2017 Men's Basketball Preview

DAILY WILDCAT.COM @DailyWildcat

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8 2017

@WildcatSports

LAST CHANCE

VOLUME 111• ISSUE 12

U U?

With so much doubt about the future of Arizona men’s basketball ... is this season a one-and-done scenario for the Wildcats?

HEATHER NEWBERRY/THE DAILY WILDCAT

ALL ALLONZO Can the Wildcats overcome their defensive nemesis? | A7

Back and better than ever: Can Trier lead the ‘Cats to the Final Four? | A4

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A2 • The Daily Wildcat

WHAT’S INSIDE:

Men’s Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

PAGE 3 — WINGS

Arizona basketball has a handful of premiere wingmen who will be key this season

PAGE 4 — MAN ON A MISSION

Allonzo Trier looks to play a full season and is determined to make it count

PAGE 5 — WHAT TO KNOW

Take a look at the key elements to keep an eye on this season

PAGE 7 — ZONED OUT

What Arizona can do to beat the zone

PG. 13 The pressure of being

No. 1 has been too much of late.

If the Wildcats find themselves in that position, can they overcome? defense and why they have struggled

PAGE 8 — INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR

The Wildcats have players from all over the world. Learn more about their path to Tucson

PAGE 9 — STANDING TALL AND TALENTED

Freshman sensation Deandre Ayton is larger than life, and Wildcats fans would be smart to watch every play. It’ll probably be his last

PAGE 14 — MAKING THE BAND The UA Pep Band provides the

sound at games; what does it take to be Parker Jackson-Cartwright a part of the musical group? is one of the best guards in the Pac-12.

His leadership will be key in helping PAGE 16 — PHYLLIS Arizona navigate the waters of the GOODMAN IS NO ROOKIE upcoming season Catch up with superfan Phyllis and find

PG. 6

out why she is so passionate about hoops

PAGE 10 & 11 — COMPLETE SCHEDULE

PG. 15

The ZonaZoo makes McKale Center one of the premiere basketball environments in college basketball. Find out what makes them wild

The Daily Wildcat • A3

Men’s Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Guards will make the Wildcats go this upcoming season

BY IAN TISDALE @iantisdl

Arizona men’s basketball will be coming into the 2017–2018 season loaded with talent. Head coach Sean Miller pulled his highest ranked recruiting class since 2013, including prospects Deandre Ayton, Ira Lee and an electric shooting guard from upstate New York, Brandon Randolph.

The addition of Randolph is a definite win for Arizona since the Wildcats lost depth at the guard and small forward position from last year with Kadeem Allen and Kobi Simmons declaring for the NBA. With Alkins out for the first two months of the season with a foot fracture, Randolph will

most likely take his place at the two, like he did earlier in the summer during the Spain exhibitions.

“If you watched us in Spain, [Randolph] showed his immense talent,” Miller said. “Not just because he can shoot it, but athletically, he’s caught me by surprise.”

Comparatively, in the first of the exhibition games in Spain, Alkins went out with a sprained shoulder injury, and in his place, Randolph scored 14 points, which may be a sign of what we can expect at the beginning of the season.

Alongside Randolph in the new recruiting class is Emmanuel Akot, a five-star small forward from Canada who could prove to be integral as an off-the-bench player. Akot can be compared to Alkins in some aspects; he has

impressive size at 6-foot-8, 200 pounds, and he’s an agile, multifaceted player, as observed

by Miller earlier in the offseason.

“He’s as versatile of a player as we’ve had,” Miller said. “He can play any number of positions, is an incredible passer, plays extremely hard.”

Akot has even taken reps at point and could potentially back up Parker Jackson-Cartwright if injury occurs. And in practice, JacksonCartwright is impressed with how he controls an offense.

“He doesn’t get sped up,” Jackson-Cartwright said. “He makes the right play almost every time.”

University of North Carolina-Asheville transfer Dylan Smith also adds to the immense

depth the Wildcats have at wing. Smith practiced with the Wildcats last season, taking reps defending and learning guard from Simmons and Alkins.

“These guys are great — Allonzo, Rawle, Kobi — great guards, future pros. Just guarding against them every day has made me better,” Smith said. “I know I’m as good as they are.”

Alkins is expected to be one of the best guards in all of college basketball this year after having a breakout season in 2016, where he averaged almost 11 points per game.

The combination of a healthy Alkins, Randolph and Akot, and support on the bench with Dylan Smith will make the Wildcats deep and lethal from the wing in the upcoming season.

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A4 • The Daily Wildcat

Men’s Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Man on a mission

Arizona guard Allonzo Trier is back, this time for a full season, as he prepares to place the Wildcats back atop the college basketball world

BY ALEX MUNOZ @Alex_Munoz89

Allonzo Trier is determined to prove to himself, and to the Wildcat faithful, that he indeed made the right decision to return for his junior year to lead the Wildcats past the Elite Eight for the first time under head coach Sean Miller.

Arizona has been in the headlines as of late for all the wrong reasons. Despite that, the Wildcats will look to their leading scorer in 2016 to pick up where he left off.

Due to testing positive for performanceenhancing drugs in the preseason of his sophomore year, Trier missed the first 19 games before the NCAA ruled him eligible to return in January as the Wildcats took on No. 3 UCLA in Los Angeles. Trier finished with 12 points and career highs in both rebounds, with seven, and assists, with four.

The Wildcats would go on to win the game 96-85.

In his second year at Arizona, Trier started in 13 games, while coming off the bench the other five. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the Pac12 Tournament, All-Tournament Team member and Second Team All Pac-12. Trier led the Wildcats with 17.2 points per game in the 18 games he played and finished the season averaging 20.7 points, five rebounds and 3.3 assists.

“Every time I take the court to play basketball I’m motivated,” Trier said. “I love the game, so I’m going to work at it, continue to try to perfect my craft the best I can so I can be the best player I can be.”

The Seattle native is not shy about being the “go-to” player for Arizona. Trier scored 28 points, setting his new career high against the Bruins shooting an efficient 1114 from the field back on Feb. 21. Anyone who happens to follow Trier on social media is well aware he’s a Kobe Bryant fan. Like Bryant, Trier can play multiple positions; outside of being a shooting guard, he’s capable of playing point guard when called upon.

“In my mind he’s positioned himself to be one of the best at what he does,” Miller said. “He’s been through his fair share of adversity. Our hope together is he can have one of those seasons that are memorable but where you can string it together from start to finish.”

To a casual basketball fan, Arizona may not be a program that has the talent past or present such as a Duke or a Kentucky. But make no mistake about it, the Wildcats have had their fair share of talent come in and out of Tucson.

If Trier continues to put up numbers his junior year like he did as a sophomore, there is no reason why his name won’t be mentioned with the likes of Miles Simon (Final Four MVP), Jason “the jet” Terry or Mike Bibby — all guards who, by the way, won the National Championship in ’97.

“Just looking forward to having a great year with this team, continue to build, continue to be a leader,” Trier said.

Trier will look to make his own legacy and lead the ‘Cats back to a National Championship and accomplish something the program has not done in 20 years.

“I want to come back a better player every year,” Trier said. “I’m going to continue to work at this game because I love it.”

SIMON ASHER/THE DAILY WILDCAT

ARIZONA’S ALLONZO TRIER SHOOTS during the UA-ASU game on March 4.

