With only five days since last week's report, there was less action to fill this week's column. But there were two results from this past week that speak to a resurgent power, highlighting a very difficult transition from a legend to the future, and the birth of a new star out West.
Arizona 76, Washington State 64
Arizona 84, Washington 69
And neither game was close to being that close.
The Arizona Wildcats are back.
It's been a long few years for the program. Though the streaks of 23 consecutive NCAA tournaments and 20 consecutive 20-win seasons remained alive, few Wildcats fans went into the 2006 or 2007 tournaments with much hope of anything. Marked by poor guard play, poor shooting, and soft defense, last year's first-round beating by Purdue felt very much like rock bottom.
And then this offseason provided the first steps in the always-knew-it-was-coming-but-hoped-it-never-would transition from the Lute Olson era.
Olson needed a spot for Kevin O'Neill, a former assistant at Arizona during the program's early glory years in the 1980s. Something had to be done to change the attitude of the program, and O'Neill was the man to do it.
Former player and current assistant Miles Simon has the Los Angeles recruiting base, plus is the only minority coach on the staff. Another former player, Josh Pastner, has done an incredible job recruiting Texas, and is a rising star coaching candidate in his own right (don't be surprised to see him land his own head gig in the next few years — and then one day succeed O'Neill with Arizona).
So Olson decided to move long-time assistant coach and confidant Jim Rosborough, the ultimate right hand man who had spent nearly three decades at his side at both Iowa and Arizona. According to the Arizona Daily Star, Rosborough was given a chance at a non-coaching position, but declined, saying he "was done" and calling himself a "non-person right now." It was a sad and unfortunate end to the relationship.
O'Neill and his defensive pedigree were added to the staff, with an unstated assumption (by the fans at least) he would one day take Olson's chair as the head man. Turns out, it was a short wait. Olson took an indefinite leave of absence shortly before the season began, and O'Neill was in command as interim head coach. Later, suffering from negative recruiting by opposing coaches casting the Wildcats program as in turmoil, Athletic Director Jim Livengood made it official — when Olson leaves for good, Arizona is O'Neill's program.
Last we heard, Olson was still coming back for next season. As an alum and former beat reporter covering the program, I will never, ever say Olson should do anything to the contrary. It's not hyperbole when I say I have more affection for Olson than either of my two grandfathers (that's more for a lack of opportunity on their parts, but whatever). I, and all Wildcats fans, revere Olson the way UCLA reveres John Wooden, North Carolina does Dean Smith, and Duke does Mike Krzyzewski. Olson isn't just a basketball coach. He is the single most beloved man in the city of Tucson. He is Arizona basketball. And whatever he wants to do is just fine with me.
But that doesn't mean it wouldn't be awkward. While Olson has stayed away this year, O'Neill has brought a new toughness and resolve the program hasn't had for some time. When they came back from down 20 to beat Texas A&M, it was there. When they took Kansas to OT at The Phog, it was there. When they came back to beat Illinois in Chicago, it was there.
Simply put, O'Neill brought the balls back to Arizona basketball. In just a few short months, this has become his team, molded in his balding, fire-breathing image. If Olson comes back, whose team does it become then? When Lute goes off on a player for doing something wrong, will the player look to O'Neill for affirmation? What if Olson and O'Neill disagree on how to handle a game plan? With O'Neill the chosen successor, how much can Olson really come down on him?
That's not to say it can't go well. O'Neill has always said the right things about this still being Olson's program, and that he's just warming his chair. And Olson isn't some egomaniac that's going to try and come in a "take back" the program. This can work because both men are classy individuals who have the kids' best interest at heart. They want to coach, and they want to win. Even if it gets awkward, they'll do what's in the best interests of the program.
Recall:
Arizona 76, Washington State 64
Arizona 84, Washington 69
Arizona hasn't had this impressive a weekend in some time.
The win over Washington State was a thing of beauty. Chase Budinger was a force on offense. Jordan Hill was blocking shots without getting into foul trouble. O'Neill was tearing into players for bad defense. Jerryd Bayless, the program's best freshman since Mike Bibby, was great on offense and shut down Cougars leading scorer Derrick Low. The student section roared like it hasn't in some time (and thankfully didn't rush the court, because UA should never rush the court after beating Washington State at home — no matter how highly the Cougars are ranked). The Cats got into the lane whenever they wanted and made 20-of-23 free-throw attempts. When they didn't get fouled, they made 55 percent of their field goal attempts — against the best defense in the Pac-10.
