Chase Jeter scored just one point over 17 minutes on Sunday against Chaminade, but his performance might have been as important as anyoneโs to Arizona.
Through two exhibition games, itโs already clear the Wildcats have go-to scorers in Brandon Williams and Brandon Randolph, good depth along the wings and several options at point guard, led by grad transfer Justin Coleman.
But what they donโt know is how well their thin frontcourt will hold up this season, especially considering its collective injury history.
Jeter was limited as a Duke sophomore in 2016-17 because of a back injury, and coach Sean Miller says he had already missed a week and a half because of injury before appearing Sunday.
โHe had some good moments,โ Miller said after Sundayโs game. โBut (Sunday) was more about just letting him play and getting him out there for the first time in a long time.โ
Jeter is only one of only four Arizona players available for the two post spots, although former walk-on Jake DesJardins can also be used in a pinch, as he was when Jeter missed Arizonaโs first exhibition game against Western New Mexico.
The other three regular post players all have had past injuries, too: Ira Lee had a shoulder injury as a high school senior, Ryan Luther missed part of the past two seasons at Pitt with a foot injury, and Emmanuel Akot was limited last season in part because of knee tendinitis.
Miller said Jeter is โmuch closerโ to becoming 100 percent, which is fortunate timing for Arizona. The Wildcats will open their regular season on Wednesday against Houston Baptist without Lee, who will be serving a one-game suspension after being arrested and charged with super extreme DUI in August.
Miller has said Jeter is the Wildcatsโ starting center, though he came off the bench behind Lee at center Sunday. Jeter scored his one point off four free throws while missing his only field goal attempt, but had a team-high six rebounds and anchored the UA interior defense.
Arizona did not select Jeter to be interviewed afterward, but Miller said he was โitchingโ to get on the floor.
โWhen you miss that much time, it was just great for him to get out there for the first time,โ Miller said. โHeโs an excellent player. I wouldnโt judge him on tonightโs performance, whether it was good or bad, but itโs certainly more on his path to recover. I think when you get to Wednesday, assuming thereโs no setbacks, youโll see him maybe in his true form.โ
With Jeter on the floor, Miller said: โHe gives us size and all the things that come with it, a putback on an offensive rebound, somebody around the basket who can block the shot, (somebody) thatโs harder to score against, you saw it even tonight in the limited role that he had. Heโs also very fleet of foot. Heโs quick. Heโs smart, and for a guy 6-10 he can move. Thatโs something that we really count on defensively.โ
Williams said he noticed how the defense was impacted with Jeter in the game.
โDefinitely,โ Williams said. โHeโs a big presence down low and heโs in the back, just talking. Thatโs what we need.โ
Miller praises Coleman, Akot
Coleman finished with only three assists to two turnovers, but Miller noted that he also fired some pretty spot-on passes to teammates who missed their ensuing shot attempt.
As it was, Coleman assisted Williams on two first-half 3s and Randolph on a second-half 3.
โWeโre very lucky to have him,โ Miller said. โHe has the right intentions out there. Heโs out there to make everybody better, a lot like when Parker (Jackson-Cartwright) took the court.
โJustinโs very clever in getting his teammates shots and I think if you look closely at Brandon Williams and Brandon Randolph, a lot of their open threes came off of penetration or a great pass from Justin Coleman. Heโll be able to do that throughout the year.โ
Saying heโs grateful for the opportunity, Coleman said he wants to help lead teammates such as Williams, Randolph and Akot โbecause theyโre really good players,โ and that he feels leadership is his job.
But Miller said Coleman and Akot, who might be the teamโs best frontcourt passer, also need to keep an eye out for their own game at times.
โWe want them to establish their own scoring,โ Miller said.
โSometimes youโre so unselfish that it can work against your team. Emmanuel and Justin, in two different ways, can be double-figure scorers and we need them to score.โ
Miller said Akot would be the โperfect fitโ on just about any team because of his versatility. Akot scored four points Sunday, both from offensive rebounds, the sort of thing Miller hopes to see more of.
โWe want him to do that more aggressively throughout the game,โ Miller said. โHe can use his size on drives, shoot over smaller players and, of course, with his ability to pass and make other people better, itโs almost like having a second primary ballhandler out there.โ
Rim shots
- Only three Pac-12 players were among the 50 placed on the Naismith Award preseason watch list Monday: USCโs Bennie Boatwright, UCLAโs Kris Wilkes and Oregonโs Bol Bol.
- Arizona remains a 100-1 pick to win the NCAA title, according to the latest odds from Bovada. Duke and Kentucky are co-favorites at 5-1, while Oregon is listed at 33-1.
- After a 6-25 season, Houston Baptist will start its season with three of its first four games at high-major opponents, Arizona (Wednesday), Wisconsin (Nov. 17) and Wake Forest (Nov. 23).
- A majority of McKale sections had at least a handful of seats available for Wednesdayโs game as of Monday afternoon, according to Arizonaโs website, with tickets ranging from $26-$140.
