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Arizona improved to 7-1 in games pitting two Top 10 teams at McKale Center (ESPN screen shot)
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Three quick observations about Arizona’s 63-60 overtime win over Gonzaga at McKale Center today:
T.J. McConnell scored all six of Arizona’s points in overtime
1. Depth matters: Although the game went to overtime, Arizona did not have a player log more than 40 minutes. Arizona bigs Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski played the most minutes — 38 minutes — which is very uncommon. Usually guards or wings are in longer because of their durability over a lumbering power forward or center. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson played 37 minutes and Stanley Johnson 35.
T.J. McConnell played only 31 (thought that was a misprint but he did finish with four fouls), which was key because of his fresh legs late in the game compared to Gonzaga’s Kevin Pangos, who played 43. McConnell scored all six points in overtime for Arizona. The Zags’ starters accounted for 82.7 percent of the minutes; Arizona’s 71.1.
Parker Jackson-Cartwright’s nine minutes in place of McConnell were crucial and he contributed with three assists, two rebounds and a basket.
Arizona’s fresher legs translated into Gonzaga converting only one field goal in the last 9:05 minutes of the game.
McConnell, who was one of four defenders to limit Pangos to 3 of 10 shooting from the field with only 8 points, sounded like Rich Rodriguez but he changed the wording from “Why not Arizona?” to “What about Arizona?”
“Kevin Pangos is, I hear, the best point guard in the country, so my mindset was taking it personally. What about Arizona? What about us?”
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ARIZONA MATCHUPS VS. NON-CONFERENCE TEAMS AT MCKALE CENTER WHEN BOTH RANKED IN TOP 10
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Brandon Ashley had his best game of the season in a marquee matchup
2. Ashley comes to life, shows his NBA skills to scouts: The junior forward was critical in two key stretches for Arizona late in both halves. He made a strong move to the basket in the first half reminiscent of an NBA big who can handle the ball to cut the Zags’ lead to 27-24 with 1:25 left. That ignited the Arizona crowd, which was in a wait-and-see mode.
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Ashley hit a three-pointer in the previous possession, his second three of the half. Late in the second half, Ashley became a game-changer. He scored Arizona’s last six points, one on a strong drive to the hoop and the two other baskets being 12-foot jumpers.
The 30-plus NBA scouts in attendance must have been envious with Ashley’s versatility. Ashley finished with a team-high 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc.
“I think Brandon is unguardable,” McConnell said.
Arizona is comfortable being uncomfortable in grind it out games. They closeout games with their defense. @ESPNCBB
— Seth Greenberg (@SethOnHoops) December 7, 2014
3. Gonzaga as good as it gets for Arizona this season. The calendar shows it’s only Dec. 6, but the Wildcats will be hard-pressed to go against a better team than No. 9 Gonzaga. That includes UCLA, No. 25 Utah or certainly No. 17 Michigan, which was upset at home by something called NJIT today.
Arizona’s wins over No. 13 San Diego State in Maui and Gonzaga today are significant for Arizona’s resume with competition in the Pac-12 being mostly suspect. The Utes are the only other conference team ranked.
“This win will carry tremendous weight throughout the season,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said. “Any time you go through this experience, it toughens you.”
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also has published articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.
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