For most college basketball teams, getting through February is tough.
The Arizona Wildcats are no different.
However, the Wildcats have reason to be encouraged during the dog days of mid-February. Bolstered by a dogged defense, Arizona defeated Washington State 70-62 Sunday for its third Pac-12 win of the season.
The Wildcats held the Cougars to 25 percent shooting in the second half and grabbed 25 rebounds off the defensive glass. And while Arizona still ranks last in the Pac-12 in scoring defense and 11th in field-goal percentage defense, coaches like what they’ve seen recently.
But things will only get tougher as the Wildcats host rival Arizona State on Friday night.
“The biggest thing these young women are understanding is that it’s not just about ball pressure. It’s slowing down and not giving them enough time to run their offense,” UA associate head coach Sunny Smallwood said. “Not just control and contain their big scorers, but understanding all their personnel better as a unit to stop scoring attacks.”
That much was apparent in the Wildcats’ last homestand. Arizona fell to Oregon on Feb. 3, but hung tough with No. 11 Oregon State two days later.
In an eight-point loss, the Wildcats held Oregon State to 65 points. Their defense turned up the intensity, diving for 50-50 balls, collecting nine steals and scoring 17 points off turnovers. Arizona held one of the top players in the Pac-12, Sydney Wiese, to 10 points, including just two in the first half.
“On (that) Sunday, we were pressing in hand-offs and forced them into tough shots,” Smallwood said. “Our defense had a lot to do with making them miss a lot.”
Senior Lauren Evans knocked a ball loose against the Beavers and JaLea Bennett picked it up as she was falling. Bennett steadied herself and ran down the court for a quick layup — all without traveling or losing the ball.
“We are finding ways to put pressure on full-court and half-court,” Smallwood said. “We know when to be aggressive on defense in order to make great things happen. These young women have really grown, so it’s been fun to watch. They’ve learned you can’t take one possession off. It takes time to change habits.”
Those types of plays would not have happened a month ago.
So, how have head coach Adia Barnes, Smallwood and the rest of the coaching staff kept the Wildcats moving forward despite their struggles?
“The grind in February, the fifth month of the season, is mental and physical,” Smallwood said. “Every team goes through this. A lot of teams are letting down, but Adia doesn’t allow the team to be tired. I give Adia a lot of credit as she thinks hard when she schedules the (out-of-town) itinerary. This past weekend in Seattle, we loaded the bus Saturday morning at 9 and then went to breakfast — a little more relaxing (before flying into Pullman). She makes sure the kids are prepared and focused on the ‘what’s next’ mentality. She’s finds a way to get them rested and onto what’s next. It sounds simple, but it’s not easy to do.
“The seniors get a lot of credit, too. They are playing for their last time and they bring a certain intensity that really helps. They are playing for something and it gets them all motivated. They are leaving a legacy every day.”
