Arizona Desert Swarm - Arizona basketball 2017-18 season reviewYour No. 1 free source for all things Arizona Wildcatshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46873/ds-fave.png2018-04-03T14:06:32-07:00http://www.azdesertswarm.com/rss/stream/169137832018-04-03T14:06:32-07:002018-04-03T14:06:32-07:00Reviewing Deandre Ayton’s first and last season at Arizona
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<img alt="USC v Arizona" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ps0ggrNkx2wBp5e6fBxRX0u8hVk=/66x82:3000x2038/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59256607/930434858.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Unquestionably the best freshman season in Arizona history</p> <p id="vj0FKW"><em>The </em><a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/"><em>Arizona Wildcats</em></a><em>’ season has ended, so we’re going to take a look back at how each player fared during the year and what’s next for them. Today’s subject is </em><span><em>Deandre Ayton</em></span><em>.</em></p>
<h1 id="FEBqus">Deandre Ayton</h1>
<h2 id="aIW3YB">2017-18 stats</h2>
<ul>
<li id="jmFfBC">20.1 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.9 BPG, 33.5 MPG</li>
<li id="5Fgo8V">61.2 FG%, 73.3 FT%, 34.3 3PT%</li>
<li id="RAGsNV">24 double-doubles (most in the nation)</li>
<li id="Icsnvn">Pac-12 Player of the Year</li>
<li id="fXLocK">Pac-12 Freshman of the Year</li>
<li id="wxCbbI">First-Team AP All-American</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="UpqazB">Best games</h2>
<ul>
<li id="ZsUaEj">@ UNLV: 28 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, 12-23 FG, 1-3 3PT</li>
<li id="Pv03cB">vs. Alabama: 29 points, 18 rebounds, 1 block, 12-18 FG, 1-2 3PT </li>
<li id="9kXimS">vs. Arizona State: 23 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal, 9-14 FG</li>
<li id="ElM6ds">@ Washington State: 25 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, 11/12 FG</li>
<li id="yEdYK4">@ Arizona State: 25 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal, 8/12 FG</li>
<li id="DkR2Qp">@ Oregon: 28 points, 18 rebounds, 4 blocks, 11/15 FG</li>
<li id="ucloa8">vs. California: 26 points, 20 rebounds, 1 steal, 9/12 FG, 1/1 3PT</li>
<li id="BcLGST">
<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/pac-12-basketball-tournament">Pac-12 Tournament</a> semifinal vs. UCLA: 32 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals, 13/16 FG, 1/1 3PT</li>
<li id="gygKJL">Pac-12 Tournament final vs. USC: 32 points, 18 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 14/20 FG</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="lEDDdU">2017-18 in review</h2>
<p id="wRxI3v">Arizona basketball is a storied program that has seen a whole lot of talent come through Tucson through the years. That Deandre Ayton was the most highly-regarded recruit to ever come to Arizona put some awfully lofty expectations on the big man entering his freshman season.</p>
<p id="tgK6gI">Those expectations included a trip to the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/a/march-madness-2018-ncaa-tournament">Final Four</a> and possibly winning the National Championship. In the preseason, Arizona was a popular pick and that was mostly due to Ayton.</p>
<p id="jJQXlO">The Wildcats failed to meet the high expectations that were set for them as a team, but if you watched Ayton throughout the season, you saw what all the hype was about. You saw a dominant force, a freak athlete, a 7-foot-1, 260 pound behemoth with a jumper. You saw, perhaps, the greatest basketball player to don the red and blue.</p>
<p id="Hv1FS1">Ayton began his Wildcat career with five straight double-doubles, something the Wildcat faithful would become accustomed to seeing. Even on Arizona’s nightmarish Bahamas trip which saw them lose three games in three nights, Ayton still feasted on opponents, averaging 22 points and 12.3 rebounds while shooting 62 percent during Battle 4 Atlantis.</p>
<p id="fcwcEN">To start the season, Ayton wanted to show NBA scouts that he could step out and hit the 3. In today’s NBA, you have to be able to shoot the ball to be relevant and Ayton was dead-set on showing how versatile his offensive game was. He attempted 21 3-pointers in the first 10 games of the season, making only six. He was forcing jump shots, probably his only offensive mistake during the season. He has a great jumper, considering his size and frame, but he was leaving potential points on the table with his decision to not try and dominate inside. That mentality would slowly change as Ayton would only attempt 14 more 3-pointers in the season.</p>
<p id="E3s1h4">Ayton blocked a ton of shots this season but still, his low post defense left something to be desired. Opposing big men scored with relative ease against Arizona’s pair of 7-footers. While Ayton was a fantastic shot-blocker and premier rebounder, he often tried to block every shot instead of showing discipline and taking a team defense approach.</p>
