Arizona 1/4 2:30 ESPN2

[Lobot]

Arizona has been a bit of a disappointment this season so far by their standards, They are 7-5 coming in. They've beaten up the smaller schools on the schedule and lost vs. power programs. It's not been an extremely easy schedule for them though. Losses are @Wisconsin, Duke, Neutral court vs. Oklahoma and WVU, and vs. UCLA. The Wildcats opened conference play 1-0 after defeating TCU in Tucson this week.

The roster is interesting to me in that it's high level talent but there's not a single guy on their roster that UC was after in recruiting. They have twenty players including the walk-ons on the roster and seven of them are international players.

I'm glad that this game is a home game. I think the last time we played in Tucson years ago, we had the Miles Simon half court shot to beat us unless I'm misremembering the site of that game. I don't think Arizona has ever played at 5/3 before.

Arizona is deep. They have 10 guys averaging double digit minutes. They are tall. UA has three guys at 7'0 or taller and two of them see double figures minutes. They can run. They're averaging 85.9ppg as a team. Your guy to contain is Caleb Love as most of you probably knew already. Love was a transfer from UNC a couple of year ago.

I really don't think we want to get into a street ball run and gun game with these guys. We're going to have play some decent defense. In their losses, Arizona was held below 80 in every game except one. UCLA slowed them down to 54 in a close loss.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba.../stats/_/id/12

[leo from jersey]

anew year and a chance to show the old bearcat toughness. Go Cats.

[swilsonsp4]

Arizona has been a bit of a disappointment this season so far by their standards, They are 7-5 coming in. They've beaten up the smaller schools on the schedule and lost vs. power programs. It's not been an extremely easy schedule for them though. Losses are @Wisconsin, Duke, Neutral court vs. Oklahoma and WVU, and vs. UCLA. The Wildcats opened conference play 1-0 after defeating TCU in Tucson this week.

The roster is interesting to me in that it's high level talent but there's not a single guy on their roster that UC was after in recruiting. They have twenty players including the walk-ons on the roster and seven of them are international players.

I'm glad that this game is a home game. I think the last time we played in Tucson years ago, we had the Miles Simon half court shot to beat us unless I'm misremembering the site of that game. I don't think Arizona has ever played at 5/3 before.

Arizona is deep. They have 10 guys averaging double digit minutes. They are tall. UA has three guys at 7'0 or taller and two of them see double figures minutes. They can run. They're averaging 85.9ppg as a team. Your guy to contain is Caleb Love as most of you probably knew already. Love was a transfer from UNC a couple of year ago.

I really don't think we want to get into a street ball run and gun game with these guys. We're going to have play some decent defense. In their losses, Arizona was held below 80 in every game except one. UCLA slowed them down to 54 in a close loss.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba.../stats/_/id/12

Minor point: The game versus AZ during which Miles Simon ruined my Sunday afternoon actually took place in Phoenix. It was part of a nationally-televised double-header that also involved AZ State. I don't recall the fourth team. Also, Simon's shot was a 65-footer that banked in. [That game was the only thing I had been looking forward to that day, as I was down with the flu. The stunning result made it worse.]

That said, Saturday's game has become even more important in light of the sloppy performance in Manhattan on Monday. These Wildcats pose different problems than did K-State. They play faster and score in transition and close to the basket (even more than K-State). They neither shoot particularly well from the arc (30.7%; #272 nationally) nor bother to launch many (#287). They also are a great offensive rebounding team (#6). Per barttorvik.com, the Wildcats are a tick below the median in opponents' 3-point % (#197), while allowing far too many such opportunities (#309).

While K-State took Simas Lukošius out of the game from outside (0-for-2), AZ are less likely to accomplish it. However, they certainly should try, considering that the Bearcats started forcing plays to compensate, as the 15 turnovers will attest.

This has become close to a must-win game, what with a game in Waco and visit from KU following. Even the roadie in Boulder after that isn't going to be easy. The Buffs have proven themselves to be competitive.

[leo from jersey]

I would like to see our guys make some contact and be fouled. I blame the lack of fts to the Cats being weak and not the refs.

