Playing against perhaps the worst defense in the Pac-12, one that allowed 115 points to Kentucky earlier this season – and, more shockingly, 110 to The Citadel in late November – the Arizona basketball team had to be licking its chops coming into Thursday night’s game against rival Arizona State.
And the Wildcats feasted indeed, putting together one of their most complete offensive performances of the season in a 91-75 win over the Sun Devils.
It wasn’t just that shots were falling for Arizona, or that the fast break was working, or that there were few turnovers and plenty of assists. It was all of it. No, literally, all of it.
The Wildcats hit 56.7 percent from the field – including 9-of-21 from 3-point range – had thunderous alley-oop after thunderous alley-oop, coughed the ball up just 12 times and finished with 25 assists, assisting on 74 percent of their field goals.
As offenses go, this was a good.
“Coaches, they express that a lot in practice – share the ball,” guard Kadeem Allen said. “Once we get the ball to the third or fourth side, we’re a good team and it’s very hard to defend us. We just share the ball.”
Arizona State knew it was in for a handful in the opening minutes, but maybe ever since coach Bobby Hurley dinged Arizona in post-game chalk talk with his players last week. Miller downplayed the mini-controversy, but clearly the words got to the Wildcats, who handled things in a hurry.
First, Kadeem Allen dished it to Dusan Ristic inside for a simple put-in, then Allen raced down for a rebound, snagged the ball and hit Kobi Simmons for a corner 3. Rawle Alkins followed a steal with a fast-break miss, but Lauri Markannen was close behind for the rebound and putback, and then Dusan Ristic hit back-to-back inside post shots.
That made it 12-0 less than two minutes into the game.
“It makes us a better team playing inside out,” Allen said. “We just try to take advantage. Dusan is really good in the low post and a lot of teams double-team him. … We just came out ready to play basketball. We practiced hard all week, and coach said this is a rivalry game, we don’t have to pump you up.”
Midway through the first half, it was clear the Arizona offense was getting to Hurley. Long gone was the bravado of last week, or even last year, when Hurley picked up two technical and was ejected from his first game against Arizona, up in Tempe.
Hurley trudged onto the court silent, almost like a shadow. If there was any time to yell, this was it, yet Hurley couldn’t muster a peep.
With 8 minutes, 25 seconds left in the first half, Markkanen had just hit a 3-pointer to give the Wildcats a 17-point first-half lead. Arizona would go on to lead by as much as 24.
“The beginning of the game set the tone,” Miller said. “We were ready – 25 assists, I don’t know a coach who wouldn’t be happy with 25 assists in a conference game.”
By the time Markkanen buried a deep 3-pointer with just over a minute to play, giving him his career-high 30th point, the Sun Devils were long buried.
“Lauri was spectacular tonight: 12-for-18, 4-for-7 from 3, can’t believe he missed two free throws, but eight rebound, five offensive,” Miller said. “He’s above and beyond a freshman. He’s obviously an incredible offensive player.”
