Poor shooting plagues Arizona Basketball in Conference loss

TUCSON, AZ- Poor shooting, execution and turnovers plagued the Arizona Basketball team as the Wildcats picked-up their first loss in Pac-12 play.

Normally a high scoring game between both programs, the Arizona Basketball team was unable to capitalize against the Oregon Ducks, as the Wildcats picked-up their first Pac-12 loss, by a 59-54 final.

36, that was the magical number of the evening. In an ugly loss to the Ducks, the Wildcats shot just 36 percent from the field. Oregon was just slightly better at just over 38 percent themselves.

Arizona Wildcats

Despite starting out the game leading 16-11, Arizona would get outscored over the next 9:28 in the first half by a 20-7 margin. During that time, the Wildcats made just one field goal… a goaltend.

Aside from the poor shooting, the Wildcats were plagued by mental breakdowns mostly in that first half. The team had nine turnovers at the break, also finishing just 8-27 shooting (29.6 percent).

More puzzling, was the offensive absence by Arizona’s leading scorer, Brandon Randolph. The sophomore wing had zero points in the half, shooting the ball just once in 14 minutes played.

Needing some sort of spark in the second half, the Wildcats unfortunately wouldn’t get. Despite their best attempts to try and get things going, the efforts were ineffectual and disjointed.

Credit to the Oregon defense? Regardless, it was more sloppy basketball and poor shooting by the Wildcats.

Trailing 41-30 with 10:04 to play, that’s when Arizona would begin to make a bit of a run. After a made free throw by Chase Jeter cut Oregon’s lead to just four at 45-41, that’s about as close as they could get it, never seemingly able to get ‘over the hump’.

When Arizona needed toughness down the stretch, they didn’t get it, being out-muscled by a fiery, 6-foot-1 point guard in foul trouble.

The game was essentially over when Oregon’s Payton Pritchard stole a rebound from Jeter’s hands to take Arizona’s momentum down the stretch.

A three by Dylan Smith would make it 57-54 Oregon, but ultimately it was the Ducks that held on to the rare, five-point win in McKale.

Jeter led all Arizona scorers with 12 points, also grabbing 10 rebounds, but it was Oregon’s Paul White who was the difference as he scored 16 points.

With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 13-5 (4-1), with a HUGE match-up against Oregon State on Saturday. The road doesn’t get any easier after that either with the next slate of games coming against; the LA schools, at ASU and Washington after that.

We all knew this season would be a bit more of a battle compared to what we’re normally used to, but Arizona has to play better in games like this. Every game matters at this point, and every win will need to be earned and they can’t afford poor shooting nights or sloppy play.

Listen to coach Sean Miller as he describes his teams’ offensive struggles against Oregon

At Zona Zealots, we hope the team can rebound and put together a better performance against Oregon State in a couple of days. Bear Down, Arizona!