[GoBearcats31]

UC is 0-4 all time versus Arizona including two losses in Phoenix and two in Hawaii - most recently in Maui two years ago.

The Miles Simon game was one of my earliest UC basketball memories. Danny Fortson was getting mugged all game.

[GoBearcats31]

Also, LeBron’s second son, Bryce, apparently announced his commitment to Arizona moments ago.

[leeraymond]

The Arizona game represents a better matchup for UC than the K-State game. UA's starting front line is actually short but wide (Awaka 6'8"" 250 and Townsend 6'6" 235). They also play two 7-footers and another 6'8" guy. Note that one the 7-footers can also shoot the 3-ball. They play four guards where Love 6'4", Bradley 6'3", and Dell'Orso 6'6" are starters and Lewis 6'4" plays off the bench. Just about all of their players can score, where Love, Bradley, and Townsend score in double figures. They have a +11.5 rebounding margin and they get to the free throw line 23 times a game and make 17.5 free throws a game. They are holding teams to 39.7% shooting on the season. They score 85.9 points a game and give up 68.8 points a game.

Let's NOT kid each other here. If Cincinnati does NOT play a very good game from start to finish, this game could get out of hand very easily. UC's guards are going to have their hands full with this UA team. James, Thomas, Simas, and Skillings are going to have to play at their highest levels to win this game. Thomas and James, with their size, are going to be at a major disadvantage. I am thinking that James and Thomas may have a speed advantage.

If UC can play good tough defense without fouling, close off the driving lanes, keep UA off the boards, play good solid transition defense, and force them to play at a slower tempo in the half-court, maybe UC can steal one at home. However, I get the feeling that Miller, who wants to play fast, will look at this game as a chance to play the way HE wants to play and attempt to beat Arizona in a shoot-out. Hopefully, that is NOT the strategy.

This game represents a great opportunity for a BIG-TIME win. Hopefully, UC basketball will measure up to the opportunity and get the win.

[KevMan1976]

I'm going to take the Bearcats in a close one at home.

Good Cats - 78
Bad Cats - 72

[GoBearcats31]

Rich Hollenberg/Fran Fraschilla on the ESPN2 broadcast

[swilsonsp4]

The Arizona game represents a better matchup for UC than the K-State game. UA's starting front line is actually short but wide (Awaka 6'8"" 250 and Townsend 6'6" 235). They also play a 7-footer and another 6'8" guy. Note that the 7-footer can also shoot the 3-ball. They play four guards where Love 6'4", Bradley 6'3", and Dell'Orso 6'6" are starters and Lewis 6'4" plays off the bench. Just about all of their players can score, where Love, Bradley, and Townsend score in double figures. They have a +11.5 rebounding margin and they get to the free throw line 23 times a game and make 17.5 free throws a game. They are holding teams to 39.7% shooting on the season. They score 85.9 points a game and give up 68.8 points a game.

Let's NOT kid each other here. If Cincinnati does NOT play a very good game from start to finish, this game could get out of hand very easily. UC's guards are going to have their hands full with this UA team. James, Thomas, Simas, and Skillings are going to have to play at their highest levels to win this game. Thomas and James, with their size, are going to be at a major disadvantage. I am thinking that James and Thomas may have a speed advantage.

If UC can play good tough defense without fouling, close off the driving lanes, keep UA off the boards, play good solid transition defense, and force them to play at a slower tempo in the half-court, maybe UC can steal one at home. However, I get the feeling that Miller, who wants to play fast, will look at this game as a chance to play the way HE wants to play and attempt to beat Arizona in a shoot-out. Hopefully, that is NOT the strategy.

This game represents a great opportunity for a BIG-TIME win. Hopefully, UC basketball will measure up to the opportunity and get the win.

The Bearcats haven't played at a fast tempo all season. Per both KenPom and Bart Torvik, UC's adjusted tempo is between #261 & #267. AZ, though, do play fast (between #51 & #55). I don't believe the Bearcats will try to run with them unless they get quality fast break opportunities.