<p id="ESPOnU">Ayton arguably took too many jumpers and allowed too many points at the other end. Any other negative you could find about Ayton’s lone season as a Wildcat would be a reach.</p>
<p id="gt6YyD">It didn’t take long for him to put the Pac-12 on notice that he had arrived. Ayton was unstoppable to begin Pac-12 play. In the first six conference games, Ayton piled up 21.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while shooting 68 percent from the floor and making his only attempt from 3-point land. </p>
<p id="5oy0fu">His athleticism and skill were a problem for the rest of the conference and he would lead the Wildcats to their second straight Pac-12 regular season title. Ayton winded up averaging 20.2 points, 11.4 boards, 2.3 blocks and 62/44/77 shooting splits in 18 conference games. This resulted in Ayton becoming both the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year — the first player to accomplish that feat since <span>Kevin Love</span> in 2008.</p>
<p id="6q1iyg">In late February, as everyone knows, Ayton’s name was linked to the Sean Miller wiretap controversy reported by ESPN. Questions still remain regarding the validity to the report as people have pointed out that the timeline of the story and Ayton’s involvement doesn’t add up. Ayton’s eligibility was never brought into question and he didn’t miss any time on the floor.</p>
<p id="qQ0Nrf">While obviously maintaining innocence, Ayton had to hear it from opposing fans and the media. This seemed to take Ayton to another level, though. While his dominance was established from the get-go, now Ayton was angry. It became clear that opponents wouldn’t like him when he’s angry. He had a six-game stretch that saw him put up 23 and 14 and culminated in back-to-back career high games in the Pac-12 Tournament, scorching both LA schools for 32 points apiece and leading the Wildcats to a second consecutive Pac-12 Tournament Championship.</p>
<p id="FHTU2B">The Wildcats found themselves once again a popular choice to make it to the Final Four thanks to Ayton becoming the best player in the country and a finalist for both the Naismith and Wooden Awards.</p>
<p id="6LVNqC">But Arizona’s season came to a sudden and startling end in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in a blowout loss to Buffalo. Ayton wasn’t at his best at either end of the floor and frankly, no Wildcat was. It was an unfortunate end to a one-year career no one will soon forget.</p>
<h2 id="Ca3TTz">What’s next?</h2>
<p id="qYepfp">Whatever is next for Ayton will be coming in the NBA. He has formally declared for the draft as everyone expected all along. Ayton figures to be one of the top picks in the 2018 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">NBA Draft,</a> perhaps the first number one pick in Arizona history. Things like “best college big man since Shaq” and “modern-day Patrick Ewing” are being thrown around so the sky is the limit for Ayton</p>
<p id="S6Axn8">As for what’s next at Arizona – who knows? Ayton leaves the largest void the Wildcats have ever had to fill and no prospects on the horizon.</p>
<p id="EciQNp">This next season could be rough in Tucson. The starting five is gone, including the freakish Pac-12 Player of the Year. As has been talked about before, there are no incoming recruits currently signed on for next season.</p>
<p id="Be1MST">And Tucson may never see a player as talented as Ayton ever again. If they do, it won’t be for a long, long time.</p>
<h2 id="e7p9Rv">Quotable</h2>
<p id="wpc6Qw">“Physically, he’s like Superman. But he’s also very skilled. If you have a guy like him that’s physically gifted, plus you have the skill level and the intelligence, he’s going to be a player that’s going to go down as one of the great ones to play our game. That’s how I see him.” – Sean Miller on Deandre Ayton</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2018/4/3/17193298/arizona-basketball-deandre-ayton-season-review-2017-2018-nba-draft-mock-projections-stats-scoutingMatt Sheeley2018-04-01T08:00:02-07:002018-04-01T08:00:02-07:00Reviewing Alex Barcello’s freshman season at Arizona
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Cal. State - Bakersfield at Arizona" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5aA7UHFRw6Hc3NurkrXhDaoUIiM=/419x0:2921x1668/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59229919/usa_today_10417116.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A hot start, then a lackluster finish</p> <p id="viM9qH"><em>The </em><a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/"><em>Arizona Wildcats</em></a><em>’ season has ended, so we’re going to reflect on how each player fared during the year and what’s next for them. Today’s subject is freshman Alex Barcello.</em></p>
