Pac-12 Recap: Arizona Looks Like Title Contender
By Andrew Kahn
Six Pac-12 teams were in action last night and six more take the court tonight, highlighted by Utah at UCLA. Yesterday, Arizona reminded us that it is among the nation’s elite, while Washington and Oregon State were exposed.
Arizona 90, Oregon 56
Oregon got a steal and dunk on the game’s first possession. It was downhill for the Ducks after that. Arizona went on a 9-0 run midway through the first half and the game was never close again. It was perhaps the Wildcats’ best performance of the season. Their defense was stifling. Oregon is the highest-scoring team in the conference and guard Joseph Young is the league’s second-highest scorer at 18.9 per game. Last night in Tucson, he went 4 for 9, the fewest attempts he’s taken all season. T.J. McConnell and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, two elite defenders, took turns guarding him and limiting his opportunities. With their playmaker struggling, the Ducks looked lost at times, committing several shot clock violations (or near violations).
McConnell, who Pac-12 analyst Bill Walton said is his clear choice for conference Player of the Year, helped Arizona shoot 59 percent. One particular play from the second half stands out. McConnell stole the ball, stumbled as he crossed half court, and fired off a pass before hitting the deck, which Stanley Johnson converted for an and-one lay-up. Said Arizona coach Sean Miller after the game: “He’s our team’s heart and soul. Nobody’s more important to Arizona than T.J.” Fiery and feisty on the court, McConnell opened his press conference by joking, “I’m just here so I don’t get fined.”
Seven-foot freshman Dusan Ristic is coming around—he’s scored 21 points over his last two games on 8 of 9 shooting. He’s shown some nice post moves and even hit a three last night. He makes Arizona even more dangerous inside. Three-point shooting will remain a concern, but they hit 6 of 15 last night.
Stanford 84, Washington 74
Washington played its first game without suspended center Robert Upshaw, and it showed. The post-game comments from Washington coach Lorenzo Romar tell the story: “It was different on the defensive end with them going to the basket. We had almost been accustomed to, ‘Oh, they’re going to the basket. We’re in good shape.’ That’s not the case now.” He admitted his team didn’t have enough practice time without Upshaw to make the necessary adjustments. Stanford center Stefan Nastic made 7 of 8 field goals in the first half. Washington double-teamed him in the second half, which opened things up for Anthony Brown, who scored 15 in the half. Washington center Gilles Dierickx, who had played a total of 13 minutes on the season, played eight last night and went 0 for 4 from the field.
The game, played at Washington, turned at the end of the first half. The Huskies had the ball down five with 90 seconds left, but allowed Stanford to close on a 7-0 run. Marcus Allen was the catalyst, getting a steal that led to a lay-up and then stealing the ensuing inbounds pass and feeding a teammate for a lay-up that led to free throws.
Arizona State 73, Oregon State 55
Arizona State’s offense, which had been stagnant for much of the season, has come alive recently. The Sun Devils busted the Beavers’ zone by hitting eight first half threes. Arizona State started 0-4 in the Pac-12 but has won three of its last four. Oregon State ended a three-game winning streak and plays at Arizona tomorrow night.
Andrew Kahn is a regular contributor to CBS Local who also writes for Newsday and The Wall Street Journal. He writes about college basketball and other sports at AndrewJKahn.com. Email him at andrewjkahn@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter at @AndrewKahn.
