Arizona Desert Swarm - 2014 March Madness: Arizona drops San Diego State in the Sweet 16Your No. 1 free source for all things Arizona Wildcatshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46873/ds-fave.png2014-03-28T00:09:55-07:00http://www.azdesertswarm.com/rss/stream/53257052014-03-28T00:09:55-07:002014-03-28T00:09:55-07:00Rowdy crowd celebrates Madness in Old Pueblo
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<figcaption>Ethan Miller</figcaption>
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<p>It's going down. I'm yelling Timber.</p> <h2>University Blvd. got really crazy like a Waka Flocka concert, but Sean Miller's lil' bro might have his bro beat.</h2>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet"> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ArizonaWildcats&src=hash">#ArizonaWildcats</a> fans storm University ave after Wildcats advance to Elite 8 with 70-64 victory over SDSU <a href="http://t.co/XyZFJ1AfCF">pic.twitter.com/XyZFJ1AfCF</a></p>— DailyWildcatHoops (@WildcatHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/WildcatHoops/statuses/449418650538086400">March 28, 2014</a> </blockquote>
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<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet"> <p>Police helicopter circling over University Blvd.</p>— Daily Wildcat (@dailywildcat) <a href="https://twitter.com/dailywildcat/statuses/449415111782854656">March 28, 2014</a> </blockquote>
<p><script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><script src="http://kold.images.worldnow.com/interface/js/WNVideo.js?rnd=701265;hostDomain=www.TucsonNewsNow.com;playerWidth=640;playerHeight=358;isShowIcon=true;clipId=9993841;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=Sport%2520-%2520NCAA-Basketball;advertisingZone=;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=overlay" type="text/javascript"></script><a title="Tucson News Now" href="http://www.TucsonNewsNow.com">Tucson News Now</a></p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet"> <p>Heavy police presence on University Blvd near <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23UA&src=hash">#UA</a> campus where Wildcats fans are celebrating tonight's win. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Tucson&src=hash">#Tucson</a> <a href="http://t.co/c6kodMN2k8">pic.twitter.com/c6kodMN2k8</a></p>— Dan Marries (@DanMarriesKOLD) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanMarriesKOLD/statuses/449414593626923008">March 28, 2014</a> </blockquote>
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<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet"> <p>The crowd is getting rowdy on University. <a href="https://twitter.com/Tucson_Police">@Tucson_Police</a> is here trying to keep it under control <a href="https://twitter.com/kgun9">@kgun9</a> <a href="http://t.co/0mkiPtyqsO">pic.twitter.com/0mkiPtyqsO</a></p>— Rikki Mitchell (@RikkiMitchell) <a href="https://twitter.com/RikkiMitchell/statuses/449413295892475905">March 28, 2014</a> </blockquote>
<h2>But then there's Dayton ...</h2>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet"> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/JManziel2">@JManziel2</a> you should visit man. <a href="http://t.co/TqXtos5GKo">pic.twitter.com/TqXtos5GKo</a></p>— Richard (@Rich_McLoughlin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rich_McLoughlin/statuses/449379833861394432">March 28, 2014</a> </blockquote>
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https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2014/3/28/5556720/march-madness-2014-dayton-arizonaKevin Zimmerman2014-03-27T23:45:43-07:002014-03-27T23:45:43-07:00GIF: Aaron Gordon's sweet alley-oop dunk
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<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Aaron Gordon is a frightening human being.</p> <p><a href="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2126153/gordonKABOOM.gif"><img src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2126153/gordonKABOOM.gif" class="photo" alt="Gordonkaboom"></a></p>
<p>15 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks, one alley-oop, one crazy tip-in, a bunch of great pick-and-roll defense. This. Is. Aaron. Gordon.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2014/3/27/5556694/aaron-gordon-sweet-16-alley-oop-dunk-arizona-sdsuKevin Zimmerman2014-03-27T21:59:57-07:002014-03-27T21:59:57-07:00Arizona 70, SDSU 64: Nick Johnson lives late
