Chief’s Briefs - AZ Edition

[Spaceman213J]

BYU needs Dynabasta to do special things when it faces other top teams. The difference is that Arizona does not need Peat to be spectacular.
I was impressed with Dynabasta, but I actually was more impressed with Peat. The guy has legit size, length and skill and made Karaban, Stewart and Ball look like boys when he's the freshman. That guy is already a man on the floor and what I like is that he seems like a good teammate and already accepted his role on the team. I have a feeling that role will expand as the season goes on.

It's funny because I watched the Bama final four game and the Purdue game and kind of get Hurley's attitude during the game. There were too many times against Zona where guys weren't working for position when a shot was up and they were watching the play. In the 2024 Final Four, UConn players were rebounding as a group and the guards came in and sealed off openings to stop offensive rebounds.

Also, does anyone really thing Hurley is going to sit and there and say he was content with his team after a loss. They could play one of the top NBA teams in a scrimmage, lose by 1 on a half court 3 point shot, and Hurley is not going to say his 'happy'. The guy will never let the idea of accepting losses ever be part of the culture while he is around.

 

[RuffRuff]

BYU needs Dynabasta to do special things when it faces other top teams. The difference is that Arizona does not need Peat to be spectacular.
I was impressed with Dynabasta, but I actually was more impressed with Peat. The guy has legit size, length and skill and made Karaban, Stewart and Ball look like boys when he's the freshman. That guy is already a man on the floor and what I like is that he seems like a good teammate and already accepted his role on the team. I have a feeling that role will expand as the season goes on.

It's funny because I watched the Bama final four game and the Purdue game and kind of get Hurley's attitude during the game. There were too many times against Zona where guys weren't working for position when a shot was up and they were watching the play. In the 2024 Final Four, UConn players were rebounding as a group and the guards came in and sealed off openings to stop offensive rebounds.

Also, does anyone really thing Hurley is going to sit and there and say he was content with his team after a loss. They could play one of the top NBA teams in a scrimmage, lose by 1 on a half court 3 point shot, and Hurley is not going to say his 'happy'. The guy will never let the idea of accepting losses ever be part of the culture while he is around.

AZ had the second best recruiting class in the country just behind Duke with two top 10 kids and Aristode around 22. Burries and Aristode have barely made a scratch yet. Whether they do is TBD, but top kids like that tend to figure stuff out as they play good teams and the season develops. Their stock could still be low. Zona's main challenge is their lack of 3 point shooting, which they're unlikely to figure out. Whether that is an obstacle will be the thing. They are a legitimate top 3 team. I'd love to see them against Purdue.

 

[superjohn]

AZ had the second best recruiting class in the country just behind Duke with two top 10 kids and Aristode around 22. Burries and Aristode have barely made a scratch yet. Whether they do is TBD, but top kids like that tend to figure stuff out as they play good teams and the season develops. Their stock could still be low. Zona's main challenge is their lack of 3 point shooting, which they're unlikely to figure out. Whether that is an obstacle will be the thing. They are a legitimate top 3 team. I'd love to see them against Purdue.

If Arizona is a legitimate top 3 team I feel even more confident about UConn getting #7 this season. We didn't have our best player who is going to be an All-American if healthy, we didn't have our player who is considered our best NBA talent, we were led in scoring by Eric Reibe, Alex Karaban was invisible, Solo Ball was 1 for 8 on threes, and Dwayne Koroma played 12 minutes. Yet we had the lead with 1:10 left in the game.

 

[Marat]

AZ had the second best recruiting class in the country just behind Duke with two top 10 kids and Aristode around 22. Burries and Aristode have barely made a scratch yet. Whether they do is TBD, but top kids like that tend to figure stuff out as they play good teams and the season develops. Their stock could still be low. Zona's main challenge is their lack of 3 point shooting, which they're unlikely to figure out. Whether that is an obstacle will be the thing. They are a legitimate top 3 team. I'd love to see them against Purdue.

That's a valid point about their lack of 3 point shooting. These days you really need to be able to make outside shots if you want to get to and win the FF. That may be their demise .

 

[SwingDog]

Saw a guy on fld of 68 last night saying Solo's trying too hard to get fouled...

I saw that too and agree, if that is the case, it would definitely affect his mechanics. They said he even got a warning from the refs.

 

[RuffRuff]

If Arizona is a legitimate top 3 team I feel even more confident about UConn getting #7 this season. We didn't have our best player who is going to be an All-American if healthy, we didn't have our player who is considered our best NBA talent, we were led in scoring by Eric Reibe, Alex Karaban was invisible, Solo Ball was 1 for 8 on threes, and Dwayne Koroma played 12 minutes. Yet we had the lead with 1:10 left in the game.

