Tommy Lloyd and the Arizona Wildcats finished up their nonconference schedule on Saturday with a dominant 94-41 win over Central Michigan.
Barely going above .500 in non-conference is not something Arizona (6-5) expected going into this season. Now it heads into Big-12 play knowing it has a tough road ahead.
Here are five takeaways from the Wildcats’ 11 nonconference games.
1. So goes Caleb Love, so goes Arizona
When Arizona is playing its best basketball, it usually is when Caleb Love is playing his best basketball.
In the losses to Wisconsin, Duke, and UCLA, Love did not score more than ten points. In every other game he scored 10+, even in the losses to Oklahoma and West Virginia.
“He has a lot of gravity,” Lloyd said on Love having a lot of attention. “He has a lot of eyes on him. A lot of eyes, a lot of things go towards him, so he can create space for others.”
Love ended the non-conference slate with back to back 20+ point games. If he can carry this into Big-12 play, Arizona should be in the mix to win some big time games.
If he is able to start playing consistently well offensively, it should allow more opportunities for his counterparts like KJ Lewis and Jaden Bradley.
2. Stay aggressive
When Arizona played UCLA, the Bruins came out full force with their aggressiveness. Taking the ball away with ease, causing frustration, and not allowing Arizona to play the way it likes to.
Then for about a ten minute stretch, Arizona turned the tables on them. The Wildcats started to cause turnovers, they were out in transition, and they played with aggression.
“We’ve been more aggressive on our approach, on offense, rebounding, making sure we’re connecting passes,” Lewis said on Arizona’s aggression level. “And just being a team that plays together.”
If the Wildcats can take this same mindset into their conference schedule, it will bode well for them. They went back to back games forcing 10+ turnovers to finish the non-conference games.
Considering the Big-12 is known for its aggressive style of play, Arizona is going to have to match it.
3. Lack of big wins
Arizona was presented with many opportunities to win big time games in their non-conference slate.
Unfortunately, it ended on the losing side of all of them, and now it has to start looking at building a resume to have a chance at post-season play.
The good news, the Wildcats are now in the Big-12, which means there are going to be numerous chances to earn big time wins.
Their conference schedule includes home games against Baylor, Iowa State, Texas Tech, and Houston. They also have major road trips to Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Baylor, Iowa State, and a season finale at Kansas.
“Get hungry, because we know when we come back we’re excited to be starting this Big 12 thing we’ve been talking about for 20 months,” Lloyd’s message to his team going into the break. “We’re fired up, we’re hungry.”
If Arizona can win some of those games, especially some of the road games, its resume for post-season play will look a lot more appealing.
4. Sharing the rock
Another key to Arizona’s success offensively is the ability to pass to good shots. In four out of its five losses, Arizona was under ten assists total in the game.
The Wildcats average 17.3 assists per game, according to ESPN. That is tied seventh going into Big-12 play.
“We’re best when everyone contributes,” Lloyd said. “We’re not a one-man show, and we never have been and no one’s professed that we are, but we just have to have that vibe.”
Bradley averages 3.6 assists per game which leads Arizona. He is going to have to be big when it comes to distributing the ball. Finding the right guys in the right places.
5. Need for strong bench play
To end the nonconference schedule Lloyd put in players, who have not played a lot this season, during some key minutes.
Players such as Conrad Martinez, Anthony Dell’Orso, Carter Bryant, Henri Veesaar, and even recently Emmanuel Stephen.
Now Dell’Orso and Bryant have stepped up into starting roles in various games, so they have come to show they can come in and contribute.
This has made Lewis step back and become the spark off of the bench that Arizona is going to need moving forward.
For the other players, they need to come in and make plays when called upon. Veesaar is clearly going to become the second big with Motiejus Krivas out with injury.
However, for Martinez and Stephen, they might have to become the extra push the Wildcats need to come out victorious in the close games.
“Keep it simple,” Lloyd said on what he wants from Martinez. “Make sure when you’re on the court that we’re flowing. If you have an open shot, take it, because I know you can make it. And let’s really keep it that simple.”
For Stephen, he is very new to the world of college basketball, which means that he is going to possibly be facing a trial by fire situation in Big-12 play.
“The biggest thing is going to probably be fight and fouls,” Lloyd said. “If we need fight and there’s foul trouble, E-Man’s a great guy to give an opportunity.”
Arizona will take on TCU in their first official Big 12 conference game of the season Dec. 30 at 6 p.m.