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Arizona Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Wildcats

By Brad Cavallaro

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 05: Brandon Randolph #5 of the Arizona Wildcats handles the ball during the college basketball game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 5, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Aggies 67-64. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 05: Brandon Randolph #5 of the Arizona Wildcats handles the ball during the college basketball game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 5, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Aggies 67-64. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Head coach Sean Miller of the Arizona Wildcats reacts in the second half against the Buffalo Bulls during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Head coach Sean Miller of the Arizona Wildcats reacts in the second half against the Buffalo Bulls during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Arizona Basketball is starting from scratch after losing all five of its starters. Will any of the returning players step into major roles and can the Wildcats return to the NCAA Tournament?

Arizona’s 17-18 season was certainly memorable and calling it an up and down season may be an understatement. After losing all three games on a disastrous trip to the Bahamas, Arizona looked like its season was in peril. This losing streak exacerbated the concern around the future of the program that originated from the looming FBI investigation.

Fast forward a few months later and Arizona has survived and has remained unscathed (for now). The Wildcats recovered from that early season losing streak and ended up winning the Pac-12 regular season and conference tournament. This strong regular season finish was soured by a first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament and the departure of all five starters from last season’s team.

These losses were expected, but that does not make them any less impactful. Arizona’s best player, DeAndre Ayton, was the first overall pick in the NBA Draft to the Phoenix Suns. Ayton was a physical specimen who averaged 20.1 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 1.9 bpg in his one and only season, despite playing out of position at PF (rather than center).

The Wildcats also lost their two starting wings to early entry as both Alonzo Trier and Rawle Alkins left for the NBA. Alkins has signed a two-way deal with the Bulls while Trier is in training camp with the Knicks. Both players were expected to leave early, but it will be difficult to replace their combined 31.2 ppg and their strong long-range shooting.

The personnel losses do not end there as Arizona’s starting PG and center graduated. Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Dusan Ristic were both experienced veterans who made great strides over their four-year careers. Jackson-Cartwright is an undersized lead guard who shot the ball extremely well while Ristic was a traditional back to the basket big man who had a soft touch. Even though they are not NBA caliber talents, they played a lot of minutes and were extremely productive in their final seasons.

Last but not least, reserve big man Keanau Pinder also graduated after playing 10.4 mpg as a senior. He will be the easiest to replace, but losing a capable and experienced player is never ideal.

In total, Arizona is losing 73.6 ppg which accounts for over 83% of their scoring from last year. Clearly, the Wildcats are facing an uphill battle to replace all of these crucial pieces, but they return many promising players who can emerge from being role players last season to consistent contributors this season.

This article will analyze Arizona’s starters, reserves, and non-conference schedule. It will conclude with some key questions and a prediction of where the Wildcats will rank nationally and in the Pac-12.

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