FULLERTON, Calif. – Over the Arizona Wildcats’ previous three seasons, Sean Miller always had that weapon in his back pocket, ready to pull out the moment a guy like Santa Clara’s Jared Brownridge or Providence’s Kris Dunn shows up.
A defensive stopper, a guy he automatically put on the other team’s top perimeter threat. A guy like Nick Johnson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, even T.J. McConnell in some cases, all of whom often proved capable of holding a big threat well below his usual average.
As it became painfully clear to Miller and the Wildcats during a 75-73 overtime win over Santa Clara on Thursday at the Wooden Legacy, that guy is not around this season.