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<p>Nick Johnson went 0-for-10 from the floor, but the Arizona Wildcats came back and closed against the Aztecs in their most gritty win of the season.</p> <p>What Arizona learned in a Pac-12 Championship defeat to UCLA came in handy Thursday in the Sweet 16. Remember that <a href="http://At%20the%20same%20moments%20that%20the%20Bruins%20fell%20to%20No.%201%20seed%20Florida,%20Nick%20Johnson%20finally%20caught%20a%20break%20in%20what%20was%20his%20worst%20game%20of%20the%20season." target="_blank">Travis Wear dive</a> for a loose ball that epitomized the Bruins' victory? On Thursday, in Arizona's 70-64 win against the San Diego State Aztecs, it was <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/">Wildcats</a> point guard T.J. McConnell diving for a loose ball that turned the momentum in UA's favor for good.</p>
<p>Within moments of the Bruins falling to No. 1 seed Florida, <span>Nick Johnson</span> finally caught a break in what was about to be his worst game of the season.</p>
<p>After missing his first 10 shots of the game, a scoreless Johnson was no longer scoreless when 2:45 remained. The fastbreak layup came off SDSU's 10th turnover, when McConnell broke up a dribble hand-off, dove for the ball, and found <span>Gabe York</span> streaking the other way. York dumped off a pass to Johnson, who laid the ball in to give Arizona a 56-51 lead.</p>
<p>Johnson hit a three to break a 1-3-1 SDSU zone a few plays later, then hit all 10 free throw down the stretch as Arizona pulled away from the Aztecs. He finished with 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds.</p>
<p>With SDSU's length across their lineups, Johnson couldn't even make a huge difference on the defensive end by matching up with <span>Xavier Thames</span>, leaving the assignment to McConnell.</p>
<p><span>Josh Davis</span> and the Aztecs smacked the Wildcats around on the glass early on. Arizona led Davis in rebounding 14-11 at half, but it trailed San Diego State 24-14 overall and trailed 32-28 after 20 minutes.</p>
<p>Take a pick at what could doom UA heading into a matchup where stingy defense was expected, and you got it. Johnson went 0-for-7 in the first half, and only <span>T.J. McConnell's</span> seven points came from anyone other than freshmen. Aaron Gordon scored 11 points and <span>Rondae Hollis-Jefferson</span> added seven, the duo scoring mostly off quick face-up moves at the high post that had them moving toward the hoop.</p>
<p>And for as mature and fearless as the freshman looked -- <span>Elliott Pitts</span> hit a three-pointer to boot -- the veterans looked stone-faced, McConnell aside.</p>
<p>Arizona trailed 40-32 five minutes into the second half before the freshmen started getting the momentum to swing. Hollis-Jefferson took a pass from McConnell for a dunk, and then Gordon's pick-and-roll defense caused a Thames turnover leading to a fastbreak alley-oop dunk.</p>
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<p>Arizona finally got over the hump in the second-to-last of Miller's so-called four-minute wars. A McConnell lefty layup gave UA a 50-49 lead with seven minutes to play, and then perhaps the hardest-fought game of the Miller era was the Wildcats' to win.</p>
<p>The most consistent players of the game were the Arizona freshmen.</p>
<p><span>Aaron Gordon</span> finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Hollis-Jefferson scored 15 and was the most aggressive Wildcat, getting to the foul stripe eight times.</p>
<p>The offense looked ragged throughout, but look at the final box score, and it was hard to say Arizona did much wrong. The Wildcats committed just seven turnovers, a key against a long SDSU team, and shot 48 percent to the Aztecs' 39 percent.</p>
<p>The Aztecs only recorded three assists, and the one-and-one offense by Thames, who scored 25 points, eventually couldn't keep pace with Gordon doing the most damage by attacking the point guard on pick-and-roll switches.</p>
<p>As it's needed to be, it was a complete team effort that led to Sean Miller displaying a rare show of emotion toward the end of the game.</p>
<p>McConnell's grit, diving on the floor, changed the game. Johnson's confidence down the stretch did too. Center Kaleb Tarczewski scored seven points, all in the second half, and hit a shot at the rim thanks to a Gordon dump-off than preceded Johnson's first score. And the freshmen forwards continued to show why they're the most talented future pros on the roster.</p>
<p>Wisconsin awaits after beating the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ourdailybears.com/">Baylor Bears</a>. The Badgers' similar defense and long-range shooting threaten to keep Sean Miller from the Final Four. But Arizona, in one of their ugliest games of the year, know how to keep games close. That's all they can ask for in the Elite Eight.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2014/3/27/5556312/2014-ncaa-tournament-sweet-16-results-nick-johnson-comes-alive-asKevin Zimmerman2014-03-27T18:30:03-07:002014-03-27T18:30:03-07:00Sweet 16 game chat
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<figcaption>Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
