Former Arizona forward Derrick Williams has trimmed down from 248 to 232 pounds to be more agile on the wing for Minnesota (US Presswire photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

LAS VEGAS — When Derrick Williams was preparing to play his first season at Arizona in 2009, he was asked during Media Day what position he expected to play the most for the Wildcats and new coach Sean Miller.

“I want to play out on the wing,” Williams said. “I feel like I can play the best out there, because I can shoot it from outside, but I will do whatever Coach Miller needs me to do.”

The Wildcats, strapped for frontcourt players, needed Williams to fill the role as a power forward and he gained weight accordingly, listed as high as 245 pounds. Williams, who stands at 6-foot-8, played as a power forward with a small-forward mindset in most of his two years at Arizona.

Now, entering his second season in the NBA, Williams is trying to reverse what his role became at Arizona. Minnesota Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman and his staff want Williams to play more in the open court, handle the ball at the wing and make things happen by playing aggressively with the shot and the pass.

“I do want to dominate, but it’s not really about scoring 30 points,” Williams said after playing an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Arena with the Timberwolves. “I just want to stay efficient, making shots I know I can make and just really stay consistent.

“I’m trying to get my assists up too. I’m trying to do a little more of everything and be more complete.”

More assists? Williams had 65 of those in 69 games in his two years with Arizona. In 66 games last season with Minnesota — almost equaling his total with the Wildcats — Williams only had 35 assists.

Derrick Williams has worked more on his game of facing the basket during the NBA Summer League games (US Presswire photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

That was the former Derrick Williams, heavier and more concerned about positioning near the basket for rebounds and high-percentage shots. The new Williams now weighs 232 pounds — down 16 pounds from what he was listed last season with Minnesota. His performance at this week’s NBA Summer League has included pushing the ball and attacking the lane from the wing, mostly in transition.

“They like me in fast-break situations, attacking in the open court,” Williams said of Minnesota’s brass.

Williams was the anchor of Arizona’s offense, filling the lane or spotting up for a three-pointer either in transition or in the halfcourt sets. He was not counted on to create shots off the dribble or pass to the open man after penetrating like a wing player is required.

That’s his new role with Minnesota. Through three games in the NBA Summer League, Williams is averaging 18.3 rebounds, 7 rebounds and 1.7 assists. That’s not much, you say — Williams’ 1.7 assists per game. Well, the average is actually tied for second-best for Minnesota in these summer-league games, which often become structured playground games.

“The thing I keep stressing and what they’ve been telling me is to be more efficient in everything that I do,” Williams said. “I have been working hard and doing all the right things to make that happen. I know it’s something I will continue to work hard on.”

A testament to that hard work is his diligent training regimen with the trainer of Timberwolves teammate Kevin Love in Los Angeles. Rob McClanaghan has made a name for himself among other NBA players, also training the likes of Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose, to name a couple.

Williams’ body transformation also includes having a procedure done recently to fix a deviated septum, which affected his breathing on the court, extending to his high school days. Aesthetically, Williams is wearing a retainer on his teeth. A good smile, after all, helps an athlete to be more marketable off the court.

In terms of being marketable, Williams has endured the trade-talk news during the NBA draft last month and recently when the Timberwolves approached Portland about acquiring small forward Nicolas Batum for Williams, the No. 2 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The trade rumors are likely a result of Minnesota believing Williams is raw at small forward and playing out of position at power forward behind Love.

“I know this is a business,” Williams said. “That kind of (trade) talk and rumors are going to happen with everybody. If I just focus on what I have to do to be a complete player, everything will take care of itself.”

SUMMER LEAGUE NOTES: Former Arizona guard Kyle Fogg played in Houston’s last game of the NBA Summer League on Wednesday against Chicago after sitting on the bench for the first four games. He scored four points on 2-of-3 shooting from the field in 22 minutes. He tallied two rebounds, an assist and four turnovers. … Fogg was able to congratulate former Arizona assistant Mike Dunlap on landing the head coaching job with Charlotte when they met Tuesday night at Thomas & Mack after Dunlap coached the Bobcats against Minnesota. Dunlap was instrumental in Fogg attending Arizona in 2008-09, the season Dunlap and Russ Pennell coached the Wildcats on an interim basis. … Former Arizona players have been very visible at the NBA Summer League. The list includes Steve Kerr (NBA-TV announcer), Sean Rooks (an NBA Developmental League coach/administrator), Joe McLean (investment advisor), Reggie Geary (Japanese Basketball League coach), Matt Brase (Houston scout and assistant), Bret Brielmaier (San Antonio scout and assistant) and Luke Walton and Richard Jefferson (current NBA players observing the games). “It’s a good brand when you come out of the program,” McLean told me. “When you go in to the school, you don’t think about all those things. You assume you will play in the NBA for 15 years, but as you know, that doesn’t get to happen for most of us. So even if you don’t make it in the NBA (Brielmaier and Brase, Lute Olson’s grandson, as examples) there have been some opportunities in sports for the guys to make it.”

Former Arizona guard Kyle Fogg has yet to play in Houston’s three games of the NBA Summer League but he is maintaining a positive outlook (TucsonCitizen.com photo/Javier Morales)

LAS VEGAS — His last name is Fogg, but his head is not in a fog when it comes to his future, even under what some would consider trying circumstances.

Houston has played three games in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas since Friday, and the Rockets only have two left. Kyle Fogg’s playing time: Zero minutes. Monday afternoon, with the same fervor he showed at Arizona, Fogg went through the daily routine of a shootaround and a pregame warmup before the Rockets played Jimmer Fredette and Sacramento at the Thomas & Mack Arena.

Fogg, an undrafted guard trying to embark on a professional career either in the NBA, the NBA’s Developmental League or overseas, faces the daily grind and playing uncertainty with a positive outlook. He joked with teammates during the warmup drills. He remained in good spirits on the Houston bench throughout the Rockets’ 113-91 win over the Kings.

Not even in a rout did Fogg get time on the court. A lesser person, thinking playing time is owed to him since he is on the roster, would start to sulk or become frustrated.

“They’ve had an opportunity to see me play (in practice),” Fogg reasoned. “They like me as a player. It’s just about getting better in practice every day.

“I want to show them that I can be an even better player down the road … I just have to be ready for when my time comes and show people that I can play.”

A consolation: Five other players on the roster have yet to play and four others have played in only one of the three games.

Houston’s coach in the summer league J.B. Bickerstaff — the former Oregon State player and son of ex-NBA coach Bernie Bickerstaff — is utilizing the personnel to the command of head coach Kevin McHale (who sits courtside here).

“You look at our roster, and we’ve got a lot of youth and there’s a lot of opportunity for them,” J.B. Bickerstaff said in terms of drafted players, returners and acquisitions under contract.