Trier by the numbers

Years it has been since Arizona had a player named on the AP Preseason All-American team. Luke Walton and Jason Gardner were the last in 2002-03 Trier’s BPM last season which measures the points per 100 possessions a player contributed above a leagueNumber of men’s basketball players that have received a National Athlete of the Year achievement; required for jersey retirement

COURTNEY TALAK/THE DAILY WILDCAT

SOPHOMORE GUARD ALLONZO TRIER, LEFT, cries to teammate Lauri Markkanen, right, after Wildcats’ 73-71 loss to Xavier Musketeers in the Sweet 16 matchup on March 23.

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Total games played at Arizona. In his career, Trier has averaged 21.3 points per 40 minutes played.

The Daily Wildcat • A5

Men’s Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

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ARIZONA GUARD RAWLE ALKINS dunks the ball during the Wildcats first round game of the NCAA Tournament Mar. 17, 2017. The Wildcats won the game 100-82.

What to watch

Culinary Workshops

FBI- The Wildcats are in the midst of an in-

depth FBI investigation due to the wrongdoing of former assistant coach Emanuel “Book” Richardson. Other programs around the country are rumored to be involved in the FBI investigation, but no other names have been put out yet.

SEAN MILLER- Miller is in his ninth season

as Arizona men’s basketball head coach. He has yet to reach the Final Four despite reaching the Elite Eight three times. His career coaching record is 220-66 at Arizona.

RAWLE ALKINS- Alkins is coming off a

solid freshman campaign in which he was AllPac-12 Freshmen Team selection. On the day of the FBI fallout, Alkins injured his foot and isn’t expected to return until mid-December.

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DUSAN RISTIC- The big man from Serbia

has had his ups and downs at Arizona. With freshman Deandre Ayton in the fray, it will be interesting to see how Ristic adjusts and in what ways he will be involved on offense. Whatever the situation, the Wildcats have two imposing figures down low and should out-rebound most opponents.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE- Arizona

has a better schedule at home than they did a year ago. However, on paper it is weak overall, with only one matchup against a top-10 opponent (Villanova) in the non-conference schedule. Only one other non-conference opponent is ranked in the AP top 25 besides Villanova and that’s the Texas A&M Aggies, who the Wildcats match up with in a neutral-site game in Phoenix.

CONFERENCE POWER- The Pac-12

isn’t as loaded as it was a year ago when it featured three teams — UCLA, Oregon and Arizona — in the top 10. This season, USC is the hot team in play as the Trojans are the No. 10-ranked team in the country. The non-conference slate for the rest of the conference will be vital for RPI purposes come NCAA selection time.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATIONShould the Wildcats perform well and secure a No. 1 seed in the West, the path would be familiar. First- and second-round play could take place in San Diego at the Viejas Arena, and the Sweet Sixteen/Elite Eight rounds would be in Los Angeles at the Staples Center.

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A6 • The Daily Wildcat

Men’s Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Though small in stature, Arizona’s Parker Jackson-Cartwright towers above his peers due to his tenacity, character & demeanor heading into a unique senior season

THE REAL BIG

BALLER

ALEX MCINTYRE/THE DAILY WILDCAT

BY ALEC WHITE @AlecWhite_UA

In today’s one-and-done mentality in college basketball, it is rare to see a four or five-year player starting at a program with as much prowess as Arizona. In recent years, Wildcat fans have seen the likes of Kadeem Allen, Kaleb Tarczewski, Gabe York and T.J. McConnell play as seniors in Tucson. And for every senior, there’s always a freshman who leaves school to pursue the NBA, such as Stanley Johnson or Lauri Markkanen.

Yet this year, four players on the Arizona team will be entering their senior year: Parker JacksonCartwright,Dusan Ristic, Talbott Denny and Keanu Pinder.

It is unclear whether these two will have the chance to make it to the NBA, but for Jackson-Cartwright in particular, there’s a route that could start him on that path.

Almost every year since head coach Sean Miller took over the program, he has had a “glue-guy” in the locker room that assumed the leadership duties. Last year it was Allen, and a couple years before that it was McConnell.

This year, that guy figures to be Jackson-Cartwright.

The cases of Allen and McConnell can be applied to Jackson-Cartwright because both players had qualities that made them stick in college basketball, even though they were never dynamic stars.

Both Allen and McConnell are known for their defensive abilities. McConnell was the 2014 and 2015 All-Pac-12 Defensive Team, while Allen made the 2017 All-Pac-12 Defensive Team. That talent is what likely landed them jobs in the NBA, along with their leadership and effort.

Although Jackson-Cartwright is not a defensive stopper, no one questions his leadership or effort.

What makes the Los Angeles native so remarkable is his efficiency. Even after missing time last season due to an ankle sprain, Jackson-Cartwright still managed to finish with career-bests in points per game (5.9), assists per game (4.1) and 3-point percentage (42.3). Arizona’s offense also was noticeably smoother and operated at a better rate when the 5-foot-10 point guard was on the floor.

It was once believed last year that freshman Kobi Simmons would eventually succeed Jackson-Cartwright

and Allen to become the team’s point guard; this didn’t come to fruition as both Allen and Jackson-Cartwright outplayed Simmons in essentially every facet during the second half of the season. Whenever Arizona needed a big shot, Parker was always there to send it through the net or find a teammate who finished the job.

Jackson-Cartwright will be the starting point guard to begin the season, providing him a clear chance to prove his worth to Arizona and future employers. The route for Jackson-Cartwright would be to continue to run the Wildcat offense with even better efficiency.

He won’t be asked to shoot the ball a lot, especially with Allonzo Trier and DeAndre Ayton on the court. But with a full season as the team’s top point guard, there’s reason to believe Jackson-Cartwright could be one of the Pac-12’s top ball distributors.

McConnell and Allen have shown that there is a path for Arizona point guards to finish school on a high note and go to the NBA, and now Jackson-Cartwright could be next.

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The Daily Wildcat • A7

Men’s Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

SIMON ASHER/THE DAILY WILDCAT

Zoned Out

ARIZONA’S ALLONZO TRIER (35) PASSES to Keanu Pinder (25) past heavy Saint Mary’s defense during the UA-SMC game on March 18.

The Wildcats’ NCAA destiny will rely on figuring out the zone defense

BY SAUL BOOKMAN @Saul_Bookman

Arizona men’s basketball head coach Sean Miller is considered to be one of the best coaches in the country. He has also been scrutinized for his team’s lack of production when pitted against a zone. Such was the case last season in the Sweet 16 as the Xavier Musketeers knocked off the No. 2-seeded Wildcats in San Jose. The Musketeers dared Arizona to beat them from the outside, despite having two efficient shooters from deep, Lauri Markkanen and Allonzo Trier.

While the anger has been pointed at Miller, the fact is, it isn’t entirely his fault. Scheme, personnel and, more than anything, the fear of taking the big shot against that particular defense: for whatever reason, these problems have plagued the Wildcats time and time again.

That Dude Salim Stoudamire, Miles Simon, Jason Terry, Mike Bibby, Steve Kerr and so on and so on.

The list of dynamic, game-changing shooters in Arizona history goes on forever. But you’ll notice that there isn’t one Sean Miller guard on that list.

Miller hasn’t had a guard that has been so “lights out from three” that teams had to modify their zone in order to protect from getting hurt.

That’s the simple way to put it.

