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2018-19 UA Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018
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2018-19 UA BASKETBALL PREVIEW
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The expectations might not be high for Arizona men’s and women’s basketball, but each program is set up for success down the road with young, talented players
A3 | Highest rated women’s recruit in program history looks to shine A4 | Where do men’s and women’s teams rank among Pac-12 elite? A8 | Full schedule and expected starting lineups for each team A10 | Coleman finds strength through faith to lead Arizona
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A2 • Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018
LACK OF HYPE MIGHT BE CATALYST FOR ARIZONA MEN’S BASKETBALL COLUMN
BY DAVID SKINNER @davidwskinner_
E
xpectations are a funny thing in college basketball. The context surrounding those expectations depends on the specific program, and when it comes to the Wildcats of McKale, they’re usually as high as the peaks of Mt. Lemmon. With four Final Fours, countless Elite Eights and conference championships galore, Arizona’s trophy cabinet and ceiling drapery serve more as a museum than a collection of shelves and banners. The hardware that collects dusts in the annals of the McKale Center serve as the foundation for the seemingly ridiculous expectations that Sean Miller and his program carry with them almost every fall. This year is an exception to the rule. This is the first time since the 20102011 season that Arizona isn’t ranked in the top-16 in the AP Preseason Poll, with four of the interim seasons seeing the Wildcats in the top-10. Having players like Aaron Gordon, Stanley Johnson and DeAndre Ayton will do that. This year’s team does not have a player projected to be picked in the top half of the NBA Draft Lottery, which has contributed to Arizona flying under the media for the first time in a while. The lack of attention might just be the exact thing that is needed for this unheralded Wildcat team. This team can grow in the shadows, completely buy in to Sean Miller’s coaching and play as a team. The Maui Invitational serves as the only true chance the team gets to show what kind of team they are before the conference schedule starts. The Wildcats don’t have the usual standout player that acts as a cornerstone of the team, style-wise. This year’s team knows it has to rely on a collective effort of six or seven guys on a nightly basis if it wants to hang with Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington this year in a strong Pac12 conference, never mind the likes of Duke, Kentucky or Villanova on a national scale.
Not to beat a dead horse, but the FBI cloud that has been hanging over the Arizona program put a massive dent in the Wildcats’ 2018 recruiting class. The arrest of Book Richardson and the ESPN story about the alleged tapes of Sean Miller talking about payment for DeAndre Ayton scared away many of the top players in the class, many of whom were going to give the Wildcats a seat at the table in their recruitment. Luckily for Miller, he has taken no time in picking up where he left off, picking up commitments from AAU teammates and top-15overall prospects in point guard Nico Mannion and Josh Green. The Wildcats’ only top-15 recruit that is on the roster is Chase Jeter, who was at Duke for two years and saw game action from the bench for a majority of his time in Durham, leading to his transfer to Arizona. The team is filled with back-end top-100 players, such as Brandon Randolph, Ira Lee and Emmanuel Akot, who should all be taking the next step in their basketball careers as they take on their sophomore season. The young group is also supplemented by the gem of the recruiting class, top-40 guard Brandon Williams, and smart, veteran transfers in Ryan Luther and Justin Coleman. These players on paper aren’t going to blow anybody away, but games are played on hardwood, where Sean Miller has the opportunity to produce his greatest coaching accomplishment since Derrick Williams and Co. shellacked Duke and gave eventual NCAA Champs Kemba Walker and UConn a game in the Elite Eight. If the Wildcats can come together and become a strong collective unit by the time March comes around, the rest of the nation will have no choice but to pay attention to the Wildcats. However, that’s a long way away, and a lot can happen. That’s why they roll the ball out and play the game. The unheralded team will have all of the doubters to prove wrong, and we’ll see if Sean Miller can turn that into fuel for his team. — David Skinner is an assistant sports editor who covers Arizona football and basketball.
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Photo collage of men’s and women’s basketball players this season, inluding Cate Reese (25) (courtesy Stan Liu, Arizona Athletics), Brandon Williams (2) (by Madeleine Viceconte, The Daily Wildcat), Brandon Randolph (5) (by Simon Asher, The Daily WIldcat) and Dominique McBryde (20) (by Beau Leone, The Daily Wildcat).
On the Cover
Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018
The Daily Wildcat • A3
Historic recruit Cate Reese brings spark to women’s basketball team BY ALEX MUNOZ @Alex_MunozDW
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LEXI HORSEY | THE DAILY WILDCAT
ARIZONA’S FRESHMAN FORWARD CATE Reese scores for the Wildcats during the game against Eastern New Mexico Monday, Oct. 29. The final score was a 88-31, a win for the Wildcats.
verything is bigger in Texas, and for head coach Adia Barnes and the Arizona women’s basketball team, there was no bigger signing than Lone Star State native Cate Reese. The 6-foot-3 forward was a highly scouted five-star recruit out of Cypress Woods High School in Cypress, Texas. Her commitment to Arizona sets the foundation for building a respectable program that managed a mere six wins last year. Reese has yet to score her first points in a Wildcats uniform, but already she has made school history. The women’s basketball team has lacked a McDonald’s All-American until now. She is ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the post and 14th-best player overall, per ESPN. Even more impressive, Reese comes in as the highest-ranked prospect the Wildcats have ever signed. Colorado, Oklahoma and Washington were just a few of the many offers that poured in for Reese’s services, but it was Barnes and her vision of what she is trying to build at Arizona that intrigued Reese. To sweeten the deal, it didn’t hurt that Reese’s older sister Ali, who was part of the team last season, may have had somewhat of an influence in her decision as well. “I chose Arizona because I liked what head coach Adia Barnes was building, and being able to be with my sister was a plus,” Reese said. Although Ali has been at Arizona a year longer, it was Cate who visited the campus first during the winter of her junior year in high school on an unofficial visit. When Cate returned to Tucson for her official visit, Ali tagged along, and they both decided Arizona was the place for them. “Competitor,” “aggressive” and “physical” were all words used by teammates and coaches in describing Reese at the team’s official media day. “Cate is a fierce competitor,” Barnes said. “Cate is the one that will dive, knock you over, dive in your legs. I love that, and I love coaching that.” As much as Barnes loves coaching a
player like Reese, her teammates love playing alongside her as well. Destiny Graham, a senior on the team, said she likes what she has seen thus far from the young, talented freshman. “I just love how she gets after it and she doesn’t get down on herself,” Graham said. “Playing with her is really fun but playing against her is hard.” Head assistant coach Salvo Coppa concurred with Graham’s assessment of Reese. “She works hard, she has a lot of intensity during practices and she’s very aggressive. That’s the thing that I like most about her,” Coppa said. Based off the scouting report from her coaches and teammates, it’s easy to identify how Reese plays the game. As good as it is to have such quality, it can also potentially have some setbacks. “We’re going to have to keep her out of fouling, because she’s so aggressive, but I don’t mind,” Barnes said. Scoring comes natural to Reese, and the Wildcats will need every point she can get, as Arizona averaged a disappointing 57.9 points per game last season. During her junior year of high school, Reese scored 22.3 points per game along with 13.2 rebounds. She followed that her senior year averaging 30.6 points while snatching 15.3 boards. Coming in as a freshman, Reese acknowledged some of her strengths are the ability to run the floor and grab rebounds. Controlling the boards will be crucial for the Wildcats, who averaged 31.9 rebounds per game last year to their opponents’ 40.5 rpg. Despite it being her first year, Barnes and her staff has seen the work ethic Reese possesses and expects it will pay off as the season goes on and Reese continues to grow through practice and playing time. “She just wants to be good so bad. She really brings a level of intensity for practice up because of how hard she works,” Barnes said. As for expectations, Barnes sees the young freshman having numerous opportunities to establish herself. “She’s an impact player. She will get a lot of minutes, and I expect her to go out and do what she does,” Barnes said. “I think she will have a lot of opportunities here.”
