Props To Az

[Sun Tzu]

Didnt see it in "The Pit" but must have been a whale of a game. But if you shoot nearly 70%-40% and need a last second shot to win it doesnt bode to well for the next one. That number alone tells me Okie State was the right side, but the right side doesnt always win. Az did what was necessary when it counted. Well done Salim.

I sure wish Lute would beat Illini, I just cant see it.

As for The Pit, credit to WVa, but dare I say they may be the worst Elite 8 team I have ever seen. The knocked down some shots, but I found myself thinking me and 4 high scholl kids could defend them. I guess Knight figured they wouldnt make shots and backed off - but why - there was zero inside presence. Tech had their chances and just didnt get it done. With only one starter even recruited by a major conference team
it still was a great ride.

As for Saturday, I hate chalk. But if that number is single digits I am all over the Cards. I now think they will win it all.

 

[Nickelback]

SUN, it was clutch shooting by Stoudamire in the end that was the difference. . . ironic that many in here reamed him for not being clutch or losing the Washington game a few weeks ago yet here he was hitting two threes in the final couple minutes and the game winner with 2.4 seconds left.

 

[gman2]

i dont think ANYONE ever said stoudamire wasnt clutch. in fact, i know for a fact in my posts i said he was a big time player (and specifically cited the ucla and asu games). so not sure where youre pulling that from. i know your post wasnt necessarily directed toward me but i can say unequivocally that i never even remotely said that. wondering if anyone else did?

 

[Nickelback]

Gman, you didn't but if I recall, Sun did. . . I could try and find it but won't waste my time tonight. . . I want to relish this win and just pray like hell on Saturday

 

[Sun Tzu]

No I didnt. That just isnt right. Plenty to get on me about that I say. Dont make stuff up. In fact I am a huge JJ basher. I did rag Salim on the "suspension" issue, and stand by that.

 

[Nickelback]

Just like you say Sun, it will take an almost perfect game for Arizona to win on Saturday. . . specifically taking care of the ball. They had some lapses against OSU that let them back in towards the end of the half and at least seven missed free throws in the second half (ironically enough) forced Arizona into nearly losing this game.

Can't do it against Illinois period. Can they do it? I'd say probably not on average but luckily its only one game and anything can happen

 

[pt1gard]

nickel--congrats on your zonas, great game--Im glad I didnt touch it and enjoyed as fan, figured it would come down to wire

 

[Nickelback]

My bad Sun. . . there were people in this forum that said it though when Arizona lost at Washington. For some reason I thought you said something about Arizona not getting it done in end game situations or something along that line.

Either way, one hell of a game

 

[Hoops]

By allowing a team to hit 65% from the field, not sure if Okie St was the right side or would have bode well for them if they had advanced to the next round. Their defense was sorely lacking tonight. They played like that against Illinois and they would have lost by 15+.

I think John Beilein needs to start getting a lot more attention as one of the best coaches in the country. Did an excellent job at Richmond, and now has compelely turned around a West Virginia program that was left for dead by Catlett. Very mediocre talent, but his offensive and defensive schemes are superb. Tremendous coaching job.

 

[Nickelback]

Hoops, you gotta tell me Arizona has surprised you a little. . . you thought they were dead against Utah State or LSU (of course LSU lost but still)

 

[Sun Tzu]

Hoops I dont necearily dispute that, but if you shoot 65% and won by 1 point you did alot of things poorly. How much does Az lose by to Illinois with an average shooting night playing otherwise the same as tonight?

 

[Nickelback]

Sun, you can't compare one game to the next. . . OSU forced several turnovers and Arizona missed several key free throws in the 2nd half to keep it close. Will Arizona miss that many free throws against Illinois given their average? Highly doubt it

 

[ADot]

I actually enjoy watching west va run that offense..its really thing of beauty

 

[Sun Tzu]

Well Nickel in your 3 biggest games this year - last 2 v Wash and tonight - hasnt Az struggled at the charity stripe down the stretch? At what point is that a trend?

 

[Scott4USC]

But if you shoot nearly 70%-40% and need a last second shot to win it doesnt bode to well for the next one. That number alone tells me Okie State was the right side, but the right side doesnt always win. Az did what was necessary when it counted. Well done Salim.

