Three days after he blasted his team following 蜜柚直播's loss at Alabama, Sean Miller didn鈥檛 appear to feel much better about the game.
Maybe worse.
鈥淲hat I would say is credit Alabama 鈥 they had a home game against us and were coming off a tough game themselves 鈥 they were ready and they did a great job,鈥 Miller said Wednesday at his weekly news conference. 鈥淏ut by far out of the 10 games we鈥檝e played, that was our worst performance, if we just grade ourselves. We didn鈥檛 have the wherewithal, the will, the energy, the discipline sometimes to be good enough on defense.鈥
Miller expressed particular disappointment with transition defense and defensive rebounding. The Wildcats allowed Alabama five offensive rebounds over the final 5:11 of Sunday鈥檚 game that led to 10 points 鈥 a dunk, 3-pointer and 5 of 6 free throws.
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鈥淥ur transition defense has been, for early in the year, constant for us, but it really left us for most of the game and playing against a team like Alabama that has multiple guys in transition, you kind of feed into what they鈥檙e good at and that鈥檚 what they did.
鈥淭he big burst in the first half when they opened the game up by as many as 19 points, that stemmed from a lot of baskets they got before the defense was set up. At the end of the game our defensive rebounding left us, when we really needed to get a stop or one or two key defensive rebounds. When you don鈥檛 foul and get them to miss a shot but don鈥檛 rebound that鈥檚 really what breaks your back. And that鈥檚 really what happened.
鈥淲e had five of last seven possessions where they missed a shot against our defense and they got a second shot, that led to fouls, that led to and-ones, that led to a 3 point basket. That also happened to our team in Maui, that game broke open against Gonzaga and the reason the game got into double digits was they did the same thing. We鈥檝e watched it, we鈥檝e talked about it., sometimes the best reminder is a loss. There鈥檚 a lot to be learned about the Alabama game. Unfortunately, we took a loss in which either team could have won.鈥
The Wildcats took Monday off and then resumed practice while finishing up finals this week.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very difficult week with time management,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淵ou want guys to take care of themselves because they have the stress of the final exam and the final grade looming. Fifteen weeks are behind them and that鈥檚 it. We have to make sure each of our guys are sure of themselves and are taking care of things and have the time needed to be successful away from the court.鈥
Freshman Brandon Williams, the player UA chose to appear at Wednesday鈥檚 news conference, said not having to travel or play a second game this week helps. The Wildcats went to Hawaii, Connecticut and Alabama all within the past month.
鈥淚t helps us a lot,鈥 Williams said. 鈥淲e can reset, recover and we鈥檙e back at home Saturday and that鈥檚 going to be fun, knowing we don鈥檛 have to travel all the way to UConn or Alabama.鈥
Jahvon Quinerly is too happy at Villanova these days.
Apparently this was on Jahvon Quinerly's Instagram story for a quick moment. Things seem to be going swimmingly there
— Bobby Reagan (@BarstoolReags)
Jon Wilner says some why former Pac-12 ADs, including Greg Byrne, are critical of Larry Scott.
The Oregonian's John Canzano says financially troubled OSU 聽at the Pac-12聽than anyone.
Damon Stoudamire's UOP Tigers are 8-4 and on a three-game winning streak after a difficult start to his head coaching career in Stockton.
Third year for Damon Stoudamire at Pacific, and they keep getting better! If wins just 12 of their next 20 games, the Tigers will accomplish a 20-win season. Not bad for working with only 10 scholarships (or less) since he arrived.
— Richie Schueler (@RichieSchueler)
Tad Boyle called at New Mexico a "gutsy win."
Watch: 9 best things Sean Miller, Brandon Williams said in pre-Baylor press conference
蜜柚直播 Wildcats face tough task against Baylor's zone defense
As finals week hits full stride and UA students are wrapping up their fall semester, the Wildcats will take a few extra days off and prepare for the Baylor Bears.
蜜柚直播 is coming off a 76-73 loss at Alabama and now holds a 7-3 record on the season with three nonconference games remaining: Baylor on Saturday, Montana on Dec. 19 and UC Davis on Dec. 22.聽
Against Alabama, the Wildcats trailed by as many as 19 points in the first half, but clawed their way back and led by one point late in the second half. After scoring 47 bench points combined in the previous two wins, 蜜柚直播 only scored six to Alabama's 29.
Brandon Williams scored 16 points on 4 of 7 shooting from 3-point range and dropped 10 points in the second half. Now the Wildcats turn to a 5-3 Baylor team that head coach Sean Miller said plays a blend of man-to-man and zone defense, which will be different for the Wildcats.聽
Miller and Williams held a press conference on Wednesday to recap the loss against Alabama and preview the challenge ahead with Baylor.聽
Miller's latest update with the team
Sean Miller provides an update as the players are in the middle of finals week:
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Falling through the cracks
Brandon Williams on how 蜜柚直播 lost to Alabama:
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Sloppy play, transition defense vs. Alabama
Sean Miller says 蜜柚直播 had its worst performance of the season against Alabama on Sunday. Miller emphasized that UA鈥檚 transition defense 鈥渓eft us.鈥
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Settling for jumpers
Sean Miller says 蜜柚直播 relied on jump shots against Alabama which played a huge role in not getting to the free throw line.
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Importance of Ira Lee
Sean Miller on Ira Lee: 鈥淲e need him. This team needs him.鈥滿iller also adds that Lee is a part of 蜜柚直播鈥檚 plan for the future.
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Williams finishing first semester at UA
Brandon Williams on finishing finals and his first semester at UA. Williams said his first semester at 蜜柚直播 was shocked by the number of people in classes.
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Baylor's defense
Sean Miller says Baylor鈥檚 zone defense will be a challenge for 蜜柚直播.
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Team chemistry with Emmanuel Akot starting, Ryan Luther as a reserve
Sean Miller on Emmanuel Akot in the starting lineup and Ryan Luther coming off the bench:
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Guard play
Brandon Williams on meshing with Justin Coleman and Brandon Randolph:
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)