WILLIAMS TO BRING ‘NEW WAVE’ OF POINT GUARD U TO ARIZONA BY ALEC WHITE @AlecWhite_UA
Steve Kerr, Jason Terry, Mike Bibby, Damon Stoudamire, Jason Gardner, T.J. McConnell and now Brandon Williams? The first six have etched their names into Arizona men’s basketball history as legendary point guards. Now Williams, a Los Angeles native, looks to join them. Williams comes to town as the highest-ranked point guard (No. 34 overall, No. 8 PG per 247Sports) to join Arizona since Nick Johnson in 2011. “I’m trying to bring in that new tradition. That new tradition of having new five-star guards come in here, leading that new wave. I think that’s big, especially with everything that happened off the court,” Williams said. Notice the mention of five-star guards. Williams, initially rated as a five-star guard heading into his junior year at Crespi High School, missed the entire season due to a genetic problem in his right knee that caused an injury and eventually led him to have corrective surgery in January 2017. The injury allowed other high school stars to leapfrog Williams in recruiting races, and a star was dropped from his ranking. “That was really tough for me,” the 6-foot-2 guard said. “[The surgery] was something I had to get done then rather than now so I won’t miss time when I’m in college.” Now with a chip on his shoulder, Williams readies himself for a difficult assignment as a freshman: playing multiple positions. With transfer guard Justin Coleman expected to handle the majority of the minutes at point guard, Williams will start the season as a shooting guard. But when Coleman comes off the court, Williams will take over as the offense’s signal caller. “I’m the type of guy that doesn’t need to play the 1 or has to play the 2, I’m the type of guy that goes out
“
there and plays basketball,” Williams said of his role. “Playing with Brandon Williams, he’s a prolific scorer so he makes my job a lot easier,” Coleman said. “It’s also a lot more exciting to play with a guy like him.” The two have already agreed that when they share the court, it’s “unfair” for opponents because of the way they feed off each other. “He’s gonna be one of the better scorers to ever play at Arizona,” Coleman said. If you watch Williams long enough, you can see flashes of two NBA players he models his game after: Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard. “Kyrie just because of how smart he is … just putting the ball in the basket,” Williams said. “Same with Damian Lillard. He can shoot really anywhere on the court. Coming off ball screens, he’s really smart at that.” Through two exhibition games, Williams has already showcased his ability to put the ball in the basket and do it from anywhere, hitting four 3-pointers against Chaminade University and averaging 18.5 points in two contests. As for an Arizona player Williams wants to be like, it’s a familiar name for Wildcats fans. The freshman chose Parker Jackson-Cartwright because of his ability to be a team leader and an important part of a team for four years. Williams’ vision of the new wave of Point Guard U is also taking shape for future seasons as five-star point guard Nico Mannion, the top point guard in 2019 class per 247Sports, looks to follow in Williams’ footsteps. But Arizona has this season right in front of them, a team replacing all five starters from last year, and the ‘Cats will need to find a new identity. Don’t be surprised if Williams becomes the face of the program when it’s all said and done. “He has a big role on this team,” Miller said. “We’re getting him ready for that role.”
I’m trying to bring in that new tradition. That new tradition of having new five-star guards come in here, leading that new wave.” — Brandon Williams, UA freshman guard
SOFIA MORAGA | THE DAILY WILDCAT
A4 • The Daily Wildcat
Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018
PREVIEW 2018
‘Cats look to climb out of the basement BY NOAH AUCLAIR @NoahAuclair_DW
With the new women’s basketball season quickly approaching, there is no better time than the present to take a look at the Pac-12 landscape and see where the Wildcats stand in comparison. ASU (Last Year: 22-13) Finishing the year just outside of the AP Top 25, the Sun Devils were knocked out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. ASU didn’t graduate any seniors in the offseason, setting them up for another good season. Arizona (Last Year: 6-24) The Wildcats lost two key seniors, JaLea Bennett, who led the team in scoring, and Kat Wright, but they also added a slew of new recruits, most notably freshman Cate Reese, who was the school’s first McDonald’s All-American and the highest ranked prospect the program has ever signed. California (Last Year: 21-11) Also receiving votes for the AP Top 25, Cal was knocked out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Bears will be without two of their starters from last year,
including Mikayla Cowling, who led the team in minutes played. UCLA (Last Year: 27-8) Ranked No. 9 in the final AP Top 25 Poll, UCLA made it to the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament, losing to eventual champion Oregon, and made it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, losing to the eventual runner-up, Mississippi State. The Bruins took a big hit in the offseason, losing their two leading scorers from last season, Jordin Canada and Monique Billings. Colorado (Last Year: 15-16) With a record of 5-13 in conference play, the bright spot of the season came in the Pac-12 Tournament, when the Buffaloes pulled off an upset of Utah in the first round. Senior Kennedy Leonard will look to build off her 2017-2018 campaign, in which she averaged 14.7 points per game. Oregon State (Last Year: 26-8) The Beavers finished at No. 13 in the final AP Top 25 Poll. In the Pac-12 Tournament, they were upset in their first game by ASU, but in the NCAA Tournament, they made it to the quarter finals, losing to the No.
