BOULDER, Colo. – Once Arizona Wildcats took a bus straight to the Denver International Airport and prepared to fly to Salt Lake City late Thursday night, it was finally OK to talk about the Utes.
That’s how UA kept its focus Thursday, beating Colorado without issue in what used to be a budding Pac-12 rivalry.
“We had four days to talk about Colorado,” Miller said after UA’s 82-54 win. “We have not prepared for the next game at all and rightfully so -- that’s how we always do it. Now we forge ahead to Saturday.”
Apparently the Utes kept their focus, too, and some, clobbering ASU 83-41 to keep up their end of the bargain in forcing a showdown for first place on Saturday at the Huntsman Center.
With a win, Arizona will clinch a share of the Pac-12 title and the right to cut down the nets as outright champs at McKale Center next week with a win over either Cal or Stanford.
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“Every game we play the rest of the way, in some way, is going to be a big one,” Miller said.
Miller trotted out twin towers for the first time Thursday, using both Kaleb Tarczewski and Dusan Ristic together in the second half.
It’s a look Miller hopes to keep on reserve if needed ahead.
“We’ve been working on it … because we’ve gotten in foul trouble with Brandon (Ashley) and Rondae (Hollis-Jefferson),” Miller said. “When we do that it just makes sense because Kaleb is pretty intelligent in terms of learning other positions. I thought they did a good job when they were in there tonight.”
Thursday’s box score was the kind Arizona might need to put together a long NCAA tournament run: All the starters were in double figures except T.J. McConnell, who had six assists to two turnovers, while Gabe York came off the bench to hit 4 of 5 three-pointers.
“We’re getting contributions from a lot of different players, whether it be rebounding, whether it be the players who don’t start ....” Miller said. “Even with our starters there’s a lot of balance. Kaleb (Tarczewski) is playing well. He’s in double figures, and to me that gives us more firepower. So we have a collection of guys who are playing together and they’re playing hard … we could lose to Utah and I could still feel the same way.”
York gave reeling Colorado the same kind of support that Miller did after the game.
“They’re a good basketball team,” York said. “Give them credit. I just think they’re having an up-and-down season. They don’t have a lot of opportunities they can look to for scoring besides Askia (Booker). So when Askia’s not having a great night, its kind of iffy what you’re going to get. But they’re a great basketball team.”
Tarczewski turned 22 Thursday (he had five years of high school) and didn’t get a chance to celebrate other than on the court.
“This is a business trip,” he said.
However, Tarczewski said he and his girlfriend went out to dinner to celebrate before he left and, especially if UA wins Saturday, the good times could continue Sunday.
“Maybe we’ll celebrate when we get back,” he said.
Our coverage from Boulder: A game story, Greg Hansen’s column, seen-and-heard notes and a photo gallery.
Here's the official box score.
OSU, meanwhile, lost another road game.
And, BTW, Delon Wright doesn't doesn't plan to lose any more...
