Bear Down Wildcats

Cats climb to a #2 seed, http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... acketology

Not going to click but it is always fluid in the early season. I think we just need to keep playing and developing but it is interesting how you go from nowhere to a 2 seed. F ESPN.

This was done before the Cats win today over Illinois, https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... cketology/

Gonzaga & Arizona on a collision course - WEST Region

"As quickly as you can, snatch the pebble from my hand ...."

97cats wrote: Sat Dec 18, 2021 11:46 am Gonzaga & Arizona on a collision course - WEST Region

If Gonzaga survives Texas Tech today, they may not have another loss for the rest of the season. It's a much lighter schedule than Arizona's, which brings real opportunity for Arizona.

Bracketmatrix has us as a two with UCLA getting the automatic bid.

https://bracketmatrix.com/

I will be very happy with a 4 seed or better. Just keep everyone developing and healthy. That is where Sean was slotted and what we should expect. COVID may determine the league title and possibly seed.

It's going to be so amazing to get that 1 seed and then losing our entire roster to Covid as the tournament begins....

Shoot me Alieberman.

Irish27 wrote: Sun Jan 09, 2022 2:50 pm https://www.cbssports.com/college-baske ... cketology/

To good a draw for Arizona, it'll never be allowed.

Barring some unexpected Gonzaga losses, the Pac is basically playing for the 2 seed in the west. Think that’s the grand prize that comes with a Pac title this year. Unless a Pac team manages to snag a 1 seed in a region other than the West. Unlikely but possible.

I mean if UCLA, USC, or UA can sweep the other two…I feel that will be a better resume than Gonzaga.

IndianaZonaFan wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 7:44 am I mean if UCLA, USC, or UA can sweep the other two…I feel that will be a better resume than Gonzaga.

I hear you, but don’t forget what Gonzaga did to UCLA.

Can we fucking play a game first before we get into a bracketology discussion? I mean it's like a start of a new season with a probable crammed schedule so how can we even project anything right now?

Fuck COVID, Fuck The Pac 12, Fuck UCLA and USC...

...oh and happy Monday everyone.

EastCoastCat wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 7:58 am Can we fucking play a game first before we get into a bracketology discussion? I mean it's like a start of a new season with a probable crammed schedule so how can we even project anything right now?

Fuck COVID, Fuck The Pac 12, Fuck UCLA and USC...

...oh and happy Monday everyone.

I am concerned about the Cu game this week. We are rusty having not played, and Cu is playing the best ball outside of ucla/usc/ua. And we always seem to have issues in Boulder. The Cats need to bring their A game.......or come down with Covid.

At least this week UA is playing Colorado at McKale.

We're winning two games this week.

All I care about is a top 4 seed that is protected in the west. Two doesn't matter just let it be top 4.

TheCat wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 8:51 am All I care about is a top 4 seed that is protected in the west. Two doesn't matter just let it be top 4.

Yeah. I don't see that much separation between the top and second tier this season. Playing the #1 seed sooner than later probably doesn't make much difference. Maybe Baylor is starting to take flight a bit, but aside from them, who else in the top 10 has really distinguished themselves as a transcendent team this year? I feel like the group currently ranked 2nd through 15th are pretty close.

TheCat wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 8:51 am All I care about is a top 4 seed that is protected in the west. Two doesn't matter just let it be top 4.

I want to be playing well. I'm confident enough in our players that I feel like if we get them firing on all cylinders, seed will become largely irrelevant.

Spaceman Spiff wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:01 am

TheCat wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 8:51 am All I care about is a top 4 seed that is protected in the west. Two doesn't matter just let it be top 4.

I want to be playing well. I'm confident enough in our players that I feel like if we get them firing on all cylinders, seed will become largely irrelevant.

Bullshit...I want our team to:

A 2 or 3 seed, non Baylor region would probably be a good setup.

Ship them all out of the West!

Jefe wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 3:44 pm Ship them all out of the West!