The Rockets’ strategy is sticking mostly to playing seven players they want to see perform in game conditions, including a trio of first-round draft picks this year — shooting guard Jeremy Lamb, wing player Terrence Jones and power forward Royce White.

The others are one-year NBA players, power forward Marcus Morris and point guard Courtney Fortson; undrafted rookie point guard Scott Machado; and rookie Lithuanian center Donatas Motiejunas (obtained in a trade from Minnesota, which drafted him in the first round in 2011). Machado is getting significant playing time because point guard is a position of need for Houston.

Fogg admitted the lack of playing time is “definitely kind of discouraging”, but that’s because he was unable to perform in front of family and friends who made the trip to Las Vegas from his hometown of Brea, Calif., over the weekend. They have returned home.

“I want to get out there and play for my fans, friends and family,” he said. “I am going to be ready for the opportunity. Hopefully I can get on the floor in these next couple of games.”

Fogg, 6-foot-3 and 188 pounds, keeps a clear head about his situation because of encouraging words by others, including former UA teammates Chase Budinger and Derrick Williams, both with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“I have talked to Chase a lot and also Derrick,” said Fogg, who averaged 9.6 points in his UA career, spanning 139 games (119 starts). “Those guys just tell me to stay with it and keep working and eventually my time will come.

“I saw Derrick here (Sunday night). He thinks I am good enough to play at that level (NBA) and it’s just up to me to show my stuff.”

Fogg will continue to work on his game and play as much as possible after the NBA Summer League ends this week. No summer vacation for him. No time off.

He plans to work out near his home in Brea and also in Tucson later this month leading up to when NBA training camp opens in October.

“Everything is just kind of going by too fast,” Fogg said about his experiences after earning his degree after the spring semester. “It’s been kind of tough after the season ended. I am working every day and getting better.

“I am following my dream of playing in the NBA. It feels great just to be able to hoop every day and not really have to worry about anything else.”

Fogg’s work ethic and team-first mentality has made a good impression on Houston’s brass. Scouts from other teams might not be able to see him play here but the Rockets know much about him. Word also travels in the NBA.

“They know I am a great guy off the court,” he said when asked what he has to offer at the NBA level. “I am also a great defender and a guy who can really spread the floor when he gets out there.”

SUMMER LEAGUE NOTES: Williams started Monday night for Minnesota in the Timberwolves’ 73-64 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He had 15 points and nine rebounds. He also had a highlight-reel alley-oop dunk. … Former Santa Rita High School player Terrell Stoglin went scoreless in three minutes in Toronto’s 85-75 loss to Dallas on Monday. Stoglin has scored five points with no assists in a total of 10 minutes through three games. … Darryl Eto, a former head assistant strength and conditioning coach at the UA from 1991-97, is Houston’s director of strength and conditioning. … Fredette, who set a McKale Center record with 49 points in BYU’s 99-69 win over Arizona on Dec. 28, 2009, is an obvious crowd favorite here in Las Vegas. He received the loudest cheers en route to his team-high 30 points in Sacramento’s loss to Houston.

Former Arizona center Sean Rooks, who went from being a redshirt player in Lute Olson’s program to a 12-year NBA veteran, knows what it takes to work from the ground up.

Former Arizona point guard Josiah Turner will attempt to play next season either in the NBA’s Developmental League or overseas (US Presswire photo/Chris Morrison )

After learning Wednesday about former Arizona guard Josiah Turner’s decision to turn pro instead of transferring to SMU, Rooks believes today’s young players dangerously believe they can shoot right to the top. Turner told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday that he wants to pursue his dream of a pro career — starting in either the NBA’s Developmental League or overseas — rather than continue his collegiate career.

“(It’s) sad where sports has gone,” Rooks wrote on a thread on my Facebook page. “Kids have the 40-inch vertical (leap), the killer cross over … Everybody wants to be a PRO for all the wrong reasons but yet can’t make it through a year of school … (they) think it’s that easy to adapt to a professional life.”

Rooks not only survived but flourished in the NBA despite a second-round selection in the 1992 draft. According to Basketball-Reference.com, Rooks earned $17.2 million for seven different NBA teams. And that does not include the two years (2005 and 2006) in Spain that concluded his career.

He went from averaging 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds as a redshirt freshman in 1988-89 — Sean Elliott’s senior season — to posting 16.3 points and 6.9 rebounds a game as a senior in 1991-92. A four-year college career is becoming the exception rather than the norm for NBA-bound players these days.

The 2012 NBA draft last month included 66 early entries, 49 of them collegiate underclassmen. Only four seniors were selected in the first round of this year’s draft.

Turner announced his intention to transfer to SMU after completing a tumultuous freshman season at Arizona, one in which included alcohol and marijuana use being “big issues”, he told Yahoo Sports.

Arizona coach Sean Miller disciplined Turner, a 6-foot-2-inch point guard, on three separate occasions, including a permanent dismissal for the remainder of the season before the Pac-12 tournament started. Turner was arrested in Tucson in April on suspicion of extreme DUI. This occurred three weeks after Arizona announced Turner, a Rivals.com Five-Star recruit out of high school, was transferring from the program.

Turner decided to turn pro despite averaging only 6.8 points and 2.4 assists in his lone season with Arizona.

“They must think being a pro is simple,” Rooks wrote about young players with raw potential such as Turner. “I mean, how hard can it be to buy cars, jewelry and pop bottles for the homies and the women?

“They got it all figured out. (With) the direction he is going, he will be LUCKY if he is smart enough to go back to school.”

Rooks, who has spoken to prospects about making right decisions at various high school all-star events, ended his opinion in the Facebook post by writing “smh”, which stands for “shaking my head”.

In the Yahoo Sports article, Turner said he has matured from his experience at Arizona.

“My maturity level now is way higher than it was when I was in Arizona,” Turner told Yahoo. “I was young. I made mistakes. I just learned a lot from last year thinking about where I could be at right now and thinking about the things I did last year. It was all stupid.”

I echo Rooks’ thoughts on this subject of young players being overzealous about a potential pro career. It falls in line with Miller’s comments about success being earned — not being an entitlement — when he took over the Arizona program in 2009. I hope that Turner’s decision to forsake a college career for a roll-of-the-dice shot at pro ball is not another one of his life-changing mistakes.

***

As expected former Arizona forward Derrick Williams is slated to play for Minnesota in the upcoming NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (which runs Friday through July 22). The only other confirmed former Wildcat on a roster is Kyle Fogg with Houston. Brendon Lavender Tweeted recently that he was set to join Atlanta’s team in the summer league but his name does not appear on the roster.

Former Santa Rita guard Terrell Stoglin — the leading scorer in the ACC last season with Maryland — was also expected to participate in the summer league with Toronto, but his name also does not appear on the official roster.

