enough lately. We are allowing way too many points to be scored on us especially in the 1st half.
Scoring 50-60pts in the 1st Half is not sustainable. Holding teams to 25-30pts is sustainable if you Coach it.
This serves as an Appreciation Post.
ONWARD AND UP
BEARDOWN
I'm glad you liked or disliked my Chat enough to create a lengthy forum post.
Quote from: CactusCat on January 06, 2026, 01:40:53 PMI'm glad you liked or disliked my Chat enough to create a lengthy forum post.
I am not a monster. I see all. I just refrain from chatting in the toxic cbox and stand in protest of it being on the landing page.
Occasionally, once in the bluest of moons, someone makes a reasonable contribution. In this case, whoever posted that link sparked a very appealing talking point in my book. If that was you, then you earned due credit as I am consistent.
Due Credit and Fair Criticism.
Now, someone may want to contribute and help the Forum post in the understanding of these charts because it really seems unreasonable to me.
"What more can we do"... my only answer is to continue our scoring, but actually dedicate ourselves more to holding teams to less than 35 points in the 1st Half of a games as consistently as possible while scoring 45+ ourselves. That will be part of our "magic formula" going forward.
https://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/stat/defensive-efficiency
https://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/stat/offensive-efficiency
Arizona is the only program that is Top-10 in offensive AND defensive efficiency. That's consistency.
Asking a Head Coach to play a boring brand of slow basketball and claiming that they can't coach defense (despite the above stats) is not an "appreciation thread".
The Cats have finished Top-12 in scoring since Lloyd's arrival, so it is absolutely possible to continue scoring at a high pace. Prior to this staff, Arizona has not finished in the Top-15 in scoring since the 2004-2005 season.
Neither strategy appears to be working, considering the fact that our program hasn't made a Final Four in 25 years. Perhaps that will change in March.
Quote from: KansasCityCats on January 07, 2026, 08:53:35 AMhttps://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/stat/defensive-efficiency
https://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/stat/offensive-efficiency
Arizona is the only program that is Top-10 in offensive AND defensive efficiency. That's consistency.
Asking a Head Coach to play a boring brand of slow basketball and claiming that they can't coach defense (despite the above stats) is not an "appreciation thread".
The Cats have finished Top-12 in scoring since Lloyd's arrival, so it is absolutely possible to continue scoring at a high pace. Prior to this staff, Arizona has not finished in the Top-15 in scoring since the 2004-2005 season.
Neither strategy appears to be working, considering the fact that our program hasn't made a Final Four in 25 years. Perhaps that will change in March.
The numbers are fooling you. Allowing the amount of points we do to middle of the road teams is how you get crept of on in upset losses. Tommy isn't coaching anything to stop it except just run down and trade 2s for 2s or 3s. But mainly 2s because we don't really focus on 3s at all as a team. He has out 6'8" 220lb super athlete Aristode chucking 3s with the Bearded Delly as a role. That is foolish to me whether we are winning now or not. Tommy always leaves talent on the table.
Fair enough. Aside from our first and last games, Arizona has kept all of their opponents to 35 or less points in at least one half. That's also consistent defense.