Arizona Basketball: Wildcats back home to take on Long Beach State
By David Rosen
The Arizona basketball team looks to get back to their winning ways against the Long Beach State 49ers. home. Let’s see what in store for the Wildcats.
Home sweet home! After a tough visit to the Bahamas, the Arizona basketball team is back home and ready to get back into action against Long Beach State. The 49ers are just coming off a tough neutral site loss to Nebraska and will be looking to give the Wildcats their best shot. Both teams will have something to prove, but the Wildcats will have the best fans in the country, cheering them on in one of he toughest college stadiums, McKale Center. Just what the doctor ordered!
Even though they just recently dropped out of the AP Top 25, they have plenty of time to move back into the rankings and it all starts against the 49ers. It is easy as fan to get upset and caught up in the heat of the moment. We all been there. What our team needs more than ever now is your support and positivity. These are young talented players and the last thing they need to see is anything negative on social media.
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In this matchup against the 49ers, the Wildcats will need to stay 100% focused right from tip off, limit turnovers, find ways to rebound on both ends of the floor and overall just play smart basketball. It will be easy for the Wildcats to force the action, but they need to play within themselves to come out on top.
According to Sean Miller, its all about the defense, transitioning, talking, staying with their man, boxing out, and keeping up the intensity on the perimeter. He is looking forward to Rawle Alkins coming back which will be as soon as he is ready but looking good since he is now practicing with the team (Non-contact only.)
Their opponent just has one freshman and the rest are returners from the last season. With that experience comes knowing how to play in certain situations. The Wildcats will need to rely on their leaders, Allonzo Trier and Parker Jackson-Cartwright to communicate and make smart decisions.
Zone? Full hour press? Double teams? Run different plays for other players? These are some of the suggestions Zona Zealots recently discussed and hopefully we get to see Coach Sean Miller try. The 49ers are currently shooting 36% from three-point range, but would not be surprised to see them test the Wildcats perimeter defense early on.
On the offensive side of things, the 49ers average almost 18 turnovers per game. The Wildcats need to take of the points off of turnovers to boost that confidence and get the crowd, loud and proud inside McKale Center.
Former Zona Zealots contributor Mark Barrera, resident of Nebraska had this to say after the Cornhuskers 85-80 win over the 49ers:
"If Nebraska can put up 85 and beat LBSU, than Arizona should cruise through this game"
Everyone knows the Wildcats are capable of putting up 100+ point games and when that happens so does the W’s. The 49ers will have some size and muscle down low, but so do the Wildcats. DeAndre Ayton and Dusan Ristic will have the obvious size advantage and will need to take advantage of that. Be more vocal and put yourself in a position for a good entry pass, these will be two key things the big men need to do!
Facing a team that has nothing to do lose and a lot to gain can be a challenge. The key for the Wildcats in this game will be not to give their opponent any sort of hope or confidence that.
During the most recent Sean Miller Radio show, coach had few of the following statements:
Sean Miller on the three losses in the Bahamas: “I can make the argument that there could be a time down the road this season where we look at our experience in the Bahamas … as the very best thing that could have happened to this team."
— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) November 28, 2017
Sean Miller on Allonzo Trier: "He cannot be average on defense. He cannot do the best he can on defense. He can't even take the disposition that 'I score so because of that I'll do OK (on defense)' ... We need him to be really good. We miss Kadeem Allen a great deal."
— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) November 28, 2017
Would be great to see Trier get back to the level we all know he is capable of. Because once Zo catches on fire, he is simply unstoppable from anywhere on the court:
Long Beach State
Record: Last season they finished 15-19 overall and 9-7 in conference play. This season they are 3-4, including a win over Oregon State.
Conference: Big West Conference
Head-to-head matchup: These two teams have played each other previously six times and the Wildcats are 6-0 against them. The last time they played, they won 85-70 and six Wildcats finished with double figure points.
Key players: The 49ers have two players averaging in double figure points, forward Gabe Levin and guard Bryan Alberts. Levin leads the team in scoring and rebounds with 15 points and nine rebounds per game. Against the Cornhuskers, he finished with 22 points and 15 points – those are Ayton like numbers! The Wildcats need to pay attention to where Levin is at all times.
Must Read: Arizona Basketball: When Rawle Alkins gets back in the lineup, it will fill a giant hole
It’s only November and there is still plenty of time for this team to be great. And they will be great! With the return of Rawle Alkins hopefully happening soon, this team will be that much. It’s time to Bear Down on those 49ers!
Game Details:
Opponent: Long Beach State 49ers
When: Wednesday, October 29th on the Pac-12 Network at 6pm MST.