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<p>Join us Thursday night as the Arizona Wildcats face the San Diego State Aztecs in the Sweet 16.</p> <h2>Time</h2>
<p>7:17 p.m. MST</p>
<h2>TV</h2>
<p>TBS
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<h3>Thursday's game/TV schedule</h3>
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<th>REGION</th> <th>GAME</th> <th>VENUE</th> <th>TIME</th> <th>TV</th> <th>ANNOUNCERS</th>
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<td>South</td>
<td>(10) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ruleoftree.com/">Stanford Cardinal</a> vs. (11) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/dayton-flyers">Dayton Flyers</a>
</td>
<td>FedExForum<br>Memphis, TN</td>
<td>715p</td>
<td>CBS</td>
<td>Kevin Harlan, Len Elmore, Reggie Miller, Rachel Nichols</td>
</tr>
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<td>West</td>
<td>(2) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/">Wisconsin Badgers</a> vs. (6) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ourdailybears.com/">Baylor Bears</a>
</td>
<td>Honda Center<br>Anaheim, CA</td>
<td>747p</td>
<td>TBS</td>
<td>Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, Craig Sager</td>
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<td>South</td>
<td>(1) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.alligatorarmy.com/">Florida Gators</a> vs. (4) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bruinsnation.com/">UCLA Bruins</a>
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<td>FedExForum<br>Memphis, TN</td>
<td>945p</td>
<td>CBS</td>
<td>Kevin Harlan, Len Elmore, Reggie Miller, Rachel Nichols</td>
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<td>West</td>
<td>(1) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/">Arizona Wildcats</a> vs. (4) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/san-diego-st-aztecs">San Diego State Aztecs</a>
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<td>Honda Center<br>Anaheim, CA</td>
<td>1017p</td>
<td>TBS</td>
<td>Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, Craig Sager</td>
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<p><iframe src="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/videos/iframe?id=42839" frameborder="0" seamless="true" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" name="42839-chorus-video-iframe"></iframe></p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2014/3/27/5555282/2014-march-madness-arizona-sdsu-sweet-16-scheduleKevin Zimmerman2014-03-27T13:13:59-07:002014-03-27T13:13:59-07:00Arizona-SDSU: Read up before the game
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<figcaption>Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
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<p>What's cooking around the Internet as the Arizona Wildcats prepare to face SDSU in the Sweet 16?</p> <p>Here's a roundup of links from across the web to cover every major storyline before the <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Wildcats</a> tip off in Anaheim.</p>
<p> </p>
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<li><span>Arizona meets San Diego State for the second time this season in what's been dubbed the Best in the West, <a target="_blank" href="http://azstarnet.com/sports/basketball/college/wildcats/best-in-the-west-wildcats-aztecs-to-battle-for-region/article_6ec68ef0-2fa1-5122-a53c-ef7001e2e28a.html">writes the Arizona Daily Star's Bruce Pascoe</a>. Certainly, the SDSU program has been intertwined with Arizona's history since coach Steve Fisher arrived from his more successful days at Michigan. And while Arizona proved last week Gonzaga is no rival in the present, maybe only the <a href="https://www.bruinsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">UCLA Bruins</a> could stake claim to being in the mix of West Coast powers.</span></li>
<li><span>Fisher apparently has <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Cooney247/status/448250943398633472">a trick up his sleeve</a>.</span></li>
<li><span>Steve Kerr is calling the game, and <a target="_blank" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/arizona/story/kerr-arizona-s-defense-is-nasty-032614">Fox Sports Arizona's Steve Rivera</a> caught up with the former UA point guard. The former Wildcat also called Arizona games during the 2011 Elite Eight run, and this could be his last for a while. Kerr is rumored to be a candidate to take over as New York Knicks coach under former NBA coach Phil Jackson, who was hired into the front office this month. Good luck if that's a real thing, Steve. You'll certainly need it.</span></li>
<li><span>Zack Rosenblatt of the Star gives Tucsonans<a target="_blank" href="http://azstarnet.com/sports/basketball/college/wildcats/eight-places-to-watch-the-wildcats/article_c9ed562b-c7a0-5af5-adf6-15c0e933b869.html"> eight places to watch the Arizona game</a>. From Ben's to Frog to your own couch, it's all covered there.</span></li>
