In the winner’s locker room Thursday night at Wells Fargo Arena, Sean Miller sent a reinforcing message to Deandre Ayton.
“If you ever needed a reminder of what makes us great,†Miller said in a video released via Twitter, “we were going to the rim, we were throwing it inside.
“Andre, you took over the game. Your effort was amazing and as this team goes, you go, and as you go, this team goes. You set the standard: Every big rebound, every big play, you were there and everyone fed off it.â€
It’s clear that Miller wants Ayton to fully believe and accept that he is the straw that stirs the drink. Sometimes it appears that neither Ayton nor the Wildcats get the message, and isn’t that why they’ve struggled periodically?
In the first 13 minutes of the second half at Wells Fargo Arena, Ayton was not much of a factor. He took just three shots and scored four points. The Sun Devils forged into the lead. Incredibly, the Wildcats didn’t make it a priority to get Ayton involved.
He didn’t take his first shot of the second half until 13:59 remained.
But in the final seven minutes, Ayton was The Answer.
He scored 13 points and had eight rebounds. ASU coach Bobby Hurley later said Ayton is the best big man he’s seen in college basketball.
Why wait so long for Ayton to be The Answer every game? Is it as simple as him asserting himself?
°Â³ó±ð²ÔÌýShaquille O’Neal was an LSU freshman in 1990, he attempted 9.8 shots per game; Ayton is at 12.7. A year later, as Shaq got more comfortable being the go-to guy, he almost doubled his shots-per-game average to 17.9.
Look, Ayton isn’t the best to ever play at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, no matter what the analysts say. Sean Elliott could score off the dribble, create a shot in traffic, hit a 3-pointer at any time and, perhaps most impressive, he was the best clutch shooter in UA history, big game upon big game. He wanted the ball when the Pac-10 championship was on the line at Pauley Pavilion.
Elliott was the basketball equivalent of baseball’s five-tool player. His instincts for the game set him apart.
Ayton isn’t a five-tool player. But he is the most physically imposing man in college basketball, able to run the court with guards, shoot from 3-point distance and, I’m guessing, win a pick-the-quarter-off-the-top-of-the-backboard contest.
If Miller’s message ever fully sinks in — if Ayton chooses to play the first 13 minutes of the half the way he played the last seven Thursday night — it won’t really matter what seed ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ gets in the NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats will have The Answer for everyone.