That’s a VERY optimistic forecast for AZ the rest of the way.

Gonna learn a lot more about this team as the conference schedule picks up. Chance for two good wins this week.

Bracketology is a joke for PAC 12 right now. No one is playing much and teams have increased seeding by not playing.

TheCat wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:04 am Bracketology is a joke for PAC 12 right now. No one is playing much and teams have increased seeding by not playing.

I mean, I'll take a favorable seed for the tourney however it has to come. Of course I'd prefer to earn it on the court, but in the end, I just want to see this particular team set up well for March. This is our best chance in years to advance into and beyond the second weekend.

Irish27 wrote: Thu Jan 13, 2022 7:46 am http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... acketology

Much rather stay in the West than get shipped out East.

Though living in eastern PA it would be nice to have the Cats in the East region for the second weekend.

The interesting thing is that poll has Stanford in so we better be on our "A" game Thursday.

Stanford hasn’t lost at home yet this year.

Beachcat97 wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 9:10 am Stanford hasn’t lost at home yet this year.

Their OOC schedule at home was a joke. They beat SC and the "former" Oregon team though.

We certainly need to take them seriously.

barring a major collapse, Arizona will be on the #1 or #2 line opposite either Gonzaga or Duke - the order of where it lines up and location/Region is inconsequential at this point, the decision has already been made

97cats wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 9:59 am barring a major collapse, Arizona will be on the #1 or #2 line opposite either Gonzaga or Duke - the order of where it lines up and location/Region is inconsequential at this point, the decision has already been made

That assumes we win the vast majority of our remaining games. Should we fall to UCLA twice and drop another game against SC/Oregon I doubt we wind up on the 1/2 line.

Arizona would have to be north of four loses to be supplanted from the two line and be on the outside in on the top 8 overall - i dont see that happening (as i mentioned barring a major collapse which i would call such with a potential 15games remaining).

so yes, i agree, if Arizona shits the bed down the stretch they will not be on the two line - however that would be in direct conflict to how they have performed up to this point in the season.

but that's why they play the games!!

and, even if Arizona slides out of the top 8, they most likely will still be in Duke or Gonzaga's region.

I really don't care about being a 1 seed, or even a 2 seed. Top 4 seed in the West is always our best scenario, imo. You do think about matchups, but I like how we match up with just about everyone out there. Gonzaga still looks like the best team to me. If they get anything on defense, that offense is going to overwhelm almost anyone. I'd love to play Duke or Baylor. Purdue impressed me yesterday grinding out a road win at Illinois. Haven't seen enough of Auburn; they're gobbling up everyone in their league but how strong is the SEC really?

Think the Pac is going to have another good showing in the tourney.

dmjcat wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 10:05 am

97cats wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 9:59 am barring a major collapse, Arizona will be on the #1 or #2 line opposite either Gonzaga or Duke - the order of where it lines up and location/Region is inconsequential at this point, the decision has already been made

That assumes we win the vast majority of our remaining games. Should we fall to UCLA twice and drop another game against SC/Oregon I doubt we wind up on the 1/2 line.

Other top-10 teams will also have losses down the stretch. I would bet that there will be multiple teams with 4+ losses as two seeds.

Chicat wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 11:10 am

dmjcat wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 10:05 am

97cats wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 9:59 am barring a major collapse, Arizona will be on the #1 or #2 line opposite either Gonzaga or Duke - the order of where it lines up and location/Region is inconsequential at this point, the decision has already been made

That assumes we win the vast majority of our remaining games. Should we fall to UCLA twice and drop another game against SC/Oregon I doubt we wind up on the 1/2 line.

Other top-10 teams will also have losses down the stretch. I would bet that there will be multiple teams with 4+ losses as two seeds.

Absolutely. Baylor, Auburn, Purdue, AZ, UCLA, Kansas, Wisconsin, LSU...the two seeds will likely be comprised of some of these teams, and they're all in conferences with other national contenders. More losses are coming for all of them. Houston and Gonzaga are two teams that feel a little safer since their leagues are weaker.

