Arizona Basketball: New season, new roster, new expectations

The 2018-19 Arizona Wildcat basketball season is right around corner with a completely different look and set of expectations.

Players leaving, new players coming in and new expectations for the upcoming season. Year after year, no matter whether it was under Lute Olson or Sean Miller, the Arizona Wildcat basketball program goes through changes and with those changes come a set of expectations. The 2018-19 season is no different and if anything is one with many possibilities.

After the loss of five highly talented players in Deandre Ayton, Dusan Ristic, Parker-Jackson Cartwright, Allonzo Trier, and Rawle Alkins, Coach Miller had his work cut off for him. But for anyone who has been following this program knows that Miller is a recruiting machine and does what it takes to find highly talented players that fit into his system. Let’s be real though, trying to find that same level of talent from last years starting five was difficult, even for the mastermind that Miller has become while at Arizona.

Since the last season ended, Miller’s hard work has paid off. He now has a solid roster, made up of new incoming freshman, returners, and transfers. This team doesn’t have the size they did last season, but what they lack in size they gain in the backcourt. The tallest player they have is in 6 foot 10 transfer from Duke Chase Jeter, who the Wildcats will heavily depend on to produce points in the paint.

The Wildcats have at 11 players that have a legitimate chance of all receiving playing time. Outside of those 11, there are four walk-ons including Jake Desjardins who recently this past offseason was awarded a scholarship by Coach Miller.

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Because of the number of point guards and shooting guards on this roster, seeing a three point guard lineup is very well a possibility. This type of line up could open up the opportunity for players to get good looks at the rim.

Two players that will have high expectations to make an immediate impact are Brandon Williams and Jeter. Both players complement each other very well. Williams can handle the ball, drive the ball, shoot the ball and pass the ball with lots of confidence. Jeter is comfortable around the rim and has good positioning on both ends of the floor. Wouldn’t surprise me if you saw Miller draw up a lot of high screens for Jeter and Williams.

Experience is another element that Miller has this season. Transfers Justin Coleman and Ryan Luther (who just won the 10th Warrior Belt) played a combined 187 college basketball games and understand what it takes to compete on the college level. Their experience, combined with the freshman and sophomore on this roster, will give Miller many options to choose from. Let’s not forget Omar Thielemans from Belgium who has experience of playing overseas.

Returnees, Brandon Randolph, Emmanuel Akot, Ira Lee, Alex Barcello, didn’t get much playing time to prove their worth last season, but this season they will have plenty of opportunities to do so. They all have one year of playing under Miller and understand his system that much better. They also know what it’s like playing for Arizona, playing inside McKale Center, playing in those tough non-conference games and they know what it’s like playing on the road. They will be able to share that knowledge and experience to those who haven’t.

The big difference this season from last will be expectations. With the talent they had last season, they were picked by many pre-season to go far and make it into the Final Four. That, of course, did not turn out as Wildcat fans had hope, but that is college basketball for you. This season the expectations aren’t quite as high in my opinion because Arizona doesn’t have that “marquee” five-star incoming freshman or returning talent.

Not having high expectations though can be a very good thing. It means this team won’t have the pressure that recent Wildcat teams have had, but that isn’t to say they aren’t expected to perform well and be atop the Pac-12 conference. That is the tradition and legacy of Wildcat basketball. Whether at home or on the road, wearing that red and blue and /A\ across your chest means the team is going to bring their best, that will never change.

Randolph (Slim) providing his own perspective on Arizona’s expectations this season. Gotta love the confidence!

There are a lot of unknowns this season, which is going to make it for one exciting season, that I know. I have been a Wildcat basketball fan for many years. It’s safe to say that this year will be one of the first where it’s honestly hard to predict what will happen. No matter what happens though, I will always love Wildcat basketball. Bear Down!