Over his 10 year tenure, Arizona Basketball head coach Sean Miller has coached some great non-conference wins and here are our Top 10.
There are moments in a coach’s career that define his legacy. For Arizona Basketball head coach Sean Miller, he has been a part of many that make him the great coach he is today. Those wins may have come early in the season or in the latter part, but what we are going to focus on is those non-conference wins prior to the start of Pac-12 play. Specifically, we are going to cover the Top 10.
Getting a big-time win against a highly ranked non-conference opponent helps on many levels. It builds confidence, team chemistry and helps towards getting a good seed for the NCAA Tournament. Whether the game has been at home, on the road or at neutral sites, Miller has led his teams to top performances during non-conference games.
Coming from behind, winning in overtime or over a big-time opponent on a neutral site, all of these top non-conference wins have been special. Before Miller took over, Lute Olson had his share of top quality non-conference wins. There was definitely big shoes to fill, but these last ten years Miller has been able to fill them when it comes to getting wins in November and December.
This season, the Wildcats have a couple of key non-conference games including at home against Gonzaga. They first have to take care of business against a solid NCAA tournament team in Illinois. Let’s hope they can keep the momentum going.
For now, let’s get into the Top 10 non-conference wins under Sean Miller, starting with No.10.
No.10 – Iowa St
Who: Iowa St
When: 11/19/2019
Where: Maui Invitational
Game stats: Senior transfer point guard Justin Coleman led the way with 18 points and all five starters scored at least 10 points.
In the first round of the 2018-19 Maui Invitational, Arizona Basketball was looking to have a better neutral site showing from the previous season in which they went 0-3. The opening round in Maui they faced Big 12 opponent Iowa St. Winner would go on to face No.3 ranked Gonzaga.
After 20 minutes of play, the Wildcats would be down 27-36. The second half they turned things around, put up 44 points and would go on to win 71-66. Better overall shooting in the second half, from beyond the arc and in the paint led to their success.
All five starters scored in double figures, including Chase Jeter who put a double-double. He had 10 points and 12 rebounds. This victory was significant during the 2018-19 season because they only had 17 wins and not too many were over top quality non-conference opponents.
No.9 – Texas A&M
Who: Texas A&M
When: 12/5/2017
Where: Talking Stick Arena
Game stats: Four players had 13 points, led by Deandre Ayton with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
High expectations. During the 2018-19 season, Arizona Basketball was stacked with talent and was expected to dominate the Pac-12 and be a legit contender for the National Championship. That never happened due to a first-round loss to Buffalo. There was though some highlights during that season including a win over No.7 ranked Texas A&M.
The game was technically a neutral site game in Phoenix, but of course, Arizona fans made it feel like a home game. They would be without Rawle Alkins for this one, but Brandon Randolph would step up in his place.
This game was close after the first half with the Wildcats only down two 31-29. During the second half, they were able to get going on offense and went on to win 67-64. As a team, everyone contributed on both sides of the floor, helping the Wildcats with a solid win over a ranked opponent.
No. 8 – San Diego St
Who: San Diego St
When: 11/26/2014
Where: Maui Invitational
Game stats: Stanley Johnson led the team with 18 points and a total of nine players scored for the Wildcats.
Maui Invitational Champs! Arizona Basketball captured the Maui Invitational Title after beating Missouri, Kansas State and then San Diego St. At the time the Aztecs were ranked No.14 in the country and the Wildcats were ranked No.3. Showdown of two Top 25 teams in Maui for the title…can’t beat that!
The Aztecs had a solid team including former Wildcat Angelo Chol, who played for Arizona for two years before transferring. This game went back forth for all forty minutes. To put into perspective how close it was, the Wildcats scored one more point each half than the Aztecs to come away with the title 61-59.
Stanley Johnson led all scorers with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 14 points and six rebounds and T.J. McConnell had 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists. This would go on to be the last time the Wildcats had won the title. Hopefully, they will get their chance again soon to capture the title in Maui.
No. 7 – San Diego St
Who: San Diego St
When: 12/25/2012
Where: San Diego
Game stats: The Wildcats were led by Solomon Hill who had 21 points and Kevin Parron who had 17 points.
Huge win on the road. During the 2012-13 season, Arizona Basketball had a successful season and made it all the way to the Regional Semifinal of the NCAA Tournament. One of the highlights that season was a one-point victory over San Diego St on the road. Both teams were ranked in the Top 20 at the time. Arizona No. 3 and SDSU No.17.
Even though the Wildcats shot poorly from beyond the arc, going 5-20, they were able to rely on their top scorers in Solomon Hill, Nick Johnson, and Kevin Parrom.
The Wildcats were even slightly outrebounded 32-29 but thanks to a Johnson game-saving block they came away with a one-point victory 68-67.
Anytime the opportunity is there to win a road game against a top-ranked non-conference opponent, you have to take advantage of it. The Wildcats did just that!
No. 6 – North Carolina St
Who: North Carolina St
When: 12/19/2010
Where: RBC Center
Game stats: Derrick Williams led the way with 22 points and five rebounds.
In Sean Miller’s second year as head coach for Arizona Basketball, he helped lead his team to a top-quality win against North Carolina St, on the road. After finishing his first season as head coach for Arizona with a record of 16-15 and not making the NCAA Tournament, Miller had something to prove.
