Can a team that’s on the road have a senior day?
Maybe. They can have senior moments, for sure.
Arizona kinda did in Ft. Worth, Texas as Jaden Bradley came through once again. And Anthony Dell‘Orso stepped up big after going through a mini slump.
The two – and of course more – helped move Arizona to 16-0 on the season with a 86-73 win over host Texas Christian on Saturday afternoon. UA is now 3-0 in the Big 12.
“It was an awesome effort and our guys came out and obviously played well to start,” UA coach Tommy Lloyd said on his postgame radio show.
For moments there, it looked like it would be a Saturday afternoon stroll over the Horned Frogs, but then TCU played tougher and went to a zone and Arizona couldn’t get baskets … until it did.
If there is ever a doubt of a rout, Arizona fans freak out. (Sadly)
But, Arizona fans could breathe easy – well, easier given they panic when it’s close – after finding its way in the second half.
Bradley, a senior and playing like one, and more like Arizona’s golden parachute on Saturday, had 17 points, all in the second half, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot to keep TCU from rallying too strong in the second half. He had been in foul trouble most of the game, but stayed just safe enough in the second half to not foul out. He played only 21 minutes.
“He’s an uncanny finisher,” UA coach Tommy Lloyd said on his postgame show. “He’s like a (baseball) closer, turning into our Mariano Rivera (New York Yankees) just by the way he was able to close that game.”
ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla continued to say Bradley is one of the most underrated players in the country given his value to UA and where Arizona is right now. Bradley continues to remind me of Jason Terry in the 1998-99 season when he took over games to help Arizona win.
Bradley has done that more than a few times this season with only half the season gone.
Lloyd said because Bradley is so crucial to the team’s success, Bradley has to “stay out of those situations” because UA needs him in “important situations”
“For him to come in and close the game, that bodes well for us long term,” Lloyd said.
Of course – and as always this season – Bradley had plenty of help.
Koa Peat had 20 points and Dell’Orso, a senior, added 17 points.
“We knew Delly was going to break through,” Lloyd said, referring to the senior’s slump the last few weeks. “I talked to him a couple of games ago; I thought his effort dipped a bit defensively. I just told him, ‘hey, get yourself going on that end because you’ve gotten so much better there … don’t put so much pressure on yourself to make shots … when you feel comfortable making it, let it rip.”
He did that, hitting 6 of 12 shots, including 3 of 6 3-pointers.
“It was great to see,” Lloyd said.
Arizona continues its undefeated season, the second-best start since it went 21-0 in 2013-14 under Sean Miller with TJ McConnell and Aaron Gordon leading the way. Arizona should be a near unanimous choice to be the No. 1 team in the country – in both polls – given Michigan was upset by Wisconsin on Saturday. Michigan was the No.1 team in the USA Today coach’s poll.
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