Arizona's Kylan Boswell (4) pressures the ball near the top of the key against Western Oregon in the first half of their exhibition game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., November 1, 2022.
Arizona's Azuolas Tubelis throws down a dunk over Western Oregon's John Morrill-Keeler following a fast break in Tuesday's exhibition game in McKale Center.
Indiana Pacersβ Bennedict Mathurin dribbles during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Indianapolis.
Arizona's Adama Bal (2) drives his way around Western Oregon's Elihu Cobb (35) in the first half of their exhibition game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., November 1, 2022.
Arizona's head coach Tommy Lloyd has a few words with Arizona's Oumar Ballo (11) in the second half against Western Oregon at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., November 1, 2022.
With just under eight minutes left in the first half of No. 17 Arizonaβs 91-61 exhibition win over Western Oregon Monday night at McKale Center, Kylan Boswell β the Wildcatsβ highly-touted freshman point guard from Champaign, IllinoisΒ β checked into a college game for the first time.Β
Boswell, a 6-foot-2-inch, 195-pounder, was recently cleared to play after rehabbing a foot injury he suffered at Nike EYBL in April. The five-star Boswell reclassified from Arizonaβs 2023 recruiting class to join the Wildcats this season, but wasnβt expected to be ready until closer to Pac-12 play.
Boswell β nicknamed "Bam-Bam" β finished Tuesday with one assist and a foul in 10 minutes.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd eschewed the idea of Boswell gaining more minutes off the bench as he continues to work his way back to playing at 100% β even though the UA will be without Courtney Ramey for its first three games.
βHeβs practiced Division I basketball for a week,β Lloyd said of Boswell. βI know how good he is. Love the kid, but Iβm also the first one to temper the expectations. β¦ The kid is 17 years old and is going to be a hell of a basketball player, could be an all-time great here. But letβs give him a little bit of time and let it happen organically.βΒ
The big number
14:56
Time remaining on the clock in the first half when Arizona missed its first field-goal attempt. The Wildcats started 8 for 8 from the field, including three field goals from Azuolas Tubelis, before sophomore guard Adama Bal missed a 3-point attempt.Β
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'Big Benn' off to hot start
For the first time since the 2019-20 season, the Wildcats played without Bennedict Mathurin, Dalen Terry and Christian Koloko, whom are now in their NBA seasons.Β
No surprise, the highest-selected Wildcat, Mathurin, is making the biggest impact for his respective team.Β
The sixth overall pick by the Indiana Pacers is averaging 20.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27 minutes off the bench. On Saturday, Mathurin tabbed a career-high 32 points on 6-for-9 shooting from 3-point range in a 125-116 win over the Brooklyn Nets.Β
βHeβs off to a great start,β Lloyd said of Mathurin. βHe has a real fire that burns in him, heβs got a real internal confidence and what I love about his confidence is that itβs earned. That guy puts time in, and I think heβs become passionate about the game of basketball, and passionate about learning and playing it better, and you can see heβs trending in the right direction.Β
βAgain, six or seven games into a long NBA season. Letβs hope he keeps it up, but letβs also understand itβs a long season and heβs a rookie. Thereβs probably going to be ups and downs. Iβm super proud of him and we love him.βΒ
After Tuesdayβs exhibition game, Bal said heβs βnot really surprisedβ about Mathurinβs start in the NBA.Β
βWeβve been working together a lot last year and he talked to me about his mindset β I feel like he was already ready last year. Iβm not surprised and Iβm proud of him,β Bal said.Β
Bal added Mathurinβs influence in practice last year helped his development as a guard.Β
βHe was being hard on me and he was hard on him defense, him and (Dalen Terry),β Bal said. βI give him credit for that and Iβm really thankful for that, because they didnβt give me anything. They were hard on me, playing hard defense and I think it really helped me. We would play one-on-one all the time
after practice, and I think it really helped me.βΒ
Arizona donned its new white uniforms for Tuesday's exhibition.
Unveiled in September, the Wildcatsβ new uniforms pay homage to the 1988 Final Four team.
We asked three different spectators at McKale Center on Tuesday what they thought about Arizonaβs new threads.
Hereβs what they said:Β
Jack Mencke, junior at the UA: βI think theyβre decent. I definitely like the blue ones the best. The red ones kind of look like the womenβs team red ones, in my opinion, which isnβt a bad thing, I just think it couldβve been more original. The white ones are decent, but I feel like they couldβve implemented the cactus a little better. β¦ I wouldβve changed the white ones a little bit and change the font a little bit β a little bit more retro.β
Robert Salinas, Western Oregon fan and father of WOU guard Antoino Salinas: βI think theyβre great. Theyβre clean. β¦ I think it shows who they are β Cats. It represents Arizona well. β¦ This is my first look at them and I think theyβre nice uniforms.βΒ
John Glavin, 10-year UA season-ticket holder and Tucson resident since 1985: βOld-school is good. I like it.β
βX Gonβ Give It To YaβΒ
Arizonaβs pep band added a new song to its rotation this season: βX Gonβ Give It To Yaβ by late rapper DMX, who died last April.Β
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Wildcats introduce new intro video, add seats behind basket
Arizonaβs pregame video featured a narration by ex-Wildcat Bob Elliott, along with clips of the current players wearing the new uniforms in the desert.Β
Among the noticeable quotes from Elliott: βItβs time we ignite the flame and show what the βMcKale Magicβ is all about. β¦ Weβre used to the heat, so bring all of the smoke.β
The UA has also removed the tables behind both baskets, which were useful for fans sitting courtside who ordered food and beverages during games. Arizona replaced the tables with two rows of 10 seats on each side of the basket.
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Oumar Ballo added to preseason watch list
Arizona center Oumar Ballo became the latest Wildcat added to a preseason watch list. Ballo was named to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year watch list. Heβs one of three Pac-12 players on the preseason watch list, along with Oregonβs Kelβel Ware and UCLAβs Adem Bona. Ballo had 14 points and 11 rebounds as Arizona's starting center on Tuesday.
Photos: University of Arizona tops Western Oregon 91-61, men's basketball
University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition
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University of Arizona vs Western Oregon, men's exhibition