Tommy's Scheduling Skepticism

[KansasCityCats]

In the first half, we dared them to shoot. I'm saying that Lloyd recognized that they uncharacteristically hit jumpers and he adjusted to close out shooters in the second half. It worked.

[mvpreed2]

Tommy does not adjust, but I will say that in the UCLA near-disaster, he was tough enough to keep Koa out of the game down the stretch and not just play him to play him. He did rely on the best possible strategy for a change. That is technically an adjustment. But we are also lucky that Delly stepped up and Bradley is the type of PG he is that attacks the rim instead of chucking up shots.

In other words - the adjustment was to not just re-insert Koa with 4 fouls and a bunch of time to go, knowing we were down and UCLA would have just attacked Koa and probably forced getting easier 2's or Koa would have fouled out anyway and it would have disturbed the flow. Mick the Gollum couldn't make an adjustment since Tommy was stubborn (in the right way) and he just saw his team dwindle out to the end.

Again, I did not get to see the game, but I will say this.
As long as Lloyd is showing that he is willing to make SOME adjustment, that is on the right track for him, Arizona and these prospects.
#BearDown

[LeftCoastCats]

I don't understand the problem statement.

Is 5-0 at this point in the calendar too fast or too slow when most other teams have also played 5 or less games?

[arxpert]

I don't understand the problem statement.

Is 5-0 at this point in the calendar too fast or too slow when most other teams have also played 5 or less games?

It really isn't about the other programs.

My point is Tommy often schedules in a way that kills our momentum. There are obviously a set amount of games needed OOC, but especially this season, I don't like 1 week off after the "cup cake", leading into Auburn, then another week off to Bama (or whichever order we play them in)

Sure, we are 5-0. We could easily be 3-2. Maybe even 2-3 if we were less fortunate. It isn't so much about the record as it is the time between the games.

I would prefer to play Auburn and Bama the way we played UCLA and UConn with momentum and then if you want to schedule some actual Strong Mid Majors like an Ivy League top team and "Vermont" or someone you think will take their Mid Major Conference easily and earn a 14 seed, then that would be better for us to get some time off and still have a quality simulated March Madness 1st Round opponent to look forward to.

It is just something I notice Tommy does and a preference I have.

If Tommy can keep the team motivated into December without losing control then "great". It will be the first time. He usually loses control around the end of November into Mid-Late December.

We need to remain focused regardless if we win or lose. Not get complacent with too much time off. This isn't an 82 game NBA level schedule demand. It is around 30 games then some Tournament Play over 5 Months...

[KansasCityCats]

Game by game "momentum" is only relevant to fans. Players won't get energy against Denver on Monday because they won on Wednesday. It's a new game plan, arena and environment.

Momentum is an in-game factor.

[arxpert]

Game by game "momentum" is only relevant to fans. Players won't get energy against Denver on Monday because they won on Wednesday. It's a new game plan, arena and environment.

Momentum is an in-game factor.

No, momentum is all encompassing. It is routine based primarily. Every sport experiences Rust after long layoffs.

Also tell that to Arizona Football losing to Iowa State then blowing it to BYU and Houston. Momentum matters to players in all Pro Sports. Yes College is Pro now so I can say that.

[KansasCityCats]

Arizona came into the BYU game, after blowing out OSU. If momentum from 7 days prior affected our players, we would have rolled the Cougars.

Unless there's a long layoff before a bowl game, college football players are on a daily routine with a minimum of one week between games. A bye doesn't negatively affect anybody and momentum from a 7-14 day standard layoff is non-existent.

[arxpert]

If momentum from 7 days prior affected our players, we would have rolled the Cougars.

While Football and Basketball "bye weeks" are not built the same, they are still competitively disruptors when things are going well. No matter what sport nor matchup.

That is,

Unless you schedule appropriately and take on Denver and Norfolk State in those layoffs.

If you think that we couldn't have taken on SDSU and Bethune Cookman after this UCLA + UCONN without stumbling, then this team is a true Pretender.

No one is saying to run a Gauntlet and schedule Auburn and Bama after UCLA and UConn

But don't tell me that playing Denver and Norfolk State, then taking 2 long breaks before "auburn / bama" 1 week apart each is going to be "seamless" or a cake walk. That is akin to going from 10 to 100mph.

In Football, the SEC commonly schedules someone like "The Citadel" at the end of the year before they go into their Final Hell Weeks.

The ideal scenario would have been to roll this momentum into YOUR MIGHTY Bethune, SDSU, then take on Auburn all at Home within a 10 day period.

Then take the week off, travel over to Alabama for that fake Neutral Site Game that no one would hold over our heads - all upside, no true downside.

Then head home and take on Norfolk and South Dakota State before Conference Play starts up.

Ideally you want to keep your Level Up. Not stall out, risk a let down, then risk further stumbles messing around with a team like SDSU after getting a reality check.

[KansasCityCats]

If collegiate athletes are hyped for 48-168 hours after the previous game ended, then they need to be checked from a mental perspective. College athletes need breaks from the pressure and intensity of constant games, especially at high levels.

FWIW, Bethune Cookman took Auburn to OT, so the opponent is irrelevant if the games are one week apart. The team has time to game-plan, prepare and live college lives for a few days.

[arxpert]

If collegiate athletes are hyped for 48-168 hours after the previous game ended, then they need to be checked from a mental perspective. College athletes need breaks from the pressure and intensity of constant games, especially at high levels.

FWIW, Bethune Cookman took Auburn to OT, so the opponent is irrelevant if the games are one week apart. The team has time to game-plan, prepare and live college lives for a few days.

If anything, this is 2025 going on 2026 and attention spans are as low as they have ever been. If you think that these young kids are going to stay locked in with that much free time you may be pissing in the wind even if they are Paid Professionals that have no business being on Campus nor associated with a University at all in the New Era.

Let me be wrong this time. Let the team prove me wrong and cut down the nets undefeated. Let them lose some games and still cut down the nets. I really don't need to see an immaculate season to appreciate greatness. I am observing a flaw. It really is that simple. A flaw until proven to not be a flaw.

Let me see the "professionals" take care of business as Full Grown Men would and stay focused.