Depth

[Catstatic]

Against KSU, Zeus and York had their best games all year. Maybe in their Wildcat careers. Against SDSU they both had 2 points and 4 fouls at one point, and sitting on the bench. Didn't matter. PJC filled in more than sufficiently, and even got inside for a couple of boards. Rondae was everywhere blocking shots, getting rebounds, and being a one man fast break. Brandon did not have a good game, but it was good enough. Pitts had an opportunity with that wide open corner three, but the moment got to him and he air mailed it. Oh, and SJ is an absolute beast. Guaranteed he will have the ball in his hands for the last shot at the end of halves. That crossover where he either takes it to the rim or pulls up at the FT line is unstoppable.

Loved how Miller used the bench in the first half, getting his top 9 on the court. Then he tightened it up in the second half and the Cats got the W.

Couple thoughts (rants!!) on the officiating, from a former official:

1) TJ's hand check foul up top in the first half had absolutely nothing to do with the play. We were taught instead of blowing the whistle in that instance, give them a verbal warning: "Get your hands off him." If he doesn't adjust, then you blow the whistle. Instead, the official gives TJ his second foul early in the game for what was in effect a brain fart. Was it a foul? Technically, yes. But it did not have any impact on the flow of the game and we were taught to talk guys out of fouls when possible. Two top 15 teams and you take the floor general out with that call?

2) Of course there are no back to the basket big men. If all the defender has to do is fall to the floor at the first contact, and the official calls the charge, who is going to waste their time learning post-up moves? Zeus's left shoulder went into the defender's left shoulder, and he fell straight down (not backwards when a charge actually occurs) ... straight down! College officials are so bad on this call it is infuriating. Only reason I watch NBA games is to see good officiating. Those guys rarely if ever get that call wrong.

3) Arizona seems to be penalized for our size. The calls are not the same on both ends of the floor. Then, once it is clear Arizona is getting many more fouls called on them, the zebras begin trying to even it out with phantom calls on the other team. I think our games have this grind it out feel (ie- no flow) at least in part because collegiate officials are too involved. These players can all play. They've played more in their high school careers than anyone did 10 years ago. There really are not that many fouls to call, but you wouldn't know it with all the whistles. If the players were allowed to determine the games, there are only 2-3 teams in the country that could put up a fight against the Cats. Maybe that's why the officials do it: to have competitive games?

(Edit: From Medcalf's ESPN write-up: "It was an ugly affair. An officiating crew that called 38 fouls -- 14 in the first 12 minutes of the game -- made sure of it.")

Had to get that off my chest, even if nobody reads it!!

This team is going to be something very, very special.

Go Cats!!

[catgrad97]

In the course of my job, I come to know a lot of good game officials. Catstatic is one of them.

I agree 100 percent with this post. Hope Miller utilizrs our depth more. Bear Down!

[Frybry02]

1) TJ's hand check foul up top in the first half had absolutely nothing to do with the play. We were taught instead of blowing the whistle in that instance, give them a verbal warning: "Get your hands off him." If he doesn't adjust, then you blow the whistle. Instead, the official gives TJ his second foul early in the game for what was in effect a brain fart. Was it a foul? Technically, yes. But it did not have any impact on the flow of the game and we were taught to talk guys out of fouls when possible. Two top 15 teams and you take the floor general out with that call?

(Edit: From Medcalf's ESPN write-up: "It was an ugly affair. An officiating crew that called 38 fouls -- 14 in the first 12 minutes of the game -- made sure of it.")

Had to get that off my chest, even if nobody reads it!!

This team is going to be something very, very special.

Go Cats!!

Though I completely agree the officiating was terrible, TJ should not have been surprised that he picked up his third with his hand in the guys hip. They were calling the touch fouls the whole first half.

[Chicat]

Though I completely agree the officiating was terrible, TJ should not have been surprised that he picked up his third with his hand in the guys hip. They were calling the touch fouls ON ARIZONA the whole first half.

Fixed your post.

I don't mind a closely called game. But it pisses me off to no end when what is a foul on one end of the court is not a foul on the other. Is consistency too much to ask for?

[PieceOfMeat]

Though I completely agree the officiating was terrible, TJ should not have been surprised that he picked up his third with his hand in the guys hip. They were calling the touch fouls ON ARIZONA the whole first half.

Fixed your post.

I don't mind a closely called game. But it pisses me off to no end when what is a foul on one end of the court is not a foul on the other. Is consistency too much to ask for?

With pac12 refs? Yes, yes it is.

[pokinmik]

Good post catstatic; good to see a ref or former ref at least with some common sense! And yes our depth is really going to make the difference this year. Miller finally has all the pieces in place, the time is here to end that damn 13 year streak.