1 seed in their bracket, Louisville. OSU lost arguably its best and most important player in Marie Gulich, who last year led the team in minutes per game, points per game, rebounds per game and field-goal percentage. Oregon (Last Year: 33-5) Winners of last year’s Pac-12 Tournament, the Ducks were the No. 6 team in the nation entering the NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the quarterfinals to eventualchampions Notre Dame. Oregon retained the majority of its starting lineup, including Sabrina Lonescu and Ruthy Hebard, who averaged 19.7 and 17.6 ppg, respectively. USC (Last Year: 20-11) Unable to make the NCAA Tournament, the Trojans were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament by Stanford. USC lost two of its starters from last year to graduation, Kristen Simon and Sadie Edwards. Simon nearly averaged a double-double, with 17 ppg and 9.2 rebounds per game. Stanford (Last Year: 24-11) The runner up of the Pac-12 Tournament finished as the No. 15 team in the AP Top 25, making it to the third round of the NCAA
Tournament. The Cardinal lost two starters, including Brittany McPhee, who averaged a team-high 16.7 points per game. Utah (Last Year: 18-14) The Utes lost in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament, getting upset by Colorado. Utah lost three players, including its leading rebounder Emily Potter. Washington State (Last Year: 10-20) WSU finished with a 3-14 record in Pac-12 play and was bounced in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament. The Cougs retained its three highest scorers from last year, including junior Chanelle Molina, who will be joined this year by her sisters, freshman Cherilyn and redshirt freshman Celena. Washington (Last Year: 7-23) The Huskies finished last in the Pac-12 last year, and things only got worse for Washington, as its lost three seniors, including starter Jenna Moser, who had the third-highest point total on the team.
Oregon the favorite to win men’s division BY MARK LAWSON @TheLawson_1
With the college basketball season set to tip-off, Arizona finds itself in an unusual place. The Wildcats were picked to finish fourth in the conference in the preseason poll, their lowest preseason ranking since 2009-2010. While the underdog mentality might benefit Arizona, the conference is certainly not lacking talent as a whole. Oregon was the preseason pick to finish first, receiving 16 of 25 possible first-place votes. UCLA placed second with six, followed by Washington with two and Arizona receiving one. While Oregon may be the favorite, there are many teams who can challenge its for the top spot. This is how beat writer Mark Lawson expects things to shake out in the conference. Arizona State Returning Starters: 2 Key Player: Rob Edwards Speaking of up and down seasons, the Bobby Hurley experiment was quite a ride last season for the Sun Devils. After receiving almost no national attention to start the year, ASU turned heads by going into Kansas and shocking the Jayhawks while also beating Xavier on a neutral floor. After beating two teams who would eventually go on to be No. 1 seeds in the tournament, people began to take notice. ASU was ranked as high as No. 3 in the country last season, before a collapse in Pac-12 play relegated its to the play-in game of the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to Syracuse. Hurley loses his three starting guards from last season, but expect Remy Martin to step in and continue to push tempo for a team that was first in the conference in scoring last year. When it comes to replacing the scoring itself, look for Rob Edwards, a Cleveland State transfer who averaged 16.5 points per game there before sitting out last season to come to the desert. Arizona Returning Starters: 0 Key Player: Brandon Randolph Pegged by many last season as the favorite to win the national title before the season, Arizona experienced one of the most up and down seasons you will ever see in college basketball. From being the No. 2-ranked team in the country to unranked the next week, Arizona struggled through adversity to win the Pac-12 tournament and be a trendy national title pick yet again come tournament time, only to lose out against Buffalo in the first round. Sean Miller lost all five starters from that team, and while expectations are down in Tucson, this team should still contend for an NCAA berth. Chase Jeter is finally eligible after transferring from Duke, and more minutes could mean the coming-out party for sophomore guard Brandon Randolph, who should be among the league’s most improved.
California Returning Starters: 3 Key Player: Justice Sueing Cal had a rough first year under head coach Wyking Jones, going 8-24 overall and finishing last in the conference. An extremely young team last season, Jones is likely hoping some of the growing pains they may have experienced have gone away in year two, as his three leading returning scorers were all freshmen last year. The group is led by Sueing, who averaged just under 14 points per game last year, with Darius McNeill just behind him at 11.3 a game. The problem for Cal isn’t just youth, however, it is also lack of size. Gone from last season are Marcus Lee and Kingsley Okoroh, the two main interior presences for the Golden Bears last season. Cal will only have one player on the team above 6-foot-8, so expect the team to rely on tempo and the three this season. UCLA Returning Starters: 2 Key Player: Jaylen Hands UCLA lost one of its more productive players in recent memory to graduation in Aaron Holiday, but the keys to the car should now be given to the dynamic Hands. With the ball in his hands more in a feature role, expect him to have a big breakout campaign. Kris Wilkes is a 6-foot8 guard who is the leading returning scorer, at just under 14 points per game. Head coach Steve Alford’s leash in Westwood seems to be getting shorter and shorter with each passing season, but a recruiting class that brings in five top-100 players looks to keep him secure for the near future. Colorado Returning Starters: 3 Key Player: McKinley Wright IV Colorado would have probably been higher on the list had it not been for the season-ending torn ACL suffered by starting center Dallas Walton. Colorado has only one senior on the roster, which means it might be a year or two away from really making noise in the conference. What the Buffs do have is Wright, who is a sleeper pick for Pac-12 Player of the Year. Wright was one of the best freshman in all of the country last season, averaging 14.2 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. Head coach Tad Boyle has always had one of the better defenses in the conference, as the Buffaloes were second in the conference in field-goal defense last season, but the loss of Walton, the team’s best interior presence and shot blocker, might be a tough task to overcome. Oregon State Returning Starters: 4 Key Player: Tres Tinkle Oregon State returns one of the more dynamic one-two punches in the conference in Tinkle and guard Stephen Thompson, who combined
to score 33.4 points per game last season. Tinkle could be playing to help his dad keep his job this season, as head coach Wayne Tinkle has underperformed since taking Oregon State to its first NCAA Tournament in 26 years in 2016. Thompson will also be joined by his brother Ethan in the backcourt, as he averaged just under 10 points per game last season and should only improve in his sophomore year. If Oregon State can get contributions from people outside of those three, it could be a surprise in the conference. Oregon Returning Starters: 2 Key Player: Bol Bol The Ducks should rebound from a disappointing 2017-2018 campaign that saw them miss the NCAA Tournament with a dynamic recruiting class. The consensus top-five class is highlighted by Bol Bol, the unique 7-foot-2 center with range out to the three-point line and a wingspan that will alter any shot near him. Louis King is another top-20 player who can score with anyone due to his smooth game and length. All-Pac-12 Second Team guard Payton Pritchard is back to steady the ship, with grad transfer Ehab Amin, who led all of Division I in steals last season, providing a reliable running mate. If Bol can be the gamechanger many have pegged him to be on both sides of the ball, Oregon could be poised for another run to the Final Four. USC Returning Starters: 2 Key Player: Bennie Boatwright The Trojans appeared to be safe for the NCAA Tournament last season after going 12-6 in conference and making it to the Pac-12 title game, but the cards were not in their favor. The good news for the Trojans is that, while they have to replace three starters, including point guard Jordan McLaughlin, they bring in more than enough to do that. Back is Boatwright, who missed a good chunk of last season, probably preventing him from thinking more seriously about jumping to the NBA. Kevin Porter Jr. is a trendy pick for Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, as the lefty is athletic and has the jumper to match it. Stanford Returning Starters: 2 Key Player: Daejon Davis Arguably no team in the country suffered a tougher departure than Stanford did when Reid Travis decided to graduate transfer to play at Kentucky for his final season. Travis would have probably been the preseason Player of the Year in the conference and could have single-handedly taken this team to an NCAA berth. The cupboard is not totally bare for head coach Jerod Haase however, as he returns Davis after an exceptional freshman year that saw him average 10.7
