The Arizona Wildcat Fans waited and waited to find out where their Zews (Zues), God of Sky and Thunder, Ruler of the Olympians was going to stay in college or declare for the 2015 NBA Draft.
Just as Coach Sean Miller scripted the events of today, our Thunder God announced through ESPN he is staying. The 7-foot, 235-pound center Kaleb Tarc”Zews”ki decided to stay in school, beef up his game and his confidence, crack the final four, raise his value for the 2016 NBA draft, earn a college degree and break some University of Arizona records.
According to Adam Zagoria, “Kaleb Tarczewski projected at No. 46 in 2016 by @DraftExpress after saying he will come back.”
And also today, Mark Tollefsen announced on Twitter that he is transferring from USF or the University of Arizona:
Beardown!!!!!! Ready to get to work with the new squad! #beardown #gocats #23
— Mark Tollefsen (@Air_Tolly23) April 25, 2015
Next years Arizona Basketball team of 14 players seems set, six seniors, one junior, three sophomores and four freshman (^Transfer):
- Sr. Gabe York
- Sr. Kaleb Tarczewski
- Sr. Mark Tollefsen^
- Sr. Ryan Anderson^
- Sr. Jacob Hazzard
- Sr. Kadeem Allen^
- Jr. Elliott Pitts
- So. Dusan Ristic
- So. Parker Jackson-Cartwright
- So. Trey Mason
- Fr. Justin Simon
- Fr. Ray Smith
- Fr. Chance Comanche
- Fr. Allonzo Trier
According to Jeff Goodman, ESPN Insider, it was not a difficult decision for Kaleb to stay in school despite being projected as a possible first-round pick in June. He quoted Tarczewski as saying, “When you take your pride out of it and look at what’s best for me, it wasn’t hard at all, I have an opportunity to be the winningest player here, get my degree and get another year or growth and development. It’s a no-brainer.”
Arizona Wildcats
Jeff also reported that Kaleb would like to be next years team leader which was interesting because I surmised that if he stayed he could do just that. Kaleb is embracing his final year “I’m also excited for the chance to be a leader next season, I also don’t feel as though I’ve played my best basketball. I haven’t proven myself, and this is a great opportunity for me to expand my role.”
As a humongous Arizona Wildcat fan, I am so happy that I get to continue to watch Kaleb play college basketball. This year, I am hoping the Pac-12 refs let him play his game, and that they just stop calling those picky little fouls it seems other players get away with. We also hopefully get the chance to see both Chance Comanche and Kaleb Tarczewski play together, if coach Miller ever plays them together. At the very least, Chance and Dusan will have a fellow big man to guide him. And then there are those fabulous Dunks!
Kaleb Tarczewski will return for his senior year.
— ZonaZoo 🐻⬇️ (@ZonaZooOfficial) April 24, 2015
This means we get more or this. More. Of. This. pic.twitter.com/TYc40YEIz6
When Kaleb discussed he could become Arizona’s winningest player, what he was talking about was breaking Matt Muehlebach‘s record of 117 wins, 64 wins at McKale Center. Per Jason Bartel of AZDesertSwarm.com, “Tarczewski currently has 94 wins, which actually puts him 24 shy of the record as Steve Rivera points out, not 18. Kaleb has also been a part of 49 wins at McKale Center, putting him 15 shy of Muehlebach in that category.”
Mar 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) dunks to score a basket against Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) during the first half in the finals of the west regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Most fans and sports writers/broadcasters I have spoken to all agree that it would be very beneficial for Kaleb to stay another year, his high potential, and his skills at being a student, it would be great for him to add one more year at his favorite school. I believe Coach Miller also wanted and needed him to stay, as he lost three key players already; Brandon Ashley, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and now Stanley Johnson as of yesterday.
Sean Miller shared these thoughts with Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star, “He has been a pillar on all three of the teams he has played. We are excited to have him returning as a leader of our 2015-16 team. I personally look forward to helping him finish his Arizona career in a successful manner both on and off the court.”
Beardown Kaleb, we’re glad your back! This is Arizona’s year with so many seniors on the team who have some wild talent, we cannot wait!
My only beef with the God of Thunder? He doesn’t have an active Twitter account for us to interact with him..Kaleb, please get and use a Twitter account!
Next: Sean Miller was busy in April in the offseason, what was he up to?