January General CBB Discussion Thread (Non-BE)

[Waquoit]

I was talking to an enthusiastic UConn hater last night, and thank God we got Purdue in the final in 2024 because he loves to crap on the 2023 run and title vs. SDSU being against overall weak competition (kind of a fair argument, albeit based entirely on being a hater). I remember during the run in 2024 truly hoping for a Purdue/UConn final because, while it would have been devastating to lose, it would (and did) make for the greatest ending to the story if we won.

Excuse me, we had to win again in 24 to keep your friend from saying 23 was a fluke? The only proper answer to that is to tell him to go do something to himself.

 

[RuffRuff]

Arizona is impressive but I can never trust that school in the tourney, from Lute Olson to Sean Miller to Tommy Lloyd they've had some stacked teams filled with NBA guys that have came up short. Lloyd's best team during his AZ prior to this one was his first year and he had multiple NBA guys and even that one flamed out in the Sweet 16 to a 5 seed Houston team and they got outplayed wire to wire.

Az does have a way of choking in the big dance.

 

[RuffRuff]

I j

The team we should’ve beaten without 2 starters is dramatically better than us?

Ok dude lmao

Salute to Arizona, they’re excellent.

@RuffRuff ‘s fatal flaw is he always over shoots. He can never make a leveled argument. He always has to add things like “dramatically”. And then backs up HIS opinion by appealing to consensus and saying how much said team is like 2024 UConn. Hilarious cycle

I just love how that is the game used. Early season, they traveled cross country mid week. You think that is the barometer? How about neutral site? Burries playing like he is now?

 

[superjohn]

I j


I just love how that is the game used. Early season, they traveled cross country mid week. You think that is the barometer? How about neutral site? Burries playing like he is now?

What other game should be used? You said they're dramatically better than UConn.

They actually played each other.

 

[uconngb]

I j


I just love how that is the game used. Early season, they traveled cross country mid week. You think that is the barometer? How about neutral site? Burries playing like he is now?

Why are you off of Michigan now?? Because you were dead wrong??

 

[RuffRuff]

What other game should be used? You said they're dramatically better than UConn.

They actually played each other.

I said they're playing dramatically better currently. It's been months since that game.

 

[Gurleyman]

I said they're playing dramatically better currently. It's been months since that game.

It’s been one week since they were in a one-possession game at home with a minute to go against a 10-7 Arizona State team that’s in last place in their league (Houston beat ASU by 30).

Then they beat Central Florida by 7. They’re a lot better than Georgetown but still unranked.

 

[RuffRuff]

It’s been one week since they were in a one-possession game at home with a minute to go against a 10-7 Arizona State team that’s in last place in their league (Houston beat ASU by 30).

Then they beat Central Florida by 7. They’re a lot better than Georgetown but still unranked.

CFU was ranked earlier this year. AZ is by and large winning fairly consistently, comfortably.

 

[Gurleyman]

CFU was ranked earlier this year. AZ is by and large winning fairly consistently, comfortably.

They played with their food in the second half against a pedestrian TCU team - let a comfortable lead get down to 7 before winning by 13. Then they went down to the wire with the worst team in their league … at home. Then they won a close road game at UCF.

I mean, i am not thrilled with how we are playing and would like to see some glimpses of our ceiling. Saturday would be a good start. But Arizona has had some of their own lulls lately.

 

[superjohn]

They played with their food in the second half against a pedestrian TCU team - let a comfortable lead get down to 7 before winning by 13. Then they went down to the wire with the worst team in their league … at home. Then they won a close road game at UCF.

I mean, i am not thrilled with how we are playing and would like to see some glimpses of our ceiling. Saturday would be a good start. But Arizona has had some of their own lulls lately.

Their schedule is backloaded, they're going to lose and it's going to be at least a few losses.

For RuffRuff, first it was Purdue. Then he obsessed over Michigan being an all-time great team. After they got lucky against Penn State without Penn State's leading scorer playing and then losing at home to Wisconsin he kicked Michigan to the curb. Now it's all about Arizona. If Arizona loses to BYU, Arizona will be old news and he'll be on the BYU train.

He's down on UConn now because we've won close games against Providence, Seton Hall, and Georgetown. If we start winning by more he might think UConn is really good again but there will always be another team around the country who catches his eye more.

The reality is it's a long season and almost every season in college basketball history the top teams have their stretches where they look unbeatable and their stretches where they don't look very good and struggle against lesser teams. None of it matters until March.

 

[RuffRuff]

They played with their food in the second half against a pedestrian TCU team - let a comfortable lead get down to 7 before winning by 13. Then they went down to the wire with the worst team in their league … at home. Then they won a close road game at UCF.

I mean, i am not thrilled with how we are playing and would like to see some glimpses of our ceiling. Saturday would be a good start. But Arizona has had some of their own lulls lately.