<h1 id="1d92in"><span>Alex Barcello</span></h1>
<h2 id="ahprEm">2017-18 stats</h2>
<ul>
<li id="iVaLZ7">2.4 PPG, 0.9 APG, 0.4 TO, 9.6 MPG</li>
<li id="0Shkqm">39.1 FG%, 30.8 3PT%, 75.0 FT%</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="Um9axg">Best games</h2>
<ul>
<li id="bckFWC">vs. NAU — 9 points, 3 assists, 2-2 FG, 28 minutes</li>
<li id="uLzx7H">vs. UMBC — 8 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 2-4 3PT</li>
<li id="LxMEBb">vs. CSU Bakersfield — 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2-3 3PT</li>
<li id="SgONV7">vs. Long Beach State — 11 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 3-4 3PT</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="SWYWlu">2017-18 review</h2>
<p id="PdUKXx">Expectations were fairly tame for Barcello entering his freshman year — at least compared to the rest of Arizona’s star-studded 2017 class. The Tempe native was the No. 83 prospect in the country out of Corona Del Sol High School, the lowest-ranking among UA’s five recruits.</p>
<p id="r9MUBS">Yet, Barcello was arguably the most productive of the bunch at the start of the season (aside from <span>Deandre Ayton</span> of course). In his first three games, Barcello shot 7-12 from the field and 4-7 from 3, all while tallying 11 assists to zero turnovers.</p>
<p id="XWQxiY">Sean Miller called him a pleasant surprise.</p>
<p id="pEATWG">“Not that I didn’t believe in him, I knew that he was going to be a terrific player,” Miller said at the time. “But he’s really impacted our games that he’s played in and I just don’t see that changing.”</p>
<p id="Qs8mIh">Well, it did change. A lot. Arizona went to the Bahamas where Barcello seemed to lose his confidence, going scoreless in all three losses of Battle 4 Atlantis.</p>
<p id="THOV6e">Aside from an 11-point outing in a blowout win vs. Long Beach State, Barcello was a non-factor the rest of the season. To be fair, he battled an ankle injury in early-to-mid December which certainly compounded the issue.</p>
<p id="g9aCVj">The most disappointing development was that Barcello’s shot abandoned him. After his hot start, he made just one of his last 10 3-point attempts, eventually finishing the season 8-for-26 from distance.</p>
<p id="iaBjT9">Barcello didn’t appear comfortable running Arizona’s offense and wasn’t much of a difference-maker defensively, either, so once he stopped hitting shots, he fell out of the rotation. </p>
<p id="Sy8Cum">Miller gave all the backup point guard minutes to <span>Allonzo Trier</span> and that was that for Barcello.</p>
<p id="lEwoUI">He appeared in just nine of 18 conference games, averaging 4.4 minutes per stint. He played just one minute in the postseason (which came in garbage time against Colorado in the Pac-12 Tournament).</p>
<h2 id="uVAJVY">What’s next?</h2>
<p id="vfK918">Barcello might have the most to prove among UA’s six returners. Some remain optimistic that he can develop into an above-average starter, but some have already written him off as someone who is simply not “Arizona-good.”</p>
<p id="W740oP">Either way, Barcello will have a chance to shatter that narrative, or affirm it, next season.</p>
<p id="7u5rWu">With Parker Jackson-Cartwright graduating and Arizona having zero 2018 recruits, Barcello is in line for a major role as a sophomore.</p>
<p id="0HjjlL">Right now, he pencils in as Arizona’s starting point guard. However, there is the possibility Arizona adds a recruit like Brandon Williams or James Akinjo and/or a graduate transfer like Maine’s <span>Aaron Calixte</span> to compete at that position.</p>
<p id="iBU2iU">Even still, there are a great deal of minutes to be had next season and Barcello should get his fair share.</p>
<p id="W1hrhw">The real question is: what will he do with them?</p>
<p id="rClCsI">If Barcello plays like he did as a freshman, the Wildcats will have a rough season. But if he makes the patented freshman-to-sophomore leap, Arizona might not experience the major drop-off that many expect it to.</p>
<h2 id="E7H3wj">Quotable</h2>
<p id="PlcVTX">“He’s healthy, he’s working hard, I think Alex has a bright future. It’s just right now he hasn’t played well and it’s no longer December,” — Sean Miller said in mid-January</p>
<p id="M7qEBC">“His time will come, but it might not be as plentiful right now.” — Sean Miller</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2018/4/1/17184220/arizona-basketball-alex-barcello-season-review-2017-2018-transfer-return-highlights-point-guardRyan Kelapire2018-03-27T19:30:02-07:002018-03-27T19:30:02-07:00Reviewing Ira Lee’s freshman season at Arizona
