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PHOENIX – For players who center their games around 3-point shooting, a time comes when the shot won’t fall. Whether it is a mental block, an injury or just dumb luck, the mantra to reignite past successes is simple: “Just keep shooting.”
Last season, Anthony Dell’Orso spent most of his junior year in Arizona’s starting lineup, starting 28 of 37 games. It was his first season playing for a major college team, but his efficiency didn’t indicate that. The Campbell University transfer was lights out, shooting 41% from beyond the arc.
That hasn’t been the case this season. Dell’Orso has taken a step back, both in his role and in his efficiency. While most of his numbers are slightly up from last season, his 32.1% shooting from behind the arc is the worst mark in his college career.
“Some games, it just doesn’t go how you plan it,” Dell’Orso said in a news conference after a home win against BYU on Feb. 18.
January proved to be a frustrating month for him. In the first nine games of the conference schedule, he shot a woeful 18% from 3-point range. Through the struggles, Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd has stuck with Dell’Orso, believing that the spark would return.
“Delly will find his way out of this,” Lloyd said after a road win against ASU on Jan. 31, where Dell’Orso shot 1-for-6 from the field. “We’re going to get the best of Delly when it’s needed.”
Without key contributions from Dell’Orso for the majority of the season, Arizona has still flourished, posting a 26-2 record and a No. 2 ranking in the AP Poll. After their 23-0 start, though, the Wildcats hit a bit of a wall. With an injury to freshman star Koa Peat and illness trickling through the squad, it was tough to stay at full strength.
Lacking numbers and facing a challenging schedule, it was inevitable that the losses would come. Following slip-ups against Kansas and Texas Tech, it seemed as though Arizona might have hit its peak and things were beginning to head in the wrong direction.
Dell’Orso wasn’t going to let that happen.
With a depleted rotation, the Wildcats were tasked to halt their losing streak against potential No. 1 overall draft pick AJ Dybantsa and BYU. While Dybantsa was excellent, the Wildcats used a second-half surge and Dell’Orso’s best performance in an Arizona uniform to snag a 75-68 win and get back on track.
The Australian native saw a significant increase in minutes and production and made the most of it. He led the team in scoring with 22 points, his highest mark since his sophomore season at Campbell.
He was playing loose, like he rediscovered a groove he once had. Dell’Orso was taking on defenders at will, attacking the basket and shooting effortlessly from whatever spot he wanted.
“I’m proud of him,” senior guard Jaden Bradley said in a news conference after the BYU game. “He’s stuck with it … we all have confidence in him to get hot. That’s one of the best shooters in the Big 12; in the nation. He showed that tonight, he’s going to keep showing it. He’s a key guy to our team.”
While important, their next game would provide a lot more answers. Then-No. 2 Houston welcomed Arizona to Fertitta Center, an arena the Cougars haven’t lost in all season.
Houston plays some of the most physically demanding basketball in the country, wearing out opponents, making it difficult for players to get significant minutes in the game without becoming tired.
With remnants of sickness and fatigue still running throughout the Wildcats, it becomes all the more difficult.
With Brayden Burries struggling as he battled illness and Peat remaining out with his lower leg injury, Dell’Orso was needed to provide some offense. As expected, the game was a fight, but Dell’Orso shone again. He led the team in scoring with 22 points, shooting 57% from the field.
His performance helped Arizona notch arguably its most impressive win of the season, knocking off a fully healthy Houston in an arena in which they rarely lose. With a limited rotation, Dell’Orso has stepped up in a massive way, pushing the Wildcats back in a positive direction.
“Delly is going to be at his best when we need him to be at his best,” Lloyd said after the win against Houston. “And I think you’ve seen that the last couple games.”
Dell’Orso tweaked his ankle in the final minutes of the Houston game, but powered through and made a solid appearance against Baylor on Tuesday. While his overall production was down, he provided a reliable option on both ends of the floor.
After a blip a couple of weeks ago, Arizona has now won three straight and is back on track. With Peat set to return soon and Dell’Orso flourishing, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament looks like a realistic possibility.
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.