Arizona Basketball: Preview of Wildcats and Lumberjacks regular season opener
By David Rosen
The regular season opener is finally here for the Arizona Wildcats basketball team. They will be taking on the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks.
This, this, this, this is Arizona! Arizona Basketball fans the long-awaited time has arrived! The regular season opener is this Friday night against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks. Since the last season ended waaaaay too early, the returners from last season and the highlighted and talented incoming freshman class has something to prove this season.
In many preseason national polls and NCAA Tournament predictions, the Wildcats are picked to be one of the top team out West and in the country. Joe Lunardi, in his way too early NCAA Tournament predictions, has Arizona as the No.1 seed playing UCI (Irvin) in the West. Let’s do this!
In the first two exhibition games, the Wildcats showcased their full array of talent. From DeAndre Ayton dominating down low, to Emmanuel Akot and Allonzo Trier supreme shooting touch from outside, Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Alex Barcello’s court awareness at the point guard position, Ira Lee’s physicality and offensive touch, Brandon Randolph’s offensive and defensive skills, and Dusan Ristic’s turn around hook shots. This team will be a challenge, to say the least for opponents to handle this season!
This is the most exciting time for college basketball! Remember last year when Kadeem Allen scored the winning lay up against Michigan State in the Armed Forces Class in Hawaii in the regular season game opener? That was some excitement!
The Cats won’t be facing the same calibur of talent right off the bat, but they will want to get off to a great start to the season with a statement win and prove to the rest of the country that they are a legit contender for the national championship!
Arizona Wildcats Basketball
Against the Lumberjacks, the Wildcats will have the obvious size advantage down low and scoring threats from all over. The question is, how many times will Ayton be double teamed and find the open man? Answer: A lot!
With Randolph still questionable, we will more than likely see the same starting line up the Wildcats had against Chico State. Wouldn’t be surprised though to see Coach Sean Miller mix things up and try different lineups throughout the game to see what works best. This is the time of the year to do so because when Pac-12 conference play begins, everyone will be looking to take their best shot against the Wildcats!
After 25 practices and two exhibition games, Coach Sean Miller shares his thoughts on his team progress so far after the two exhibition games:
"“Personally, I saw a great jump from game one to game two, all the players that did play were much better. Backs up to what I say they are learning, working harder to be better.”"
Let’s get to know the opponent a little more:
Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks
Last season: The Lumberjacks finished the 2016-17 with an overall record of 9-23 and 6-12 in conference play
Conference: Big Sky Conference
Last matchup: The last time these two teams met the Wildcats STAMPEDED all over the Lumberjacks 92-37. In that game, Ryan Anderson led the team with 18 points and 12 rebounds. The overall head-to-head matchup is 35-0 in favor of the Wildcats – WOW!
Key players: The Lumberjacks loss four of their top scores from last season. This year, similar to the Wildcats, they will have eight new players joining their team. They will though rely on three transfers from high-level Division I schools to provide the experience and offensive production, Malcolm Allen, Gino Littles and Karl Harris.
Other notable facts: The head coach, Jack Murphy, was the Director of Basketball Operations at Arizona in 2006.
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Game Info: Friday, Nov. 10 (McKale Center), 5 pm PST, 6 pm MST, 8 pm EST on the Pac-12 Channel
The road to San Antonio starts Friday night against Northern Arizona. Wildcats fans make sure to be loud and proud and BEAR DOWN as the Wildcat basketball team this season looks to bring home the title!