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Some important developments for Arizona in the Wildcats’ 94-82 win over ASU this afternoon in Tempe:
— Arizona has scored 80 points or more in six consecutive games with eight games overall exceeding that mark. Sean Miller’s teams in his first six years averaged 9.6 games a season with 80-plus points. The Wildcats still have 17 regular season games and the postseason to build on their eight. Further evidence that this is Miller’s most potent team and most difficult to defend.
Arizona pulling away now, 66-53. This team so much harder to guard than previous editions. Several capable of heating up at any time.
— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) January 3, 2016
Lavin: Arizona is a team that can win a national championship. They are balanced across the board. Come at you in waves with so many players
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) January 3, 2016
— Ryan Hansen of the Arizona IMG Sports Network called Gabe York “Big Game Gabe” after the senior guard’s 22-point performance, including a 4-of-7 performance from three-point range. York also tied a career-high with six assists with only one turnover in 30 minutes. Entering the game, York had as many assists (28) as turnovers (28).
Sean Miller:"Throwback relation from when you know a guy for 4 yrs" told Sean Elliott about giving York green light. Olson-Elliott had that.
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) January 3, 2016
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.@DonOrsillo & @seanelliott_32 on the call for today's #8 @APlayersProgram vs @SunDevilHoops game on FS1! #Pac12 pic.twitter.com/pgN8CZohgZ
— FS1 (@FS1) January 3, 2016
Thank you to our fans who came out to the game this afternoon. Love hearing those UofA chants! #BearDown
— Sean Miller (@UACoachMiller) January 3, 2016
These Arizona-Arizona State matchups are gonna be so entertaining for years. Sean Miller and Bobby Hurley will make sure of that.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) January 3, 2016
Arizona's culture, unselfishness, and willingness to sacrifice shined in the second half. Great program win for the Wildcats at ASU.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 3, 2016
Great win fellas!! @APlayersProgram #roadwarriors
— TJ McConnell (@iPass4Zona) January 3, 2016
Gabe!
— Damon Stoudamire (@Iambiggie503) January 3, 2016
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WATCH: @APlayersProgram win Pac-12 opener 94-82 highlights #AZvsASU https://t.co/AE0uyqMp0R
— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) January 3, 2016
— Arizona came through from the free-throw line for the most part, making 27 of 36 of its attempts from there. The Wildcats did not even attempt a free throw until 7:13 remained in the first half. That means in roughly the last 27 minutes of the game, the Wildcats averaged an impressive 1.3 free-throw attempts a minute. Arizona won by 12 points and outscored ASU 27-16 at the free-throw line. ASU guard Gerry Blakes fouled out, becoming the 18th Arizona opponent to foul out in the first 14 games. Opponents are on pace to have 39.9 foul-outs against Arizona by the end of the regular season. The school record is 38 opponent foul-outs in 1974-75.
Aggressive = High-percentage shots = Draw fouls = Set tone … That's Arizona's game.
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) January 3, 2016
— Arizona corrected its turnover flaws in an electric atmosphere with ASU in a full-court pressure defense for much of the second half. The Wildcats had only eight turnovers after averaging 13.5 a game entering the day. The three primary ballhandlers — York, Kadeem Allen and Parker Jackson-Cartwright — combined for 12 assists with only two turnovers.
Miller on IMG: "Everything is about cutting down on our turnovers. We wouldn't have won if we had our 13-14 turnovers." UA only 8 avg'd 13.5
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) January 3, 2016
— Kaleb Tarczewski returned from missing the last seven games while nursing a foot injury. He played as huge as his 7-foot, 250-pound frame. He finished with eight points and five rebounds in 15 minutes. His eight points give him 992 points for his career, only eight shy from joining the 1,000-point club. He stands at No. 50 on the Arizona career scoring chart, 14 points shy of No. 49 Matt Muehlebach (1,086).
ARIZONA’S TOP SCORING CENTERS
Rank: Overall school ranking.
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— Add York: His four three-pointers allowed him to overtake Muehlebach for No. 10 in Arizona career three-pointers. He now has 165 threes in his career. Next up is No. 9 Miles Simon with 176 from 1994-98.
THREE-POINT FIELD GOALS CAREER
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— Two of Arizona’s impact newcomers — Trier and Ryan Anderson — continued to roll while another — Mark Tollefsen — had his best game with the Wildcats. Anderson, who had one point and six rebounds at halftime, finished with his fourth consecutive double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He has seven this season and 27 in his career. Trier achieved his second consecutive 20-point game and his fourth overall this season. Stanley Johnson had only three 20-point games last year in his freshman season. Tollefsen had eight points in 17 minutes but he never hurt the Wildcats. He drilled a three-pointer and had an assist and steal.
For those Arizona fans who were worried about Ryan Anderson at halftime, he ends with a double-double.
— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) January 3, 2016
— Dusan Ristic also played effectively, making five of his six field attempts, many of them one-handed shots with a feathery soft touch. He finished with 10 points and also had four rebounds and a blocked shot in 20 minutes.
Dusan's status right now…owner of the paint pic.twitter.com/B9mDuwLnwH
— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) January 3, 2016
Great and very important team win! Way to open the PAC-12 conference. #RoadWarriors #JustUs
— Dusan Ristic (@ristic_dusan) January 3, 2016
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He has also written articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.