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: North Dakota State at Arizona" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Xt953V1hydegG2oRktkwYoJzzK4=/216x0:2817x1734/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59180323/usa_today_10486694.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Lee didn’t play a whole lot as a freshman, but that will change as a sophomore</p> <p id="VtGOPw"><em>The Arizona Wildcats’ season has ended, so we’re going to take a look back at how each player fared during the year and what’s next for them. Today’s subject is </em><span><em>Ira Lee</em></span><em>.</em></p>
<h1 id="dskeP3">Ira Lee</h1>
<h2 id="11psxs">2017-18 stats</h2>
<p id="iVaLZ7">· 2.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.4 APG, 10.2 MPG</p>
<p id="jZ4kRa">· 46.2 FG%, 60.0 FT%</p>
<h2 id="qu7Lwq">Best games</h2>
<p id="yIJAyo">· vs. UMBC: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 4-6 FG</p>
<p id="Zl6TIZ">· vs. Cal State Bakersfield: 5 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block, 2-2 FG </p>
<p id="hHLQXx">· vs. Long Beach State: 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 5-7 FG, 1-1 3PT</p>
<h2 id="MvAFRW">2017-18 in review</h2>
<p id="uV6zK3">Ira Lee entered the season as a 4-star recruit, looking to contribute off the bench in a role not unlike <span>Keanu Pinder</span> — providing strong defense, energy, and rebounding.</p>
<p id="0OvTNw">Things started out well for Lee in his freshman season. After all, he kicked things off by entering McKale Center at the annual Red-Blue game in a Khalil Tate jersey, getting one of the loudest reactions of the night. </p>
<p id="e6dHqB">It’s fitting. Despite being 6-foot-7, perhaps undersized for a power forward, Lee’s football-player frame makes him a force to be reckoned with around the basket. And while he doesn’t need to score to be effective, the Wildcats’ coaching staff was excited to have another energetic bruiser on a team with Final Four expectations.</p>
<p id="o8y5tf">Lee was a major factor off the bench to start the season. He played 10 or more minutes in each of the first 12 games of the season, topping out at a career-high 22 minutes played in Arizona’s overtime win over UNLV in early December.</p>
<p id="zils9r">He showcased solid rebounding, defensive effort and a mid-range shot that’s still developing during this stretch about four points and four rebounds per game.</p>
<p id="g4op3E">After that though, things fell off a bit for Lee and in reality, the entire Wildcats bench. As conference play inched closer, Sean Miller leaned heavier on the starting five to play big minutes and really only gave bench minutes to Pinder, <span>Dylan Smith</span> and occasionally Emmanuel Akot. After playing double-digit minutes in each of the first 12 games, Lee would only reach that milestone two more times in Pac-12 play.</p>
<p id="BL3uf4">While his minutes went south, Lee suffered a concussion in practice late in the season. This held him out of each of the final four regular season games. He was cleared to return for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/pac-12-basketball-tournament">Pac-12 Tournament</a>, but did not make an appearance in Las Vegas.</p>
<p id="Mp63Fv">Lee was available for the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/a/march-madness-2018-ncaa-tournament">NCAA Tournament</a>, though he logged only one minute in the blowout loss to Buffalo. Lee was productive in that minute, making his only shot attempt and hitting a pair of free throws to finish with four points.</p>
<h2 id="w4nrKu">What’s next?</h2>
<p id="KZ5GZM">Between the lack of trust in the bench and his eventual concussion problem, Lee’s freshman season at Arizona didn’t go according to plan. But next season, there will need to be trust and he’ll certainly need to be healthy as Arizona desperately needs Lee to take a leap up to another level.</p>
<p id="Qhp0OF">With the roster looking the way it does now, Lee figures to start next season alongside Duke transfer <span>Chase Jeter</span>, and Arizona will look to use Lee’s muscular frame to score inside. </p>
<p id="7ZFYC6">Lee’s defense showed promise, as did the energy he brought off the bench. </p>
<p id="7dB1W7">Confidence never seems to be an issue with Lee, either, but for Arizona to have any chance to salvage the 2018-19 season — a season currently devoid of any recruits whatsoever — Lee will need to continue to develop. </p>
<p id="5VQKq3">He needs a reliable jumper, a couple of post moves and to figure out a way to play taller than he actually is on the defensive end. </p>
<p id="M9qrEs">Opposing bigs will salivate at the sight of a 6-foot-7 defender in the post.</p>
<h2 id="UjOSc8">Quotable</h2>
<p id="70NFks">“He can check the box in a lot of areas. He rebounds at both ends, he defends. He can do a lot of different things. It’s his versatility, his motor, his work ethic, his athleticism that really jumps out. We see it every day.” – Sean Miller on Ira Lee</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2018/3/27/17169056/arizona-basketball-reviewing-ira-lee-freshman-season-wildcats-2018-2019-start-transfer-roster-returnMatt Sheeley2018-03-26T10:00:02-07:002018-03-26T10:00:02-07:00Reviewing Dylan Smith’s first season at Arizona