All these teams will have lulls. I'm with you, would like to see what a ceiling looks like for this team.

 

[RuffRuff]

Their schedule is backloaded, they're going to lose and it's going to be at least a few losses.

For RuffRuff, first it was Purdue. Then he obsessed over Michigan being an all-time great team. After they got lucky against Penn State without Penn State's leading scorer playing and then losing at home to Wisconsin he kicked Michigan to the curb. Now it's all about Arizona. If Arizona loses to BYU, Arizona will be old news and he'll be on the BYU train.

He's down on UConn now because we've won close games against Providence, Seton Hall, and Georgetown. If we start winning by more he might think UConn is really good again but there will always be another team around the country who catches his eye more.

The reality is it's a long season and almost every season in college basketball history the top teams have their stretches where they look unbeatable and their stretches where they don't look very good and struggle against lesser teams. None of it matters until March.

Brother, the only way you think is UConn is beating anyone anywhere all the time. What is the point of that logic for the sake of having a constructive conversation? Match the players up, styles, coaching, etc. But just thinking UConn is beating anyone all the time becomes somewhat predictable.

I'm not down, slightly concerned. You're continued thinking of untapped upside can be applied to anyone. I like to look at these things player for player. A - our bench has become a non-factor. B - we don't seem to shoot it at a rate that we need to with this roster.

 

[KingAG]

Brother, the only way you think is UConn is beating anyone anywhere all the time. What is the point of that logic for the sake of having a constructive conversation? Match the players up, styles, coaching, etc. But just thinking UConn is beating anyone all the time becomes somewhat predictable.

I'm not down, slightly concerned. You're continued thinking of untapped upside can be applied to anyone. I like to look at these things player for player. A - our bench has become a non-factor. B - we don't seem to shoot it at a rate that we need to with this roster.

You just lauded Arizona for winning without being a 3 point shooting team.

We’ve literally done the same in our bad shooting performances

If you’ve been paying attention, no one around the country has been world beaters in January, Arizona included.

Arizona beat us because we threw out a freshman Reibe in his first collegiate start. He could counter the physicality alone. Add Taris….. different story.


Idk why you throw out the biggest pieces of relevant data. A 60% UConn should have beaten a 100% Arizona THIS YEAR. That doesn’t mean AZ sucks and UConn is invincible. It means in no world with any confidence can anyone say Arizona is dramatically better than UConn. It’s just foolish. But on character

 

[RuffRuff]

You just lauded Arizona for winning without being a 3 point shooting team.

We’ve literally done the same in our bad shooting performances

If you’ve been paying attention, no one around the country has been world beaters in January, Arizona included.

Arizona beat us because we threw out a freshman Reibe in his first collegiate start. He could counter the physicality alone. Add Taris….. different story.


Idk why you throw out the biggest pieces of relevant data. A 60% UConn should have beaten a 100% Arizona THIS YEAR. That doesn’t mean AZ sucks and UConn is invincible. It means in no world with any confidence can anyone say Arizona is dramatically better than UConn. It’s just foolish. But on character

What do you think the line would be if they played on a neutral court? Have you looked at Vegas odds? Or should I rely on the Boneyard odds?

 

[KingAG]

What do you think the line would be if they played on a neutral court? Have you looked at Vegas odds? Or should I rely on the Boneyard odds?

I couldn’t care any less about the odds. That’s the only bin you gather any information from. I saw a UConn team sans Taris and Braylon go toe to toe with them and almost pull it off. Neutral +Braylon and +Taris I’d be extremely confident. Tbh I’m much more concerned about Michigan than Arizona. Arizona relies heavily on dominating the boards and the paint. I think Taris makes up a lot of ground there for UConn. Karaban and Ball were also awful that night. I’d bet on 2/3 of ball, Karaban and Braylon to make that up. Arizona is good. UConn crippled went toe to toe with an Arizona team they should not have by theory and “consensus”. This UConn squad in march? Healthy? Yes give me them in a neutral court. We haven’t lost there yet.

 

[RuffRuff]

I couldn’t care any less about the odds. That’s the only bin you gather any information from. I saw a UConn team sans Taris and Braylon go toe to toe with them and almost pull it off. Neutral +Braylon and +Taris I’d be extremely confident. Tbh I’m much more concerned about Michigan than Arizona. Arizona relies heavily on dominating the boards and the paint. I think Taris makes up a lot of ground there for UConn. Karaban and Ball were also awful that night. I’d bet on 2/3 of ball, Karaban and Braylon to make that up. Arizona is good. UConn crippled went toe to toe with an Arizona team they should not have by theory and “consensus”. This UConn squad in march? Healthy? Yes give me them in a neutral court. We haven’t lost there yet.

