If there’s a superstition in the air, Oumar Ballo will roll with it. It’s just not necessarily his thing.
After a few bumpy weeks in November, Arizona’s senior center played with his normally braided hair out on Dec. 2, and put up his first of six double-doubles this season.
“I guess it was a good thing,” he said after leading UA to an 82-55 win over Colgate that day.
Reminded of that turn of events Saturday, after breaking a free-throw shooting slump that helped lead No. 12 Arizona to a comeback 77-71 win over UCLA, Ballo chuckled at the memory.
“Do you miss the hair?” Ballo said. “If you miss it, I’m gonna bring it back.”
Ballo
He probably doesn’t need to this time. Because Ballo found another way.
Having made just 10 of 29 free throws (34.5%) in five games leading up to Saturday, Ballo said he changed his routine “the last couple of days and I’m trying to stick with the routine and see where it takes me.”
He described the change in technical terms, saying he worked on free throws more before and after practices while tweaking his shot slightly.
“Just making one motion and don’t lean back,” Ballo said.
Ballo wound up coming through with 7 of 8 free throws against UCLA, the most he’s hit all season and the highest percentage he’s ever hit while taking more than six free throws.
But it wasn’t quite clear exactly how much the change in his shot had to do with it. Ballo credited teammates for encouraging him, indicating a mental boost of some sort, while UA coach Tommy Lloyd wouldn’t make too much of the technical stuff.
Lloyd said Wednesday, after Ballo went just 4 for 10 from the line in an 82-67 win over USC, that his free throws already “looked better today,” and declined to comment on Ballo’s self-analysis after Saturday’s game.
“We don’t need to get into technique,” Lloyd said. “You guys can slice and dice that. I’m not going to get into techniques of shooting and stuff like that with players. I’m just .. you know what? Free throws, they all look good coming out of his hand to me.”
Arizona center Oumar Ballo celebrates a put-back basket against UCLA on Saturday, when his free-throw shooting helped save the day. "They all look good coming out of his hand to me," said coach Tommy Lloyd of Ballo from the line the past two games.
But they went in this time. For whatever reason.
“It’s everything. It’s mental. It’s physical. It’s technical,” Lloyd said. “I mean, it’s everything. We could probably look at it 100 different directions. But for this day, he solved it, and it was a huge difference in this game.”
Ballo went 7 for 8, senior wing Pelle Larsson went 8 for 8 and freshman guard KJ Lewis hit all six free throws he took in what became a 25-for-29 team effort from the line. That represented the Wildcats’ fourth most free throws made all season and their highest percentage (86.2) in any game other than their Dec. 16 loss to Purdue, when they hit 14 after taking only 16 free throws.
Arizona was particularly effective getting to the line and converting in the second half, making 22 of 23 free throws after halftime to help overcome a deficit that was still 17 points with 16 minutes to go.
Overall, the Wildcats wound up scoring 13 more points from the line than the Bruins, who hit 12 of 14 free throws, facts that didn’t exactly slip past UCLA coach Mick Cronin.
“It’s hard to win a game when the other team shoots 23 free throws in the second half,” Cronin told reporters outside the visitors locker room. “The team that’s losing usually has to play harder to catch up when you have a double-figure deficit — you’re the one that’s going to get the fouls. You’re the one denying, grabbing, holding, trying to scratch and claw to get back in the game.
“Not the winning team. We’re not trying to pressure, steal the ball, but that’s the way it went. That’s when it’s hard to win a game.”
Cronin became so frustrated by the trend that he actually sent the Wildcats to the line two of those times, appearing to be upset over a call against UCLA’s Lazar Stefanovic that allowed Larsson to take two free throws with UCLA ahead 60-56 with 6:04 to go.
Cronin was whistled for a technical, and Larsson hit both technical shots and the two personal ones, tying the game at 60 with the four-point play.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin was left dumbfounded how a team holding a big lead could be the one called for more fouls. "The team that’s losing usually has to play harder to catch up when you have a double-figure deficit," he said.
“I feel like free throws is the best shot that you can get on the court,” Larsson said. “So it was was really good for our offense that they got a technical foul.”
