Arizona Basketball: Dusan Ristic named Pac-12 Player of the Week

Arizona Wildcats senior Dusan Ristic had himself an incredible week of college basketball which earned him Pac-12 Player of the Week.

Dussssss! Arizona basketball senior Dusan Ristic has been on fire this past week in Pac-12 conference play. In his last two games, Ristic has shown a sense of increased confidence and enjoyment. It’s great to see in today’s game, an individual stay four years, put in the hard work and have the results to show for it.

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Ristic has displayed the full spectrum of moves on offense this past week: three pointers, left and right hand hook shots, jump shots, layups, dunks, assists, pumping up the fans, throwing up the Serbia hand sign for a Dus Three and rebounds. He has also played solid defense making his opponents earn it down low.

Ristic also demonstrated his up and under skills in this play against Colorado, which in my opinion, was the play of the game. Four years ago as a freshman he wasn’t pulling off moves like these but now he is! We always knew he had it in him. He told the press that this is basically his shot with PJC to prove their worth on the team.

Ristic’s overall stats in his last two outings have been impressive. It’s one thing for a team to have worry about one 7-footer in DeAndre Ayton, but then have to guard a second one in Ristic. Good luck with that!

Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 1/29/2018.

As a result of Ristic’s performance in back to back home games, he earned himself his first Pac-12 Player of the Week honor. But wait, it gets better! Against Utah he passed the 1,000-point milestone on his third three pointer of the game. In Ristic’s first season, he had a total of four three-pointers. In his sophomore season, he made three and in his junior season, Dus only made one. as a senior, and in one game, he made three!

Ristic becomes the 52nd Wildcat to reach that point club. Also, he became the 28th Wildcat to be part of the 1000th point and 500 rebound point club. Way to go Dus!

Three pointers. In the NBA it has become the norm for 7-footers to hit long range three-point shots and if they want a shot in the NBA they better have one. Lauri Markkanen would be perfect example of that and he follows the Knicks cornerstone player Kristaps Porzingis. For the Wildcats, Ayton has showed his ability to hit from three-point range, making 9 -26 attempts this season. Ristic, in his Wildcat career, has gone 11-23, which includes three against Utah.

Coach Sean Miller was not crazy about Ristic decision to shoot a three in a close game, late in the second half. Even though he made it, Miller still wasn’t crazy about it. Sometimes in life you gotta take chances, especially if you are feeling confident about your shot, which Ristic has! Even during the Wildcat basketball press conference, Allonzo Trier had this to stay about Ristic, including how it took “big nuts” to pull it off:

Ristic’s historic week didn’t go unrecognized. Former Wildcat standout and NBA rookie sensation for the Chicago Bulls Markkanen even showed his support on Twitter:

Ristic has been through a lot of up and downs over the last four years at Arizona. To see the growth and what he has accomplished his senior season has been awesome to witness! Coach Miller had this to say during the latest press confidence about Dusan’s confidence level:

“I am thrilled about Dusan’s confidence, never seen him have more confidence. It’s something that player’s have to gain within themselves,” said MIller adding that Dus is the first to get to the gym and last to leave, that he’s basically a very hard worker.

Must Read: Arizona Basketball and Dusan Ristic sweep Utah Utes this season

At Zona Zealots, we would like to congratulate Ristic on an earning Pac-12 Player Week, achieving multiple milestone and making those three pointers! There is though one milestone he  is still going after and that would be the all-time winningest player in Wildcat history. Only five games away from accomplishing that feat. Stay tuned!