The singing and dancing typically starts on the drive home from a win at McKale Center.
When the UA defeated then-No. 17 Arizona State, the celebration started early. Dominique McBryde couldnβt help it.
βAfter the game we celebrated in the locker room and it was special,β said McBryde, the UAβs junior forward. βWhenever itβs a really good win, we do that. This time it was more fun, a lot more people were involved.β
McBryde loves getting down to 1980s music β and her favorite song, βEvery Little Stepβ by Bobby Brown. The old-school tunes fit McBrydeβs throwback style of play. The Purdue transfer is averaging 7.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. She has 16 steals and 11 blocks.
Coach Adia Barnes calls it good, solid fundamental play. McBryde and the Wildcats will try to extend their 11-game winning streak on Sunday when they take on Utah in Salt Lake City. The game tips off at noon and will be shown on Pac-12 Arizona.
βIf you watch her, she does all the little things,β Barnes said. βMaking the right pass in zone, reading a pull or pop, making that extra pass. She always makes the right decision. Sheβs a good athlete. β¦ She has good body control and keeps the ball high and gets good shots. β¦
βShe plays like a pro. Itβs hard not to have her on the floor.β
That much was apparent in Fridayβs win over Colorado. McBryde picked up her fourth foul with 5 minutes remaining the third quarter and exited the game with Arizona leading 46-37. Without McBryde to contend with down low, the Buffs went right at the basket. By the end of the quarter, CU led 57-54.
McBryde re-entered the game with 4:14 left in the fourth quarter with the Wildcats trailing 61-60. The UA went on to win 69-67. McBryde finished with six points, four rebounds nad two steals in 27 minutes.
She seems to have stepped up her game over the last month. She scored 10 points in a Dec. 17 win over UTEP, and a season-high 12 points four days later against NAU. McBryde was good for six points, nine rebounds and four steals in the UAβs upset of ASU. Defensively, sheβs been denying and βbodyingβ her opponent and taking away passing lanes.
βCoach Adia has confidence in me and pushes me to be more aggressive,β McBryde said. βShe has always had faith in me. She hyped on me that I was bringing physicality. Iβve progressed and I want to continue to have the defense I did against ASU the rest of my career. I want to be known for that.β
At Purdue, McBryde was honorable mention All-Big Ten her sophomore season.Barnes saw a player who could really help the Wildcats grow β even if it meant sitting out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
βI knew she was good, knew she was smart, knew she was versatile,β Barnes said. βShe was better in person than on film. After coaching her, she is a good defender. I also thought that the Pac-12 would fit her game better with more versatility and not as physical. I thought it would fit her style, and it does.β
McBryde does the little things β finding the right angles, positioning her body correctly and reading defenses.
Teammate Sam Thomas says the Bedford, Indiana, native βhas a high basketball IQ and is always a step ahead.β
βI try to watch her, whether itβs on defense or offense,β Thomas said. βLast year she coached me from the bench. I try to take anything from her and incorporate it into my game. She knows how to guide us. Sheβs a leader and a vocal leader. Sheβs always telling me to talk on defense β and when Iβm not, she gets on me.β
McBryde learned to be vocal early in her college career. Coach Sharon Versyp at Purdue taught her players that no matter what class they were in, communication was key.
βI bring as much as I can,β said McBryde. βPeople hear me on the TV getting on something or someone. I must be doing a good job if they can hear me at home.β
McBryde said sheβll be sending more time in the gym. Thereβs more to work on β blocking out in the post, scoring in one-on-one situations and hitting more 3-pointers in transition. So far, however, McBryde β and the Wildcats β are exceeding their expectations.
βWeβre stepping up to the challenges,β she said. βItβs about having that mentality to prove we are capable of doing what we set out to do.β