Arizona Basketball: Wildcats 2017-18 season in review

The 2017-18 basketball season for the Arizona Wildcats season was one not to be forgotten. Let’s take a look back and see how it all unfolded.

Heading into this season, the Arizona Basketball team had high expectations. They had one of the best players in college basketball joining their team, Deandre Ayton, they had two experience seniors returning in Dusan Ristic and Parker Jackson-Cartwright. They had Allonzo Trier and Rawle Alkins coming back to play another year. They were pre-season ranked No.3 and deservingly so!

Besides these five, who would make up the starting line up for most of the season, they had a solid bench in Keanu Pinder, Brandon Randolph, Dylan Smith, Ira Lee and Alex Barcello . The combination of having experienced returners and high talented incoming freshman gave this team lots of options. Even though the bench did not get a lot of playing time this season, when they were called upon they delivered. Just wish they were called upon more!

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Prior to the start of non-conference play, Coach Sean Miller and his team played two exhibition games in Spain. They won of course, but it was more about an opportunity for the team to bond and get used to playing with one another

Even before non-conference season began, the heart and soul of this team Alkins would be out nine games due to a right broken foot. He would end up returning against a home game against Alabama.

In the first three games of the season, they easily won. As a team, they averaged 98.3 points per game and average margin of victory was 30.3 points. One of those wins was against UMBC 103-78, who as a No.16 seed just had an historic victory against the No.1 seed Virginia Cavaliers in the NCAA Tournament.

Then the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas happened. The Wildcats were dismantled. They lost three straight games against top quality NCAA Tournament teams: NC State, SMU and Purdue. Their weakness in defense was exposed and confidence on the offensive end was diminished.

Many thought this was the end for the Wildcats, oh boy would they be wrong. They defined what it meant to bear down after visiting the Bahamas winning nine straight, including two wins against top 10 opponents, No. 7 ranked Texas A&M and (at the time) undefeated No.3 ranked Arizona State Sun Devils.

In Pac-12 conference play, the Wildcats finished 14-4, outright winning the Pac-12 regular season and then went on to beating USC for the Pac-12 Conference Tournament Championship. For their efforts, they were rewarded with a first round matchup as the No.4 seed in the South Region against the No.13 seed Buffalo Bulls.

As has been a common theme all throughout the season, the Wildcats all around defense was exposed, letting the Bulls have wide open three point shots and easy lay ups. The effort and desire to win was not their either, resulting in a 89-68 defeat in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

This team faced a lot of adversity and distractions this season and should be proud of what they accomplished. From the Book Richardson investigation, to the allegations around Sean Miller and Ayton, it became Arizona vs Everyone else. Many people forget these are just young men and how they handled themselves throughout should be commended.

https://twitter.com/APlayersProgram/status/972749644043206656

The Wildcats finished with an overall record of 27-8. For the season, they averaged 81 points per game, 36 rebound per game, 16 assists per game, five steals per game and five blocks per game. They had three players, Trier, Ayton and Ristic earn Pac-12 Player of the Week Honors. They dominated the All-Conference awards, with Ayton earning Pac-12 Player and Freshman of the Year!

Let’s not all forget two Wildcat basketball records that were set this season as well. Ristic became the all-time winningest player in program history and Ayton set a single season Wildcat record with the most double-doubles.

The highlight of the season though has to be this dunk by The King, Rawle Alkins, in the Pac-12 Tournament Championship game against USC. MY GOODNESS!!!!

Must Read: Arizona Basketball: Postgame thoughts after 2018 NCAA Tourney loss in Round 1

At Zona Zealots, we are extremely proud of what the Wildcats accomplished this season. They faced adversity head on and proved a lot people wrong. Yes, they loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but that should not take away from all the great things they did this year.  We would like to wish all seniors and those leaving much success in the next chapter of their basketball careers.  Can’t wait to see what next season brings. Bear Down Arizona, Bear Down!