Arizona didn’t need long to put Northern Arizona away on Tuesday night. By the time the final horn sounded in Tucson, the Wildcats had rolled to a 90-59 win and checked off one last tune-up before a much tougher run to close November.
The box score told the story of a team in control almost everywhere. Arizona finished with four players in double figures, got 20 points from Ivan Kharchenkov, and posted a ridiculous 26-to-6 assist-to-turnover ratio. The Wildcats also buried Northern Arizona in transition, winning the fast-break battle 28-0, and they were nearly automatic inside the arc, going 29-35 for 82.8%.
Kharchenkov was the headliner, and he looked every bit the part. He finished with 20 points on 7-10 shooting and added seven rebounds and seven assists in 30 minutes, coming close to a triple double.
Mo Krivas gave Arizona another efficient interior punch with 16 points and seven rebounds on 7-9 shooting in 26 minutes, while Caleb Holt turned in a strong all-around night with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Holt was excellent on two-point attempts, hitting 7-8 inside the arc, even if his 1-7 night from three showed there’s still work to do from deep.
JJ Mandaquit also kept showing why he matters to this offense. When he’s on the floor, he handles the primary ball-handling duties and lets Derek Dixon work off the ball.
That role looked especially useful on a night when Mandaquit was sharp from outside, knocking down 3-4 from three after entering the game 1-6 from long range. Dixon added 2-5 shooting from deep, but Arizona’s non point guards combined to go just 3-16 from the perimeter, a rough 18.8% that stood out even in a comfortable win.
Arizona led 46-22 at halftime, but the start of the second half was the one stretch that didn’t quite match the rest of the performance. Northern Arizona opened the period aggressively, outscoring the Wildcats 20-13 over the first eight minutes and shooting 7-10 from the field, 2-3 from three, and 4-4 at the line. Arizona still kept the Lumberjacks at arm’s length and never let the game get truly tight, but the dip in intensity was noticeable.
The Wildcats won’t have much time to linger on it. Their stretch run through November begins with a true road game against Auburn on Friday, Nov.
- Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM MST, and the game will air on ESPN2.
In Other News...
Arizona Faces Its Toughest Test Yet Against A Different Utah Team
Utahs trip to Tucson brings a different kind of challenge for Arizona, one shaped by a program that has looked steady from the start and now arrives with national title-level expectations. The Utes have been one of the sports most complete teams, and Josh Furlong of KSL.com pointed to the growth of quarterback Devon Dampier as a big reason why, along with the culture Morgan Scalley has continued to build around the program. For Arizona, it is another chance to measure itself against a defense that has been disciplined, physical and hard to shake.
The matchup also puts the Wildcats passing game under the microscope, because Utahs defensive plan will be aimed at limiting Arizona through the air and forcing the offense into tougher spots. Furlong also noted that Utahs offense has enough balance to keep pressure on a defense for four quarters, with several key playmakers involved and some injury questions worth tracking as the week unfolds. For Arizona, the challenge is not just beating a ranked opponent. It is figuring out how to do it against a team that has few obvious cracks. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs Perfect Season Faces A Ranked Test Fans Cant Ignore
Utah arrives in Tucson still unbeaten after a hard-fought 28-20 win over BYU, and the matchup with No. 22 Arizona gives the Wildcats a chance to measure themselves against one of the most complete teams in the country. Arizona is coming off its own one-score escape, a 29-28 win over TCU, so this one has the feel of a late-season game where every possession matters and the margin for error is slim.
The Utes have leaned on a balanced attack and a defense that has been tough to move, which is why their perfect start has held up this long. Arizona, meanwhile, has enough offense to make this interesting if it can stay efficient and avoid the mistakes that usually get exposed against a team like Utah, setting up a ranked test that should tell plenty about where both teams really stand. [Read more 🡒]
Arizonas Young Frontcourt Has A Big Chance To Build Momentum
Arizonas next trip through the nonconference schedule brings Northern Arizona to McKale Center on Nov. 10, and it gives the Wildcats another chance to keep stacking early-season momentum. The matchup also puts a spotlight on a young frontcourt that has already become part of the conversation, with freshmen Caleb Holt and Caleb Holmes among the names to watch as Arizona looks to extend its strong start.
Northern Arizona comes in with its own pieces to track, including sophomore guard Chris Komin and freshman Lucas Toukam, but the bigger question from Arizonas side is how much growth the Wildcats can squeeze out of this game before the schedule gets tougher. For a team trying to establish rhythm and confidence, a home date against an in-state opponent is the kind of setting that can tell a lot about where the front line is headed next. [Read more 🡒]