Top 5 Questions Heading Into the 2015 Basketball Season

5. Will Kaleb Tarczewski rise to the occasion and be the center/forward we all know he can be or we expect him to be?

March 14, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) is introduced before the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference tournament against the Oregon Ducks at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Wildcats defeated the Ducks 80-52. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Kaleb Tarczewski had a pretty good season in 2015 and helped his team to get to the Elite Eight, win the Pac-12 Tournament, and the Pac-12 regular season title.  The consensus from most sports writers and fans is that a lot more was expected of Kaleb than he delivered.

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I would argue that Zews is a victim of referees especially the Pac-12 referee’s. There is just something about how he moves, how he plays, the way he backs up to the basket that sets off the referee’s to call an inordinate amount of fouls. He almost always looked completely bewildered when fouls were called as we all were, what the heck did he do? The travelling calls just killed the Wildcats..I didn’t see the traveling, looked textbook, but the refs in most games called him on it.

Maybe he just suffers from being one of a few seven footers in the NCAA, so there is maybe an assumption that he fouls more, like most big men.

It became painfully obvious during the NCAA tournament and mostly in the Sweet Sixteen game against Xavier where Kaleb scored a double-double or 12 points and 12 rebounds. In that game, both Kaleb and Matt Stainbrook committed four fouls, but it wasn’t the fouls which were the issue for me, it was when the calls were made.

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

According to the referees, the 6’10” 263 pound center Stainbrook hadn’t fouled anyone until 6:18 was left in the game. It was after that first foul that three more fouls were called on him very quickly which was odd.

In contrast, for Kaleb, his first foul was called eight minutes into the game and racked up four fouls with 16+ minutes left in the game. It makes it hard to keep Kaleb in the game when he has numerous early fouls. That results in less confidence and difficulty getting a rhythm going along with hindering his ability to be affective.

I think this is why sometimes Kaleb plays a little timid, but it is misunderstood. He wants to be on the floor so badly, he is afraid to be called for fouls early in the game.  Hopefully the coaches will help him figure out why this happens to him more than most and it will be fixed this season.

We were all happy that Zews decided to stay in school and be the first scholarship basketball player to earn an Eller Business degree. He will also have a chance to have a “Frank Kaminsky” type season. After all Frank took his time over four years to make his mark, and he admits staying is school was the best thing for his career.

This is Kalebs “now or never” season and he is working hard this summer by participating in the Nike Basketball Academy. Miles Simon recently met up with Kaleb who is donning a jersey with his Arizona Wildcats number 35.

According to the Nike Website, the academy is “Comprised of some of the best high school athletes and select college basketball players..The Academy will be a tailor-made experience for guards, wings and bigs all under one roof..will allow the best players in the country (both high school and college) to compete against the best competition while receiving guidance from Nike Basketball’s biggest stars; LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis to name a few.”

I feel pretty positive about Kaleb’s chances to learn and grow into the NBA Center we know he can become, if he can improve his technique and avoid the referee’s whistle early in games as much as possible.

Next: 4. Who will take over as Floor General for T.J. McConnell?