Champions Classic

[gumby]

Grayson Allen had a game. That was some clutch shooting. Too bad about Bagley. Wanted to see more of him. Carter is really good. Teams will play off Duval, an impressive athlete who is a subpar shooter. He's also the guy you foul in close games. Duke probably would struggle to guard the perimeter man to man with such a tall lineup. Credit to K for the adjustment.

MSU could've won if not for the puzzling turnovers. Early season stuff, I suppose, but really sloppy. Also gave up a lot of offensive rebounds.
I like what I saw in Jackson. He was Sparty's most consistent player. Bridges was too tame in the first half. Has a three-point shot now.
Agree with the take on MSU's guards. Could be their downfall.

Kentucky is so young ... again. More teenagers than a mall food court. Game should not have been as close as it was. KU has a nice perimeter attack, but nobody killer down low.

If I had to rank these teams now, I'd go: Duke, MSU, KU, UK.

[Statfreak77]

Anyone else feel pretty good about Arizona's chances of winning a national title in comparison to those four teams after watching last night?

Arizona is much deeper than any of those four teams, especially with Alkins due back within a month or so. Plus, the Ayton/Trier factor for Arizona...I just didn't see anyone capable of stopping that on any team last night. Now, being able to defend someone like Allen or Bagley will be a challenge in itself...but I did not watch last night and think "Man, Arizona just does not stack up with these blue bloods."

[YoDeFoe]

Anyone else feel pretty good about Arizona's chances of winning a national title in comparison to those four teams after watching last night?

Arizona is much deeper than any of those four teams, especially with Alkins due back within a month or so. Plus, the Ayton/Trier factor for Arizona...I just didn't see anyone capable of stopping that on any team last night. Now, being able to defend someone like Allen or Bagley will be a challenge in itself...but I did not watch last night and think "Man, Arizona just does not stack up with these blue bloods."

Less concerned about PG play than i was last night. I rewatched Duval’s play. Not a good shooter and limited touch around the rim. Relies on his straight line speed and strength to get to the rim, blown defense and no help rotation make him look very good. Steals were a result of the 2-3 zone fucking with MSU (though the kid is super long for a PG, so he’s a real threat).

Defense and rebounding. Get those locked in and I feel great about our team against anyone. No one in the country can matchup with Ayton. Trier is as pure a scorer as Allen.

Personnel concerns... Gotta figure out our post beyond Ayton. If Ristić is 22min/g, Lee needs to be ready for 20min/g. Ayton needs to be able to go for 35min/g. With so many skilled wings we may want Akot playing the four for 10m/g.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I checked out midway through the KU/UK game and I'm a little surprised UK kept it close. Knox and Diallo are good on the wing but their point and post rotations are really shaky right now.

You can see "early season" written all over the top teams, IMO. We've been shaky on D, Duke was really inconsistent and MSU looked completely lost against the zone at times. You can see a lot of raw talent, but all the top teams are working through issues.

Nova should be a great test bc they are more veteran based and will demand that we have it together. I hope we get them bc that will be a real measuring stick.

[NYCat]

Perimeter defense is the only concern

[Beachcat97]

Nova looked very strong the other night. I still think they’re gonna struggle with Deandre, but that’s as well-coached a team we’ll see all year.

[gumby]

Anyone else feel pretty good about Arizona's chances of winning a national title in comparison to those four teams after watching last night?

Arizona is much deeper than any of those four teams, especially with Alkins due back within a month or so. Plus, the Ayton/Trier factor for Arizona...I just didn't see anyone capable of stopping that on any team last night. Now, being able to defend someone like Allen or Bagley will be a challenge in itself...but I did not watch last night and think "Man, Arizona just does not stack up with these blue bloods."

Duke is thin at guard.

Allen, 40 minutes
Duval, 37 minutes
Trent, 35 minutes.

Injury or foul trouble, and they're vulnerable. Duval was 7-20, missed all four treys, 3-7 FTs. Took 20 shots. Too many when you're not a good shooter. Ten assists and six steals, though.

[baycat93]

Anyone else feel pretty good about Arizona's chances of winning a national title in comparison to those four teams after watching last night?



Personnel concerns... Gotta figure out our post beyond Ayton. If Ristić is 22min/g, Lee needs to be ready for 20min/g. Ayton needs to be able to go for 35min/g. With so many skilled wings we may want Akot playing the four for 10m/g.

I think Akot's position will be opponent/player/game flow dependent. He will slide defensively 1-4 where we need him the most and/or he will have the greatest defensive impact.

Love what he brings and I believe by the end of the year be a player that has an impact like iggy/draymond for the warriors. If he is hitting 3's or scoring this team will be very difficult to beat.

