Game Thread: AZ @ UCLA

[The Derski]

Our win vs SDSU is far more impressive than CU's win over KU now. It already was before today but now it is even better.

 

[gordontrue]

UCLA's offense vs Arizona's defense ... which is more proven?

UCLA's top-ranked offense has played 2 top-50 defenses (just using ppg)
- Northwestern* - won 95-79
- @ Mizzou - lost 80-71

Arizona's top-ranked defense has played 2 top-50 offenses (again using ppg)
- Duke* - won 72 - 66
- Washington - won 71 - 62

UCLA has faced 1 other team with a top-100 defense:
- Drexel - won 72-67

Arizona has faced 3 other teams with a top-100 offense:
- @ SDSU - won 69 - 60
- UNLV - won 63 -58
- @ Michigan - won 72 - 70

 

[johnson]

Cats need to start fast. They have been slow starters in plenty of games this year and getting in a big hole against UCLA could be deadly. This one should be a wild one. Is it Thursday yet?

 

[Monte Carlo Wildcat]

This should be a great game. Personally, I think we will pull off the victory and here's why. First of all, I think we're a much better team on the road; evident by our wins at SDSU and Michigan. Our guys seem to step it up a notch when the pressures on.

Second of all, UCLA plays slow and I mean SLOW! I think teams that have given us problems thus far are teams that push the ball up court quickly and score in transition. UCLA seems to bring the ball up court slowly and settle into their half court offense. This will push less pressure on our defense to get back quickly and allow them to settle into their pack line defense. Plus, UCLA hasn't face a defense quite like ours. Our size and length will give them problems. I'm just curious as to who will be guarding who. I'd really like to see Gordon take on Anderson. I think he can REALLY disrupt their offense by putting pressure on Anderson early and forcing him to drive. From what I've seen, Kyle Anderson LOVES to dribble drive from the top of the key and almost always goes to his right and puts up a leaning shot or lay up but Gordon's defense can really throw a wrench into Anderson's offense. Plus, AG is much quicker than he is.

I fully expect this game to be tough. I think they keys to success will be taking care of the ball and playing hard nose defense, especially against Kyle Anderson and Jordan Adams. I can't wait! BTFD

 

[azchamps]

AZ wins with 72

 

[CatsTopPac]

I agree MCW. It's games like this one, @CU and @Oregon that Miller scheduled the @SDSU and @Michigan to prepare for. Great strategy on his part. I can't see this game being as intense as the SDSU game or the Michigan game (as far as venue). But I would put UCLA as a team in between the two when we played them. The @CU and @Oregon games will reflect those two non-con road games well, with the exception that we have played at both of the Pac venues last year, so they won't be new to us. I think it takes some of the advantage away from our opponents. But all three games will be tough.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Prediction: AZ wins 70-65

 

[JahiiCarson_SqodGeneral]

Uofa 71
Ucla 61
Uofa breaks away late as TJ and NJ just wear down ucla and as they get tired Uofa will get easy buckets late in the game. I still think Uofa can win any close game especially with the defense they have and there ability to press. Wear em out for us please we need it....... Sendek will get out coached on Thursday hopefully talent prevails. Still don't know if I want to win because I want Sendek gone and for us to hire a big name or hell I would be stoked if they hire mussleman because I see his potential as a hc.

 

[GumbySquad]

Jahii, if I were you I wouldn't get too caught up in Musselman being to asu what Lute was to Arizona. As I've told you in the past, IMO Eric Musselman is one of (if not the) best coach in the world who does not have a HC job...

... but the problem is, he is not a college guy. His goal has always been to get back to the NBA. He has already been the head coach of two NBA teams (the Warriors and Kings) and his stated goal has always been to be a head coach in the pros. The day that he was hired it was obvious to me that he would eventually take over for Herb, and that he would have success as the coach in Tempe... but with the NBA head coaching carousel being constant, there are always openings and I guarantee you that the first NBA team that offers him a HC job he is gone.

