The 2021-2022 Season Thread

[RondaeShimmy]

#3 in the AP poll.

That tracks. When an SEC, Big 12, or Big 10 team loses, they drop 1 or 2 spots. When a Pac team loses, 5 to 10 spots.

Better conferences, especially the Big ten and 12, big east play a ranked team almost every week

[Beachcat97]

USC must love that beating ucla (without the trojans' best player) doesn't mean enough to move ahead of them in the polls.

[97cats]

1. Gonzaga
2. Auburn
3. Arizona

https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-colleg ... tball-poll

[RondaeShimmy]

#12 Illinois
#13 UCLA
#16 Tennessee
#17 USC
#22 Wyoming

Going 4-2 against these ranked teams, with the 2 losses being on the road, bodes well for us.

These bad starts are not good, both losses were due to them. Can't get away with vs food teams. They almost cost us the Illinois game and did cost us the Tennessee game.

Wasted so much energy trying to come back to even a couple possession game, @ UCLA they didn't have the legs to get even close.

[ASUHATER!]

I didn't realize Wyoming was 21-3 and ranked. They're a 3 point loss @Stanford and a 3 point loss @ Boise State away from being 23-1 and in the top 15 potentially.

[Beachcat97]

I didn't realize Wyoming was 21-3 and ranked. They're a 3 point loss @Stanford and a 3 point loss @ Boise State away from being 23-1 and in the top 15 potentially.

And we beat them by how many? Yeah, not a chance we could run with Gonzaga or Auburn.

[Alieberman]

I didn't realize Wyoming was 21-3 and ranked. They're a 3 point loss @Stanford and a 3 point loss @ Boise State away from being 23-1 and in the top 15 potentially.

And they have moved into a quad 1 win for us

[Longhorned]

ESPN put out a video on the college season so far. "While you were watching football, here is what you missed." It's a story of Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and Gonzaga, along with Rutgers as a feel-good story about exceeding expectations. Not even any Auburn, except their recent loss. Yep, that's what's happened in college basketball so far.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I didn't realize Wyoming was 21-3 and ranked. They're a 3 point loss @Stanford and a 3 point loss @ Boise State away from being 23-1 and in the top 15 potentially.

Their MWC record is nuts. They only have 3 games that didn't go to OT and were decided by more than 5 points. That's a cardiac issue waiting to happen for their fans.

[azcat49]

Anyone else concerned at out trend of falling behind early?

I mean it’s one thing to fall behind Illinois and Tennessee on the road like we did but getting behind ASS-U and Washington is a bit perplexing.

Very impressive wins and comebacks but I hope we find a formula to kick start us into a more even and consistent performance

[Beachcat97]

Anyone else concerned at out trend of falling behind early?

Not too much because we've also had games where we got a huge lead very quickly.

Of course you'd like to see more consistency, but I'm gonna trust that our guys will be dialed in and ready to pounce when the ref throws the ball up in our first NCAA tourney game. This team has swagger, and they're hungry.

[azcat49]

I hope so but it concerns me. One thing for sure, we don’t panic.

Last game we seemed to have an early intensity problem and Lloyd took care of that with a time out. Just hate being down double digits against crap teams because we will soon be playing nothing but great teams

[Longhorned]

I notice when our slow starts happen, but I never notice when it happens to other teams. I wonder if it's more common than I think, and in the nature of learning on the fly.

Tennessee defended us at a level we hadn't experienced yet, and we adjusted.

ASU collapsed 60% of its defenders on any Arizona player to had the ball, and we adjusted.

Washington gave us that Hopkins zone and came out with their hair on fire on offense, and we adjusted.

[pc in NM]

I notice when our slow starts happen, but I never notice when it happens to other teams. I wonder if it's more common than I think, and in the nature of learning on the fly.

Tennessee defended us at a level we hadn't experienced yet, and we adjusted.

ASU collapsed 60% of its defenders on any Arizona player to had the ball, and we adjusted.

Washington gave us that Hopkins zone and came out with their hair on fire on offense, and we adjusted.

I think that having experienced these "crises", and surviving them could serve the team well - shit happens in tourneys, and knowing your own resilience should be beneficial!!

[PHXCATS]

#3 in the AP poll.

That tracks. When an SEC, Big 12, or Big 10 team loses, they drop 1 or 2 spots. When a Pac team loses, 5 to 10 spots.

As shown by UCLA losing 3 in a row and being top 13 still?

[EastCoastCat]

I'm more concerned with TO's. We were much better against UW even early on so unless they were going to make every shot they threw up for the rest of the game I knew we were in good shape.