[leeraymond]

The Bearcats haven't played at a fast tempo all season. Per both KenPom and Bart Torvik, UC's adjusted tempo is between #261 & #267. AZ, though, do play fast (between #51 & #55). I don't believe the Bearcats will try to run with them unless they get quality fast break opportunities.

When I say tempo what I mean is the number shots taken per game. UC shoots the ball A LOT. Miller's teams get their shots in. This season UC takes about 61.8 shots a game and UA takes about 63. UC makes about 30 shots a game and UA makes about 30.8 shots a game. UC's opponents take about 57 shots a game and UA opponents take about 59 shots a game. UC opponents hit about 21.6 shots a game and UA's opponents hits about 23.5 shots a game.

From what I can guess (based on stats I have checked out this season), the average team probably takes anywhere from 50 to 57 shots a game. UC takes 61.8.

[Gmann]

It's as simple as this. Regardless of the oppornent the Cats need to win these Big 12 games at home if they hope to make the tourney. They are far too inconsistent on the road to think there will be many victories to be had unless things change. I think the talent is there to have a great season but the game against KSU reminded of past seasons under Miller. They have scorers but the offense they run is very puzzling. They need to play the same suffocating defense that they did against X and Dayton and ride the energy from the crowd.

[GoBearcats31]

The Sean Miller connection ... Arizona is practicing at Xavier (and using their washing machines!) https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawil...d4865282f.html

Reynolds said a lot of teams who arrive to play Cincinnati actually practice at Xavier beforehand, since Cincinnati’s practice facility is small and frequently occupied by other sports teams.

“The (available) times aren’t always great, and if you can’t get their main arena, it’s almost like what’s the point of going over there?” Reynolds said.

But offering the Wildcats a chance to use their facilities is something of a no-brainer for the Musketeer staff.

Because many of them are Wildcats.

[sedz]

When I say tempo what I mean is the number shots taken per game. UC shoots the ball A LOT. Miller's teams get their shots in. This season UC takes about 61.8 shots a game and UA takes about 63. UC makes about 30 shots a game and UA makes about 30.8 shots a game. UC's opponents take about 57 shots a game and UA opponents take about 59 shots a game. UC opponents hit about 21.6 shots a game and UA's opponents hits about 23.5 shots a game.

From what I can guess (based on stats I have checked out this season), the average team probably takes anywhere from 50 to 57 shots a game. UC takes 61.8.

The national average number of possessions per game is 68.5. Cincinnati is 66.2. Arizona is 71.4. We're not playing at the snail's pace of Virginia's 60.9, but we are slower than average.

[sedz]

Minor point: The game versus AZ during which Miles Simon ruined my Sunday afternoon actually took place in Phoenix. It was part of a nationally-televised double-header that also involved AZ State. I don't recall the fourth team. Also, Simon's shot was a 65-footer that banked in. [That game was the only thing I had been looking forward to that day, as I was down with the flu. The stunning result made it worse.]

That said, Saturday's game has become even more important in light of the sloppy performance in Manhattan on Monday. These Wildcats pose different problems than did K-State. They play faster and score in transition and close to the basket (even more than K-State). They neither shoot particularly well from the arc (30.7%; #272 nationally) nor bother to launch many (#287). They also are a great offensive rebounding team (#6). Per barttorvik.com, the Wildcats are a tick below the median in opponents' 3-point % (#197), while allowing far too many such opportunities (#309).

While K-State took Simas Lukošius out of the game from outside (0-for-2), AZ are less likely to accomplish it. However, they certainly should try, considering that the Bearcats started forcing plays to compensate, as the 15 turnovers will attest.

This has become close to a must-win game, what with a game in Waco and visit from KU following. Even the roadie in Boulder after that isn't going to be easy. The Buffs have proven themselves to be competitive.

Good preview. Arizona is full of efficient scorers, so limiting their success on the offensive glass will be key. My strategy would be to not help on Love and let him shoot. He's their least efficient shooter, and we need to secure the rebound when he misses.

We also need to be aware that Dell'Orso is one dimensional. He's only scored 10 points at the rim all season but made 21 threes at 44%. He's the only volume shooter who makes over 31% from deep. So we need to stay tight with Dell'Orso but play off everyone else and clog the paint.