Shaking things up

Sean Miller decided to make a change to the starting lineup and gave Dylan Smith his first start of the season Wednesday night in place of freshman guard Brandon Williams, whose knee collided with Justin Coleman's a day before the Baylor game.

Smith started eight games in place of Rawle Alkins and Allonzo Trier a season ago, six of them during Pac-12 play.

Smith’s start came after Williams struggled offensively, shooting 1 of 9 from the field in Arizona’s loss to Baylor on Saturday night — the same night Baylor out-rebounded the Wildcats 51-19. Miller has been impressed with Smith’s rebounding as a guard; he averages 4.3 per game.

Smith finished Wednesday night with two points and three turnovers while Williams shot 1 of 7 from the field for three points. Williams added five rebounds and three assists.

Hot sauce Randolph

Brandon Randolph scored in double figures for the 12th consecutive game when he had 15 points Wednesday night in the 61-42 win.

The sophomore became the first Arizona guard since Hassan Adams (2005-06) to score in double figures in the first 12 games of the season.

Randolph is one of four players in the Pac-12 to have scored double figures in every game this season, joining Luguentz Dort (ASU), Kris Wilkes (UCLA) and Tres Tinkle (Oregon State). Randolph’s scoring average has increased by 13.2 points per game since his freshman year, which is the largest increase from one season to the next by an Arizona player since 1977.

Unlucky number

34

Number of consecutive free throws combined that Brandon Randolph (19) and Justin Coleman (15) made heading into Wednesday night. The two Wildcats are first and second, respectively, in free-throw percentage in the Pac-12; but Coleman and Randolph’s streak was snapped against Montana. Randolph went 5 of 6 while Coleman shot 0 of 1 from the line.

Mixing and matching

The Wildcats usually wear white uniforms with a gray gradient pattern on the shoulders and shorts, or the solid all-white uniforms without the gradient. The Wildcats wore the white jersey with gradient shoulders and solid shorts against Montana.

The big number

Jack Furrier honored with his own No. 50 UA jersey after supporting Arizona hoops since 1968. pic.twitter.com/1E0O9zGiAV

— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) December 20, 2018

50

Longtime Arizona athletics sponsor Jack Furrier celebrated his 50th anniversary as a UA booster. He is the founder of Jack Furrier’s Tire and Auto Care and has sponsored the Arizona athletics department since 1968. During halftime, Furrier was honored with a framed No. 50 Arizona jersey and received a standing ovation from the fans at McKale Center.

He said it

“Kelby Kramer can solve a Rubik’s Cube with a towel over his head.” — Bill Walton on the Montana center’s special talent

The biggest number

500

Number of games Miller has coached in his career. His career record is 375-125, including 255-78 at Arizona. How does it compare to college basketball’s elite? Hall-of-fame Arizona coach Lute Olson went 345-155 in his first 500 games. Miller has a better record through his first 500 games than Eddie Sutton (372-128), Bob Knight (368-132), John Calipari (367-133), Rick Pitino (366-134), Bill Self (360-140), John Wooden (359-141), Tom Izzo (357-143) and Mike Krzyzewski (333-167).