Sean Miller has estimated that 80 percent of the Pac-12 utilizes zone defense in some form or another.
Against his team, though, that number seems to jump to 100 percent. Even coaches who are usually ardently against zone defense — like Colorado’s Tad Boyle — deploy it against the Arizona Wildcats.
And it never surprises them.
“We know we’re going to see it every night,” said Arizona guard Rawle Alkins. “To honest with you, I don’t think anyone could guard us man-to-man, so that’s probably why we see zone most of the time.