<li><span><a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Fua%2F2014%2F03%2F27%2Fdefensive-battle-tap-arizona-wildcats%2F6947645%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azdesertswarm.com%2Fbasketball%2F2014%2F3%2F27%2F5554940%2Fmarch-madness-2014-arizona-san-diego-state-sweet-16" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">The Arizona Republic's Doug Haller</a> writes on a defensive battle upcoming, and <span>Aaron Gordon</span> tells him the Wildcats sometimes argue about who will guard the opponents' best scorer.</span></li>
<li><span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mwcconnection.com/2014-ncaa-tournament/2014/3/25/5547012/ncaa-tournament-q-a-with-az-desert-swarm">We answered some questions </a>for MWC Connection's Matthew Bain to preview the game, and he in turn got<a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2014/3/25/5547252/2014-march-madness-arizona-vs-san-diego-state"> the lowdown on the Aztecs</a>.</span></li>
<li><span>A numbers-heavy <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2014/3/26/5549952/2014-march-madness-arizona-vs-san-diego-state-time-tv">scouting report</a> on the Aztecs.</span></li>
<li><span>Finally, here's<a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2014/3/24/5542286/2014-march-madness-schedule-ncaa-tournament-bracket"> the bracket and entire Sweet 16 television docket</a>.</span></li>
</ul>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2014/3/27/5554940/march-madness-2014-arizona-san-diego-state-sweet-16Kevin Zimmerman2014-03-26T20:10:30-07:002014-03-26T20:10:30-07:00PAC-12 in the Sweet Sixteen
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<figcaption>Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Spor</figcaption>
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<p>After hitting a bit of a funk in recent years the PAC-12 represented well in the 2013 NCAA tournament. Now the attention turns to three teams in action this weekend in the 2014 Sweet Sixteen as they try to return the respect and admiration back to West Coast Basketball. </p> <p>A loss to Oregon State was certainly a bad look, but after a 2012 regular season league title there certainly wasn't much to worry about for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.uwdawgpound.com/">Washington Huskies</a> and their <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA tournament</a> hopes. Then Selection Sunday came, and the Huskies were left out of the field, the first major conference league winner to not receive an at-large bid. It was at that point the PAC-12 hit absolute rock bottom.</p>
<p>Two teams were represented in that tournament with Cal getting the lone at-large as a last four in entrant. The Golden Bears and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ralphiereport.com/">Colorado Buffaloes</a> did their best to represent but the story of the season had been written. PAC-12 basketball was irrelevant and neither team hung around long enough to change that narrative. What was once among the best conferences in college basketball in the 90s and early-mid 00s was off the radar.</p>
<p>Fast forward to the 2013-2014 season and the league was still second tier in the eyes of many. Arizona entered the season with plenty of hype and was expected to carry the flag for the PAC-12 in its revival hopes. Still outside of optimism for a second "top" team to emerge from UCLA, Oregon and Colorado, the PAC-12 was still widely regulated to the discussion with the SEC, AAC and Big East and ignored in relation to the Big 12, Big Ten and ACC. Frankly the onus was on the teams of the league to bring the level of respect back to the PAC-12 and show it once again should be among the top leagues in the country.</p>
<p>Spencer Dinwiddie's season injury wiped out what had the potential to be a very good Buffs team and the balance in the middle of the league seemed to work against the PAC-12 and its claim to upper-echelon status. While the league presented challenges nearly every weekend in some form (minus those Washington schools), everyone who wasn't named Arizona or UCLA was thrown into the bubble conversation the last month of the season. The resumes' of Stanford, Colorado and even Arizona State suggested they shouldn't have much to worry about yet as we saw a year ago, the committee might not look so kindly on the league.</p>
<p>Two weeks into the NCAA tournament the PAC-12 has followed up what I and many others close to the conference felt the league was capable of with a strong tournament showing. Four teams won games and Oregon's collapse vs Wisconsin kept the PAC-12 from four Sweet Sixteen teams. In fact it really wasn't until Stanford's upset of Kansas that people's eyes began to open and see the brand of ball being played on the west coast. The PAC-12 simply challenged its teams throughout league play with very few cupcakes and you're seeing it pay dividends for teams now who are not overwhelmed by the names on other jerseys.</p>