This does not mean Lavender and Stoglin will not compete. They can be replacements for injured players or no-shows.

***

Make sure you read TucsonCitizen.com and WILDABOUTAZCATS.net starting on Friday as I will rank Arizona’s Top 50 games in the football program’s history. The ranking will coincide with the countdown toward the season. The No. 50 game will be published on Friday, which will be 50 days from the season-opening kickoff between Arizona and Toledo at Arizona Stadium.

Former Arizona guard Kyle Fogg took his first step toward a pro career by obtaining an agent (US Presswire photo/Chris Morrison)

Former Arizona guard Kyle Fogg announced late Monday night on his Facebook page that he has signed with CAA Sports to represent him in potential contract negotiations with professional teams in the NBA or overseas.

“Officially just signed!” wrote Fogg, who included a picture of the papers he signed with CAA Sports. “Just wanna thank everyone who has supported me. It’s a new chapter in my life. My pro career has begun.”

CAA Sports, which has four offices located in the United States and two others in London, England, and Stockholm, Sweden, represents a wide-range of athletes. Clients include pro athletes who participate in football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, tennis and golf. It also represents broadcasters and coaches.

The list of clients include Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay.

Fogg, listed at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, is not included on any NBA mock draft boards but his performance in the Portsmouth Invitational earlier this month impressed some scouts. He averaged 13.5 points a game and shot 44 percent from three-point range as a senior.

In case you missed it: The Top 10 Badass Defensive Players and the Top 10 Badass Offensive Players in Arizona football history

1987-88 Arizona Wildcats (35-3)
–Beat North Carolina 70-52 in the West Regional Final; lost to Oklahoma 86-78 in the Final Four. To note: The Wildcats of 1987-88 continue to hold school records for victories (35), points in a season (3,234), average margin of victory (22.9 points), field goals made (1,147), field-goal percentage (54.5 percent), three-point field-goal percentage (48.3), fewest foul-outs (only six), and fewest blocked shots by opponents (only 1.4 a game).

2010-11 Arizona Wildcats (30-8)
–Lost to Connecticut 65-63 in the West Regional Final. To note: The 2010-11 Wildcats set school records for three-point field goals made (296) and opponent three-point field-goal percentage (only 29.3 percent).

VOTE ON THIS MATCHUP AT WILDABOUTAZCATS.NET!!!

Previous Arizona Elite Eight Event Matchups (Polls still open at WILDABOUTAZCATS.net):
>> 1993-1994 versus 2004-2005
>> 1996-1997 versus 2002-2003
>> 1975-1976 versus 2000-2001

MATCHUPS

Point Guard

Steve Kerr (1984-1988) vs. Lamont “MoMo” Jones (2009-2011)

Steve Kerr

Lamont MoMo Jones

A Kerr vs. Jones matchup at the starting point guard spot is as contrasting as this Elite Eight event can muster. Kerr is the cool, calm and collected player from the serene beach town of Pacific Palisades, Calif., while Jones is the rough and tumble, get-in-your-face player from Brooklyn.

Their polar-opposite characteristics is indicative of the different capabilities each team had to offer. The teams had one thing in common: They share the record for playing the most games in a season (38) in the program’s history. But more contrasts exists than similarities.

The 1987-88 Wildcats, led by the deft outside shooting of Kerr, shot a school-record 48.3 percent from three-point range. The 2010-11 edition, captained by the defensively active Jones on the perimeter, held opponents to a school-record low of 29.3 percent from three-point range.

Who would win the battle? The 1987-88 team with its offensive perfection or the 2010-11 team with its defensive prowess?

Kerr set UA records shooting 57.3 percent from three-point range and posting an assist-to-turnover ratio of almost 5-to-1 (150 assists compared to only 36 turnovers). Jones was not as good of a shooter making only 31.6 percent of his three-pointers last season. But he converted 82.8 percent of his free-throw attempts and was clutch in memorable victories over California, scoring a career-high 27 points in a three-overtime game in Berkeley, and Duke, with 16 points, six assists and no turnovers in the Sweet 16 game.

Kerr was the model of reliability and consistency. Little-known fact: Kerr played all 50 minutes (a school record) in a double-overtime 79-72 victory over Cal at McKale Center on Jan. 12, 1986.

Jones is the only starter on an Arizona Elite Eight team who transferred to another school. He switched to Iona this season to be closer to home so he can be near his ailing grandmother. The NCAA granted Jones, a junior, a hardship waiver and allowed him to play this year for Iona.

Shooting Guard

Craig McMillan (1985-1988) vs. Kyle Fogg (2009-2012)

Craig McMillan

Kyle Fogg

McMillan, a Parade magazine and McDonald’s All-American, was the first blue-chip recruit signed by Lute Olson. Fogg was a late relatively obscure addition to the Class of 2008, noticed by former assistants Russ Pennell and Mike Dunlap at the 2008 Cactus Classic on Arizona’s campus.

Both matured into decent college players, serving as functional complementary players to standouts such as Sean Elliott and Derrick Williams. UA fans should be forever grateful to Fogg, who served as the host on Williams’ recruiting trip to Arizona’s campus before the 2009 season.

McMillan and Fogg also came up big late in memorable games at McKale Center.

McMillan converted the “McMiracle” or “McClutch” last-second shot against Oregon State in 1986 after picking up a loose ball from a deflected inbounds pass from Kerr that was almost the length of the floor. That victory unseated the Beavers as the dominant team in the Pac-10. The Cats won their first conference title that season.

Arizona beat USC and former coach Kevin O’Neill 86-84 in double-overtime on March 6, 2010, after Fogg sank three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point shot with 0.02 seconds left in regulation. The pressure-packed free throws tied the score at 69 and forced the first overtime.

“I wish I could tell you that I’ve got ice water going through my veins, but, man, I was shaking,” Fogg told reporters after the game.

McMillan and Kerr comprise the only UA backcourt with each player ranked in the top 10 on UA’s career three-point field-goal percentage list. Kerr is tops with his 57.3 percentage and McMillan is sixth at 41.1 percent.

Small Forward

Sean Elliott (1986-1989) vs. Solomon Hill (2010-2013)

Sean Elliott

Solomon Hill

This matchup is unfair for Hill, not because he would not welcome the challenge of playing against the greatest Wildcat in the history of the program. Most players would be at a disadvantage against Elliott, especially a player like Hill who is blossoming but has not yet reached his potential.

Hill would benefit from seeing up close the manner in which Elliott played. No other UA player is better to emulate than the school’s career scoring leader with 2,555 points, which at the time topped Lew Alcindor‘s Pac-10 record. He is the only Wildcat to lead the program in scoring four consecutive seasons.

Former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian, an Arizona nemesis, once said about Elliott: “He plays as though he invented the game of basketball.”

