This is a season when Arizona won’t be able to hide. The Wildcats are just too talented. Too many eyes will be looking at a team that could make a serious run come tournament time.
Maybe a runaway? Well, maybe if all the pieces fall into place. The Wildcats are picked to win the Pac-12 Conference title and likely go deep into the NCAA tournament.
Time will tell. But the Wildcats could be that good. It has “depth and firepower,” fourth-year coach Sean Miller said earlier this week. Miller was just being honest. He knows what he has.
“On different nights, we have different players that can step up and contribute – not just in scoring,” Miller said.
Miller hasn’t had that in his previous three seasons. Heck, Arizona, one of the better programs over the last two or three decades, hasn’t had that since 2005. How it will all come together is anyone’s guess. But it’ll be up to Miller to find the right mixes and matches to make the magic happen.
Minutes will be at a premium.
“Players on our team will have to sacrifice,” Miller said. “Some of our guys on our team, if they were on another team, would have a bigger role, but that’s the gift that we have. The prize is to have a great season.”
Arizona officially is on the clock come Sunday afternoon when it plays host to Charleston Southern.
Here’s what to watch for this season as the Wildcats look to reclaim their place among the nation's elite after missing the NCAA Tournament two of the last three seasons.
WHO WILL BE THE LEADER?
The obvious answer is senior Solomon Hill, one of the most versatile players in the conference. But, he has a strong allies in senior guard Mark Lyons, who transferred in from Xavier, and the strong-minded Kevin Parrom.
“We’ve been guiding them (the young guys) since the summer,” said Parrom.
But there’s still plenty to learn. But Miller said the “influx of young talent” will be guided by the veteran leadership that “been there through the good, the bad and the battles.”
Sophomore guard Nick Johnson and junior Jordin Mayes will help, too.
“We’re counting on those guys to guide the ship,” Miller said.
Miller knows the young players have to be a factor, especially in the front court. McDonald’s All-Americans Brandon Ashley and Grant Jerrett and 7-footer Kaleb Tarczewski provide the size/talent combination that's been lacking in Miller's first three years in Tucson.
“There will be times when we will need our front court to be ready,” Miller said. “They didn’t come here to be ready two years from now. They came to contribute this year. They have the talent to do it.”
Ashley, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward, is as athletic as they come.
He’ll have major moments for Arizona in the coming months. But, right now, the standout appears to be Jerrett, a long-armed 6-10 player who can defend on the perimeter and hit a 17-footer. He’ll be a factor early because he’s athletic and is versatile.
WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED OF TARCZEWSKI?
He’ll run hot and cold as he matures and develops his skills and toughness, just as he did in Arizona’s two exhibition games. He’s exactly what Arizona needs near the basket, a big man who can score on the block. He can also be physical. If he scores just six or so points a game, that’s fine as long as he rebounds and defends.
WITH ALL THESE YOUNG BIG MEN, WHERE DOES ANGELO CHOL FIT IN?
Well, he fits in quite nicely because he offers another athletic big body. He’s still more of a defender than an offensive player. His contributions, Miller said, don’t show up in the box score. “He has improved a lot,” Miller said. “He’s worked as hard as any player in our program. He cares so much that (sometimes) he can lose his confidence, but that’s all part of growing and learning. It’s about staying with it.”
WILL THE FRONTCOURT PLAYERS OVERSHADOW THE BACKCOURT?
Not if Johnson has a say in the matter. There’s still little doubt Johnson is the most exciting player on the court and breathtaking when in the open court. The key will be to avoid hitting the wall, like he did last year. As a freshman, he played beyond his years until falling back to earth when February rolled around. Look for him to hit his jumper with more consistency and expect him to have a jaw-dropping dunk here or there – and everywhere – this season.
WHERE DOES PARROM FIT IN? AND HOW IS HE AFTER LAST SEASON'S OFF-THE COURT DIFFICULTIES?
Parrom has moved on. Who can blame him after getting shot, missing time and losing his mom and grandmother to illness? In Arizona’s last exhibition game he had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists in 20 minutes. If Arizona can get that from him game in and game out, watch out. Miller said it was good to see Parrom play a lot of minutes and make the most of them. He’ll be key off the bench. As for finishing his career on a good note, Parrom said he’s “just trying to be part of greatness. I’m not worried about last year. I’m focused on this year. I’m trying to win a national championship with these guys. Last year is over with.”
He’ll be a key backup to Johnson, help Lyons with the ball-handling and be counted on to provide some outside shooting. No question he can play. He just needs to be consistent. The key is that he’s healthy after a season hampered by foot injuries. “He just needs to be positive about the situation,” Hill said. “Jordin has great numbers over the years. He just has to stay with it.”
