ARIZONA WILDCATS EDITIONE ARIZONA DAILY STAR | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2020 | PAGE BC1 E X T R A Editor: Ryan Finley | 520-573-4312 | [email protected]

NO. 23 ARIZONA 85, USC 80 WHEW! WILDCATS WIN

PHOTOS BY KELLY PRESNELL / ARIZONA DAILY STAR lets go with a yell after slamming home a bucket in the second half. The Wildcats led by 20 points at one time but had to hang on to win by five to improve to 6-3 in Pac-12 play. UA survives after USC erases huge lead By Bruce Pascoe ARIZONA DAILY STAR Nearly two weeks after their 22-point lead evaporated in a loss at ASU, the Arizona Wildcats nearly gave of the same sort of feeling Thursday. In their 85-80 win over USC at McKale , the No. 23-ranked Wildcats took two leads of 20 points in the second half but watched their advantage slip down to just three in the final minute. USC’s Daniel Utomi hit a 3-pointer to cut the Wildcats’ lead to just 81-77 with 29.7 seconds left and, after Dylan Smith and each missed one of their two free throws, Jonah Mathews hit a 3 to make it 83-80 with five seconds left. Finally, the Wildcats were able to seal the win when Nico Man- nion hit a pair of free throws with 3.7 seconds left. It wasn’t a complete meltdown like the ASU game was, but it wasn’t anything like last weekend, either, when the Wildcats collect- ed the Pac-12’s first road sweep of Arizona guard Josh Green finishes of a turnover in style in the Wildcats’ win Thursday. The freshman finished with 18 points. the season by winning at Wash- ington and Washington State. play well, we didn’t play smart even 50% for the game. game and tons of free throws. “I don’t know if I’ve felt better and I really feel like we struggled But the Wildcats didn’t revert Arizona basically won the game UP NEXT about this year’s team on that trip, throughout the game.” all the way back to that harrowing at the line despite a poor percent- • Who: UCLA (12-11, 5-5) but tonight we obviously revert- That was evidenced by the fact 66-65 loss at ASU, thanks in part age efort there. The Wildcats took at No. 23 Arizona (16-6, 6-3) ed,” UA coach said. that UA hit just 5 of 22 3-pointers, to Josh Green’s slump-busting 18 40 trips to the line and hit 28 of • When: 8 p.m. Saturday “We had a hard time practicing taking some shots too quickly and points, Zeke Nnaji’s double-dou- them, but USC took just 24 and hit • TV: ESPN2 leading up to the game.” unwisely for Miller’s standards, ble of 18 points and 11 rebounds, • Radio: 1290-AM, 107.5-FM Miller said the Wildcats “didn’t and by the fact that USC shot an a big advantage in the takeaway See WILDCATS, BC2

KELLY PRESNELL / Cats cause Miller plenty of stress in win DAILY STAR

SC wins so infre- 18-point game, Miller’s pick and choose, but you Arizona’s quently at McKale tone was that of a coach can only hit it so hard. We Ira Lee gets U Center — twice who had just lost his 400th were very fortunate to win a couple in the last 35 years — that career game. tonight.” fingers on it’s difcult to imagine He referred to his team as This is straight out of a shot by anything less likely than a “sloppy, fat and happy.” Coaching 101. Miller is tak- Elijah Weav- Trojan victory over Arizona. Greg Hansen Seriously. ing no chances on putting a er in the But times change. As Ar- “We didn’t play well, we sloppy, fat and happy team first half. izona beat USC 85-80 in a didn’t play smart,” he said. on the court Saturday night UA moved mostly suspense-free game he grabbed the game ball “I really felt like we strug- against UCLA. within Thursday at McKale, two from UA president Bobby gled throughout the game.” He prefers — and expects a half- against-the-odds moments Robbins and was gone, the In March, you take any — Secretariat at McKale. game of occurred. most impressive fast break victory over a team as good The second against- first-place One, the school attempt- of the evening. as USC and move on with a the-odds item Thursday Oregon and ed to honor Sean Miller for Miller looked at Thurs- sense of accomplishment. was that Arizona used the Colorado in his 400th career victory day’s game much difer- But in early February, at massive McKale Center the Pac-12 before he could escape to ently than the average guy home, you use it as a teach- jumbotron to advertise a with the the locker room. who was pumped by the ing moment, as Miller so ticket package for its five win. UA (16- Miller isn’t a let’s-cel- slump-breaking perfor- often does. remaining home games. 