SAN FRANCISCO, CA – As part of the annual, Pac-12 Media Day, perhaps the most shocking news of the day was Arizona Basketball being picked to finish fourth.
We’re getting closer and closer to the start of the 2019 Arizona Basketball season, and as the Pac-12 member’s took part in the annual, Pac-12 Media Day on Tuesday, we got a preview of the upcoming season.
Taking part in the festivities were of course all the member schools, represented by the head coaches and two players from each school. For Arizona, the Wildcats were represented by Sean Miller, Nico Mannion and Josh Green.
Arizona Wildcats
With all the hubbub, it was nonetheless a busy day of basketball action in Northern California, and it was an especially busy day for Miller and his Wildcats.
Dominating the a lot of the talking points were of course Arizona’s stellar recruiting class, highlighted by the talented freshmen in attendance for the Cats and reasonable expectations for the upcoming season.
However, perhaps the biggest take away from the day as Arizona fans, is the Wildcats being picked to finish fourth in the conferences’ preseason standings/ rankings. Fair? Unfair? You be the judge!
Can’t say I really know the factor in why the media and coaches voted the way they did, but nonetheless the prediction came as shocking.
For starters, I understand Arizona returns after finishing 17-15 (8-10) the previous season, and maybe the uncharacteristic finish is reason for the doubt, but recall last season is likely the anomaly, and the Wildcats will should have a supremely talented group this season.
Also, it’s not as if Miller forgot how to coach. He has two players who are likely Top 20 picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, and also returns some key players like; Chase Jeter, Devonaire Doutrive and Ira Lee among others.
Picked to finish ahead of the Cats are; Oregon (No. 1), Colorado (No. 2), Washington (No. 3), followed by Arizona and then USC.
. @UW_MBB picked to finish 3rd in Pac-12 preseason men's basketball poll.
— Tim Booth (@ByTimBooth) October 8, 2019
Oregon picked to finish first, Colorado second. pic.twitter.com/gUDVmvhuQz
Listen to head coach Sean Miller talk about his team heading into the 2019-20 season!
At Zona Zealots, we’re excited for the return of Arizona Basketball and hope the Wildcats can prove the doubters wrong! As always, Bear Down, Arizona!