Arizona Wildcats 7-Foot Towers Take Down Anteaters 79-57

The European Connection for the Wildcats was too much Tuesday night, as Arizona attacked from both inside and outside to beat UC Irvine 79-57.

Arizona came into Tuesday night’s game looking to get back to their winning ways. A tough and physical loss to Gonzaga may be a moral victory for fans, but the players saw the game as one they let get away.

Looking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time this season, the Wildcats dominated the UC Irvine Anteaters to the tune of 79-57. It was the 38th consecutive non-conference home win for the Wildcats.

Lauri Markannen and Dusan Ristic, the 7-foot twin towers now aptly named the ‘EuroCon’, were unstoppable, and ultimately led the way for Arizona.

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They both scored 18 points on the night in very different ways. Dusan had his best game of the year coming up two points shy of his career-high of 20. He was very efficient as well hitting 8-11 from the field while also putting up a double-double with ten rebounds.

He was able to score with ease and go up strong when needed. The Anteaters didn’t pose the same physical threat as Karnowski for Gonzaga, but their length and size were enough inside with 7-foot-2 Dimakopoulos and 6-foot-10 Brad Greene at 320 pounds.

Ristic didn’t force his shots, instead he used jump hooks, put-backs, and power drives. No matter what, his shots were all working for him, he even threw-in a 14-foot jumper.

Coming off his worst performance of the year, we expected Lauri to bounce back, and that he did. Markkanen was very patient on the night, meticulous on offense and it surely showed. Against Gonzaga, he appeared to rush shots, hesitate and never looked comfortable. Last night he finished 7-10 from the field with 18 points (his season average), grabbing four rebounds, and shot four of six from three.

One thing the commentators mentioned tonight was how Lauri could easily go off for 30 points on any given night. He’s going to be leaned on heavily come conference play, and he knows that, but even on a night where he was making his shots from every spot and in every way, Lauri showed great maturity in not forcing his dominance.

Overall, the players appeared more confident. UC Irvine came out in a zone defense, which Sean Miller expected. Opposed to previous games, Arizona stayed calm and worked the offense, even though the first half seemed to drag from time to time, it was a great thing to see the Wildcats honor the process and not panic.

Dusan paved the way in the first half with 14 points. Kadeem Allen and Rawle Alkins chipped in nine and seven respectively while the team shot 52% from the field. They were patient on the offensive side which helped put Arizona ahead by 16 at the half, 39-23.

Dec 6, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Rawle Alkins (1) shoots the ball over UC Irvine Anteaters guard Jaron Martin (0) during the second half at McKale Center. Arizona won 79-57. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

UC Irvine came right at Arizona after the break and scored the first buckets. It wasn’t a pretty start as the Wildcats were slow in transition and turned the ball over. Once Miller was able to get his players to calm down, they went right back to trusting the offensive sets and letting their defense overwhelm the Anteaters.

Lauri really went to work in the second half. His shots were quick and smooth coming off screens. He and the rest of the Wildcats were attacking the middle of UCI’s zone on a regular basis in the second half. It was a comforting thing to see since a zone defense has been Arizona’s enemy. When it went inside each player looked for the slasher or put the ball on the floor and attacked.

One player who shouldn’t be ignored when looking at Tuesday’s game is Rawle. On a night where it was the Dusan and Lauri show, Rawle had his best game of the year.

Rawle was 3-9 from the field, and 2-4 from three, to finish with 14 points. What should be highlighted is his seven rebounds, six assists, with two steals with only one turnover. Alkins was everywhere on the court and attacked at the perfect time.

Kadeem Allen also quietly had a good game. He finished the night with 12 points on a very efficient 5-6 from the field, he also grabbed four rebounds, dished six assists to just three turnovers. He pushed Arizona in he final minutes of the first half and guided them throughout the second while fouls became an issue.

Miller knew his team was left licking their wounds from Saturday. This team is still learning and going through growing pains. Games like tonight are essential in the learning process. It’s a young team and still early in the season, and these learning moments are natural and necessary for success, no matter how painful.

Arizona will now hit the books and tests quickly before they travel to Missouri to take on the Tigers. That game is scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. tip-off CST. It’s an early one for those in the desert and on the west coast. When Arizona ball is life, you make sacrifices… even if the sacrifice is sleeping in. You can always take a nap later. BEAR DOWN!

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