6) hosts ebrate-in-February guy mance of UA freshman Josh “It’s like the jockey What is this, ASU’s Desert UCLA on — he’s not a hey-look-at- Green. But other than a coming down the stretch,” Saturday me-guy at any time — so positive reaction to Green’s said Miller. “You’ve got to See HANSEN, BC2 night. ARIZONA WILDCATS ARIZONA DAILY STAR | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2020 | PAGE BC2

Editor: Ryan Finley | 520-573-4312 | [email protected]

SEEN AND HEARD AT MCKALE CENTER Nnaji makes cut for Malone Award Ten players were named to the watch list, an accolade given to the top power forward in , and Arizona forward Zeke Nnaji was included. Here are the other finalists: (Colo- rado), Yoeli Childs (BYU), (Dayton), Killian Tillie (Gonzaga), (Mary- land), Xavier Tilman (Michigan State), Reggie Perry (Mississippi State), John Mooney (Notre Dame), Hasahn French (Saint Louis). The only Wildcat to win the Karl Malone Award is from his lone season in 2018. Going Green Josh Green soared in the first half for the Wildcats, which is a welcome sight for Arizona fans. Green’s 12 first-half points came on a va- riety of ways: a baseline dunk, transition dunk and even a couple 3-pointers. It marks just the second time in the last seven games that the freshman forward has scored double figures. Two Ex-Cats take talents to South Beach The NBA trade deadline ended on Thursday and the Memphis Grizzlies traded former Arizona Wildcats forwards Andre Iguodala and Solomon Hill to the Miami Heat. The Grizzlies also traded to PHOTOS BY KELLY PRESNELL / ARIZONA DAILY STAR Miami, which was revealed Thursday morning USC’s , left, and Nick Rakocevic, right, converge and foul Arizona guard Josh Green in the second half at McKale Center. by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Miami pack- aged forward Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson to Memphis as part of the apeutic for his teammates to see NO. 23 ARIZONA 85, USC 80 20-point lead on a jumper from deal. WILDCATS him play well. FG FT Reb Stone Gettings that made it 63- USC Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS Following the trade, Iguodala signed a two- Continued from Page BC1 “He was flying around to- Mobley 15 1-4 0-0 0-1 0 4 2 43, but the Trojans gradually Okongwu 36 7-11 9-10 6-8 2 3 23 year, $30 million extension with a team-option night, had great energy,” Man- Adlesh 13 0-1 0-0 0-1 4 2 0 chipped away at the lead. for the 2021-22 season, which gives Miami sal- 18, giving UA 10 extra points of nion said. “I think he had a cou- E.Anderson 22 3-6 1-4 0-1 2 1 8 USC cut it to just 68-58 with Utomi 28 7-10 4-4 0-3 1 3 22 ary cap flexibility and allows the Heat to target free throws. ple of steals and he was getting Mathews 29 2-10 1-1 1-2 1 3 6 8:43 left after Rakocevic scored Rakocevic 23 8-11 2-2 1-8 1 5 18 a player for a max deal, but if Miami strikes out Arizona’s free throws helped out transition and that’s I think Weaver 22 0-2 0-0 0-2 3 3 0 twice inside, drawing a foul in free agency, Iguodala will be retained for a it hang on despite failing to make where he’s best. He hit a couple Sturdivant 13 0-1 1-2 0-2 1 2 1 while running into the basket Totals 200 28-56 18-23 8-28 15 26 80 final season that’s worth $15 million. a single field goal over the final 3s to start us of. He was just he Percentages: FG .500, FT .783. 