Arizona's home game against Washington on Saturday night has been one of the team's most anticipated dates of the season in Tucson, and not just because it matches two of the best, most athletic teams in the Pac-12.
Back in the preseason, ESPN chose the game for its primetime telecast, complete with the "GameDay" crew doing its show from McKale Center during the day.
Arizona officials added to the hype by designating the game a "White Out," encouraging fans to wear white. The Wildcats tried that for the first time last season, with visually stunning results -- and the game wasn't bad either, as Derrick Williams preserved the victory, also against Washington, with a blocked shot near the rim in the final second.
"The White Out last year was the single biggest home-court advantage I have ever experienced," coach Sean Miller said.
So although neither Arizona nor Washington has exactly lived up to preseason expectations this season, they will have a big spotlight on them Saturday -- especially the Cats, who will get daylong promotion on ESPN.
"You always want to play well in those situations, but it's also important that we don't make the game any bigger than it is," Miller said. "Home games are precious to all of us. The object is to play well at home in a conference game. Sometimes, when playing in front of the nation becomes the thing you talk about, what's lost is playing the right way, doing the thing that makes us a good team."
Good news is that the Wildcats (14-7, 5-3 Pac-12) head into the game feeling good following an 85-61 victory over Washington State on Thursday night. Arizona connected on 15 of 26 3-point shots vs. the Cougars.
Washington (13-7, 6-2) is coming off a 60-54 win Thursday at Arizona State.
NOTES, QUOTES
-- Coach Sean Miller spent his regular news conference last week mocking
his team's propensity for turnovers. Message received. Arizona had only
nine turnovers vs. Washington State, giving the team a mere 29 in the
past three games since Miller's public rant.
"Taking care of the ball is
really the way we can become a better team," Miller said, "and it's
something we need to do well going further."
-- Arizona's young backcourt will be tested by a equally young and perhaps equally talented Washington guard tandem of Tony Wroten Jr. and Terrence Ross. Wroten is a relentless penetrator, a tremendous athlete. Ross is a smooth perimeter scorer whom coach Lorenzo Romar recently compared to former NFL wide receiver Lynn Swann.
-- The home team has won the past nine meetings in the Arizona-Washington series.
PLAYER NOTES
-- Freshman PG Josiah Turner was thrown out of Thursday's game with 10:06 to play after picking up his second technical foul in the span of 66 seconds. He picked up the first as part of a double-technical after exchanging words with Washington State F Brock Motum. A couple of plays later, Turner shoved Motum in the lane after a made WSU basket, earning his second technical. Turner was playing one of his best games to that point, producing nine points and four assists. His continued improvement is key to Arizona's success in the final several weeks.
-- Junior F Kevin Parrom, who didn't look as if he would make an impact this season as he recovered from a Sept. 24 shooting that injured his lower left leg, has turned in three very good games in a row. He had nine points, four rebounds, four assists and no turnovers vs. Washington State -- typical of the all-around game he can provide. "I have seen him in practice coming back to himself and regaining his confidence," coach Sean Miller said.
