When Arizona reserves scored 62 points on Saturday against Southern Utah, that might have been a program record. Nobody really knows, since UA online archives tracking those sorts of things don’t go back past 1996-97.
But whatever the case, the “record” arguably deserves an asterisk anyway, since the Wildcats were arguably hiding two starters on the bench in their 102-66 win over the Thunderbirds.
Maybe even three.
One of the “reserves” was center Motiejus Krivas, a projected NBA Draft pick who has yet to become fully revived after a preseason foot injury set him back and has been playing behind Tobe Awaka. Krivas had 10 points.
Then there was guard KJ Lewis, a starting wing and also an NBA prospect who, UA coach Tommy Lloyd said, asked to move to the bench last week. Lewis had 15.
Also, there was wing Anthony Dell’Orso, who wasn’t expected to start at Arizona and hasn’t … but was Campbell’s leading scorer last season. He had a team-high 19 points on Saturday.
In a difficult early season so far that still has them at 4-4 after their win Saturday, the Wildcats at least have options.
Arizona Wildcats forward Henri Veesaar (13) jumps for two-points during the first half of the game against Southern Utah, McKale Center, Dec. 7, 2024.
“I’ve never been afraid to bring a starting-level player off the bench,” Lloyd said. “And I think we’ve been at our best at Arizona when we’ve had — quote, unquote — the seven-starter feel. That’s what I hope we can get with this team.”
While Lloyd says he focuses on his entire rotation and who finishes a game, not who starts it, that’s not always the case with players. Especially players who are itching to get to another level, which is almost everyone in high-major basketball today.
But after Lewis was held out of the starting lineup on Nov. 29, following a pair of technicals over the previous three games, he and Lloyd agreed to keep the change.
“I think it’s really valuable when you add guys off the bench that can contribute in a lot of ways, especially some offensive firepower,” Lloyd said, adding that Lewis’ scoring actually comes off his defense often. “I just think you’re a part of a great program when your bench players are at the level of your starters. And I think sliding KJ to that spot gives us a real solid feel.”
Asked if he thought the move might be permanent, Lewis said it was about whatever would help the team.
“The conversations me and coach Lloyd had were just ‘I want to win, I know the program wants to win, and the fans want us to win,’” Lewis said. “So it’s just trying to do whatever it takes to be in a winning position for the team, making ‘us’ plays and making ‘us’ sacrifices.”
Lloyd said he would continue to evaluate the starting lineup, but the early returns were positive for the Wildcats, both with the play of Lewis and his replacement in the starting lineup, freshman Carter Bryant.
Another projected NBA pick, Bryant played a relatively effective 17 minutes. He missed both field goals he tried but hit 5 of 9 free throws, picked up a team-high nine rebounds, while dishing four assists and grabbing a pair of steals.
“I’ve challenged him to be a connector,” Lloyd said. “Nine rebounds? … Listen, he makes a shot, hits a couple of free throws and grabs one more rebound, he has a double-double. That’s a really productive night. So let’s not be so sensitive on scoring.”
Arizona forward Carter Bryant (9) shoots the ball over Southern Utah guard Jamir Simpson (3) during a game at McKale Center, Dec. 7, 2024.
Lloyd said Bryant is adjusting to high-major college basketball and doing so at a positional disadvantage, moving mostly into a wing role after being counted on to play heavily inside earlier in his career.
Overall this season, Bryant is averaging 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 34.5%, inconsistent as a bench player for the first six games of the season.
“Carter is going through all the experiences he needs to go through right now,” Lloyd said. “I know it’s not coming easy for him, but that’s not because he’s not a good player. He’s just got to kind of figure it out and then he’s going to have a few Arizona moments where he kind of breaks through. … When he has more of those, he’ll be able to kind of galvanize and understand how to make it happen, but also understand to let it come to him a little bit.”
Meanwhile, the Wildcats also had a third would-be starter explode off the bench on Saturday in Dell’Orso. Though the Campbell transfer was not expected to start at UA once Caleb Love returned from the NBA Draft pool late last spring, he was expected to bring scoring punch right away off the bench.
That has surfaced in UA’s last four games, three in the Battle 4 Atlantis and UA’s home game Saturday against Southern Utah. Over that span, Dell’Orso has averaged 13.5 points while hitting 10 of 16 3-pointers.
Dell’Orso had only 26 points total over UA’s first four games, going scoreless in four minutes against Duke on Nov. 22.
“I knew it might take him a little bit of time to adjust coming here, but he did practice really well this fall,” Lloyd said. “In all the scrimmages we had where we kept score, he performed. But then you got to go do it under the lights and it’s your first time coming off the bench. So he had to work himself through those things. …
“I’m hoping this guy’s a double-figure type scorer in that role. The way he shoots the ball, he’s a guy that can draw a lot of attention and really help us in a lot of other areas.”
Eventually, Lloyd hopes, so can Bryant. Both players are known for shooting off the catch and the Wildcats’ current lineup allows for one to come off the bench and the other to start.
The lineup could also allow smoother transitions at point guard, with Lewis able to fill in for Jaden Bradley right away if needed. Previously, Bradley has often stayed in games past the first or second waves of substitutions.
“When KJ made the decision, I really thought about it and thought it made sense,” Lloyd said. “We know Carter is a good catch-and-shoot shooter. We know over time the numbers are going to be what we expect them to be. It gives him an opportunity to spread the floor a little bit early in these games. And when KJ comes in the game with that second unit, he can become a little bit more of a ball handler and a playmaker.
“To me, it makes a lot of sense. We’ve just got to continue to look at it and make sure it’s the right thing for the team.”
