Steady Hands

T.J. McConnell. Courtesy Arizona Athletics.

Arizona's starting guards Nick Johnson and T.J. McConnell had zero — count 'em, zero — turnovers as the Wildcats squeaked out a 60-57 victory over Stanford on Wednesday night.

Former Wildcat beat writer Javier Morales for the Arizona Daily Star pointed out that amazing stat Thursday on his blog, WildAboutAZCats.com. Richard Paige, UofA's associate sports information director, later confirmed that no starting guards had gone an entire road game without a combined turnover dating back to 1997. And he said only twice, in 1998 and 2003, did Arizona's starting guards commit only one combined turnover during a visit to Maples Pavilion.

Johnson is quickly becoming a lot of people's pick at this point for national player of the year, from Bill Walton to former teammate Mark Lyons, via Twitter:

1. Mark moog Lyons ‏@OnlyMoogJan 29

   @Air_Zona13 is the best defender I ever played with besides Paul Harris in high school

And Johnson has received just due for his heroics against Stanford, just one of many this season. But as coach Sean Miller and others have commented, McConnell is the team's MVP.

The 2012 transfer last spring of McConnell to UofA from Duquesne has to now rate as one of the brightest days in Wildcat basketball history, and that's saying something. The fiery point guard is an extension of Miller on the floor, and many have noted the similarities in their games, not to mention their Pittsburgh-area pedigrees.

You knew that coming in he'd be a high assist, low turnover guy with a penchant for steals and loose balls, as reported last spring by the Tucson Citizen's Anthony Gimino, after PG Aaron Craft's Ohio State squad nipped the Cats at the buzzer in the West Regional Sweet 16. The two are very similar in style and substance.

But lately McConnell's also been providing much-needed scoring, especially against Stanford. While Zona's bigs were struggling, McConnell was complimenting Johnson by hitting 5-of-8 from the field for 11 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. His assists were actually down, four compared to his average of six a game.

For the season, his stats don't jump out. But as McConnell goes — as well as Johnson — so, too, go the Wildcats.