points and 4.8 assists. KZ Okpala also averaged double digits as a freshman, so a year of experience could lead to big things from this duo. Utah Returning Starters: 1 Key Player: Donnie Tillman One of the toughest places to play each season in the conference, Utah has been a consistent threat under head coach Larry Krystkowiak in the Pac-12, finishing no lower than fourth each season since 2014. Krystkowiak will have his work cut out for him this season, replacing four starters from a 23-win team a year ago. Back for the Utes is senior Sedrick Barefield, who averaged 12 points per game last season and should be the go-to guy this season for Krystkowiak. Sophomore forward Donnie Tillman is someone to look for to make the leap many Utes take after getting an opportunity, as he averaged 7.8 points and 4.8 points off the bench last season as a freshman. Utah will have a lot of new faces this season, and their development will determine the outcome of this team. Washington State Returning Starters: 3 Key Player: Robert Franks Washington State suffered a huge blow this offseason when starting point guard Malachi Flynn announced his intentions to transfer, but head coach Ernie Kent couldn’t have foreseen another four players electing to join him. Robert Franks almost left to the NBA as well, but he is back for his senior year. Franks will undoubtably be the go-to guy for the Cougars, averaging 17.4 points and 6.6 rebounds last season in the same role. Franks and the two best returning players for Washington State, Viont’e Daniels and Carter Skaggs, all shot over 40 percent from 3-point range last season. Too much roster turnover and another season at the bottom of the conference could be enough to cost Kent his job after the season is done. Washington Returning Starters: 5 Key Player: Jaylen Nowell Washington looks to make big strides in its second season under head coach Mike Hopkins. Returning all five starters from a team that challenged for an NCAA birth last year, Washington will be led by Jaylen Nowell, who was overshadowed during his fabulous freshman season by Deandre Ayton. Nowell averaged 16 points per game last season and could easily contend for player of the year in the conference. Three seniors also start for the Huskies, with Noah Dickerson averaging 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds last season to provide a presence inside.
Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018
The Daily Wildcat • A5
THE DAILY WILDCAT
GYRO-FALAFEL-STEAKS Ma of K sters abs as
WE R! E CAT
BECAUSE IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON AND... SIMON ASHER | THE DAILY WILDCAT
ARIZONA HEAD COACH SEAN Miller shouts a play during the Arizona-Cal game on March 3, 2018, in McKale Center. Miller has a top10 recruiting class coming to Tucson in 2019.
Brighter times ahead? BY AMIT SYAL @ASyal21
BECAUSE THIS DOMESTIC CAT TOLD YOU SO...
JOSH GREEN Australia native, former teammate of DeAndre Ayton and top-10 prospect Josh Green committed to Arizona in October over top programs such as Villanova, the University of Kansas and Southern California. Green, a five star guard, will join Mannion in strengthening Arizona’s backcourt next season. The two freshmen will join strong guards, such as Brandon Williams and
CHRISTIAN KOLOKO Seven-foot center Christian Koloko committed to Arizona in September. Koloko played with current Arizona freshman Devonaire Doutrive in high school at California’s Lake Balboa Birmingham. The lanky center will add to Arizona’s frontcourt and bring a new spark to the Arizona offense that was lost with the drafting of DeAndre Ayton to the Phoenix Suns this past year. TERRY ARMSTRONG Wing player Terry Armstrong announced his top 10 schools back in August but did not commit to Arizona until about two weeks ago. Armstrong’s top 10 schools included elite programs including Michigan State, Oregon and Xavier, but ultimately the 6-foot-6 player decided to bring his talents to the Old Pueblo.
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WHAT IT ALL MEANS With everything that has been happening to Sean Miller and the Arizona basketball program with the FBI investigation, it seems it hasn’t stopped these four recruits from coming down to Tucson to continue the legacy of Arizona basketball. It may be too soon to say that the FBI investigation and all that it entails will have an effect on future recruiting classes, but for the moment, Arizona basketball seems to be trending in the right direction for future years.
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NICO MANNION Five star point guard Nico Mannion committed to Arizona earlier this year in September after visiting Tucson and the program. Mannion currently attends Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Ariz., and earlier this year, he changed his recruitment class from 2020 to 2019, meaning Mannion with join the Wildcats next season in 2019. The No. 1-ranked point guard chose Arizona over top programs, including Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina.
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Brandon Randolph.
The future of Arizona basketball might look a little rocky at the moment, but with Sean Miller’s incoming recruiting class, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. As of late October, Arizona now has the No. 2-ranked class for the 2019 season, according to 247sports. Here’s who’s expected to suit up in red and blue next year.
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A6 • The Daily Wildcat
Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018
ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION Basketball beat writers Alec White, Mark Lawson and David Skinner answer questions about some key points for the upcoming men’s basketball season
BY DAILY WILDCAT STAFF @WildcatHoops
Q: The starting five are gone from last year, but there are plenty of younger returners for this season. Which one do you see playing the biggest role? MARK: My first thought was Brandon Randolph, because he’s a top-50 recruit who proved at the high school level he could shoot and score and had to take a backseat last season to more experienced guys like Allonzo Trier and Dylan Smith. I think that for this team to go further than expected, however, it starts on the defensive end of the floor. Emmanuel Akot was a player Sean Miller spoke highly of, even before last season, as somebody who could guard multiple positions and be that Rondae HollisJefferson-type of player who you knew could disrupt the opposing team’s best scorer. Being that he was supposed to be a high school senior last season, I think he will come in more mature and adjusted to the college game, and I look for him to be somebody who can set the tone defensively.
transition and has a smooth jump shot that extends well out beyond the three-point line. I think that, as he grows and gets accustomed to the college game, he will continue to gain confidence and want the ball in his hands when Arizona needs a bucket.
to play a small-ball style, sort of like the Warriors do. Ryan Luther and Ira Lee can both guard an opposing team’s center, and I think Justin Coleman and Brandon Williams will form excellent chemistry and play well off each other. The fact that Miller has so many guys who can play multiple positions this year will allow them to thrive in a faster system, I think. DAVID: There is no doubt in my mind that Arizona trying to play faster is the right move. On top of the increase in shots and the floor spacing, the most interesting thing about the scheme shift is something that Sean Miller said in a press conference this spring. Miller mentioned that great big men are hard to find, hard to land and even harder to keep on campus. Former Wildcat Deandre Ayton is a perfect example, as he was the first selection in this past spring’s NBA Draft after spending just a few months in Tucson. If Miller can keep his top guards on campus for multiple years on top of the change of pace, then I think Arizona can be a program that is not only fun to watch but dangerous in March.
