The stakes will be different the next time the Arizona Wildcats take the floor. Not only will they lace them up on a new LED glass court as part of the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament, they’ll also face their in-state rival for the third time this season in a win or go home game. Ahead of the opening round matchup between Arizona and ASU in the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament, first-year head coach Becky Burke has her team ready to compete.
“Yeah, absolutely. I think whenever you know it’s one and done, whenever you know it’s tournament time and the crazy things that can happen, there’s a little bit of a different feel in the air, right? We’re going to go to the arena today and there’s going to be a little bit of a different feel, a little bit of a different excitement,” said Burke on Tuesday from Kansas City.
“They’ve got a lot of seniors on their team. They’ve got a lot of people that it’s their last year, and so do we. Not as many as they do, but it’s got to mean something knowing that there could be no practice on Thursday and that that could be the end of it. I also just think it brings out true colors and true character. We’re going to find out what players love the moment and what players love when there’s a lot on the line, and we’re going to find out the players that it doesn’t mean very much to. And that’s part of this to is figuring that out for us for the future.”
The Wildcats arrived in Kansas City late on Monday morning, using Tuesday morning to recover and study film, before getting comfortable on the new glass court debuting at the tournament at T-Mobile Center.
“I think we’re like one of three teams that haven’t seen it. Just because we haven’t been out this way to play any opponents. And I think they had one in Orlando. We didn’t get out to play UCF, so no, I think we’re one of three teams that have not seen it yet, but we’re excited to get on there.”
But regardless of the surface they’re playing on, Becky Burke knows just how close her Wildcats were to winning one, or both, games against the Sun Devils this season and has her team locked in and ready to play.
“We need to finish, we feel like we don’t just get to have another good game against ASU just because we did the first two times. We know we have to go out and do what it takes to make it a close game, because they’re a really good team,” said Burke in Kansas City on Tuesday.
Burke knows how close Arizona was to beating ASU in both matchups, and may just have the key to finally closing out a game this season.
“We felt like at their place we had an opportunity to win. We felt like at our place, the game was literally in the palm of our hand and all we had to do was close our hand and finish it, but we let that opportunity slip as well. So, I think there’s a sense of a couple opportunities that we missed and that were in the palm of our hand, and so we feel like if we do what’s necessary and what’s required, and dig in to play 40 minutes instead of 38 and a half, then we have a great chance.”
The implications of the game for both team couldn’t be more different. Molly Miller’s Sun Devils are fighting to sneak their way into the NCAA Tournament, while Burke and the Wildcats are looking to close out the season on a high note. So while the opportunity to play spoiler is there for Arizona, Becky Burke has her squad focused on one another and what it can control.
“I think they’ve done a lot of the outside stuff and the petty stuff, like let’s just keep the main thing the main thing. Let’s just focus on winning a basketball game. I don’t care what it means to them. I’m more focused on what it means to us in terms of beating a team that we feel like we should have beat twice. They can do all the social media BS and the petty whatever on the side. It’s not about doing anything to Arizona State, it’s about Arizona winning a basketball game, and that’s my mindset. Now, if we’re fortunate and blessed enough to be able to do that, will I be upset that it keeps them out of the NCAA Tournament? No, I will not.”
The Wildcats are going to need to make their own energy during that full 40 minutes of play though. While this rivalry means so much to both programs and the state of Arizona, Burke understands that things will feel different than Tucson or Tempe.
“I think the biggest thing that I’ve told our team and Molly [Miller] is probably saying the same thing to her team is don’t expect an atmosphere like it was in Tempe, or like it was in Tucson. I mean, there’s going to be a few hundred people there, so this is a rivalry game, and it means a lot, but there’s not going to be that adrenaline from 9,000 people at McKale. There’s not going to be that adrenaline for them at home and their biggest crowd. This is going to be two teams that for the third time are going to see what happens with a few hundred people in the stands, so it’s just going to be a little bit of a different feel from that aspect. But, it doesn’t mean anything less, in fact, I think it means even more.”
Fortunately, Arizona won’t have to take on their heated rival alone. While it’s not going to be a record crowd like either of the first two matchups this season, Burke expects the Wildcats to have some red in their corner.
“I think we’ll have a good chunk. You know, when you compare this game, it’s different if we’re playing Kansas State or BYU, or something like that. When you compare the feel of this game, like I said, the first two times we’ve played, it’s just going to be drastically, drastically different. But I do feel like we’re going to have a good little section of red behind our bench for sure.”
“There’s going to be quite a few alums. I know Molly [Ladwig’s] whole town is coming. I’ll have some family here. So yeah, it’s going to be, like I said, considering how far and the distance and things like that, I think we’re going to have a good showing for sure.”
With a loss on Wednesday, Arizona’s season likely comes to a close. While Burke, and Arizona, have both won the WNIT respectively, the Wildcats have higher goals and aspirations, just five years after coming up one basket short of a national championship.
“That’s something we’ll speak with administration about. I think it really depends on a lot of things. It’s not guaranteed that we’ll go, but it’s not out of the question either. But for us, this is the University of Arizona, the standard and expectation is national championships, not WNIT, and I say that respectfully having won the WNIT. So no, I’d say I’m focused on bigger things and not consolation prizes that this point, so moving on and figuring out our next steps to make sure we’re in a position to play in the NCAA Tournament next year.”
If Wednesday is in fact the last game of the season, don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. Cherish the grit and energy the Wildcats played with all season, remember the joy and pride Burke and the team felt after every win, and get ready, because if there’s one thing that’s for certain, it’s that Becky the Builder will be right back on the construction site the first opportunity she gets.
Game and bracket details can be found here.
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