One of the biggest questions coming into the NCAA tournament from those outside of the program was: Sure, Arizona is good, but how will those freshmen handle the spotlight?
Well, the bright lights and big city didn’t stop the big moments.
Big deal.
How do you like them now after Arizona (33-2) defeated Long Island 92-58 at Viejas Arena.
“It’s great that they understand the importance of the game that we have to win,” said Mo Krivas, who had two crazy-good passes to help UA’s cause. “How it turned out I’m real proud … just keep going … I’m sure they were nervous.”
Not exactly.
“It was just like any other game,” said Ivan Kharchenkov. “We took it very serious and one we wanted to win.”
And did, going way against Long Island University. In fact, no man was on island given Arizona’s success came in bunches, highlighted by the freshmen. Ten UA players scored and all had an impact.
Still, on Friday morning, the freshman took it like a morning brunch – free and easy. The three starters combined for 47 points, 22 rebounds, six assists and 16 for 29 shooting.
Now the breakdown:
Brayden Burries had a game-high 19 points, going 6 for 10 from the floor, including 4 of 5 from beyond the 3-point line.
Koa Peat finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
Ivan Kharchenkov went 5 for 7 from the floor, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Kids will be Alright.
“They are amazing,” said Jaden Bradley. “You’ve seen it (today). Jayden Bradley doing his thing. Koa doing his thing. And Ivan is a jack of all trades – even Sidi … ).
Oh, yes, Sidi Geye, who brought down the house – or was Arizona’s final highlight with his late-game dunk, finished with a nice stat sheet: four points, two blocked shots and two rebounds in six minutes.
Dwayne Aristode had four points and four rebounds in 14 minutes.
The highlight of the going away – runaway – party came early in the first half when it was all but over. Burries hit one of 3s and then Kharchenkov followed with a driving layup. Back-to-back freshman moves that made it 47-20 with 3:46 left.
By then, the strong contingent of UA fans was figuring out where to eat lunch and what beach to go to.
Inside the locker room, the UA players were just enjoying the moment in what is a business trip. And that includes the freshmen, who are no longer freshmen and, well, haven’t been for much of the season. They came in seasoned-veterans given their backgrounds and 35 games later they are definitely not freshmen. Maybe in label alone.
“We’ve had it all (this season),” Kharchenkov said. “We had a two-game losing streak, we had a 23-game winning streak, and we played away (from McKale and at home. We won a Big 12 championship. We’ve had experience.”
Now the resume shows.
“I honestly don’t look at them as freshmen, you know what I mean?” Tommy Lloyd said after the game. “I just look at them like really good basketball players. They have high IQs, they have great character and obviously they are talented basketball players. And they put the work in.”
“When you have that combination of elements, I don’t think it matters what year you are in school. I would have been more surprised had they come out and been a little bit nervous than play the way they did.”
Peat agreed, rolling off the accomplishments of his teammates like it was everyday common. Ivan is a pro, Koa’s cagey veteran of internation play and state titles, Burries is a McDonald’s All-American.
Translation: they aren’t slouches.
“I’ve played in big games; Brayden has been in big games,” Peat said. “I feel we are pretty seasoned vets for sure.”
So, it begs the question: was too much made of them being freshmen?
“Honestly, we don’t even pay too much attention to it,” Burries said. “We just focus on everybody’s in college, so everybody plays each other, no matter if you’re a freshman, sophomore … so just go out there and hoop have fun and just be coachable.”
And move on to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
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