But then again we are nitpicking considering this team's overall performance.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I notice when our slow starts happen, but I never notice when it happens to other teams. I wonder if it's more common than I think, and in the nature of learning on the fly.

Tennessee defended us at a level we hadn't experienced yet, and we adjusted.

ASU collapsed 60% of its defenders on any Arizona player to had the ball, and we adjusted.

Washington gave us that Hopkins zone and came out with their hair on fire on offense, and we adjusted.

ASU has actually jumped on us twice. It's weird, because they look like hot garbage vs everyone else. They were up 28-20 at McKale.

Tenn...I'll state my undying opinion that we cost ourselves that game with mistakes. Officiating wasn't good, but we lost that one.

[Beachcat97]

#3 in the AP poll.

That tracks. When an SEC, Big 12, or Big 10 team loses, they drop 1 or 2 spots. When a Pac team loses, 5 to 10 spots.

As shown by UCLA losing 3 in a row and being top 13 still?

They didn't lose three in a row.

[IndianaZonaFan]

3 out of 4…but who’s counting?

Did we break the bruins?

[SabinoDrifter]

3 out of 4…but who’s counting?

Did we break the bruins?

They go as Campbell goes and he hasn't played well recently.

[RondaeShimmy]

Oregon plays a make-up game today vs wazzu. Hopefully they're legs are gone by the Arizona game.

[Alieberman]

The slow starts are concerning... but this team has proven it can take a major punch in the face and doesn't panic.

i like that.

I like that a lot.

[azcat49]

Their game though is at home I think which should make this three game week easier for them. Plus the game isn’t until 8pm on Saturday night I think. That’s some good rest

[PHXCATS]

#3 in the AP poll.

That tracks. When an SEC, Big 12, or Big 10 team loses, they drop 1 or 2 spots. When a Pac team loses, 5 to 10 spots.

As shown by UCLA losing 3 in a row and being top 13 still?

They didn't lose three in a row.

Sorry forgot the Stanford makeup game but still your point makes zero logical sense

[CatFanOneMil]

I think this last slow start was also the third game in less than a week...fucking Pac 12 with three trip road games is getting old.

It's weird how some teams get 3-3 game road trips and some teams get 1-3 game road trips...

This round robin shit is broken and they just need to admit it or watch as the Pac hits the national tournament and crashes because all of the contenders just got through with a bunch of back to back 3 game road trips and then the PAC12 vegas thing.

[Beachcat97]

3 out of 4…but who’s counting?

Did we break the bruins?

They go as Campbell goes and he hasn't played well recently.

?? He had 27 against USC.

Ju-clang is more significant, imo. He's either unstoppable, or he'll clang his way to 4-16.

[RondaeShimmy]

[U.P. Zona Fan]

This team has something others don't, they got the tournament stolen from them last year by our admin. That's gotta be good motivation, they've been looking forward to this for two years.

[Jefe]

Can you imagine if Brown or Akinjo stayed?

After seeing Brown run into Mathurin during that timeout Saturday night, Im wondering how well Brown and Akinjo got along with the team. Both are studs but there was no room for 2 more small guards who need 15-20 shots a game.

[Beachcat97]

Drew Peterson is Pac player of the week.

Feels like more of a participation trophy than an actually earned award. He was good vs. ucla, but it was one game.

Benn was utterly dominant in two games in Washington.

[UAEebs86]

JFC stop with this shit already.

[Merkin]

That's Greg Byrne shit, just stop it.

[Siempre Verde]

JFC stop with this shit already.

Nope. Nope. Nope. Gotta make sure my black Block A shirt is washed.

[U.P. Zona Fan]

When was the last time we won a stripe out?

Ari better make sure his lucky undies are ready!

[Chicat]

These things are merch ploys. They know most people don’t have a white UA shirt so they’ll feel compelled to buy one so they don’t stick out.

I wore blue to every game. Of course in my day*, we didn’t have bullshit ___-outs.


*(we also had to go to the telegraph office to get the out of town scores, and we liked it!).

[97cats]

i used to be way more negative and care more about this than i do now - Lloyd doin crazy things to my brain these dayz lol

[UAEebs86]

*(we also had to go to the telegraph office to get the out of town scores, and we liked it!).

My dorm roommate used to call the sports desks at the local Tucson TV stations for scores. They were usually annoyed.

[azcat49]

I will just pull out my wife’s candy striped outfit we use for…….,oh never mind

[azgreg]

I will just pull out my wife’s candy striped outfit we use for

[FreeSpiritCat]

The number 1 thing I like about college basketball is watching players develop. Sure, some players developed under Sean Miller. But I can't remember seeing development of players so quickly as I have this season. Looking at you Dalen Terry, Pelle Larsson, and Oumar Ballo, especially Ballo from where he was at the beginning of the season to where he is now.

