The school up north has played the Wildcats harder than just about anyone this season, but that didn’t stop Koa Peat, Brayden Burries, and Jaden Bradley for taking care of business in Tempe on Saturday. And with a season sweep over the Sun Devils, Tommy Lloyd has now led the UA to its best start in program history at 22-0. Check out our takeaways from the Arizona Wildcats’ 87-74 win over the ASU Sun Devils in Tempe.
1) When the going gets tough, get back to your bread and butter
Arizona had almost no rhythm in the first half. The Wildcats struggled shooting it from the field, connecting on 42.4 percent of their shots, while going 0-of-5 from beyond the arc. Defensively, they allowed ASU to shoot nearly the same clip, 41.7% from the floor, including three-made 3-pointers. So even though the Wildcats and Sun Devils were tied at 38 apiece heading into the locker room, the UA leaned on what has been working all season, getting trips to the free throw line and winning the battle down low.
While Arizona struggled a bit from the line in Tempe, the Wildcats shot 10-of-14 from the stripe in the first half, versus 5-of-7 for the hometown Sun Devils. Arizona also had a slight edge on the boards, out-rebounding ASU 23-22, helping it outscore Bobby Hurley’s squad 28-to-14 in the paint.
After the game, Koa Peat said he and the other seven players in the rotation stayed behind in the locker room and refocused.
“We all stayed in the locker room by ourselves, and we just talked to each other. Kind of like a player led thing, we just told each other we had to do — we had camaraderie, and we came out and did it.”
Whatever they said worked, with the Wildcats outscoring the Sun Devils 49-to-36 in the second half. Arizona shot a blistering 18-of-30 (60.0%) from the field and dominated the glass, grabbing 24 rebounds to ASU’s 10, and outscoring the home team 22-to-6 in the paint in the second half.
Tobe Awaka finished with a game-high 13 rebounds, including six offensive boards, while also rejecting two shots on the defensive end. But his biggest play, one which Tommy Lloyd called “the play of the game, easy” during the post-game presser, was his diving effort to grab a loose ball off the floor, leading to a Anthony Dell’Orso layup and ASU’s Moe Odum’s fourth foul.
So while the Wildcats aren’t the most consistent team from the perimeter, or have stretches where the offense goes a little cold, you can always count on a Tommy Lloyd led group to beat you from the charity stripe, dominate the paint on both ends, and play with unmatched grit and hustle.
2) Is is time to talk about Dwayne over Delly?
After a strong start to the season, with six double figures performances in 13 non-conference games, Anthony Dell’Orso has struggled down the stretch of Big 12 play. In fact, the Aussie senior has just two double figures games in conference play and is shooting just 5-of-27 (18.5%) from beyond the arc.
With Arizona’s overall struggles from the perimeter, the last guy it can afford to have cool off from downtown is Delly. Unfortunately, even with the cold shooting, Dell’Orso is not contributing much on the glass or defensive end. He is averaging just 1.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 steals per game through nine Big 12 games.
After the game, Tommy Lloyd said he’s not worried about his veteran sharpshooter from Down Under:
“We just got to keep hanging with it and help Delly. Delly will find his way out of this. We’re going to get the best of Delly when it’s needed. I know Delly wants to do it now, and I’d love to have it now, but I’m committed to make it sure he gets through this.”
Ivan Kharchenkov has locked the top spot on the wing, but it may be time for Tommy Lloyd to start giving Dwayne Aristode some of Delly’s minutes. While the Dutch freshman isn’t as prolific of a scorer, he is a more efficient shooter this season, connecting on 50.0% of his shots, including 47.1% from deep.
He also gives the Wildcats another physical, big-bodied presence that can guard the one through the four, taking pressure off players like Jaden Bradley, Awaka, and Kharchenkov. When you factor in Aristode’s minutes and limited experience this season, a veteran presence like Delly is probably a safer option in big games or the Tournament, but a change of scenery could also be exactly what the veteran needs to motivate him.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to the staff. Over his career, Tommy Lloyd has been reluctant to play with lineups during the season. But if there isn’t a blow to the team chemistry or negative impact on the court, what do Lloyd and the staff have to lose?
3) Arizona stays HOT in the desert, starting 22-0 for the first time in program history!
Arizona’s 22-0 start, the best in program history, is already historic. But to secure it in Tempe with a season sweep over rival ASU, there’s something serendipitous about that. And as dominant as the UA has been, what’s been as impressive, if not more, is the way the Wildcats continue to win. With three freshmen in the starting lineup, they are mature, poised, and always ready for the moment, no matter how big.
A lot of that maturity and focus comes from Tommy Lloyd, who had more to say about Arizona’s two road wins this week and a game-free week of preparation coming up after the game.
“I’m the wrong guy to talk about that. You guys can talk about that. 1-0, it was a great week. We started off with a tough win at BYU. We get a tough win. So to win two road games in a week in the Big 12. I mean, I don’t care what your record is, you feel good,” said Lloyd postgame.
“So I’m looking forward to having a little break in our schedule, but I’m also cognizant that we got to keep getting better, and we got to make sure we stay sharp, and have great rhythm. We got a tough couple games coming up. You got Oklahoma State coming home, and then, you turn around and Monday, you got to go play at Kansas. So not easy.”
The toughest stretch of the Wildcats’ schedule still remains, with games at home against Texas Tech, BYU, and Iowa State, road games versus Houston and Baylor, and a two games (home/away) against Kansas.
If Arizona can continue to play its brand of basketball, not let the moment get too big, and stay balanced and lean on one another when the going gets tough, a historic season could get that much better come February and March.