Originally posted by nssdigitalchumps:
Originally posted by JerseyCat84:
Originally posted by nssdigitalchumps:
Arizona is garbage. I hope we do play them. They won't be able to contain us. Sorry if some of you think otherwise, but having watched them play a good portion of this year, ugh. They're not impressive. Not at all.
Arizona is definitely NOT garbage. I think a lot depends on the play of Dakari and Marcus. If both play like they did during last year's run, it won't be as close of a match as most people think. However if today's Dakari shows up vs Arizona they could give us trouble.
Apologies, I must disagree with your assessment. Their bigs will get pushed around by ours. Their guards are nothing compared to ours and the only thing to save them in the tourney will be a good whistle. Otherwise, it will be another short tourney run for the 'other' Wildcats.
Arizona's starting center is as big/strong as anyone in Kentucky's lineup and won't get pushed around. Arizona's starting power forward isn't a bruiser but he's not frail either (6'9" 230 lbs). He's the biggest defensive weakness in the starting lineup in large part due to an off/on motor and slower feet when guarding quicker 4's.
Now if their front line gets in foul trouble, that's where Arizona will have the biggest problem. It's backup center while 7' and 245 lbs, is not a physical player at all (more finesse). They do have a physical bulldog garbageman type PF/C (6'10" 235 lbs) who's like a 10th man and only plays in rare spots, but he won't get pushed around. Just not someone you want to have in offensively. Definitely give Kentucky the overall front line edge.
Kentucky is going to have a problem handling Arizona's wings. Rondae Hollis Jefferson is the best defender Kentucky has seen all year and will be glued to Booker. Not sure who is going to defend Stanley Johnson, a 6'8" 250 lb mack truck shooting guard who outmuscles everyone who tries to guard him.
While Arizona's guards don't compare to Kentucky's (apples to oranges type players)......McConnell and Johnson are as good as any PG/SG combo Kentucky has to throw at them.
If Arizona gets in foul trouble, it'll be a long day for them. If the refs let them play, it'll be a great matchup with Kentucky having a slight edge.