<p>This weekend serves yet another chance for the PAC-12 to make a statement. Few expected teams outside of Tucson or LA to show up this tournament and some even felt those teams were going home the first weekend. Yet you look around the landscape of the Sweet Sixteen and no league can claim more bids and no team may be able to claim the caliber of wins to get here that Stanford can. Ultimately the PAC-12 is still has a bit of a way to go to get back to its glory days of multiple national title contenders every year but the progression back to that point has come quicker than many expected.</p>
<p>With three opportunities to punch a Final Four ticket by the end of the weekend and the massive stage that comes with that, the PAC-12 can't ask for a better opportunity than what lies in front of it. While we'd all gladly sacrifice the Bruins or Cardinal for an Arizona sweep this weekend, why be forced to choose? Make the most of what lies in front of you Arizona, UCLA and Stanford.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2014/3/26/5552020/pac-12-basketball-an-opportunity-to-make-a-statementBryan Doherty2014-03-26T10:58:13-07:002014-03-26T10:58:13-07:00Scouting Xavier Thames and the Aztecs
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<figcaption>Rob Carr</figcaption>
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<p>Scouting the San Diego State Aztecs and the need to stop guard Xavier Thames.</p> <h2>Time</h2>
<p>Thursday, 7:17 p.m. MST</p>
<h2>TV</h2>
<p>TBS</p>
<h2>Stopping <span>Xavier Thames</span>
</h2>
<p>If the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/">Arizona Wildcats</a> want to advance to an Elite Eight, they'll have to find a way to stop <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/san-diego-st-aztecs">San Diego State Aztecs</a> point guard Xavier Thames, the heart and soul of Steve Fisher's team. <a href="http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10670733/san-diego-state-xavier-thames-steve-fisher-mirror-other" target="_blank">Fisher and Thames might be spitting images of one another</a> because of their commitment to team, but this team wouldn't be in the Sweet 16 without the 6'3 senior.</p>
<p>Thames' Value Add ranks 11th-best in the country,<a href="http://www.valueaddbasketball.com/" target="_blank"> according to ValueAddBasketball.com</a>. His calculated 6.83 points added to SDSU's point spread this season is right on the money with another gutsy, scoring point guard in Louisville's Russ Smith -- likewise, the Cardinals find themselves in the Sweet 16.</p>
<p>The Aztecs didn't have the easiest times of getting to this point of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a>, but they have Thames to thank in doing so. He scored 23 points to go with five assists in second-round overtime victory against New Mexico State, and he hit 10-of-12 free throws to make up for a 6-for-17 field goal shooting outing. In the third round, Thames scored 30 points against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/north-dakota-fighting-sioux">North Dakota</a> State, dolled out another five assists, hit four threes and got to the foul stripe nine times.</p>
<p>Against the Wildcats, matchups could dictate a big game for Thames. It'd be a luxury to have <span>Nick Johnson</span> available to use his physicality against Thames, but SDSU's length at every other position will make it hard to put anyone but <span>T.J. McConnell</span> on the point guard -- Thames went 5-for-16 from the field and scored 19 in the first meeting with UA this season.</p>
<p>Thames shoots 38 percent from three and takes more than a third of his overall attempts from beyond the arc. Nearly 50 percent of them aren't off assists, a sign that McConnell -- or whomever has the assignment -- will need to be in Thames' chest. On pick-and-rolls, the Arizona big men failing to hedge strongly or trap will make the Wildcats vulnerable. The good news there is <span>Aaron Gordon</span> and <span>Rondae Hollis-Jefferson</span> would just as soon switch.</p>
<p>Arizona has the horses to keep Thames in check, but even a few slips could get him going at any point in the game.</p>
<p>That's why San Diego State finds itself having another shot at winning the Best of the West.</p>
<h2>Scouting the Aztecs</h2>
<p><b>The season: </b>After Arizona rolled into San Diego and dropped the Aztecs early in the nonconference schedule on Nov. 14, Fisher's team went on a 20-game winning streak. Their next loss came Feb. 11 against Wyoming, and overall, SDSU went 3-3 against top-25 RPI teams. SDSU beat a dangerous Creighton squad 86-80 and also dropped Kansas 61-57, then lost two of three against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/new-mexico-lobos">New Mexico Lobos</a>.</p>
