LAHAINA, Hawaii — Arizona might be deep and athletic, oozing potential that may or may not develop by March, but the Wildcats were reminded of what they are not Wednesday.
1. Comment by Maria V. (mariav76)— November 25,2009 @ 10:58PM
Ratings:-10+30
Overall, I am very pleased with our team's performance. However, our centers need to step up. Kyril is a freshman but I hope coach Miller starts paying more attaention to him.
The refs we're wistle-happy and made some bad calls but we had plenty of chances to pull away. Overall, this tournament exposed our weaknesses and I have no doubt that coaches will address the same.
2. Comment by grant c. (coletoy48)— November 25,2009 @ 11:25PM
Ratings:-39+13
Didn't even mention our leader, Wise. 4 for 13 with 1 - 3 pointer and 0 for 3 free throws for 9 points.
I'm glad Maria is pleased with the team's performance. 6th place. There were only 6 team's in the tournament.
Right now my thoughts are football with ASU. A loss means a 6-6 end of season record. Not even a winning season. Again. Hope I'm wrong.
Happy Thanksgiving anyway.
3. Comment by Al H. (oceans11)— November 25,2009 @ 11:54PM
Ratings:-8+37
#2. Grant C. There were 8 teams.
Very pleased with this very young team.
They showed a lot of toughness and fight that you can't really coach into a team - either they have it or not.
This team has it!
We are going to have some great years ahead of us. This will be fun to watch this team progress. Give'em a chance.
Great coaching and great team attitude always combines for good results in the end.
4. Comment by Brock S. (brocks)— November 26,2009 @ 12:41AM
Ratings:-4+28
I saw a young team improve leaps and bounds from their games v. Wisconsin and Colorado. I'm hoping Wise doesn't make foul trouble a habit this year, but I also don't go into a shear anxiety attack when he's on the bench like last year. Although this team is much younger, they seem to have some resemblance of depth.
Our fix on 26 will be no easy task, but Miller looks like he's got the ammo to make a good run.
5. Comment by Greg K. (gmkarst)— November 26,2009 @ 3:45AM
Ratings:-6+24
While 2 losses are painful, they were to good teams and we were in the games at all times. This team has a ton of talent (though some is fairly raw) and I think the way coach Miller rotates them is great. In prior years, the foul trouble we had in these games would have been a disaster. Instead it allowed us to show off a deep bench. If I had my wishes it would be for Horne to show a more positive attitude on the court (and to remember he's not a shooting guard this year...the 3s against CU were great, but his focus there seems to hurt his inside game and rebounding,)and for MoMo to act like a team-oriented player and cut down on the turnovers and forced shots. Kudos to Nick, BLav, Hill, Williams and Fogg for great performances. Can't wait to watch the Cats continue to improve and return to the Big Dance.
7. Comment by Bill S. (Wildcat Claudio)— November 26,2009 @ 4:47AM
Ratings:-14+10
Miller knows what NEEDS to be DONE.
Much better defense.
The last 10 minutes of the game ,last two games, have been horrible.
It is like a tol road in which YOU do not have to stop or pay.
Free drives to the basket.lol
A on more serious note:
The Thanksgiving weekend will bring some difficult decisions.
I see three individuals which will need some discussion because Miller needs players, for his system.
With Shumpert: I believe the UofA admin. has a finanical option which will FREE up his scholarship.
With Judkins:
He seemed to be out of it during the Maui tournament. His skills have dimenished. It maybe personnel,with his grandfather.
Not sure to thing about Alex J.
He tries hard.
He just needs a little quickness or much better antcipation.
If can anticipate BETTER;then,this will off-set his lack of quickness.
A THREE or FOUR member recruiting class for 2010 will have the roster closer to Miller type players.
8. Comment by ed w. (Bonus One)— November 26,2009 @ 4:49AM
Ratings:-5+21
People who know basketball will see that by the end of the year this will be a good team......Consider the Vandy team has been together for a while and not all freshmen.....our team played even. The experience mistakes will be fixed and the fouls will be cut down as time goes. It is great to have more than three players on the floor like last year. These kids will do well in the future and I believe that like Coach Olsen's first years this will be just the beginning. Go Cats.....and if the Tech foul was only for the coach that said watch the three point lane then he should call the same tech on Duke......but there is no way a ACC ref will call a tech on Coach K......
9. Comment by Don R. (gawalt)— November 26,2009 @ 6:00AM
Ratings:-5+19
That ref Karl Hess was doing his best Dave Libby impersonation. Too bad Sean Miller missed out on Libby. He would have loved him! HA!
I liked Arizona's effort. The last couple years the team wouldn't have played with as much verve as they did in these first few games.
Arizona on offense is an odd mix. They are full of wings, can't really shoot from outside, but can't really dominate inside. BUT they do have plenty of Talent. I'm sure it will take a few game to find out how best to utilize the players.
Did anyone else when watching Kyryl Natyazhko get Ivan Radenović flashbacks? The seemingly easy play messed up, but the wild near impossible spinning play nailed to perfection? Ha!
Should be a great team to watch. And Derrick Williams is going to be a star.
11. Comment by Tony Y. (moosety)— November 26,2009 @ 6:12AM
Ratings:-5+22
I'm probably the only one who will disagree about our defense. I think we played a great defensive game untill the last 5 mins. By then the refs had called so many fouls on our guys that the only way they could stay in the game and not foul out was to back off. The refs calls changed everything in terms of our defensive aggressiveness. Shame really, but vandy capatalized and hit their shots in those last 5 mins.
It's just funny to me how all of a sudden vandy could drive and shoot at will, when they couldn't do anything the entire game. Refs changed the game an inturn our guys came up short. That's what happened out there period.