Elliott was the third overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, taken by San Antonio. That was the highest a UA player was drafted at the time. Hill is not projected to be picked in the first two rounds, according to NBADraft.net. There is always next year for Hill to further prove himself as a versatile prospect.

“I think his progress won’t just be felt in one statistical area,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said. “He’s always given us a lot of things as a player, and that well roundedness is what we want him to do better more than any single stat.”

Power Forward

Tom Tolbert (1987-1988) vs. Derrick Williams (2010-2011)

Tom Tolbert

Derrick Williams

This is one spot the 2010-11 could have an advantage over the 1987-88 club because of the way Williams could extend his game to the perimeter. Tolbert, however, would be a load for Williams to handle around the basket.

Significant in Arizona’s tournament run to its first Final Four in 1988 was the way Tolbert outplayed North Carolina All-American forward J.R. Reid in the Elite Eight game won by the Wildcats 70-52. Tolbert scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half. He shot 7-of-11 from the field after halftime and scored 12 points during a decisive 19-6 run.

That run started with Tolbert’s acrobactic, behind-the-back, reverse shot that went in and drew Reid’s third foul. Tolbert made the free throw for the three-point play that put Arizona ahead to stay 43-42. Reid and Tolbert were both about 6-8 but Reid weighed 256 pounds compared to Tolbert at 240, but Tolbert somehow got the circus shot to go in.

“I figured it had a 100-to-1 shot to go in,” Tolbert told reporters after the game. “I’ve made shots like that in practice, but never with a 256-pound monster hanging on me.”

Williams made an acrobatic shot of his own against Texas last year enabling the Wildcats to advance to the Sweet 16. With 9.6 seconds left, Arizona got the ball into Williams, who put his head down and charged toward the basket. He was bumped hard by Jordan Hamilton and blindly flung the ball toward the basket as he tried to lighten the impact with the floor. The ball went in and Williams hit the free throw, putting Arizona ahead by the winning margin of 70-69.

“If we would have lost the game, I would have taken it really hard on myself knowing that I didn’t have a great game,” said Williams, who had 17 points in the game but shot 4-of-14 from the field. “A lot of people on my team feed off of me.”

The 2010-11 team fed off Williams much like the 1987-88 team fed off Elliott, one other rare similarity between the two teams.

Center

Anthony Cook (1985-88) vs. Jesse Perry (2011-2012)

Anthony Cook

Jesse Perry

Another matchup pitting players with different styles at the same position, although Perry (6-7 and 217) is more of a power forward playing at the post position.

Cook, a wiry 6-9 and 195 pounds, ranks in the top five of UA’s career statistical categories such as blocked shots (record holder with 278), rebounding (861), and field-goal percentage (62.9). In the 1987-88 season, Cook was instrumental to the Wildcats’ success. He averaged 15.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He also shot 61.8 percent from the field.

He may not have been physically imposing but the way he played was huge.

After Arizona won its first-round game against Cornell in the 1988 NCAA tournament, Lute Olson turned to Cook in the postgame press conference and said, “Flex for us, Anthony. Show these guys how big you really are.”

“We used to think we were playing with four guys,” Olson continued, “but then we’d find out that Anthony was standing sideways.”

Perry, a junior college transfer, looks like he means business with his fierce expression and those long and wild dreadlocks. He proved he can be a big-game performer, scoring 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting against Connecticut in Arizona’s 65-65 loss in last year’s Elite Eight game. He also pulled down seven rebounds.

A little-known fact is Perry, because of his aggressive style, went to the free-throw line with the most frequency in 2010-11 behind only Williams. Perry shot a free throw an average of every 8.1 minutes while Williams’ incredible average was at 3.4 minutes. Perry leads the Wildcats this season with a free throw attempt an average of every 7 minutes.

“He always offensive rebounds, he gets fouled, he’s getting better on our defensive end as he learns what we do,” Sean Miller told the media last season about Perry.

Bench

1987-1988 key reserves: Kenny Lofton, Joe Turner, Jud Buechler, Harvey Mason, Matt Muehlebach, Sean Rooks and Mark Georgeson.

2010-2011 key reserves: Kevin Parrom, Jamelle Horne, Jordin Mayes, Kyryl Natyazhko and Brendon Lavender

Kenny Lofton

Kevin Parrom

Arizona’s reserves of 1987-88 started the tradition of the Gumbies — those loveable guys on the bench who seemingly stood and cheered for every basket made.

Lofton was lightning quick and could jump out of the gym, exhibiting the skills of a center fielder, a position he played for 17 seasons in the major leagues. As a sixth man, he gave Olson’s team a tremendous change of pace, especially taking over for Kerr, who was not fleet of foot but made up for that by taking care of the ball.

Buechler, a future NBA player who averaged 11.7 minutes a game in 1987-88, also spelled Elliott adequately to give the All-American forward enough rest. Mason and Turner — who each added charisma to the team – did their part by giving enough support for McMillan, Tolbert and Cook.

Muehlebach and Georgeson played sparingly and Rooks redshirted that season. They formed the nucleus of the Gumbies.

Miller’s reserves in 2010-11 were symbolized by their fortitude. Parrom overcame early foot injuries to be a catalyst for the Wildcats. Horne, a senior, did not sulk and continued to try his hardest when Perry took over his starting position. Mayes was an overlooked freshman guard during the recruiting process who relished playing in pressurized moments.

Natyazhko and Lavender never gave up. Natyazhko played solid in the Pac-10 tournament for the Wildcats. Lavender, who struggled with his perimeter shot most of the season, kept working on that part of his game.

Don’t forget: For all the links, Twitter feeds and news feeds related to Arizona and its opponents, go to Morales’ site WILDABOUTAZCATS.NET. No other Arizona sports Web site is like it!

UA senior Jamelle Horne is consoled by teammate Derrick Williams as they walk off the court following the Wildcats' 65-63 loss to UConn in the Elite Eight (US Presswire photo/Gary A. Vasquez)

No qualms or questions here about Derrick Williams and Jamelle Horne taking three-pointers in the final two attempts of Arizona’s season Saturday.

In fact, knowing Williams and Horne had a chance to beat Connecticut should allow for a calm night of sleep for Arizona followers, despite the 65-63 loss in the Elite Eight game in Anaheim. Those who began watching the Wildcats in the postseason (ahem, national-media types) will argue that Arizona, namely Williams, should have attacked the basket with only a two-point deficit.

They don’t realize, or choose to consider, that Williams and Horne were mostly effective from three-point range all season. Entering the game, Williams and Horne were a combined 48.5 percent from three-point range — 48.5 percent! — and they are not shooting guards by any stretch. They are technically power forwards. For Arizona, those three-pointers are high-percentage shots, practically no-brainers.