DAVID: For me, the biggest returning player is Chase Jeter. Much like for Mark, Randolph came to mind, but I believe the front court, an area that Sean Miller has prided himself on having depth in during his time in Tucson, is the biggest question coming into this season. Coming out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Jeter was a consensus top-15 overall prospect in his class, where he turned down offers from Arizona, UConn and Gonzaga to play at Duke, where he ended up finding little playing time and hurting his stock as a prospect in the process. But sitting out a whole year after a season where he was rarely featured has led many, including myself, to have doubts about the player. The natural talent is there, as we saw with the 14-rebound performance during the 24 minute Red-Blue scrimmage, and now we will see if Jeter’s experience and maturity will help him put it all together in a crucial time for Arizona.
DAVID: I hate to have the same answer as another panelist, but I just can’t see anyone besides Brandon Williams being the go-to guy by season’s end. I think he has a real chip on his shoulder after being left out of multiple All-American showcases during his senior year, and I could see the combo guard having the entire nation talking about why he was so overlooked by the time Arizona’s plane touches down from Maui, much like Trae Young last season. I think he’s that good. ALEC: I’ll go with Brandon — Brandon Randolph. One of Miller’s biggest talking points so far is the improvement players have in their second year. Yes, it’s a small sample size, but Randolph looks prepared to take the next step and be a go-to scorer. The 6-foot-6 guard flashed that potential last year when he scored 10.7 points over the span seven games between Nov. 24 and Dec. 18. He scored 20 in the exhibition, hitting 6-8 shots. Williams’ moments will have explosiveness, but Randolph will be a consistent threat to score anywhere on the court. Q: Which new face (transfer or freshman) will have the most impact on the program’s success?
SOFIA MORAGA | THE DAILY WILDCAT
MARK: Justin Coleman. Coleman has experience playing big-time college basketball already and has gotten nothing but praise since arriving on campus, as he was already named a team captain. Miller has described him as a “pass-first” point guard, but he has also shown the ability to score, averaging a little over 13 points a game for Samford last season. I think that if he can be a steadying presence at the point guard position, the team will feed off of his leadership qualities, and he will set them up in the right positions to be successful.
ARIZONA’S IRA LEE 11 pushes through contact to shoot the ball during the Red-Blue game Sunday, Oct. 14, in McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz.
ALEC: Even though he hasn’t suited up for the Wildcats yet, I consider Chase Jeter a returner since he was on roster last year, so I agree with David here. I think he is someone Miller is going to lean on to get the scoring done down low to help open up shooting areas outside for the guards. Jeter’s big, 6-foot10 frame will be felt most on the rebounding end. With two seven-footers on each of the last two years’ teams, Arizona ranked just fourth (2017-18) and sixth (2016-17) in the conference in rebounding. Jeter won’t necessarily be the team’s most dynamic player, but he’ll be a reliable scorer and rebounder that the team can depend on. Q: There are a lot of pieces to the backcourt this year, and Sean Miller expects his team to play a fast style of play because of that. Is this the right strategy? MARK: This style could work, because he has the pieces
ALEC: I agree with both of you guys on this one: Playing fast is the right move. Miller’s usual slow style of play is most effective when he has an elite pack-line defense to pair with it. But the last two years have been among Miller’s worst defenses at Arizona, statistically speaking. This year, the Wildcats boast enough guards and wings to be able to space the floor and rely on shooting from outside, especially with the lack of a traditional big man. Q: By February/March, who will be the go-to scorer on the team? MARK: I think that, by season’s end, Brandon Williams will grow into the go-to guy for the team. He can score in
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DAVID: I am basing this off a scrimmage and an exhibition game, but I think Devonaire Doutrive could have a season that not many people expected him to have. I think if he continues to impress in practice and take advantage of the snippets of playing time, he will receive early in the season. He could push Alex Barcello further down the guard depth chart and establish himself in the nine-man rotation. ALEC: My choice will probably catch some by surprise, but I will go with Ryan Luther. The 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward will be the X-factor for Arizona. Luther is a player that can play multiple positions on the court and has the ability to knock down 3’s when the Wildcats elect to play small ball. The transfer from Pitt averaged a doubledouble in 10 games last year and hit 39 percent (12-31) of his 3-pointers.
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Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018
The Daily Wildcat • A7
Only Arizona native ready to impress BY NOAH AUCLAIR @NoahAuclairUA
For many student-athletes, committing to a school far away from home means adjustments — a lot of adjustments. You’re on your own, and although you gain a great support system in whatever sports program you are joining, you lose the major support system you had growing up: your family. The Arizona Wildcats women’s basketball team is full of these athletes, with players from Washington and California, Minnesota and Indiana, and even from as far as Germany. One player who doesn’t have to worry too much about the out-of-state adjustments is freshman Bryce Nixon. Nixon is, in fact, the only player on the current Wildcats roster from Arizona.
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She finished her career as one of only three high school players in Arizona since 1973 to score in excess of 2,000 points and dish out 500 assists. Nixon comes from a family of athletes. According to her bio on the Arizona Wildcats website, her mom Shelley was a three-time All-American running track at the University of Texas. Her dad Chuck played football at San Diego State University. She has an uncle, Troy, who played professional football for the San Francisco 49ers. However, Nixon said that while she’s happy that her family can come up whenever need be, she’s not as reliant on them. “It’s a good distance,” she said with a laugh. “My parents can come if I need them to, but also they don’t have to come.” One thing that can ease the transition is having a close friend or two on the team, and when asked who
I liked the idea of rebuilding the program ... Trying to surprise some people this year.” — BRYCE NIXON, FRESHMAN
“I never really knew if I wanted to stay in-state or go out of state, so I was just trying to find the right fit. I think this really is the right fit for me,” Nixon said. Nixon said that during the recruitment process, aside from UA, she was considering Oregon State, Oklahoma and Kansas State, but chose Arizona because of the opportunity to be a part of something special. “I liked the idea of rebuilding the program. I like the coaching staff,” the 5-foot-10 guard said. “Trying to surprise some people this year.” A Phoenix native, Nixon was rated as a four-star guard by ProspectsNation.com. She played her high school ball for Arcadia High School, where she was named All-City three times, AllState Division II two times as well as Offensive Player of the Year and AllArizona during her senior season. Over her final three years in high school, she averaged 20 points and five assists per game.
that was for her on the team, Nixon had someone in mind. “I would probably say Cate [Reese],” she said. “She’s my roommate, so we’re pretty close.” As for the upcoming season, Nixon said that she’s looking forward to things getting going. “I’m excited,” Nixon said. “I think I’m learning a lot, and I have been since I got here, so I’m really excited.” Although she didn’t come from across the country, Nixon said that there was still definitely an adjustment, but that she thought that she was doing better than she expected. “I think it’s been a pretty easy transition for me,” Nixon said. “I thought I would miss home a lot more than I do.” Nixon will now look to help rebuild a women’s basketball program that has been waiting to impress, too.