Miller should’ve found a way for Markkanen to get the ball — not so fast.

Yes, let’s dive into that frustration from a season ago, especially in the final 11 minutes of that fateful game in San Jose.

It wasn’t all about the zone offense, not even a little bit. Time after time, Markkanen can be seen standing around. While the ball rotates around the wing before Trier takes matters

into his own hands. On numerous possessions in the last 10 minutes, teammates have opportunities to pass the ball to Markkanen on the wing. Several times they opt to throw to Trier, who came up with shot after shot until the games’ final attempt from three, which rimmed out and sent Arizona home.

In a game of high pressure, players revert to what they know or are comfortable with. Several times there were chances for Markkanen to demand the ball, but for whatever reason, he appeared timid. He had his hands to his side and was not very aggressive and slow moving without the ball. Not a lot of purposeful movement from the future lottery pick.

This notion isn’t new as the Chicago Bulls are currently finding out. Teams are taking away the three, and without a dominant low post game, or at least an effective one, teams are switching out on Markkanen and taking away what he is

comfortable with, a la Xavier.

Down the stretch of the game, he simply wasn’t the guy teammates were confident in getting the ball to. It doesn’t take away from his talent; he just became a freshman at an inopportune time, and it wasn’t even the first time all season that it had happened.

Throughout last season, he had taken fewer than 10 shots 16 times, according to Kristian Winfield of SBNation.

Unfortunately, this translated to the defensive end; remember Sean O’Mara?

Scheme Millers four-out one-in motion offense can leave a lot to be desired. Without mentioning the obvious (ahem, Ayton) the offense needs players that can score in some difficult situations. The spacing, particularly from

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A8 • The Daily Wildcat

Men’s Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

International flavour

Arizona men’s basketball is worldwide and this season is no different with players from Australia, the Bahamas, Serbia and Canada

BY TEAGAN RASCHE @teaganrasche

Arizona’s 17-man roster is made up of top athletes from around the world. Apart from the U.S., four different countries are represented on this year’s team. The four international Wildcat’s are Deandre Ayton, Keanu Pinder, Emmanuel Akot and Dusan Ristic. Not only do these athletes have to deal with the demands of being a Division I basketball player, but they also had to adjust to the culture.

Ayton, a freshman and the highest rated recruit in Arizona Basketball history, is a native of Nassau, Bahamas. Ayton attended high school in the U.S. before committing to the University of Arizona on Sept. 6, 2016. He spent his first two years of high school playing at Balboa City School in San Diego, California before transferring to Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix. Ayton represented the Bahamas in the 2016 Centrobasket tournament. Ironically enough, the Wildcats will go to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament Nov. 22-24, in Paradise Island, Bahamas.

Fun Fact No. 1: According to the state department, 5 to 6 million Americans visit the Bahamas each year.

Fun Fact No. 2: Approximately 5 to 6 million would be 2 million short of a projected salary for the No. 1 NBA draft pick in 2018.

Pinder, a senior from Perth, Australia is entering his second season as a Wildcat after transferring from Hutchinson Community College, located in Hutchinson, Kansas. He spent his high school years playing at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas. Pinder competed for Team Australia at the 2015 World University Games.

Austrailia’s top export: Iron ores, which account for $48.9 billion (25.8 percent of total exports) according to WTEx. Pinder’s top export: Defense and rebounding Akot, a freshman from Winnipeg, Manitoba, has international experience representing Canada at the FIBA U17 World Championships last summer. He is rated as a five-star prospect by ESPN and he spent his high school years playing at Wasatch Academy in Utah. With Rawle Alkins out with a foot injury for the beginning of the season, head coach Sean Miller said Akot is a possible starting candidate for that position.

Statistic: The coldest temperature ever recorded in Winnipeg was -47.8 C (-54 F) in December of 1879 according to hikebiketravel.com. For a long time, Winnipeg, with a population of 600,00 or more, was the coldest city in the world.

Side note: Emmanuel Akot has ice in his veins.

Ristic, a senior, is bringing leadership to the 2018 team as he enters his fourth and final season as a Wildcat. A native of Novi Sad, Serbia, Ristic spent his last year of high school playing at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas, just like teammate Keanu Pinder. He represented Serbia at the FIBA U16 Championships in 2011.

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What not to do in Novi Sad, Serbia: Take a free walking tour, isn’t that just called walking around?

Arizona benefits from having international players on their roster because they can all bring different skills and perspectives to the team. Ayton, Pinder, Akot and Ristic all have international competition experience from representing their home countries at tournaments.

Tournaments, such as the FIBA Championships, are a great recruiting opportunity for college coaches because the top high school-age players from all over the world are in one place.

International players who want to play in the NBA have a huge benefit from playing in the NCAA; They get exposure from NBA scouts who attend practices and games, and they have the advantage of having their games nationally televised.

The Wildcats haven’t had this many international players since the 2005-2006 season when they finished fourth in the Pac-12. With such a diverse roster this year, it will be interesting to see how they play together.

The Daily Wildcat • A9

Men’s Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017 SIMON ASHER/THE DAILY WILDCAT

STANDING TALL AND TALENTED Deandre Ayton may be the final piece to the long suffering puzzle of getting back to the Final Four

BY SAUL BOOKMAN @Saul_Bookman

At 7-foot-1, freshman Deandre Ayton stands above his peers — physically. He towers above the rest of the college basketball world athletically as well. At first glimpse, Ayton is beyond definition. He simply is so big you can’t fathom he is just 19 years old. There have been 7-footers before at Arizona, even now with senior Dusan Ristic in tow. Ayton is more than just another prototypical big man.

The stereotype is pretty standard. Centers can play defense down low, and bang with the big guys while attempting to score. Guards are slashers, shooters and dribblers who make plays. Ayton is both, unbelievably.

In Arizona’s first exhibition win, Ayton stole a pass to the wing and took it coast-to-coast for the slam. Centers just don’t do that.

His diversity translates to both ends as well.

“I can guard any position,” Ayton said. “I want to be a very versatile player.”

He is pretty matter-of-fact when asked questions about his play, almost as if he is surprised the interviewer didn’t know he was already a great player at everything he does. It is this confidence, and the ability to back it up, that places Ayton atop the NBA Draft

market for next season. Ayton is a projected lottery pick, with most prognosticators having him go top-three.

Ayton has ability down low in the post to dominate any opponent and if, for whatever reason, he doesn’t have it going in the post he can just step out and hit a three or mid-range jumper. He is smooth, fast, strong and explosive, and he may well go down as the first Arizona player to ever be selected No. 1 overall.

“Lauri Markkanen was obviously an exceptional shooter for how tall he is and I would say Lauri is a little bit better than Deandre, but not nearly the gap that you would anticipate,” Miller said. “He has the ability to step out and shoot the three, so it’s up to us to really adjust and make sure we take advantage of all the talents and skills that Deandre brings to the table.”

Ayton was the No. 1 collegiate prospect coming into Arizona. He committed to the Wildcats over a year ago, and despite rumblings about playing pro overseas, or the potential of him not being eligible through the NCAA (due to course load at his previous school) he, himself, has never wavered about his commitment in coming to Tucson. In fact, he said he was here for one primary purpose: to get Sean Miller to the Final Four and win a National Championship.

“College is a must,” he told ESPN per Jeff Goodman.