And wasn’t it Williams who kept Arizona alive in the NCAA tournament by shooting 5-of-6 from three-point range against Duke in the Sweet 16? Nobody yelled “No! No! No!” when Williams tried a 25-foot three-pointer at the buzzer before halftime against the Blue Devils. He nailed it, to no one’s surprise really, especially those who know something about Arizona basketball.

When Kobe Bryant takes a step back and nails a long-range jumper in crunch time, is the first reaction: Why didn’t he take the defender off the dribble? Well, only if he misses, that’s when the cynics emerge.

Bryant can call his next shot, overriding Phil Jackson, because of his MVP status with the Lakers. Without him, how many NBA titles would the Lakers and Jackson have?

Williams similarly has earned that carte blanche status with Arizona and Sean Miller. Without Williams, the Wildcats do not have a winning record.

That’s not to indicate Williams can do whatever he pleases without consequence. That’s not a concern. Williams is not reckless and he generally plays within the team framework.

Telling: When Williams stepped back and launched his three-point attempt with 8 seconds left, Miller remained kneeling by the Arizona bench, motionless. He did not throw his arms up as if to suggest, “No! No! No!” None of the assistant coaches or his teammates flinched either.

“Derrick popped out after he set the second screen, which is fine,” Miller said. “He’s won about 15 games, and to have him shoot that shot, which I don’t know if it was a great one, but for him with the ball in his hands from three in that situation is something we all can live with.”

Think of it this way: A Williams’ three-pointer was converted 60 percent of the time this season. Any interior player would love that percentage for a shot near the basket; Williams just happened to be in a different comfort zone. Note to CBS’s Greg Anthony, who picked Arizona to lose Memphis in the first round: Williams taking that three-pointer was just as effective as him trying to maneuver around UConn’s bigs.

Columnist Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times wrote about the last sequence this way: “On the Wildcats’ final possession after a timeout, Williams threw up yet another nutty three-point try with seven seconds remaining, then teammate Jamelle Horne missed an open three-pointer at the buzzer. If you were wondering why Williams did not take the ball inside, you weren’t the only one. Said UConn Coach Jim Calhoun about the final stretch: ‘We were happy when Derrick Williams went outside.’”

Calhoun’s happy that Williams missed; if the shot goes in, he’s talking about how effective Williams plays all over the floor. A nutty three-pointer? That classifies as a heave or a wild one-handed throw like Washington’s Venoy Overton tried against North Carolina.

As far as Horne’s attempt goes, it was appropriate that Kyle Fogg made the split-second decision to kick the ball out to him. Fogg could have tried a mid-range jumper, but Connecticut’s players swarmed to him, leaving Horne wide open. The shot looked good on Horne’s release, just like the three-pointer he swished a minute earlier.

Thinking back to three years earlier, when Horne made forgettable late-game snafus as a sophomore, the prevailing thought would be, “Why is Horne in the game?” In a symbolic move, Miller inserted Horne, the lone senior, for the last sequence instead of playing decent three-point shooters Jordin Mayes, Kevin Parrom or Brendon Lavender.

“I think everybody in the room knows I should have made that shot,” Horne is quoted as saying. “It’s just going to be hard to sleep on that one for a while. I think it’s going to be hard to sleep for everybody.”

Sleep easy, Horne. They all don’t drop.

For Horne to put himself in a position to take the potential game-winning shot in his last attempt as a senior shows how far he has come. He never disappeared. He persevered. Horne can walk into any Tucson establishment today and receive a standing ovation. Who would have guessed that to be the case three years ago when he intentionally fouled that Alabama-Birmingham player with the game tied and time running out?

Lost in all the “should haves” from those who have not followed Arizona basketball for most of the season is the plain truth that the Wildcats had no business being in the Elite Eight.

Nobody thought Miller would coach Arizona to a regular-season Pac-10 title in his second season after finishing 16-15 overall last year. Nobody.

Thirty wins for only the fourth time in school history. Thirty?

Not a soul could have predicted Williams would play his way into being the potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft when this season started. Not a soul.

Who could have predicted the Wildcats would not only beat No. 1 seed and defending national champion Duke, but pound the Blue Devils by 16 points in the Sweet 16. Who?

Talk about nutty. That’s nutty.

A look at what to expect from the starting perimeter players Saturday at approximately 4 p.m., Tucson time, at Anaheim between No. 5-seed Arizona (30-7) and No. 3 seed Connecticut (29-9) in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament:

PERIMETER

UConn guard Kemba Walker averages 24 points a game and has gone to the free-throw line 296 times, making 242 (US Presswire photo/Gary A. Vasquez)

CONNECTICUT

What’s going right: Arizona must be very concerned about Kemba Walker because look at what Jimmer Fredette, a similar point guard with a scorer’s mentality, did for BYU against the Wildcats the last two seasons. Moreover, San Diego State’s only three losses this season were to BYU and UConn. Fredette scored 49 points in McKale Center last year and 33 this season in Salt Lake City. The Cougars outscored the Wildcats 99-69 and 87-65 in those games, respectively. Walker can break down the defense like few other guards, and he has the flair for spectacular (See: Game-winning plays in Big East tournament). Defensively, Walker is a stud as well, with a team-leading 73 steals. When he draws double-team defenses, Walker generally kicks it out to shooting guard Jeremy Lamb, who has good size (6-5, 185) to shoot over defenders. Lamb was a deadly shooter against San Diego State, making 9 of 11 field goal attempts, including all three from three-point range.

What’s going wrong: Similar to his former Harlem (N.Y.) Rice High School teammate, Lamont “MoMo” Jones, Walker is a scorer who is required to make plays for others. Walker had only three assists and four turnovers against San Diego State in 40 minutes, but the Huskies won 74-67 because Walker set a UConn scoring record in the NCAA tournament with 36 points. Overall, however, Walker has a respectable 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio with 170 assists and 85 turnovers. A glaring stat is Lamb’s scant 49 free-throw attempts all season (he’s made 39). That shows that Lamb can be sheepish with the ball, not being the aggressor and settling for the pull-up shot or three-pointer.

Walker said Thursday: “We won five games in five days in the Big East tournament, and everybody said we were going to be tired. After that, everybody said it was going to affect us in the second and third round of the tournament and it hasn’t yet. We’re playing great basketball as a team. We have something huge in front of us. We have a huge goal as a team, and we’re not going to let fatigue beat us. We’re going to overcome it. We have a team that is extremely mentally tough, and that’s going to get us over the hump.”

ARIZONA

MoMo Jones and Derrick Williams hope to continue their celebration against UConn in the Elite Eight at Anaheim (US Presswire photo/Gary A. Vasquez)

What’s going right: Jones did not take a backseat to former UA point guard greats like Mike Bibby and Damon Stoudamire with his 16-point, 6-assist and zero-turnover performance against Duke Thursday night. The 6-foot sophomore matched a season high with six assists (also against WSU on Feb. 17), had no turnovers for the fourth time this year. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was so impressed he embraced Jones and patted him on the head after the game. An example that Jones played within himself: He didn’t attempt a three-pointer, only the fifth time this year that’s happened. In fact, he has not attempted a three-pointer in his last two games.

