Top 5 Questions Heading Into the 2015 Basketball Season

3. Will the gamble on experienced players joining the Wildcats next season be the ingredient needed to help reach the final four?

Mar 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) is looked at after suffering an injury against Wisconsin Badgers during the second half in the finals of the west regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

I actually like the strategy of having more experienced players on the roster this season. The one-and-done freshman are fantastic, but a lot of work for the coaching staff; coaches are helping a boy become a man in one season. It was very obvious watching the molding of Stanley Johnson.

Stanely started as a Kobe Bryant type player; attempting to take the team on his shoulders and deciding not to pass the ball, falling short. His teammates and coaches implored him to keep his composure when opponents trash talked him, holding him back from reacting.

By the end of the season, Johnson was holding Coach Miller back from the referees, physically, you knew right then that the coaches had done their job.

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Arizona added three key experienced players for next season:

Kadeem Allen – 2014 JUCO Player of the Year Transfer who sat on the bench and practiced with the Elite Eight team all last season, so he got a huge taste of what it will be like. Kadeem red-shirted last season.

Ryan Anderson – Experienced Senior transfer from Boston College who is 23 years old and mature. Ryan is 6’9″ and 230 pounds last reported.  He is fully healed from a shoulder injury and was forced to red-shirt last season. He’s ready to play.

Mark Tollefson – Mark was the last announcement made by A Players Program. Mark is a three-point shooter and graduate of the University of San Fransisco. Mark was very happy to be able to come play for Sean Miller and the Arizona Wildcats.  A 6’9″ Center, Mark will be challenging returners Kaleb Tarczewski and Dusan Ristic.

Wisconsin proved last year that experience can take you just as far or farther than a bunch of wildly talented freshman planning on taking their talents to the NBA post season.

I think the team will do well this year, not sure they will make the Final Four, but believe they have a shot as long as the team is coached by Sean Miller.

Next: 2. Will our four freshman fit well quickly into Coach Sean Miller's system?