“My family wants me to go to college. It’s important

for me and my mom. I want to go to Arizona and win a national championship. Arizona won its only national title 20 years ago, and I’d like to help bring another one to Tucson.”

Beyond the obvious, Ayton is a fierce competitor.

Just a few views on social media will tell you that he is a no nonsense guy, especially on NBA2K. He loves to win and his drive is what fans are hoping can take the Wildcats to a place they haven’t been since 2001; the Final Four.

Last year, Arizona had Lauri Markkanen and went 32-5, but lost in the Sweet Sixteen to Xavier. It was a game that was highlighted by an 11-minute stretch in which Markkanen didn’t shoot the ball. It would be hard to believe the same thing will happen should that situation ever materialize again. Ayton is a dominant force from every area of the court. In Arizona’s two exhibition games, Ayton averaged 26 points and 10.5 rebounds on 19-for-25 shooting. He is only going to get better, and so are the Wildcats.

In the mean time, Ayton, a product of the Bahamas by way of Phoenix, will have to bide his time until the NCAA tournament gets here in order to fulfill his promise of reaching the top of college basketball. So sit back and enjoy this once in a lifetime athlete.

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A10 • The Daily Wildcat

Men’s Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

The Daily Wildcat • A11

Men’s Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

2017-18 ARIZONA MEN’S BASKETBALL Ira Lee

Dylan Smith

RS So. Guard

Fr. Forward

Matt Weyand

Dusan Ristic

Kory Jones

Rawle Alkins

Fr. Forward

So. Guard

Fr. Forward

Sr. Center

Guard

Deandre Ayton

Sean Miller

Allonzo Trier

Head Coach

Jr. Guard

Talbott Denny Keanu Pinder

Tyler Trillo

Sr. Forward

RS Sr. For-

Chase Jeter Jr. Forward/Center

Parker Jackson-Cartwright

Alex Barcello

Sr. Guard

Fr. Guard

RS Jr. Guard

Brandon Randolph Fr. Guard

Emmanuel Akot Fr. Guard

Jake DesJardins So. Forward

THE ROAD

HERE

STARTS = Daily Wildcat Games to Watch

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Northern Arizona:

@ UNLV:

The Wildcats 2017–2018 home opener will be against in-state foe NAU, which features eight upperclassmen on its roster. Arizona beat the Lumberjacks 92-37 in the previous meeting in 2015.

Arizona will make a trip to the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas to face the Rebels in its first true road nonconference matchup. UNLV enters the season with the No. 15-ranked recruiting class, including Arizona target five-star forward Brandon McCoy.

Friday, Nov. 10, at 6:00 p.m

Saturday, Dec. 2, at 8:00 p.m

UMBC:

Texas A&M (Phoenix, Arizona):

The Retrievers finished last season with a 9-7 conference record in the America East Conference and will be led this year by returning senior Jairus Lyles. The 6-foot-2 point guard averaged a team-high 18.9 points per game last year and was named to the America East Second Team.

The Wildcats and Aggies will meet at the Talking Stick Resort Arena for the Valley of the Sun Shootout.

The two programs met in a neutral site game in Houston in 2016 when the UA defeated A&M 67-63.

The Aggies will feature the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 6-foot-10 forward Robert Williams.

Sunday, Nov. 12, at 4:00 p.m

CSU Bakersfield:

Thursday, Nov. 16, at 8:00 p.m

In last year’s NIT Tournament, the Roadrunners went on an unexpected run and advanced all the way to the semifinal round. CSUB also ranked in the Top 15 of NCAA Division I in total steals (286), turnovers forced per game (16.6) and opponent field goal percentage (37.2).

Arizona beat CSUB 78-66 when the two schools met in 2016.

NC State (Paradise Island, Bahamas): Nov. 22-24

Arizona will open the tournament with a matchup against NC State on Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 5:00 p.m.. The Wolfpack will be looking to replace the production from Dennis Smith Jr., who went to the NBA, and some of it will likely come from sophomore 7-foot center Omer Yurtseven.

TBD (Paradise Island, Bahamas):

If Arizona advances, they will face the winner of Southern Methodist and Northern Iowa. The winner of this game will advance to the championship game.

Villanova (Paradise Island, Bahamas): Friday, Nov. 24, at 10:00 a.m

Both the UA and Nova would have to advance to the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, and if they do, it would be one of the top games Arizona plays all year. A Jay Wright and Sean Miller coaching matchup would be highly entertaining to watch for 40 minutes, and Villanova also has a National Player of the Year Candidate in junior point guard Jalen Brunson, who averaged 14.7 points last year. Again, there’s no sure bet this game will happen, but it will certainly be a fun matchup if it does.

Long Beach State:

Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 6:00 p.m

Long Beach State will be led by 6-foot-7 forward Temidayo Yussuf, who earned Second Team All-Big West honors as a sophomore in 2016 while averaging 9.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 28 starts.

Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 7:00 p.m

Alabama:

Saturday, Dec. 9, at 8:00 p.m

The Wildcats do not have too many exciting nonconference home games, but this figures to be the best of them, and both teams should be ranked in the top 25. Crimson Tide head coach Avery Johnson will come to Tucson with the nation’s eighth best recruiting class, which features one of the best incoming freshman in five-star point guard Collin Sexton. Arizona fans might also see former Arizona and current Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne make an appearance in McKale Center, as well.

@ New Mexico:

Saturday, Dec. 16, at 6:00 p.m

Arizona is going to be making its first trip back to The Pit since 1999 after the schools agreed to a homeand-home series that began in Tucson last year. New Mexico head coach Craig Neal has not led the Lobos to more than 20 wins in a season since they won 27 in his first year in 2013–14.

North Dakota State:

Monday, Dec. 18, at 7:00 p.m.

The Bison will come to Tucson with its leading scorer from last season, Paul Miller, who is returning for his senior year. Miller was a First Team All-Summit League selection in 2016.

UConn:

Thursday, Dec. 21, at 7:00 p.m

Arizona will close its non-conference schedule with a matchup against UConn. The Huskies failed to make the NCAA Tournament last year after finishing with a 16-17 record.

JANUARY

@ Utah:

Thursday, Jan. 4, at 7:00 p.m

The 2018 portion of Arizona’s schedule will begin in Salt Lake City to take on the Utes in UA’s first Pac-12 road game. Utah will be led by senior forward David Collette, who averaged 13.6 points per game and 5.1 rebounds a year ago.

Arizona did not travel to Salt Lake City in 2017 due to the unbalanced conference scheduling, but lost its last matchup in Utah when the then No. 22-ranked Utes took down the No. 9 Wildcats 70-64 in 2016.

@ Colorado:

The Pac-12 Conference opener tips off with a rivalry matchup in Tucson. The comments made by Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley about winning in Tucson last January have only added fuel to the fire, and it should be noted the the Sun Devils have not won in McKale Center since 2010.

Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament March 7 - 10

@ Washington:

Saturday, Feb. 3, at 8:30 p.m

Arizona assistant coach Lorenzo Romar makes his return to Seattle to take on the Huskies. Romar became an assistant coach at the UA in April of 2017 and was the head coach at Washington from 2002–2017 before getting fired.

UCLA:

Thursday, Feb. 8, at 8:00 p.m.

Arizona also did not have a trip to Boulder on its schedule last year. The last time the Buffaloes and Wildcats meet in Colorado, the Buffs upset the ‘Cats 75-72. Colorado lost its top two scorers from last year, so look for senior guard George King to be a large part of the Buffs offense this season.