12. Comment by Tom B. (FloridaTom)— November 26,2009 @ 6:32AM
Ratings:-2+19
Allowing Ogilvy to turn left on the post ups, over and over, and over. Fouls continue to plague this team. Miller was plenty mad at someone not following directions (thrown clipboard).
Alex and Kyryl must continue to improve. Alex knows what to do, but is a step slow. Kyryl is quicker, but sometimes seems totally lost. Solomon needs to improve cutting from the wing to the center of the lane, ala Chris Mills, Michael Dickerson, etc.
14. Comment by jon f. (jdfast)— November 26,2009 @ 7:13AM
Ratings:-4+15
Finally got a chance to watch the Cats last night. My impressions were that its really nice to go about 9 or 10 deep for a change. What we are watching is a young team grow and grow they will. It was a three man team last year and effort by anyone else not named Wise, Buddinger or Hill was just a bonus. Without them everyone now must contribute to earn PT. Competition makes a great team and I bet the practices in the weeks to come will be intense. Ain't it great to have some depth and be able to watch a young team grow and get better?
15. Comment by mike p. (mpayn9)— November 26,2009 @ 7:17AM
Ratings:-3+15
did the pac-10 send officials to maui,
a lot ticky-tac fouls being called.
i give the team a "c+".they came back
against wisconsin, after being down,
colorado neck to neck,vandy's big
man took over late in game,the 'cats
fought hard, good learning tourney
for the young 'cats.
16. Comment by Max T. (Max Torres)— November 26,2009 @ 7:27AM
Ratings:-3+15
I think people need to give this coach and his young players a chance. Our kids are very talented but also very inexperienced. Most teams have decent talent. The difference is always experience. I truly believe this team will only get better as the season progresses. They haven't hit their stride on offense and developed the requsite competitive attitude on defense. Once they do, they will be impressive.
18. Comment by Tony Y. (moosety)— November 26,2009 @ 7:53AM
Ratings:-5+10
15, I have a question, why do you think vandy's big man took over at the end? Could it have been that Williams had 4 fouls, Kryl had 4 fouls? How do you play defense when your big men have 4 fouls each?
You think the vandy big man is quick enough to go by williams who is 10 times the athlete? If so, why was not able to do that the entire game except for the last 5 mins when williams had 4 fouls? Just a question. Welcome your answere
20. Comment by Thomas B. (Tmax)— November 26,2009 @ 8:08AM
Ratings:-1+8
#18: In the game I saw, Oglevy was effective in the low post from the get-go, not just the last 5 minutes. He was obviously quick enough to get to the hole time after time, even if Williams is "10 times the athlete".
21. Comment by Keeth L. (CactusCeeth)— November 26,2009 @ 8:20AM
Ratings:-4+9
Ouch!
While still acquiring the needed team skills to find their former pac10 dominance, these Big Hearted Wildcats exhibit something we have not seen since the first great midwestern coach made Tucson his home. Coordinated efforts by both the coaches and players will show this team of Wildcats peaking during Pac10 play!
24. Comment by joseph g. (jody85259)— November 26,2009 @ 8:31AM
Ratings:-7+8
Samuel L., you STATE THE OBVIOUS, OH GREAT MASTER OF WORDS! OUR KIDS ARE RANK AMATEURS! THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME AWAY FROM HOME. DIFFERENT SURROUNDINGS, DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND NOT IN TUCSON! FOUR THOUSAND MILES AWAY WITH REFEREES THAT INTIMIDATED THE WHOLE TEAM.
Glad I got that off my chest!
Tony Y got it right. Playing hard defense all game and the last part, I don't know if it was five minutes or more, but when the "big" men have four fouls on them and they are intimidated by refs who call ticky tacky fouls all over the court, you can't do anything but hold your arms up and hope the other player doesn't run into you!
I mentioned on the other Pascoe article yesterday that when referees should be listed in the t.v. guide instead of the upcoming basketball game, there is something absolutely wrong! The announcers singled out the sandy haired ref with a paunch for being "the star" of the game! I put that comment in myself. I was so frustrated at the thousand calls for "air kissing" someone, that I had to get out of my t.v. room and calm down. MILLER TIME GETS A TECHNICAL FOUL FOR ASKING THE REFS TO "WATCH THE THREE SECOND RULE"? WHAT'S THAT? I'VE HEARD THE LITTLE FERRET FACED DUKE COACH SAY ALOT WORSE TO THE REFS AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO HIM OR HIS TEAM! EVEN THE ESPN ANNOUNCING TEAM MADE REFERENCE TO THE "PLAYERS PLAYING A GAME AND NOT THE REFS!"
A critique of everyone's game yesterday would be pointless. The poster from yesterday's article that we shouldn't "be married" to the "3"'s was right on the nail's head! Learning and the experience factor will be the great equalizer for the WILDCATS. Our team has all the potential in the world and has shown flashes of brilliance, but on the other hand, it has shown youthful errors and some intimidation...not by the other players but by the refs. This should not happen but it did. MAYBE IT'S BEST THAT OUR KIDS LEARN FROM ADVERSITY AT FIRST?
I KNOW IT'S HARD TO SWALLOW A DEFEAT BUT THE UPSIDE IN BOTH LOSSES IS THAT WE WERE IN THE GAME THE WHOLE WAY UNTIL THE FOULS PROHIBITED ANY DEFENSIVE INTENSITY AROUND THE BASKET.