<p><b>Who's who? </b>After Thames, the Aztecs run out a long lineup that will be able to defend like Arizona -- SDSU is ranked first by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/san-diego-state/2014.html" target="_blank">Sports-Reference</a> in allowing just 87.7 points per 100 possessions and seventh by <a href="http://kenpom.com/index.php?s=RankAdjDE" target="_blank">KenPom</a> in adjusted defensive ratings.</p>
<p>Whatever the case may be, the Aztecs don't get any bigger than 6'10, 235 pound forward <span>Skylar Spencer</span>, but he does average 2.5 blocks per game. Lanky forward <span>Josh Davis</span> has become an aggressive rebounder who threatens to do what Weber State rebounding machine <span>Joel Bolomboy</span> did to Aaron Gordon in the second round of Arizona's tournament. Davis is also No. 2 in the nation in individual defensive rating and is a top-10 player with Gordon in defensive win shares this season,<a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/2014.html" target="_blank"> according to Sports-Reference.com</a>.</p>
<p>Simply put, Thames and the Aztecs shoot</p>
<p><b>X-factor:</b> Arizona didn't see forward <span>Dwayne Polee II</span> in the first game, and he will provide a tall and dangerous scoring threat off the bench. It seems as though the 6'7 shooter will be a perfect assignment for Arizona's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson off the bench. Polee has scored in double-figures the last four games and as a 38 percent three-point shooter gives the limited Aztecs a floor-stretcher that, like Arizona, it might lack in numbers.</p>
<h2>A review of the first meeting</h2>
<p>Foul trouble was a scary factor in Arizona's 69-60 win against the Aztecs in its third game of the year. Four starters ended the game with four fouls, and Hollis-Jefferson fouled out off the bench. Nick Johnson scored 23 points and Aaron Gordon added 16, but SDSU kept pace behind Thames and 19 points from J.J. O'Brien.</p>
<p>The two teams combined for just 20 turnovers, but UA's field goal defense (36 percent) won out of San Diego State's (45 percent).</p>
<p>If anything, the first meeting should make Arizona wary of getting into foul trouble. San Diego State scores<a href="http://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/stat/percent-of-points-from-free-throws" target="_blank"> 24.4 percent of their points</a> at the foul stripe (the Wildcats come in at 20.6 percent).</p>
<h2>The stat of all stats</h2>
<p>San Diego State won 118 games in a row when leading with five minutes left in regulation, but that run came to an end when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/new-mexico-st-aggies">New Mexico State Aggies</a> forced overtime in the second round game. Or, you can look at it that they're still perfect in that stretch.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2014/3/26/5549952/2014-march-madness-arizona-vs-san-diego-state-time-tvKevin Zimmerman2014-03-25T13:38:39-07:002014-03-25T13:38:39-07:00Get to know the improved San Diego State
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<figcaption>Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODA</figcaption>
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<p>Matthew Bain of MWC Connection breaks down the San Diego State Aztecs as they prepare to take on Arizona for the second time this season.</p> <p><b>1. How would you compare the Aztecs when they fell to Arizona 69-60 on Nov. 14 to the team today (we'll get to <span>Dwayne Polee II</span> in a second)? Any significant improvements or things you've learned?</b><br><br>Well, obviously Dwayne Polee II. But I think other than Polee, there are two big differences: <span>Josh Davis</span> has found his niche within the team and <span>Xavier Thames</span> is as confident as can be. Davis, in just his second game with a new team after spending his undergraduate years at Tulane, played an empty 33 minutes against the Wildcats. He only grabbed four boards against the Wildcats, tied for his lowest total of the year. At Tulane, Davis was a primary offensive threat. With SDSU, however, Davis' biggest role is to hog the boards, and as the season progressed, Davis began to relish that role. He even told the school newspaper that he wants his legacy with SDSU to be his rebounding skills. He went on the average 9.9 boards per game, 16th best in the country, and grabbed double-digit rebounds 18 times this season. He's comfortable with his role on the team and is a big reason why SDSU is as great rebounding team.</p>