You realize that you toss any data that isn't Uconn theory, right?

You saw a UConn team play in it's on campus arena mid week against a team that flew in from Arizona? Did you see what UCLA just did to Purdue? I do respect the breakdown. Even with Tarris, we are not a great rebounding team. Solo has been awful. I don't think everyone on Zona was on fire.

March is a different POT. I said right now, AZ looks like the better team. I'm not saying this UConn team has peaked, as would not feel good if they did.

 

[KingAG]

You realize that you toss any data that isn't Uconn theory, right?

You saw a UConn team play in it's on campus arena mid week against a team that flew in from Arizona? Did you see what UCLA just did to Purdue? I do respect the breakdown. Even with Tarris, we are not a great rebounding team. Solo has been awful. I don't think everyone on Zona was on fire.

March is a different POT. I said right now, AZ looks like the better team. I'm not saying this UConn team has peaked, as would not feel good if they did.

No I do not. I just dont value what Vegas thinks about UConn VS Arizona. I have eyes for that.

UConn isn’t a great rebounding team. My point was we got obliterated on the glass and 2 nd chance points. I think Taris makes up enough there to make up 4 points.

Yes we were on campus. Being without 2 starters more than makes up for that, correct?

I’d argue lack of personnel is way more of a hurdle than location.

With the way we defend, if we can make up a little ground on the rebounding side, which I think we would, I’d bet on us.

I wouldn’t call someone crazy for betting on Arizona.

“Arizona looks better”. Sure. Even though they looked very mid the first half against Cincinnati and against ASU.

I call you crazy for using phrases like “dramatically better”.

 

[RuffRuff]

No I do not. I just dont value what Vegas this about UConn VS Arizona. I have eyes for that.

UConn isn’t a great rebounding team. My point was we got obliterated on the glass and 2 nd chance points. I think Taris makes up enough there to make up 4 points.

Yes we were on campus. Being without 2 starters more than makes up for that, correct?

I’d argue lack of personnel is way more of a hurdle than location.

With the way we defend, if we can make up a little ground on the rebounding side, which I think we would, and I’d bet on us.

Reibe played great in that game. You also realize that AZ has a better KPD than Uconn?

No, I'd say going cross country mid week for a single game is a very big advantage. On campus.

 

[KingAG]

Reibe played great in that game. You also realize that AZ has a better KPD than Uconn?

No, I'd say going cross country mid week for a single game is a very big advantage. On campus.

Reibe scored great.

He had 4 Rebs…..

We can just agree to disagree. You think UConn would’ve had less of a chance with Taris and Braylon on a neutral than they did without them at home?

That’s insane to me.

 

[superjohn]

Reibe played great in that game. You also realize that AZ has a better KPD than Uconn?

No, I'd say going cross country mid week for a single game is a very big advantage. On campus.

Totally, a much bigger advantage than Arizona had playing UConn without Tarris and Braylon.

 

[RuffRuff]

We can just agree to disagree. You think UConn would’ve had less of a chance with Taris and Braylon on a neutral than they did without them at home?

That’s insane to me.

Let's. UConn is clearly the best team on the planet and unbeatable.

 

[KingAG]

Let's. UConn is clearly the best team on the planet and unbeatable.

That’s clearly what I said.

What a guy.

How about answering the question.

Do you think UConn with Taris and Braylon on a neutral would have less of a chance at winning than UConn without them at home?

It’s a pretty straightforward, simple question. I’m genuinely interested and amused to hear your rationale behind this.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Let's. UConn is clearly the best team on the planet and unbeatable.

In fairness, it is genuinely insane to say that being down two starters (one of whom might be our most important player) is less of a disadvantage than traveling. That sort of blows up your whole “I just call balls and strikes” theory.

Incidentally, what does “midweek” have to do with it? You think their homework got in the way? These are pro teams.

 

[RuffRuff]

That’s clearly what I said.

What a bozo.

How about answering the question.

Do you think UConn with Taris and Braylon on a neutral would have less of a chance at winning than UConn without them at home?

It’s a pretty straightforward, simple question. I’m genuinely interested and amused to hear your rationale behind this.

I think if UConn played AZ right now on a neutral court, AZ would win. Yes. They are, the better team right now. Again, if we weren't here in the Boneyard, you'd likely get that same take just about everywhere.

I haven't seen UConn become significantly better in BE play with the both of them than we were without them. So based on current play, I think AZ would be about 3-4 point favorites on a neutral court.

Always amazes me when a disagreement makes someone stoop to name calling. I'd love seeing you and SJ get into a tantrum together.

 

[RuffRuff]

Totally, a much bigger advantage than Arizona had playing UConn without Tarris and Braylon.

Solo has become a net negative with Braylon out there for awhile now. There has been a drawback to working Braylon into the scorer's role. It's congested.