Let's take each game as a learning tool. Let's be positive looking at the future of this young and RANK AMATEUR team! They will exceed our best thoughts for them in the future. The raw talent and energy of our players is tremendous! THIS IS FUN, EVEN IN DEFEAT! GO CATS! SATURDAY, I'LL BE IN LOUD, CHEERING FORM FOR OUR FOOTBALLWILDCATS TO DEMOLISH TEMPE NORMAL'S CREW! BEAR DOWN, ARIZONA, BEAR DOWN YOU RANK AMATEURS! LOL!!
26. Comment by Peter G. (coldspring)— November 26,2009 @ 8:45AM
Ratings:-4+5
The expects were right we are not a top twenty-five team YET. It will take time for Miller to figure out how to get the most from who he has. Teams with good big guys inside will be very tough on our inexperienced inside players. Improvement will come in increments. Be patient.
Nobody is satisfied with the 1 - 2 result in Maui. But much has been learned. That's the difference between this team and Cat teams of the recent past. This coaching staff and these players will learn from their mistakes and improvement will happen.
I'd like to know the "exact words" Miller used to suggest to the ref that maybe he had trouble counting to three.
Sometimes a strategic technical rallies a team. Didn't work this time.
Look for signs of improvement against UNLV. I will be.
27. Comment by Marie S. (KdocP)— November 26,2009 @ 8:51AM
Ratings:-9+6
#23 - Just because you think they don't have basketball intelligence, don't call them women...that's weak...just like the UofA fans on here blaming the refs everytime they lose.
31. Comment by Tony Y. (moosety)— November 26,2009 @ 9:10AM
Ratings:-3+8
I have to come clean about my comments regarding how the refs changed the game. I never said Arizona would have won the game. I just said, the refs changed the game to where it was difficult for Arizona to put themselves in a position to win the game.
That doesn't mean, we didn't play sloppy on offense, or play and make some ridiculous mistakes. That doesn't mean Nic Wise and Jamel Horn couldn't have had a better game. They were the complete opposites of the previous game against Colorado.
The way I see it the only way Arizona could have won the game last night with the refs controlling the game the way they did was if they were spotted 20 points. Again there is a lot the team can learn. They need better movement without the ball, more effective screening and cutting to the basket on offense
Kryl, needs to develop some hands and play basketball with a purpose and strength.
Williams is still very raw. The blue print for control and consistency is mr. Solomon Hill. Man, what poise and control that guy plays with! It's very encouraging to see how smooth he plays.
BLAV is comming around. Horn needs to play within himself and in rythem, not force things. Wise played too much 1 on 1 last night. I think this team will be SOLID! They just need to play with more intellegence we all agree on that.
32. Comment by keith p. (ckp)— November 26,2009 @ 9:11AM
Ratings:-5+4
#2 Grant C....My thoughts now are on turkey...if not cooked properly it could be rare. I hope I'm wrong.
No one likes rare turkey.
Wildcats are young and inexperienced. They could lose some more games. I hope I'm wrong.
Some don't understand the season is long and Sean Miller has a proven record of winning teams that get better as said season progresses. But then--they may not get better. I hope I'm wrong.
33. Comment by Jim K. (jimkelley)— November 26,2009 @ 9:18AM
Ratings:-7+5
Be prepared to give Coach Miller a few extra years to repair the damage done by the Lute/KO mess. This really hurt recruiting and will take some time to repair. This is a very young team, and after Nic leaves next year, will be even younger.
35. Comment by Gary W. (UofArizona)— November 26,2009 @ 9:47AM
Ratings:-1+6
Zona is a young team that will improve. After watching alot of College Basketball this past week I noticed that there are alot of teams playing well and are experienced then the Wildcats.I just think that this year will be a down year for the Cats on winning their share of games.
36. Comment by joseph g. (jody85259)— November 26,2009 @ 10:07AM
Ratings:-3+6
Thanks Marco! I hope everyone has a great Turkey Day and everyone calms down! The wonderful thing about our new Coach, system and players are that nothing is CONSTANT! The only thing constant is CHANGE! We'll lose a few and win a disproportionate number of our upcoming games.
Marie S., your remark about the refs being blamed for every loss is ludicrous! When the refs are singled out not only by us posters but by the television "pundits" and "experts" as doing injustice to both teams, your comment is showing you just may be a fan of another "in-state" team whose name shall be never stated by me in my postings.
If you watched each game as closely as most of us regulars here did, you would have noticed that ticky tacky fouls or as I said above "air kissing" were being called every forty five seconds. When it comes down to a game's outcome, the referees should not be the ones putting their heavy thumbs on the scales!
Most basketball fans always say "let the kids play!" and I'm one of them! It's a basketball game and not a whistle fest!
I mentioned yesterday and it's still apropos today...a boxing referee is considered good when he is invisible but when needed he takes charge and observes and does what's necessary to follow the rules of the "sweet science!" Too much exposure and too many "iffy" calls in any ball game, football, baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, tennis, ad nauseum, intimidates the players and the game is then tilted towards one team, which is WRONG!
Our team is a young, inexperienced but talented and athletic group of youngsters. This type of experience right out of the "box" will serve them well in their upcoming games and hopefully throughout their careers!
Referees should be seen and not heard unless there is a definite rule breaking. The "close calls" as one of the announcers stated on ESPNU yesterday, should be "non-calls" and the referees are not the "stars" nor who the television audience tunes in to see! I rest my case. It's now on to Turkey and stuffing.
Tomorrow my entourage will be wearing red and cheering with unbounded glee in Scumdrivel Stadium in section 219, row 35 and seats one through I don't know how many? GO CATS. BEAR DOWN AND BEAT SPARKY INTO THE GROUND.
I wonder if these seats we bought are really inside of the stadium? LOL!!