What’s going wrong: Kyle Fogg played adequately against Duke with eight points on 3-of-5 shooting but he is still mired in somewhat of a shooting/scoring funk since posting 20 points against Oregon on March 5. Fogg is shooting 29.4 percent (5 of 17) from three-point range in the six games since the game against the Ducks at McKale Center. His three-point percentage has dipped from 41.7 percent last year to 34.1 this season.

Jones said Thursday: “It’s always going to be love (in terms of relationship with Walker). That’s like my brother. That’s off the court. When you on the court you’re enemies. I got to go with my teammates. He got to go with his teammates. That’s basically the bottom line. We’re going to come out and play two great games and try to lead our teams to the win, to the Final Four. You know, off the court is off the court. On the court, I run with my teammates all the time.”

Who has the edge? Connecticut. Aside from the decisive loss to BYU and Fredette, the Wildcats also lost two of three games to Washington and point guard Isaiah Thomas. They came a blocked shot away by Derrick Williams from going 0-3 against the Huskies. Walker is in the same mode as Fredette and Thomas because he demands attention, which should open possibilities for others. The Wildcats’ help-side defense and awareness will be put to the test perhaps more so by Walker than Fredette and Thomas because he has speed, athleticism and no fear going to the basket (his 296 free-throw attempts are only 23 fewer than Williams).

NEXT BLOG: MATCHUP PREVIEW OF THE STARTING FRONTCOURT PLAYERS FOR EACH TEAM

A look at what to expect from the starting perimeter players Thursday at approximately 6:45 p.m., Tucson time, at Anaheim between No. 5-seed Arizona (29-7) and No. 1 seed Duke (32-4) in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament:

PERIMETER

DUKE

Duke playmaker Nolan Smith is one of four finalists for the 2011 Naismith Men's Player of the Year Award (US Presswire photo/Bob Donnan)

What’s going right: Senior playmaker Nolan Smith, the ACC Player of the Year, is one of two players in the NCAA (Norris Cole, Cleveland State) averaging more than 20.0 points and 5.0 assists per game. He is attempting to join Dick Groat (1951-52) as the only players in Duke history to average over 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for a season. Smith is also attempting to become the third Blue Devil under Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski to lead the team in scoring, assists and steals. Jon Scheyer (2010) and Grant Hill (1994) also accomplished that feat. Sophomore shooting guard Seth Curry leads the Blue Devils in three-point field goals (64) and three-point percentage (.438). Curry has made two or more three-pointers in 18 games this season.

What’s going wrong: Smith’s assist-to-turnover ratio is not impressive with 187 assists compared to 112 turnovers this season. He has produced as many turnovers as assists in 11 of Duke’s 36 games this season. Curry’s NCAA Tournament shooting selection is predictable with all eight of his field-goal attempts coming from three-point range. He went 3-of-5 in the first round game against Hampton and was 0-for-3 against Michigan.

Smith said Sunday: “I think the switch that I flipped (in Sunday’s win over Michigan) was I don’t want to take this Duke jersey off. It’s as simple as that. … Now going West, I hope we have a lot of fans out there on the West Coast. I don’t know. We always have great fan support wherever we go. We’re excited to get out there.”

ARIZONA

MoMo Jones embodies the nastiness Sean Miller desires from his team in the NCAA tournament (US Presswire photo/Chris Morrison)

What’s going right: In five postseason games (including the Pac-10 tournament) sophomore Lamont “MoMo” Jones has gone to the free-throw line second-most behind Derrick Williams (32-of-45) with 18 attempts and he’s made 15 for 83.3 percent. That means Jones is playing aggressively and putting Arizona in a position to win with key free throws in the second half. Junior guard Kyle Fogg, despite playing the off-guard position, leads the Wildcats with 96 assists (compared to Jones’ 85). He made the pick-and-roll pass to Williams that resulted in a three-point winning play for Arizona against Texas on Sunday. Arizona Republic reporter Doug Haller wrote Monday that Fogg leads the Wildcats with 37 assists to Williams.

What’s going wrong: Similar to Smith, Jones’ assist-to-turnover ratio is lacking (more so than his Duke counterpart with only 85 assists and 70 turnovers). Jones has also struggled with his shot in the postseason, making only 27.9 percent of his field-goal attempts (12 of 43). He went scoreless against Texas, shooting 0 for 6 from the field. Since injuring his left quadriceps entering the Pac-10 tournament, Fogg has averaged only 3.6 points a game.

Jones said Tuesday: “We’re in the Sweet Sixteen as a team, and we practice as a team. We win as a team, we lose as a team, we fight as a team. We know a lot of people are going to key onto Derrick, and some nights a lot of guys will key on to me, or Solomon (Hill), or to Kevin (Parrom). A lot of people try to key on the key players of this team, but there’s not just one key player on this team.”

Who has the edge? Duke, and it’s not close given Smith’s accolades and Curry’s potential. Smith is a Naismith men’s college basketball player of the year award finalist because he can beat you in so many ways. The other finalists are Jimmer Fredette of BYU, Jared Sullinger of Ohio State and Kemba Walker of Connecticut. Curry is not only a dangerous perimeter shooter but he is also solid defensively with a team-high 51 steals. One thing in Arizona’s favor: Jones and Fogg battle when pushed to the brink. They won’t give in easily. Jones especially embodies the nastiness Miller desires from his team in the postseason.

NEXT BLOG: A matchup preview of the starting frontcourt players of each team

A look at what to expect Friday at 11:45 a.m., Tucson time, as No. 12-seeded Memphis and No. 5 Arizona play in the first round of the NCAA tournament

PERIMETER

Memphis freshman wing/guard Will Barton, whose long arms are obvious in this photo, leads a balanced scoring attack with 12.3 points a game (US PRESSWIRE PHOTO/Douglas Jones)

MEMPHIS

What’s going right: Freshman wing player Will Barton is a slender player (6-6, 175) in the same mold as Washington’s Justin Holiday, only his arms are much longer. Barton, who has a wingspan of 7-5, is Memphis’ motor, playing by far the most minutes dispersed among the young Tigers. He is the only player averaging more than 30 minutes (30.5). He is among the top three Memphis players in scoring (leads team with 12.3 points a game), rebounding (second with 5 a game) and assists (third with 95).
What’s going wrong: Barton and fellow freshman, Chris Crawford, are not shy behind the three-point line, and that may not be a good thing. They are the only Tigers who have jacked up more than 100 three-point attempts, and they are a combined 81 of 285 (28.4 percent) from beyond the arc. The rest of the team is not bad, 123 of 339 (36.3 percent).

