This was a test of the Arizona men’s basketball program. No emergencies. No nothing. It’ was just a test.
That was the case on Friday night when Arizona faced San Diego State in a 82-67 win at McKale Center at Alkeme Arena (that sure is tough to write).
Arizona looked good at times and other times it didn’t – but aren’t those the reasons you have these types of exhibition games? In Arizona’s case it was facing a good program with some good players. The end result was still expected but you get the point. Arizona did with six players in double figures, led by Mo Krivas’ 17 points.
“Lots of good things to learn from, and a lot of positives, and some obviously some learning things, and that’s what these games are about,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “So, I’m excited that we’re getting to play teams of this caliber in our exhibition schedule. I think it’s gonna be really beneficial.”
Soon, we will see. Arizona faces UCLA in the season opener on Nov. 2 in Las Vegas, with its final exhibition game on Friday vs. Eastern Washington.
Until then, there’s plenty of work to be done with plenty to see.
So far, I’ve seen this and sorry to be Captain Obvious on some:
Ivan Kharchenkov is going to lead this group emotionally and physically. On Tuesday, I asked Tommy about his motor and enthusiasm.
“Ivan’s super talented, and he’s super impactful in all facets of the game,” Lloyd said. “The biggest thing I have for Ivan is just staying steady, staying physical, staying on balance. He doesn’t need to do tricky things to impact the game, and just making sure he stays the course when he’s making those types of decisions. Ivan is a key part of what we did, especially in the second half of last year, and obviously it looks like he’s going to need to even expand on that role this year.”
On Friday, after getting 13 points and 12 rebounds (despite going 6 for 17 from the floor), Kharchenkov again was the energy guy. He’ll be there with that all season.
“Energy is part of stuff that we talk about a lot,” Lloyd said, in a question likely directed for Kharchenkov and Maksim Brnovic. “You got to bring energy every day. You got to play with energy every day. Energy leads to well-being. Well-being leads to optimal performance. That’s kind of a formula we talk about a lot. We got a lot of guys with energy, and that can be that kind of thing when they get let out of the cage, they go.”
That leads me to Brnovic, who was all over the court in his 18 minutes before fouling out. He finally made his way to the bench after fouling out late in the second half. But that goes to his aggressiveness.
“Feeling really good,” he said after Friday “When I came in the first time, I just brought the energy on both ends of the floor. Just compete with the guys.”
He did, getting 10 points and four rebounds. Oh, by the way, he’s added 30 pounds to his frame since arriving to UA.
“Mak’s has got a world of potential, it’ll be interesting to see how long it takes him to kind of get closer to his ceiling,” Lloyd said. “It could take him a while, but he’s showing that he’s not scared out there, and he was able to make some critical plays in the game when we needed him. I’m really excited about the progress he’s making, and just all the reps he’s getting, and I think we’re really going to be able to (home) in on some growth areas here in the coming weeks.”
It’s not secret how talented Caleb Holt is and what he brings to Arizona’s team and backcourt, but there are others that help compliment that deep backcourt. Bryce James is starting (how long that will last only Lloyd knows) but there’s Derik Dixon (I really like him), JJ Mandaquit (prototypical guard) and guard/forward Cameron Holmes. Lloyd could go with numerous combinations back there, including Mandaquit and Dixon, two point guards).
“We’re just starting to grow that a little bit. I like it,” he said of the two point look. “I’ve always loved having two guards that can kind of do point-guard types of things, playing next to each other.”
As for the mix-and-match look: “We’re still a couple weeks out from our first official game, and so the rotation today was kind of based a lot on kind of foul situations a little bit, and maybe just a few kinds of subbing things,” Lloyd said. “We were just getting guys a rest a couple times, but again, we’re learning about what is going to be the best combinations for us.”
And finally, if Ivan is the team’s emotional leader, Mo Krivas will be the team’s centerpiece. Again, going inside out on plays because of who many think is the best big man in the college game.
“The guy gets 15 rebounds, six on the offensive end, blocks four shots, and (is) 11 for 14 from the free throw line,” Lloyd asid. “He was a dominant player in there, and the finishing thing is something you could never take for granted and we’ll have to kind of look at is it unlucky or are there some balance and technique things that he can do better?”
Again, it was only a test with one more test coming.