The win over Washington was pure dominance. Budinger made the leap into the "who the hell do you think you are trying to guard me?" zone. He made 5-of-10 three-pointers on his way to his third-consecutive 20-plus-point game. Bayless was even better, hitting 9-of-11 shots (including 5-of-6 from three) for a team-high 26 with six assists. Hill put up his sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. With five more blocks in this one, Hill finished the sweep with 11, never even picking up a fourth foul. Nic Wise was the ultimate Spark Plug, and Jawann McClellan the ultimate Glue Guy.
In the two games combined, the Wildcats made 59 percent of their field goals (50-of-85), 58 percent of their threes (25-of-43) and 83 percent of their free-throws (35-of-42). Like I said, they haven't had this impressive a weekend in some time.
On Thursday, it's O.J. Mayo and the resurgent Trojans at the Galen Center. On Saturday, it's the Bruins at Pauley. The Wildcats have been swept at both the past two years. And they may again this year, but they won't go down without a fight.
It's nice to be able to say that again.
***
Some of the other action from last Thursday through this past Monday:
THURSDAY
Duke 81, Virginia Tech 64 — It's hard to call the third-ranked team in the country under-rated, but it's not often you hear people talking about the Dukies in the national title conversation. But they should be. Duke has a versatile offense, with every guy capable of hitting a shot. Of their top seven, six shoot at 46 percent or better from the field. Four shoot better than 40 percent from three. Four average in double-figures in scoring (all the starters except Greg Paulus). Four average four rebounds or better per game. And four average two assists or better per game. This isn't the flashiest team Coach K has fielded, but it's well capable of making a run to the Final Four.
Sam Houston State 58, Stephen F. Austin 56 — The only two teams with double-digit RPI out of the 21st-ranked conference in the land (Southland), fought out a close one, decided when senior guard Shamir McDaniel hit a three-pointer with 20 seconds left to give Sam Houston State the come-from-behind victory. (Stephen F. Austin went for the win with a three at the buzzer and missed.) I mention it because either one of these teams could be the crazy 14-seed to knock out a three-seed.
Xavier 69, Dayton 43 — After questioning their internal fortitude last week, it's only fair I point out that when Xavier is on, they're really good. The best thing for them is to get shafted by the Selection Committee. If they get a five seed, they're well capable of getting over-confident and losing to a team like VCU or Kent State. But if they get saddled with a seven and play a 10 (usually one of the weaker BCS schools in the field), they can go on a run to the Sweet 16 like UNLV did last year.
UCLA 80, Oregon 75 — The Mac Court crowd was in full frenzy, yet the Bruins calmly went about their business and used their inside dominance (35-18 rebounding advantage) to pull out the game in the end. It had to especially painful to Ducks faithful that UCLA freshman Kevin Love, in his first game against his jilted home program, had as many rebounds as the entire Ducks team. Considering this was probably Love's one and only trip to play at Oregon, Ducks fans will have to resort to bullying Love's younger brother and friends in order to make themselves feel better.
FRIDAY
Northern Arizona 69, Weber State 56 — Just like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State, Northern Arizona has some potential as a bracket buster come March 20/21. They blew an 11-point second-half lead and lost on a late tip-in on Sunday to Idaho State, but the Lumberjacks are still the class of the Big West. Senior forward Kyle Landry leads the way with 17 points and 8.4 rebounds in just 25.6 minutes per game.
(So it's a bit of a reach. Blame the NCAA for not mandating there be some major conference action on Friday nights.)
SATURDAY
Memphis 81, Gonzaga 73 — Not to be a negative Nellie on what was a fairly dominating performance (at least in the second half), but Memphis' free-throw shooting sucks. They were just 19-of-32 in this one (59 percent) and sit at 58.6 percent on the season. As good as they are, they're going to get away with it for the most part. But when it comes to playing a team like UCLA (74.7), North Carolina (76.1), or Duke (69.9), those are points they're going to need to win a title. Going back to Michigan State in 2000, only one team (Connecticut in 2004) has won the championship hitting less than 69 percent of their free throws:
2007: Florida – 69.0
2006: Florida – 74.4
2005: North Carolina – 72.5
2004: Connecticut – 62.3
2003: Syracuse – 69.4
2002: Maryland – 72.6
2001: Duke – 69.6
2000: Michigan State – 73.5
One team within even ten percentage points of where Memphis now stands on the free-throw line. And as good as Derrick Rose is, he's not as nearly as dominant as Emeka Okefor was in '04. In other words, this is going to be a problem sooner or later.