This Stanford game is interesting - it's a Q2 game given that it's an away game and Stanford is currently between top 76-125... but if Stanford can finish strong in the Pac-12 this could rise to a Q1 win. Would be useful for our seeding given the limited opportunities for Q1 wins in the Pac-12.

YoDeFoe wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 11:40 am This Stanford game is interesting - it's a Q2 game given that it's an away game and Stanford is currently between top 76-125... but if Stanford can finish strong in the Pac-12 this could rise to a Q1 win. Would be useful for our seeding given the limited opportunities for Q1 wins in the Pac-12.

These are two very hard games this week, imo. They don't look hard on paper, and I expect we'll be heavily favored in both. But we haven't played a road game since Tennessee. Will be interesting.

Beachcat97 wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 11:15 am

Chicat wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 11:10 am

dmjcat wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 10:05 am

97cats wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 9:59 am barring a major collapse, Arizona will be on the #1 or #2 line opposite either Gonzaga or Duke - the order of where it lines up and location/Region is inconsequential at this point, the decision has already been made

That assumes we win the vast majority of our remaining games. Should we fall to UCLA twice and drop another game against SC/Oregon I doubt we wind up on the 1/2 line.

Other top-10 teams will also have losses down the stretch. I would bet that there will be multiple teams with 4+ losses as two seeds.

Absolutely. Baylor, Auburn, Purdue, AZ, UCLA, Kansas, Wisconsin, LSU...the two seeds will likely be comprised of some of these teams, and they're all in conferences with other national contenders. More losses are coming for all of them. Houston and Gonzaga are two teams that feel a little safer since their leagues are weaker.

Yes, but PAC12 teams have a nasty habit of falling in the rankings further than eastern schools following a loss. Contrast how far SC/UCLA fell with 2 losses compared to say, Villanova or Duke. Call me a skeptic.

dmjcat wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 12:19 pm

Beachcat97 wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 11:15 am

Chicat wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 11:10 am

dmjcat wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 10:05 am

97cats wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 9:59 am barring a major collapse, Arizona will be on the #1 or #2 line opposite either Gonzaga or Duke - the order of where it lines up and location/Region is inconsequential at this point, the decision has already been made

That assumes we win the vast majority of our remaining games. Should we fall to UCLA twice and drop another game against SC/Oregon I doubt we wind up on the 1/2 line.

Other top-10 teams will also have losses down the stretch. I would bet that there will be multiple teams with 4+ losses as two seeds.

Absolutely. Baylor, Auburn, Purdue, AZ, UCLA, Kansas, Wisconsin, LSU...the two seeds will likely be comprised of some of these teams, and they're all in conferences with other national contenders. More losses are coming for all of them. Houston and Gonzaga are two teams that feel a little safer since their leagues are weaker.

Yes, but PAC12 teams have a nasty habit of falling in the rankings further than eastern schools following a loss. Contrast how far SC/UCLA fell with 2 losses compared to say, Villanova or Duke. Call me a skeptic.

That is absolutely true. Imagine how far we'll fall if we should drop one in NoCal this week. Probably won't even be ranked next week, lol!

The CBS poll has 5 PAC teams in the tourney including Stanford and Oregon. Stanford game will ne hard, They are tall and play mostly disciplined.

TheCat wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 3:32 pm The CBS poll has 5 PAC teams in the tourney including Stanford and Oregon. Stanford game will ne hard, They are tall and play mostly disciplined.

Stanford's not getting in unless they beat AZ, UCLA or USC at least once, and I really don't see them earning an auto bid as Pac tourney champs.

They already beat Oregon so that is in their favor if OR continues to improve. Let's just hope in doesn't start Thursday.

And they beat USC so two down.

USC could become a not great win if they lose half their conference games. (Aka: pull a Hurley)