Barton said Thursday: “This year we made it a mission to get it done and make sure we get to the tournament (after playing in NIT a year ago). At the same time, we’re not just happy to be here. We’re not setting our standards on just getting to the tournament. We plan on staying here and doing damage and getting these two games and trying to make it to Anaheim (for the Sweet 16).”

ARIZONA
What’s going right: Kyle Fogg is working his way back from a left quadriceps strain but is expected to take back his starting job from Kevin Parrom. Memphis starts four guards and only one true frontcourt player (freshman Tarik Black). Point guard Lamont “MoMo” Jones Jones, Derrick Williams and Solomon Hill are the only Wildcats to start every game this season. Jones’ leadership and intelligent play will be critical in a game that matches a vast majority of players who have yet to experience March Madness. Of the players in the top eight rotation of each team, only two players (Fogg and Jamelle Horne of Arizona) have played in an NCAA tournament game. Jones is second behind Williams in scoring at 9.6 a game.
What’s going wrong: Jones’ play in the Pac-10 tournament was a bit shaky. He shot only 25.9 percent from the field and tallied only six assists in the three games with seven turnovers.

Jones said Thursday: “It’s just about hard work. Right now we’re playing great together as a team though we lost the last game in the (Pac-10) tournament. But we’re playing great as a team, playing great defense, and we’re just playing great basketball. Hopefully that can translate over into the NCAA Tournament and it can help us get a win.”

Who has the edge? Since the starting guard play is loaded toward Memphis, the Tigers get the nod in this category. Despite Memphis’ lack of size inside, the Tigers are slightly outrebounding opponents by an average of 35.7 to 34.9 a game. That is attributed to their athleticism and hustle. Overall consistency a question mark for Memphis, however, with junior guard Charles Carmouche (a transfer from New Orleans) the only player to start the last 10 games.

FRONTCOURT

Tarik Black, Memphis' lone starting big man (left), led the Tigers with 57 blocked shots this year (US PRESSWIRE PHOTO/Chuck Cook)

MEMPHIS

What’s going right: Black is Memphis’ only legitmate big man as a starter and stands at 6-8, 252. He has a team-leading 56 blocked shots. By comparison, Arizona’s leader, Williams (6-8, 241), has only 24.
What’s going wrong: Offensive rebounds and all-around physical play inside will be a concern for Memphis coach Josh Pastner, coaching against his alma mater for the first time. Black averages only 5.2 rebounds a game. He has 176 overall in 34 games. In the same amount of games, Williams, who is undersized in the frontcourt, is averaging 8.1 a game (277 rebounds overall).

Black said Thursday: “Out there (at El Paso) in the (Conference USA) conference tournament, what I recognize about this team is when our backs are against the wall or when it’s do-or-die times in situations, we pull through. I believe that we’re going to have that same mindset going into this tournament. It’s do or die. If you lose, you’re out. And we knew that back in El Paso, so we did what it took to win.”

ARIZONA

What’s going right: The Wildcats are starting four players who have pulled down more than 120 rebounds overall — Williams, Hill (151), Perry (149) and Parrom (121). The foursome is also shooting a good field-goal percentage (53.6 percent, 459 of 857). As the numbers suggest, more often than not, these guys are efficient.
What’s going wrong: Aside from a lack of defensive presence that alters shots and stops penetration to the basket, Williams and Co. have not produced a lot of steals that could lead to fast-break opportunities on the other end. Parrom and Hill, both of whom should be productive in steals, have combined for only 47.

Williams said Thursday: “Yeah, I’m used to it (isolating defenses). I’ve seen everything from box and one. I’ve never seen a box and one on a big man, and Cal did that to us, 2-3 zone, 1-3-1. We’ve seen every zone to slow our team down, but it just backfires on them. If they focus on me too much, MoMo right here and Fogg are going to take over the game, especially against Kyle, I didn’t play any of the three overtimes (against Cal) and we still won the game. If they’re going to take me out of the game, I just have to trust my teammates. Like they did in many of our other games. So it’s just going to backfire on them if they try to do that.”

Who has the edge? Arizona. This is as good of a draw for a first-round game the Wildcats could have imagined. Their question mark all year has been in interior defense. The Wildcats match up well with their size against a more fleet-footed Memphis. Controlling the boards will be crucial for the Wildcats in this one because Memphis, with its youth, is bound to miss its share of attempts.

BENCH

Memphis freshman guard Joe Jackson leads the Tigers in scoring the last 10 games, averaging 10.7 points a game (US PRESSWIRE PHOTO/Marvin Gentry)

MEMPHIS

What’s going right: Freshman guard Joe Jackson, a McDonald’s All-American from Memphis, has turned produced nicely in the last 10 games off the bench. He leads the Tigers in that span with 10.7 points a game. He has shot 48.3 percent from the field (29 of 60) and 50 percent from three-point range (8 of 16). He’s cool at the free-throw line as well, making 80.4 percent of his attempts (41 of 51) in the last 10 games.
What’s going wrong: The Tigers mostly go eight deep with senior forward Will Coleman (6-9, 245) and sophomore forward D.J. Stephens (6-5, 185) attracting most of the minutes along with Jackson. All of Pastner’s players in the rotation have starting experience because he’s tried 17 different combinations. Coleman is susceptible to foul trouble. Stephens is excellent from the field (64.1 percent, 50 of 78) but he is a liability at the free-throw line (55 percent, 11 of 20).

Coleman said Thursday: “In my eyes, I don’t see any of the guys as freshmen anymore. They’re well-coached and well-behaved basketball players that are sophomores now. I don’t feel like they’re freshmen anymore. They’ve shown a lot this year and they’ve matured a lot, and I think it showed a lot and took a lot for all of them to come in, for everyone to come in and win the conference championship, and we plan on doing damage in the NCAA Tournament.”

ARIZONA

What’s going right: Kyryl Natyazhko (6-11, 265) has played adequately (especially on defense) more off the bench recently with double-digit minute games in three of his last six games, but don’t expect him to play much in this game because of Memphis’ speed. The Wildcat guards in the rotation, especially Fogg and freshman Jordin Mayes (who played two of his best games against USC and Washington in the Pac-10 tourney), should experience their fair share of minutes. This is also a game in which Jamelle Horne (6-7, 224) can shine, going against his former coach, because of his athleticism and playing against guys smaller than him.
What’s going wrong: In the last 10 games, reserve guard Brendon Lavender averaged only 6.9 minutes a game and scored nine points. He attempted only six three-pointers, making two. With the influx of guard talent next season in the form of point guard Josiah Turner and off-guard Nick Johnson, Lavender most likely will have a similar role all of next season. Will he be content with that as a senior?

