Trey bien? Not exactly for Arizona in stopping 3-pointers.
The frustration is more apparent in his comments than on his face or body language. But Arizona coach Sean Miller said Arizona won't get back on a consistent winning streak until one thing happens: his team plays better defense on the perimeter.
It's been his go-to gripe all season and continued on Tuesday afternoon in preparation for visiting Washington (14-2, 6-7) on Wednesday night in a key game, and one No. 12 Arizona (21-4, 9-4) needs to stay in at least second place in the Pac-12 Conference race.
"Our three-point defense is pathetic," Miller said starting off what turned out to be a two-minute, 15-second explanation of why it is.
He went as far as reeling off numbers saying Arizona is ranked 281 out of 345 teams and is not getting better, having dropped to Grand Canyon-like depths over the last four games where Arizona has gone 2-2 and even struggled to get the two wins. Arizona has given up 29 treys in 65 attempts.
Arizona senior Solomon Hill said the troubles are happening just when Arizona – in prior years – had been developing a reputation (true or untrue) of being a good-defending team behind the arc.
"We've lost all credibility," Hill said.
With three weeks left in the regular season, there's no time like the present to get some of that reputation back.
Hill, a senior, said he doesn't want to lose another home game – UCLA and California have knocked off UA this season in McKale Center – because "it feels weird," so UA will attempt to play two good halves back-to-back.
"It'll be a great way to start pushing to the end," Hill said.
Miller said there's potential for improvement because there were stretches when UA became dogged in its effort to stop teams on the perimeter.
"We've reverted back; it's cost us dearly," Miller said.
He again went to the numbers: UA is ranked 12th out of 12 teams in the Pac-12 Conference when it comes to defending 3-pointers (36.3 percent). If the alarms of March are starting to sound, Arizona isn't hearing.
"For us, to be a good team in March where we can advance in both tournaments (Pac-12 and NCAA), you can't be playing with fire like that," he said. "There (are) too many good teams and players who can change the game on you."
Many of the problems, Miller said, have come in the second halves of games. It did against California in McKale 10 days ago and again against Colorado last week.
"I don't know if I've ever had a team with more of a discrepancy," Miller said. "The good news is that we may be one of the best defensive teams in the country… till halftime."
Then he used his word of the day: "Pathetic," referring to the Wildcats' second-half efforts.
Miller said there's been plenty of discussion about the trend. What comes of it we will soon see, but when and if Arizona makes that change "you'll see us regain the stature of a really good team, or we will continue to be who we've been recently."
That would be the team that's inconsistent and too easy to score on.
Part of the problem is being out of position on defense, late in reading the offense and not being as aggressive. Miller also mentioned concentration and effort.
Every team right now is going through the same thing because it's late in the season and teams are getting tired. Now is the time teams have to push through it.
"It's about playing with more resolve and concentration," Miller said.