UCLA won’t have Lonzo Ball or T.J. Leaf, but they will still have the nation’s fifth-best recruiting class highlighted by dynamic five-star point guard Jaylen Hands. Add in the fact that Steve Alford and Sean Miller have some left-over beef from last year’s Pac-12 Tournament, and this game will still be plenty of fun.

Oregon State:

USC:

Saturday, Jan. 6, at noon

Thursday, Jan. 11, at 7:00 p.m

The Beavers essentially return all of their talent from last year, including Stephen Thompson Jr and Tres Tinkle. They also add four-star guard Ethan Thompson to the mix.

Oregon:

Saturday, Jan. 13 at noon

When the Ducks and ‘Cats meet on Jan. 13, it will be almost two years since the infamous night when Oregon ended Arizona’s 49-game winning streak in McKale Center. The rosters are noticeably different, but seniors Dusan Ristic and Parker Jackson-Cartwright likely still remember that night. The Ducks will enter Tucson with a roster that has returning guard Payton Pritchard and boasts the nation’s 13th-best recruiting class, which includes five-star small forward Troy Brown.

@ California:

Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 7:00 p.m

Cal lost a slew of players from last year, such as Ivan Rabb, Jabari Bird and Charlie Moore. But the Golden Bears did add forward Marcus Lee, a Kentucky transfer.

@ Stanford:

Saturday, Jan. 20, at 2:00 p.m

Stanford was picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12 media poll, and it also gets back First Team All-Pac-12 selection Reid Travis. The Cardinal will also have top-50 prospect Daejon Davis in their backcourt.

Colorado:

Thursday, Jan. 25, at 6:30 p.m

Arizona defeated Colorado 82-73 last season in Tucson and also knocked off the Buffs 92-78 in the quarterfinals of the 2017 Pac-12 Tournament.

Utah: Saturday, Jan. 27, at 3:30 p.m

In the only matchup of the 2016–17 season, the Wildcats defeated the Utes 66-56. The 56 points scored by Utah was the third-lowest total Arizona allowed to a Pac-12 opponent last season.

Arizona State:

Saturday, Dec. 30, at 7:00 p.m

FEBURARY

@ Washington State: Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 8:00 p.m

The Cougars lost some of their key players in the offseason, including forward Josh Hawkinson, but they added several transfer players into the fold. One of them is 6-foot-8 forward Drick Bernstine from North Dakota, who scored 20 points against the Wildcats in the round of 64 during the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

Saturday, Feb. 10, at 8:15 p.m.

On paper, this has all the potential to be a matchup of two top-10 teams meeting in McKale Center, and even an ESPN College Gameday sighting would not be a surprise. USC will come in with last year’s Pac-12 Most Improved Player, 6-foot11 forward Chimezie Metu, senior guard Jordan McLaughlin and one of the Pac-12’s best 3-point shooters, Elijah Stewart.

@ Arizona State:

Thursday, Feb. 15, at 7:00 p.m.

The Sun Devils are projected to be a better squad than a year ago and were even picked by the media to finish sixth in the Pac-12. ASU has been known to pull off some upsets of the Wildcats in Tempe, and with the UA coming off a weekend series against UCLA & USC, another upset is certainly possible. Senior Tra Holder will be someone to watch for as the 6-foot-1 point guard was the leading scorer for the Sun Devils and had 13 20-point games last season.

@ Oregon State: Thursday, Feb. 22, at 7:00 p.m.

In last year’s only matchup in Corvallis, Arizona went on a 23-2 run in the second half after trailing at halftime to defeat the Beavers 71-54.

@ Oregon:

Saturday, Feb. 24, at 8:00 p.m

Arizona assistant coach Lorenzo Romar makes his return to Seattle to take on the Huskies. Romar became an assistant coach at the UA in April of 2017 and was the head coach at Washington from 2002–2017 before getting fired.

Stanford:

Thursday, March 1, at 8:00 p.m.

Arizona has not lost to Stanford since Jan. 4, 2009, when they were defeated 76-60 in Palo Alto.

California: California: Saturday, March 3, time TBA

It will be senior day for the Wildcats, and it is possible that the school reveals the Lute Olson statue outside of McKale Center in Arizona’s final home game of the year.

This might also be the final home game for some players, like as Allonzo Trier, Rawle Alkins and DeAndre Ayton.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament March 13 - April 2

A12 • The Daily Wildcat

Men's Basketball Preview• Wednesday, November 8, 2017

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The Daily Wildcat • A13

Men’s Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

TYLER BAKER/THE DAILY WILDCAT

CHUCK LIDDY/RALEIGH NEWS & OBSERVER

LEFT: Aaron Gordon goes up for a dunk Arizona's 70-64 victory against SDSU at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. on March 27, 2014 in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. RIGHT: Duke's Grayson Allen (3) sits on the bench in the second half against Clemson during the ACC Tournament at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 8. (Photo by: Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer/TNS)

No. 1 or not, pressure crumbles teams

BY MAX COHEN @maxcohen_dw

The Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball team is the preseason favorite of many. While the distinction of being preseason No. 1 is quite an honor, it carries with it high expectations and even higher pressure. Assuming at some point during the season Arizona does, in fact, become No. 1, we ask the question: How have previous preseason No. 1 teams fared?

The top-ranked teams of the past five preseasons were very predictable. The 2016–2017 preseason favorite was Duke, as is the case again this year. The favorites of the four years prior consist of, in order, North Carolina, Kentucky two years in a row and Indiana. The common theme between these teams is the return of guards.

All five of these teams either returned their top guards or brought in a top freshman guard; and Arizona matches this

trend, returning starters Rawle Alkins, Allonzo Trier and Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

The preseason favorite hasn’t won the National Championship in the last five years. The closest it has come during that span was North Carolina in 2016 and Kentucky in 2015; both reached the Final Four but fell short. In 2015, Kentucky lost in the Final Four after going undefeated the entire season to a Wisconsin team fresh off a win over No. 2-seed Arizona. It was considered one of the biggest upsets in recent memory, despite Wisconsin being a No. 1 seed.

In 2016, North Carolina battled Villanova in the championship and tied the game at 74 on a Marcus Paige double-pump 3-point shot as the shot clock expired. The Wildcats would follow it up with a full-court length handoff by Ryan Arcidiacono to Kris Jenkins, who subsequently drilled the game-winning three at the buzzer.

Five years ago, Indiana fell in the Sweet Sixteen. The worst showing by a preseason favorite in the past five years was

during the 2016–2017 season, when Duke dropped their second-round match-up to South Carolina.

Top seeds carry an expectation to be perfect. It puts teams in a tricky spot, because if they succeed it’s what was expected, and anything less is looked at as an unsuccessful season.

Kentucky last won the tournament in 2012 and was ranked second in the preseason by Athlon Sports. They are the most recent top-two-ranked team to win the championship.

Arizona is ranked No. 3 and has a dynamic starting five, along with a deep bench. The ‘Cats return four key players, but have an excess of five freshman that will see a lot of minutes.

The returners have already felt the pressure of being a top10 team, but weren’t able to deal with the stress of being a No. 2 seed in the tournament. How they cope with the stress of added expectations, in addition to helping mentor freshman, will be as big a factor as anything this season, especially with all the off-court distractions plaguing the Arizona thus far.