Connecticut 68, Indiana 63 — Speaking of the Huskies, they are on a roll after ending the Hoosiers' 29-game home win streak. Connecticut still has some questions (maturity, consistency with their defensive intensity, three-point shooting), but they showed in this game they can play with anybody. And after beating Louisville on Monday night, UConn is only two games back of Georgetown for first in the Big East.
Kentucky 78, South Carolina 70 — With Georgia (road), Auburn (road), and Alabama up next, the Wildcats could be sitting on a 6-2 record in the SEC going into a big game at Vanderbilt on 2/12. After that, it's another very winnable trio with LSU (road), Georgia, and Arkansas. Like I said last week, do not be surprised when this team all of a sudden shows up on your bracket. The Selection Committee showed last year with Arkansas it doesn't take a great record out of the SEC to make it in.
Kansas 84, Nebraska 49 — The Jayhawks were like a traveling pro team playing groups of local yokels on the town square. 10 blocks? 14 Steals? A 25-5 advantage in assists? Sheesh.
Saint Louis 81, La Salle 74 — Take that, Archbishop Doody Pants!
Missouri 66, Colorado 62 — The big story wasn't the result of this game, but the fact Tigers' leading scorer Stefhon Hannah (14.7 ppg) hit the bar when the team got back to Columbia late Saturday night, then got hit in the face with an unknown object from an unknown source. Hannah's jaw was broken and now he's out for at least four-to-six weeks, possibly the whole season.
Now Hannah's a senior. He's old enough to go to a bar and get a drink. I'm not casting any stones on that. But this stuff just keeps happening to the Mizzou program. Granted, it's mostly Quinn Snyder's recruits who are getting into trouble (except for Mike Anderson's kid, who got a DUI), but, fair or not, this team is becoming the Cincinnati Bengals of the Big 12. They have to get some institutional control over the program, and they need to do it now.
Purdue 60, Wisconsin 56 — What we saw in this game was Purdue putting to use the lessons learned from tough losses earlier in the season to Clemson, Missouri, and Michigan State. Of course being at home helps, especially with a team this young. Regardless, this was the type of signature win the Boilermakers needed to propel them thorough the second half of the Big Ten schedule and into the postseason. Now they just need to avoid the let-down (a big bugaboo for young teams) against a very pesky and determined Iowa team on Wednesday night.
Rutgers 77, Pittsburgh 64 — And this was at the Zoo and on the heels of the Knights taking out Villanova to end a six game slide that left them in an 0-6 hole in conference play.
Two points:
1. And this is why it's a great idea to have all 16 teams go to the Big East Tournament. If it was still just the top 12, Rutgers would be sitting in the cold. Under the new rule, they get a chance to spring the upset, which we now know they can do.
2. Pittsburgh really needs Levance Fields back. Panthers head coach Jamie Dixon said after the game, "We usually find ways to win ... We didn't find a way, and that's probably the most disappointing thing." It's Fields who is usually the one finding that way. Unless he comes back in time for the postseason, Pittsburgh is a giant waiting to fall.
New Mexico State 100, Utah State 70 — Playing short-handed with the suspension of four players, included third-leading scorer Stephen DuCharm, Utah State lost its undefeated conference record and a 10-game win streak. Nevertheless, WAC leading scorer Jaycee Carroll (21.1 ppg on 53 percent shooting, 51 percent from three, and 93 percent from the free-throw line) has the Aggies in position to take the reins from Nevada as the WAC entrant in the Field of 64. And if they get there — watch out. Carroll is the kind of scorer who can will his team to an upset.
Virginia Commonwealth 76, Drexel 62 — Just a reminder not to miss VCU/George Mason tonight on ESPN2 (6 PM Central). It's going to be a good one.
USC 95, Oregon 86 (OT) — Some interesting stats:
Total points scored in the first half: 45
Total points scored in the second half: 103
Oregon took 21 more shots (71 to 50). The Trojans hit a much higher percentage (56 to 42.3).