Less than three minutes later, Arizona took the lead for good. By the time Ballo hit two final free throws, with 19 seconds left, they were simply daggers in the Wildcats’ six-point win.
They were a reward for whatever Ballo did leading up to Saturday’s game and a reward for the teammates who helped him do it.
“I’ve been here three years, and I’m sure I had better games, but today was special,” Ballo said. “I needed to make them the most, and I’m glad I got to make them. My teammates trusted me, they believe in me and they keep supporting me when I’m not making (them).
“When you have a team like that that believes in you 100%, it gives you confidence.”
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Photos: Arizona Wildcats defeat UCLA 77-71 in Tucson, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) gives a big yell after getting loose for an emphatic dunk against UCLA in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
The crowd erupts behind a celebrating Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) after the Wildcats made a late stand and forced an UCLA turnover to cling to their slim in the final minute McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) sneaks in from behind to swat away jumper from UCLA guard Lazar Stefanovic (10) in the second half in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) finishes off a dunk over UCLA forward Adem Bona (3) in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) gestures to a teammate after slipping home a long range jumper in the first half against UCLA in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) gets in center Oumar Ballo’s (11) face after Ballo drew a foul and basket in the second half against UCLA in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
UCLA guard Lazar Stefanovic (10) gets a handful of Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) picking up the foul during the second half in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2), left, and guard Kylan Boswell (4) yell in front of UCLA forward Kenneth Nwuba (14) after Love drew a foul on his score in the second half in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) celebrates after drawing a charge against UCLA as the game winds down at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
UCLA forward Kenneth Nwuba (14) anguishes after the Bruins missed a series of three pointers in one possession and trailing by four to Arizona in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona safety Genesis Smith (12) celebrates with teammates after an interception against Oklahoma during the first half of the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28, 2023, in San Antonio.
Bennedict Mathurin speaks at a press conference about being inducted into the McKale Center Ring of Honor prior to the Arizona game against UCLA, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) tries to bat a rebound from UCLA guard Will McClendon (4), left, and guard Dylan Andrews (2) in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) rises for dunk to finish off a steal against UCLA during the first half in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Former Wildcats and current Indiana Pacers teammates TJ McConnell, left, and Bennedict Mathurin chat after Mathurin was inducted into the McKale Center Ring of Honor at halftime of Arizona’s game against UCLA on Jan. 20.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) gets hammered by UCLA guard Dylan Andrews (2) fighting for a rebound in their Pac-12 game at McKale Center on Jan. 20. Old rivals UA and UCLA are scheduled to meet three times over the next four seasons.
UCLA forward Adem Bona (3) picks up a goal tending foul swatting away a shot from Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5), left, guard Caleb Love (2) and guard Kylan Boswell (4) celebrate Love’s and-one opportunity in front of UCLA forward Kenneth Nwuba (14) in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) ties up UCLA guard Sebastian Mack (12) trying to reel in a pass during the second half in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) goes up with UCLA forward Kenneth Nwuba (14), top, and guard Lazar Stefanovic (10) for a rebound in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) pulls a loose ball out of the hands of UCLA guard Ilane Fibleuil (8) in the first half in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) forces his way past UCLA forward Kenneth Nwuba (14) in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley, left, bounces off UCLA guard Lazar Stefanovic trying to twist a shot in during their Pac-12 game at McKale Center on Jan. 20.
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) gets close UCLA guard Sebastian Mack (12) applying defensive pressure in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) can’t quite get to the ball, losing the rebound to UCLA guard Lazar Stefanovic (10) and forward Berke Buyuktuncel (9) in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
UCLA head coach Mick Cronin reacts to a Bruin foul late in the second half against Arizona in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) gets squeezed between UCLA guard Brandon Williams (5) and forward Kenneth Nwuba (14) in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) forces UCLA guard Jan Vide (27) into a miss on a breakaway during the second half in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd talks to one of the game officials on a call in the second half against UCLA in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) reaches in to prevent the transfer of possession from UCLA forward Adem Bona (3) to guard Lazar Stefanovic (10) in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) looks to his bench and teammates after hard won put back bucket against UCLA in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 20, 2024.
Arizona Basketball Press Conference | Tommy Lloyd | Jan. 20, 2024 | Postgame after win over UCLA