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A14 • The Daily Wildcat

Men's Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

FAN EXPERIENCE

HEATHER NEWBERRY/THE DAILY WILDCAT

UA PEP BAND PERFORMS during the McDonald's Red-Blue game on Oct. 20 in McKale Center.

Making the band

BY KELLY MCCARTHY @DailyWildcat

Nothing excites students quite like game day — basketball game day, that is. The prospect of an evening spent in McKale Center cheering on head coach Sean Miller’s men’s basketball team is the definition of an ideal night to many.

“The student section is super lively. They’ll be cheering and jumping up and down,” said student Carly Connell.

Connell, who often works concessions at the games, noted that she can often clearly hear the ZonaZoo from all the way across the stadium.

One of the main differentiating characteristics between the Wildcats and their various opponents is the combination of the incredible fan section, the ZonaZoo, and the UA Pep Band. The award-winning student fan section and the Pep Band make the entire game experience much more exciting and interactive for students. “[The excitement of the students] energizes the rest of the community," Connell said. "The band plays a big part in promoting that excitement."

For many students, the Pep Band — a smaller selection of band members from the Pride of Arizona band — and its ability to create hype throughout the game are what make the basketball experience enjoyable and memorable.

“We aim to constantly lead cheers to support our team and energize the crowd. When it’s our time to play, we strive to play rousing tunes to get the crowd on their feet,” said Pep Band member Andrew Morton.

Morton is currently in his fourth year of membership in the Pride of Arizona band and is one of the two alto saxophone section leaders.

Throughout the game, the Pep Band strives to excite the crowd in whatever ways they can, whether that means coordinating their music with the cheer team or having a broad selection of songs ready to be played at any given moment.

“We play a wide variety of music from funky songs to today’s top hits,” Morton said. “The band works to do whatever is needed to get the crowd as engaged and involved in the game as possible.”

However, this readiness and adaptability that the Pep Band

must exhibit comes with a lot of hard work behind the scenes, as most performances do. The Pride of Arizona practices for 11-and-a-half hours every week, and the Pep Band practices for an additional two hours every week.

“We constantly put music first.," Morton said. "We believe that excellence is a habit, and we demonstrate that through our music."

Granted, it’s a lot easier to get the student section pumped up about such a winning team as the men’s basketball team, but it’s a major feat nonetheless. The general craze surrounding the games, especially the home games, and the competition to even get tickets speak to what unique and memorable experiences these games are.

“I think since our basketball team is really good, students like to go [to so many of the games] because they like to see our school succeed," Connell said. "The games are more often than football games, too. It’s just nice to see us win all the time."

While the band performs at other sporting events, such as football games, the enthusiasm they bring into McKale Center throughout the men’s basketball season is second to none.

The Daily Wildcat • A15

Men's Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

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BY IAN TISDALE @iantisdl

If there’s one thing we know for sure amid all the uncertainty coming into the 2017–2018 season, it’s that McKale Center will be loud.

In large part, that’s thanks to the University of Arizona’s incessant, deafening section that sits behind the hoop on the left side of the court, the ZonaZoo. With a membership of 12,000 to support, the student section has made McKale Center a living nightmare for visiting teams, and the court has the track record to show for it.

In 2015, the Wildcats had the longest home winning streak in the nation, 52 games won by an average margin of 22 points, all on the floor in McKale Center. The streak ended Feb. 7 in a disappointing 75-83 loss against Oregon.

Since then, however, the Wildcats have won all but one of their games in McKale Center, beating 24 out of 25 opponents they’ve faced since Oregon in 2015. They’ve even brought the house to away games, supposedly outnumbering fans at other stadiums during the regular season around the Pac-12.

Last season, after beating UCLA in Las Vegas, promptly named ‘McKale North,’ Allonzo Trier commented on the mobile ZonaZoo. “It’s a great boost for us,” Trier said. “We’re very appreciative of our fan base, how much they support us and the energy they bring us.”

Arizona fans showed up in four figures at every away game last season save three

— Washington State, Oregon State and Hawaii.

The players both on the home and away sidelines undoubtedly respond to the energy that the ZonaZoo brings. Most notably last year, ASU player Torian Graham flashed a double middle finger at the student section and was met with a positive response from the crowd.

Allegations of racial slurs were delivered by Graham, but after an internal investigation by the UA, evidence of such slurs were not found.

The Wildcats went on to win the game 9175 and departed the Sun Devils, with a “Bye Bye Bobby” chant in unison.

“The biggest thing the ZonaZoo provides is energy. The student section gives us that spark, that extra step for us to play better at home,” said David Bagga, a walk-on from the 2013 squad. "The ZonaZoo is as loud or louder than any other school’s student section where we played.”

McKale Center has reached higher average home attendance than any other stadium in the Pac 12, in thanks largely to the unwavering support of the ZonaZoo. Students often camp out nights in advance to secure tickets during the regular season, showing immense dedication in backing the basketball squad.

Next season brings a lot of extraneous variables into the mix, with injuries and investigations, but the ravenous ZonaZoo will still be there for UA basketball, no matter what happens.

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A16 • The Daily Wildcat

Men's Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

FAN EXPERIENCE

Phyllis Goodman is no rookie

BY CORY KENNEDY @corykennedy_DW

On game day, McKale Center opens its doors for fans to witness Arizona men's basketball up close and personal. Athletes soaring well above the rim, bright lights and rockin’ music from the band make for an entertaining game experience. However, maybe the most significant entertainment occurs off the court.

That off-court excitement comes from long-time season ticket holder Phyllis Goodman.

Goodman lights up Mckale center with her personality and continues her energy 31 years later. Season after season Goodman stands up from her chair in pure joy to cheer on her team. Goodman, although a fan, offers much more than her loyalty to Arizona basketball.

“Phyllis gives the crowd that added energy that might be lacking, and she brings life to McKale at any point when the camera pans to her," said Brian Goldstein, executive director of ZonaZoo. "Everyone recognizes her and she shows that Wildcat spirit throughout the whole game. She is always standing and cheering no matter what the score is, she is a die hard fan and it is obvious seeing her every game of every season."

By dancing her way through a media timeout, Goodman single-handedly warms the arena with her character. Wideeyed, dressed in red and blue and full of energy, Goodman shows the crowd her moves and passion for the sport.

The on-court cameraman notices Goodman dancing and displays a live image of her on the jumbotron for the rest of the crowd to see. Immediately, the crowd erupts.

“I love music, and I love when I can just kinda move to the music,” Goodman said. “If they’re playing, I’m up moving to the music without even thinking about it. It’s been exciting because when I come up on the jumbotron, which half the time I don’t even know, the roar of the crowd it’s

SIMON ASHER/THE DAILY WILDCAT

PHYLLIS GOODMAN CHEERS AS UA men's basketball scores against ASU on Jan. 12.

like ‘oh my god, it’s me!’”

Arizona had its first exhibition home game against Eastern New Mexico University Tuesday night and sure enough Goodman was there at her regular seat. Goodman can be easily spotted in her her signature red long sleeve Arizona shirt and blue beanie.

“I’ve had it [blue beanie] forever, Goodman said. “I have no idea where I got it, when I got. All I know is I have it and nobody is going to take that hat from me, it's my prize possession. I wouldn’t ever not wear it. What I start out wearing it may be different, but if we’re winning, I’ll wear the same thing until something changes. But the hat is always.”

