Arizona Wildcats basketball: On Lauri love, ice cream, SpongeBob Squarepants
- Updated
Seen and heard at Vivint Smart Home Arena during Arizona's 69-60 win over Saint Mary's to advance to the Sweet 16.Β
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Mike Schmitz has had a busy couple of days.
The DraftExpress scout and Arizona alumnus arrived in Salt Lake City on Thursday for the first-round of NCAA Tournament games, flew to Sacramento, California, at 6 a.m. on Friday to catch more hoops, flew back to Salt Lake on Saturday and will return to Californiaβs capitol on Sunday.
See, both NCAA Tournament sites are filled with highly regarded NBA prospects. Arizonaβs Lauri Markkanen, Saint Maryβs Jock Landale, UCLAβs Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf, Oregonβs Dillon Brooks and Jordan Bell and Creightonβs Justin Patton lead the pack.
Schmitz has been high on Markkanen since before the season. The scout watched plenty of UA games and attended last weekβs Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas.
About that shooting slump Markkanen dealt with late in Pac-12 play β¦ no big deal.
βNot for me, man,β Schmitz said.
He said Markkanenβs struggles have been easy to explain, between his own approach and the UAβs balanced offensive approach.
βHeβs not a passive guy, but he likes to play within the flow of the game,β Schmitz said. βI think he doesnβt have a gunner mentality. If he misses a few, heβs going to make the right play and try and get other guys involved.β
Saturday, Markkanen went 15 minutes between his first and second shot attempts, though he did take four free throws during that span. He later picked up the pace. The Finnish freshman finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds and had his best defensive performance of the season, getting two blocks and one steal.
DraftExpress projects Markkanen as the No. 7 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.Β
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
20:20 β The Wildcats trailed Saint Maryβs for the first 20 minutes and 20 seconds of Saturdayβs game. Dusan Risticβs jumpshot with 19:40 remaining in the game (20 seconds into the second half) gave Arizona a 31-30 edge, its first of the night.Β
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Saint Maryβs Jock Landale only played 14.5 minutes per game last season. He didnβt emerge as a potential starter until the offseason, when starter Dane Pineau suffered an injury.
The biggest reason for his emergence for Saint Maryβs?
Dieting.
Landale cut 40 pounds during the offseason. He entered Saturdayβs game weighing 255 pounds.
Landale said sweets were the toughest food to eliminate.
βIβm a big ice cream guy,β he said. βI love my ice cream. That was the toughest thing to me.β
Landale was impressive Saturday, making his first five shots. The Aussie finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.Β
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Arizona mega-donor Jeff Stevens arrived early Saturday to cheer on Gonzaga. He even sat in the Zagsβ section.
Thereβs a connection there β Stevensβ son was a manager for the Bulldogs.
Stevens upgraded his seats in time for the UA-Saint Maryβs game. The namesake of the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility was sitting in the front row for tipoff.Β
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Saint Maryβs did its best to distract Arizona during free throw attempts.
In the first half, the band sang the theme song to the popular Nickelodeon cartoon βSpongebob Squarepants,β with Markkanen at the line. He made just one of two attempts.
Later, one band member loudly screamed βawkward silenceβ during another attempt, which missed.Β
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
@ScottColemanTNN: βRawle Alkins, even missing a finger, is a phenomenal basketball player.β β Quoting a UA fan after Alkins returned to the game after exiting early with an injury to his finger.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Mike Schmitz has had a busy couple of days.
The DraftExpress scout and Arizona alumnus arrived in Salt Lake City on Thursday for the first-round of NCAA Tournament games, flew to Sacramento, California, at 6 a.m. on Friday to catch more hoops, flew back to Salt Lake on Saturday and will return to Californiaβs capitol on Sunday.
See, both NCAA Tournament sites are filled with highly regarded NBA prospects. Arizonaβs Lauri Markkanen, Saint Maryβs Jock Landale, UCLAβs Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf, Oregonβs Dillon Brooks and Jordan Bell and Creightonβs Justin Patton lead the pack.
Schmitz has been high on Markkanen since before the season. The scout watched plenty of UA games and attended last weekβs Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas.
About that shooting slump Markkanen dealt with late in Pac-12 play β¦ no big deal.
βNot for me, man,β Schmitz said.
He said Markkanenβs struggles have been easy to explain, between his own approach and the UAβs balanced offensive approach.
βHeβs not a passive guy, but he likes to play within the flow of the game,β Schmitz said. βI think he doesnβt have a gunner mentality. If he misses a few, heβs going to make the right play and try and get other guys involved.β
Saturday, Markkanen went 15 minutes between his first and second shot attempts, though he did take four free throws during that span. He later picked up the pace. The Finnish freshman finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds and had his best defensive performance of the season, getting two blocks and one steal.
DraftExpress projects Markkanen as the No. 7 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.Β
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
20:20 β The Wildcats trailed Saint Maryβs for the first 20 minutes and 20 seconds of Saturdayβs game. Dusan Risticβs jumpshot with 19:40 remaining in the game (20 seconds into the second half) gave Arizona a 31-30 edge, its first of the night.Β
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Saint Maryβs Jock Landale only played 14.5 minutes per game last season. He didnβt emerge as a potential starter until the offseason, when starter Dane Pineau suffered an injury.
The biggest reason for his emergence for Saint Maryβs?
Dieting.
Landale cut 40 pounds during the offseason. He entered Saturdayβs game weighing 255 pounds.
Landale said sweets were the toughest food to eliminate.
βIβm a big ice cream guy,β he said. βI love my ice cream. That was the toughest thing to me.β
Landale was impressive Saturday, making his first five shots. The Aussie finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.Β
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Arizona mega-donor Jeff Stevens arrived early Saturday to cheer on Gonzaga. He even sat in the Zagsβ section.
Thereβs a connection there β Stevensβ son was a manager for the Bulldogs.
Stevens upgraded his seats in time for the UA-Saint Maryβs game. The namesake of the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility was sitting in the front row for tipoff.Β
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Saint Maryβs did its best to distract Arizona during free throw attempts.
In the first half, the band sang the theme song to the popular Nickelodeon cartoon βSpongebob Squarepants,β with Markkanen at the line. He made just one of two attempts.
Later, one band member loudly screamed βawkward silenceβ during another attempt, which missed.Β
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
@ScottColemanTNN: βRawle Alkins, even missing a finger, is a phenomenal basketball player.β β Quoting a UA fan after Alkins returned to the game after exiting early with an injury to his finger.
Tags
View this profile on Instagram#ThisIsTucson π΅ (@this_is_tucson) β’ Instagram photos and videos
Most viewed stories
-
This Tucson chef has been named a semifinalist for prestigious James Beard Award π
-
Sparkle City: Gem shows season has started β here's what to know
-
30 fun events happening in Tucson January 23-25! πͺ©
-
Looking ahead to Tucson's new and cool for '26
-
Horchata lattes and breakfast burritos: Tucson's Barista del Barrio opens 2nd location
-
A saber tooth tiger fossil, gemstone paintings, and more: Here's the low-down on 4 Tucson gem shows! π
-
Nearly 50 fun events happening in the month of January! β¨
-
These 2 local restaurants are bringing the wagyu smashburger trend to Tucson π
-
Get ready to eat all the spicy tuna rolls you can at this viral sushi spot π£