Pac-10 Basketball Preview: Arizona Wildcats

The thought of Brandon Jennings, Jerryd Bayless, Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill, and Jeff Withey in the starting lineup for the Arizona Wildcats was a fantasy.

In reality, it was never going to happen. Brandon Jennings never picked up a textbook and failed his SATs, Bayless went to the NBA after his freshman year, and Withey transferred after Lute Olson’s retirement.

This leaves Budinger and Hill in the fantasy lineup. Both players are expected to leave at the end of the season, as both have futures in the NBA. Budinger is expected to shoot about 40 percent of the team's shots this year. Meanwhile, Hill looks to dominate the boards and be another go-to guy.

In the absence of Bayless, we have Nic Wise. Wise has returned for his junior season after rumors circulated back in May that he was transferring. Wise brings speed and experience to the point guard position. If Wise can stay healthy and not get banged up against his opponents, then he might just be the most valuable player on the team.

One thing that you cannot coach is speed, and Wise can run circles around several point guards in any conference. Wise is expected to be the iron man of the team, as he isn’t going to be sitting on the bench unless he is in foul trouble.

Now the question is, who gets the final two spots? Arizona has a talented small forward in Jamelle Horne who could start for almost any other Pac-10 school. However, with Budinger playing the small forward position, it looks like Horne will be the sixth man.

After a roller coaster summer and the loss of several recruits, Arizona signed recruits Kyle Fogg, Garland Judkins, and D.J. Shumpert to fill the losses of what could have been a very talented recruiting class.  Fogg, Judkins, and Brendon Lavender are in position to battle for the shooting guard position, which was held by Jawaan McClellan.

In an exhibition game against Incarnate Word, we saw the very first of the 2008 Arizona Wildcats. With Wise and Hill not in the lineup due to being late for practice, Interim Head Coach Russ Pennell had to make a last-minute substitution to the starting lineup.

One player that took the opportunity in Hill’s absence was Alex Jacobson. Jacobson, a redshirt freshman, has lost 15 pounds from last season and held his own against Division II Incarnate Word. If Pennell decides to use Hill as a power forward, we could see Jacobson move into the starting role of center, which was shared by Hill and Kirk Walters last season.

One thing that we learned from tonight’s game is that Jordan Hill is the same player from last year. Hill continues to have foul trouble as he did last season. If Hill gets in foul trouble this year, Arizona doesn’t have a replacement for him, unless you move Horne or Shumpert over to the power forward position.

Shumpert, a Tucson native, might be what former Wildcat Bret Brielmaier was to the Wildcats. Brielmaier was an undersized power forward. Shumpert was a last-minute addition to the Wildcats.

One player that Arizona is very high on is Zane Johnson. Johnson, a good friend of Jerryd Bayless, is known for his three-point shooting. Johnson is looking to get some valuable minutes off the bench and hopes to have a better season than last season.

Finally, there is Fendi Onobun. Onobun enters his senior season at Arizona after averaging 8.8 points per game last year. Onobun could sneak into the starting lineup this season if he plays his cards right. Onobun is a veteran influence to a very young Wildcat team. Onobun is one of two seniors on the team, the other one being David Bagga.

Arizona is expected to finish fourth in the Pac-10 this year. UCLA is favored to return to the Final Four once again this year. Arizona State, who was stunned after not being selected to the NCAA Tournament, does return James Harden, who could be a top five pick in this 2009 NBA Draft. USC also continues to be a steady team in the Pac-10 that no team will be taking lightly, even with the loss of O.J. Mayo.

This is not the same Pac-10 conference as last year. A lot of the all-stars from last year are gone, but the Pac-10 dribbles on in what should be a memorable season.