As junior guard Allonzo Trier hit a 3-point shot from the corner, Phyllis flies out of her seat as if it was her first

time seeing the ‘Cats in action.

Fans walk by and wave at her making her almost as popular as the players and coaches on the court.

“I have a lot of energy,” Goodman said. “I do normally have a lot of energy," "My preference would be never to sit down so I would do better in the student section because they are always standing up."

Goodman has been a season ticket holder for over thirty years. She recalls attending UA games with her father after moving to Tucson in the '40s.

Goodman and her husband attended the UA along with her two sons and a few of her grandkids, so the love for the UA has spread throughout her family.

For Goodman, age is just a number. She is 84, and that hasn’t stopped her one bit.

The energy she displays continued in the 2017-2018 season against Eastern New Mexico. It was 47-31 at halftime with Arizona up. While most fans during the halftime break left their seats to get food, were relaxing in their chairs or checking their phones, Goodman was clapping along to the beat of the band playing “Happy” by Pharell Williams and, as always, standing up.

“Phyllis is older than most of the fans in McKale, but she possesses the same energy as all age groups,” Goldstein said.

“There is no barrier. It shows that whether the fans are little kids, or of the older crowd, we can all love our team and the spirit of this university and that is what matters most, pride and mutual affection for the Arizona Wildcats year after year.”

Goodman’s energy competes

with the ZonaZoo. Just like students in the ZonaZoo stand during most of the game, Goodman does the same.

During Tuesday’s exhibition game there were a few times when Goodman was the only one standing in her entire section.

Goodman heads into her 32nd season as a season ticket holder with what seems like more excitement than ever.

Even though she can’t meet everyone at Mckale Center, anyone who has been to a game knows about her and her warm personality.

“Arizona men’s basketball is great, they’re wonderful and I hope they keep getting better and better,” Goodman said.

“Maybe we have a shot at a National Championship, if we don’t I’m still not going to give up my tickets ever.”

Men's Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

The Daily Wildcat • A17

30 years since UA's first Final Four

BY MAX COHEN @maxcohen_dw

Lute Olson made his first men’s Final Four appearance in the spring of 1988. The tournament was the Wildcats’ first time playing in the national semifinal game. Sean Miller, today’s University of Arizona men’s basketball head coach, intends to reach his first Final Four exactly 30 years later.

The 1988 Wildcats had high expectations going into the season, though nowhere near as high as Miller’s squad does for the 2018 season. Arizona finished second in the Pac-10 in 1987, but was then knocked out of the inaugural Pac-10 men’s basketball tournament in the Wildcats’ first game, with a 72-63 loss to the No. 7 Oregon Ducks in the second round, after a bye in the first round. Arizona then limped into the tournament as a 10 seed and fell in the first game to UTEP. In 1988, the ‘Cats returned several key players and welcomed back star guard Steve Kerr, who missing the season prior with a knee injury. Olson stocked his bench with depth and encouraged competition over playing time within the team.

“Sometimes experienced teams tend to ease through the early practices. With our competition within the team, people can’t do that or they will lose their positions,” Olson stated in the 1987–1988 Media Guide.

The Wildcats took the NCAA by storm after their disappointing end to the previous season. Arizona lost a single game in Pac-10 play, and three over the course of the entire season. The ‘Cats then wiped the floor with the competition in the conference tournament and entered March Madness as No.1.

Arizona made quick work of the West Region, winning by an average margin of 26.75. Arizona beat legendary head coach Dean Smith and first team All-

American J.R. Reid and the North Carolina Tar Heels 70-52 in the Elite Eight.

Unfortunately, the ride ended there. Arizona lost to the Southern Region No. 1 seed and eventual national runners up, the Oklahoma Sooners, who featured Big-Eight Conference Player of the Year Stacey King, in the Final Four.

Arizona enters the upcoming basketball season with similar expectations. The Wildcats felt they had a great chance to win the Pac-10 in 1988. The Pac-12 media has tabbed Arizona as the preseason favorite to win the conference. However, Miller’s team has much higher aspirations than simply the conference.

Much like the 1987–88 ‘Cats, the current team is returning many key players. Also like the ‘87-’88 team, those returners’ last game was a disappointing loss early in the NCAA tournament.

And the current Arizona team has just as much, if not more, competition for playing time as the team did 30 years ago.

Thirty years ago, Arizona was very deep at the point guard position, led by experienced, pass-first senior Steve Kerr. Kerr led Arizona to its first Final Four, led the country in threepointers made, is Arizona’s all time three-point percentage leader and has as many NBA Championship rings as a player as Kobe Bryant. Kerr has led the Golden State Warriors to two championships in three years as head coach. Parker JacksonCartwright has very large shoes to fill to match up with Kerr.

The similarities between the two teams are there. Can Miller reach his first Final Four 30 years after the Silver Hair Fox reached his first? Only time will tell.

ARIZONA ATHLETICS

SEAN ELLIOTT LED THE Wildcats to their first Final Four in the '87-'88 season and was selected as Pac-10 Player of the Year.

A18 • The Daily Wildcat

Men's Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

‘88 Final Four team: Where are they now?

BY RACHEL HUSTON @mirachelonice

— While on the Arizona men's basketball team, Steve Kerr was one of the greatest guards in program history, and he continues to Steve Kerr: beTHEN a beacon of pride for the University of Arizona. After being drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1988 and getting traded around, he signed with the Chicago Bulls in 1993 and proceeded to win three titles with the team. He was later traded to San Antonio, where he won two more championships.

NOW — Since his retirement, Kerr has had his hand in several aspects of the game. Kerr has been a TV analyst featured on various 2K games, as well as working as a general manager and now as a head coach. Since 2014, he has been the head coach for the Golden State Warriors and is a key part to the team winning two championships in three years.

THEN — Sean Elliott, the Tucson local hailing from Cholla High School, was a small forward with Arizona men's basketball. Elliott Sean Elliott: was instrumental in making the Wildcats what they are today achieving multiple accolades during his time in McKale Center, including being named a two-time All-American, the 1989 John R. Wooden Award winner, the 1989 Adolph Rupp Trophy, the 1989 NABC Player of the Year, 1989 AP Player of the Year and two-time Pac-12 Player of the Year (1988–1989). After graduating, he was drafted third overall in the 1989 draft by the San Antonio Spurs. Elliott made history in 2000 by becoming the first ever NBA player to return to their sport after a kidney transplant.

NOW — After retiring from professional basketball in 2001, Elliott has turned to the world of sports journalism and is a TV analyst for the Spurs at Fox Sports Southwest.

Tom Tolbert:

STEVE KERR

THEN — The 6-foot-7 forward played two years at UC Irvine before transferring to Arizona in 1986 and playing for two seasons.

Tom Tolbert played only eight games in his two years as an Antelope, but went on to play a total of 68 with the Wildcats. He averaged 13.9 and 14.1 points per game while at Arizona.

NOW — Tolbert is a part of a Bay Area radio show but recently took some time off due to an emergency surgery for his heart. Tolbert mentioned on his show that his wife rushed him to the hospital late one night, and he was operated on due to a thoracic aortic aneurysm. Tolbert returned to the air on Oct. 12. Besides his radio show, Tolbert is also a part of the Golden State Warriors' broadcasting team and does color commentary for the radio broadcast.

