Only one thing really stopped Deandre Ayton on Wednesday, and it had nothing to do with Eastern New Mexico.
That is, he developed a leg cramp. Ayton left聽Arizona鈥檚 91-63 win over the Greyhounds with 7:15 left as he limped slightly and never returned.
It was a lesson Sean Miller figures Ayton is better off learning now than upon his return home to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis later this month.
鈥淒eandre is learning the difference between high school and college,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淲e had (the kind of) shootaround today that he鈥檚 probably never done and then he played 24 minutes 鈥 and it probably felt like 40 for him.
鈥淲e鈥檙e still in early November but learning how to drink water, how to hydrate, the importance of your diet, those are all things that usually freshmen learn in November.
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"He probably learned something tonight. In a couple of weeks when we go to the Bahamas, with the climate and him playing three games in three days, playing more than 24 minutes, that鈥檚 something I think he鈥檒l be more ready for.
Other than that, Ayton and, really, all of UA鈥檚 freshmen pretty much lived up to expectations in their first exhibition game appearance. Miller said Alex Barcello 鈥渉andled himself really well鈥 despite having to play 33 minutes at point guard because of Parker Jackson-Cartwright鈥檚 absence, and praised Emmanuel Akot after the versatile wing hit two 3-pointers and dished a team-high six assists.
Shooting is 鈥渁n area we鈥檝e really been on him about,鈥 Miller said of Akot. 鈥淗e鈥檚 more of a pass-first player. He鈥檚 incredibly unselfish but we need him to take the open shots when he鈥檚 given those and tonight especially in the first half it was great to see him step in with confidence.
鈥淗e already does some other things. Six assists at his size, that鈥檚 a great performance. And one thing we really want him to do more of is rebound. You can tell he鈥檚 maybe not used to doing that as much. He only had one rebound. But it鈥檚 nothing like game experience to show him, to teach him, so he鈥檒l be more accustomed to going and helping us in that area.鈥
Asked about his shooting, Akot said simply: 鈥淚鈥檝e been working on my shot all summer and my teammates did a great job of getting me the ball. And I just hit 鈥榚m.鈥
Of UA鈥檚 other freshmen, Brandon Randolph was 0 for 7 from 3-point range but redeemed himself by driving inside for five shots and hitting all four free-throws he took, finishing with 10 points.
鈥淵ou can tell he鈥檚 not one dimensional,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淔or him to score 14 points on a night where he鈥檚 0 for 7 from 3 shows you maybe where he鈥檒l be as we keep moving forward. He really puts the ball on the floor well and the attacks basket better than you think.
"For Brandon, it鈥檚 all about experience. Learning how to defend, the speed of the game. 鈥 but he鈥檚 very explosive on offense. He鈥檒l have nights where he can score 20 points.鈥
Barcello had seven points, three rebounds and two assists to two turnovers, playing in a role Miller said would not be easy because of Jackson-Cartwright鈥檚 absence. (PJC took some early warmups before the game as part of his rehab and is expected to return Sunday against Chico State).
鈥淎lex is a really tough kid, he really is,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淗e practices a lot like T.J. McConnell did. Every day he鈥檚 the same and he鈥檚 going to do nothing but get better and better as he gets more game experience. We鈥檙e really fortunate to have him.鈥
Chico State will be returning for the third straight season to McKale Center, having lost 90-54 in 2015-16 but with teams that have made the Division II Elite Eight in each of the past four seasons.
The Wildcats of Chico return four starters and have been ranked between 5-13 in various Division II preseason rankings.
鈥淐hico State will be an upgrade,鈥 Miller said. 鈥淐hico State has a chance to win the national championship at their level. So hopefully this game will prepare us to be that much better on Sunday.鈥
Chico on Thursday at 7 p.m. in a game to be streamed on .
Our full coverage and a PDF box score from Wednesday's game is attached.