 

[johnson]

I'm not seeing the reason to fire Sendek just yet. ASU had a pathetically easy non-con schedule to pad their resume and that's what ASU did...they beat all the cupcakes they were supposed to and didn't lose to any. They played maybe 6 teams that are "decent" like they are and are 3-3 against them.

ASU needs to beat someone good to gain some respect. If you judge ASU by U of A standards, Sendek should be fired...but you shouldn't. I think the jury is still out on him.

 

[GumbySquad]

I'm not seeing the reason to fire Sendek just yet. ASU had a pathetically easy non-con schedule to pad their resume and that's what ASU did...they beat all the cupcakes they were supposed to and didn't lose to any. They played maybe 6 teams that are "decent" like they are and are 3-3 against them.

ASU needs to beat someone good to gain some respect. If you judge ASU by U of A standards, Sendek should be fired...but you shouldn't. I think the jury is still out on him.

...Johnson, the reasoning behind people wanting Sendek fired has nothing to do with this season, it has to do with 2 and 3 years ago. At the time asu was coming off of their best run since the 70s, with Harden and company and what did they do to back that up? They went 12-19 (4-14 in the Pac) and 10-21 (6-12). After the 4-14 season most asu fans wanted him gone, but then they signed Jahii and Herb promised he would change his boring style, and the fans gave him one more year... then Jahii was ineligible and they went 10-21.

Most asu fans that I know hate the guy. It's not that he can't coach, it's that his style is not exciting... so when you coach a boring style, players do not want to play for you, and if you are boring and you can't win games? That is the death nail. It's not that Herb has done anything this season worthy of him being let go... it's that he is already on his last chance with the fanbase. If they don't get to the NCAA this year, or next year (which is doubtful) then most fans (all 356 of them) will be calling for his head... again.

 

[rover]

If Michael Irving and Larry Scott are at the game we lose, guaranteed!


BEAR DOWN

 

[JahiiCarson_SqodGeneral]

I'm kind of happy Lockett didn't stay last year we would of had a great team if Lockett stayed and we would of brought Evan off the bench etc and we would of made the tourney basically giving Herb more breathing room, but right now I just want him to crash and burn. How was Ned Wulk some what successful here I have heard that Asu fans use to follow the basketball team in the 70s and some what in the 80s and we were fun to watch? What coach wants to come here it's a scary job to take. How was this once a Suns town and az sports fans loved hoops but Asu could never build a tradition? Uofa had Lute and he put UA on the map when your at Uofa on a game day for men's hoops the campus shuts down.

 

[The Derski]

If Michael Irving and Larry Scott are at the game we lose, guaranteed!


BEAR DOWN

 

[GumbySquad]

I'm kind of happy Lockett didn't stay last year we would of had a great team if Lockett stayed and we would of brought Evan off the bench etc and we would of made the tourney basically giving Herb more breathing room, but right now I just want him to crash and burn. How was Ned Wulk some what successful here I have heard that Asu fans use to follow the basketball team in the 70s and some what in the 80s and we were fun to watch? What coach wants to come here it's a scary job to take. How was this once a Suns town and az sports fans loved hoops but Asu could never build a tradition? Uofa had Lute and he put UA on the map when your at Uofa on a game day for men's hoops the campus shuts down.

Lute may have come here and "put the UofA on the map" in most people's minds around the nation, but it was actually Fred Snowden that got McKale built (because BearDown Gym wasn't big enough). Snowden took the team to the Elite Eight Arizona also had an 80 game winning streak at home before either of them were here... I mean, they did win 12 conference championships in the 30s, 40s and 50s, so it's not as if they had no history at all... 12 conference titles is 12 conference titles, regardless of how small the league is.

Fred Snowden brought a level of excitement where the entire town wanted to be at games, then, when Lute arrived, he built a castle upon the foundation that was already here. There has never been that type of hype at asu for basketball, whether that is due to other pro-sports, or whatnot I'm sure I don't know and don't care.

