Arizona Basketball Preview 2021

PreviewsNCAAMPac-12 BasketballArizona Wildcats

Nov 3

Our Arizona basketball preview 2021 - 22 notes that the Wildcat program is still dealing with an FBI investigation dating back to 2017 concerning coach Sean Miller’s actions. In 2020 allegations were made public that Miller paid recruits and a coach. Miller was fired and Tommy Lloyd (0-0 Arizona/Overall, 0 years), a former Mark Few assistant at Gonzaga for a decade, was hired. When Miller departed so too did five of Arizona’s seven top players. Although the outcome of the investigation is still unknown, Lloyd is ready to move forward as best as he can with an Arizona team that last season went 17-9 overall and 11-9 in the conference. Three transfers and four new recruits join the eight remaining players from last season.

Wildcats Frontcourt

Freshman forward Azuolas Tubelis had a solid freshman season. He returns after averaging 12.2 PPG and 7.1 RPG. A 49.8 percent field-goal shooter, he hit 31.0 percent of his threes. Our Arizona basketball preview 2021 - 22 finds that Tubelis could develop into one of the Pac-12’s most lethal shooters. Seven-foot-one center Christian Koloko, a sophomore, started 19 games last season and made steady progress. Along with being an intimidating shot blocker, Koloko averaged 5.3 PPG and 4.8 RPG over 17.2 MPG. He shot 52.0 percent from the floor. Gonzaga transfer Oumar Ballo, a seven-foot former top-100 recruit, has potential and could develop into a potent force. The biggest issue upfront is depth. There’s not much behind this trio.

Arizona Basketball Preview – Backcourt

There is depth on the perimeter. In his first season with the Wildcats, guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin averaged 24.9 MPG and shot 47.1/41.8/84.6. He hit for 10.8 PPG and grabbed 4.8 RPG. Plus, his potential appears to be unlimited. At point, Kerr Kriisa, who gained eligibility late last season, was impressive and should be a potent force this year. Look for Utah transfer Pelle Larson, a perimeter threat, and Georgia transfer Justin Kier, a fine point maker, to compete with returning forward Dalen Terry, a 41.5 percent shooter, for playing time.