Harvey Mason Jr.:

THEN — Harvey Mason Jr. was an Arizona guard from the Boston area with a musical background. Mason left the team after four years and began working in the music industry. Mason worked as both a songwriter and producer and worked with names like Destiny’s Child, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.

NOW — Mason is still pursuing music but has also focused some of his attention on films. In 2008, he launched his own company, Harvey Mason Media, which is an umbrella for all of his multi-media works. In terms of music, he worked with popular early-2000s artists like Chris Brown and Britney Spears and was a mentor on both “American Idol” and “The X Factor.” His company also produced a successful documentary called “More than a Game” about LeBron James and his teammates in high school and their rise to fame.

THEN — Anthony Cook was a 6-foot-9 forward for Arizona men's basketball for four years. He averaged under 10 Anthony Cook: points per game in his first two seasons but jumped up to 13.9 and 17.5 as a junior and senior. Cook went on to play in the NBA, where he played with the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers. He was rather unlucky with injuries, which limited his NBA career to just four years.

NOW— It is unknown what his status is today.

— Craig McMillan was a senior guard when Arizona men's basketball made it to the Final Four. He was Craig McMillan: aTHEN star, and Fox Sports cites his layup to give Arizona the OT win over Oregon State as one of the best finishes in Arizona basketball history. Steve Kerr was interviewed by the Tucson Citizen about the play and called McMillan “Mr. Clutch.”

NOW — With his dad being a basketball coach, it was no surprise that McMillan made an easy transition from player to coach. He was an assistant coach for a couple college teams in the U.S., but he became a head coach for the first time overseas. He coached in Kuwait for three years, and then in Lebanon for one. He came back to the U.S. to coach at Santa Rosa Junior College, a community college in California. McMillan mentioned to the college’s student newspaper that his players are excelling both on and off the court, which is very important to him. His team, the Bear Cubs, were ranked high in its conference last season.

HARVEY MASON JR.

Ken Lofton:

THEN — Kenny Lofton was an Arizona Wildcat for four years, all of which he spent on the basketball team, along with two on the baseball team. In his time with the Wildcats, he set a record for most career steals. Lofton went on to play professional baseball for 11 different teams throughout 17 seasons — most notably the Cleveland Indians. He played with the Indians for nine and a half years.

NOW — In 2010, three years after his final MLB game, Lofton was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame. Now, Lofton focuses on film endeavors after starting his own film company, FilmPool Inc. THEN — The 6-foot-6 guard was present for the ‘88 Final Four run but had his best seasons the two years Jud Buechler: following the run. Besides playing on the Arizona basketball team, Buechler was also a volleyball player and was

named an All-American in the sport.

NOW — Just before the start of the 2016–2017 NBA season, Buechler was named an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers. Before that, the Lakers wrote that Buechler left basketball and spent almost all his time focusing on his two daughters and coaching their sports. But now that both his daughters are in college, he’s decided to become an NBA assistant coach.

THEN — Joe Turner played at Arizona as a forward for four years, from 1984-88. His best season was his last; in ‘88 he had 3.9 points per game in 38 games.

NOW — Most of the talk about Turner is regarding one of his five kids, Jade. Jade is a redshirt junior for the Wildcats volleyball team. In an interview with the Daily Wildcat last season, she said her dad was a big reason for her being a Wildcat and being where she is now.

“My father is my biggest inspiration,” Jade said.

Joe Turner:

THEN — Matt Muehlebach was a freshman guard during the Final Four appearance. That year he Matt Muehlebach: averaged just 1.5 points per game, but that would rise to 11.3 his junior year.

NOW — Muehlebach did not pursue a professional basketball career and instead graduated with a law degree from the UA. For years he was part of a firm in Tucson, but recently became part of the 5Lights Group, a company that helps entrepreneurs. The company’s website describes Muehlebach’s duties as, “... managing, supporting and effecting all legal functions and matters within 5Lights and across portfolio companies and private equity investment activities.” Muehlebach is also an analyst on the Pac-12 Networks basketball coverage.

KEN LOFTON

The Daily Wildcat • A19

Men's Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017

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ARIZONA MEN'S BASKETBALL HEAD coach Sean Miller reacts to a call during the team's Sweet 16 matchup against Xavier on March 23.

ZONED OUT FROM PAGE A7

penetration to kickout, doesn’t allow for a tremendous amount of space. Thus, players can recover to perimeter shooters a little easier in Miller’s system.

Last year, teams were able to guard multiple players without a lot of movement while playing zone far too often. A center who could score down-low effectively and consistently could change that.

I will get to how Deandre Ayton will impact Arizona in this regard in a minute.

Lack of perimeter scoring This article isn’t simply about Markkanen and his play in the Xavier Sweet 16 game. It is much more than that, in terms of lack of zone offense efficiency. The Wildcats were unstoppable in last year’s Pac-12 tournament due to outside shooting. Arizona shot over 46 percent from three on their way to the title. Accompany that with a field goal percentage just under 50 percent and you have a balanced offense without the presence of a dominant low post.

That wasn’t the case for a majority of this season, and certainly not in the NCAA Tournament. For the entirety of the year, Arizona hovered at 25 percent of its points coming from three, which ranked 283rd out of 350 Division one basketball programs according to kenpom. com. Kentucky and North Carolina were the only teams to have a lower ranking in last years’ Sweet 16. In the last four years, Miller’s teams have been ranked near the bottom of total distribution of points via the three ranking, with no better than 283 a season ago, and as low as 338 in 2015. Each Final Four representative had more of a percentage of their points coming from three than Arizona with the exception of UNC. However, the Tar Heels were among the best in the country in terms of field goal distribution and points down low. It’s not the entire picture, but it’s a part.

With the additions of Brandon Randolph and

Dylan Smith, along with a full season of Allonzo Trier, the Wildcats should improve in that category. Not to mention the output difference Deandre Ayton will make.

Tempo Sean Miller doesn’t like to speed things up.

He never has, but there is something to be said about a seven-footer stealing the ball on the wing, then going coast-to-coast for the dunk.

Deandre Ayton is a tempo-forcer if there ever was one in college basketball, and Miller will undoubtedly take advantage of that.

Time will tell, but Ayton is unlike any player that has come into the fray at Arizona. His size, athleticism and intelligence are unmatched as witnessed in the Wildcats’ two exhibition games this season. His efficiency alone will make the Wildcats a Kenpom dream come March.

Because of Ayton’s ability to score in the post, Arizona will see more double-teams even when the opposition goes zone. This will free up driving lanes and outside shots. For the Wildcats to reach the Final Four, look for shooting percentages from Parker JacksonCartwright, Trier, Randolph and Smith to be in the 40-45 range.

Lorenzo Romar should help as well. It may not be a style overhaul, but Romar’s influence will come at the offensive end. At the very least, he’ll be able to provide a nugget or two to modify a dying offense, if it should happen in a game. You can also see Romar’s influence with the offense in terms of movement already. Especially on dive cuts to the basket, due to Ayton’s passing ability.

Sean Miller Ultimately, it is up to Sean Miller to find a way for his players to excel against a glaring Achilles’ heel. He hasn’t been able to do so, but he acknowledges that modifications have to be made. The Wildcats will ride or die with two things this season. Efficiency in the post and their ability to hit the three, the keys to new-age basketball. With Trier and Ayton, the Wildcats should be off to as strong a start as ever under Miller.

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Men’s Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 8, 2017