Arizona Wildcats Basketball: Beat USC? Check! Retire Jason Terry’s Jersey? Check!

Arizona Wildcats Basketball retired Jason Terry’s number in front of a raucous crowd of fans at half time when in the end the Trojans were out muscled, and out manned, and then sent off to play ASU on Sunday.

Coming into the game, Coach Sean Miller was positive about his team on Basketball Weekly with Brian Jeffries on Wednesday. When reminded of his front line and how well they played, Jeffries asked Coach Miller how valuable is was for his team to have that strength inside:

“I was really happy for Kaleb Tarczewski, he was coming off of a one of his worst performances at ASU where he didn’t play very well…I know he felt bad about how he played…between the ASU and the Washington games the right way he worked extra…played his usual terrific defense…”

Coach Miller had never thought that the rivalry was heightened to have only one game against the LA teams USC and UCLA. He thinks that basically USC and UCLA are young teams and UCLA is playing the best basketball they have played all season now.

I’m not sure USC is a rival of Arizona’s in basketball, maybe more in football, or we really just relish wins against them more. So this time was no different, we all enjoyed beating the Trojans. Coach Miller reminds us that USC is a young team, so even though it was hard for them, it was fun for Wildcat fans to watch.

Feb 19, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) shoots over Southern California Trojans guard Julian Jacobs (12) during the second half at McKale Center. Arizona won 57-87. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

The game was a blow out. Arizona started slow on defense, but started picking up the offense with an exciting dunk by Kaleb Tarczewski off a great pass by T.J. McConnell.  Listening to the highlights of the first half as announced by Brian Jeffries on the IMG Network, all you hear is “dunk” and “Tarczewski.”  Arizona shot 47.7% in the game versus 31.6% for the Trojans, but you wouldn’t have known it looking at the stats as six players shot in double figures; Kaleb Tarczewski 15, Brandon Ashley 11, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 12, T.J. McConnell 10, Stanley Johnson 13, Parker Jackson-Cartwright 11.

The Wildcats led by 18 at halftime, 49-31.  Zeus showed up big tonight, and Coach Miller hopes this is the Zues we will be seeing from now on.  Along with many exciting baskets, steels (7), rebounds (50), and assists (19), there were a few scary moments.  Hollis-Jefferson slipped again, but this time it looked like a dance move, he kept his dribble, made a miracle pass and jumped right up.

The second scary moment was when Jackson-Cartwright jumped up to shoot a three pointer and two USC players came to block it and ended up knocking him to the ground, gasp!  But he was okay, he got up and shot three free throws and made two of them.  He played with a lot of energy and contributed off the bench, you could see the difference in bench depth with him back.

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For USC,

Malik Martin

came off the bench and score the most for the Trojans, 15, he also had six rebounds.  USC stayed neck and neck with the Wildcats for the first 12 minutes, but then Arizona pulled away and never looked back.  Three minutes into the second half Arizona was up by 24 points and had already beat the point spread of 23.  Arizona is now 23-3 on the season, 11-2 in the Pac-12.

The biggest event during this game was celebrating Arizona’s own Jason “The Jet” Terry (JET is also Jason’s initials). I remember watching the Dallas Mavericks play in the NBA Championship, and a couple of times when Terry scored a three-pointer, using his arms to run down the court with his arms spread out like wings and mimic’s JET flying, his hands showing “three” for three points.  McConnell, Johnson and Hollis-Jefferson paid homage to Terry after they shot three pointers tonight, and we all noticed!

Terry’s already had one of his jersey’s retired; his No. 31 from Franklin High School was retired in Seattle, Washington on February 2007. On this night Jason Terry’s No. 31 jersey was retired for the University of Arizona where he played from 1995-1999. Tonight Matt Korcheck was wearing the famed number 31 on his back, and he showed hustle and represented well!   Terry, one of 10 children, has played 14 years in the NBA, he and his wife have five daughters whose names all begin with the letter “J” and they were all present on the court with his Coach Lute Olsen.

He will now have his jersey flying high at McKale Center where he will always be adored.  Students and fans went home with Jason Terry No. 31 rally towels. He spoke after taking in chants of “Jason Terry” from the stands thanking Athletic Director Greg Byrne and beaming proudly about his new University of Arizona degree. Terry just received his University of Arizona diploma from his graduation last summer and he tweeted about it: 

On to Saturday, ESPNU Gameday!   BearDown! And beat the Bruins!