‘Focused’ Horne helps Cats with best game in 2 1/2 months
Arizona's Chase Budinger (left) and Jamelle Horne hug in celebration after Sunday's game in Miami.
MIAMI – Arizona’s Chase Budinger knew something big was about to happen to sophomore forward Jamelle Horne.
“The biggest thing was he came ready to play,” said Budinger about Horne, who scored 15 points – his most in 2 1/2 months – and added five rebounds and two blocks in UA’s 71-57 win over Cleveland State.
“You could see it in practice Saturday and you could see it before the game (Sunday). He was focused. He was ready to go.”
Horne – arguably UA’s most athletically gifted player but maybe the most inconsistent, too – sank the Wildcats’ first shot 34 seconds into the game and scored three minutes later to give Arizona a 9-4 lead and tame a Vikings team that jumped out to a huge early lead in its win over Wake Forest.
“Hitting that first shot gave Jamelle a lot of confidence,” Budinger said. “He was able to get out on the break and get some dunks . . . he was just being aggressive.
“We need that. We need that extra person to step up for us.”
Horne stepped up at the end, too. He had a dunk off a Kyle Fogg steal to give UA a 63-57 lead with 3:18 left and two free throws with 2:00 remaining to put the Cats up 65-54.
“The guys were telling me to be more aggressive,” said Horne. “I had the open look and it went down. . . . when I’m knocking down my shots it brings another dimension to the team.”
Horne struggled in UA’s first-round win over Utah. He had three points in 19 minutes, playing with four fouls.
“I wanted to come in and play smart,” he said. “I wanted to give great energy.”
Horne succeeded – using his long wingspan to help snag key rebounds – but was it his best game of the season?
“(No), but it was the most important.”
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AND THEN THERE WAS 1
Advanced to Sweet 16
No. 12 Arizona Beat Cleveland St. 71-57
Eliminated in second round
No. 6 ASU Lost to Syracuse 78-67
No. 10 USC Fell to Michigan St. 74-69
No. 4 Washington Lost to Purdue 76-74
No. 6 UCLA Fell to Villanova 89-69
Eliminated in first round
No. 7 California Lost to Maryland 84-71