Arizona started its highly anticipated season
in successful fashion but will need to clean up some glaring issues heading into games against better competition.
And the
sixth-ranked Wildcats could get tested in their next two contests,
beginning Monday night when they host three-time defending Big West
champion Long Beach State.
Before
Thursday's visit to San Diego State -- an NCAA tournament team last
season -- Arizona (1-0) faces Long Beach State while looking to improve upon its 27-2
record in nonconference home games against unranked opponents under
coach Sean Miller. That mark includes a 73-62 victory over Cal Poly on
Friday.
Aaron Gordon, one of the nation's
most highly touted freshmen, turned in a solid debut with 13 points, 10
rebounds and four blocks. He had recently been limited in practice due
to a strained groin.
"In the 33 minutes
that he played, 20 of the 33 you could kind of really see him at full
speed," Miller said. "And he did the best he could for about 10 to 13,
especially in the second half. You could see he wore down a little bit."
Gordon was one of six Wildcats scoring in double figures, with fellow freshman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also among that group.
Duquesne transfer T.J. McConnell also enjoyed a strong Arizona debut,
giving the team a true point guard presence that it lacked last season.
McConnell had a game-high six assists and two steals. Arizona players
accounted for only seven performances of six-plus assists in 2012-13.
The Wildcats were woeful from the free-throw line, though, making 20 of 36,
with Gordon -- admittedly nervous -- going 2 for 6. Arizona was second in
the Pac-12 last season in free-throw shooting at 74.9 percent.
Perimeter defense also will likely be a point of emphasis after Cal Poly knocked down 11 of 23 3-point attempts.
"In a season opener, a lot of unexpected things can happen," Miller
said. "The exciting thing about our team is that we will only get better
as we keep moving on. We're not as bad of a free-throw shooting team as
we showed tonight."
Long Beach State
(1-0) also comes off a win in its opener, a 71-59 victory over Hawaii Pacific on
Saturday. Junior Mike Caffey scored a career-high 27 points while senior
Dan Jennings posted his first career double-double with 10 points and
17 rebounds.
The 49ers are looking to
avoid falling to 0-5 in the all-time series after a 94-72 defeat at Arizona last year. Caffey was 1 for 7 from the field for three points
while Brandon Ashley led Arizona with 20 points and 10 rebounds on a
6-for-6 shooting night. Ashley had 11 points and nine boards against Cal
Poly.
The loss in Tucson was one of
four against ranked opponents last season for the Long Beach State, with all of them coming by at least 15 points.
