For those who wonder where Arizona’s perimeter shooting will come from – including me – it showed a glimpse against Northern Arizona on Tuesday night.
It came in the form of Dwayne Aristode, who had taken just four shots in Arizona’s first two games. He turned into Arizona’s sharp – sharpest – shooter against Northern Arizona, helping Arizona defeat the visiting Lumberjacks, 84-49, in McKale Center.
Who knew it would come from him, given he’s not known as a deep threat? Or at wasn’t until Tuesday night.
Maybe it was a conversation?
Maybe it was just time to shine?
Maybe it’s what he does?
In fact, Aristode said Tommy Lloyd told him to be aggressive so “it was time I started being aggressive,” Aristode said.
“I think he has got to find his way, all these guys have obviously had moments in our preparation and our build this offseason to get ready for these games and unfortunately you don’t get instant results,” said Lloyd. “You got to be able to hang with a little bit and get some experience under the light. So, I expect all of our guys to continue to improve.
“I’m glad Dwayne had a little bit of a breakthrough, and I’m sure other guys are right on the precipice to follow. He’s really growing. I think he’s getting a better understanding of what we’re looking for on offense, besides making shots, I think he’s just got to figure that out a little bit. I had a very direct conversation with him during the game about what I expected and I’m not taking any credit for it, but whatever was said, he responded and it was very impressive the way he did it.”
He went 6 for 9 from beyond the arc, finishing with a game-high 18 points. In fact, he was consistent with Lloyd’s mantra: “good looks and good rhythm” when you shoot a 3.
He capped it all when he took the ball and seeming just tossed it up, making it look so effortless when Arizona had already had NAU down by more than 40 points.
“I just found my rhythm,” he said, “just hooping with nothing to worry about. Just shooting, man, just playing basketball.”
Just as Tommy likes it. In the flow with the shot and when he’s open.
Aristode was so good he is now amongst the names of some pretty big names: Mike Bibby, Benn Mathurin, Jerryd Bayless and Salim Stoudamire, all of whom had a school-record six treys in a game as a freshman.
He played 25 minutes, adding two rebounds and three assists.
Where will his biggest impact be?
“(Whatever) coach wants me to do,” he said. “We are all talented guys, but we got to all sacrifice certain things. Whatever he asks … make a play.”
Jaden Bradley, who had a solid night with 13 points and three assists, said Aristode “is our energy guy.”
“When he comes in he’s capable of hitting 3s like that,” Bradley said. “I’m excited for him. He showed the world today that he could do a little bit of everything.”
As a team, Arizona shot 11 for 26 beyond the 3-point line. It entered the season 9 for 20.
“Coach knows we’re a good shooting team,” Aristode said. “Good looks and good rhythm. He trusts us. You never know.
NAU coach Shane Burcar said even though Arizona had shot just 20 3s in the first two games, he expected more against the Cats. It proved to be right.
“(Aristode) came in and shot the heck out of it,” he said. “For them to shoot 26 3-pointers doesn’t surprise us. That’s going to have to be one of their strengths. It’s going to be hard win games with two-pointers all game.”
- Arizona had a 46-17 lead at halftime. It was the lowest output for a team in McKale since giving up 17 against Arizona State in 2020.
- Also, not a shock. But Lloyd said redshirting Bryce James is “one the table” for this year.
Recommended for you
