TUCSON, Ariz. -- There was never a doubt in Brandon Ashley's mind or heart that the 2014-15 basketbal season would come for him.
It would just take time and patience -- and he had plenty of each. It also helped that he's a smart, pragmatic soul who knows good things come to those who wait and work hard.
"It's been a long process," Arizona coach Sean Miller said of Ashley's return from a season-ending foot injury that occurred on Feb. 1, 2014. "Brandon is a very smart person and cares a lot about his career and cares a lot about our team . . . no doubt when he's healthy -- and we have no reason to believe he won't be -- he'll be better as a junior than during his first two years here."
And second-ranked Arizona will be better because of it. Many thought that had Ashley not suffered the injury, Arizona would have won the NCAA title last year.
That's up for debate, but Ashley and the Wildcats have moved on.
Ashley hopes to go from tentative (as he seemed to be on a couple of occasions in the preseason) to tenacious when theWildcats open their season and national title quest on Friday at McKale Center against Mount St. Mary's.
How quickly Ashley regains his form is one of the many questions facing Arizona as it opens the season. How the team meshes will be the biggest question in the early part of the season. And just how deep will the playing rotation be when it comes to Pac-12 Conference play? Arizona already has been picked as an overwhelming favorite to win the conference as three other returning starters (T.J. McConnell, Kaleb Tarczewski, Gabe York) join Ashley and two of the most dynamic frontcourt players in college basketball in sophomore Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (last season's super sub) and freshman Stanley Johnson, one of the nation's top recrits.
In terms of pure talent, it could rank among Arizona's all-time best rosters -- even with Aaron Gordon and Pac-12 player of the year Nick Johnson having moved on to the NBA.
Brandon Ashley reacts to a call during Sunday's exhibition game vs. Cal Poly Pomona.
"There are a lot of expectations for our team," Ashley said. "However, even though we are thankful many are thinking highly of the team, we are looking to go day by day -- like my foot ... We definitely don't want to get caught up with the hype."
Chemistry has been Miller's buzzword during the preseason, mentioning often how it needs to get better. Communication and leadership are part of the equation. Miller clarified this week that he wasn't being critical but wants it to be better.
"It's a work in progress at this time of year," Miller said. "T.J. McConnell, Kaleb Tarczewski and Brandon Ashley are our unquestioned leaders."
How Johnson, a talented 6-foot-7, 245-pound forward, fits in will soon be seen. He didn't start in Arizona's exhibition game on Sunday but is expected to be a major contributor. Miller said he'll use a variety of lineups to see what works.
Ashley (6-9, 230) averaged 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds last year while also showing the ability to occasionally step outside and bury the 3-point shot (37.9 percent). Arizona was 21-0 with him in the lineup, and 12-5 after he went down.
After months of rehabilitation -- blood, sweat and, yes, tears -- he says he's back to 100 percent.
"I definitely feel comfortable," Ashley said, adding he feels more assertive than he did just a month ago. "It's all about getting that comfort level back."
When he was introduced at Arizona's exhibition game on Sunday and got a standing ovation, he shed a tear.
"All the love and support I've gotten from Tucson and the Arizona fans has been amazing," he said. "I couldn't ask for a better supporting group. It's special."
When he got back to Tucson in June -- four months after the injury -- that's when the difficulty of the recovery hit him.
"It's a thing where you want to focus on each and every day," he said, of fighting through the pain and uncertainty. "You want to make sure you make progress each and every day. You take it from there and not look too far ahead. You focus on the things that are important."
It all begins on Friday for him and Arizona.
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