38. Comment by DRaynes s. (HappyHour)— November 26,2009 @ 10:22AM
Ratings:-1+7
not worried about this zona team at all. just too many bright spots in both losses to feel otherwise. once the mistakes and fouls are corrected for a good portion the Ws will roll in. as was said numerous times prior to the first tip off ... be patient.
39. Comment by Stephen B. (weatherbee)— November 26,2009 @ 10:48AM
Ratings:-1+7
The referee, I believe his name is Karl Hess, seemed to have a personal issue with Coach Miller during the tournament. Coach Miller only reminded the ref to watch the 3 second rule and he gets a technical called on him?! That allowed Vanderbilt to capitalize with 4 free throws and turn around the game in their favor. What is it with officiating and bad calls against Arizona teams this year?
40. Comment by Bob B. (3829)— November 26,2009 @ 10:56AM
Ratings:-3+4
Yow.....I'm sure that Coach Miller has joined Coach Stoops in getting in here every day, taking copious notes on how to play the game.
The 'Cats were a step here and there away from beating a very experienced Vandy team from an established program. Arizona did all the right things except for finishing their individual assignments. They are going to be good, and sooner than expected.
The refs? They should never be a deciding factor; we have to play above them. We soon will.
Taking Wilbur and the cheerleaders was a terrific stroke. It will buy a lot of great positive exposure wherever we go.
41. Comment by Bob B. (3829)— November 26,2009 @ 11:04AM
Ratings:-2+7
Oh....and Pascoe, their "place" is atop the Pac-10 standings, in the NCAA Tournament every year, and headed toward a Final Four.
THAT is Arizona Basketball, and your nearly gleeful slapdown reference to "learning their place" doesn't mean that they should ever settle into less, or stop until they climb back to where they should be.
Dude, Arizona Basketball championship play has brought you personally, a lot to write about for several years, and that has brought you a paycheck.
43. Comment by joseph g. (jody85259)— November 26,2009 @ 11:16AM
Ratings:-2+6
Thanks Jim! That would really be embarrassing to me and the others to be the "onlyest" people in Scumdrivel Stadium!LOL!! It kind of feels like a Friday to me today but then you're right!
I don't think we could get in tomorrow?
Anyway, I'm proud of our CATS and hope their stay in Maui was not only a learning and experience builder but a taste of being treated like future CHAMPS THAT THEY'LL BE! FOOTBALL IS IN THE AIR, BOTH RELATIVELY AND FIGURATIVELY. SATURDAY IS OUR DAY TO PUMMEL THE DRIVELS AND THEN ON TO USC!
45. Comment by Ed P. (Az fat cat fan)— November 26,2009 @ 11:49AM
Ratings:-1+8
Things to give thanks for --
- Coach Olson and everything he did to bring Arizona Basketball national recognition!
- 1997 BBall Championship!
- Coach Miller for taking the extra time to reconsider the Arizona coaching position.
- Coach Stoops for finally turning the Football program around.
- Dave Libbys retirement!!!!!!!!!
- Being a Wildcat Fan!!!
- Living in the USA!
46. Comment by lin l. (mclopezzz)— November 26,2009 @ 12:10PM
Ratings:-0+8
Well we may not be going to the NCAA's this year but this team is still a lot of fun to watch. And they will get a lot better as they become mopre cohesive.
48. Comment by Jose S. (just1ntime)— November 26,2009 @ 1:56PM
Ratings:-3+1
Not that is makes a difference but we were cheated out of a point. With about 4 minutes to go in the 1st half we had 31 points. Nick went in for a layup and he only got one point for that. It was never corrected.
49. Comment by Brenda J. (psiartist)— November 26,2009 @ 2:06PM
Ratings:-3+1
I get very worried when I hear the game was a 'learning experience'. I recall before Lute when UofA lost nearly every game and after each game the coach on channel 11 would explain what the team learned in tonight's loss.
50. Comment by Diego A. (dgainc)— November 26,2009 @ 2:12PM
Ratings:-3+1
What did you think was going to happen? going to be an uneven matchup?
Walking away with 2 losses against experienced and talented teams is great experience for our guys. Did they believe they can win them all and keep playing hard hell yeah they did. Thats what I love about this coaching staff and players. They are learning and developing and I still see improvement! You can't win them all! Could they have done things differently of course but that is life. It was great competition for the cats and coaching!
So for these people saying that ohhh they suck. Get the hell out here because clearly you have no idea what your talking about.
51. Comment by joseph g. (jody85259)— November 26,2009 @ 4:53PM
Ratings:-3+0
Brenda J., that was the era...one year era tho it may have been, of Ben Lindsey (SP)!
Don't you think that there is a difference between MILLER TIME AND LINDSEY? 'Nuf said!
53. Comment by Diego A. (dgainc)— November 26,2009 @ 7:15PM
Ratings:-1+0
Brenda J. Not sure you read correctly but this is an Arizona Wildcats article. It was a learning experience for our coaches and players alike. Shows them what they need to work on and how to close games. They have the heart and talent, but they just need to stick to the game plan.
54. Comment by dick c. (261131)— November 26,2009 @ 7:26PM
Ratings:-3+1
all of our weaknesses were exposed..can't stop the guards penetrating...no inside defense...horne just disappears for parts of the game...lavender reminds me of another shooter we had last year (johnson) who can't create a shot on his own and can't hit anything if there is anyone within 10 ft of him...when is the last time he drove for 2pts...free throw line is in the same place as it was in high school so why r we so bad from the line?...i thought the NEW offense was to be different...we still don't have movement except by dribbling...we r way too easy to defend NO inside game...its a long dark road so be prepared !!!!!!!!!
