Arizona Basketball: Is the one-and-done rule good for the Wildcats?

Arizona Basketball, among other teams, has been impacted by the one-and-done rule, but the real question is has it been good for the Wildcats?

Since the one-and-done rule was implemented and started during the 2006 NBA Draft, it has had both a positive and negative impact on Arizona Basketball. It has gone through several revisions since then, but players still have to have at least “one year removed from the graduation of their high school class.” Basically, they have to stay one year in college before testing the waters and deciding to go into the NBA. Fans and the media feel strongly about this rule and we take at both sides of it and try to answer the question: Has the one-and-done rule been a good thing for the Wildcats?

For Arizona Basketball this season, having three of the best freshman in college basketball and projected to be drafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, this rule will be impacting the Wildcats after the season ends. Early on, Sean Miller had a strong feeling that at least Nico Mannion was done after this year.

Many NBA Draft projections have agreed with that.  Early on Mannion was a possible lottery pick and as the season has progressed he has moved down The other two freshmen for Arizona, Josh Green and Zeke Nnaji are also projected to go in the first round.

Recently Nico’s father Pace indicated no decision has actually been made in whether or not his son will for the NBA and will wait until the season ends to decide.

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

This season, this rule has had a significant impact on the team’s overall success. Having to depend on young players with no real college experience, step up during clutch moments, during the non-conference and Pac-12 season, has taken its toll. They’ve done their best, but because winning in college basketball isn’t as easy as it once was, having just the raw natural athleticism won’t guarantee wins.

With these players knowing that they are projected to possibly get picked in the first round of the NBA Draft, it does impact their mindset. Let’s be honest, these players are in tune with social media and NBA Draft Projections. Knowing there is a chance they can play in the NBA next season, does impact their focus on some level when it comes to playing college games.

It’s easy to come to the conclusion that because these elite freshmen are talented enough to play at the next level the decisions they are making are to impress the NBA scouts, not help their team win. Yes, that may be true but because these freshmen are an important part of their team’s success and are heavily relied upon, they are in a position in which they have to take the shot or make the decisions they do.

But when they don’t make the shot or turn the ball over, people tend to blame it on them being “one-and-dones” and not making the smartest decisions. It’s a double-edged sword though. When they make the shot they are heroes and when they don’t it’s because they are a “one-and-done.”

There are more and more talented athletes coming out of high school and AAU basketball. Until the NBA decides to change the one-and-done rule, they will continue to be recruited, play one year and go to the NBA. That’s just facts. Wildcat fans and fans all across the country will have to accept that’s how it is for now.

Because of this rule, teams are having to rely on transfers or those players who decided to stay an extra year or two for experience and leadership. It’s a lot to ask for someone like Mannion, at 18 years old to be the leader of Arizona Basketball. Not to say Mannion doesn’t have it in him, but in order to compete with the best teams in the country having someone at the point guard position with experience helps immensely.

The one-and-done rule also puts pressure on head coaches, like Miller, to have to constantly recruit and replenish each season. Depending on how things play out this season, Miller will have to fill the void with three possible players leaving, two seniors leaving, two transfers and two walk-ons who will be leaving as well.

Ratings and fan attendance are two other things to consider when deciding if this rule is a good thing or not. Yes, sometimes these elite freshmen do things that drive fans crazy, but at the same time, they know how to get fans to their feet and get arenas like McKale Center rockin. Fans are always wanted to see that next “ESPN Top 10″ play and that type of mindset is always going to positively impact fan attendance, whether at home, on the road or during post-season.

Earlier this season against Illinois at home the freshman trio of Mannion, Green and Nnaji combined for 62 of the 90 points scored for the Wildcats! Performances like these are just one reason one-and-dones are good for college basketball.

So has the one-and-done rule been a good thing for Arizona Basketball? There are reasons it’s good and not good, but at the end of the day, we at least get to see them play one year in college basketball. If it wasn’t for this rule and players could go right to the NBA, we wouldn’t have been able to see someone like Deandre Ayton play. Just a thought.