What I do know is this: If they want to compete for conference titles they need more fans, which will bring more good players, which will lead to more tournament births, which will create a winning culture. That requires a coach who is sexy to HS recruits, and Herb is clearly not that coach.

Obviously I say all of this not because I give a damn whether asu is successful, or not... as always I just want them to avoid being terrible. Have been watching this conference for 25+ years and the seasons where teams can rest when they play asu to focus solely on the Cats are not cool. You need to at least be competitive. It sucks having a traveling partner that sucks.

 

[JahiiCarson_SqodGeneral]

Jahii, if I were you I wouldn't get too caught up in Musselman being to asu what Lute was to Arizona. As I've told you in the past, IMO Eric Musselman is one of (if not the) best coach in the world who does not have a HC job...

... but the problem is, he is not a college guy. His goal has always been to get back to the NBA. He has already been the head coach of two NBA teams (the Warriors and Kings) and his stated goal has always been to be a head coach in the pros. The day that he was hired it was obvious to me that he would eventually take over for Herb, and that he would have success as the coach in Tempe... but with the NBA head coaching carousel being constant, there are always openings and I guarantee you that the first NBA team that offers him a HC job he is gone.

Man Musselman is up there with Jeff Hornaseck IMO in terms of up and coming coaches who are young and know so much about the game. I just see how Hornaseck is doing with the Suns this year and it's like I see Musselman being able to do that at the college level and at ASU but I agree he deserves a nba coaching job not an Asu head coaching job which is a risky job itself.

 

[JahiiCarson_SqodGeneral]

Jahii, if I were you I wouldn't get too caught up in Musselman being to asu what Lute was to Arizona. As I've told you in the past, IMO Eric Musselman is one of (if not the) best coach in the world who does not have a HC job...

... but the problem is, he is not a college guy. His goal has always been to get back to the NBA. He has already been the head coach of two NBA teams (the Warriors and Kings) and his stated goal has always been to be a head coach in the pros. The day that he was hired it was obvious to me that he would eventually take over for Herb, and that he would have success as the coach in Tempe... but with the NBA head coaching carousel being constant, there are always openings and I guarantee you that the first NBA team that offers him a HC job he is gone.

Lute may have come here and "put the UofA on the map" in most people's minds around the nation, but it was actually Fred Snowden that got McKale built (because BearDown Gym wasn't big enough). Snowden took the team to the Elite Eight Arizona also had an 80 game winning streak at home before either of them were here... I mean, they did win 12 conference championships in the 30s, 40s and 50s, so it's not as if they had no history at all... 12 conference titles is 12 conference titles, regardless of how small the league is.

Fred Snowden brought a level of excitement where the entire town wanted to be at games, then, when Lute arrived, he built a castle upon the foundation that was already here. There has never been that type of hype at asu for basketball, whether that is due to other pro-sports, or whatnot I'm sure I don't know and don't care.

What I do know is this: If they want to compete for conference titles they need more fans, which will bring more good players, which will lead to more tournament births, which will create a winning culture. That requires a coach who is sexy to HS recruits, and Herb is clearly not that coach.

Obviously I say all of this not because I give a damn whether asu is successful, or not... as always I just want them to avoid being terrible. Have been watching this conference for 25+ years and the seasons where teams can rest when they play asu to focus solely on the Cats are not cool. You need to at least be competitive. It sucks having a traveling partner that sucks.

I say last year we were 2 schools that were tough to play we could wear teams down with our uptempo style but then we would wear ourselves out like CTP has said numerous of times about Asus depth it sucks Locketts mom had cancer if he stayed I think it would of been a special season but wasn't d Will a senior last year well would of been lol it's not an excuse but definitely unlucky for Herb Lockett and Felix were glue guys and Felix's loss is showing this year........ It just made me mad that Herb can't change his style of play based on what he has it always had to be the 3-2 match up zone, with that boring offensive motion crap. I think the best way to get fans is to do what Herb is trying to do now recruitng athletes and playing them in a uptempo system basketball isn't rich enough here to just go out there and win you need to provide entertainment something Herb should of done along time ago......... He just made mistakes he had opportunities to build Asu into a basketball program but, boring style of play, players transferring because lack of playing time, and players never developing or players that don't fit "his system" he had the chances to be a good coach but he screwed up.

