When does a rout turn into a doubt?
Apparently, on a Thursday afternoon in the Big 12 Conference tournament when the crowd isn’t the same as it would be in McKale Center and or the T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas. Arizona didn’t have that advantage, but it didn’t really matter (and yet was still a topic of conversation).
So despite Arizona’s 81-59 win over Central Florida in Kansas City in the quarterfinals, the questions and the answers showed some frustration – and honesty – in the responses.
What happened to Arizona after getting out to a big lead (27-points)? Hell, it was almost as if Arizona shouldn’t have started off big early but instead eventually ease its way to a 22-point win. Yes, that’s right, a 22-point lead.
Arizona held a 46-30 halftime lead. UCF got to within 12 in the second half.
“Well, thank goodness we got off to a good start, because there were stretches of that game I didn’t think we played very well,” said UA coach Tommy Lloyd in Arizona’s postgame press conference. “But the objective in these tournaments is to get to the next one, and that’s mission accomplished today. And obviously we know tomorrow’s going to be a tough battle with an Iowa State team playing in their backyard, but we look forward to it.”
More on that later.
Arizona’s 22-point win – stated again just for emphasis – was its 16th win of more than 20 or more points this season, which is tied for the most this season.
But hasn’t that been Arizona’s modus operandi? Get out early – many times – and then hang on if not eventually pour it on? Arizona did a little of the former and a lot of the latter in the waning moments on Thursday.
“A lot of times I tell the guys, let’s get a feel for the game and kind of hang in there and try to figure out what works and see if we can build with some runs later in the half or early in the second half,” Lloyd said. “… I’m never going to shy away from building an early lead, because to me obviously it gives you a buffer to absorb some of these late-game runs. And it doesn’t always feel good when teams are chipping away at your lead, but it’s nice to have that lead and be able to have that margin for error, you know, down the stretch.“
The scare was minimal but the question’s lingered. But what did it matter? Likely nothing. Do you think Duke – am 80-79 winner over Florida State a few hours after UA won – is concerned about it? Maybe, but teams at the time where it’s survive and advance – no matter the way.
Arizona did that. Style points be damned. Even if it was a bit stilted or muddled.
Now, it’s on to Iowa State on Friday afternoon in Kansas City, just a few days after beating the Cyclones in Tucson. This time, Iowa State will have a fan advantage.
“We’ll obviously look back at that and see what worked and what didn’t work and see what kind of adjustments we can make,” Lloyd said. “But we have a lot of respect for Iowa State and their program, and I have a lot of respect for T.J. and the job that he’s doing, and I have a lot of respect for their players. We’re looking forward to the challenge. We’re looking forward to the opportunity.”
The opportunity to survive and advance is always the thing teams seek in March.
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