Behind the scoring force of Derrick Williams, the Wildcats put up 36 points each half of play and went on to win 72-62. Winning on the road is never easy, especially early on in the season. The Wildcats though found a win to get it done. They didn’t shot all the great from three but were able to shot a high percentage from within the pain to get the job done.
All five reserves came off the bench and played a crucial role, led by Kevin Parrom who had 11 points, followed by Jesse Perry who had 10. One of the keys to getting a road win is the bench contribution, that happened in this one. They outscored the Wolfpack’s bench 32-24.
No.5 – Gonzaga
Who: Gonzaga
When: 12/5/2015
Where: McCarthey Athletic Center
Game stats: The Wildcats were led in scoring by Gabe York who had 18 points.
Whenever these two teams meet they seem to bring out the best in one another. This one wouldn’t be any different. Heading into this matchup, the Wildcats were ranked No.19 and Bulldogs ranked No. 13. A lot was on the line early in the season.
After coming off a 68-59 win against Boise State on a neutral site, the Wildcats were looking to continue that momentum against Gonzaga. The Bulldogs though were the ones who took command early as the Wildcats trailed 38-28 after 20 minutes of play.
Coming out of the locker room, they found their groove outscoring their opponent 40-25 and came away with the 68-63 victory. The Bulldogs leading scorer Kyle Wiltjer had 33 points but wasn’t enough. Gabe York led the team with 18 points, Allonzo Trier had 14 and Ryan Anderson had 13.
Interesting to note that during the 2015-16 non-conference season, the Wildcats only lost one game, that was to Providence by four. Unfortunately, they would endure another first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament to Wichita State.
No.4 – Michigan State
Who: Michigan State
When: 11/11/2016
Where: Armed Forces Classic in Hawaii
Game stats: The Wildcats were led by freshman sensation Lauri Markkanen with 13 points and six rebounds.
One of the great all-time wins in Arizona Basketball history. With 1.9 seconds left, senior guard Kadeem Allen drove the length of the floor for the winning layup against Michigan St in the Armed Force Classic in Hawaii. Wildcats win 65-63.
The first game of the 2016-17 season couldn’t have gone any better for the Wildcats. Getting a win is always important to start the season but to do it in this fashion against a No.12 ranked team was even better. This win would be their only win against a non-conference ranked opponent that season.
Both teams shot well from the floor, were even on the glass and in turnovers. The scoring trio of freshman sensation Lauri Markkanen with 13 points, senior guard Allen with 10 and freshman Kobi Simmons off the bench with 18 points was too much for the Spartans to handle.
No.3 – Gonzaga
Who: Gonzaga
When: 12/6/2014
Where: McKale Center
Game stats: The Wildcats were led by Brandon Ashley with 14 points and five rebounds.
Overtime. This game was as even as it could be. It took an additional five minutes of play to determine the winner. Each team had their chances to win in regulation, but it Arizona that wanted it that much more and came out on top 66-63 in overtime.
The Wildcats already had one big win over a Top 25 opponent during the 2014-15 season and we’re looking for their second. Both teams were undefeated heading into this matchup and ranked inside the Top 10. A game of this caliber in December, gotta love college basketball!
The box score would show that both teams were even. In the end, though, the Wildcats found ways to get it done in overtime to come away with a big-time win at home.
Brandon Ashley had 14 points, Kaleb Tarczewski and Stanley Johnson both had 11 points and T.J. McConnell had 12. The bench contributed with 11 points.
No.2 – Duke
Who: Duke
When: 11/29/2013
Where: Madison Square Garden
Game stats: The Wildcats were led in scoring by Nick Johnson with 15 points and was named the NIT Season Tip-Off MVP.
Duke. These two teams have played against one another nine times, with Arizona leading the overall series 5-4. Prior to this game, the Wildcats beat Duke in the NCAA Regional Semifinal 93-77. Revenge was certainly on the Blue Devils mind. The Wildcats had other plans though and dished out another defeat to Duke 72-66 in the NIT Season Tip-Off Title game in Madison Square Garden.
The Blue Devils took command in the first half, but the Wildcats were right there only down three. In the second half, they went on a run and never looked back. Behind a well-balanced scoring attack from the starting five, the Wildcats were champs in New York.
Nick Johnson had 15 points, Brandon Ashley had 13 points, T.J. McConnell, Aaron Gordon and Kaleb Tarczewski each had 10 points.
No.1 – Florida
Who: Florida
When: 12/15/2012
Where: McKale Center
Game stats: The Wildcats were led in scoring by Solomon Hill with 18 points.
Down six with about a minute to go. In one of the greatest comebacks ever in Arizona Basketball history, the No. 8 ranked Wildcats came back to beat the No.5 ranked Florida Gators 65-64. On the same day in which the Arizona Football team mounted a come back to defeat Nevada 49-48 in the 2012 New Mexico Bowl, the basketball team did the same.
I personally will never forget this game. I was sitting in front of the television screen thinking there is no way the Wildcats win this one. Then all of a sudden one thing led to another and there I was going crazy as Mark Lyons hit the game-winning layup.
First, there was the turnover, then the made free throws by Kevin Parrom, then another turnover by the Gators that led to a layup by Solomon Hill. Not done yet. Another turnover by the Gators that led to a made free throw by Grant Jerrett, a missed free throw by the Gators and then the winning layup by Lyons!
The magic of McKale Center.
At Zona Zealots, we would like to congratulate head coach Sean Miller and his many achievements, including these Top 10 non-conference win. Let us know your thoughts. As always, Bear Down Arizona!