Four Thoughts On Arizona’s Win Over Florida
Posted by AMurawa on December 17th, 2012On the heels of Arizona’s thrilling win over Florida on Saturday night, we asked our Pac-12 correspondents, including Adam Butler of Pachoops, to share their takeaways from the game.
Adam Butler: Many are quick to call Arizona a young team and that’s a fair argument. They’re a team whose hype has centered around a phenomenal recruiting class that we’re all very aware of at this point. Saturday night, those three freshmen combined for nine points and nine rebounds. Now I’m most certainly not calling them a disappointment. Grant Jerrett hit two crucial jumpers down the stretch and Kaleb Tarczewski and Brandon Ashley each had a defensive impact on the game. But the name of that game – outside of it being a tremendous basketball contest – was Arizona’s seniors. Solomon Hill made every big play the Wildcats needed and asserted his game. And Mark Lyons? I won’t even talk about the shot because it’s too easy to gush about. I loved the moment immediately prior as Lyons was screaming for the screen to come. Jerrett was tardy and Lyons was ready to end that game. He knew what needed to happen and everyone in that arena knew who was going to get it done. He did it and after the game he was quick to say that fellow senior Kevin Parrom’s effort was the game changer. Those three went for 39/8/8 on Saturday night. It’s the day and age of one-and-dones but I’ll gladly take these seasoned veterans unrattled by the magnitude or environment they’re in. Saturday was Arizona’s first major test, but it most certainly wasn’t Parrom, Hill, or Lyons’ first exam. The scary part? What happens when those freshmen rise to the occasion, too?
Arizona Kicks Off The Celebration After A Stunning Come-From-Behind Win Saturday Night
Andrew Murawa: For me, it is not even so much anything about either of the teams (although there was certainly plenty to be learned about both) that stands out to me about the game, but more about the nature of the sport. While we’ve had a fun first month and a half worth of the college basketball season, and while there have been some fun atmospheres from time to time, can we all not agree that the atmosphere Saturday night in Tucson was electric, and blew the roof off of 99.9% (and I’m probably being generous there) of the games we’ve seen so far this year? I’ve got nothing again some of those Thanksgiving week tournament games that are played in front of a couple hundred people or so; I’d rather have those games played in front of empty arenas than not played at all. And some of these neutral site events that have been conjured up recently have been exceedingly cool (the Crossroads Classic and the Champions Classic are singled out for their awesomeness). But can you imagine the difference in the atmosphere of this game had it been played at, say, the US Airways Center in Phoenix. I get that coaches like to get their team some experience playing in bigger arenas in advance of the NCAA Tournament. But, for the sake of the sport that is being trashed by so many other externalities, can we please try to limit neutral site games in favor of scheduling some challenging non-conference opponents and give the fans who support the sport, not to mention the kids that play in the games, the best possible iteration of college basketball?
Connor Pelton: There are two major things I took away from Saturday’s game, one centered around Arizona and the other having to do with the Pac-12 itself. Let’s start with the stars of the week themselves, though. I’m loving how calm, cool, and collected this Arizona team is. Up two against Charleston Southern with eight to play? No problem, a 21-9 run was quickly in store. Down three with eight to play in a hostile environment at Clemson? A tidy 22-7 binge to close the game turned what appeared to be a near-upset into a blowout. And on Saturday, on the biggest stage of the season, the seniors delivered yet again down the stretch. This bodes incredibly well for Arizona as tough games continue to dot the schedule, not only in possible match-ups against Miami (FL) and San Diego State this and next week over in Honolulu, but once we reach Pac-12 play as well. Finally, how nice is it to have a team that the conference can hang its hat on once again. After all we endured last year, this was such a fun game to enjoy. The eyes of the nation were fixed on Tucson, and with a single Mark Lyons floater, the Wildcats let everyone know that the upper half of the conference should be worth watching all through January and February.
Parker Baruh: Arizona certainly needed the help of Solomon Hill, Kevin Parrom, and Mark Lyons to pull out its remarkable victory against Florida on Saturday, but Nick Johnson once again showed that the seniors aren’t the only ones who step up in big games. Johnson almost played the entire game, as he earned 37 minutes and filled up the stat sheet to the tune of 4-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from three for 15 total points. But it wasn’t just his efficient scoring, it was also the four steals, the three rebounds, and the three assists he contributed. His defense was spectacular all game as he applied great ball pressure and managed to rarely get beat by his man. His offense was also very timely as two out of his three three-pointers came in the last minute of the first half helping Arizona gain some much needed momentum heading into halftime after a sloppy first half. Johnson has been amazing all year for Arizona and continues to be that way as he kept it up against Arizona’s toughest opponent so far this year. When people look back at this major win, they’ll think of Mark Lyons at the end and Solomon Hill down the stretch, but don’t forget about Nick Johnson. Without his defense and timely shooting on Saturday night, the Wildcats likely don’t win this game.
Andrew Murawa Likes Basketball.
