Splitting Pants Can Get Arizona Back on Track

At the end of Arizona's 67-65 victory over Oregon at McKale, coach Sean Miller sprinted to the locker room. But it wasn't just because he was relieved the Wildcats escaped their second consecutive loss. He had to change into sweats after splitting his pants during the game's final, nail-biting minutes.


"I had to go to Plan B," he confessed to reporters during the post-game press conference, after watching Oregon score 13 second-chance points. "I wanted to get in the game and block someone out. I probably was demonstrating a block out better than our guys were, and my body and pants met up and ...  I'm sure there are pictures everywhere. It's a disaster."

Nearly a disaster was the fact that the Wildcats were out rebounded 40 to 35 for the game, and in doing so lost the battle of the boards, an alarming trend of late. The offense was also out of sync, as point guard J.T. McConnell admitted to reporters. Assistant coach Damon Stoudamire, himself one of Zona's great point guards of the past, told Arizona radio play-by-play man Brian Jeffries that the team has been searching ever since Brandon Ashley suffered a season-ending "foot injury," as it's being referred to, during last Saturday's loss at Cal.

Simply put, a young team has hit a rough patch, which was bound to happen. The better teams, however, find a quick fix to get back to winning ways. Coach Miller as well as McConnell and backcourt mate Nick Johnson seem confident in exactly that.

While the Wildcats adjust to life without Ashley and search for that new winning formula, a quest that continues Sunday against a resurgent Oregon State, they are also presented with an intriguing opportunity. Ashley is long and athletic, but with him on the court Arizona is much more of a half-court team. With him out, we've seen the Wildcats' offense sputter. Even the cool hands of McConnell and Nick Johnson are suddenly shaking. Arizona now finds itself in the position to finally capitalize on its quickness. But it also can't turn its back, literally, on what has helped the team get this far: rebounding.

The team must change its identity, from exploiting its size and intimidation down low to embracing a fast-breaking, guard-oriented style. The Cats still have Kaleb Tarczewski to battle on the blocks, grab rebounds and hit free throws. Any time the offense has to slow down, I argue, he should be the very first option, each and every time. Zeus can dominate in the post, and that will inevitably draw double teams, which in turn will leave Arizona's perimeter players open to rhythm jumpers.

But this also means the team needs to crash the glass like never before, and use its speed to get back on defense if it can't corral the loose ball. And these smaller players need to box out and not get caught watching the action.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson plays a key roll. His minutes are on the rise as a result of Ashley's injury, and though he is not armed at this point with a reliable outside shot he is the wing slasher that will force defenses to remain honest. He has an uncanny ability to get his hands on loose balls, and he's a great passer. He's a perfect complement in this respect to McConnell and Johnson, as he can get to the rim and find the open man. Gordon can and should concentrate on the boards and commanding attention away from Zeus. Don't settle for the jumper; drive to the hoop, and for God's sake make your free throws! As ESPN announcer Bill Walton implored Thursday night: "Let the game come to you!"

Meanwhile, Gabe York and Elliot Pitts can camp out behind the three-point line and await the kick out pass.

The one thing that doesn't change? The shutdown defense, which despite some bumps in the road against Cal and Oregon, is still alive. Despite allowing the Bears and the Ducks to both shoot over 40 percent from the field, Arizona's defense got the stops, or "kills" as the team refers to them, when they mattered. As these pieces grow more comfortable together, expect the defense to spark fast-break basketball that should lead to easy buckets in transition and can kick start the half-court offense.

This should also help McConnell get his groove back, as he clearly struggled against Oregon before hitting a late three-pointer to swing the game in Arizona's favor. And hopefully it will lead to much-needed improvement for the entire team at the free-throw line. Missing 16 free throws will not lead to you cutting down the nets in Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Tournament much less in Dallas for the National Championship.

As Miller learned Thursday night, sometimes you just have to do what you have to do when tragedy strikes.

"It's a lot easier to split your pants as the coach of Arizona after a win than a loss, I will say that," he concluded.