2014 Arizona Basketball

[Cheesebeef]

Two back-to-back 30+ win seasons is pretty impressive.

Cats need to get past the elite 8.

What is your definition of "great"?

I want to see him get us over the hump at least once to the Final Four before I start throwing the word great around. Call me spoiled, but I started to get into the Cats in 1988, during the Sean Elliot days and my first year as a fan they went to the Final Four. The next couple years were super rough with the tight loss to UNLV, the ridiculous high seeded first round exits, but 94 was what made me believe Lute wasn't just a very good coach, but a GREAT one. That run was awesome with Reeves, Stoudemire and... was Reggie Geary the third guard on that team? Three years later... a title. Four years after that, a run to the title game. Seemed like I could count on us being in the Final Four at least once every 3 or 4 years. THAT is the sign of greatness, IMO. That was an incredibly run of success.

But it's been 10 years since we've been to the Final Four... and that's a long time to this spoiled Zona fan.

Just saying, Zona isn't Gonzaga. It's not like Miller's doing more with less like he's coaching for a mid-major. I just want to see those recruiting classes (which he's been NAILS at getting) start paying off in April before I start calling him great.

 

[Russ Smith]

I want to see him get us over the hump at least once to the Final Four before I start throwing the word great around. Call me spoiled, but I started to get into the Cats in 1988, during the Sean Elliot days and my first year as a fan they went to the Final Four. The next couple years were super rough with the tight loss to UNLV, the ridiculous high seeded first round exits, but 94 was what made me believe Lute wasn't just a very good coach, but a GREAT one. That run was awesome with Reeves, Stoudemire and... was Reggie Geary the third guard on that team? Three years later... a title. Four years after that, a run to the title game. Seemed like I could count on us being in the Final Four at least once every 3 or 4 years. THAT is the sign of greatness, IMO. That was an incredibly run of success.

But it's been 10 years since we've been to the Final Four... and that's a long time to this spoiled Zona fan.

Just saying, Zona isn't Gonzaga. It's not like Miller's doing more with less like he's coaching for a mid-major. I just want to see those recruiting classes (which he's been NAILS at getting) start paying off in April before I start calling him great.

I wouldn't call him a great coach but he made a couple of great moves last night to get them over. First he realized that Stainbrook(lefty Marc Gasol like) was going to continue to score at will on Tarc if he didn't change, so he started doubling. Then when the guy had a couple of nice passes, UA switched up and baited him into a couple of turnovers (Rondae got both). And then Miller put Ashley on him which seemed to confuse Stainbrook he wasn't sure what to do.

He's a good defensive coach, it's the offensive side of the ball he has trouble.

This team is really good on the offensive glass, Tarc had several key ones, Stanley a couple too. They have Ashley this time so they should match up better with Wisconsin, they can put Ashley on Kaminsky if Tarc can't guard him again.

This is the best chance Miller has had to get to a FF.

 

[Chaplin]

Yeah, our bigs need to play better.. Kamensky must be licking his chops

Seriously? Dominating teams to now opposing big men "licking their chops" to play us?

 

[Chaplin]

I want to see him get us over the hump at least once to the Final Four before I start throwing the word great around. Call me spoiled, but I started to get into the Cats in 1988, during the Sean Elliot days and my first year as a fan they went to the Final Four. The next couple years were super rough with the tight loss to UNLV, the ridiculous high seeded first round exits, but 94 was what made me believe Lute wasn't just a very good coach, but a GREAT one. That run was awesome with Reeves, Stoudemire and... was Reggie Geary the third guard on that team? Three years later... a title. Four years after that, a run to the title game. Seemed like I could count on us being in the Final Four at least once every 3 or 4 years. THAT is the sign of greatness, IMO. That was an incredibly run of success.

But it's been 10 years since we've been to the Final Four... and that's a long time to this spoiled Zona fan.

Just saying, Zona isn't Gonzaga. It's not like Miller's doing more with less like he's coaching for a mid-major. I just want to see those recruiting classes (which he's been NAILS at getting) start paying off in April before I start calling him great.