3-Point Goals: 6-17, support on his first layup. Team- .353 (Utomi 4-7, E.Anderson 1-3, Mathews 1-5, Iguodala, who was in his final season of a 8:20, and making just one of was a great energizer for us.” Adlesh 0-1, Rakocevic 0-1). Team Rebounds: 3. mate Ethan Anderson made the three-year, $48 million contract, has sat out their last nine field goals overall. In the first half, Green had 12 Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 3 (Okongwu in his place but Ra- 2, Rakocevic). Turnovers: 12 (Utomi 3, E.Anderson the entire season with the Grizzlies thus far was a mi- points on 5-for-6 shooting to 2, Rakocevic 2, Adlesh, Mathews, Okongwu, Stur- kocevic returned to the game divant, Weaver). Steals: 4 (Okongwu 2, Mathews, since he was traded to Memphis from Golden crocosm of this phenomenon, give Arizona a 43-33 halftime Utomi). Technical Fouls: None. after 29 seconds and quickly State following a six-year run with the Warriors taking a season-high 18 trips to lead. scored the second basket. FG FT Reb that included three NBA championships and the line but making just 12 free With Miller having preached Arizona Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS After Mannion was called Gettings 25 5-7 1-2 5-8 1 3 12 NBA Finals MVP honors. throws — while missing 2 of 6 beforehand how important re- Nnaji 35 6-13 6-8 0-11 2 3 18 for a charge on a driving layup, Miami becomes the fifth NBA team Iguodala over the final two mintues, when bounding would be against Green 36 6-11 4-6 2-4 2 3 18 Rakocevic scored again inside Mannion 35 3-10 12-18 1-3 7 2 20 has played for since being drafted by the the Trojans kept cutting into the the Trojans, Arizona took early Smith 23 1-5 3-4 1-2 1 3 5 to cut it to 71-62 and he later Baker 19 1-5 0-0 1-3 3 2 2 Philadelphia 76ers in 2004. Iguodala also Wildcats’ lead. leads of 12-9 and 20-14 by beat- Lee 17 4-5 2-2 1-1 0 1 10 scored again to cut it to seven played for the (2012-13) and “I mean it was a physical ing USC often on the glass. Over Hazzard 8 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 0 points, 73-66 with 4:37 left. At Koloko 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 the Warriors (2013-2019) before his pit stop in game so I think the fouls they the first 10 minutes of the game, Totals 200 26-57 28-40 11-33 16 18 85 that point, Rakocevic had 14 Percentages: FG .456, FT .700. 3-Point Goals: 5-22, Memphis. called just happened because it UA had four ofensive rebounds .227 (Green 2-6, Mannion 2-7, Gettings 1-1, Hazzard points on 7-for-9 shooting in Hill on the other hand is in the final year of was so physical,” Mannion said. on its first 10 missed shots, and 0-1, Smith 0-3, Baker 0-4). Team Rebounds: the second half alone. 2. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 2 a four-year, $48 million contract, which will “I think we’ve just got to work were outrebounding USC over- (Gettings, Lee). Turnovers: 6 (Mannion 4, Gettings, Two free throws from Onyeka Nnaji). Steals: 6 (Green 3, Mannion, Nnaji, Smith). expire in the summer. Hill has played seven on it more as a team. I know all 12-5 to that point. Technical Fouls: None. Okongwu and a 12-foot jumper seasons in the NBA since he was drafted in I definitely have to work on it USC coach Andy Enfield did USC 33 47—80 from Daniel Utomi pulled the Arizona 43 42—85 2013 by the Pacers. After three seasons in more myself. They all felt good, not start Nick Rakocevic nor A: 13,816. Ofcials: Deron White, Randy McCall, Trojans within 76-70 with 2:46 Indiana, Hill also played three seasons for the but some just didn’t fall.” Jonah Mathews — two guys David Hall to go as UA couldn’t breathe New Orleans Pelicans before he was traded to Mannion wound up lead- who played key roles down the easy. Memphis during the NBA Draft. This season, ing Arizona in scoring with 20 stretch — because of unspeci- UA then went on a 10-0 run to Especially Miller, even if he Hill is averaging 5.7 points, 3 rebounds and 2 points along with seven assists. fied team rules but both entered go ahead 61-41 with 13:31 left, did manage to pick up his 400th assists in 22.1 minutes per game. While Green wound up just 2 the game at the first media tim- getting two inside baskets from career win as a head coach. And The Heat is in fourth place in the Eastern for 6 from 3, his overall scoring eout. Nnaji, a 3 from Mannion and a even if his Wildcats moved to Conference standings with a 34-16 record. broke him out of a recent shoot- “We expect them to buy into dunk from Green, of his 16-6 overall and 6-3 in the Pac- Iguodala and Hill join a Heat team that features ing slump. Green had shot just what we’re doing as a program,” from USC’s Rakocevic. 