UA Sports

UNC 92, UA 64

The Wildcats suffered their worst homecourt loss ever in the Lute Olson era today, 92-64 to fourth-ranked North Carolina at McKale Center. Before a nationally televised audience, the Wildcats embarrassed themselves by by missing 22 of 23 three-pointers they took and turning the ball over four times in the game's first few minutes. Arizona made just 34 percent of its field goals overall. The margin of 28 points was the second-worst ever at UA under Olson, behind only a 105-75 loss at Oregon on Dec. 21, 2001. It beat the previous Olson-era worst of 26 at Louisiana State during the 1999-2000 season and a 71-56 loss the defending national champion Wildcats lost to Utah by in the 1998 Elite Eight. "I told the guys, 'This one was a nightmare. Forget it,' '' Olson said. "We're not even going to watch the tapes of it." Chase Budinger led the Wildcats in scoring with 16 points despite missing 15 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble. Guard Mustafa Shakur added 15. The Wildcats played most of the game without leading scorer Marcus Williams, who suffered a right ankle sprain in the first half then played six minutes on it in the second half before leaving for good. But the Tar Heels had problems of their own. Starting forward Brandan Wright and wing Marcus Ginyard were both sidelined with stomach ailments. Wright is the Tar Heels' second-leading scorer and is considered their top NBA prospect. In the first half, Arizona missed all 10 three-pointers it took and lost leading scorer Marcus Williams to a sprained right ankle. Williams fell backward while shooting toward the end of the first half, landing awkwardly. He returned to the game five minutes into the second half, though he limped somewhat. Arizona was led in the first half by Shakur, who had 11 points and five rebounds, but the Wildcats were woeful from the outside. Williams, Jawann McClellan and Nic Wise all missed two three-pointers while Chase Budinger added to the trouble by collecting two early fouls. Budinger played just five minutes. It hardly mattered that the Tar Heels were playing without North Carolina went on a 22-3 run at the end of the first half. The Tar Heels had taken an early 15-6 lead, taking advantage of four UA turnovers in the first four minutes and hitting jumpers over the Wildcats' zone defense. UA didn't score a field goal for the first three minutes, until Jawann McClellan hit a short jumper to the right of the basket. But Arizona began settling down, getting two dunks from Jordan Hill, the first on a skillful drive and dish from point guard Mustafa Shakur. UA then cut North Carolina's lead to 19-18 when Shakur went coast-to-coast for a layup. Reserve forward Mohamed Tangara sat on the bench in street clothes and a ski cap after undergoing surgery to repair a frontal sinus fracture on Friday. He is expected to be out at least two more weeks.