Pre-NBA draft declaration deadline edition*
First, a look at the year that was**:
Overall Record: 207-133 (60.9%) Against D1: 95-24 (79.8%)
| Tournament Breakdown | |||||
| Round | 64 | 32 | 16 | 8 | 4 |
| # of Teams | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Conference Rankings: RPI (2) Pomeroy Rank (2) Sagarin Rank (1)
08-09 Preview for all Ten Teams:
Arizona [07-08: 7th, 18-14 (8-10)]
Key Returners: Jordan Hill (62.0% eFG%, 7.9 RPG, .8 APG), Nic Wise (55.7 eFG%, 2.3 RG, 4.4 APG)
Key Losses: Jerryd Bayless (53.6% eFG%, 2.7 RPG, 4.0 APG), Chase Budinger (52.6 eFG%, 5.4 RPG, 2.5 APG), Jawann McClellan (49.8 eFG%, 3.6 RPG, 2.7 APG).
Key Additions: Brandon Jennings (Rivals: 5/5, #3 PG, #8 overall), Jeff Withey (Rivals: 4/5, #9 Center, #39 overall)
Arizona's biggest challenge will be replacing Jerryd Bayless, who recently announced his intention to enter the draft. Bayless led all scorers with 19.7 PPG and was able to routinely create opportunities for scoring on the perimeter, especially for Budinger, by collapsing defenses through drives into the paint. I's difficult to see who will replace Bayless at the 2 as there is not a proven player on UA's roster who fits that position. Heralded recruit Brandon Jennings has shown he can be a big time scorer, but at 6 ft 170 lbs he simply lacks the size to play shooting guard at the college level. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how the battle for point between Wise and Jennings shakes out.
Of key importance for Arizona's success will be whether or not Chase Budinger stays and continues to develop. Should Budinger stay he will be expected to be Arizona's key playmaker. If he can consistently shoot the three and get inside for offensive rebounds, and assuming Jordan Hill continues to play at a high level, then Arizona's offense will be very difficult to stop.
After a tough season the Wildcats have a lot to look forward to. Fans should welcome the return of Lute Olson and his up tempo offense from O'neil's set plays, and although Jennings can't replace Bayless, any team benefits from depth at the point guard position. As things stand Arizona should field an elite team next season, and should definitely make an improvement over this year's seventh place finish.
2 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Lew Wright about 1 year ago
Great article. Would disagree with your analysis on a few points.
The most sensitive disagreement might be with your Trojans. If everyone comes back, which is doubtful, they have individual talent equal to any Top Ten team in the country. Collectively, they have yet to ever put together a couple of back-to-back games where that talent worked to benefit the team. Coach Floyd? If he was interested in the Indiana job as rumored, just how committed is he to USC?
Cal is going to improve dramatically next season under Mike Montgomery. Too bad he didn't hold Cal off for a few more days. He might have been able to take over Stanford once again. The Bears will be the wild card next season.
Once the NBA draft is dealt with, then it will be a bit easier to tell if the Pac-10 will be strong again next season. I think you're going to be right about it weakening some and only five teams making it to the tourney.
Lew
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M Conmy about 1 year ago
Lew, I agree with your thoughts.
The whole Indiana issue was... odd. Apparently the official line is that Floyd was calling to schedule a home and home with Indiana, but who knows truthfully what his motives were. That being said, I think Floyd is loyal to USC and I think that he will stand by his claim that USC will be his last job. I think this is partially reinforced by the talent that is beginning to show interest in SC. Last year Mayo came in, this year he brings in Derozan, and it looks like top recruit Renardo Sidney will choose between USC and UCLA.
That being said, no matter how much talent USC brings in it will be all for naught if the Trojans can't capitalize on it. SC was very inconsistent this year, but whether that was a result of coaching or youth is hard to tell. Perhaps the blowout losses to WSU are more telling than we know. Regardless, I think this next season will be pivotal in Floyd's tenure at Southern California. He returns a core of Hackett, Lewis, and Gibson (all players he recruited), and expectations will be high if OJ is the sole departing player.
I will write a follow up after April 26 and again in June. Many interesting developments have begun since I wrote this article shortly after the Championship game, and it looks like it will be an interesting off season for the Pac.
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