Anthony Dell’Orso is making waves at Arizona, and it's about time the Big 12 took notice. Named to the conference's weekly 'Starting Five,' Dell’Orso has been a force off the bench for the Wildcats, delivering standout performances that fans won't soon forget.
The 6-foot-6 senior guard lit up the scoreboard with 22 points in each of Arizona's victories over BYU and Houston. Matching his career-best scoring output, Dell’Orso was on fire, hitting eight shots per game and nailing 6 of 13 from beyond the arc. His defensive prowess was also on display with a career-high four steals in the game against Houston, showcasing his all-around impact in 34 minutes of play.
This surge in performance comes after a challenging stretch, where Dell’Orso managed just 62 points and eight three-pointers in the initial Big 12 games. Yet, through the ups and downs, Arizona's coach Tommy Lloyd never wavered in his belief in Dell’Orso's potential.
“Delly, he’s a spitfire,” Lloyd shared after the Houston game. “I don’t know how many of you guys know Aussies, but he’s got some you know what to them.
He has a little bit of that, and it wasn’t going his way for a good stretch there, and he hung with it. And our guys hung with him and our staff hung with him and I just told Delly, just hang in there, it’s coming.
If there’s little adjustments we have to make we’ll see if we can figure them out, but we trust you and we believe in you and I don’t see any scenario where you don’t get opportunities.”
With freshman forward Koa Peat sidelined due to a strained leg muscle, Dell’Orso has stepped up as the leading scorer in these recent games. As Tobe Awaka moved into the starting lineup and Dwayne Aristode dealt with an illness, Dell’Orso became the main contributor from the bench, proving that when opportunity knocks, he's more than ready to answer.
Dell’Orso’s recent performances are a testament to perseverance and the faith his team has in him. If he continues on this trajectory, the Wildcats could be in for an exciting season.