Without Chase Jeter, lack of size could hinder Arizona against ASU
Arizona State and Arizona will tip off for the first of two regular season matchups to end January on Thursday, but Arizona could be without starting center Chase Jeter.
Arizona center Chase Jeter reacts after falling to the court during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Oregon State, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona State and Arizona will tip off for the first of two regular season matchups to end January on Thursday, but Arizona could be without starting center Chase Jeter.
Jeter injured his back coming down hard on his back after going up for a rebound against Oregon State on Jan. 19 and hasn’t played since.
Although, according to the Arizona Daily Star, Jeter was able to lightly jog and shoot jumpers in warm ups, he missed the next two games for the Wildcats, both blowout losses by more than 20 points to UCLA and USC.
In his place, coach Sean Miller went with guard Dylan Smith against USC and forward Ira Lee against UCLA, neither could exactly fill the void.
Without Jeter, the team’s leading rebounder and team leader in field goal percentage, Arizona was out-rebounded 98-69 and shot a combined 31 percent in the two games in southern California.
Arizona State has five players who saw playing time in their last two games that are listed at 6-foot-8 or taller.
Arizona only lists two players on their roster taller than 6-foot-8, forward Ryan Luther and Jeter.
The game can be heard on ESPN 620 AM starting at 6 p.m.
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Comments
3 Comments
I think this is kind of splitting hairs, but the main problem for RichRod was an erosion in recruiting that led to zero depth. It basically lasted through last season and they just now are building it up, but still not where it needs to be. So both guys got existing players to buy in, Asu just had a slight edge of lots of talented depth waiting in the wings.
The real story should be how in the heck is Peterson ranked #1 in the PAC 12????
You do understand Stoops was fired after starting 1-5 with those same players. So yes, there were a "few" players left over. But the recruiting was going downhill and going down fast. If you compare the two coaches, RichRod did acquire a pile. Erickson at least left a lot for Graham to use! That was my only comparison.
Rich Rod took over a pile of $*** when he came to the UofA. From where this program came from, I think Rich Rod should be ranked higher. Erickson didn't leave the cabinets bare at ASU. Both coaches have their programs going in the right direction. It's fun to watch football in the State of Arizona again.