Arizona Wildcats can't afford to lose focus and take TCU lightly

In a season with no quality wins in the non-conference, the Arizona Wildcats can’t afford to take anyone lightly, even the likes of a battered TCU team at home.

The Arizona Wildcats have struggled to get quality wins this season, I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. However, what was once considered a lesser-quality opponent (and in some respects, a layup by Big 12 standards) in TCU has now become a must-win contest in a season where the Wildcats can no longer afford to slip up.

The last time Arizona faced TCU, Bennedict Mathurin snatched big man Eddie Lampkin’s soul at the rim en route to a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in Tommy Lloyd’s first season. Oh man, how so much has changed since then.

With TCU star point guard Frankie Collins out due to a broken foot and guard Brendan Wenzel being a game-time decision, Arizona has no excuse but to end the year on a high note. However, the question remains: Can the Wildcats figure themselves out enough to become a viable threat in the conference, or are they just what they are, an average basketball team sitting at 6-5 so far, void of any quality wins to this point?

By any estimation, it would appear to be the latter, but Monday’s Big 12 home opener against TCU can shift those vibes in a more positive direction.

Arizona Wildcats can’t take TCU lightly

Jamie Dixon’s teams are always solid defensively, and this TCU team is no different, giving up a little under 64 points per game.

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“He is not going to let you do option one…Every time Jaden Bradley gets the ball up top, Jamie Dixon will trap the hell out of him,” said Corey Williams, ESPN analyst and host of the McKale Madness podcast.

Junior Ernest Udeh Jr. is the key cog in the TCU defensive arsenal, averaging 1.6 blocks and 1.6 steals per game. The Horned Frogs are determined to take away one if not multiple things you are comfortable with, but Arizona has yet to seem comfortable enough against quality teams to even figure out what exactly they are indeed comfortable with. A real “moveable object versus a resistible force” situation here.

On the other end, the Horned Frogs had picked up the tempo of their style of play, ranking 17th nationally in fast break points per game prior to their last contest with Montana State. HAD, that is, as the Horned Frogs rank dead last in the Big 12 in points per game at 72.5, and that is in large part due to their loss of Collins, which saw them score just 58 points in a home win over South Alabama just after his injury.

In Frankie Collins’ absence, the Horned Frogs will have to rely on a slurry of unproven, inexperienced players like 2023 No. 1 Canadian prospect Vasean Allette. Trazarien White and Noah Reynolds will also help Allette pick up the scoring load, as the trio combined for 39 points on 27 shots in the Horned Frogs last outing in a win over Montana State.

Regardless of the opponent, Arizona has to dictate their style of play to provide some internal comfort if it expects to go on the road and compete in the conference. After the home game against TCU, the ensuing road games against No. 17 Cincinnati and a Bahamas rematch with West Virginia in Morgantown will give the Wildcats a chance to right the ship quickly against quality opponents…or completely go off the rails into oblivion until next season.

“I think there has been positive momentum all month,” Tommy Lloyd said after the Central Michigan game. “Ultimately I like where we’re at and I feel like I know where we’re going and ultimately we’re gonna be judged by what we do in the Big 12.”

Not to be too dramatic, but the Wildcats have to show up and ball out so fans can take a breath instead of hitting the absolute hell out of the panic button.

Lloyd took his approach to the team with a mentality reset, allowing players to completely disconnect from hoops and enjoy the holidays with their families and friends until the 26th. He is taking some of his own medicine as well.

“I’m going to rest and relax and hang out with my family and probably watch some Big 12 film,” he said.

Could that be a sign that the coaching staff feels this team is more mentally exhausted than expected at this point of the season, or just a coach trying to do his players a solid? There is no doubt that this season has been somewhat of a grind, especially from the expectations that are always placed on the program, but if it wants to stay away from disaster, getting their minds right with a win over TCU would be a great place to start.