Time for round 2
...of the Pac10 schedule, and time for Arizona to just start over. The non-conference schedule and first-half of Pac10 play were exhilarating, exciting, interesting and somewhat... discouraging. So, at 14-6, after losing 5 of their last 7, it is time for Arizona to play as if the season starts tonight, and anything can happen. And really, anything happen.
Winning streaks start at one, and knocking off surprisingly strong Washington State (AP 18) at home tonight would be good start to re-building some confidence. After losing at Virginia on opening night, Arizona ran off 12 straight wins. Hey, it could happen again.
But winning these next two games is crucial because guess what, there are no gimme games in the Pac10, and things only get tougher in the weeks to come. After hosting the Washington schools this weekend, Arizona is on the road to play the Oregon schools, then it's USC and UCLA in Tucson. They finish conference play at Arizona State, Cal and Stanford.
So what needs to happen to ensure a favorable seed in the NCAA tournament, and what are realistic expectations?
1. Defend your home court.
It is up to Arizona to decide if that is realistic. Raucous fans in the seats (or standing) will certainly help. We'll know more after tonight.
2. Win the tough ones.
After beating (then)no. 18 Memphis, and (then)no. 20 Washington, Arizona dropped games to (then)no. 17 Oregon, (then)no. 2 UCLA, and (then)no. 4 North Carolina. Two of those losses came at McKale. Quality wins make it easy for the Tournament Selection Committee to award a high seed, and they feed a team confidence.
3. Play within the team concept, and pass the ball!
When things aren't going well, it isn't time to start heaving the ball at the basket like shooting is going out of style, or pound the ball into the floor. Mustafa Shakur is at his best when he finds his teammates first, scores second. And this team does know how to share: Arizona has combined for 20+ assists in four games this season.
Realistically...
4. Anything can happen (see Arizona 1997), let's have fun watching it all unfold.
Winning streaks start at one, and knocking off surprisingly strong Washington State (AP 18) at home tonight would be good start to re-building some confidence. After losing at Virginia on opening night, Arizona ran off 12 straight wins. Hey, it could happen again.
But winning these next two games is crucial because guess what, there are no gimme games in the Pac10, and things only get tougher in the weeks to come. After hosting the Washington schools this weekend, Arizona is on the road to play the Oregon schools, then it's USC and UCLA in Tucson. They finish conference play at Arizona State, Cal and Stanford.
So what needs to happen to ensure a favorable seed in the NCAA tournament, and what are realistic expectations?
1. Defend your home court.
It is up to Arizona to decide if that is realistic. Raucous fans in the seats (or standing) will certainly help. We'll know more after tonight.
2. Win the tough ones.
After beating (then)no. 18 Memphis, and (then)no. 20 Washington, Arizona dropped games to (then)no. 17 Oregon, (then)no. 2 UCLA, and (then)no. 4 North Carolina. Two of those losses came at McKale. Quality wins make it easy for the Tournament Selection Committee to award a high seed, and they feed a team confidence.
3. Play within the team concept, and pass the ball!
When things aren't going well, it isn't time to start heaving the ball at the basket like shooting is going out of style, or pound the ball into the floor. Mustafa Shakur is at his best when he finds his teammates first, scores second. And this team does know how to share: Arizona has combined for 20+ assists in four games this season.
Realistically...
4. Anything can happen (see Arizona 1997), let's have fun watching it all unfold.
posted by mike destasio at 4:04 PM
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