Here is a not-so-weak-in-review this week.
Arizona defeated Arizona State in a physically tough game where UA had to do something it hadn’t done all season when it came to being tough physically.
Saturday afternoon, Arizona had to do it again, but this time mentally. It passed the test to move to 18-0 after is 84-77 win in Orlando. Arizona is 5-0 in the Big 12.
Talk about a one-two punch top-ranked Arizona had to deal with to get there.
And let me say this: there is nothing more difficult in sports than winning on the road.
It was one of those games where you thought you weren’t sure if Arizona had enough – but it did. It was Central Florida that didn’t, wearing down in the final minutes as UA held on after giving up a double-digit lead late.
“We knew it would be a knockdown drag out,” UA coach Tommy Lloyd said on his post-game radio show. “… we knew it was going to be a battle.”
Again, it usually is when on the road – even for the top teams. But, Arizona hit hard first and got a nice lead in the first half. Then lost it but stayed ahead.
Then came the second half where Arizona got a nice lead and then lost the comfortable lead and, well, held on.
“Our guys just did a good job of being pretty methodical,” Lloyd said. “We got a little lead in both halves and that’s why you do that.
“You absorb some runs and kind of manage the game at the end. Our guys did an awesome job.”
That’s where the mental toughness came in. UCF pushed Arizona – not to the brink – but to a two or three possession game many times.
“You gotta stay steady,” Lloyd said about the toughness. “You gotta do the simple stuff. The effort plays win, rebounding and taking care of the ball (with) a hustle player here and there.
“And, trust in what we do.”
And, of course, trust in the likes of Mo Krivas and Jaden Bradley. Krivas saved UA in the first half and, yes, Bradley in the second.
Krivas had 17 points and 12 rebounds overall.
“Mo was awesome, he got us off to a really good start in that first half,” Lloyd said. “He played great.”
And Bradley had 23 points, with 21 coming in the second half. He had 11 free throws in 13 attempts in the second half.
Again, he’s been Arizona’s second-half savior.
“I thought JB was spectacular in the second half,” Lloyd said, “just managing the game like he always does – and obviously making free throws down the stretch.”
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