Fogg said Thursday: “I think (NCAA tournament experience) is really valuable. This is just a great place to be this time of year. This is what everyone’s been working for since last year. It shows that out there on the court that our team has been working really hard this past year on the court and individually and as a team. I think it’s finally showing. … The Pac-10 Tournament we just had, I think it was huge for us. That’s the closest thing to a tournament atmosphere that most of these guys on the team have had in college. We went out there and played really great ball. I think we’re playing some of our best basketball right now, and I think that’s going to translate into these tournament games.”

Who has the edge? Memphis’ bench is as good as Arizona saw in the Pac-10 with Coleman, Stephens and Jackson each talented. When they enter the game, the Tigers do not drop off; they are as good or better. Likewise, Fogg, Mayes and Horne are essential to give players like Jones, Parrom and Perry a rest. Fogg is especially important with his defense, where as Mayes and Horne can stick an important three here and there. I’ll call this category even.

COACHING

While Pastner is a player’s coach — he talks to his kids as if he’s the captain of the team rather than the head man — Miller balances the respect of his players with being a no-nonsense guy. Pastner similarly demands respect but not in the same way. He is more of a coach who reasons rather than be cut and dry. To each, their own. The most significant difference, other than their coaching approach, is Miller’s seven years as a Division I head coach compared to Pastner’s two. Miller has also coached in four NCAA tournaments; this is Pastner’s first as a coach (although he studied closely how his mentors Lute Olson and John Calipari approached the tournament). Miller has proven himself in March Madness with a 6-4 record, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2008. Advantage: Miller.

Pastner said Thursday: “Let me just say on this, with Arizona, it’s obviously, Arizona’s a tremendous basketball team. You don’t win 27 games and win the Pac-10 Championship without being really good. Sean Miller has done a great job. I think he’s one of the best coaches in the business. He’s won everywhere he’s been whether at Xavier has an assistant coach at N.C. State, as a player at Pittsburgh. The guy’s won everywhere he’s been.”

Miller said Thursday: “I wish we weren’t playing Josh’s team because he’s meant so much to Arizona’s program. His hard work as an assistant coach and his recruiting efforts have placed our program among the elite. Him being part of a national championship team, there isn’t many more magical moments in a career than that. But that’s the game we’re playing. My previous experience in this tournament, I’ve played against a great friend of mine in Thad Matta, who I replaced at Xavier. Two years ago I played against the University of Pittsburgh where I happened to play and went to school. It’s not about the coaches. It’s about the teams and the players. And both teams enter this tournament really desperate to advance.”

OUTCOME

Expect a low-scoring game with low field-goal percentages and more turnovers than usual. This game won’t be pretty with only 12.5 percent of the top 16 players on both rosters experiencing March Madness before. Pastner will likely attempt to control tempo, knowing that bad things can only happen if Williams is loose in the open court. If he releases his young team to the wind, they will get winded fast. As the game goes along, look for Arizona to pull away behind the size and athleticism of Williams, Hill and Parrom. Arizona 68, Memphis 57.

An Arizona fan makes a reference to the incident that caused the suspension of Kevin O'Neill. Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — An Arizona fan lofted a “Hotel Bar” direction sign Friday night, in full view of the large scoreboard screen, drawing laughter from the Staples Center crowd.

The joke ended in the stands and never impacted the Wildcats during their 67-62 victory a team without USC coach Kevin O’Neill, who was suspended by the school for improper conduct after a bar-hopping Thursday night.

O’Neill and his wife, Roberta, allegedly got into a verbal confrontation with UA booster Paul Weitman, a close personal friend of former UA coach Lute Olson. This occurred after O’Neill was observed drinking alcoholic beverages and carrying on conversations with Arizona fans at an establishment adjacent to Staples Center, where he and his wife live in a suite.

After UA coach Sean Miller left the interview room following the Wildcats’ win over USC, he mentioned that O’Neill’s absence was never a distraction for his team.

“I don’t know if it was for them, but it wasn’t for us,” Miller said. “We were focused on what we had to do to win the game.”

Miller did not specifically address the Wildcats in the locker room about O’Neill, which turned out to be a sound move. The 16th-ranked Wildcats (27-6) played like they did not take anything for granted.

To a player in the locker room, the Wildcats believed USC was affected by O’Neill not being around. They also claimed not much was spoken among themselves about O’Neill’s absence before the game.

“No, no,” UA senior Jamelle Horne said with a smile. “We all know K.O., so it was nothing too far out of line.”

When Arizona beat USC 82-73 at McKale Center on Jan. 29, Horne pointed at O’Neill after making a basket. O’Neill responded to Horne’s action after the game, telling reporters, “I’m waiting for the NBA career to take off.”

When Horne was asked if he had a comment about O’Neill given their history — it is no secret O’Neill was not fond of Horne when coaching Arizona in 2007-08 — Horne did not bite.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a history,” he said, continuing to smile. “He was a coach in my past. He did what he did at Arizona. He’s moved on and done great job with USC this season. Hopefully, he can get back and coach his team in the tournament.”

Arizona guard Kyle Fogg said without hesitation that he could tell O’Neill’s absence set USC back.

“Definitely,” Fogg said. “I am sure it was a distraction for them. They’re used to seeing him on the bench; it had to affect them.”

He recalled while at Brea Olinda (Calif.) High School having to play a game without coach Bob Terry, who was ill.

“It was a lot different without him there,” Fogg said. “Mentally, it’s just not the same.”

USC center Nikola Vucevic quipped, “It was different. When K.O.’s there, he yells a lot and we did not hear a lot of yelling today.”

He looked over at O’Neill’s replacement for the game, Bob Cantu, who smiled sheepishly on the other side of the interview podium. Cantu joked that O’Neill told him, “You better win.”

Cantu was forced to be the replacement head coach at the junior-college level after head coach Marvin Menzies (now at New Mexico State) was suspended for a game after an ejection. He shook his head in bewilderment of that episode as well. Nevertheless, he said he felt prepared to handle the coaching role.

“When you have a good team of great kids who are coachable, it makes your job really easy,” Cantu said.

Although the frontcourt duo of Vucevic and Alex Stepheson never took control, the Trojans (19-14) were competitive to the end. Vucevic had 16 points and 12 rebounds but he never appeared to get in the flow of the offense as wing Marcus Simmons looked for his shot more, scoring a career-high 20 points. Stepheson finished with eight points and eight rebounds. He attempted only seven shots.

They clawed back back from a 12-point deficit with 11:58 left in the game to trail by 3 on a couple of occasions late in the game. Derrick Williams‘ two free throws with 3 seconds remaining sealed it.

“If you’re on the (NCAA tournament selection) committee, and we were on the border,” Cantu said, “you’d have to say, ‘Well, this team played well without their head coach. We feel like they can compete in the NCAA tournament.’”