One significant benefit of Allonzo Trier’s return to Arizona’s lineup, whether it’s as a starter or sixth man, is the positive impact it can have on Kadeem Allen.
The best defensive guard on Arizona’s lineup, Allen can focus on defending Lonzo Ball at the point and know his offensive output is not as important when Trier was out of the lineup.
Ball is UCLA’s lifeline running the Bruins’ high-scoring attack. He ranks second in the nation in assists per game (8.2). He has shot 53.2 percent overall from the field and has averaged 14.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game.
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His total of 164 assists is the second-highest single-season mark by any UCLA freshman. He has only 47 turnovers.
It’s obvious that nobody has or probably will shut down Ball. The key for Arizona is Ball going through stretches of not getting UCLA in the flow. That has happened. The Bruins have experienced rough stretches against Cal, Stanford and ASU at Pauley Pavilion, but those teams are not the caliber of Arizona.
Allen’s combined 39 steals and blocked shots leads the Wildcats, topping Keanu Pinder’s 38.
Allen ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in steals with 1.6 per game. That number could increase with Sean Miller able to have him concentrate more on the opponent’s best offensive guard with the load off of scoring as much on the other end.
He can tell Allen to be the defensive leader and Trier the offensive go-to guy on the perimeter when Lauri Markkanen is not in the game or is a slasher to the paint.
The bottom line is the only way Arizona will upset UCLA at Pauley Pavilion is by making significant defensive stops. The Wildcats won’t win outscoring the Bruins.
The impetus for the defensive effort lies on Allen’s shoulders. He must set the tone once Ball brings the ball past midcourt. Miller has the confidence Allen can be that guy.
WHAT IS PRODUCTIVITY RATING?:
PP: Productivity Points (Points, assists, rebounds, steals, blocked shots, FGs made, FTs made added together and then subtracted by missed FGs, missed FTs, personal fouls and turnovers)
MIN: Minutes played overall
PR: Productivity rating per minute played (Productivity points divided by minutes played)
SEASON PRODUCTIVITY RATING
[table sort=”desc”]
Player,Pos,G,S,PP,MIN,PR
Lauri Markkanen,PF,19,19,505,594,.850
Dusan Ristic,C,19,19,356,471,.756
Rawle Alkins,SF,19,19,334,586,.570
Kadeem Allen,SG,18,17,284,547,.519
Chance Comanche,C,19,0,158,340,.465
Kobi Simmons,SG,19,14,261,572,.456
Keanu Pinder,PF,19,0,118,283,.417
Parker Jackson-Cartwright,PG,13,7,131,341,.384
AVG 5-9.9 MIN,,,,,
None,,,,,
AVG 1-4.9 MIN,,,,,
Kory Jones,G,3,0,5,6,.833
Tyler Trillo,G,7,0,-1,29,-.034
Jake DesJardins,G,5,0,-2,11,-.182
Paulo Cruz,G,7,0,-5,20,-.250
TOTAL TEAM,,19,,2130,3800,.564
[/table]
PRODUCTIVITY REPORT
ARIZONA PAC-10/12
PLAYERS OF THE YEAR:
[table sort=”desc”]
Name (Year),G,S,PP,MIN,PR
Derrick Williams (2011),38,38,1190,1141,1.043
Sean Elliott (1989),33,33,1128,1125,1.003
Chris Mills (1993),28,28,838,870,.963
Sean Elliott (1988),38,38,1167,1249,.934
Damon Stoudamire (1995),30,30,964,1092,.883
Mike Bibby (1998),35,35,905,1124,.805
Jason Terry (1999),29,29,877,1107,.792
Nick Johnson (2014),38,38,848,1254,.676
Total,269,269,7917,8962,.883
[/table]
PREVIOUS GAME
ARIZONA 73, USC 66
PRODUCTIVITY RATING
* — STARTERS
[table sort=”desc”]
Player,Pos,PP,MIN,PR
*Lauri Markkanen,PF,34,35,.971
*Dusan Ristic,C,17,27,.630
*Rawle Alkins,SF,14,31,.452
*Kadeem Allen,SG,16,37,.432
*Kobi Simmons,SG,11,27,.407
Chance Comanche,C,7,18,.389
Parker Jackson-Cartwright,PG,-6,19,-.316
LESS THAN 10 MIN,,,,
Keanu Pinder,PF,5,6,.833
TOTAL TEAM,,98,200,.490
[/table]
ARIZONA SCHEDULE/PRODUCTIVITY RESULTS
*-Honolulu
**-Las Vegas
***-Los Angeles
****-Houston
[table sort=”desc”]
Date,Opponent,Results,TeamPR,Productivity Leader,Pos,PP,MIN,PR
11/11,*Michigan State,W/65-63,.395,Kobi Simmons,SG,22,26,.846
11/15,Cal State Bakersfield,W/78-66,.560,Lauri Markkanen,PF,48,36,1.333
11/18,Sacred Heart,W/95-65,.805,Dusan Ristic,C,31,22,1.409
11/21,Northern Colorado,W/71-55,.565,Parker Jackson-Cartwright,PG,35,34,1.029
11/24,**Santa Clara,W/69-61,.510,Keanu Pinder,PF,12,12,1.000
11/25,**Butler,L/69-65,.390,Lauri Markkanen,PF,17,21,.810
11/30,Texas Southern,W/85-63,.705,Lauri Markkanen,PF,35,29,1.207
12/3,***Gonzaga,L/69-62,.420,Dusan Ristic,C,17,23,.739
12/6,Cal-Irvine,W/79-57,.635,Dusan Ristic,C,32,30,1.067
12/10,at Missouri,W/79-60,.556,Rawle Alkins,SF,27,37,.730
12/14,Grand Canyon,W/64-54,.450,Dusan Ristic,C,19,31,.613
12/17,****Texas A&M,W/67-63,.545,Dusan Ristic,C,27,26,1.038
12/20,New Mexico,W/77-46,.680,Chance Comanche,PF,25,23,1.087
12/30,California,W/67-62,.410,Dusan Ristic,C,27,28,.964
1/1,Stanford,W/91-52,.725,Rawle Alkins,SF,36,29,1.241
1/5,Utah,W/66-56,.530,Dusan Ristic,C,29,26,1.115
1/7,Colorado,W/82-73,.580,Lauri Markkanen,PF,28,22,1.273
1/12,ASU,W/91-75,.765,Lauri Markkanen,PF,42,30,1.400
1/19,at USC,W/73-66,.490,Lauri Markkanen,PF,34,35,.971
[/table]
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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