With the exhibition opener against Seattle Pacific just a hair over a month away, it's time to get down to it and begin looking at each of the Pac-12 teams in a little bit of detail to get an idea of what sort of challenges await the Huskies. I figure alphabetically is the best way to go, saving UW for last (though technically WSU is last). With UW I'll break it down into 4 separate article concentrating on each class of athletes (Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors) and I'll probably end it with a revised prediction for the Pac-12 standings.
On to Arizona:
Arizona faces a similar situation to Washington as they have lost some of their prime talent, but brought in some promising young talent that could keep them as one of the front runners for the regular season title.
Key Losses:
Derrick Williams:
Not much needs to be said that hasn't been already. Derrick Williams was the Pac-10 Player of the Year and deservedly so. Williams averaged nearly 20 points per game to go along with over 8 boards an outing. He shot 60% on the year from the field and 75% from the line along with an insane 57% from deep. He scored more than twice as many points and had twice as many rebounds than anyone else on the Wildcat roster. He was a huge post presence and drew an average of 8 fouls per game (good for 6th in the nation). He leaves a huge hole in the middle that will need to be filled.
Lamont 'MoMo' Jones:
Jones transferred during the summer to be closer to his family due to some health issues being experienced by his grandmother. Jones was the second leading scorer for the Wildcats with nearly 10 points a game and just under 2.5 assists per game. He transferred to Iona College in the MAAC. Many people also suspect that incoming freshman Josiah Turner also played a role in Jones' decision to transfer. Jones was a proven and successful point guard for the Wildcats and alongside Kyle Fogg, the two helped Williams find many open shots.
Kevin Parrom:
This is an interesting situation. For those who don't know, Kevin Parrom was shot quite recently in New York. He is stable and relatively healthy for someone who was attacked with a shotgun. He suffered gunshot wounds to his hand and leg/knee. I haven't seen any predictions as to his recovery time so I have no idea whether to mark him up as a loss for the Wildcats or just a delayed asset. I'm sure all of us wish him a quick recovery, no matter how much we may despise the Wildcats. If you don't remember Parrom, he is the one who tied up the game in overtime right before Isaiah Thomas made his infamous "Coldblooded" shot.
Jamelle Horne:
Arizona graduated only one senior at the end of the season, 6-7 forward Jamelle Horne. Horne was a solid player for the Wildcats, but was mostly in the shadow of Derrick Williams for the last season or two. In the 2009-2010 season Horne averaged nearly 30 minutes a game. In 2010-2011 Horne averaged only 18 minutes a game due to Williams' dominance in the post. He averaged only 3.3 boards per game and 6.1 points per game. While not a dominate player in his final season, he had all the tools and talents to be a frustrating defender and put up several double digit scoring games through the year.
Incoming Freshmen:
Arizona brought in a high octane recruiting class, snagging two 5-star and two 4-star players including UW recruit Angelo Chol.
Josiah Turner:
Highlighting the class is the #3 PG, Josiah Turner, a 6-3 185lb threat from just about anywhere on the court. He has a nice shot that needs a little refining. His real strengths are his speed and passing ability. He will be a definite threat inside the lane and should be an impact player from day one.
Nick Johnson:
Also at 6-3 and 185lb is the #5 shooting guard out of 2011. He can shoot with the best of them and even blocks shots like a big man. While listed as a 2-guard, he is a bit small for that position, but should be able to make up for that with pure athletic ability. He is also known to have a bit of a weak left hand, so defenders able to turn him the wrong way should experience more success in keeping him from becoming a threat.
Angelo Chol:
Many UW fans know of Chol as he was considered a big part of what would make the Class of 2011 successful for UW. Sadly, like many other big name big men, UW missed out and Chol signed with Arizona instead. At 6-8 and 210lbs he is a big man and will help make up for the loss of Horne and Williams. He has a decent mid-range game that helps to compliment his rebounding and shot blocking ability.
Sidiki Johnson:
Sidiki is a tad bigger than Chol at 6-8 220lb, but not quite as skilled. His scoring game is a work in progress as he is still developing a back to the basket game. Facing the hoop he is able to make a wide variety of shots and can finish strong at the hoop. He rebounds fairly well, but his overall effort tends to come in waves rather than performing at a high level consistently throughout the game.
Returning Players:
Robert Arvizu 6-0 182lb
Dondre Wise 6-1 214lb
Jordan Mayes 6-2 185lb
Kyle Fogg 6-3 180lb
Daniel Bejarano 6-4 208lb
Brendan Lavender 6-5 215lb
Solomon Hill 6-6 226lb
Max Wiepking 6-6 200lb
Jesse Perry 6-7 210lb
Kyryl Natyazhko6-11 264lb
Alex Jacobson 7-0 251lb
The big returning names are Fogg, Lavender, Hill, and Perry. They were the significant contributors this past season and will likely have to step their roles up with the loss of Williams and Jones, with the possibility of Parrom as well.
What to Expect:
Arizona should be a top 4 team in the Pac-12 without a doubt. The real question is whether the young talent coming in can replace the top tier talent they lost. In my mind they take a step back from the Elite 8 team of last season just with the loss of Derrick Williams. Young talent is nice, but experience is a better indicator of how a team will do. I think UW, UCLA, and probably even Cal will be better squads. Josiah Turner will likely make a run for Freshman Player of the Year. Arizona should make the NCAA without too much hassle. Their non-conference season should go well for them and hopefully they will enter the conference season still ranked. Several preseason polls have the Wildcats in the top 15 teams of the nation. To me this far exceeds their abilities. They are far too unproven to be so highly ranked. Are they a top 25 team? More than likely. Are they a top 20 team? Probably. Are they better than UW or UCLA? Likely not. Could they win the conference title? Definitely a possibility. UW should have won it this past season if not for the second half collapse after an outstanding start to the year.
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