The official start of the 2017-18 Arizona Basketball season is only a few months away and there is plenty to be excited about.
Life is good! From the end of the 2016-17 season untill now, many exciting things have happened within the Arizona Basketball program. Lauri Markkanen and Kadeem Allen got drafted into the NBA, Kobi Simmons signed to a two-way contact, Allonzo Trier decided to stay another year, and Rawle Alkins came back to play another season too.
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Then if that wasn’t enough, Coach Sean Miller was able to recruit an incredible incoming freshman class this year, headlined by DeAndre Ayton!
Time flies when you are having fun! The 2017-18 season starts within a few months and expectations are high.
Wildcat fans can’t wait to see happens this year and will get an early preview with the exhibition games in Spain:
Arizona Basketball: How to watch the Spain Exhibition games, Miller talks about trip and gameshttps://t.co/CjxQdhiisW pic.twitter.com/HzSpTfMWtq
— ZonaZealotsFS (@ZonaZealots) August 13, 2017
There are three things to be excited about this year, in addition to the highly talented incoming freshman class, are: the return of Trier and Alkins, Lorenzo Romar as the new associate head coach, and the hunger to get Coach Miller that ring.
No.3 Return of Allonzo Trier and Rawle Alkins
With Trier staying for his junior season and Alkins deciding to return for his sophomore year, the Wildcats retain key leadership and experience. Trier and Alkins on the floor together will be quite the duo for opponents to try to handle due to the versatility of positions each can play.
They both bring that desire to win and do whatever it takes to make that happen. Both have been through a lot in their careers at Arizona and have a very good understanding of what Coach Miller expects from them.
This past season Trier and Alkins provided Wildcat fans with some exciting moments.
Trier going coast to coast with five seconds left to end the half:?
Alkins with the one hand slam against ASU:
No.2 Lorenzo Romar hired as new associate head coach
There were big shoes to fill once associate head coach Joe Pasternick, who was with the Cats since 2011, took a head coach position with UCSB. Those shoes were filled by Lorenzo Romar – former head coach for the University of Washington for the last 15 years.
The accolades and win-loss record speak for themselves. He finished with an overall record of 298-196, had won multiple Pac-12 Coach of the Years awards, back to back Pac-12 tournament wins – the list goes on and on! Romar also recruited some amazing talent, including the latest No.1 draft pick in the 2017 NBA Draft Markelle Fultz.
Romar brings experience and knowledge to the Wildcat basketball program. Coach Miller and Romar on the sideline together. How can you not get excited?
Join us in welcoming Coach Lorenzo Romar to the #APlayersProgram coaching staff. pic.twitter.com/ZBQOXGcBtW
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) April 15, 2017
No.1 Hunger to get that ring
After a Sweet 16 loss in the 2016 NCAA Tournament, the players felt they let their coach and themselves down. No one likes to lose, especially our Wildcats. Everyone wanted to get that ring, especially for Coach Miller. He is one of the few coaches left that hasn’t yet overcome that the Final Four hurdle. Alkins and Trier specifically were torn up by the loss in the NCAA Tourney last season and both have said they wanted a chance to rectify their record.
Coach Miller has taken the Cats to the Elite Eight three times, but has not made it to the Final Four. He has accomplished a lot during his tenure as coach for the Wildcats, but if there was anyone who deserved a trip to the Final Four and a ring it would be coach Miller – time to cut those nets down!
Ira Lee and Ayton feel the same way:
https://twitter.com/SportsCrazee/status/889939406718550017
https://twitter.com/RealDeandreAy/status/888576708541952000
Must Read: More on Arizona Basketball
It won’t be long before Wildcat fans will get to enjoy all of these exciting moments! This will be one of those special seasons that will go down in the record books. Zona Zealots is excited to be part of the ride!