55. Comment by Tobin J. (tobinjones)— November 27,2009 @ 12:37AM
Ratings:-0+0
I'm wondering if Hill should be the back-up point guard. I saw good individual talents but little in the way of an offensive attack. Especially getting the ball into the low blocks. We cannot win by shooting outside if we cannot challenge inside. Kryll has to get alot better at the rim. He did show improvement in each of the three games. Williams and Hill can be special. I would have liked to have seen Parrom play. Beating Wisc and then losing to Gonzaga might have been the best we could hope for.
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VANDERBILT 84, ARIZONA 72
LAHAINA, Hawaii — Arizona might be deep and athletic, oozing potential that may or may not develop by March, but the Wildcats were reminded of what they are not Wednesday.Overall, I am very pleased with our team's performance. However, our centers need to step up. Kyril is a freshman but I hope coach Miller starts paying more attaention to him.
The refs we're wistle-happy and made some bad calls but we had plenty of chances to pull away. Overall, this tournament exposed our weaknesses and I have no doubt that coaches will address the same.
Bear Down Arizona!!!
Report this comment
Didn't even mention our leader, Wise. 4 for 13 with 1 - 3 pointer and 0 for 3 free throws for 9 points.
I'm glad Maria is pleased with the team's performance. 6th place. There were only 6 team's in the tournament.
Right now my thoughts are football with ASU. A loss means a 6-6 end of season record. Not even a winning season. Again. Hope I'm wrong.
Happy Thanksgiving anyway.
#2. Grant C. There were 8 teams.
Very pleased with this very young team.
They showed a lot of toughness and fight that you can't really coach into a team - either they have it or not.
This team has it!
We are going to have some great years ahead of us. This will be fun to watch this team progress. Give'em a chance.
Great coaching and great team attitude always combines for good results in the end.
I saw a young team improve leaps and bounds from their games v. Wisconsin and Colorado. I'm hoping Wise doesn't make foul trouble a habit this year, but I also don't go into a shear anxiety attack when he's on the bench like last year. Although this team is much younger, they seem to have some resemblance of depth.
Our fix on 26 will be no easy task, but Miller looks like he's got the ammo to make a good run.
Report this comment
While 2 losses are painful, they were to good teams and we were in the games at all times. This team has a ton of talent (though some is fairly raw) and I think the way coach Miller rotates them is great. In prior years, the foul trouble we had in these games would have been a disaster. Instead it allowed us to show off a deep bench. If I had my wishes it would be for Horne to show a more positive attitude on the court (and to remember he's not a shooting guard this year...the 3s against CU were great, but his focus there seems to hurt his inside game and rebounding,)and for MoMo to act like a team-oriented player and cut down on the turnovers and forced shots. Kudos to Nick, BLav, Hill, Williams and Fogg for great performances. Can't wait to watch the Cats continue to improve and return to the Big Dance.
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Very GOOD Job Bruce on reporting from the Maui Tournament.
Do not worry about DeletionGuardU.
You are getting national news for a reason- YOUR First to Reporting and Discussions.
Sorry-MillerNoTime....did the light bulb turn ON yet. Wise has surely learned- case in point: Chris HIll...LOL
Report this comment
Miller knows what NEEDS to be DONE.
Much better defense.
The last 10 minutes of the game ,last two games, have been horrible.
It is like a tol road in which YOU do not have to stop or pay.
Free drives to the basket.lol
A on more serious note:
The Thanksgiving weekend will bring some difficult decisions.
I see three individuals which will need some discussion because Miller needs players, for his system.
With Shumpert: I believe the UofA admin. has a finanical option which will FREE up his scholarship.
With Judkins:
He seemed to be out of it during the Maui tournament. His skills have dimenished. It maybe personnel,with his grandfather.
Not sure to thing about Alex J.
He tries hard.
He just needs a little quickness or much better antcipation.
If can anticipate BETTER;then,this will off-set his lack of quickness.
A THREE or FOUR member recruiting class for 2010 will have the roster closer to Miller type players.
Start expecting MORE visitor to the UofA.
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People who know basketball will see that by the end of the year this will be a good team......Consider the Vandy team has been together for a while and not all freshmen.....our team played even. The experience mistakes will be fixed and the fouls will be cut down as time goes. It is great to have more than three players on the floor like last year. These kids will do well in the future and I believe that like Coach Olsen's first years this will be just the beginning. Go Cats.....and if the Tech foul was only for the coach that said watch the three point lane then he should call the same tech on Duke......but there is no way a ACC ref will call a tech on Coach K......
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That ref Karl Hess was doing his best Dave Libby impersonation. Too bad Sean Miller missed out on Libby. He would have loved him! HA!
I liked Arizona's effort. The last couple years the team wouldn't have played with as much verve as they did in these first few games.
Arizona on offense is an odd mix. They are full of wings, can't really shoot from outside, but can't really dominate inside. BUT they do have plenty of Talent. I'm sure it will take a few game to find out how best to utilize the players.
Did anyone else when watching Kyryl Natyazhko get Ivan Radenović flashbacks? The seemingly easy play messed up, but the wild near impossible spinning play nailed to perfection? Ha!
Should be a great team to watch. And Derrick Williams is going to be a star.
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Big name tournament...small time officials...who had a say in the outcome of several games.
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I'm probably the only one who will disagree about our defense. I think we played a great defensive game untill the last 5 mins. By then the refs had called so many fouls on our guys that the only way they could stay in the game and not foul out was to back off. The refs calls changed everything in terms of our defensive aggressiveness. Shame really, but vandy capatalized and hit their shots in those last 5 mins.
