TUCSON, Ariz. -- The moment the final buzzer sounded at the Honda Center in Anaheim after Arizona's stunning loss to Wisconsin last March, Wildcats guard Gabe York thought to himself: "I'm better than that. And I'm going to be better."
It was his promise.
So, for six months he slept on that vow and worked on that goal. His line of 0 for 2 from the floor, 1 for 2 from the free-throw line and one point in 29 minutes is a good memory of a bad game that can change a mentality -- or at least modify it.
"It's a game that still gives me nightmares," said York, who averaged 6.7 points per game last year. "I feel if I get those points, or get four or five, we win that game. I'm not putting the whole blame on me, but I could have been better."
Everyone could have, seeing how it came down to one shot, maybe one rebound, maybe a free throw or two in the 64-63 overtime loss.
A season later, York -- deemed the team's best shooter by coach Sean Miller -- worked himself into the player he wants to be: a better one.
"I think I accomplished that this summer," York recently said.
Proof will come in a season in which lineups will change and expectations will rise for a program that likely will be in the top five in the polls and No. 1 in some people's minds. A sold-out McKale Center will get to see York and the rest of the team on Saturday in the annual Red-Blue Game.
York fits in given his ability to hit shots from the perimeter, but where he fits in with the addition of the talented Stanley Johnson will be determined. Miller clearly was not talking about lineups during media day more than 10 days ago. Whether York, a 6-foot-5, 185-pound junior, starts as many games as he did last year (12) is anyone's guess.
"I just want to be a more complete basketball player," he said when asked how he fits in. "Whatever Coach (Miller) needs me to do, but also knowing that I can do more than just shoot the ball. I feel last year I held myself back by just shooting the ball. If the team needs me to do this or that, I'll make the one more pass or set the screen to get Kaleb (Tarczewski) open for a dunk."
That's the veteran Miller likes to hear. With two years into the program, York should know what to expect. He's seen the ups and the downs, the ins and outs.
"You're going to see a more mature, better player," Miller said.
He expects the same from sophomore Elliott Pitts, who stayed in Tucson the entire summer to improve. Both are important to Arizona's outside shooting. Pitts gained about 15 pounds and is more prepared for the physical play.
"Coach Miller talked a lot about that with me, even since the beginning of the year," Pitts said. "I took it head on this summer. I got in the weight room, too."
Pitts says he'll do whatever is asked to contribute. Where and how he fits in, too, will matter. A tall shooting guard at 6-foot-5, Pitts has an advantage, but the added weight "will help."
"This is all on me," Pitts said, of his motivation to improve and impress. "It's not about what anyone else is doing. It's about how much better I can get to get the minutes."
As for York, Miller said as important as he was last season, he'll be equally as important this year. And, York is "poised to take the next step."
York said he lives by Miller's "honor the process" motivation in part because it has hit him the most. His freshman year was one of frustration, playing just 5.8 minutes a game and averaging 2.4 points. Last year, he played almost four times as much (21 minutes).
"That (saying) honed in to me more than any other basketball player," York said. "I thought I had an expectation for myself about my freshman year. Coach didn't have that same expectation. "
He didn't give up, choosing to stay and prove himself.
Arizona guard Elliott Pitts is expected to provide outside shooting, along with Gabe York, this season.
"I told myself, yes, it's tough but I'm going to stick through it and get better and overcome that obstacle in my life," he said. "It's been that way my entire life. My mom brought me up well."
So, with some self-reflection he re-evaluated and asked for direction. Now, he is expected to be a big part of Arizona's success. He realized there was one thing he had to do: be a better defender. A lot better.
"I worked on everything you can think of," he said. "It was about being more confident as a defender. And that gave me more confidence on the offensive end, as well."
With Nick Johnson gone to the NBA, Miller said York will have to pick up where "Nick left off as a defender and (we) need to trust him more defensively."
York is confident that will happen. He said he's worked hard to be better, more determined to make this season "all business."
"Gabe York is going to be a big part of things this year," Miller said. "How that's going to work out in terms of minutes and a starting position, I don't know. But If I were a betting man, I'd bet on him having a big role on this year based on what we've seen so far."
Follow Steve Rivera on Twitter
