Arizona Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Wildcats
Key Questions and Prediction
1. Can Arizona keep its head above water with a completely new roster?
I have mentioned this throughout the article, but it is worth repeating. Arizona loses all five starters and over 80% of its production. It is very difficult to recover from this type of drastic roster turnover and remain competitive unless you have an elite recruiting class. Players like Brandon Williams, Devonaire Doutrive, and Omar Theilmans should have impactful and productive careers for Arizona, but this is not an elite recruiting class that is filled with one and done prospects. Duke and Kentucky can handle these year in and year out changes because they consistently bring in NBA caliber talent. Arizona does not have the Aaron Gordons and Stanley Johnsons like they have had previously, which should be a concern for this upcoming season.
2. Will Arizona’s highly regarded sophomores take a major step forward?
This question goes hand in hand with question 1. If Arizona is to return to the NCAA Tournament and remain competitive, its sophomores will have to have breakout seasons. Alex Barcello and Ira Lee were highly recruited players who had nondescript freshman seasons. Anything that they can provide off the bench would be welcomed without hesitation. However, this season will be determined by the improvements that Brandon Randolph and Emmanuel Akot make. Both players are in line for starting positions and need to begin turning their potential into production. I would not be surprised if Randolph and Akot are the two leading scorers by the end of the season.
3. Can Chase Jeter live up to his previous 5-star status?
Chase Jeter was considered a disappointment at Duke as a mixture of injuries, lack of minutes, and lack of production left him expendable. He is starting fresh at Arizona where he has a golden opportunity to start at center and see 25-28 minutes a night. This consistent playing time could be what he needs to live up to his potential and make a major impact. If he can provide double-figure scoring, rim protection, and rebounding, Arizona’s frontcourt will be in great shape. This could be his last chance to redeem his reputation as an overrated recruit. I think he will surprise people this season and become a productive player, but not resemble a former 5-star prospect.
Preseason PAC-12 Rankings for 2018-19. dark. Next
Having this much roster turnover is rare in college basketball and puts Arizona in a precarious position. It is hard to get a great feel on this Wildcats team until we see them in action. Maybe this is a cop out, but I’m playing it safe with Arizona as they are my last team in my projected NCAA Tournament field. This puts them at 48th nationally and 6th in the Pac-12.