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Arizona at California" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/obCnSdxHMrX5Y05imEw4csODyOU=/52x170:3954x2771/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59157647/usa_today_10550026.1522042989.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The UNC Asheville transfer was UA’s top bench scorer</p> <p id="viM9qH"><em>The Arizona Wildcats’ season has ended, so we’re going to take a look back at how each player fared during the year and what’s next for them. Next up is </em><span><em>Dylan Smith</em></span><em>.</em></p>
<h1 id="aw1Gbj"><span>Dylan Smith</span></h1>
<h2 id="K5uQb5">2017-18 stats</h2>
<ul>
<li id="hMkJ41">4.3 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 1.1 APG, 14.6 MPG</li>
<li id="wcktl2">36.3 FG%, 33.0 3PT%, 81.0 FT%</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="ugApH3">Best games</h2>
<ul>
<li id="8RIT3B">vs. Texas A&M — 13 points, 4-5 FG, 3-3 3PT</li>
<li id="Cv2PDl">vs. ASU — 9 points, 3-5 3PT</li>
<li id="PkcNrH">at Cal — 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 5-5 FG, 4-4 3PT</li>
<li id="8R6ICp">vs. Colorado — 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3-6 3PT</li>
<li id="7OYirs">at Oregon — 11 points, 3-4 3PT</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="JY0gx2">2017-18 in review</h2>
<p id="Z3qDPq">After sitting out the 2016-17 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Smith finally got a chance to make his Arizona debut in 2017-18.</p>
<p id="CT7v1O">Expectations weren’t that high for the former UNC Asheville Bulldog since he was perceived to be behind <span>Allonzo Trier</span>, <span>Rawle Alkins</span>, and <span>Brandon Randolph</span> on the totem pole, and it didn’t help that Smith was suspended for the season-opener after violating team rules.</p>
<p id="tGHyfv">Yet, the redshirt sophomore wound up becoming Arizona’s top bench scorer — albeit it was not a strong unit.</p>
<p id="d4Ilwu">Smith was a terrific free-throw shooter, a decent 3-point shooter, and showed a nice ability to shoot off the dribble. But he struggled mightily as a slasher, shooting a team-worst 44 percent at the rim.</p>
<p id="sUspHA">Smith also had a maddening penchant for turning the ball over, only trailing Alkins for turnovers per 40 minutes. That said, he did cut back on them as the season went on, committing just one turnover in Arizona’s last six games.</p>
<p id="A3ybSs">Despite being 6-foot-6 with long, gangly arms, Smith did not create much havoc on defense. He had the lowest steal percentage among UA’s rotation players (0.6), and Arizona allowed 1.09 points per possession when Smith was on the floor, a decline from the team’s overall mark of 1.03.</p>
<p id="EMZBEz">Smith was not much of a threat as a rebounder or distributor either — his entry passes were not the prettiest but he did show flashes of being able to drive and dish.</p>
<p id="zim5ws">Overall, the best way to describe Smith’s contributions is serviceable but inconsistent. There were some games where his hot shooting helped Arizona immensely — the win vs. Texas A&M being the prime example — but there were also several games where he was a total non-factor.</p>
<p id="M7aGOC">But because of how unimpressive the rest of Arizona’s bench was, Smith’s shooting alone made him a useful piece for the Wildcats. He also had a couple solid starts when Alkins was sidelined with a foot injury.</p>
<p id="d6eRSp">Smith finished the season a sour note, though, scoring just four points in Arizona’s last four games. He missed 11 straight 3s during that span.</p>
<h2 id="ZVD9wS">What’s next?</h2>
<p id="rOSrup">Smith is one of just six scholarship players returning to Arizona next season, and the Wildcats currently have zero incoming recruits, so he should see a major uptick in playing time as a redshirt junior.</p>
<p id="IRyrrE">Smith will likely be battling with <span>Brandon Randolph</span> and/or <span>Emmanuel Akot</span> for a spot in Arizona’s starting lineup, and could become one of the Wildcats’ featured scorers and ball-handlers.</p>
<p id="HFTqdn">Perhaps the biggest to-do for Smith this offseason is to become a more well-rounded player. His shooting stroke should carry over to the 2018-19 season, but the other facets of his game will need to improve for him to be considered a high-quality starter in the Pac-12.</p>
<p id="ZgJ8Ne">If not, it is easy to imagine him staying in his sixth-man role. Either way, Smith — and the rest of Arizona’s returners — will have an instrumental role in how the team fares next season, given its recruiting woes.</p>
