Arizona Basketball: 2024-25 season preview for the Wildcats
By Joey Loose
Season Outlook
One thing that hasn’t been specifically mentioned is that Lloyd has a knack for international recruiting, having done plenty of that during his decades at Gonzaga and continuing the process with the Wildcats. There’s always been an international flavor with his teams and that certainly continues with some of the pieces this season, both old and new. It’s all about finding the best talent available and Arizona has some of that again this year.
The absolute bottom line is that Love is going to be the star yet again for the Wildcats. Getting him back for one final season was a monumental win in the offseason. Even with the vital transfers that the Wildcats lost, Love’s return sets them up for success. If Bradley can take that expected step forward as a junior, then the Wildcats will boast one of the Big 12’s best backcourts.
Outside of that, this team is depending on several new faces to play a major role. Players like Dell’Orso and Townsend were immensely impactful at their mid-major programs, but how will they adjust to life in the Big 12? Much like Love last season, transfers have been important for the Wildcats in recent years, and we expect Townsend in particular to standout in his final collegiate opportunity.
The Wildcats lean on some young talent heavily, especially with a trio of 7-foot underclassman vying for starting minutes. This rotation boasts a ton of raw talent and it’ll be interesting to see which of these pieces takes that next step. Love is the known commodity here, but Arizona’s success depends on a lot of things going right elsewhere on the roster. After all, the Wildcats certainly need big steps forward from Bradley, Lewis, and a few of those underclassman this season.
Next. Preseason Big 12 power rankings for 2024-25. Preseason Big 12 power rankings for 2024-25. dark
With all of these things considered, the talent is right there in Tucson for another successful season, even as Arizona adjusts to life in a new conference. We cannot understate Love’s importance; he wasn’t a preseason All-American for no reason. If the talent around him comes together and produces, much like in season’s past, then things could be pretty special for the Wildcats even in a tough, deep Big 12.