Buechler Does It With Blood and Guts : Wildcats’ Power Forward Puts Stanford at Arm’s Length After Taking Elbow

Jud Buechler, Arizona power forward, drove for a layup three minutes into the Pacific 10 Conference championship game against Stanford.

Stanford defender Eric Reveno moved in to block the shot and accidentally hit Buechler in the head with an elbow.

Blood then started to drip onto Buechler’s uniform.

“He took a bite out of my head. There were teeth marks,” Buechler joked. “The bleeding didn’t really bother me. But it was kind of dripping onto my face and I guess I looked like I was in a creep show.”

Reveno’s blow seemed to motivate Buechler.

Buechler had 16 points, five rebounds and two steals as the No. 1-ranked Wildcats thrashed Stanford, 73-51, Sunday at the Forum.

Buechler took his game to another level as Arizona won its second straight Pac-10 title. After getting mugged by Reveno, Buechler scored eight points as Arizona broke open the game with a 19-3 spurt.

After making two free throws, Buechler stole the ball and drove the length of the court for a one-handed dunk. He scored on a little corkscrew jumper and added a lay-in.

Although Buechler said that the blow didn’t inspire him, Arizona assistant Kevin O’Neill thought it sparked Buechler.

“The more adversity Jud faces the better he plays,” O’Neill said. “He’s the kind of kid that no matter what the obstacle is to overcome he’s going to give it his best to overcome it.”

Buechler, who felt slighted after he was left off the All-Pac-10 team, was named to the all-tournament team.

“I was a little disappointed when I didn’t make the All-Pac-10 team,” Buechler said. “I thought I had a pretty good year. But there were a lot of good players in the Pac-10.”

Buechler’s teammates thought he deserved the acclaim.

“I felt he (Buechler) should have been an All Pac-10 selection,” said Sean Elliott, Arizona’s All-American forward. However, today he showed that he belongs in the cream of the crop.

“He’s got a lot of heart. I call him the poor man’s Charles Barkley because he plays just like him.”

A 6-foot-6 junior, Buechler does the dirty work for the Wildcats. His plays aggressive defense and rebounds well. He dives after loose balls so often that he should have floor burns.

Dick Vitale thinks Buechler is such a hard worker that he should carry a lunch pail.

“Buechler is an outstanding role player,” said Vitale, ABC and ESPN commentator. “He’s a real competitor and a fighter.”

Buechler plays a key role for Arizona’s half-court press. The Wildcats disrupted Stanford’s offense with relentless defensive pressure, forcing 23 turnovers.

“Jud is like the glue that holds us together,” Arizona Coach Lute Olson said. “He’s so aware of what he needs to do in the team context on defense and offense.”

Stanford Coach Mike Montgomery said: “Buechler is an intense, hard-nosed basketball player.”

A reserve last season, Buechler became a starter this season after he was moved from guard to forward. And he adjusted well to his new role.

Buechler averaged 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds during the regular season, third best on the team.

“I looked at playing power forward as a challenge,” Buechler said. “I’m usually not as tall and I don’t weigh as much as the other power forward. But I take pride in working hard and just getting after it. I’m really scrappy and I try and lift the team up to another level on defense and offense.”

And that’s just what he did against Stanford.