Deandre Ayton in the house

Fans provided former Arizona superstar Deandre Ayton a standing ovation when the Phoenix Suns rookie was shown on the McKale Center video board. Ayton made the trip down from the Valley of the Sun in his navy blue UA letterman’s jacket and red Puma shoes, and was inducted into the McKale Center Ring of Honor at halftime.

As a UA freshman in the 2017-18 season, Ayton averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Ayton became the first player in conference history to win Pac-12 Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player. He won the Karl Malone Award for college basketball’s best power forward, and became the first Wildcat in program history to be selected first overall in the NBA Draft.

Ayton joined former UA guard Jerryd Bayless as the newest additions to the Ring of Honor. Bayless was honored during the Red-Blue Game in October after playing 10 seasons in the NBA.

Through 39 games with the Suns, Ayton is averaging 17 points and 10.9 rebounds.

Stone on the sidelines

Stone Gettings was the latest addition to the Arizona roster heading into the season as the Cornell power forward announced his decision to join the Wildcats in July, but would stay in the Ivy League to finish up his degree. The 6-foot-8-inch Gettings graduated from Cornell in December and was medically cleared to join the team right after the new year.

While Gettings is technically eligible to play for Arizona as a graduate transfer, it’s unlikely he’ll play at this point in the season. Gettings will practice and travel with the Wildcats during Pac-12 play. He was on the sideline wearing a gray Arizona jumpsuit and absorbed his first game at McKale Center on Thursday.

“We’re excited about being able to add him to what we do,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said earlier this week. “He’s a very skilled player. He can shoot the ball. Initially here, I think he’ll establish right away that he doesn’t take a back seat to really anybody on our team when it comes to shooting.

“He also loves the game. It’s fun to coach guys who love the game because they’re always working and they’re always trying to get better, and I think Stone is that type of kid.”

A native of Malibu, California, Gettings played at Loyola High School in Los Angeles and was teammates with former UA point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

The big number

50

Number of assists Williams had heading into conference play. Williams is the first freshman at the UA since Jason Gardner (73) in the 1999-2000 season to have 50 or more assists in the nonconference schedule. Filling in for the injured Justin Coleman in the starting lineup, Williams recorded 14 points and six assists. Coleman went scoreless in four minutes with only one shot attempt, but contributed two assists.

Throwback Thursday

If your name is Sabatino Chen, you might want to stop reading this.

Thursday was the five-year anniversary of when Arizona squeaked by the Buffaloes at McKale Center to open up the conference season. Then-Arizona point guard Mark Lyons sunk a free throw to tie the game at 80 with 9.2 seconds left. On the following possession with the clock winding down Chen, a CU guard, appeared to have banked in a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer over defensive specialist Kevin Parrom.

The Buffaloes thought they stole a game on the road in a tough McKale Center environment, until the game officials went to the monitors to take a closer look. Did he make it? Did he not get it off in time? That’s a debate Colorado and Arizona fans continue to have, but the officials waved off the shot and sent the game into overtime. The Wildcats won 92-83 and maintained their undefeated record before losing to Oregon the following week.

Coaching for Literacy

Miller and the Arizona coaching staff wore green lapel pins, which had a green ribbon that morphed into a whistle. Arizona teamed up with Coaching For Literacy, a nonprofit organization that spreads literacy awareness for children.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 64 percent of fourth-graders in America cannot read on grade-level. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Coaching For Literacy teams up with programs around the country in each state so 100 percent of the proceeds stay locally with literacy partners.

Coaching For Literacy also partnered with UCLA, Houston, Florida State and several others.

To donate, text “BOOK” to 474-747 or check out the website at fightforliteracygames.org.