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ARIZONA GUARD BRYCE NIXON shoots the ball during the Arizona-Western game at McKale Stadium Monday, Nov. 5 in Tucson, AZ.
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ARIZONA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GUARD Bryce Nixon defends against Western New Mexico during the Arizona-Western game at McKale Stadium Monday, Nov. 5 in Tucson, AZ.
A8 • The Daily Wildcat
Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018
The Daily Wildcat • A9
MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Nov. 7: Houston Baptist, 7 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Nov. 9: Idaho St., 6:30 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Nov. 11: Cal Poly, 3 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Nov. 13: Loyola Marymount, 6:30 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Nov. 14: vs. UT El Paso, 6 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Hawaii Classic Nov. 16: Seattle, 3 p.m., Honolulu, Hawaii
Maui Invitational Nov. 19: Iowa State 7 pm., Lahania, Hawaii
Hawaii Classic Nov. 18: Portland, 3 p.m., Honolulu, Hawaii
Maui Invitational Nov. 20: Gonzaga, time TBD, Lahania, Hawaii
Nov. 23: South Carolina St., 6:30 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Maui Invitational Nov. 21: GAME 3 TBD, Lahania, Hawaii
Nov. 27: Incarnate Word, 6:30 p.m., McKale Center
Nov. 29: Georgia Southern, 7 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Dec. 2: San Diego St., 2 p.m., San Diego, Calif.
Dec. 2: Connecticut, 11 a.m., Hartford, Conn.
Dec. 5: Montana, 11 a.m., McKale Memorial Center
Dec. 6: Utah Valley, 7 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Dec. 9: Long Beach St., 2 p.m., Long Beach, Calif.
Dec. 9: Alabama, 11 a.m., Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Dec. 17: UT El Paso, 6:30 p.m., McKale Center
Dec. 15: Baylor, 9 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Dec. 21: NAU, 6:30 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Dec. 19: Montana, 6:30 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Dec. 30: ASU, 5 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Dec. 22: UC Davis, 5 p.m., McKale Memorial Center Jan. 3: Colorado, 7 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Jan. 4: Colorado St., 7 p.m., Boulder, Colo.
Jan. 5: Utah, noon, McKale Memorial Center.
Jan. 6: Utah, noon, Salt Lake City, Utah
Jan. 9: Stanford, 9 p.m., Stanford, Calif.
Jan. 11: Calfornia, 7 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Jan. 12: California, 8:30 p.m., Berkeley, Calif.
Jan. 13: Stanford, noon, McKale Memorial Center
Jan. 17: Orgeon, 7 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Jan. 18: Oregon St., 8 p.m., Corvallis, Ore.
Jan. 19: Oregon State, 5 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Jan. 20: Oregon, 1 p.m., Eugene, Ore.
Jan. 24: USC, 7 p.m., Los Angeles, Calif.
Jan. 25: USC, 7 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Jan. 26: UCLA, 8 p.m., Los Angeles, Calif.
Jan. 27: UCLA, 2 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Jan. 31: ASU, 7 p.m., Tempe, Ariz. Feb. 7: Washington, 7 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Feb. 1: ASU, 6 p.m., Tempe, Ariz.
Feb. 9: Washington St., 5:30, McKale Memorial Center
Feb. 7: Washington, 8 p.m., Seattle, Wash.
Feb. 7: Washington, 7 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Feb. 9: Washington St., 1 p.m., Pullman, Wash.
Feb. 14: Utah, 7 p.m., Salt Lake City, Utah
Feb. 15: Utah, 6 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Feb. 17: Colorado, 6 p.m., Boulder, Colo.
Feb. 17: Colorado, noon, McKale Memorial Center
Feb. 21: California, 7 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Feb. 22: Stanford, 8 p.m., Stanford, Calif.
Feb. 24: Stanford, 6 p.m. McKale Memorial Center
Feb. 24: California, 3 p.m., Berkeley, Calif.
Feb. 28: Oregon St., 7 p.m., Corvallis, Ore.
March 1: Oregon, 8 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
March 2: Oregon, time TBD, Eugene, Ore. Head Coach Adia Barnes
March 3: Oregon St., 3 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Sam Thomas #14: Former top-100 recruit, looks to be a catalyst in the Adia Barnes-led revolution of the women’s basketball program.
Cate Reese #25: The programs highest ever ranked recruit has a chance to leave a lasting legacy in Tucson. Can she lead the Wildcats to their first Final Four?
Lucia Alonso #4: Member of the Spain U18 and U16’s teams and comes to Tucson with huge amounts of high level basketball experience. Leading three-point shooter on last year’s team.
Aari McDonald #2: A member of the Pac-12 All-Freshman team during her lone year at the University of Washington. After sitting out a year, McDonald looks to once again take the conference by storm.
Dominique McBryde #20: The Indiana native transferred from Purdue where she was selected as an honorable mention Big Ten player during her sophomore year. Another transfer that has big time conference experience.
Head Coach Sean Miller
March
Brandon Randolph #5: The 6-foot-6 sophomore will be looked to as a go-to scorer for the Wildcats this season. Played 11.6 minutes per game in 2017 and had a career-high 17 points against Purdue.
9: ASU, 2 p.m., McKale Memorial Center
Chase Jeter #4: A former five-star recruit and transfer from Duke, Jeter will anchor the Wildcats frontcourt. The 6-foot-11 junior will be crucial in rebounding and points in the paint.
Ira Lee #11: The 6-foot-7 sophomore appeared in 27 games last year and had a career high of 11 points versus Long Beach State.
Brandon Williams #2: Williams, a four-star freshman out of Los Angeles, will play both point and shooting guard this season. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 24.7 points per game at Crespi High School last year.
Justin Coleman #12: A grad transfer from Samford, Coleman averaged 13.5 points and 6.6 assists for the Bulldogs. The 5’10” guard will be UA’s starting point guard this season.