<p id="rHhFAK">Smith profiles as a 2 or a 3, but he could also see time at point guard next season since <span>Alex Barcello</span> is the only player returning at that position, though Smith has not exactly shown he is capable of handling a role like that.</p>
<h2 id="4o2kSd">Quotable</h2>
<p id="UmHXAC">“(Coach Sean Miller) put a lot of faith in me to come in and be good for the team and have a role. I’m just following what he wants me to do. Whatever he needs me to do for the team, I’ll do it.” — Dylan Smith on coming off the bench at Arizona, despite being a starter at UNC Asheville</p>
<p id="ZwzABV">“If I ever get a chance to start here, I’ll take advantage of it.” — Dylan Smith</p>
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<p id="1XJxV5"><em>Follow Ryan Kelapire on Twitter at </em><a href="http://twitter.com/rkelapire"><em>@RKelapire</em></a></p>
<p id="MPVOMK"></p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2018/3/26/17146278/arizona-basketball-dylan-smith-season-review-2017-2018-unc-asheville-transfer-lineup-depth-chartRyan Kelapire2018-03-22T18:00:02-07:002018-03-22T18:00:02-07:00Reviewing Emmanuel Akot’s freshman season at Arizona
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-Boise Practice" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5Ehc6GKlvIWjt7FH8E9BFfkRxGE=/0x0:2927x1951/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59118743/usa_today_10704952.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>2018-19 could be Akot’s year to shine</p> <p id="W2WrcP"><em>The Arizona Wildcats’ season has ended, so we’re going to take a look back at how each player fared during the year and what’s next for them. Yesterday, we reviewed Brandon Randolph’s freshman season. Next up is another freshman — </em><span><em>Emmanuel Akot</em></span><em>.</em></p>
<h1 id="KAfdkx">Emmanuel Akot</h1>
<h2 id="UaaD6J">2017-18 stats</h2>
<p id="4y4YPv">· 1.8 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.8 APG, 10.4 MPG</p>
<p id="NyrHir">· 38.9 FG%, 37.5 3PT%, 45.5 FT%</p>
<h2 id="EjZDEg">Best games</h2>
<p id="Vktzju">· vs. Northern Arizona: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block</p>
<p id="9KKT9k">· vs. UMBC: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2-2 3PT</p>
<h2 id="NU3Bga">2017-18 in review</h2>
<p id="A4Gaab">After such a long and emotionally exhausting season, it could be easy to forget that Emmanuel Akot wasn’t even supposed to be a Wildcat this season. He was originally a commit for the upcoming 2018-19 season but elected to reclassify to 2017 back in May. At the time, it was widely considered a victory for Akot and the Wildcats. An elite 2018 recruit coming on a year early, almost ensuring that he was not going to be a one-and-done like teammate <span>Deandre Ayton</span>, but instead get a year under his belt and be able to contribute right away.</p>
<p id="2RoDR8">And contribute he did. He began the season with a starting spot in place of the injured Rawle Alkins. Akot filled the stat sheet in his first game as a Wildcat against Northern Arizona and followed that up with solid performances against UMBC and Cal State Bakersfield.</p>
<p id="dISZ31">His game with Bakersfield was cut short due to a knee issue flaring up and limited him to only 16 minutes that night. However, even knowing his knee was acting up, it would have been hard to guess that he would only top 15 minutes three more times in the season.</p>
<p id="TvEVPh">On the Wildcats infamous Bahamas trip, Akot played sparingly in losses to NC State and Purdue. He didn’t hit a shot during the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, going 0-for-7 from the floor, and appeared to be slower defensively, especially in his 22 minutes in the loss to SMU.</p>
<p id="GkEt3G">Akot had a rough go of it following that. He was dealing with knee tendinitis and picking up minor minutes while the Wildcats crawled out of the hole they dug themselves in during Battle 4 Atlantis. </p>
<p id="Tdt5h3">In an eight-game stretch that spanned from late November to early January, Akot played double-digits minutes just once and received three DNP’s during that time. </p>
<p id="xcgp8p">For someone that had expectations to live up to, this came as a surprise. And while the tendinitis was clearly a factor, Sean Miller pointed out that Akot’s highly-touted defense wasn’t what the Wildcats were expecting early on.</p>
<p id="rlQHIb">“He’s not a defensive stopper right now,” Miller said in late November.</p>
<p id="nmtji6">Akot was able to somewhat turn things around in Pac-12 play. As his knee improved, he was able to give valuable minutes to Arizona when his name was called. After struggling to get on the floor for a month and a half, Akot got at least seven minutes of playing time in every game from January 25 until the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/pac-12-basketball-tournament">Pac-12 Tournament</a>.</p>
