As the Arizona Basketball team prepares for the first round of the 2016 NCAA tournament, media pundits make their predictions and state their opinions. ZonaZealots writers are no different.
The brackets are set, fans have had their say, Arizona Basketball is heading to Providence, Rhode Island (East Coast Cats fans need to represent) and we all have our opinions about the NCAA March Madness Bracket selections and how far the Wildcats will go in the tournament.
We asked our writers to answer the following questions:
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- Do you think Arizona got the seed they earned? Why or why not?
- Would you rather Arizona play Vanderbilt or Wichita State?
- How far do you think the Cats will go in the tournament?
- Do you think the committee did a good job seeding the Pac-12? Why or why not?
- Will the Cats show up or fold?
You do not want to miss their answers, they don’t agree, which makes it interesting. We want to hear who you agree with most, and what your thoughts are. Be sure to Tweet and tag @ZonaZealots with your thoughts, put your comments below or post them on Facebook. We love Wildcats fans opinions here at FanSided!
Next: CLICK HERE: 1. Do you think Arizona got the seed they earned?
1. Do you think Arizona got the seed they earned? Why or why not?
BRAD:
The Wildcats got what they deserved. Arizona fans can’t blame Larry Scott or Pac-12 Officiating on this one. The lack of quality wins and soft non-conference schedule cost the Cats a more favorable seed and shipped them across the country.
MARK:
A six seed is fine, but I was expecting a five seed. Especially since the committee placed Cal at four, and Oregon State at seven.
ERIC:
No, they got robbed. A 6-seed would indicate were not top 25. We are, and a 5th seed should have been plenty worthy.
PEGGY:
If Cal gets a three, we should get a four, five at the least. And Duke a four instead of us? Again, probably a bunch of committee members that rarely stayed up for #Pac12AfterDark.
RYAN:
Arizona lost eight games for the first time since the 2012-2013 season. I believe that they did deserve the 5th seed in the tournament because of those losses. If the Wildcats had an opportunity and travel to Eugene to seek revenge for breaking their home game winning streak and win, that could have changed the seeding dramatically. The South region will be a tough one for the Wildcats to come out from. But we have seen crazier things happen in the NCAA tournament.
MIGUEL:
So according to the selection committee, Arizona is the 21-24 best team in the country? So taking an eventual one-seed to OT after being down by double digits late in the 2nd half of a semifinal game and we don’t catch some eyes? I love always to bring this up cause you are telling me Duke who lost two more games than us this season and was knocked out in their first game in the ACC Tourney is worthy of a four seed? Come on selection committee, let’s not make it too obvious how much you hate the Pac-12 or just don’t even watch the games out here on the west coast.
Come on selection committee, let’s not make it too obvious how much you hate the Pac-12 or just don’t even watch the games out here on the west coast.
Next: CLICK HERE: 2. Would you rather Arizona play Vanderbilt or Wichita State?
2. Would you rather Arizona play Vanderbilt or Wichita State?
BRAD:
Would you rather play a team from a power conference or a team that has shown the past few years they could compete just fine in a power conference? Pick your poison.
MARK:
I’d rather play Vanderbilt. Either team we play, Arizona has the bigger and better team. But Wichita State has really good guards who could give Arizona some trouble. Plus, small ball opponents give Arizona trouble.
ERIC:
Vanderbilt, hands-down. Both are quality opponents and could certainly knock us off no doubt, but this tournament is going to prove difficult for Arizona if they have matchups with teams that can drive the lane well, and can hit outside jumpers with consistency. To me, I think they can beat Vanderbilt a bit easier than they could with a team like Wichita State.
PEGGY:
I don’t care.
RYAN:
I would rather play Vanderbilt than Wichita State in the first round. Wichita State always seems like a dangerous team when it comes around to March.
MIGUEL:
If we are honest, is this even a question? No disrespect to Vanderbilt but Wichita State has been there done that and has more upset power than maybe any team in the double digits of the tournament. They have a coach who has taken them to a Final Four and a squad being lead by seniors on the court who have been to the dance plenty of times. Although I think we can beat both you really don’t want to face Wichita State in March.
Next: CLICK HERE: 3. How far do you think the Cats will go in the tournament?
3. How far do you think the Cats will go in the tournament?
BRAD:
The Cats have a good chance to make it to the Sweet Sixteen. They have one of the best coaches in the game with an impressive tourney record and have a veteran team that has yet to reach its potential.
MARK:
I think the Sweet 16 is a very much possible. A lot of people have Miami beating Arizona if they meet Saturday. But I haven’t seen that much out of them to make me worry. Elite Eight is a real possibility, but I’m more confident in Sweet 16.
ERIC:
I could see Sweet 16. As much as I could also see a first round exit, I like the potential of our first two matchups.