 

[JahiiCarson_SqodGeneral]

Like Gumby his recruits are athletic and have upside this year but his class doesn't make sense a bunch of guards? For the 2014 class it's like wtf Herb? Do you just throw players onto one team and expect them to mesh?

 

[GumbySquad]

I say last year we were 2 schools that were tough to play we could wear teams down with our uptempo style but then we would wear ourselves out like CTP has said numerous of times about Asus depth it sucks Locketts mom had cancer if he stayed I think it would of been a special season but wasn't d Will a senior last year well would of been lol it's not an excuse but definitely unlucky for Herb Lockett and Felix were glue guys and Felix's loss is showing this year........ It just made me mad that Herb can't change his style of play based on what he has it always had to be the 3-2 match up zone, with that boring offensive motion crap. I think the best way to get fans is to do what Herb is trying to do now recruitng athletes and playing them in a uptempo system basketball isn't rich enough here to just go out there and win you need to provide entertainment something Herb should of done along time ago......... He just made mistakes he had opportunities to build Asu into a basketball program but, boring style of play, players transferring because lack of playing time, and players never developing or players that don't fit "his system" he had the chances to be a good coach but he screwed up.

The thing is, great coaches do not run a system... with few exceptions (Bobby Knight, Jim Boeheim). Most of the greatest coaches, like Wooden, K, Lute, etc? They always adapted their system to their personnel. When Lute had quick guards, he ran up-tempo and switched defenses between Man and matchup-zones, both full and half court. When he had huge front-courts with slower guards? (such as Rooks /Williams /Stokes /Mills /Othic /Muehlebach) he ran a much more deliberate 1/2 court offense and rarely ever went up-tempo... the teams only ran when it was wide open.

If a coach is too stubborn to change his coaching philosophy when he doesn't have the personnel to run it? He is rarely, if ever, going to be successful. IMO, Herb has tried to change his style (one that he had at NCST too) only because he had no other choice, it was run with Jahii, or pack your bags.

 

[JahiiCarson_SqodGeneral]

The thing is, great coaches do not run a system... with few exceptions (Bobby Knight, Jim Boeheim). Most of the greatest coaches, like Wooden, K, Lute, etc? They always adapted their system to their personnel. When Lute had quick guards, he ran up-tempo and switched defenses between Man and matchup-zones, both full and half court. When he had huge front-courts with slower guards? (such as Rooks/Williams/Stokes/Mills/Othic/Muehlebach) he ran a much more deliberate 1/2 court offense and rarely ever went up-tempo... the teams only ran when it was wide open.

If a coach is too stubborn to change his coaching philosophy when he doesn't have the personell to run it? He is rarely, if ever, going to be successful. IMO, Herb has tried to change his style (one that he had at NCST too) only because he had no other choice, it was run with Jahii, or pack your bags.

I really wanted the 07-09 teams to go uptempo we were athletic and quick and Glasser was a great passer but his passing skills were wasted in a motion offense I thought that team could of been better than what they were if they were in a uptempo system. Don't forget about the 2010-2011 team Herb played the 2-3 match up zone and 7 footers would be running at 3 point shooters in the corner, he changed it when Musselman came but also have you seen how he subsitutes? He puts in freshmen for 3-4 minutes than pulls them at a bad time like right after they turned it over or missed a shot he will never develop young players doing that. I like his 2014 class no big names but players with upside Tra Holder, Gerry Blake's, Octavius Ellis and more good athletes quick that fit the system.

Sorry for talking asu basketball it's just I love this program and I want them to do well I want to beat Uofa. I don't want to be not looking forward to the tourney anymore I want success.