TONY NGUYEN | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE
Last time out, Arizona visited WSU in Pullman and overran the Cougars into a 66-49 defeat. This performance was WSU’s fewest points and rebounds in a game this season.
WSU men’s basketball will visit the Arizona schools this
week for its last two away games to finish its regular season schedule.
WSU (15-14, 6-10) will make its first stop on its road trip
against the University of Arizona Wildcats (19-10, 9-7) at 7:30 p.m. on
Thursday in Tucson, Arizona.
WSU comes off its first road win of conference play against
the University of Washington this past Friday. Head coach Kyle Smith said the
team has played well in most of their road games this season, however they plan
on translating the team’s success against UW to the Arizona schools this week.
“Hopefully just capitalize off [Friday’s win], I think we
will,” Smith said. “I think our guys are up for it.”
With his recent performance against UW, junior guard Isaac
Bonton remains the only player for WSU that has scored in double-digits in
every conference game he’s played in this season. Smith said Bonton’s efforts
has further emphasized Smith’s past coaching antics of having a scoring point
guard.
“That’s really your quarterback, he’s not a game manager,”
Smith said. “He’s not Trent Dilfer, it’s more Michael Vick.”
Last time out, Arizona visited WSU in Pullman and overran
the Cougars into a 66-49 defeat. This performance was WSU’s fewest points and rebounds
in a game this season.
Junior forward Tony Miller did not play against Arizona in
the previous matchup as he was on the back end of an ankle injury he endured
during WSU’s matchup against UCLA in January.
Smith said Miller’s participation will help give the WSU
bench a considerable impact in Thursday’s outcome.
“He’s a remarkable finisher around the basket, especially
considering he’s a little undersized,” Smith said. “We need him. If he were
healthy the whole time, I think he’d be our third leading scorer.”
Arizona freshman forward Zeke Nnaji and graduate forward
Stone Gettings posted double-doubles when the Wildcats faced the Cougars last;
Getttings achieved his double-double before halftime.
The 22 total rebounds from these two players alone
contributed for almost half of Arizona’s 49 total rebounds at the end of the
game; the most rebounds WSU has allowed to any opponent this season.
“They really killed us last time on the glass,” freshman
guard Noah Williams said. “Boxing out and fighting for the rebounds and making
sure everyone crashes, we should be good.”
Miller said this time around that WSU will bring an altered
approach to rebounding the ball, defending against the Arizona bigs and
transitioning the ball on offense.
“I think we’ve planned well for them,” Miller said. “I think
our changes are a little bit better this game.”
Nnaji ranks second in the Pac-12 in offensive rebounds per
game with 2.9 and fifth in field goal percentage with 57.8 percent.
Arizona freshman guard Nico Mannion comes into Thursday’s
rematch in second place among the Pac-12 in assists per game with 5.3. Williams
said Mannion’s playmaking will be a focal point for the Cougar defense to
contest.
“He’s the head of the snake,” Williams said. “Really, if you stop him and stop him from getting his assists, then we should be very successful.”
Bonton was the Cougars’ leading scorer when facing the
Wildcats last time with 15 points. The Cougars’ leading scorer for the season,
sophomore forward CJ Elleby, shot two of 12 for seven points, his second-worst
scoring performance this season.
During that game, Elleby was battling the flu and played 30
minutes for the Cougars. Smith said Elleby has shown no signs of any sickness
coming up to Thursday’s matchup.
“We’re leaving the coronavirus behind hopefully,” Smith said. “I think he’ll be healthy; he’ll be excited.”
This game against Arizona is one of two remaining road games
for WSU before the Pac-12 tournament on March 11. Miller said winning these
remaining conference games will be key to transitioning to the competition that
the tournament will bring.
“It’ll give us a lot of confidence and momentum,” Miller
said. “I think we’ll always have confidence though.”
WSU tips off its rematch against Arizona at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday in the McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, Arizona. The game will air on
the FS1 Network.