Tucson CitizenTucson Citizen

Arizona-Washington game blog: Huskies sweep the Wildcats

Tony Wroten goes up for two in the first half against Arizona's Jesse Perry. Photo by Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

Washington’s superior height was readily apparent. The Huskies tied their season high with 20 offensive rebounds and had 42 points in the paint — 20 more than what Arizona managed. Washington also blocked seven shots.

* * *

The mountain was too high in Seattle today for Arizona, which falls 79-70. The Wildcats gave up too much inside (Washington had 20 offensive rebounds) and was cold from 3-point range in the second half (2 of 13).

Arizona falls to 10-5 in the Pac-12, two games behind Washington with three to play. With the Huskies holding the tiebreaker because of the season sweep, the Cats are fairly effectively boxed out from winning the league’s regular-season title.

Nick Johnson had 20 points to lead Arizona.

* * *

That was a lot of C.J. Wilcox there, with eight consecutive points and a steal in what could end up being a decisive stretch. Arizona down 72-62 with 4:03 to go.

* * *

Yeah, blame me for the reverse jink. After I wrote the note below, Washington’s C.J. Wilcox drills two 3-point shots; he’s the one Husky you don’t want to leave open. Arizona is losing contact now, down 70-61 with 5:39 to go.

* * *

Baffling why Washington insists on shooting a 3-pointer. The Huskies have been killing Arizona inside, but are 1 of 15 from beyond the arc.

* * *

Oh dear. Now, it’s Tony Wroten’s turn. He goes coast to coast with the left-hand dribble, finishing with the monster lefty dunk.

And, you know what, Arizona is still in this thing with 8:28 left after Jesse Perry makes two free throws to cut the lead to 62-56. Washington point guard Abdul Gaddy and wing Terrence Ross each has four fouls, too.

* * *

Wow. Terrence Ross soars for an offensive rebound and twists up a shot in the same motion for two points. UW up 58-52 with 10:52 to play.

* * *

Kyle Fogg’s 3-point from the corner cuts Washington’s lead to 55-52 with 11:41 to play. No doubt, the Wildcats have battled hard all game, haven’t let the Huskies ride any momentum, and are making this one of the most entertaining games of the season.

* * *

OK, so Terrence Ross might not be too smart. He is 9 for 9 shooting inside the arc and then fires up an air-ball 3-pointer. He is 1 of 6 from 3-point range.

* * *

Can Terrence Ross just leave for the NBA Draft in the middle of the second half?

* * *

Washington’s Aziz N’Diaye banks in a free throw for a seven-point lead, but Solomon Hill answers with a three-point play to make it 50-46. The Cats are hanging around. If they can somehow begin to limit the Huskies’ second chances, they can win this thing.

* * *

If only Arizona had Andre Iguodala and Hassan Adams to counter Washington’s Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten …

Wroten has six points right after halftime, and Ross has the other two, as Washington opens up a 47-41 lead with 17:29 to go, and coach Sean Miller calls timeout.

* * *

Nick Johnson goes one-on-one and draws a foul with 3.8 seconds left in the half. He makes both to cut the lead to 39-37 … and that is the way the half ends.

Cats have to be thrilled about that. They trailed by 11 with 7:54 left, have given up 12 offensive rebounds, committed slightly too many turnovers (seven) and withstood a 15-point blitz from Terrence Ross.

Kyle Fogg leads the Cats with nine points. Arizona ended the half on a 17-8 run.

* * *

Arizona had just four 3-pointers in first game vs. UW. Cats already have four in the first half today.

* * *

Another three-pointer from Brendon Lavender, who cuts Washington’s lead to three points with 3:22 left in the half. The Huskies’ Terrence Ross is on the bench with two fouls, so this is the time for UA to take advantage and erase what has been a Washington edge most of the half.

* * *

Solomon Hill hits a 3-pointer to bring Arizona within 35-30 with 5:18 to go in the half. The Cats haven’t lost touch with the Huskies, who have had been up by double digits.

* * *

Brendon Lavender, who made 9 of 12 3-point shots in the past two games, hits his first attempt against Washington.

* * *

Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten are guys that Arizona just doesn’t have on the perimeter right now — tall, smooth, athletic. Ross’ alley-oop dunk gives him 13 points on 6 of 8 shooting as Washington leads 31-23.

* * *

Washington’s height has been an early factor. The Huskies have six offensive rebounds with 9 minutes to go in the half.

* * *

Remember like two weeks ago when Arizona was a good defensive team? The Cats have allowed their past two opponents to shoot at least 50 percent, and the Huskies are right around that mark as they lead 25-18 with 10:26 left in the first half.

* * *

The fast pace of the game is hurting Arizona, and coach Sean Miller picks up a technical foul arguing a non-travel call on a fast break by Washington C Aziz N’Diaye, who finishes with a dunk. The Huskies lead 21-14 after a 9-0 run.

* * *

Good early action, with the Wildcats up 10-8 at the first media timeout. Coach Sean Miller won’t like his team’s two turnovers, though.

(And there is the third turnover on a bad pas from Josiah Turner.)

* * *

Arizona has won three in a row wearing red on the road. Superstitious? Why not? The Cats are back in red today.

* * *

Washington started little-used forward Brendan Sherrer on Senior Day. He had played a total of 17 minutes in six games before today. Sherrer played the first 2:13 of the game.

* * *

Kyle Fogg gets a great look at a 3-pointer in the early stages of the game and buries it. That will be key. I don’t expect many wide-open shots for UA from the perimeter and the Cats have to make them when they can.

* * *

Ready for another Arizona-Washington thriller?

The past three games have not only been decided on the final play, but on the final play in the final second.

There was Derrick Williams’ block of Darnell Gant in last season’s White Out game in Tucson. Then Huskies guard Isaiah Thomas struck back in the Pac-10 championship game with his step-back buzzer-beating jumper in overtime.

And there was the first meeting this season, when Washington freshman Tony Wroten rose up to swat Josiah Turner’s driving layup at the buzzer, preserving a 69-67 win.

As for today’s game, the Wildcats likely are heading into a buzzsaw. Arizona has lost four in a row in Seattle. It is Senior Day for the Huskies.

And it’s just a very tough physical matchup for the Cats.

For starters, Washington is big and long — a contrast to UA’s undersized lineup. With center Aziz N’Diaye able to re-direct shots at the rim, the Huskies’ perimeter defenders weren’t concerned in the first meeting about leaving their man to help on drives into the lane.

The result was that the Wildcats — who rely so much on the 3-point shot — had trouble getting any kind of look from 3-point range. They were 4 of 13 from behind the arc against Washington; typically, Arizona averages 7.5 makes and 19.6 3-point attempts.

Another area to watch: Turnovers.

Arizona committed 15 in the first meeting vs. Washington; coach Sean Miller said he needs to see that around 10 to have a good chance to win today.

Washington is about a three-point favorite. With UW having the home crowd, a physical advantage and a deeper rotation, I’m thinking this one could get uglier than that for Arizona. A double-digit win for the Huskies?

Search site | Terms of service