Completely disagree with you. OSU shot the ball 67 times vs AZ getting 49 shots. AZ shot great % because OSU couldn't defend them. OSU did not match up well against AZ. AZ had 28 rebounds vs 18 boards for OSU. Thats why AZ won and was the right play.

Game was close becaue OSU made 3 more treys and AZ missed 7 free throws. This and OSU getting ton more shots was difference. Otherewise AZ wins easily.

Not to mention it was a CLEAR charge by Graham when he made go ahead basket against Radenovic. No idea why that wasn't called charge and who cares it was final seconds let them play. Graham clearly put his shoulder into Radenovic while driving towards basket and Rad went flying backwards. YOU CAN'T DO THAT! Very surprised announcers didn't comment on that. That was bogus.

How was OSU the right side capping?

Advantages I capped (favoring AZ) came true and I said its foolish to bet this game big. AZ or no play was my opinion. OSU backkers were LUCKY OSU did not run into foul trouble (Graham) and they got monster game from Graham when he has been $hit last 2 games. Graham shot 3-5 behind the arc. Thats why OSU was able to hang. Who capped that?

Great game to watch. I was impressed with OSU coming back after AZ went ahead early. Good team and thats why I didn't bet huge on AZ like I wanted too. Glad I didn't (even though I woulda won)

 

[Nickelback]

A few things you missed tonight Sun because you didn't get to see the game on TV:

1. Arizona shoots 77.8% free throws average. . . 2nd in the country and now the best of the remaining teams left since they beat OSU. So yeah, it has to be a shock the amount of free throws they missed the entire second half. . . not just down the final stretch and in fact there weren't a lot of free throws shot the last five minutes.

2. Arizona shot 65% because they had easy success getting the ball inside. . . Frye made great decisions. And Arizona moved the ball around better than you have probably seen in order to get open looks at jumpers. I've seen them move the ball around that well before but usually against mediocre teams and not against the Washington games.

 

[gjn23]

Sun

Nice Analysis, especially since you didn't watch the game.

How "ok state was the right side" is beyond me. Arizona played with the lead for about 30-35 mins of the game....if they make FT and if Shakur get's yanked earlier (a total zero in the game) it doesn't come down to the wire.

As others have said....yest game has no bearing on tomm. game unless there are injuries....see luther head and his hammy!

BEAR DOWN!

 

[Nickelback]

I do have to say this for Sun:

If I was in Sun's position and put money down on OSU and wasn't able to see the game but checked out the stats, I would be ticked off as well because it looked like Arizona probably got lucky hitting shots to pull out the win. The only problem with the stats again is that it did not show just how easy it was for Arizona to break down OSU's defense upfront which led basically to layups throughout the game.

And it is cool that he said "props to Arizona" despite losing his wager. . . others would have wimped out and posted nothing.

 

[Scott4USC]

Oklahoma St. (a very talented team) took 18 more shots than Arizona. :scared

OSU made 3 more 3pt shots than AZ

AZ missed 7 free throws vs OSU missing 3 free throws.

AZ had 12 more rebounds than OSU

AZ 14 TO's vs OSU's 7 TO's :scared

Graham was 3-5 from 3pt range :scared
---Graham had only 2 games ALL year with 3 or more 3pt shots made. He had 15 games ALL year where he made ZERO 3pt shots. Just so happens OSU made 3 more treys than AZ. = 9 more pts. FYI, Graham came into this game playing poor basketball. Major bonus for OSU that Graham played superb ball AND was not in foul trouble.

IMO, OSU was very fortunate to have chance to win it at the end. Not to mention Grahams obvious charging foul to give OSU the lead in closing seconds of the game. Since when are you allowed to blatantly use your shoulder to gain separation?

 

[gjn23]

Graham was a monster and had a great game but scott-nickel are right...arizona completely carved up the defense of ok state....salim and channing had about 10-12 assts combined.....if we limit TO, make FT, it's likely a ft parade at the end of the game with arizona leading comfortably....but to killed us and led to too many easy baskets

and yes graham totally ran over ivan at the end....cant believe there wasn't a foul called but at least the right team won!

Great game, good fan support on both sides.....now we travel to champagne-urbana for the regional finals....oh wait we're at a neutral court