[YoDeFoe]

Duval was 7-20, missed all four treys, 3-7 FTs). Took 20 shots. Too many when you're not a good shooter. Ten assists and six steals, though.

Duval really benefited from Grayson shooting so well and from MSU looking soulless against the 2-3.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Anyone else feel pretty good about Arizona's chances of winning a national title in comparison to those four teams after watching last night?

Arizona is much deeper than any of those four teams, especially with Alkins due back within a month or so. Plus, the Ayton/Trier factor for Arizona...I just didn't see anyone capable of stopping that on any team last night. Now, being able to defend someone like Allen or Bagley will be a challenge in itself...but I did not watch last night and think "Man, Arizona just does not stack up with these blue bloods."

Duke is thin at guard.

Allen, 40 minutes
Duval, 37 minutes
Trent, 35 minutes.

Injury or foul trouble, and they're vulnerable. Duval was 7-20, missed all four treys, 3-7 FTs). Took 20 shots. Too many when you're not a good shooter. Ten assists and six steals, though.

Duke had to ride the perimeter harder without Bagley too. Bagley is their main scorer inside. You get some from Carter, but other than that, they had to generate a lot of offense outside in.

I think if we can counter Duval's physicality, we set up as well for Allen/Trent as anyone. We have a lot of depth and can rotate people with good physical profiles to challenge their stamina. Add to that they'd have to check Zo and Rawle, so no one gets time off on D on the wing, and I think we match them well on the wing.

Duval/PJC would be my concern. I think we could get a decent matchup for Bagley out of Ayton/Lee/Akot and Dusan actually would benefit from a traditional 2 big opponent. Parker doesn't demand Duval check him hard and I worry Parker is susceptible to Duval being big and athletic.

[97cats]

i like Arizona this year against the field anytime, anywhere.

[Spaceman Spiff]

i like Arizona this year against the field anytime, anywhere.

When I think Elite Eight, Staples Center, I get a lump in the pit of my stomach. We have a lot of talent, but LA and the EE bring up some bad memories.

[CalStateTempe]

I will pull from my children's 529 to see Arizona vs Duke in SA.

I will eat ramen for 6mo

[prh]

I will pull from my children's 529 to see Arizona vs Duke in SA.

I will eat ramen for 6mo

Side note, you thinking of heading down to San Diego or LA this year? I did LA in 2015 and had a (mostly) fun time. I'm pretty sure I want to do one of those weekends, but I'm also planning on doing Vegas

[CalStateTempe]

I'd like to, it all depends on the work schedule to call off on short notice. (Although Sd and Boise is equidistant for me)

I did SJ last year which was ton of fun sans the end of game and pedi cab incident

Probably can't do vegas this season but definitely on the bucket list some day.

[TucsonClip]

Ill be at the San Diego pod and LA Regionals, along with a Queens of the Stone Age set the night before the SD games.

[Jefe]

[RichardCranium]

[dovecanyoncat]

I will pull from my children's 529 to see Arizona vs Duke in SA.

I will eat ramen for 6mo

If they release them to us residents I can get you 10% off a room at the Grand Hyatt. Just across the street from the AlamoDome, but still in Texas where a Bathroom Bill ..... oh, sorry for the political injection .... can still fuck everything up. Just sayin'.

[PieceOfMeat]

gonna move this thread to arch rivals

[gumby]

i like Arizona this year against the field anytime, anywhere.

When I think Elite Eight, Staples Center, I get a lump in the pit of my stomach. We have a lot of talent, but LA and the EE bring up some bad memories.

Ditto, Anaheim.

[NYCat]

This year's matchups should be really interesting

Michigan State v Kansas

Duke vs Kentucky

[MountainCat]

Thanks, but no need to remind us what a good job Mr. Scott is doing for the Pac-12 and how we are left out of everything of late....

[NYCat]

Azibuke is really good

Unfortunately Dickie V is on the call

[ByJoveByJingle]

Jeez. Duke looks like an NBA team.

[NYCat]

They're unreal. Hate it.

[azcat49]

Well Duke is as impressive a team early as I have seen since.....Lute's many impressive early performances. They are very talented and to me the favorite (ugh) to cut down the Nets in April

[ByJoveByJingle]

Kentucky is only up by 1 against SIU with 12:00 left in the second half. So maybe, as good as Duke seems to be, Kentucky is just really bad relative to their ranking at this point.

[U.P. Zona Fan]

Not sure this belongs here but buffalo giving it to wvu.

[enfuego]

i like Arizona this year against the field* anytime, anywhere.

Except against Buffalo. AMIRITE?

[UAdevil]

Aww...he's back. So cute.

[scumdevils86]

Delayed response for sure

[U.P. Zona Fan]

I'd take the bulls over jaychickens, massinburg was hot last night.