Perhaps we should have seen this coming at the end of last season.
In Arizona’s Pac-12 Tournament semifinal loss to Oregon, Chance Comanche tied a season-high with six points while grabbing three rebounds in 13 minutes of action, one of just five games in which he’d play more than 10 minutes all year.
He’d show flashes in other games — snagging 10 rebounds against Missouri, recording six points and five boards against Northern Arizona — but Comanche was mostly glued to the bench.
No Arizona player has made the year-over-year improvement that Comanche has this season. His minutes have gone up more than 200 percent — from 6 per game to 18.4 — as has his points per game average, from 1.9 to 6.4.
And against Oregon in the Pac-12 title game on Saturday, Comanche had an important 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. He enters Thursday’s NCAA Tournament opener against North Dakota shooting a team-high 59 percent from the field.
The Star caught up with Comanche to talk about his expanded role and how he has remained level-headed while rising to the occasion.
Was there a point this season — one game even — where you felt like you had taken a big jump from last season? Where things just clicked?
“I think it was probably after we played New Mexico, our final home game before Christmas. The coaches and I were talking a day or two before that about how they felt about me, their trust. After that game (Comanche scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds against the Lobos) I guess it opened their eyes, and we talked again, and it became, ‘I’m in his corner. He’s ready. He’s taken that next step.’ From that point on, it gave me a little more confidence.”
What did that do for your game? Did you notice a difference?
“It helped me go back to who I was when I first came here, to just play basketball, to just hoop. Don’t have worries about messing up or getting subbed out. Do your part when you’re in there and make an impact like you always did.”
Is it difficult to manage those self-expectations when you come from the high school level and everything is so easy?
“I’ve always been expected to perform at a higher level. No one gave me an easy route, like you messed up but who cares? Coming here to Arizona, it’s nothing new. Coach (Sean Miller) never expects me to do anything that I’m not capable of doing. He’s a defensive coach, and that’s what wins games.”
How has your on-court improvement this season affected your other areas of life, school, social life?
“Last year, nobody knew me. They knew who I was — because of my height, they figured I played — but this year, every time I see someone, it’s, ‘great job Chance, great dunk, hey Chief.’ It just brings a smile to your face. It makes you feel better about yourself. It makes you want to keep playing. They’re hyping me up.”
On the flip side, Tucson can be a fishbowl for Arizona basketball players. How have you adjusted to life under the microscope?
“Not every game can be your game. You’re always going to have that bad game, one or two, and our fans know it. If we do take a loss, it’s like, we know you’re going to get it the next game.”
You start having some success, you’re walking taller, feeling good; how do you not start trying to do too much, or get too excited?
“Our team knows a good shot and not a good shot. I’m not just going to start playing carelessly, because I’m part of a bigger program. We know what it takes to win, and we might take that one extra drive or extra shot, but if we see an open man, we’re always going to make that extra pass.”