A10 • The Daily Wildcat
Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Transfer guard Coleman about ‘we’ not ‘me’ BY ALEC WHITE @AlecWhite_UA
Justin Coleman lost his confidence in his freshman year at Alabama. The No. 1-ranked player in the state of Alabama (coming out of high school), Coleman started just nine games and averaged 4.3 points per game in the 2014-15 season. The 5-foot-10 point guard pointed to advanced scouting reports, the hectic life of a studentathlete and the high level of competition as examples of his adversity. Four years later, the grad transfer considers himself a changed man and one that is ready to be the leader for Arizona, crediting his faith for his turnaround. “I felt like that was my biggest low point, but it was a lesson learned. It just made me commit my life to God,” Coleman said. This turning point gave the Birmingham, Ala. native an epiphany that completely changed how he viewed life and basketball. “I realized basketball is not about me, it’s about the others that surround me. So when I walk in the gym, I don’t focus on myself getting better. I focus on how I can help my team get better.” The “we before me” mentality Coleman adopted is already evident in the way he plays the game – head coach Sean Miller called Coleman a “true throwback point guard, somebody who thinks pass before shoot.” Coleman has so far embodied his new outlook on life and basketball in the short amount of time he’s been part of the Arizona basketball program. Elected captain by his teammates, Coleman feels right at home with his new team despite being across the country from his family. “Those guys are my brothers, I would do anything for those guys. We just spend a lot of time off the court,”
SOFIA MORAGA | THE DAILY WILDCAT
ARIZONA’S JUSTIN COLEMAN 12 throws a pass against Western New Mexico University’s defense during the UA vs. West New Mexico University game Tuesday, Oct. 30, in McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. Coleman transfered to UA from Samford during the summer.
Coleman said “Like, sometimes we’d go bowling, sometimes we might play Fortnite, 2K. We just spend a lot of time off the court.” It’s not every day that a player who just got to campus is already one of the team’s most trusted faces, yet Coleman’s case is different. He’s been around the block a few times, seen the ups and downs of college basketball life and how to adjust to adversity on the fly. “A benefit for a grad transfer: I’ve been through a lot. So the things I’ve been through I see the younger guys going through, so I just give them some advice that helped me through it,” Coleman said. Taking the future faces of the program like Brandon Williams and Brandon Randolph under his wing has given Coleman the credibility as a leader in the locker room and on the court. Even during team scrimmages, Coleman stands out among his teammates. “It’s kind of unfair when coach puts him on the same team as me,” Williams said. “I think we [get] along with each other good, just coming off ball screens or him looking for me or him cutting.” A calmer, more confident Coleman will begin the season as the team’s point guard – a big responsibility at a program nicknamed “Point Guard U.” But Coleman said he’s more than capable of handling that role. “I just spend hours every day praying to God that he just give me the confidence and strength and lead these guys and lead us back to another NCAA Tournament.” Coleman’s leap of faith to transfer twice in his collegiate career has seemed to have paid off, as he’s landed at one of the premier programs on the West Coast, a privilege the Wildcat point guard doesn’t take lightly. “A lot of guys wish they could be here, so I’m just very blessed,” Coleman said.
SMITH BRINGS MORE THAN JUST HEIGHT BY CORY KENNEDY @corykennedy_DW
For Arizona freshman Semaj Smith, basketball extends beyond the court. The Long Beach, Calif. native has basketball installed in her roots and her 6-foot-6 frame isn’t the only evidence of that. Smith’s mother Rhonda Smith and her father James Williams were standout basketball players at Long Beach State University, with her mom playing professional basketball after college. While Rhonda finished up her bachelor’s
degree, Semaj was babysat by coaches and former teammates. Smith grew up in a basketball household, and by the time she reached high school, she grew above the competition, both literally and figuratively. In her senior season at St. Anthony High School in Long Beach, she was able to dominate the glass, averaging 15.2 rebounds and 15.9 points per game. In 2017, Smith led St. Anthony High School to the semifinals of the CIF 1AA playoffs. Despite her dominance on the court
in high school, Smith explained during UA women’s basketball media day that the play will be on a whole new level in college. “I think it’s going to change, because in high school there was no one as tall as me, so in college there are people as tall as me and taller than me” Smith said. She noted that the tallest player she faced in high school was around six-footthree. Although she stands as the tallest player on the ‘Cats’ roster and one of the tallest centers in NCAA basketball
this year, Smith approaches the 20182019 season knowing that it’s going to be a challenge, but one she is willing to accept. Despite not yet playing a regularseason game at Arizona, the freshman center already has quite the resume. Smith, a five-star recruit out of high school, was also rated the No. 9 center in the country and the No. 52 prospect in the country. Arizona head coach Adia Barnes, who
SMITH, PAGE 11
Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018
The Daily Wildcat • A11
DesJardins takes long road to scholarship BY AMIT SYAL @Asyal21
Every player has a story. Some stories just happen to be more exciting than others. For current junior forward Jake DesJardins, one team dinner at head coach Sean Miller’s house changed the rest of his college career and, perhaps, his life after college as well. At the beginning of the summer, DesJardins went over to dinner at Miller’s house as the team hosted a recruit for the night. “[Coach Miller] brought me off to the side and said, ‘Let me talk to you real quick.’ He told me right away that he was going to put me on scholarship,” DesJardins said. “It shocked me; I didn’t expect it at all.” The hardest part was what came next: not being able to tell any of his teammates about what had just happened for the next couple of weeks. “[Coach Miller] wanted to keep it on the ‘DL’ for that time with whatever was going on … So, I had to go back inside trying to hide this big smile on my face,” he said. The first people DesJardins told were
his mom and dad, as any son would do. “I called them and told them I was just put on scholarship, and my mom started crying. It was a really cool experience,” DesJardins said. With the regular season on its way, what comes next for scholarship athlete DesJardins? “I’m looking forward to a team that’s really good friends and brothers that just want to get better.” In his third collegiate season, DesJardins’ mentality does not look like it’s going to change much, because he is still all about what he’s been doing for the past two years on the team. “Whatever I can do to make my team better is what I try to do. Whether that’s cheering on the sidelines or scout team in practice, I’m going to continue to give it my all. My teammates are awesome, I couldn’t ask for better teammates and coaches. Doing that for them is what it’s all about,” the 6-foot-6 forward said. He also had high praise for head coach Sean Miller, especially with everything the team has been through. “[Miller] is a great guy and an even greater coach. He’s taught me a lot about the game of basketball, and he’s always there for his guys. I’ve really appreciated
him over these past few years,” DesJardins said. Like any hard worker, DesJardins is all about reaping the harvest of his work. “It shows that hard work pays off,” he said about being rewarded with this exciting opportunity. Off the court, DesJardins enjoys hanging out and bonding with his teammates. “Whether it’s going to lunch, going to dinner, going to shoot extra shots, there is always a group of people that want to hang out. I’ve never had quite a bond of brotherhood like this,” he said. One of the other things DesJardins enjoys when he’s not in class or playing basketball is beating his teammates in the extremely well-known video game Fortnite. He enjoys “squadding up” with a group of four teammates and releasing his inner child. In addition to playing the game, DesJardins enjoys watching well-known Fortnite players, including NickMerks and Ninja, play online. With the loss of some key players from last season, DesJardins and the Wildcats are still looking to make a big run at the 2018-2019 men’s basketball season.
SOFIA MORAGA | THE DAILY WILDCAT
ARIZONA’S JAKE DESJARDINS 55) passes through a crowd during the Arizona vs. Western New Mexico University game Tuesday, Oct. 30, in McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. DesJardins was the recipient of a full athletics scholarship this summer.