It's just funny to me how all of a sudden vandy could drive and shoot at will, when they couldn't do anything the entire game. Refs changed the game an inturn our guys came up short. That's what happened out there period.
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Allowing Ogilvy to turn left on the post ups, over and over, and over. Fouls continue to plague this team. Miller was plenty mad at someone not following directions (thrown clipboard).
Alex and Kyryl must continue to improve. Alex knows what to do, but is a step slow. Kyryl is quicker, but sometimes seems totally lost. Solomon needs to improve cutting from the wing to the center of the lane, ala Chris Mills, Michael Dickerson, etc.
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They looked like rank amateurs, as individuals, and as a team. So did Miller.
What a disappointment this trip has been.
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Finally got a chance to watch the Cats last night. My impressions were that its really nice to go about 9 or 10 deep for a change. What we are watching is a young team grow and grow they will. It was a three man team last year and effort by anyone else not named Wise, Buddinger or Hill was just a bonus. Without them everyone now must contribute to earn PT. Competition makes a great team and I bet the practices in the weeks to come will be intense. Ain't it great to have some depth and be able to watch a young team grow and get better?
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did the pac-10 send officials to maui,
a lot ticky-tac fouls being called.
i give the team a "c+".they came back
against wisconsin, after being down,
colorado neck to neck,vandy's big
man took over late in game,the 'cats
fought hard, good learning tourney
for the young 'cats.
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I think people need to give this coach and his young players a chance. Our kids are very talented but also very inexperienced. Most teams have decent talent. The difference is always experience. I truly believe this team will only get better as the season progresses. They haven't hit their stride on offense and developed the requsite competitive attitude on defense. Once they do, they will be impressive.
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I have learned a lot reading what all you "experts" had to say today.
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15, I have a question, why do you think vandy's big man took over at the end? Could it have been that Williams had 4 fouls, Kryl had 4 fouls? How do you play defense when your big men have 4 fouls each?
You think the vandy big man is quick enough to go by williams who is 10 times the athlete? If so, why was not able to do that the entire game except for the last 5 mins when williams had 4 fouls? Just a question. Welcome your answere
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Heart but no brains.
Welcome to the REAL world of College basketball..where you gotta think, not just play.
Better to learn that lesson early, than later. You CAN do it, Wildcats. I believe.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
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#18: In the game I saw, Oglevy was effective in the low post from the get-go, not just the last 5 minutes. He was obviously quick enough to get to the hole time after time, even if Williams is "10 times the athlete".
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Ouch!
While still acquiring the needed team skills to find their former pac10 dominance, these Big Hearted Wildcats exhibit something we have not seen since the first great midwestern coach made Tucson his home. Coordinated efforts by both the coaches and players will show this team of Wildcats peaking during Pac10 play!
I say Bear Down Arizonaaaaaaaa!!!!!!
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Thanks Carlos,
The guajolote is in the oven.
Have a great Thanksgiving Wildcat fans!
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People like "Wildcat Claudio" or "DryCrick" lol these woman make me laugh posting stuff like they do ... no iota of basketball intelligence
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Samuel L., you STATE THE OBVIOUS, OH GREAT MASTER OF WORDS! OUR KIDS ARE RANK AMATEURS! THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME AWAY FROM HOME. DIFFERENT SURROUNDINGS, DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND NOT IN TUCSON! FOUR THOUSAND MILES AWAY WITH REFEREES THAT INTIMIDATED THE WHOLE TEAM.
Glad I got that off my chest!
Tony Y got it right. Playing hard defense all game and the last part, I don't know if it was five minutes or more, but when the "big" men have four fouls on them and they are intimidated by refs who call ticky tacky fouls all over the court, you can't do anything but hold your arms up and hope the other player doesn't run into you!
I mentioned on the other Pascoe article yesterday that when referees should be listed in the t.v. guide instead of the upcoming basketball game, there is something absolutely wrong! The announcers singled out the sandy haired ref with a paunch for being "the star" of the game! I put that comment in myself. I was so frustrated at the thousand calls for "air kissing" someone, that I had to get out of my t.v. room and calm down. MILLER TIME GETS A TECHNICAL FOUL FOR ASKING THE REFS TO "WATCH THE THREE SECOND RULE"? WHAT'S THAT? I'VE HEARD THE LITTLE FERRET FACED DUKE COACH SAY ALOT WORSE TO THE REFS AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO HIM OR HIS TEAM! EVEN THE ESPN ANNOUNCING TEAM MADE REFERENCE TO THE "PLAYERS PLAYING A GAME AND NOT THE REFS!"
A critique of everyone's game yesterday would be pointless. The poster from yesterday's article that we shouldn't "be married" to the "3"'s was right on the nail's head! Learning and the experience factor will be the great equalizer for the WILDCATS. Our team has all the potential in the world and has shown flashes of brilliance, but on the other hand, it has shown youthful errors and some intimidation...not by the other players but by the refs. This should not happen but it did. MAYBE IT'S BEST THAT OUR KIDS LEARN FROM ADVERSITY AT FIRST?
I KNOW IT'S HARD TO SWALLOW A DEFEAT BUT THE UPSIDE IN BOTH LOSSES IS THAT WE WERE IN THE GAME THE WHOLE WAY UNTIL THE FOULS PROHIBITED ANY DEFENSIVE INTENSITY AROUND THE BASKET.
Let's take each game as a learning tool. Let's be positive looking at the future of this young and RANK AMATEUR team! They will exceed our best thoughts for them in the future. The raw talent and energy of our players is tremendous! THIS IS FUN, EVEN IN DEFEAT! GO CATS!
