Arizona was untested in the early season. The Wildcats’ game against Kansas was the first team ranked above 129th in the NET that Arizona faced early on. Most of the Wildcats had never played as a ranked team against another team that should have been ranked, so it was a new experience for almost every roster. It wasn’t a good experience as he beat the Cats 77-50.
“They passed us, they put on muscle, they did what they wanted,” said the Arizona head coach. Adia Burns.
the only starter Shaina Pellington When Kate Reese He was on the roster when the Wildcats competed for the national title two years ago. Of healthy players on the bench, Helena Pueyo When Maddie Connor I was on that team. Most teams weren’t here last season.
But Burns didn’t want to be used as an excuse. That might be the reason for the tension, she said, but the issue that arose during the game was actually one they talked about repeatedly: Last season’s NCAA Tournament, where the Wildcats ended McKale at her center. I remember when we lost to North Carolina at .
“This is a wake-up call, and we haven’t arrived, so I think it was probably necessary,” Barnes said. They were exploited in the game.So I think this is a chance for us to get better and see what we need to work on.It’s the same thing we’ve been talking about in the last month or so. “
The Wildcats looked more like a collection of individuals than a team. Whether that’s the result of this year’s Arizona team, which was a staple of other teams last season, is debatable. was the “lady” of the college team.
Reese seemed to be the only Wildcat ready at the tip.Only four Arizona players scored in the first half. Reese scored his 9 of his 22 points for the Wildcats. No other player scored more than five points for Pellington. Jade Roville.
When Reese committed two fouls and went to the bench with four minutes left in the first half, the Jayhawks took off and never looked back. They won the first half 8-0. Arizona did not score over 3:30 as the second quarter ended with six visitors.
“The funny thing is we played badly in the first half,” Barnes said. “In the last 14 minutes of the first half, we were 26-2, but we were still in the game. But in the third quarter, I didn’t feel any pressure and got out and was forced into a loose out, like a ball.”
KU picked up exactly where it left off. The Jayhawks outscored the Wildcats, 26-11 in the 3rd quarter and 23-17 in the 4th.
Arizona shot 30.9 percent from the floor and 3 to 19 percent in this game. At the free-throw line, the Wildcats had his 4-9 record and the Jayhawks his 16-18 record.
Barnes said much of that could be attributed to the Wildcats being threatened by the Jayhawks’ 6-foot-6 forward. Tyanna JacksonJackson had three blocks, but the bigger problem was Arizona’s fear of opposing her, Barnes said. I hit a bad shot outside in response to her when I wasn’t.
“She’s a really good player,” Barnes said. “I think she’s underrated. Without a doubt, I think she’s one of the top posts in the country. Her length alone made her make us change shots. The first half. probably missed 12 layups, and what I tried to remind the team was to think about some of the best shot blockers in the country. 2 shots blocked shots per game?It’s like a national leader maybe 3.So if you do, statistically more than blocked shots, get fouled and free throws We don’t need to change the shot because it is sent to the line, but she made us double pump.
Burns took responsibility for not doing what the team should have done, but she said it wasn’t preparation.
“There was nothing they did that we didn’t defend or weren’t prepared to defend,” Barnes said. “It’s just a run in the game.”
Adia Barnes post-match press conference