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<p><br id="1395779867868"> Xavier Thames entered this season practically unknown. A back injury last year kept him from producing at the levels he thought he could, averaging just 9.5 points per contest. His confidence has grown exponentially every game as he's realized his ability to the point where he's playing his best basketball (on offense and defense) of the year. Nobody knew who Thames was at the time of the first Arizona game; that's definitely not true now.</p>
<p><b>2. Dwayne Polee II didn't play in the Arizona game way back when but has come on strong as a double-digit scorer late in the year. Describe his game and how he gets open shots.</b><br><br>Polee is a gazelle out there on the court. His graceful athleticism makes him a big threat on offense and his sheer length poses a big threat on defense. This is basically how SDSU's offense has worked lately: Polee sets a pick for Thames at the top of the key, and Thames either creates a shot for himself or dishes it to Polee. Polee will either catch and shoot or shot-fake and drive the lane. His shot is strong from all over the court: in the last five games he's shot 52.6 percent from beyond the arc and 47.8 percent from within the arc. He has remarkable body control in the air and can navigate his long arms around big bodies in the paint. But the biggest thing Polee brings is his energy: when he comes off the bench, not only do the fans get excited, but the players do. Put simply, Thames is huge to this team, but the team is at its best when Polee is on the floor. That's why Fisher calls him his "sixth starter" now.</p>
<p><b>3. Xavier Thames is the engine to this team. What have you seen from him, especially late in games during this <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness" class="sbn-auto-link">NCAA Tournament</a>?</b></p>
<p>Just his confidence and ability to create shots. I'm sure Arizona fans know this, but SDSU struggles with half court offense. Consequently, Thames has to create shots late in the shot clock--and most of the time it goes in. Like I said earlier, Thames is playing healthy and playing confident. He knows how important he is to the team and he takes that responsibility seriously. If this game comes down to a late last possession, there's no way the ball isn't in Thames' hands.</p>
<p><b>4. After Thames and Polee II , where else would you expect the scoring to come from for San Diego State?</b></p>
<p>That's been this team's weakness as of late: who's that third scorer? I would say it's sophomore forward/guard Winston Shepard. With 6'8" height and solid ball handling skills, Shepard poses a matchup nightmare to a lot of teams. However, lately that hasn't translated into points for the sophomore from Houston. He's shooting just 23.3 percent in the last four games, but the shots haven't been bad. One thing about Shepard: it's hard to shake his confidence, or Coach Fisher's confidence in him. Shepard will continue to be aggressive on offense, and I would expect the third scoring threat to come from him.</p>
<p><b>5. I've been pretty repetitive about Arizona needing to get easy baskets and avoid half-court offense. How do you see San Diego State's defense making that happen -- or how do you see them stopping the Wildcats in general?</b></p>
<p><b></b>A lot is made about SDSU's length on defense and how it clogs lanes that, against other teams, would be wide open. But another big defensive strength for SDSU is its speed. Because of this speed, SDSU allows a very small amount of transition buckets, which will be advantageous against Arizona. But both these defenses are almost identical, I see buckets for either team coming at a premium.</p>
<p><b>6. SDSU needed overtime to beat New Mexico State earlier in the tournament after the Aztecs let the Aggies back into the game in the second half. What caused that comeback and was that, or anything else you've seen, concerning for Steve Fisher's team as they advance through the tournament?</b></p>
<p>SDSU came out slow in the second half. They had a 12-point lead and let their guard down. But I wouldn't say that's a concern as we enter the West Regional: there will be no underestimating on either side. I think the biggest concern is scoring: other than Thames and Polee, who will score? Or even scarier to think about for SDSU fans: if Polee or Thames have an off-night, who will step up?</p>
<p><b>7. Briefly, what will SDSU need to do for a win, and what do you think would doom them against Arizona?</b></p>
<p>These two defenses will rip each other a part. This game will come down to who can somehow find the bottom of the net more often. If SDSU gets some offense from a player other than Thames and Polee, I think the Aztecs' chances are good. If Arizona can limit SDSU's offense to just Polee and Thames, I think the Wildcats' chances are good.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2014/3/25/5547252/2014-march-madness-arizona-vs-san-diego-stateKevin Zimmerman