Arizona Wildcats Continue To Dance

Arizona's Chance To Continue the Dance

 

While the Scum Devils went home with their forked tails between their legs, Chase, Jordan, Nic, and Co. are still wearing their dancing shoes.

And no, they're not glass slippers because despite its seed, Arizona is not a Cinderella.

Good thing, since Cinderella isn't supposed to win. Every year there's a Cinderella, midnight eventually comes.

That's right, the Wildcats are among the top 16 teams in the nation. Suck it, Dookie V.

The Cats have a pair of double-digit wins under their belts and are facing their toughest test of the season when they face Louisville.

But let's face it, each one of the next game(s?) is their toughest test of the season.

This game will be a lot closer than some people are suggesting. As of right now the line is Louisville by nine.

It's a fair line. If the Cats come ready to play like they have in most of their biggest games of the season, (Kansas, Gonzaga, UCLA, Washington, Utah, Cleveland State, etc.), this will be a lot closer than nine.

If that other Cats team comes out, the one losing to ASU, Washington State, UCLA, etc., Arizona will be out of the game with five minutes left.

So how can the Cats get past the Cards from Kentucky?

Turnovers

In the first weekend of the tournament, the Wildcats have made both of their opponents turn the ball over a combined 30 times in two games, with a specifically impressive 19 turnovers against a Utah team that was averaging fewer than 14 per game all season.

The Cats' opponents turned the ball over a combined 6.5 times more than their individual opponents' averages.

Very good numbers, but can their defense keep that up?

Meanwhile, through two postseason games, the Cardinals haven't been as careful with the ball as they were all season, with 36 turnovers in two games.

That's up 8.2 turnovers per game through the first weekend.

Obviously, Louisville has a little bit more time than Cleveland State did to get ready for that Arizona Press/Trap/Zone Frankenstein Defense they've been running.

The real test for the Cardinals will be protecting the ball. If they can turn the ball over less frequently than the 18 times per game they're averaging, they should be in good shape.

But if Arizona can cause some trouble and get them off of their game, the Cats have a shot.

Home Court

Much has been made of Arizona's struggles on the road this season. They have been a completely different team when the crowd has been against them.

But Cleveland State started getting some fan support in Miami yesterday and the Vikings got back in the game, despite eventually losing to Arizona.

A show of things to come? Perhaps, but there were still plenty of Arizona fans and chants in the building.

Louisville, KY to Indianapolis, IN is a little over 100 miles and about an hour and a half away. Tucson, AZ to Indianapolis, IN is over 1700 miles and about 26 hours away.

There will be more Louisville fans in attendance, for sure.

Imagine if the game were in Phoenix. You're telling me that the building wouldn't be rocking with BEAR DOWN chants?

Well, folks from the Midwest tend to move to Arizona, not vice versa. So, while there might be some Arizona and neutral fans who start to pull for AZ, they will be outnumbered.

Getting past the fans will be the biggest test of the game for Arizona. Which leads me to...

Tempo

When the Cats come out with their asses on fire, things go well. They started fast against Cleveland State and Utah and pulled off victories in both games.

Arizona has been able to rally, hold on late, and play close. But they've also given away leads, played down to opponents, and been defeated with time on the clock.

The Wildcats need to decide the tempo of the game. They need to play Arizona basketball. If they get the early lead, they can keep the crowd out of it.

If they can keep the crowd out of it, it becomes less of a home game for Louisville.

Bench

This is just as big a factor as any other in the game. Louisville is a lot deeper than Arizona.

If this becomes a track meet, Arizona is going to lose their legs and Louisville will be nice and fresh entering the later parts of the game.

Arizona got scary against Cleveland State. The Big Three struggled in the first half, and two of the three had three fouls entering halftime. Wise and Hill finished with four, Chase and Fogg had three, and there were more than a few close calls.

At one point in the game, all three were sidelined.

That won't be good against the top team in the country. Arizona's got to play smart, both in deciding tempo and avoiding fouls.

Bottom Line

Louisville is the better team.

There is no doubt about that. They have a better record, better numbers, better depth of talent, a better coach, and more experience.

They played a tougher schedule in a tougher conference. There is no debating this.

Not even Randle can tell me that Arizona is a better team than Louisville, and he's a pretty big homer. (Happy Birthday Matt!!!)

Other Notes

Rumored Arizona coaching candidate Rick Pitino will be facing the very same Arizona Wildcats this weekend.

I would love it if, after the Cats win and Pitino and Pennell shake hands at midcourt, Pitino turns around and rips off his shirt to reveal his brand new "Property of Arizona" T-shirt hiding beneath.

I can just imagine Jerry "The King" Lawler and J.R. announcing this. It would be one of the most ridiculous moments in all of sports history.

Bleak Future? Possibly.

Arizona will most likely be losing first rounders Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger to the higher ranks, leaving Nic the Quick alone with a lot of youth, not to mention all four of Arizona's top recruits have announced their departure.

But Kyle Fogg, a.k.a Ducky, is getting better by the game, and could prove to be one of the better players in the Pac 10 over the next couple years.

Zane Johnson is primarily a three-point shooter, but it doesn't hurt having one of those on a team, and Jamelle Horne is mind blowing.

Of course, with Horne it's either good or bad.

The good being his out-of-the-gym athleticism and intensity on the court—he dunked the ball too hard to go through on Friday night.

The bad being the mental errors that have plagued him since the UAB game and his poor emotional control—he dunked the ball too hard to go through the net on Friday night.

Yes, I meant to type that twice.

Arizona is the lone Pac 10 team still allowed to play organized basketball right now. But I don't want to hear people saying it was a weak conference.

The teams may not have been as successful as in years past, but they were able to go 5-1 in the first round. (Thanks, Cal.)

Of course, the second round saw fiour of the remaining five drop their games, but two of those games were good, close games (USC by five to Michigan St. and Washington by two to Purdue).

Meanwhile, the ACC, which is constantly touted by ACC honks, homers, and Greivis Vasquez as the top conference, saw three of its seven teams lose on day one, two more dropped on day two, and saw Duke celebrate a Sweet 16 berth like they won the whole thing.

The master of bias and hypocrisy Dookie V still thinks Arizona doesn't belong in the tournament, yet says they've got a good chance to beat Louisville and that there's no surprise they beat Utah and Cleveland State

What? How can there be no surprise when you think they shouldn't be in the tournament in the first place?

Oh yeah...ASU still sucks.