HOUSTON – While Texas A&M has already seen (and lost to) USC and UCLA so far this season, coach Billy Kennedy tried to explain to Texas reporters the difference in the Aggies’ third Pac-12 opponent.
Basically, Lauri Markkanen.
“UCLA had three guards most of the time,” Kennedy said in College Station on Thursday. Arizona will “play a 7-foot guy at small forward. We haven’t played against a true three-four-five with the size they have.”
Markkanen “will play about 30 percent of the time at the three, so that makes them a little different than UCLA. Before (Wednesday) night, he was shooting 49 percent from three and 90 percent from the free throw line. And he can put it on the floor and get to the basket. He’s a tough matchup.”
The Aggies shoot only 29.9 percent from three-point range and have made only 62.4 percent of their free throws. In what Kennedy says should be a good matchup – considering the size of both teams – he indicated free-throw shooting could make a difference.
“We’ve gotta make free throws,” Kennedy said. “That’s one thing we haven’t done. This is a game I’m concerned about – and when you’ve got a chance to make free throws, you’ve gotta make them.”
Saturday’s game will be the first of a sorta-home-and-away series, with Texas A&M returning the game to Phoenix’s Talking Stick Arena on Dec. 5, 2017.
Arizona will be paid $150,000 for the series after next season’s game by the organizer, BD Global, according to the game contract obtained by the Star under a public records request.
Arizona hasn’t had any media availability since Wednesday’s game so there's no comments from Sean Miller or UA players. Our advance story and scouting report are attached to this post.
Here’s the school-produced game notes from Arizona and Texas A&M.
ICYMI, Gabe York dropped 10 3-pointers in a D-League game (video attached). That surpasses even the nine he hit on Senior Day last season.
Utah received clearance to play two impact transfers starting Saturday: Guard Sedrick Barefield (SMU) and forward David Collette (Utah State).
Oregon State's Kendal Manuel already has a compelling life story to tell.
USC's Jordan McLaughlin is becoming a better finisher this season.
Bobby Hurley says he's not surprised by the transfer of ASU's top recruit, Sam Cunliffe.
UCLA gets a chance to check out the Pac-12 Tournament's new home, T-Mobile Arena, in a game with Ohio State at the Las Vegas venue.