I've never seen a team have as good of a rotation 1-8 as I've seen this season. All 8 players deserve to start. This is also the smartest team I can remember. Skilled, smart, big, fast. And yet they still have room for improvement, especially limiting turnovers and defensive rebounding (blocking out). And to think of the age of this team. This is a once in a generation team.

[Postmaster]

Just to throw a monkey in your wrench,
Does CTL deserve credit to a Ballo? I mean this is their 3rd year together.
Ballo looked like a scrub to start season.

Who is really behind his development?

[Beachcat97]

The number 1 thing I like about college basketball is watching players develop. Sure, some players developed under Sean Miller. But I can't remember seeing development of players so quickly as I have this season. Looking at you Dalen Terry, Pelle Larsson, and Oumar Ballo, especially Ballo from where he was at the beginning of the season to where he is now.

I've never seen a team have as good of a rotation 1-8 as I've seen this season. All 8 players deserve to start. This is also the smartest team I can remember. Skilled, smart, big, fast. And yet they still have room for improvement, especially limiting turnovers and defensive rebounding (blocking out). And to think of the age of this team. This is a once in a generation team.

Many of Lute Olson's players made a dramatic leap, either between freshman and soph or soph and junior year. Off the top of my head: Simon, Dickerson, Jefferson, Frye, Hill, Walton, and Adams. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few.

[RondaeShimmy]

Lloyd puts them in place to maximize their skills/talent

It's as simple as that

[Alieberman]

Just to throw a monkey in your wrench,
Does CTL deserve credit to a Ballo? I mean this is their 3rd year together.
Ballo looked like a scrub to start season.

Who is really behind his development?

Well... it's hard to give CSM credit for this 1...

[Beachcat97]

Lloyd puts them in place to maximize their skills/talent

It's as simple as that

That's been my impression too. And it's exactly what Lloyd told us at his introductory press conference, and it's exactly what we've seen happening at Gonzaga for many years. You create a loose structure within which guys can optimize their creativity and instincts, without imposing a "system" that is easier for opposing coaches to prepare for. I really think Terry, in particular, is an excellent example of a guy who has thrived with Lloyd's coaching. Terry is incredibly talented. High hoops IQ, athletic af. He is having a big year, in part, because Lloyd's style allows him to keep evolving, keep pushing his skill set further. I love Miller, but there was absolutely less of a chance to do that in his system.

[Postmaster]

Just to throw a monkey in your wrench,
Does CTL deserve credit to a Ballo? I mean this is their 3rd year together.
Ballo looked like a scrub to start season.

Who is really behind his development?

Well... it's hard to give CSM credit for this 1...

Haha!
I was thinking more like Ryan Anderson or Fios or another current coach.

[RichardCranium]

*(we also had to go to the telegraph office to get the out of town scores, and we liked it!).

My dorm roommate used to call the sports desks at the local Tucson TV stations for scores. They were usually annoyed.

Back in the Palaeolithic, USA Today published an international edition with a international toll free number to call for scores.

Telecom Australia (now Telstra) refused to connect it. I went round and round with them for months.

[U.P. Zona Fan]

Just to throw a monkey in your wrench,
Does CTL deserve credit to a Ballo? I mean this is their 3rd year together.
Ballo looked like a scrub to start season.

Who is really behind his development?

It's a possibility that practicing against CLo has helped his development.

Who did he have to play against at Gonzaga last year, there was no karnowski to bang against.

I think, probably in most positions, maybe not Benn, there is a reserve that is very good to practice against. Iron sharpens iron, our starters are practicing against guys that would start anywhere else in the pac 12. So little drop off. It's awesome.

Was listening to Aaron Torres podcast, he was gushing about how impressive this team looks even before they get on the floor, size for days.

I don't think I was as excited for the Gordon team, and that was a good freaking team that we all had huge hopes for.

So I'd say Tommy gets a lot of credit for development, but the players pushing each other in ways only players with similar ability levels can help a peer develop.

[Jefe]

Tutelis and Benn too busy being best buds

[Longhorned]

*(we also had to go to the telegraph office to get the out of town scores, and we liked it!).

My dorm roommate used to call the sports desks at the local Tucson TV stations for scores. They were usually annoyed.

Back in the Palaeolithic, USA Today published an international edition with a international toll free number to call for scores.

Telecom Australia (now Telstra) refused to connect it. I went round and round with them for months.

I remember that! I think the number was in Hong Kong. In Italy I used to buy a SIP card and phone from a phone booth, nervously waiting for them to get through all the scores I didn't care about.