Arizona has caught fire in its first five conference games. However, for head coach Tommy Lloyd, there are still many things to work on and get better at.
Nonetheless, the Wildcats are undefeated in the Big 12, and look to continue that trend into their road trip to Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. Before the games in Lubbock and Stillwater, here are five takeaways from the Wildcats’ first five conference games:
Henri is here
Since conference play has started, Henri Veesaar has stepped up in a major way. Not only statistically, but he comes off the bench and provides needed high-level energy.
Looking from a statistical viewpoint, Veesaar had a season high 15 points in the first conference game against TCU. He beat that mark during Tuesday’s win against Baylor with 19 points.
“I thought I always had the confidence, because I remember how I played when I was younger,” Veesaar said. “I know I’ve had tough two years here, but I always had the confidence I could play this way.”
He has had five or more rebounds in each conference game. Being able to have good shooting percentages has also contributed to his improved play.
Veesaar has shot 50 percent or better in every conference game. Along with the high-quality shooting, he has also been able to take care of the ball.
He has only turned the ball over four times in the five game stretch.
“You got to keep going for it,” Lloyd told Veesaar. “You’re on the scouting report now, and you’re not a surprise. So you got to keep coming. He gives us real advantages out there.”
Elite bench play
Going along with Veesaar, KJ Lewis and Carter Bryant have helped to contribute in the improved bench play.
Both players were starters at one point or another this season, but have found a role coming off the bench.
For Lewis, he has always been an energizer when he comes onto the court. Now, all he needs to do is produce on the court. Lewis has stepped up to the challenge
In the game at West Virginia, he scored a season-high 21 points, and followed it up with 10+ points in both the UCF and Baylor games. Safe to say he has found his offensive rhythm.
For Bryant, he has shown off his overall athleticism. Getting up high for blocks, finishing highlight dunks, and being able to shoot the ball.
At Cincinnati, he was a perfect 3 for 3 from behind the arc, and was an overall 5 of 5.
“Carter is really making progress and the one thing about Carter is, I’ve told him, he checks two boxes that are really hard to check,” Lloyd said. “He’s an elite talent, and he has elite character.”
With the emergence of the bench, Arizona is set up to have a very strong rotation within the flow of games.
Blown leads
During the undefeated start to conference play, it has not been all sunshine and rainbows. Arizona has been able to build large leads, but usually have not been able to keep it.
At Cincinnati, the Wildcats had a 19-point before the Bearcats came back to tie the game. Arizona would pull through with that game.
In Morgantown, Arizona’s 15-point lead was cut down to five before it built it back up. Lloyd made it clear that this is a trend that cannot continue.
“I don’t need the lead to grow from 14 to 20, but I don’t need to do it from 14 to zero,” Lloyd said. “That’s where we got to get better.”
Even in the Tuesday night win against Baylor, it was a 23-point lead for Arizona, which was cut down to single digits.
Fortunately, these blown leads have yet to hurt Arizona, but nothing lasts forever.
Finding their roles
A big key to Arizona’s success has been the simple fact that they have found their ideal rotation. With Anthony Dell’Orso starting, he has slowly found his place.
Going 3 for 4 from 3 against Baylor, and 2 for 3 against UCF, Dell’Orso will have to keep this up continuing into conference play.
Jaden Bradley has been the offensive organizer, whether it is in transition, halfcourt offense, or defensively. He has been the player on the court to lead by example.
It is clear that Veesaar, Lewis, and Bryant have found their roles coming off the bench. For the starting forwards, their role has been to clear the boards.
Tobe Awaka and Trey Townsend have been tasked with doing the dirty work and getting every rebound they can.
Now, even though they don’t have amazing stats in that column, it is the fact that they both find men to box out which leads to the overall ability to dominate the glass, with the exception of the UCF game.
“Just merely stop thinking,” Awaka said. “When that tip goes up, play as hard as you can. Don’t hyper-focus, just play freely.”
Follow the leader?
Going into this season most would’ve said that Caleb Love is the leader of this team, and even through most of this season that was still true.
However, as of recently, it does not feel like that is the case. With Love’s offensive struggles and late-game mistakes, most would start to think that there is a change of leadership needed.
Bradley would more than likely be the candidate to take that role. As seen through conference play, he has been able to do it all.
Logo 3, coast-to-coast and-1s, and even elevating for transition dunks. Bradley is going to need to keep setting the example for his counterparts.
With two road games coming up, he knows that there needs to be a continuation of the focus they have played with in the first five conference games.
“That previous road trip definitely helped us, but we can’t look back at that and dwell on that too much,” Bradley said. “It’s new teams, new everything.”