PEGGY:
Sweet 16. At least, let’s get farther than over-seeded Duke.
RYAN:
It will be very different from years past. The Cats are a cross country and will not have the same support they would have if they played on the West coast. I believe the Cats will make it to the Final Four if they play team-ball, cut the turnovers, stay out of foul trouble and hit at least seven threes in each game. Most importantly HIT FREE THROWS. A tall order to for Arizona but they have the ability to overcome the odds.
MIGUEL:
Again this is not the time to beat around the bush, how good are our cats? Honestly, if there was a season that is so wide open in March, it is this year. So are we good enough to make a Final Four? Yes! Again its called madness for a reason and although it won’t be easy, the road we were given to take, we could just as easily be headed home in round one. There is no more what if’s and I
There is no more what if’s and I’m sure the boys with Arizona on the front of their jerseys will show us what BEARDOWN is all about. I see another Elite Eight and maybe with a little luck going our way finally a Final Four.
Next: CLICK HERE: 4. Do you think the committee did a good job seeding the Pac-12? Why or why not?
4. Do you think the committee did a good job seeding the Pac-12? Why or why not?
BRAD:
It was apparent the committee was impressed with the conference when a six loss Oregon Ducks team received a No. 1 seed and annual Pac-12 doormat Oregon State, after hovering on the bubble received a No. 7 seed.
MARK:
Committee did a terrible job overall this year. Absolutely terrible. With the Pac-12 seedings, I don’t agree with Cal No. 4. I was expecting them to be a six seed, with Arizona five. Nothing makes sense at all to have Oregon State at seven. Nothing.
ERIC:
Generally no. I think Oregon State was too high considering they are only one spot behind us, and Colorado should be about a seven in my opinion. Cal is way too high. However, overall the representation of our conference is nice to see.
PEGGY:
Yes, I think they did. Oregon definitely deserves a one, especially after tearing up Utah in the Pac-12 final. The only change would be to move us up to four. I’m glad the Beavers are in; that was a great shot of them celebrating when they were announced.
RYAN:
I do not think that they did a good enough job in seeding the Pac-12, especially in the South Region. Three Pac-12 schools in the region (Cal, Colorado, and Arizona) make the South loaded. The committee could have spread the six Pac-12 schools with two in each region, but it would not have been far for another conference. So not University will be pleased.
MIGUEL:
It seems like everyone in the Pac-12 was given half decent seeds but then again half the conference was pretty much sent into the south region. So if we are going to complain lets complain about all the seeding this season. I mean do you know that somehow the overall number one seed, Kansas, probably has the hardest road to the final four. Oh, and Virginia, somehow gets the one seed over Michigan State the Big-10 champs? So lets just say there isn’t enough time to say how bad seeding was this year. I mean seriously Tulsa beat out Monmouth? Seriously!?
Next: CLICK HERE: 5. Will the Cats show up or fold?
5. Will the Cats show up or fold?
BRAD:
The Cats have a great opportunity to turn a good season into a great one. Even if the Cats only win one game in the tourney, it will be considered a success. I’ll say the Cats reach the second weekend of the tournament and then we’ll see what happens. In March anything is possible, so don’t throw dirt on this team just yet.
MARK:
Miller seems to always get his players ready for the Tournament. Year after year experts think Arizona will trip up. Belmont was supposed to give Arizona trouble one year, but Arizona dominated them. That’s why I think Sweet 16 is a very real outcome.
ERIC:
PEGGY:
Well……we will show up for about one half/game.
RYAN:
Show up. Too competitive of a group. We’ve fought through adversity all year-long, and Miller won’t let his guys come out flat.
MIGUEL:
All year I keep waiting to see the best of the Cats, they have showed up here and there, but I still don’t think we have seen the best out of these guys yet. They let us down and lost a home game this season; they didn’t defend the regular season or tournament championship either. Yes, it’s time to get the biggest wins of all and make a deep run. The Wildcats will show up and turn some heads along the way.
Next: CLICK HERE: What does Miller think?
What does Miller think?
Theme’s:
- Pac-12 was one of the best conferences (competitive).
- Need to play both halves, his team comes back from deficits, but end up losing and have been up or down.
- When we are at our best, we are hard to beat.
- York doesn’t have to shoot the lights out, he just needs to perform, has lots of tourney experience,
- Arizona is a good team, got within a free-throw of beating a one-seed.
- Whatever teams find a way to win, will win, seeding doesn’t mean much.
- Playing the winner of Vanderbilt/Wichita is interesting for us.
- Anderson is consistent, especially in rebounding, this is his first NCAA tourney game.
Whatever the case, it should be interesting, and we cannot wait for the Cats to surprise the world and make the Elite Eight once again.
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BEARDOWN ARIZONA!