12 while USC dropped to 17-6 star wing Jimmy Butler, All-Star center Bam 23% over his past three games Enfield said. At that point, Arizona had overall and 6-4. Adebayo, forward Derrick Jones Jr., guard and hit only 1 of his last eight Both players were a limited scored 17 points of eight USC It was a win but, the way Goran Dragic, Kendrick Nunn and rookie Tyler 3-pointers entering Thursday, factor at first while Arizona went turnovers, finishing with 18 Miller described it, it hardly felt Herro, among others. but hit 2 of 3 3s in the first half on an 11-3 run over the middle of points on 12 USC turnovers like a celebration. The Heat has five games before NBA All-Star against the Trojans. the first half to take a 25-14 lead while the Wildcats only gave up “It kind of like that jockey weekend and return from the midseason break In the second half, Green after Mannion hit a 3-pointer the ball six times themselves. coming down the stretch,” Mill- on Feb. 20 against the Hawks in Atlanta. missed all three 3s he took but with 8:20 to go. “We’re at our best in tran- er said. “You’ve got to pick and often did what he does best — UA then went ahead 29-18 af- sition,” Miller said. “We made choose but you can only hit it so The big number taking a turnover or a pass and ter Green hit a 3 and Stone Get- some very good plays and we did hard. racing to the bucket for a slam or tings made a free throw and lat- score 85 so it’s not all gloom and “You have to pick and choose 400 Sean Miller earned his 400th layup. He finished hitting 6 of 11 er took a 10-point lead, 39-29, doom.” and sometimes the best way to career win with Thursday’s 85-80 victory, tying shots. after Mannion hit a pair of free But there was a lot of that, learn is just failing. We’ve done him with Eddie Sutton for the 21st-fastest head Miller said he was happy to throws with 2:22 left. at least from Miller, after USC that a number of times, but we coach in NCAA basketball history to reach that see Green play well especially Arizona and USC played each scored 47 points in the sec- have a very young group. We milestone. He needs 20 more wins to reach since he has done things “the other evenly over the first four ond half on 53.3% shooting. have a group that has a lot to 300 wins at Arizona. right way,” but it was also ther- minutes of the second half. But The Wildcats took their second learn.” Miller’s 300th career win came in the 2015-16 season when the Wildcats defeated Oregon State 80-63 on Jan. 30. Throwback Thursday HANSEN PAC-12 STANDINGS Thursday night marked the 60-year anniver- Continued from Page BC1 Team Conf. Overall sary of former Arizona standout Ernie McCray Colorado 7-3 18-5 scoring a program-best 46 points against Cal Financial Arena? Oregon 7-3 18-5 State-Los Angeles, which was played at Bear The Wildcats are now mar- Arizona 6-3 16-6 Down Gym. McCray shot 16 of 26 from the field keting a four-ticket package, USC 6-4 17-6 and knocked 14 of 16 free throws en route to including four hot dogs and Stanford 5-4 16-6 a 104-84 victory. The 3-point line hadn’t been four drinks, for $95. It’s like Arizona State 5-4 14-8 added to the collegiate level for 26 years. something out of the 1992 Tuc- UCLA 5-5 12-11 McCray still holds the UA record for most son Toros sales plan. As I recall, California 4-5 10-12 points scored in a game. the last time Arizona needed Utah 4-6 13-9 The closest Wildcats to break his record are to market tickets to McKale Washington St. 4-6 13-10 Damon Stoudamire (45) versus Stanford in Center was 1984. Oregon State 3-7 13-9 1995, Joe Skaisgir (44) versus Hardin-Sim- That was the last time the Washington 2-8 12-11 mons in 1962, Coniel Norman (44) versus BYU