When Lute was out for those few years and around his retirement/Miller's hiring, the program was in a state of chaos. How any program could be consistent in that time period is beyond me.

Miller is a spectacular coach and perfect for Arizona.

Oh, and Lute lost plenty of tournament games his teams probably shouldn't have lost.

 

[TJ]

He's a good defensive coach, it's the offensive side of the ball he has trouble.

.

You're right. So much trouble with offense, his team is ranked the following in the nation in these offensive categories:

#7 (out of 351 teams) in Adjusted O (KenPom)
#22 in points scored per game
#6 in FG%
#2 in scoring margin
#3 in both FTA and FTM per game

Yep, he has lots of trouble on offense.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

man... you're a lot higher on Miller then I am. Don't get me wrong, he's done a very good job with resurrecting the program and I like him A LOT as a coach, but has he really done enough to be deemed GREAT already?

Does he need to get to a Final Four? Absolutely but the hand-wringing over it is overkill. How long was Bill Self coaching before his first Final Four? Took Calipari 8 years each at Memphis and UMASS before his. How many times did Lute choke in the 1st round? You have to be really good and get some breaks, it just hasn't gone his way yet but it will someday

 

[Dback Jon]

In nobody would've used the words great coach for Calipari Olson self etc. until they made the final four

Miller is an outstanding coach. But until his teams make the leap in the final four do you hear start talking about greatness

 

[Cheesebeef]

In nobody would've used the words great coach for Calipari Olson self etc. until they made the final four

Miller is an outstanding coach. But until his teams make the leap in the final four do you hear start talking about greatness

This is where my head's at.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I think Ashley is arguably the most pivotal player on this team... IMHO, he has generally underwhelmed thus far in the tourney, averaging 9 points a game and just under 3 boards per game.
He seems to flirt with foul trouble on a consistent basis. But I have always felt that a kid with his size and athleticism, that he would be much more productive on both ends of the floor.
We know what Tarc, Hollister, Johnson and TJ are... And they do their thing night in and night out. But Ashley? What is he? What should he be??

 

[Russ Smith]

You're right. So much trouble with offense, his team is ranked the following in the nation in these offensive categories:

#7 (out of 351 teams) in Adjusted O (KenPom)
#22 in points scored per game
#6 in FG%
#2 in scoring margin
#3 in both FTA and FTM per game

Yep, he has lots of trouble on offense.

Hey why cite a trend when you can cite a one year improvement right?

Miller's teams don't score tons of points, they didn't at Xavier and they haven't at UA. This is his best offensive team since he had Derrick Williams. Miller is a defensive coach.

You know these experts you keep saying think UA has the best starting 5 and best chance to beat UK? Are you aware that virtually all of them say Arizona's weakness is their offense?

 

[TJ]

Hey why cite a trend when you can cite a one year improvement right?



Miller's teams don't score tons of points, they didn't at Xavier and they haven't at UA. This is his best offensive team since he had Derrick Williams. Miller is a defensive coach.



You know these experts you keep saying think UA has the best starting 5 and best chance to beat UK? Are you aware that virtually all of them say Arizona's weakness is their offense?

And those "experts" are ignorant if they're going to say our offense is a weakness. The numbers indicate otherwise, unless your baseline is the old school LMU offense. You speak as if Arizona is inept on offense like Oregon St or SDSU. Saying that Miller "has trouble" on offense is patently false.

The appropriate commentary would be that their defense is better than their offense.

BTW - there are only two teams in basketball right now that are top 10 in adjusted O and adjusted D according to KenPom. One is Kentucky. Care to guess who the other is?

 

[Phrazbit]

The offense overall is really good, the Cats weaknesses are depth and consistent outside shooting.

