Arizona Wildcats
Pacific 10 (20-10, 11-7)
Seed: #8
Midwest Region
RPI: 14
Big Wins:
11/28 UNLV (89-75), 12/20 Memphis (79-71), 2/10 at Oregon (77-74)
Bad Losses:
11/12 at Virginia (90-93), 11/18 at USC (73-80), 2/15 USC (75-80)
Last NCAA
Appearance: 2006, Second Round loss to Villanova
Coach:
Lute Olson (46-27 in 27 appearances)
Probable
Starters:
Mustafa Shakur,
Senior, Guard, 12.0 ppg, 6.9 apg, 4.0 rpg
Marcus
Williams, Sophomore, Forward, 16.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.2 apg
Chase Budinger,
Freshman, Forward, 15.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.0 apg
Jordan Hill,
Freshman, Forward, 4.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg
Ivan Radenovic,
Senior, Forward, 15.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.1 apg
Key
Roleplayers:
Jawann
McClellan, Junior, Guard, 9.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Daniel Dillon,
Junior, Guard, 1.9 ppg, 0.8 apg
Bret Brielmaier,
Junior, Forward, 1.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg
Why They Can
Surprise:
Like most of
the Pac-10, Arizona can put up huge numbers in the scoring column. Coach
Lute Olson’s team averages over 78 points per game and four players
average over ten points per game each. The Wildcats have started four
forwards at times during the season and each one of them shoots over 48%
from the floor. Super freshman Chase Budinger can even step out and hit the
three, but he still knocks down his shots more often than not.
With four major
contributors being forwards, one would expect great rebounding, but not
great free-throw shooting. But not on this sharpshooting team. Outside of
part-time starter Jordan Hill, the Wildcats are solid from the charity
stripe. The best free-throw shooter on the team is the guy who gets to the
line most often. Senior Ivan Radenovic knocks down 86.9% of his free-throws
and adds 15.2 points and 7.6 rebounds. And do not let the seven short bench
fool you, these guys very rarely are forced to the bench due to foul
trouble.
Why They Can
Disappoint:
If you can
effectively slow down the tempo, Arizona will have some trouble adjusting.
The greatest example of these struggles is taking a closer look at the
Wildcats performance against the infamously slow tempo of Washington State.
Arizona averaged under 70 points per game in their two losses to the
Cougars on the season.
Who To
Watch:
Controlling the
tempo and keeping the team in rhythm, even in the half-court offense, is up
to Mustafa Shakur. The Philadelphia native has taken criticism for his first
three seasons due to unattainable expectations, but few can complain about
what he has done during his senior campaign. Shakur dishes out 6.9 assists
per contest, ranking third in the nation. The turnovers appear a little high
at 13.7 per game, but that is still more than an acceptable assist to
turnover ratio. The key for the Wildcats is Shakur and how he handles the
pressure and tempo. But as a senior, there are very few other point guards
any Wildcat fan would want on their side than Shakur.
Joel’s
Bracket Says: Second Round loss to Florida
