Cat Tracks: Wildcats secure fourth seed in Pac-12 tournament with win over ASU

Mar 10, 2013, 12:55 AM | Updated: 12:55 am

Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we give you ‘Cat Tracks’, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from Arizona’s 73-58 win over ASU on March 9.

The Good:

The Wildcats locked down the fourth seed and a first-round bye in this year’s Pac-12 tournament with a convincing win over rival ASU in their home finale of the season.

Sophomore Nick Johnson played a strong game offensively and defensively for the ‘Cats. He scored a team-high 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting with four rebounds, three assists and three steals in the win. Johnson also scored seven straight points as Arizona put together a 20-5 run to pull away in the second half.

Senior Solomon Hill added 12 points in his final home game at the McKale Center.

The Wildcats got off to a hot start and at one point held a 15-point lead in the first half. The team showed it’s toughness answering a late run by ASU. The Devils pulled to within five but would get no closer in the contest.

The Bad:

Senior Mark Lyons shot just 2 of 10 from the field and had just eight points, and committed three turnovers. He also fouled out of the game on a technical call.

The Wildcats saw Carrick Felix, who performed poorly against them in their last meeting with the Sun Devils, drop 22 points on Saturday.

Noted:

• Arizona scored 21 points on 17 ASU turnovers.

• The Wildcats said farewell to five seniors in Saturday’s finale against the Sun Devils.

• The ‘Cats finished their regular season campaign at 24-6 overall and 12-6 in conference play.

• There was a total of 40 fouls in the game, 25 of which came in the second half.

• Arizona outrebounded ASU by a 35-23 margin.

Coming Up Next:

The Wildcats will open the Pac-12 tournament on Thursday, March 14 at 2:30 p.m. They will play the winner of the No. 5 vs. No. 12 game.

Arizona guard Mark Lyons, left, collides with Arizona State's Jonathan Gilling (31) as he drives to the basket during the first half of an NCAA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona forward Solomon Hill, left, makes a move to the basket past Arizona State's Carrick Felix during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona head coach Sean Miller looks for an explanation from an official on a call in favor of Arizona State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona forward Grant Jerrett (33) shoots over the defense of Arizona State's Ruslan Pateev during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) battles for a rebound under the basket with Arizona State's Carrick Felix, front, and Jordan Bachynski during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona guard Mark Lyons, left, dribbles past the defense Arizona State's Evan Gordon during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona State head coach Herb Sendek ducks to avoid being hit with an errant basketball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona State's Jahii Carson (1) collides with Arizona's Grant Jerrett (33) as he tries to advance the ball up-court during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona won 71-54. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona head coach Sean Miller tries to get the attention of his players through the bodies of Arizona State's Evan Gordon (10) and Jordan Bachynski during the half of an NCAA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona won 71-54. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona guard Nick Johnson (13) celebrates a three-point basket by a teammate against Arizona State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona won 71-54. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona guard Mark Lyons, right, looks to drive the baseline around Arizona State's Evan Gordon during the first half of an NCAA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona won the game 71-54. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona head coach Sean Miller raises his arms out as he looks to an official for a non-call against Arizona State during the second half of an NCAA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona won the game 71-54. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona's Mark Lyons (2) and Nick Johnson (13) walk down the court with the game well in hand and two-minutes left against Arizona State during the second half of an NCAA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona won 71-54. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona's Solomon Hill (44) congratulates teammates Kevin Parrom, left, Kaleb Tarczewski (35) and Nick Johnson, right, as they walk off the court during a timeout against Arizona State late in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona won the game 71-54. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
A young Arizona fan watches the action against Arizona State from high above at Wells Fargo Arena during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona won the game 71-54. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona State head coach Herb Sendek argues with an official about a foul during the first half of an NCAA basketball game against Arizona, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona won the game 71-54. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Arizona forward Kevin Parrom, center, drives to the basket past Arizona State's Ruslan Pateev, left, during the second half of an NCAA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona won 71-54. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

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