SMITH
sealed the deal for her, however. “Arizona is closer to home but also FROM PAGE 10 far away … my mom tries to come every month to see me,” Smith said. brought Smith into the program, already Smith talked about how her first has high praise for the freshman on and months of being in Tucson and off the court. playing college ball have been for her “All those things that fit into our personally. culture, they all do that. Semaj, I’ve “Life-wise, I think it’s kind of a known her for a long time, I know her transition, because I am on my own mother. She’s also a really good kid to now; I’m not with my mom. Schoolthe core,” Barnes said. wise, I went to a Catholic high school, Smith said that Barnes had an eye so I did stuff on iPads, and during on her from the very beginning, and college, our stuff is online, so it’s kind of that her godmother played with Barnes the same,” Smith said. professionally. Smith’s teammates have helped her Smith isn’t just receiving high praise get through the adjustments of college from coach Barnes, her teammates are life, helping to create that family-like noticing her talent and work ethic, too. bond in the team. Arizona forward Tee Tee Starks talked “My teammates are great. We all get about what Smith brings to the table along very well. I’ve gotten closest to this year. Aari [McDonald], Tee Tee [Starks] and “She definitely gives us a post Shalyse [Smith], because Shalyse is my presence. We didn’t have a lot of height roommate,” she said. last year, so having her definitely gives With the season set to officially kick us an effective post presence that we off Nov. 9 vs. Idaho State, the freshman didn’t necessarily have last year. Having center looks to boost her team to the her on the team this year is definitely an next level, both in the post and Pac-12 improvement from last year,” Starks said. title race. Smith has a chance to make Before making her decision to join a name for herself within the Wildcats’ the Wildcats’ roster, Smithfor considered program and2018 one day might end up panish course offerings Winter session attending Oklahoma State. The close playing professionally like her mother. proximity to home and giving the (December 17, 2018—January 8, 2019) option for family to visit frequently
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ARIZONA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CENTER Semaj Smith guards the ball during the Wildcats 78-41 exhibition win over the Western New Mexico Mustangs Monday, Nov. 5 in Mkale Center.
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A12 • The Daily Wildcat
Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018
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Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018
The Daily Wildcat • A13
LEE LOOKS FORWARD, PUTS DUI BEHIND HIM BY ALEC WHITE @alecwhite_ua
Ira Lee isn’t here to make excuses for his actions. The sophomore forward has already admitted that he knows he made a mistake in a DUI incident in August, so now he’s ready to move past it. In fact, the experience has been a growing point for the 20-year-old. “It’s made me mentally stronger. It’s made me more focused on school, basketball and my team. I think it’s made the team closer,” Lee said. To explain why it’s connected the team and not torn them apart, Lee is emphatic that this Arizona team has a brotherhood-level bond. “I mean, they’re just taking care of one brother. It’s a team: If one person goes down then everybody goes down, so that’s the way we’ve been looking at it,” Lee said. The start of Lee’s sophomore year hasn’t gone according to script with the death of his grandmother, a DUI incident shortly after and now a one-game suspension. Some would crumble under such circumstances, but not Lee. “In Ira’s case, he had a lot going on, and he still does, in his life,” head coach Sean Miller said. “There’s a lot of young people that wouldn’t be able to persevere and handle everything that he’s experienced over the last three or four months.” Through the peaks and valleys of the last few months, there’s been one constant Lee can rely on: his coach. “He’s been great, to be honest. One of the reasons I came to this school was because I had a good
SIMON ASHER | THE DAILY WILDCAT
ARIZONA’S IRA LEE MUSCLES past North Dakota’s Deng Geu. Lee had four points and four rebounds Dec. 18, 2017 in McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz.
relationship with coach Miller. He’s been proving that everyday with why we’re so close,” Lee said. It’s covered up when the 6-foot-7 forward takes the court, but there’s something new about Lee’s body in light of recent events. He’s got his grandmother’s name in Korean tattooed on his left forearm and the face of a tiger for the Chinese zodiac sign; Lee and his grandma were both born in the year of the tiger. “I do a lot of things with my left, so I feel like my grandma has power over me right now,” Lee said. “This year you’ll probably see me kiss it a couple times, just because I can feel my grandma’s presence with me.” Lee’s also noticeably different in terms of his basketball frame. Lee said that in his freshman year he felt “slow and sluggish,” so as a result, he dropped his weight from 255 to 240 pounds, reducing his body fat by four percent. The change has paid dividends in the early goings for Lee. “Offensively, I’m more confident and know what to expect. Defensively, that’s where I think I’m gonna have my biggest impact this year,” Lee said. Lee’s goal is also a unique one; it’s not to be the best player or the team captain. Rather, he wants to be the energy guy making sure everyone is engaged in the game at all times. “I want to be the heart and soul of the team, like a Draymond Green,” Lee said. As the new season begins, Lee is ready to put the past in the rear view and focus on two things: “I care about winning and I care about my guys. And I know if we win, then everyone will get what they want,” Lee said.
One family: Barnes, Coppa share success BY DAVID SKINNER @davidwskinner_
A coach and their relationship with their assistants is one that needs to be borderline telepathic. Being able to read the person’s mood and knowing their next move in order to sail smoothly are vital abilities. When your assistant coach is your and husband, the communication and relationship takes on a whole new meaning. For women’s basketball head coach Adia Barnes and assistant coach Salvo Coppa, this is just their everyday life. In sports, where family and togetherness means just a little more, having the two people at the helm connected at the hip has already paid dividends for the Arizona women’s basketball program. Being around each other hasn’t put any holds on their deep relationship, but it has rather strengthened it. “She is a strong woman, and that’s what makes [her] go,” Coppa said. “The dynamics work well, because we find the balance between work and family.” The Wildcats hauled in one of the top
recruiting classes in the nation, taking a page out of office neighbor Sean Miller’s recruiting handbook by building the class around a McDonald’s All-American, Cate Reese. Coppa played a crucial role, but he won’t take much credit. “First of all, all of the coaches did an amazing job,” Coppa said. “The recruits that have been coming are happy to be here. They love the facilities, they love the coaching staff and they like Arizona. I believe Arizona is a wonderful place so we are just trying to do our best to recruit the best players.” Now that the two coaches have their star player Reese on campus, Coppa couldn’t say enough good things about the bluechip recruit, especially her offensive game. “She always finds a way to score because she works so hard,” Coppa said. “She has a lot of intensity during practices, and she is really aggressive.” The shiny new player is what is likely going to draw fans and write headlines, but if you watch closely, the duo on the bench will play as crucial a role as the ones who are checking in at the scorers’ table.
SAUL BOOKMAN | THE DAILY WILDCAT
UA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH Adia Barnes, right, with husband and assistant coach Salvo Coppa, left, pose for a photo after the first women’s basketball practice of the 2017 season.
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A14 • The Daily Wildcat
Basketball Preview • Wednesday, November 7, 2018