Arizona Vs California 🏀 Game Preview/Discussion Thread 12/29/23 At 830pm PAC12N

[KansasCityCats]

No, it's not debatable because numbers don't lie.

Arizona has been a top-2 offense nationally in each of the past three seasons. In addition, they scored more points in the second half of most games so far this season.

[arxpert]

No, it's not debatable because numbers don't lie.

Arizona has been a top-2 offense nationally in each of the past three seasons. In addition, they scored more points in the second half of most games so far this season.

My original comment spoke to last season as well. The stats do lie in both seasons. The play on the court diminished dramatically in the 2nd half since Last season and has carried over to this season. It is now called a Habit.

That habit is a poor habit to have when you have lofty goals. The #1 quality necessary to win a basketball tournament at any level is to not be outplayed (coaches are not on the court taking shots). The next quality is to be the team that finishes the strongest (coaching plays a big factor). There are many instances of 15-30pt type leads melting away in March Madness whether it was the WVU Pittsnogle vs Louisville Fransisco Garcia game or Lute's meltdown up 15 with 3:30 to go vs Illinois.

Nip bad habits in the bud. Don't make it your cultural identity.

[Wildcat Dad]

I am getting tired, both here and in the shoutbox, of so much nitpicking about the CATs. Too many have their glass half full. Like I have said, a lot of teams would love to be #3 in KP and #3 in NET. 9-2, with a two  OT loss at a neutral site to a team that is capable of scoring. Stuff happens. Oh, that other loss? A single digit loss to a top team in what was essentially a home game for them. Where one of their streaky guards got hot.

In the Cal game the starters averaged 24.4 minutes. So Cal had a little second half run. Haven't many of us wanted CTL to play deeper into the bench to prepare for foul troubles or injuries? So he played the bench 40% of the time.

Anyone can spin these facts however they like, my glass is half full. To blend in two new starters in Johnson and Love and to get them to commit to defense and the team game is a great job by CTL.  Could we be disappointed and not reach the EE/FF? Yes. But we also could enjoy a spectacular finish to this season, one to remember. Sit back with me and enjoy the ride.

[Wildcat Dad]

I have yet to find an easy place to research our stats by half from last year and this year.This page has some interesting numbers. For instance, in our 7 losses last years we shot 41.1% while in our 28 wins we shot 51.5%. Was the bad shooting in our losses due to injuries? The other team playing great defense? Lack of effort? Bad luck/bad shooting night? Coaching breakdown? Some of each I bet.

To me the beauty of college basketball over the NBA is that teams can get up for games and on a given night throw the stats out the window.

[arxpert]

I have yet to find an easy place to research our stats by half from last year and this year.This page has some interesting numbers. For instance, in our 7 losses last years we shot 41.1% while in our 28 wins we shot 51.5%. Was the bad shooting in our losses due to injuries? The other team playing great defense? Lack of effort? Bad luck/bad shooting night? Coaching breakdown? Some of each I bet.

To me the beauty of college basketball over the NBA is that teams can get up for games and on a given night throw the stats out the window.

Unfortunately some people here suffer from the disillusion that Arizona is a College Basketball Powerhouse with Many National Championships and Routine Final Fours. The way people speak it is as if we average a Final Four at least 2 to 3 times per Decade and a National Title Game + Championship at least once every 5-10 Years.

The fact is we aren't that, but there are many instances of people losing their minds under the prior coach who did in fact get Arizona to 3 Elite 8's in a 5 year period with 3 very narrow losses by last second shots or a miss that led to a 2 possession FT loss AS WELL AS a couple of Sweet 16 losses where one was a buzzer beater incredible shot by the opponent or losing when we were the much higher seed. As you said, anyone can have a night. Seeds go out the window. One Shining Moment is what it is for a reason. March Madness the same.

HOWEVER, all of That created a new sense of entitlement in my very humble, non feather ruffling opinion. People around here thought it would be considered COOL to bash that coach into oblivion for those narrow losses even though the consistency was plenty strong as a whole. The Conference Titles, Conference Tournament Titles. All there. Recruiting TOP TIER, best Ever in Arizona's storied history.

Now we have a new guy in charge and he got a great head start from the old guy. He has coached a ton of Wins. However he has fallen short and done the least with the most opportunity. So when you see these comments, just know it is Fair Criticism and for ME as I can only speak for myself, there is no such thing as Fair Criticism without Due Credit when deserved.

If you search the forums enough you will find plenty of appreciation posts.