<p id="ApiSdd">He was able to showcase a knack for hustle plays and strong on-ball defense. He didn’t contribute much on the offensive end, never topping the seven points he put up in the season opener. Plus, he wasn’t as aggressive with the ball as one would hope for such an athletic wing but Akot showed flashes of potential to leave Wildcat fans excited for his future.</p>
<h2 id="SNKePu">What’s next?</h2>
<p id="Y1mDt6">Akot’s moments of potential will need to be a lot more than just “flashes” in the 2018-19 season, as Akot will be one of just six returning Wildcats. Arizona is set to lose their entire starting five to either the NBA or graduation.</p>
<p id="XeOjyb">With no recruits currently signed on to join next year’s Wildcats, Akot is expected to have a prominent role. Considering how highly-regarded he was coming out of high school and the fact that he came to Arizona a year early, Akot could have the highest expectations of anyone next season.</p>
<p id="2LTyYv">This year could have been called a “freebie.” He knew he wasn’t going to test the NBA after his freshman season and he knew he wasn’t going to be thrust into a starting role in his first year in Tucson. It was more like Akot was getting a head start on a wonderful college career.</p>
<p id="XHiCsg">The head start didn’t exactly go according to plan between his knee problems, his lack of a role for much of the season and the team’s final result. But with an eye on 2018, this could end up being Akot’s team – and the Wildcats are going to need a whole lot more from him to survive.</p>
<p id="yTVW5h">While his defense and effort finished the season strong, one thing Akot needs to work on is his offensive mentality. In his stats listed above, you see a putrid free throw percentage which would suggest Akot has no shooting touch whatsoever.</p>
<p id="hRNX3b">While his shot isn’t perfect, the fact is that Akot showed no aggression on offense and only ended up with 11 free throw attempts on the season, making only five.</p>
<p id="ex4VUH">With more minutes on the floor and more time with the ball in his hands, Akot needs to settle for jumpers less and get to the rim. This season he took 54 shots and 24 of them were from beyond the arc (though he did make nine of them). Between his build and size, he’ll likely be the best athlete on the team and if he embraces the athletic style on offense, he’ll be that much closer to living up to his potential.</p>
<h2 id="7VJjaM">Quotable</h2>
<p id="yu58we">“The jump makes sense. As a freshman, you watch the older guys, how they play, what they’re good at and how they were successful and add that to your game. So I see the jump. It makes sense. I’m going to make that jump.” – Emmanuel Akot on making the patented freshman-to-sophomore leap</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2018/3/22/17149234/arizona-basketball-emmanuel-akot-freshman-season-review-2017-2018-depth-chart-return-transferMatt Sheeley2018-03-20T20:00:56-07:002018-03-20T20:00:56-07:00Reviewing Brandon Randolph’s freshman season at Arizona
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Colorado at Arizona" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tfK0UoXSnkvJ6jnZNMI6yzGHpcU=/250x0:2599x1566/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59102689/usa_today_10566212.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Randolph didn’t live up to expectations as a freshman, but he will have a major role as a sophomore</p> <p id="0bWFw2"><em>The Arizona Wildcats’ season has ended, so we’re going to take a look back at how each player fared during the year and what’s next for them. First up is freshman guard </em><em>Brandon Randolph</em><em>.</em></p>
<h1 id="7SykiD"><span>Brandon Randolph</span></h1>
<h2 id="YwOyDx">2017-18 stats</h2>
<ul>
<li id="hMkJ41">3.7 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.8 APG, 11.6 MPG</li>
<li id="imehpQ">38.3 FG%, 32.6 3PT%, 73.1 FT%</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="tM5LJS">Best games</h2>
<ul>
<li id="mQfLfd">vs. Purdue: 17 points, 7-11 FG</li>
<li id="XkqUqO">vs. Texas A&M: 13 points, 2 rebounds, 3-5 FG, 1-2 3PT, 6-8 FT</li>
<li id="bNrG5O">vs. Alabama: 13 points, 5-10 FG, 3-5 3PT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists</li>
<li id="Y4ftRF">vs. UNLV: 8 points, 3-3 FG</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="TQ1vlP">2017-18 in review</h2>
<p id="kRsKhg">Aside from <span>Deandre Ayton</span>, Brandon Randolph entered the 2017-18 season as Arizona’s highest-touted freshman, ranking as the No. 38 player in the 2017 class, so expectations were high.</p>
<p id="0HAGye">Those expectations were exacerbated after Randolph showed a well-rounded game in UA’s Spain exhibition tour, averaging 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, while shooting 12-25 from the field and 5-11 from 3. He then showed off his tantalizing athleticism <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2017/10/20/16512542/arizona-red-blue-game-dunk-contest-highlights-deandre-ayton-brandon-randolph-ira-lee-pinder-barcello">by winning the Red-Blue Game dunk contest</a>.</p>
