Seen and Heard at McKale Center: Cats pass the eye test, the Wildcat Whsiperer, Wisconsin's hectic week and more

Anyone still wondering how the Arizona Wildcats rank among college basketball teams so far this season?

Greg Gard can speak on this subject.

The Wisconsin coach matched his Badgers up against Tennessee, Providence, Virginia, Marquette and Michigan State before they even stepped inside McKale Center on Saturday.

Wisconsin lost at home to Tennessee and at Providence, but beat Virginia and SMU at a Florida event. Over the past week, The Badgers beat then-No. 3 Marquette before winning at Michigan State.

At this point, the Badgers know what a good team looks like. Including the one that beat them 98-73 on Saturday at McKale.

“They’re all different,” Gard said. “Virginia is different than Marquette and Michigan State. Marquette’s not as big but opens the floor and plays faster. And I think the unique thing about Arizona is they can play fast, and they’re big.

“This isn’t rocket science. The eye test matches the eye test. They’re big. They can play in the halfcourt. They can get out and run. They guard really well. They’ve got some depth and the depth is developing as those younger guys get better.

“So, yeah. That’s what makes them … they’re pretty complete. There’s not a lot of holes there.”

OKC-SF stopover

Given a game at Oklahoma City on Friday after his Golden State Warriors were eliminated from the NBA’s in-season tournament, former Wildcat great Steve Kerr still managed to make it to McKale Center on Saturday.

Kerr sat courtside next to UA president Robert Robbins, joined by former teammates Bruce Fraser and Matt Muehlebach, with the ESPN crew of Jay Bilas and Dave Pasch sitting at the other end of the table.

Fraser is an assistant coach on Kerr’s Warriors staff. For Muehlebach, sitting courtside is nothing new: He’s a frequent analyst who sits on the other side of the table while working as an analyst for the Pac-12 Network.

The Wildcat Whisperer

Known sometimes as the “Curry Whisperer” for his work with the Warriors and all-star shooting whiz Stephen Curry, Fraser on Saturday offered a few words to the Wildcats.

UA coach Tommy Lloyd said Kerr has “talked to them enough,” — as coach of Team USA last summer, Kerr even took in the Wildcats’ exhibition game against Lebanon’s national team in Abu Dhabi — so it was Fraser’s turn to speak.

UA guard Pelle Larsson indicated it was well-received.

“Guys who have played here and went to school here, they’re always watching and supporting,” Larsson said. “We have their support and they’re happy to see us have success.”

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Lloyd appeared happy to see Fraser, too.

“Steve’s right-hand guy (with the Warriors) and former teammate talked to the team and that’s really cool because anyone who has worn our uniform is a significant part of what we do and we want to honor them,” Lloyd said. “Not just the superstars, the big names, but the Bruce Frasers, the Matt Muehlebachs. Those guys were good players and it’s an honor to have them in our locker room. When they talk, our guys listen.”

Speed painter

Arizona brought in a different sort of performer for its halftime show Saturday: A painter who quickly swiped a multi-colored portrait of a Wildcat on a 15-foot mural.

Also, classes

Lost in the whirlwind that was Wisconsin’s week — a game at Michigan State on Tuesday, two days at home and then a trip to Tucson on Friday — was the fact that the Badgers are entering the final week of fall semester classes before finals begin.

But junior guard Chucky Hepburn said it has been manageable. The Badgers do have charter flights and academic help, after all.

“We have a great academic support staff, so they help with that,” Hepburn said. “We’re just really trying to stay focused on the next game.”

Arizona has an even more manageable road. The Wildcats are playing just three games through the first three weekends of December, and didn’t have to leave home (to face No. 4 Purdue next Saturday) until finals end next week.

Zoo goodies

Not only did attending Saturday’s game offer Arizona student fans a break from fall semester finals, but it also paid off with some swag.

Students were given red T-shirts reading “Memories Made Here, Zona Zoo, Est. 2002.” At halftime, those who stuck around were also given wristbands that said “Zona Zoo” on one side and “Cats are No. 1.”

The big number

12: 3-pointers made by Arizona on 26 attempts, tying its season-high set in its Nov. 6 opener against Morgan State and setting a new season-high in 3-point percentage (46.2)

Quotable

“We spent a lot of time talking about our Arizona basketball legacy, and this group right now? The sun is shining on us right now. The sun has set on some of the guys in the past and it hasn’t risen on our future yet. So we take it very seriously.” — UA coach Tommy Lloyd