SATURDAY, I'LL BE IN LOUD, CHEERING FORM FOR OUR FOOTBALLWILDCATS TO DEMOLISH TEMPE NORMAL'S CREW! BEAR DOWN, ARIZONA, BEAR DOWN YOU RANK AMATEURS! LOL!!
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#24 ... AMEN, now thats some basketball intelligence!
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The expects were right we are not a top twenty-five team YET. It will take time for Miller to figure out how to get the most from who he has. Teams with good big guys inside will be very tough on our inexperienced inside players. Improvement will come in increments. Be patient.
Nobody is satisfied with the 1 - 2 result in Maui. But much has been learned. That's the difference between this team and Cat teams of the recent past. This coaching staff and these players will learn from their mistakes and improvement will happen.
I'd like to know the "exact words" Miller used to suggest to the ref that maybe he had trouble counting to three.
Sometimes a strategic technical rallies a team. Didn't work this time.
Look for signs of improvement against UNLV. I will be.
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#23 - Just because you think they don't have basketball intelligence, don't call them women...that's weak...just like the UofA fans on here blaming the refs everytime they lose.
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The Cats area young team but they play with gusto.
They will be fine and WILL make 26.
Now everyone go have a good Thanksgiving.
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true true ... not meant to be jab at woman in general just at these two bozo's ...
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If we all stayed in "our place"....
Women wouldnt have the vote
Blacks would still be slaves
We'd never have a President "of color"
This is America; Our place is where we make it. We dont settle for second place, we dont do what we're told, we vote for who we want - we are Free.
Freedom means making your OWN place.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of us.
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I have to come clean about my comments regarding how the refs changed the game. I never said Arizona would have won the game. I just said, the refs changed the game to where it was difficult for Arizona to put themselves in a position to win the game.
That doesn't mean, we didn't play sloppy on offense, or play and make some ridiculous mistakes. That doesn't mean Nic Wise and Jamel Horn couldn't have had a better game. They were the complete opposites of the previous game against Colorado.
The way I see it the only way Arizona could have won the game last night with the refs controlling the game the way they did was if they were spotted 20 points. Again there is a lot the team can learn. They need better movement without the ball, more effective screening and cutting to the basket on offense
Kryl, needs to develop some hands and play basketball with a purpose and strength.
Williams is still very raw. The blue print for control and consistency is mr. Solomon Hill. Man, what poise and control that guy plays with! It's very encouraging to see how smooth he plays.
BLAV is comming around. Horn needs to play within himself and in rythem, not force things. Wise played too much 1 on 1 last night. I think this team will be SOLID! They just need to play with more intellegence we all agree on that.
It will come, it will come! Patience!
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#2 Grant C....My thoughts now are on turkey...if not cooked properly it could be rare. I hope I'm wrong.
No one likes rare turkey.
Wildcats are young and inexperienced. They could lose some more games. I hope I'm wrong.
Some don't understand the season is long and Sean Miller has a proven record of winning teams that get better as said season progresses. But then--they may not get better. I hope I'm wrong.
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Be prepared to give Coach Miller a few extra years to repair the damage done by the Lute/KO mess. This really hurt recruiting and will take some time to repair. This is a very young team, and after Nic leaves next year, will be even younger.
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Not so. Next year's team will be far more poised and experienced, with a year of Miller's system under their belts.
We lose only one senior. But we may need a true point guard.
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Zona is a young team that will improve. After watching alot of College Basketball this past week I noticed that there are alot of teams playing well and are experienced then the Wildcats.I just think that this year will be a down year for the Cats on winning their share of games.
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Thanks Marco! I hope everyone has a great Turkey Day and everyone calms down! The wonderful thing about our new Coach, system and players are that nothing is CONSTANT! The only thing constant is CHANGE! We'll lose a few and win a disproportionate number of our upcoming games.
Marie S., your remark about the refs being blamed for every loss is ludicrous! When the refs are singled out not only by us posters but by the television "pundits" and "experts" as doing injustice to both teams, your comment is showing you just may be a fan of another "in-state" team whose name shall be never stated by me in my postings.
If you watched each game as closely as most of us regulars here did, you would have noticed that ticky tacky fouls or as I said above "air kissing" were being called every forty five seconds. When it comes down to a game's outcome, the referees should not be the ones putting their heavy thumbs on the scales!
Most basketball fans always say "let the kids play!" and I'm one of them! It's a basketball game and not a whistle fest!
I mentioned yesterday and it's still apropos today...a boxing referee is considered good when he is invisible but when needed he takes charge and observes and does what's necessary to follow the rules of the "sweet science!" Too much exposure and too many "iffy" calls in any ball game, football, baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, tennis, ad nauseum, intimidates the players and the game is then tilted towards one team, which is WRONG!
Our team is a young, inexperienced but talented and athletic group of youngsters. This type of experience right out of the "box" will serve them well in their upcoming games and hopefully throughout their careers!
Referees should be seen and not heard unless there is a definite rule breaking. The "close calls" as one of the announcers stated on ESPNU yesterday, should be "non-calls" and the referees are not the "stars" nor who the television audience tunes in to see! I rest my case. It's now on to Turkey and stuffing.
Tomorrow my entourage will be wearing red and cheering with unbounded glee in Scumdrivel Stadium in section 219, row 35 and seats one through I don't know how many? GO CATS. BEAR DOWN AND BEAT SPARKY INTO THE GROUND.
I wonder if these seats we bought are really inside of the stadium? LOL!!
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Have fun Joe..you'll be the only one there tomorrow since the game is Saturday.
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not worried about this zona team at all. just too many bright spots in both losses to feel otherwise. once the mistakes and fouls are corrected for a good portion the Ws will roll in. as was said numerous times prior to the first tip off ... be patient.
