Arizona Looks to Keep ASU's Bachynski in 'Check'

Arizona has done a good job containing 

Jordan Bachynski in seven career games.

USA Today

Reigning Pac-12 Player of the Week Jordan Bachynski has proved to be a load for most opponents this season, especially last weekend for Oregon State and Oregon, on which the 7-2, 250-pound junior center narrowly missed two consecutive triple doubles. 

The Calgary, Alberta native posted respective lines of  17 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks and a career-high 26 points, nine rebounds and nine blocks to beat the Beavers and the Ducks and keep ASU in the Pac-12 hunt.

But things have not come so easily against Arizona. Bachynski has mostly disappeared on the court and, in the process, his Sun Devils only have a 1-6 record in those games over the past four seasons. The lone exception occurred on March 4, 2012, when ASU won 87-80 in and essentially dashed any hopes the Wildcats had of making the NCAA Tournament. Bachynski shot 5-for-7 from the field and scored 11 points, his third-best total that season,  and set a career-high (at the time) with 6 blocks.

Since, he has blocked six or more shots 14 times, including eight games this season, on his way to eclipsing Anthony Cook's career record. Last month in Tucson, however, Bachynski only had three blocks in 23 minutes to go along with three points, all from the foul line. Kaleb Tarczewski, on the other hand, had 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting, eight rebounds and two blocks of his own.

The length of Ashley, who had 10 points and five boards in that contest, contributed to the success the Wildcats had that day against Bachynski and ASU during the 91-68 beating at McKale Center. A poor shooting performance by ASU point guard Jahii Carson didn't help, and neither did the absence of backcourt mate Jermaine Marshall and his 16 points per game due to a groin injury.

But Ashley is now out, having had surgery to repair the ligament damage to his right foot on Tuesday, and Marshall has returned to average 20 points per game over the last four contests. While Nick Johnson will draw that assignment, it will be not only be incumbent on Tarczewski and an active Aaron Gordon to keep Bachynski in check Friday night when Arizona travels to ASU, but perhaps coach Sean Miller might employ the Gumby-like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in an attempt to disrupt Bachynski's rhythm.

However, the real catalyst might just be Matt Korcheck. At 6-10 and 230 pounds, he could allow Miller to spell Tarczewski when Arizona wants to go small but still needs keep Bachynski in check. It could be a tall task in more ways than one.

Korcheck played only 45 minutes this season until logging five against Oregon State on Saturday, mostly in garbage time. The most minutes he played prior to that, and actually the last time he hit the court, was against ASU on Jan. 16 at McKale. But by that time, Bachynski and the rest of the Sun Devils were licking their wounds.

Still, he could do just enough to harass, and hopefully tire, Bachynski while letting Gordon or Jefferson collapse on the double team. Bachynski is a decent passer, so the Wildcats perimeter defense can't let Carson, Marshall or Jonathon Gilling to roam free and get open looks at three-pointers or drive to the bucket uncontested, for that matter. But Bachynski is not known for his strength, and the much younger Tarczewski basically had his way most of the game in Tucson.

Korcheck draws rave review from Miller for his mental and physical toughness, and he's shown some decent offensive moves of his own, when he gets the opportunity in mop-up time. We'll see how that all carries over into Friday's primetime game at Wells Fargo Arena.