Two requirements for Arizona’s post players became pretty clear after the 24-minute Red-Blue Game on Sunday:
One, stay healthy. All four of UA’s inside players have a history of injuries: Chase Jeter (back), Ryan Luther (foot), Ira Lee (shoulder) and Emmanuel Akot (knee).
Two, don’t be bashful. The Wildcats were loaded with alphas last season but the opposite may be the case with this group.
Grad transfer forward Ryan Luther, for example, had 10 points and four rebounds, including a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left to help put away a Red team win — and yet UA coach Sean Miller was clearly hoping for more.
“One thing he’s learning right now is our team needs him to be productive,” Miller said of Luther. “He’s more than happy to be a good team player. He sets good screens, does what he’s supposed to. If he misses an assignment on offense or defense he’s very hard on himself.
“We want him to play with confidence and look to score because when he looks to score he’s only going to make good decisions. He knows what’s he’s doing out there. Being more aggressive I think is the message that he’s hearing, a lot from us.”
Although they’ve only been in Tucson for four months, Luther and fellow grad transfer Justin Coleman are the Wildcats’ most experienced players: Luther spent part of four seasons playing for Pitt, while Coleman spent two seasons at Alabama and one at Samford.
In addition, both Coleman and Luther are playing for their third college coach, and Miller said Luther benefited from former Pitt coaches Jamie Dixon and Kevin Stallings.
They’ve seen things, learned things, many different ways.
“There aren’t too many coaches in our game that are better than Kevin Stallings and Jamie Dixon,” Miller said. “One of the things we feel so good about is they loved coaching (Luther). He’s also an incredible teammate and a good person, someone we’re relying on for leadership and experience because that’s not something we have a lot of.”
So far, Luther has spoken in a low-key manner.
“I’m just taking my experience and fitting in with these guys,” he said. “I’m just trying to help the team out in any way, just be myself. Obviously we have a lot of new guys and a big sophomore class and some good young guys.
“I’m really just trying to lead by example, and just play my game, don’t do anything I can’t do.”
In starting center Chase Jeter, the Wildcats have another veteran, and one who didn’t hold back Sunday: Jeter had nine points and 14 rebounds over his 21 minutes played.
“Obviously to put up numbers like that in such a short time is impressive,” Luther said. “It’s been tough going against him every day in practice. Going against each other has been good.”
Miller hadn’t named season-long captains at UA before he named Jeter and Coleman co-captains this season, saying Sunday that “we believe in Chase” because of his leadership, experience and academic accomplishments.
But Jeter isn’t expected to be a go-to inside scorer the way Deandre Ayton or Dusan Ristic were. Miller says Jeter may be most helpful on the defensive end.
“I don’t think you can judge Chase on one thing but where he’s at his best is he does a lot of different things,” Miller said. “Rebounding is one of his strengths and there will be times we’ll depend on him to score.”
Miller is even prodding high-motor sophomore Ira Lee to keep going, too, and he saw flashes of that Sunday.
Lee aggressively jumped over three teammates in the pregame dunk competition — clearing them but not putting the ball in the basket — then collected 12 points and three rebounds over 19 minutes in the scrimmage.
Having averaged 10.2 minutes per game last season, Lee could easily double that number this season.
“I’d say I have a lot more confidence this year and know what to expect,” Lee said. “I kind of know to where to be now. know I can help my team out in the long run.”
Miller expressed confidence in Lee doing just that.
“Ira Lee is a tremendous teammate,” Miller said. “He has the qualities you can see as far as the team and program. There’s always a smile on his face. He’s energetic, very, very athletic and that type of player is contagious. I think he’s a good place right now with the role that he has and how hard he’s worked.”
