Houston vs Arizona the Matchup

Is there any doubt?

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In Arizona’s last 5 games they have won by average of 9 points per game.
Fewest points allowed has been 70. They just beat a 16 seed and a 9 seed.

In Cougars’ last 5 games we win by16 per game. We held opponents to 53 points twice. We beat a 12 seed and a 4 seed that was Big 12 Champ. And in AAC Title game we beat 9 seed Memphis by 18. Memphis just played #1 seed Gonzaga within 4 points.

Our opponents have been tougher and our margin of victory larger.

Look out for our Cougars. They are dangerous!

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Player send off for the team tomorrow at 9:30. Free parking in garage starting at 9:00 AM

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Had trouble with TCU!
We are way better than TCU.

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Well, we typically shoot better that them.

Question: TCU hit 73% of FTs

If you were offered 73% by a genie right now would you take it for the AZ game? Or do you roll the dice?

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Take it! UH is not Kansas when it comes to FT shooting. Unless Carlton does not go to the line, it will be hard to get much higher than 75%.

Hey, Kofi went 100 percent from the line against us. It’s possible we can do it too.

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More time helps us prepare our defense imo

Arizona seems like a supe’d up Mumphish squad. They’re fast and athletic. We’ve got to tap into that Mumphish hate to beat these guys because it wont be easy.

Still, remember that time we went to Cincy expecting a hard game and blew them out? Wouldn’t that be something. :sunglasses:

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We are certainly a lot more battle tested than we got credit for. Memphis made us get better. THIS WILL BE OUR TOUGHEST CHALLENGE

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Hello. Wanted to join to say this is an excellent breakdown. I’ve read a lot from opposing fanbases over the decades and this was objective and logical and thorough.

A few additions.

Most AZ fans are referring to Houston as TCU on Steroids, so, most understand the fight Wildcats are in for.

While it may be true Houston hasn’t seen a team like Arizona (though Memphis has some similarities), it is also fair to say Arizona hasn’t seen a fundamentally sound, hard-playing, skilled team with your caliber athletes and experience.

UCLA is probably the closest and they aren’t the caliber athlete as you all will be bringing.

That said, teams have been trying to figure out Arizona for a few months and the only thing to work has basically stopped winning vs them. TCU was close, but also Arizona arguably allowed that game to get away from them in a few spurts, as they were flirting with a 10 point lead multiple times before half and after half.

One thing I will say is in the last 5 games, Arizona has seen a lot of the style they struggled with and they are 5-0, including a second win vs UCLA this season, a Final 4 squad with basically everyone returned from last season.

What they lacked in experience vs bad matchups and pressure situations, they are quickly making up, going 5-0 in their last single elimination games.

I’m sure Houston can brag similarly, and I welcome any replies to educate.

For whatever it’s worth, my uncle is a huge basketball fan, and spent the 1980s in Texas and preached the Gospel of Phi Slama Jama to me at a young age, and my first basketball swag was of Phi Slama Jama.

Thanks for letting me join in.

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Arizona likes to score in the 80s and 90s while UH likes to keep their opponents under 65. It will be an interesting match up. The Arizona length is a concern but, at this point, UH is playing with house money. Hoping for a good one tomorrow night.

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I believe we would all agree that @pesik would be a perennial winner of the Naismith Fanboard Opponent Analysis award

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No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 5 Houston
Thursday, 6:59 p.m.
TV: TBS
Line: Arizona by 2.
Pick : Houston looked good this weekend defending its trip to the Final Four and will aim to muddy up the Riverwalk to stall the Wildcats’ propensity for high flying. But Arizona will have the best two players on the floor in guard Bennedict Mathurin and center Christian Koloko, who got their scare out of the way in escaping Texas Christian in overtime Sunday.

Arizona 65, Houston 55
We do best in the underdog role. “It’s our culture!”

Looking forward to the match up.

Houston has one of the best young PGs in the nation in Jamal Shead. In his first postseason as a starter, he averages 12 ppg through five games with 29 assists & 6 steals vs 7 TOs. He shoots 46% overall, 33% from deep and 91% from the line.

The other four starters are all 23 years old or nearly so (Kyler Edwards will be 23 in May). Each has scored 1200+ points in their college careers. Each averages double-digits this postseason.

Arizona has one of the tallest squads in America & plays at the highest tempo of anyone in the sweet 16. Houston has one of the most veteran & balanced starting fives in America. Houston plays at the 2nd lowest tempo of anyone in the Sweet 16.

Arizona has a first year head coach. Houston has a veteran head coach.

Lots of contrast between the teams. Should be quite the game.

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if you are interested in Houston, Hoopvision did a 10min breakdown of houston last year

the video is from last year, so its a bit outdated {our offense and personnel are drastically different than last year}, but this video mostly covers our defense and rebounding scheme, which is still the same. it pretty much covers how we operate

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https://twitter.com/haslametrics/status/1506697513994174472

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Yeah. I know you’ve had some injuries. I think I read they are out. Arizona has a few, though they are playing, but they are both ankle, so, effectiveness isn’t limited. Sucks for both, but for Houston more. As a fan of the 2013-14 Arizona team who was 20-0 and #1 in America before an injury to best post scorer and 2nd best scorer, I know how seasons hinge on that. Sucks for the players in that narrow competition window and the team/fans.

I know Sampson has you all in a great system for production and I know he will have you all ready. Good coach, for sure.

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Thanks for joining in, I am curious as to Arizona’s take on the TCU game. TCU was not very good in the B12 and the thought here is they are not a very good team. How did they take you to OT? Should be a good game tomorrow.