And I don't think there is any chance Miller sees any scrutiny if we don't make the Final Four this year. He has an amazing 11-3 record in the tourny so far. Those 3 losses came by 1 point (in OT), 2 points (to the eventual champion Huskies) and 3 points, at the buzzer to Texas, 2 of those 3 games were for final 4 births. Thus far teams that have knocked off Miller's Cats have been good teams doing so by the skin of their teeth.

I feel like its a matter of when, not if, Miller gets his break through. Just like in the mid 90s it started to feel like when, not if, Lute would win a title.

The only season the team really disappointed was the Josiah Turner debacle, other than that they've played up to or beyond expectations.

 

[Catlover]

In nobody would've used the words great coach for Calipari Olson self etc. until they made the final four

Miller is an outstanding coach. But until his teams make the leap in the final four do you hear start talking about greatness

This is where my head's at.

That's a pretty arbitrary line though. Vitale actively campaigned for John Chaney to be inducted into the HOF back in the 90's despite him never having reached the Final Four. He was often referred to as a "great coach".

Miller rebuilt Arizona almost over night and despite Lute's success, the rebuild wasn't a given. Right now Miller carries the label of best active coach to not make a Final Four. I'm sure he'd like to put that behind him. I don't know if he has to get past the E8 to be considered great but I wouldn't hesitate to say he's done a great job since taking over in Tucson. I have no doubts that he'll eventually take the Cats to a Final Four and beyond.

 

[jw7]

I want to see him get us over the hump at least once to the Final Four before I start throwing the word great around.

OK, that's a fair reason, and I respect that.

Wisconsin is going to be tough tomorrow. And even if the 'cats win, they get Kentucky as a prize.

I think Kentucky is the surest thing since the Tarkanian UNLV team in the 90s that had Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon.

But UNLV lost, so I hope I am wrong again.

 

[Cheesebeef]

OK, that's a fair reason, and I respect that.

Wisconsin is going to be tough tomorrow. And even if the 'cats win, they get Kentucky as a prize.

I think Kentucky is the surest thing since the Tarkanian UNLV team in the 90s that had Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon.

But UNLV lost, so I hope I am wrong again.

agree with all of the above. But I don't see any way they can beat Kentucky. I don't know how ANY team can. And yes, the Rebels ended up being upset, but gotta remember that Duke team had arguably the greatest college basketball player of all time on it, Grant Hill and Bobby Hurley who might have been the best college basketball PG ever.

 

[GatorAZ]

It's a mini miracle Arizona landed Miller. IIRC Livengood nearly butchered it. Even if the Cats lose I can't think of 5 guys I'd rather have coaching this team.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I'm jacked for this game. REVENGE!!!!!

 

[82CardsGrad]

I think Ashley is arguably the most pivotal player on this team... IMHO, he has generally underwhelmed thus far in the tourney, averaging 9 points a game and just under 3 boards per game.

He seems to flirt with foul trouble on a consistent basis. But I have always felt that a kid with his size and athleticism, that he would be much more productive on both ends of the floor.

We know what Tarc, Hollister, Johnson and TJ are... And they do their thing night in and night out. But Ashley? What is he? What should he be??

Who is Brandon Ashley????

 

[Cheesebeef]

Oh my god... That was such a DIDOCULOUS flop from Kaminski!

 

[gmabel830]

One half for the final four! Bear down!

 

[SO91]

Oh my god... That was such a DIDOCULOUS flop from Kaminski!

It was such a terrible call.

 

[Russ Smith]

Oh my god... That was such a DIDOCULOUS flop from Kaminski!

At least they made up for it later with the 2nd foul on Kaminsky when Tarc loses the ball on the way up and Kaminsky blocked it clean as can be.

Weird half, UA can't score for 10 minutes and then can't miss for 10 minutes.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Man, we're making Kaminski look like Hakeem out there. He's a great college basketball player... And I hate him.

 

[gmabel830]

Seriously? Dominating teams to now opposing big men "licking their chops" to play us?

Seriously!

 

[Phrazbit]

This is so depressing. Wisconsin has been killing it from 3, legit. But that run of terrible calls are the start of the half just murdered Arizona's momentum and ability to defend.