<p id="dhmKex">But Randolph suffered a concussion just before the start of the regular season, which forced him to miss an exhibition and the season-opener against NAU.</p>
<p id="FvpXIY">When Randolph returned, he was quiet until the Wildcats went to the Bahamas. He went scoreless in UA’s first two losses there before exploding for a career-high 17 points in UA’s blowout loss to Purdue.</p>
<p id="qwSVXg">Randolph carried that momentum into early December, scoring in double figures in three of the next four games, including a pair of 13-point outings against Texas A&M and Alabama, which helped the Wildcats secure two of their best wins of the season.</p>
<p id="tK6EUq">It looked like Randolph had emerged as a reliable contributor, but he did not score in double figures the rest of the season. In fact, his highest point total was just seven. Part of that had to with <span>Rawle Alkins</span> returning and cutting into Randolph’s playing time.</p>
<p id="reTrcw">Unlike a lot of freshman who improve as the year goes on, Randolph regressed. In conference play, he averaged just 1.9 points per game in 9.2 minutes on a dismal 28.6 shooting percentage, including a 3-of-19 mark from 3 — and only <span>Allonzo Trier</span> and <span>Dylan Smith</span> finished with a lower defensive box plus/minus than Randolph (0.1).</p>
<p id="uBcYCR">In fairness, Randolph’s minutes fluctuated and he never had a consistent role once Alkins returned. For instance, Randolph did not play at all in the final two games of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/pac-12-basketball-tournament">Pac-12 Tournament</a>, but then played nine minutes in UA’s first-round loss to Buffalo in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/a/march-madness-2018-ncaa-tournament">NCAA Tournament</a>.</p>
<p id="4QRaGu">Similarly, when Randolph was successful in early December, he was in the starting lineup and getting consistent playing time.</p>
<p id="NCyItI">So it is easy to wonder how he would have fared had he been used differently.</p>
<h2 id="BNtdSI">What’s next?</h2>
<p id="N5wWB2">Randolph didn’t play a whole lot as a freshman, but that should change substantially as a sophomore.</p>
<p id="5jyZiZ">The Yonkers, New York native is one of six scholarship players set to return to the Wildcats next season, and is on track to be a starter at shooting guard or small forward.</p>
<p id="1tYNQh">That is because Trier and Alkins are heading to the NBA, and the UA currently has zero 2018 commits, so frankly Arizona doesn’t have many other options.</p>
<p id="tkIKfC"><span>Dylan Smith</span> and <span>Emmanuel Akot</span>, whose first seasons at Arizona weren’t exactly impressive, will be Randolph’s main competition.</p>
<p id="GapXmi">Based on how he played as a freshman, Randolph has a long way to go to be a top-notch player in the Pac-12, but the talent is there based on his high school production and the glimpses he’s shown at Arizona.</p>
<p id="uLX4nN">One thing Randolph needs to do is add strength. The athletic swingman was listed at 6-foot-6, 175 pounds as a freshman which allowed him to be pushed around on both sides of the floor. It was especially noticeable on offense where he had little success driving to the hoop despite his quick-twitch athleticism, shooting just 50 percent at the rim. </p>
<p id="B99njZ">Players are often believed to make the biggest improvement between their freshman and sophomore seasons, and it is easy to imagine that happening for Randolph since he will have an increased role and more familiarity within the program — and college basketball — as a whole.</p>
<p id="9NBPhv">But whether or not Randolph actually makes that leap forward obviously remains to be seen. And given how UA’s roster is shaping up, Arizona needs Randolph to improve drastically otherwise it could be a rough year in the desert.</p>
<h2 id="TEJHDk">Quotable</h2>
<p id="p8WA2x">“Brandon is very explosive on the offensive end, and continuing to develop defensively. We watch him everyday and I think as we continue to implement our system — we don’t have a lot of set plays in — Brandon is one of those guys that you want to free him up to score, because he does it so naturally.” — head coach Sean Miller</p>
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<p id="ywqcPJ"><em>Follow Ryan Kelapire on Twitter at </em><a href="http://twitter.com/rkelapire"><em>@RKelapire</em></a></p>
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https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2018/3/20/17142240/arizona-basketball-reviewing-brandon-randolph-2017-18-season-freshman-transfer-return-nba-wildcatsRyan Kelapire