The University of Arizona Basketball team is set to kick off the 2009-10 season in just 6 weeks against Northern Arizona University! What are the expectations and what are your thoughts? Hit the link for more including a poll…
November 15th is the date many basketball fans in Arizona will be awaiting with the first regular season game. Mainly Wildcat fans will be eager to see what new head coach Sean Miller will put on the court and how he will handle the new challenge. It will be interesting to see if this team can contend in a tough conference but what will probably dictate this year as being a big success will be to see if Miller can keep the Wildcats NCAA tournament streak alive.
After the recruits from this years class bolted for other schools upon Lute Olson’s departure, Arizona fans were left with a feeling that this could be the next "Indiana". Miller has come in, filled some gaps, and perhaps put together a team that can at least contend. For me personally if the Cats can make it for the 26th season in a row then it will be a showing of a successful season and perhaps how great Sean Miller can be. Is Sean Miller "Great"? That is to be decided but as an Arizona Basketball fan you have to be excited about the upcoming season and more importantly what Sean Miller and his staff can build for the future. This will be a tough season with the Pac-10 up in the air but we know it will be fun to watch!
Also breaking news: Daniel Bejarano, one of the state of Arizona’s brightest basketball talents, has de-committed from Texas and is now focusing on Arizona and Arizona State! Link...
QUICK SASON PREVIEW
What to watch for?
If the Cats can continue the quest for 26 consecutive NCAA Tournament bids and if Sean Miller will show Wildcat fans that he is a true successor for the great Lute Olson.
Mark your calendar for a few key games to watch:
Wisconsin at the Maui Invitational, Nov. 23rd 9PM pst on ESPN 2
@ Oklahoma, Dec 23rd
BYU, Dec 28th
UCLA: @ UCLA Jan 1st , March 4th at home
UW: Jan 10th at home, @ UW Feb 4th
CAL: Jan 31st at home, @ Cal Feb 25th
ASU: @ ASU Jan 23rd, Feb 21st at home
Which Sean Miller recruit will break out?
Prediction: Solomon Hill
Which team will win the Pac-10?
Prediction: Cal
Which Pac-10 teams to watch?
Washington: Abdul Gaddy left AZ for UW and they will be a good Pac-10 title contender
USC: Kevin O’Neil is their new coach and is recruiting well
ASU: Our rival is putting up a good challenge for top AZ recruit Daniel Bejarano
Which NCAA teams with UofA ties to watch?
Memphis: Josh Pastner is the new coach and recruiting like a champ
Gonzaga: Mark Few was an Arizona coaching hopeful that will be challenged this year
Kansas: Jeff Withey left the Cats to join Kansas as a 2010 national title contender
Pac-10 Standings Predictions (this is tough and likely wrong!):
Cal
Washington
UCLA
Oregon State
Arizona
USC
Washington State
Arizona State
Oregon
Stanford
Arizona Starting lineup predictions:
PG Nic Wise
G Kyle Fogg
F Jamelle Horne
F Solomon Hill
C Kyryl Natyazhko
O |
NAME |
POS |
HT |
WT |
YR-EXP |
Hometown/High School |
21 |
G |
6-2 |
175 |
SO-1L |
Brea, Calif./Brea Olinda |
|
44 |
F |
6-6 |
195 |
FR-HS |
Los Angeles, Calif./Fairfax |
|
42 |
F |
6-6 |
209 |
JR-2L |
San Diego, Calif./San Diego |
|
50 |
C |
6-11 |
253 |
SO-1L |
Brea, Calif./Mater Dei |
|
12 |
G |
5-11 |
190 |
FR-HS |
Harlem, N.Y./Oak Hill (Va.) Academy |
|
4 |
G |
6-3 |
195 |
SO-1L |
Humble, Texas/Christian Life Center Academy |
|
24 |
G |
6-3 |
205 |
SO-1L |
Mesa, Ariz./Mountain View |
|
1 |
C |
6-10 |
250 |
FR-HS |
Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine/IMG Academy (Fla.) |
|
3 |
G/F |
6-6 |
200 |
FR-HS |
Bronx, N.Y./South Kent (Conn.) |
|
33 |
F |
6-6 |
177 |
SO-1L |
Tucson, Ariz./Santa Rita |
|
23 |
F |
6-7 |
210 |
FR-HS |
La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada |
|
13 |
G |
5-10 |
177 |
SR-3L |
Houston, Texas/Kingwood |