2 weeks Ago By Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
By the time McKale Center fans finally took a seat, the Arizona Wildcats’ first two regular season games were pretty much over. The Wildcats kept Canisius scoreless for over four minutes in their 93-64 season opening win on Nov. 4 and set the tone for a 102-44 blowout of Old Dominion five days later by holding the Monarchs without a point for three minutes and 50 seconds.
That notably extended a longtime McKale tradition in which fans stand until an opponent scores, and made UA coach Tommy Lloyd happy. “It’s great,” Lloyd said of the opposing teams' early droughts. “I didn't know that, but that's great news.
” It was great news for Lloyd because of what it said about his defense. Canisius missed its first five shots and turned the ball over twice, one leading to an easy layup from Caleb Love, while Old Dominion had even more trouble finding the basket: The Monarchs missed their first six shots, including ones that were blocked by UA’s KJ Lewis and Motiejus Krivas. Arizona guard Caleb Love knocks the ball loose from Canisius forward Gianni Thompson during the second half of the season opening game at McKale Center, Nov.
4, 2024. Lewis said in the preseason that the Wildcats were going to be “way better” this season because of their aggressiveness and ability to switch just about every position. So far, Arizona has limited opponents to just 42.
4% two-point shooting and the Wildcats steal the ball on 16.4% of opponent possessions. While the Wildcats' early production won't be easily duplicated at Wisconsin on Friday, Lloyd indicated that the Wildcats' first two games were a sign that they might be even better defensively than last season — when the Wildcats ranked 10th nationally in defensive efficiency, their highest ranking under Lloyd.
"The last couple years, the numbers say we've been good, maybe even better than good," Lloyd said. “I want more. I want more.
"I want more out of this team on that end of the floor. And I was really on them (last week) because I want to establish that standard for our program. I think we can be a very, very good defensive team.
” Arizona guard KJ Lewis keeps the ball far away from his opponent during the season-opening game against the Canisius Golden Griffins at McKale Center on Nov. 4, 2024. A few other early trends from the Wildcats’ two opening games: Veesaar’s redshirt year might be paying off While sitting out last season because of a disclosed elbow, the rangy Estonian 7-footer joined the Wildcats for practices starting in January, then went through another offseason of work to become one of their top reserves so far.
So far as a redshirt sophomore this season, Veesaar has averaged 18.4 minutes over the two games, while playing both post spots, averaging 9.0 points, 5.
5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. “I got two off seasons, basically,” Veesaar said.
“I was in the shadows. When everybody else was able to play, I just had workouts. It’s hard in person but now I’m so happy that it happened.
I feel like I'm so much better than I would have been otherwise.” Free-throw shooting remains shaky Arizona hit just 66.1% of its free throws over its first two games, including just 62.
1% against Old Dominion. That partially negated the fact that the Wildcats took 14 more free throws than Canisius and 12 more than Old Dominion, the sort of advantage the Wildcats often have at home. Since the Wildcats hit 73.
4% of their free throws during Lloyd’s first season of 2021-22, they have been below average from the line. They shot only 71.7% last season, ranking 202nd nationally, and just 70.
8% (223rd best) in 2022-23 – though part of that was the struggles of frequently fouled center Oumar Ballo, who shot just 49.8% of his free throws last season and just 56.5% in 2022-23.
(On a side note, Ballo has switched from shooting free throws with his right hand to his left hand for Indiana, which could face Arizona in the Battle 4 Atlantis later this month). “We need to step up and make them,” Lloyd said after UA’s blowout win over Old Dominion. “You win a game like this and you do have to look at things like that.
We’re not going to make a big deal out of them — I think we're going to be a really good free throw shooting team in time.” Strategically utilizing Motiejus Krivas Arizona center Motiejus Krivas scores over Old Dominion forward Stephaun Walker during the second half on Nov. 9, 2024, at McKale Center.
UA has carefully limited the preseason work and game minutes for its sophomore center after he experienced increasing discomfort with his foot in the few weeks after he returned to school in August after spending July playing U20 FIBA ball for Lithuania. He still managed to collect nine points and five rebounds in 10 minutes against Canisius and, against ODU, came up with six points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals in 12 minutes — despite shooting just 1 of 3 from the field and 4 of 6 from the line. The limits on Krivas have created more opportunity for Tennesse transfer Tobe Awaka – who had 18 points and 15 rebounds against ODU – but the Wildcats are likely to need both heavily in upcoming games with Wisconsin and Duke.
“Mo took about six weeks off, and we’re trying to build this team for the long run,” Lloyd said. “We’ve got to figure out what's the best way for him to function at a high level in some of these games. Because we obviously know it's about to get real.
I need Mo to continue to get better and better over the next week to two weeks.” Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at [email protected] .
On X(Twitter): @brucepascoe Who: No. 9 Arizona (2-0) at Wisconsin (3-0) When: 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 15 Where: Madison, Wisconsin TV: Peacock Radio: 1290-AM, 107.5-FM Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson.
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