Arizona Basketball: Urging all players to run it back next year

With Arizona Basketball putting together a solid season, all the players from this years’ team could put together a fantastic 2021-22 team if they return for next year.

This is an important message for this year’s team, please come back for next season! Arizona Basketball has a great chance to special, especially if this year is any indication of what next year could bring.

The team chemistry is off the charts and they enjoy taking the floor under the direction of Sean Miller each game day! Because of their success, here are a few reasons why players should run it back next season at McKale Center.

Arizona Wildcats

First off, it is the fact that they are missing out on the chance to compete in not only the Pac-12 tournament but in March Madness also. As we’re all familiar with by now, it is that the University of Arizona has imposed a one-year ban as the basketball program awaits its fate following the NCAA investigation.

While there is no guarantee that the NCAA will not impose another ban of their own, it would be wise if players were to plan on coming back to Tucson until further notice.

At 11-3 overall and 5-3 in the conference this season, next year should be a promising one, as this team could be even better, assuming that a large core of these players were to run it back next year.

It would be amazing to see James Akinjo, Azoulas Tubelis, Dalen Terry, Jordan Brown, and Ben Mathurin and teammates show off their skills under the bright lights of March Madness. The bond and connection they have shown thus far would make them a very tough out. Not many teams can say that their entire starting line up returned.

Then you also potentially get athletes such as Daniel Batcho and Kerr Kriisa returning who have missed the entire season up to this point due to injury or eligibility issues. The addition of these two might add a whole new dynamic to the team that we are unaware of. We will not know until they take the floor in the red and blue!

Secondly, we cannot forget the additions of our three talented freshmen that will hopefully be able to make meaningful contributions to the basketball team next season. Their additions would deepen the bench and take some of the load off of the current players.

Those additions include Shane Nowell, a 6-foot-5-inch small forward out of Jason Terry’s home state of Washington, Shane Dezonie, the talented, 6-foot-4-inch shooting guard out of Brewster Academy.

And finally, K.J. Simpson, a 6-foot-1-inch point guard from West Hills, California. It is a major bonus for these new freshman incomers that they do not feel the pressure to have to contribute right away. Miller and his staff would be in a position that they could develop them at their own pace.

Next is team chemistry. A strong culture and identity have been built this year and I genuinely feel it can be carried over into next season. This is usually a major struggle for a lot of college basketball teams that have major turnover year-to-year.

For the Wildcats, it would be a seamless transition as they hopefully keep everyone from this years’ squad and only welcome in three newcomers. That is very manageable for Miller considering the amount of turnover he has had in previous years.

Finally, for seniors like Ira Lee who have poured blood, sweat, and tears into this program. It would give him one last chance to hopefully play in front of a crowd in McKale center and get the send-off he deserves as Wildcat nation would rise to their feet and given a load ovation.

As a Wildcat fan, I might be just a tad bit bias and I know full well that professional opportunities might present themselves. In no way am I condemning a student-athlete for taking a chance to turn pro if that is what is best for their future. Just throwing it out there that if there is a chance to keep everyone and run it back again, PLEASE LET’S DO IT! As always Wildcat nation, Bear Down!