Four of the five Trojans' starters played more than 40 minutes. O.J. Mayo, who played 41 in this one — the sixth time he's played the full 40 or more — is now averaging 36.3 minutes per game, tops in the Pac-10.
USC attempted more than double the number of free throws than did the Ducks (36 to 17). And this was at McArthur Court. Where's the home love?
For such a frenetic pace, there were only 19 total turnovers (10 by Oregon and 9 by USC). Isn't the Pac-10 supposed to be a defensive league now? (No.)
There are six teams within two games of first in the Pac-10 (including SC at 4-3). After losing to both the Trojans and Bruins, Oregon is in eighth at 3-5.
Brand Obama 55, Brand Clinton 27 — Make no mistake, this is nothing more than a marketing war between two pre-packaged branding campaigns. Sure the stakes are quite a bit higher, but, in the end, this Democratic primary is just another Coke/Pepsi or Bud/Miller. You pick which flavor suits you best and buy, buy, buy.
(Personally, I like Dr. Pepper and Coors Light. Does that make me a John Edwards supporter?)
SUNDAY
Xavier 77, Massachusetts 65 — Let's re-visit the three-or-four-from-the-A-10 predictions for a moment. The current standings:
Xavier: 5-1 (17-4)
St. Joseph's: 4-1 (12-5)
Charlotte: 4-1 (13-6)
Rhode Island: 3-2 (17-3)
Duquense: 3-2 (13-5)
Richmond: 3-2 (10-8)
Temple: 2-2 (9-9)
Dayton: 2-3 (14-4)
Massachusetts: 2-3 (13-6)
Saint Louis: 2-3 (11-8)
Fordham: 2-3 (8-9)
La Salle: 2-3 (7-11)
George Washington: 1-4 (5-10)
St. Bonaventure: 0-5 (6-13)
Lessons:
Dayton's loss to Richmond (RPI 139) on Saturday was hugely damaging to its at-large hopes. The wins over Pittsburgh and Louisville are only going to go so far. Any more slips, and they're going to need to make a deep run in the A-10 tourny to have a shot.
The Atlantic 10 needs to contract at least four teams. St. Louis belongs in the Missouri Valley, a lateral move that makes a lot more geographical sense. St. Bonaventure, Fordham, and La Salle belong in lower-tier conferences.
Massachusetts is strictly auto bid or bust.
Rhode Island still holds its destiny in its hands, but they need to take care of business starting Wednesday night at home against Richmond. They could also really use a home win over Dayton on Saturday. A loss there and I don't see how they jump the Flyers, who will have swept them, for an at-large.
St. Joseph's has a lot of talent, but losses to Holy Cross and Creighton were killers on their resume. They probably have to sweep Xavier (on the road February 10, at home March 6) and win at least one of their trips to Rhode Island (2/24) or Dayton (3/8). A home win over Villanova next Tuesday would help a great deal as well.
In the end, this is probably a two-bid league or less.
Florida 86, Vanderbilt 64 — Watch out for the Gators. They are going to be a tough, tough out come March. All five starters scored in double-figures in this one. They also had a 38-27 rebounding advantage and finished with 26 assists to just 10 turnovers.
As for Vandy, 17-3 still looks pretty good. But after the six-point loss to Kentucky, they've been blown out by 20 by Tennessee and 22 by Florida. They need to at least show up at Ole Miss on Wednesday night or they officially go on the free-fall watch list.
Miami (Fl) 75, Clemson 72 — That's a big win for the Hurricanes to stop the bleeding after a three-game losing streak to Boston College, NC State, and UNC. A win over Duke at Cameron on Saturday would put them right back on the right side of the bubble conversation.
Illinois 70, Northwestern 37 — When you almost get doubled-up by this Illini team, you know you have problems. Let's hope for Northwestern's sake they can beat Texas-Pan American at home on Wednesday, because they could easily lose every remaining game on their schedule after that.
MONDAY
San Diego 63, St. Mary's 55 — It's a tough road loss for the Gaels, but nothing of the sky-is-falling variety. The more interesting part is that San Diego plays in Jenny Craig Pavilion, which somehow I didn't know.
Jenny Craig? Really? That's the best you could do?
Seth Doria is a writer based out of St. Louis. For the only daily column that mixes sports, politics, and entertainment news in one, visit The Left Calf.
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