Wildcats didn’t lead the Pac-12 KELLY PRESNELL / ARIZONA DAILY STAR in 1974, Al Fleming (41) versus Detroit in 1976 in home attendance, but if you Arizona’s Nico Mannion (1) picks up a charge on his way to the bas- and Khalid Reeves (40) versus Michigan in looked into the dark upper deck ket over USC guard Kyle Sturdivant during the second half. Alford to the more intense and 1993. Thursday night, especially to defense-first Mick Cronin, it’s sections 103, 121 and 126, you pectation — when you can put But if you check the NBA going to be a while before those ‘Dream Team’ member in the house saw the same empty seats that 14,644 in the seats every night, draft evaluations on nbadraft. at McKale get a view of UCLA’s Former Golden State Warrior and member of have been unoccupied for most as Miller’s teams routinely did net, you’ll see that Green is best shot. Team USA’s 1992 “Dream Team,” Chris Mullin, of the last two seasons. from 2014-18. rated a 6 and Mannion a 7 on a But that’s a UCLA problem. was in attendance for Arizona-USC as a color UA only sold out the Gonzaga A lot of Thursday’s angst was 1-10 scale in the “NBA ready” As much as anything else on analyst for Westwood One’s radio broadcast and ASU games this season and predictable. category. Thursday, it became manifest of the game. The Hall of Famer has worked as is averaging 13,551 at the gate. Arizona’s three leading Getting them to a 10 is what that Miller’s sole intent before a radio analyst since stepping down as head It’s even below last year’s sober- scorers — Green, Nico Man- occupies so much of Miller’s this season ends is for Tuc- coach of his alma mater St. John’s in 2019. ing average of 13,744, the lowest nion and Zeke Nnaji — are time, and as we’ve learned sonans to see the best version at McKale in eight seasons. freshmen. That’s what most through 10½ seasons, he’s not of the Mannion-Green-Nnaji A six-minute benching The UA hasn’t averaged expected this season, but it an easy grader. He insists on Wildcats of 2020. Two USC starters — Jonah Mathews and below 14,000 two consecu- hasn’t been that easy. more than he’s getting from “There’s so much at stake for Nick Rakocevic — did not start the game for tive seasons since 1988, when But through 22 games, everyone on his squad. players individually,” he said. violating team rules, per a team ofcial. Albeit, capacity at McKale was about Green, Mannion and Nnaji “We had a hard time prac- “But what they don’t under- their punishment was rather quick as both a thousand fewer than the have only finished a clean 1-2-3 ticing leading up to the game,” stand until it’s over, is that the players were inserted into the game after the current occupancy maximum in scoring against Illinois, St. said Miller. “We didn’t have a respect in college basketball is first timeout of the first half. of 14,644. John’s and South Dakota State. good shoot-around (Thursday). always and has always been giv- So what’s 1,000 tickets a That’s the most clear sign of a We have to learn from this, try en to those teams and programs A little, but good number game? For starters, it’s probably young team trying to find itself. our best, and see if we can be that win and thrive. The team Turnovers for Arizona in 60 minutes over close to $30,000 per game and Green, Mannion and Nnaji take better Saturday.” success carries the individual 9 the last two games. The Wildcats posted maybe $200,000 a season. No. 67 percent of Arizona’s field This season’s Arizona-UCLA players.” six turnovers against Washington State on 2, and probably more import- goal attempts, so you might ex- showdown at McKale Center Predictions? Arizona’s “fat Saturday and three in the first half Thursday ant, it’s a blow to the UA’s pect they would’ve been 1-2-3 cannot be compared to those and happy” days are gone. Mill- night. pride. There’s a certain feeling in scoring (in any order) in most of the last 40 years. Given er’s 401st victory will be much — Justin Spears and Alec White of accomplishment — and ex- games. UCLA’s transition from Steve more satisfying.