Cats’ win signals maturity, perhaps ability to get tough
by Steve Rivera on Dec. 04, 2006, under SportsPHOENIX – This time Arizona didn’t blow it.
Instead, the Wildcats pulled away in the game’s final minutes to defeat Illinois, 84-72, in the Hall of Fame Challenge at U.S. Airways Center.
Is it a sign of maturity? A sign that UA is getting it? A sign that maybe it’s getting tougher?
All of the above – and likely more in the gritty, come-from-behind win over the Illini that extended Arizona’s winning streak to five. No. 16 UA is 5-1.
“I don’t think people are used to seeing Arizona play like that,” said UA junior Jawann McClellan, who had 13 points and five rebounds. “We played a lot tougher. These types of games help us prepare for teams that are more physical. We all showed up and played like a team.”
And in a game that had an NCAA Tournament feel in front 15,507 fans and a national television audience.
“I think everyone got their money’s worth,” Arizona coach Lute Olson said. “It was a really exciting basketball game.”
Perhaps very exciting for Olson because he saw his defense arrive. It’s an area in which Olson’s concern had been the greatest.
“I’m glad our guys kept plugging away,” he said. “There’s no question the defense turned it around for us, got some steals and some opportunities there.”
And turned them into baskets – or at least got Illinois playing at a pace Arizona wanted: fast. UA had 18 fast-break points to Illinois’ two.
Every starter scored in double figures.
Chase Budinger finished with 22 and Ivan Radenovic had 13 points. Marcus Williams finished with 20 points.
“It was a big game for us,” said Mustafa Shakur, who added 16 points and eight assists.
Shakur found it “weird” that UA was down big in the first half (33-17) the same way UA found itself up big in the last meeting between the teams in the 2005 Elite Eight. Back then, UA fell apart, losing 90-89 in overtime.
This time, it was Arizona that came back.
On Saturday, UA outscored Illinois 48-31 in the second half. The Wildcats had a 40-18 advantage in an 18-minute stretch that included the last eight minutes of the first half and the first 10 minutes of the second half.
“In the second half we just had to keep playing with the same intensity we did at the end of the first half,” said Budinger, whose star continues to rise with every game.
The game came down to the final minutes – much like the 2005 Elite Eight game – but UA was able to pull away in the final four minutes after holding a 71-70 lead.
Budinger hit for six points in the final 1:11 to secure the victory for UA. It included a four-point play when he scored on a layup as he was getting fouled intentionally by Rich McBride.
Arizona fell behind by 16 points – 33-17 – with eight minutes left in the first half but then put on one of its runs to close the gap to 41-36 to end the half.
“You could see it crumbling,” Williams said of UA falling behind early, “but good teams know how to put it together and win.”
Illinois finished the half shooting 54 percent, but the Illini were at 75 percent with seven minutes left. At that point, Illinois had a 35-19 lead.
“They were making everything they were throwing up,” McClellan said. “We knew they had to cool off at some point. They ended up doing that. We just stayed close and kept our heads into it and our composure.”
It didn’t hurt that UA went to the free throw line 37 times, hitting 26. Illinois went 5 for 9 from the line and had 17 turnovers to UA’s 12.
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Cheers
To Mustafa Shakur for playing an aggressive game and never losing his composure. He had 16 points, eight assists and only three turnovers.
Jeers
To Illinois coach Bruce Weber, who was called for a technical for arguing what he thought was a foul that wasn’t called. It helped UA gain more momentum after taking a 60-58 lead.
Player of the game
UA freshman Chase Budinger, who had 22 points, three assists and eight rebounds.
By the numbers
4 – Steals by UA’s Marcus Williams to go along with three blocks.
8 – Assists by Shakur in 40 minutes.
17 – Minutes the UA bench played in the game. Bret Brielmaier played 12 of them.