I do too - if we can keep Tarris on the floor for 30 minutes, and Mullins is the kid that everyone thinks/hopes, I think we are the team to beat. The difference in our team with/without Tarris is night/day. I do think a Houston once their frosh are fully up to speed, is right there.

This of course also depends on Solo being able to hit threes at better than 20% too. His defense is still pretty lousy (stares a lot), so with Mullins back, we have options if he's iced cold.

 

[RuffRuff]

That's a valid point about their lack of 3 point shooting. These days you really need to be able to make outside shots if you want to get to and win the FF. That may be their demise .

Possibly - although we didn't have to hit threes in 2024 to dominate. We actually shot it pretty poorly throughout that entire tournament. Not that this AZ team is close to that team, just saying you can win without the three.

 

[Stinger92860]

Swing Mullins to the 2, Ross to the 3, and we have a really interesting rotation.

Ball sits?

 

[RuffRuff]

Ball sits?

In certain rotations where we need defense, yeah. We'll have plenty of scoring on the floor.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Ball sits?

If he's gonna shoot 1/8, sure.

 

[NJHusky]

Great briefs as always Chief! Questions for you...how do you feel about UConn charging $30 for parking last night? Last season and the first 2 games at Gampel were up to $20. Thankfully, I brought an extra $10 with me as I usually just bring the $20 for parking in cash. When parking is cheaper in Manhattan something is amiss.

Last time I was in nyc for a meeting it cost nearly 70 to park. Lmk where y can park for 30

 

[freescooter]

Two starters down? We did great. Any top 10 ten down two starters is not winning this game against another top 10 team.

In all honesty, I’d call it 1 starter down. Maybe one potential starter too. If you have watched college basketball there are often hot freshmen who end up being great, others who are fine, some who are need a year, and some who never quite make it. Until a guy actually plays in real games you just don’t know for sure.

 

[Spaceman213J]

Possibly - although we didn't have to hit threes in 2024 to dominate. We actually shot it pretty poorly throughout that entire tournament. Not that this AZ team is close to that team, just saying you can win without the three.

You can win without the 3, but it's tough in the tournament. You catch one hot team and if they make 7-10 more than you, you could be in big trouble. Better 3 point teams also tend to be better from the line at all.
If there is a team that can win it this year with only a few made 3s along the way, I agree that Arizona's group has as much chance as anyone.
I just worry about them against one of those 'funky' mid majors who have a few bigs who can shoot. Even if you don't guard them outside and say let them beat us, it also allows them to set a lot of screens and open up looks for the guards, too.

 

[superjohn]

In all honesty, I’d call it 1 starter down. Maybe one potential starter too. If you have watched college basketball there are often hot freshmen who end up being great, others who are fine, some who are need a year, and some who never quite make it. Until a guy actually plays in real games you just don’t know for sure.

No, it's two starters down. Our best player and our projected late lottery pick who was our starter.

 

[Gurleyman]

In all honesty, I’d call it 1 starter down. Maybe one potential starter too. If you have watched college basketball there are often hot freshmen who end up being great, others who are fine, some who are need a year, and some who never quite make it. Until a guy actually plays in real games you just don’t know for sure.

He literally started the first time we played an organized game. We ran plays for him and stuff.

 

[buddy]

Last time I was in nyc for a meeting it cost nearly 70 to park. Lmk where y can park for 30

I live in NYC. If one uses Park Whiz discount, for the UConn-Illinois game you can get parking near MSG for 30-70 with advanced booking. However, you cannot arrive before 11:30, which would cut it close for start of the game. Time of event will be much higher. Otherwise, for non discounted parking anywhere below 96th street, one would be lucky to pay 40 for four hours and the closer you get to midtown the higher it goes. Don't forget the 9 dollar congestion toll below 60th St. Thanks Hochul!

 

[RuffRuff]

No, it's two starters down. Our best player and our projected late lottery pick who was our starter.

Mullins has been so out of site out of mind people are forgetting about him. His return can’t come fast enough.

 

[mjmoney23]

Last time I was in nyc for a meeting it cost nearly 70 to park. Lmk where y can park for 30

Use Spot Hero, it will show many garages/lots at different prices.

 

[Chief00]

Reibe also stayed out at the arc on offense a lot of the time, and hence, because he got bocked out by bodies between him and the basket, he could not get back into the paint in order to get into position to get rebounds.

I agree, lessons to learn.

 

[Chief00]

No, it's two starters down. Our best player and our projected late lottery pick who was our starter.

To early to say, but I hope Mullins doesn’t make a predetermine decision. Nothing wrong with another year but he woukd need a good replacement to Reed to stay. We need a muscle guy.