Game Thread: Arizona vs Texas Tech

[520GGATO]

I have decided to make this game thread early for obvious reasons.
Good news for Az basketball. SDSU beat 20 Crieghton and 25 Marqqute. Just keep that rpi rising baby.

 

[johnson]

Red Raiders should be a decent test for the Cats. They appear to have good balance and a bit of size too (the two requirements I think a team needs to really beat us). That said, I think the Cats have arguably the best team in the Nation and I won't be picking against them all year.

Looking forward to another great game. Loving how Zeus is developing. I was worried he was going to plateu like Walters did a few years back, but Zeus just keeps improving.

 

[The Derski]

We bout to get dat #2 ranking today.

 

[The Derski]

Arizona officially #2
Michigan State is No. 1, Arizona No. 2 in AP basketball poll - ESPN

 

[Monte Carlo Wildcat]

Arizona officially #2
Michigan State is No. 1, Arizona No. 2 in AP basketball poll - ESPN

Hell ya! Now we just need North Carolina to take care of business this week and we are on our way back to number 1!!!! BTFD

 

[Arizona_Sting]

I don't care much about rankings at this point of the season, but whenever you have the chance to be ranked number 1 it's always special. Hope Mich St. falls soon.

 

[Monte Carlo Wildcat]

Nick Johnson is this weeks PAC 12 player of the week. Congrats Nick, keep em coming.

 

[Monte Carlo Wildcat]

Here's a few numbers comparing the two teams for tomorrow:

W-L RECORD RPI RANK SOS RANK
ZONA: 7-0 14 75
TTU: 6-2 147 286

AVG PPG AVG PPG ALLOWED
ZONA: 79.7 59.4 (+20.3)
TTU: 74.9 66.8 (+8.1)

LAST MEETING BETWEEN BOTH TEAMS
DECEMBER 1st, 2012 @ TTU
ZONA: 85
TTU: 67

 

[Monte Carlo Wildcat]

Fixed it:

Here's a few numbers comparing the two teams for tomorrow:

W-L RECORD
ZONA: 7-0
TTU: 6-2

RPI RANK
ZONA: 14
TTU: 147

SOS RANK
ZONA: 75
TTU: 286

AVG PPG
ZONA: 79.7
TTU: 74.9

AVG PPG ALLOWED
ZONA: 59.4 (+20.3)
TTU: 66.8 (+8.1)

LAST MEETING BETWEEN BOTH TEAMS
DECEMBER 1st, 2012 @ TTU
ZONA: 85
TTU: 67

 

[The Derski]

SO should we be rooting for Duke or Michigan?

 

[Arizona_Sting]

SO should we be rooting for Duke or Michigan?

You can make arguments for either one, really. I think I'd go with Duke since we beat them already and we want that win to look as impressive as possible right now. Winning in Ann Arbor whether Duke beats them or not will still earn us some respect.

 

[JahiiCarson_SqodGeneral]

We miss Felix....... ):

Jahii was hurt last game and herb still played him......... Hopefully Kearney will be good. Anyway you guys are legit and you have the best defense in college basketball.

 

[The Derski]

You can make arguments for either one, really. I think I'd go with Duke since we beat them already and we want that win to look as impressive as possible right now. Winning in Ann Arbor whether Duke beats them or not will still earn us some respect.

I think I agree with this.

 

[Monte Carlo Wildcat]

I'm rooting for the Blue Devils. Beating a good Duke team ALWAYS looks good on paper! Plus, as Sting mentioned, beating Michigan at their home speaks for itself.

 

[azchamps]

This time of year I don't care where we're ranked as long as we are undefeated
It is nice to be noticed though.
GO CATS! BEAR DOWN! BEAT TTU!

 

[johnson]

The numbers are a bit misleading. It would appear we should beat these guys by like 50 looking at them. RPI and SOS are suspect stats early in the year. TTU is probably a tournament team and one that should put up a good fight....but one they should end up knocked out at the end of. GO CATS!

 

[WildcatR.J.MacReady]

Texas Tech probably a tournament team? Wow, I guess what tournament did you have in mind?

On another note Jay Bilas did his top 68 for ESPN and put Arizona at number #2 and says the Cats COULD compete for a Final Four. Meanwhile he has Michigan St. at #1 and Syracuse at #3 AND SAYS BOTH THOSE TEAMS COULD WIN THE WHOLE THING. Still bitter huh Bilas?

 

[azchamps]

Arizona by 15. I don't have any good reason to knock TTU but, after reading some things, they can't hang with ARIZONA.
GO CATS!

 

[The Derski]

We should beat this team by 20+. Last year we destroyed them in their own building and our squad this season is much better.

Cats by 25.

 

[Monte Carlo Wildcat]

The numbers are a bit misleading. It would appear we should beat these guys by like 50 looking at them. RPI and SOS are suspect stats early in the year. TTU is probably a tournament team and one that should put up a good fight....but one they should end up knocked out at the end of. GO CATS!

Agreed Johnson. Numbers this early on can be a bit misleading but the fact is Arizona should have no problem handling Texas Tech. TTU does bring some size with them; they have a 7 footer and several guys 6'7 or taller. Their go to guy is senior 6'7 forward Jay Crockett. He's averaging 14.5 ppg and has made 33 of 38 shots at or around the rim (86.8%). He's taken over 49% of his shots at or around the rim telling me that he likes to attack the basket. He's definitely the guy that we need to zone in on. I'm not worried about their bigs. Thus far, they've underachieved in my opinion. Their 7 footer Dejan Kravic is only averaging 3 rebounds per game compared to Kaleb who is averaging 6.7 rebounds per game. The only way we lose this game is by overlooking them and turning the ball over. Being the 2nd ranked team in the nation will bring out the competitiveness in our opponents. I think we win by 10+.