When the Arizona Wildcats return to 做厙勛圖 late Sunday night, Aari McDonald will have a new title: the UAs single-season scoring leader.
At least thats the plan.
McDonald needs to score 33 points total in games against Stanford and Cal to surpass her coach, Adia Barnes, in the UA womens record book. Barnes scored 653 points in 1998, a mark thats held for nearly 21 years. (The mens record is held by Khalid Reeves, who scored 848 points in the 1993-94 season.)
While Barnes needed all 30 games to secure 653, McDonald could reach it in Game 26 or 27. The Wildcats (17-8, 7-7 Pac-12) will visit No. 7 Stanford on Friday night, then take on Cal on Sunday.
McDonald hit the 600-point mark in 24 games. In the Pac-12 since 1999-2000, only Stanfords Chiney Ogwumike (23) and Washingtons Kelsey Plum (23 and 20) have done it faster.
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Barnes, who played at the UA from 1994-98 and returned as coach in 2016, said she knew her record would fall eventually.
McDonald is not even beating it; shes killing it, Barnes said. I was joking with her at one point she needed 18 points (to hit a mark), I said Aari, you know when you get 16 points youll be sitting right next to me (on the bench). I was joking. She doesnt even know the milestones. Kids dont know that. I never knew that as a player, either.
Arizonas Aari McDonald (2) runs over Californias Asha Thomas (1) after swiping the ball near the top of the key in their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Friday, January 11, 2019, 做厙勛圖, Ariz.
In typical McDonald fashion, Arizonas star guard hasnt given much though to the record.
If I break it, I break it, she said. If I dont, I dont.
Meanwhile, McDonald a sophomore transfer from Washington is getting noticed more and more. Last week, McDonald learned she was in the running for two National awards the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, given to the nations top shooting guard, and the Dawn Staley Award, given to the top overall guard.
McDonald has already won Pac-12 Player of the Week honors three times. Her 24.8 points per game ranks third nationally, behind Iowas Megan Gustafson (27.4) and Buffalos Cierra Dillard (25). Both of them are seniors.
The expectations were high for McDonald this year, but no one not even Barnes knew she would be this good, this fast. McDonald averaged 10.1 points and in 24 minutes per game at Washington in 2016-17. The guards role was so different there than it is at the UA, Barnes said.
I didnt know she would score like this, Barnes said. I didnt know she had the mentality, because she is not a score-first guard. If you know her and watched her, she can score but is more pass-first, then score. It kind of evolved from what we need.
While McDonald likes playing defense the most, she thinks the key to her success this season is her improved awareness on the floor.
I am seeing things that people arent able to see. I am thinking ahead every play. I am a couple of plays ahead, she said. (Its) something a coach would see, but Im actually doing by myself or a coach is telling me, but I am doing it by myself.
It just came to me. Sitting out a year just helped me see things that a lot of people dont see.
Arizona Wildcats guard Aari McDonald (2) works in traffic during the fourth quarter of the University of Arizona Wildcats vs. University of Montana Grizzlies womens college basketball game, Dec. 5, 2018, in McKale Center in 做厙勛圖, Ariz. Arizona won 100-51.
As the season has progressed, so has McDonalds game. Barnes said months ago that fans had not yet seen McDonald at her best.
Now, she makes smarter decisions, Barnes said. She controls tempo a lot better. Shes improved defensively. Before she was in the wrong spot a lot and shes so fast on the ball she could make up plays. Now, shes becoming more disciplined. Shes never had to do that. Shes reading pick and roll defense better. She will get better at that and she will be unstoppable.
There are still areas where McDonald can improve like 3-point shooting, and taking better shots. Both areas should improve as the Wildcats develop second and third scorers behind her.
Fans are learning more about McDonald for instance, she eats candy before games, and recently showed up on a Pac-12 womens basketball podcast to talk up her teammates. Theres more to her, too.
Pac-12 Networks analyst Mary Murphy calls her so special.
The best thing about Aaris game now is that shes around for the rest of this year and two more years, Murphy said. That is super-exciting for the program and for 做厙勛圖. I see her as a Sabrina (Ionescu) type talent. She doesnt have her size, but Aaris first step is so quick and she has great reads. I think you can say that her future is so bright you are almost blinded by it. Its so exciting.
What you know about Aari is that she is not satisfied and she is going to keep working and getting better and better. The message is: If you havent seen her play, go watch her.
Rim shots
- Arizonas practices have taken on a different feel as the regular season winds do. Barnes is implementing a little more film, skill work, shooting and position defense.
Its hard with a young team. You try different things to keep them motivated. By this time of year youve had 75 practices and its kind of the same; kind of monotonous, said Barnes. I think making things shorter, they are kind of excited about that. When you say Power Hour Practice, they practice like its the best day of the year. They are just talking and pumped up. Finding ways to keep it exciting and fresh and just not long. I think that its a balance.
- Sam Thomas was named to the First Team Academic All-District by CoSIDA Thursday morning. This automatically puts her in position to be named an Academic All-American in March. Thomas is a 4.0 student whos majoring in psychology.