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The referee, I believe his name is Karl Hess, seemed to have a personal issue with Coach Miller during the tournament. Coach Miller only reminded the ref to watch the 3 second rule and he gets a technical called on him?! That allowed Vanderbilt to capitalize with 4 free throws and turn around the game in their favor. What is it with officiating and bad calls against Arizona teams this year?
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Yow.....I'm sure that Coach Miller has joined Coach Stoops in getting in here every day, taking copious notes on how to play the game.
The 'Cats were a step here and there away from beating a very experienced Vandy team from an established program. Arizona did all the right things except for finishing their individual assignments. They are going to be good, and sooner than expected.
The refs? They should never be a deciding factor; we have to play above them. We soon will.
Taking Wilbur and the cheerleaders was a terrific stroke. It will buy a lot of great positive exposure wherever we go.
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Oh....and Pascoe, their "place" is atop the Pac-10 standings, in the NCAA Tournament every year, and headed toward a Final Four.
THAT is Arizona Basketball, and your nearly gleeful slapdown reference to "learning their place" doesn't mean that they should ever settle into less, or stop until they climb back to where they should be.
Dude, Arizona Basketball championship play has brought you personally, a lot to write about for several years, and that has brought you a paycheck.
Don't be so eager to bite a hand that helps feed.
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12/06/09 schedule 1 more loss.
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Thanks Jim! That would really be embarrassing to me and the others to be the "onlyest" people in Scumdrivel Stadium!LOL!! It kind of feels like a Friday to me today but then you're right!
I don't think we could get in tomorrow?
Anyway, I'm proud of our CATS and hope their stay in Maui was not only a learning and experience builder but a taste of being treated like future CHAMPS THAT THEY'LL BE!
FOOTBALL IS IN THE AIR, BOTH RELATIVELY AND FIGURATIVELY. SATURDAY IS OUR DAY TO PUMMEL THE DRIVELS AND THEN ON TO USC!
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BREAKING NEWS---
Jim Livingood ESCAPES AGAIN.
How man LIVES does Jim L really have?
CAPEL...
Remember when Jim L. talked to Capel about the HC position at Arizona.
Well, Capel has been BLOWN out in TWO GAMES. BLOWN OUT.
And the OU fans are finally realizing that Capel CAN NOT coach. He can recruit ;but, can NOT COACH.
Ouch!
Arizona ESCAPES again...Thank You Capel.
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Things to give thanks for --
- Coach Olson and everything he did to bring Arizona Basketball national recognition!
- 1997 BBall Championship!
- Coach Miller for taking the extra time to reconsider the Arizona coaching position.
- Coach Stoops for finally turning the Football program around.
- Dave Libbys retirement!!!!!!!!!
- Being a Wildcat Fan!!!
- Living in the USA!
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Well we may not be going to the NCAA's this year but this team is still a lot of fun to watch. And they will get a lot better as they become mopre cohesive.
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Thanks, Star, for changing the story header from "learning their place"...
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Not that is makes a difference but we were cheated out of a point. With about 4 minutes to go in the 1st half we had 31 points. Nick went in for a layup and he only got one point for that. It was never corrected.
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I get very worried when I hear the game was a 'learning experience'. I recall before Lute when UofA lost nearly every game and after each game the coach on channel 11 would explain what the team learned in tonight's loss.
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What did you think was going to happen? going to be an uneven matchup?
Walking away with 2 losses against experienced and talented teams is great experience for our guys. Did they believe they can win them all and keep playing hard hell yeah they did. Thats what I love about this coaching staff and players. They are learning and developing and I still see improvement! You can't win them all! Could they have done things differently of course but that is life. It was great competition for the cats and coaching!
So for these people saying that ohhh they suck. Get the hell out here because clearly you have no idea what your talking about.
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Brenda J., that was the era...one year era tho it may have been, of Ben Lindsey (SP)!
Don't you think that there is a difference between MILLER TIME AND LINDSEY? 'Nuf said!
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Anyhow, how about those Phoenix Suns?
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Brenda J. Not sure you read correctly but this is an Arizona Wildcats article. It was a learning experience for our coaches and players alike. Shows them what they need to work on and how to close games. They have the heart and talent, but they just need to stick to the game plan.
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all of our weaknesses were exposed..can't stop the guards penetrating...no inside defense...horne just disappears for parts of the game...lavender reminds me of another shooter we had last year (johnson) who can't create a shot on his own and can't hit anything if there is anyone within 10 ft of him...when is the last time he drove for 2pts...free throw line is in the same place as it was in high school so why r we so bad from the line?...i thought the NEW offense was to be different...we still don't have movement except by dribbling...we r way too easy to defend NO inside game...its a long dark road so be prepared !!!!!!!!!
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I'm wondering if Hill should be the back-up point guard. I saw good individual talents but little in the way of an offensive attack. Especially getting the ball into the low blocks. We cannot win by shooting outside if we cannot challenge inside. Kryll has to get alot better at the rim. He did show improvement in each of the three games. Williams and Hill can be special. I would have liked to have seen Parrom play. Beating Wisc and then losing to Gonzaga might have been the best we could hope for.
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Cooments by Wildcat Claudio: Remember you said this come December 6th.
BREAKING NEWS---
Jim Livingood ESCAPES AGAIN.
How man LIVES does Jim L really have?
CAPEL...
Remember when Jim L. talked to Capel about the HC position at Arizona.
Well, Capel has been BLOWN out in TWO GAMES. BLOWN OUT.
And the OU fans are finally realizing that Capel CAN NOT coach. He can recruit ;but, can NOT COACH.
Ouch!
Arizona ESCAPES again...Thank You Capel.
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