Rick Barnes says Arizona matchup will be 'hard'

Arizona has been as good as it gets in college basketball over Tommy Lloyd’s first two seasons in Tuscon. The Wildcats went 33-4 in 2021 and currently sit at 9-1 with the top offense in the nation in 2022. While they’ve been incredibly dynamic on that side of the ball, Rick Barnes believes Tennessee’s matchup out west this weekend will be ‘hard’ because of just one aspect of their attack.

Barnes credited Arizona’s attack in the paint during his media availability on Thursday. He said the Wildcat’s post players create an inside presence that’s difficult to handle, especially because of their speed, offensive rebounding, and ability to find shooters outside.

“I think it’s gonna be hard because they do a really great job of putting the ball inside. There is no doubt when you watch them play that they’re a heavy inside-out team. They certainly have shooters that surround that. But they do as good a job as anybody (at), from the time they get that ball? They’re looking at that basket,” said Barnes. “They’ve got post guys that are running to get it and get it early. If not, they get in their ball screen actions or any movement to get to it. They do a great job of getting to the rim, throwing it up, and going to get it.”

Arizona currently leads the nation in field-goal percentage (54.7%) and two-point percentage (63%). They’re also Top-10 in the nation in total rebounds per game (42.5) and No. 1 in assists a game (21.5). They have some high-level guards on the perimeter in Kerr Kriisa and Courtney Ramey. However, they’re led by the frontcourt duo of Azuolas Tubelis (20.2 points, 8.6 rebounds) and Oumar Ballo (18.1 points, 9.4 rebounds).

Barnes believes it all comes back to the way Lloyd has coached over just a year at the helm of a program. He has built a contender with the style his team plays as the Volunteers must now find a way to compete with that style this weekend.

“Tommy’s done a terrific job in a short time there,” said Barnes. “They play hard, are always competitive, and he’s got them doing exactly what he wants them to do.”

Tennessee has the benefit of bringing in the NCAA’s No. 3 defense into the McKale Center on Saturday. Trusting in that might be the only way for the Volunteers to leave this Top-10 matchup with their 10th win and first true road victory of the season.