Coming off a way-too-early shootaround Wednesday morning at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Arizona coach Adia Barnes was feeling good about her team’s chances in their first Big 12 Tournament action Thursday.
The day didn’t stop there, as the Wildcats had a full practice off-site.
No. 8-seeded Arizona (19-12) knows exactly the task at hand at thetournament. The Wildcats want one more win to lock in No. 20 to inch closer to a bid for the NCAA Tournament. While heading into this week, UA might not have known who they would be playing, it’s the time of year where the focus is all on making small improvements to its game.
Wildcats head coach Adia Barnes pulls guard Lauryn Swann for a quick chat during the game against Arizona State at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
As it turns out, Arizona will play No. 9 seed Colorado (19-11) at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. The Buffs hung on to beat No. 16 Houston 66-58, with UA’s coaching staff on hand for the game. Barnes was interviewed on ESPN+ at halftime.
People are also reading…
The Star caught up with Barnes on Wednesday for a wide-ranging conversation on winning out, peaking at the right time, as well as her message to the Wildcats this week.
Q: You’ve found different ways to win all season, especially over the last four games. When you told your team, “This is a new season,” did you expect they’d really take it to heart and go on this four-game winning streak?
A: “I didn’t really know what they expected, the young team. I think it’s the time of year where it’s really hard. Your team either responds or not. We’re young and sometimes with youth comes a little bit of immaturity. I think you have a mixture of different people’s feelings on the team. Isis (Beh) really wants to end on a good note and make the NCAA Tournament. She’s played out of her mind the whole year. Then others, like maybe Sky (Jones) and Breya (Cunningham) haven’t really played their best. We found ways to win, but it really hasn’t been on the backs of them lately. I think Jada (Williams) is in a real confident, great place. Now, shorthanded without Montaya (Dew, out with a knee injury), it’s giving Katarina (Knezevic) an opportunity. She’s been playing well, so (she) needs to step up a little bit more. Breya and Sky need to get going for us to win and be successful.
“That’s the fact and those are the facts this time of year. Your best players have to step up. You ride your horses, and they have to show up and play. It’s no excuses. It’s do or die. We’re going to see what some people are made of and what our team is made of right now.”
Q: Once again, you have your team peaking at the right time. Was there a moment when you saw something in this squad, and you thought, “They are getting it.”
Sun Devils center Nevaeh Parkinson (32) puts pressure on Arizona forward Isis Beh (33) during her drive to the net in Tempe on March 1, 2025.
A: “I thought there was times at the ASU game that we looked like a team like, ‘Wow, we’re playing our best basketball and we are ready.’ I thought we shot the ball really well at the offense, and that was without some of our best players playing their best so that was more positive to me, because if you can win without Breya playing great, Sky playing great, I think that says a lot. Now, we’re just getting everybody firing on all cylinders and everybody ready, focused and honed in on what we’re doing every day, one day at a time, one game at a time, and then just play.”
Q: Does this team have something that surprised you?
A: “I think just finding ways to for different people to step up, let us win differently. I think it’s just the will. From Katarina not playing all year and to come in, show up. For Jada, she’s peaking at the right time, too. I think she’s playing better basketball right now. And I think maybe there is a chip on their shoulders because no one made (Big 12) all conference team (Cunningham was an honorable mention, Lauryn Swann was All-Freshman team). I think maybe that’s incentive to be motivated and ready.”
Q: If you had a direct line to the NCAA Selection Committee, what would you say to them on why you deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament?
A: “I’d say we are a good, young team. We haven’t had any bad losses this year. All the losses we’ve had have been against legitimate teams, and that we’ve done enough to be in the NCAA Tournament. I don’t think there should be a question that we’re playing a good conference, and we’re playing our best basketball now and peaking at the right time.”
Q: What has been your message for this week?
A: “One day at a time. One game at a time. This is where stars are made. This is what you work all year for, to put yourself in the best position to win in March and that’s what we are doing. We’re ready. Our minds are right. And we’re going to go in and play. I just talk about it’s one game. You don’t have to go in a series. It’s one game at a time and it’s the time to show up. It’s fun. This is what it’s all about. I love coaching this time of year.”
