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Beginning Monday, June 21st,
2004 CHN began unveiling 144 Team previews in 144 Days. CHN ranked the
nations top 144 teams, and is unveiling one per day leading up until the
opening day of the 2004-05 Season.
Bookmark the
144 Teams in 144 Days home page, and check back
each day to see which team is previewed next.
#4 Arizona Wildcats
Pac 10
2003-04: 20-10, 11-7, 3rd
2003-04 postseason: NCAA
By
Joel Welser
 Going 20-10 overall and losing to
Seton Hall in the first round of the NCAAs last year isn’t the best stepping
stone to get to the Final Four, but the Wildcats’ talent level is amazing.
The question is can they utilize it properly or will team chemistry, or lack
there of , make the biggest headlines. With so much depth, head coach Lute
Olson has the option to bench anybody disrupting the team chemistry. By
March Coach Olson will have found his squad and be ready for a deep run in
the big dance.
Who’s Out: Andre Iguodala
left Tucson early for the NBA. He averaged 12.9 points and a team-high 8.4
rebounds per contest. With returnees Channing Frye, Ivan Radenovic, a
healthy Isaish Fox, an emerging Kirk Walters and some quality newcomers, the
frontcourt could be more productive without Iguodala. Little used guards
Fil Torres and Jason Ranne have run out of eligibility.
Who’s In: Salim Stoudamire,
Hassan Adams, Mustafa Shakur and Chris Rodgers would normally make it
extremely tough for any newcomers to see much playing time, but Jawann
McClellan might be too talented to sit on the bench for long. The 6-5
shooting guard is a great scorer who averaged 23.5 points as a senior in
high school. Daniel Dillon didn’t play in many recruiting camps or
tournaments and could end up to be a steal for Arizona. The combo guard is
a great ballhandler and can run the floor very well. Jesus Verdejo, a 6-4
wingman, is a great outside shooter. He’ll get a chance for some minutes on
the wing, especially if Coach Olson goes with a four guard line-up at
times. Mohamed Tangara highlights the new frontcourt players. The 6-9
power forward is a tremendous rebounder. Most of his offense comes off the
easy put backs, so his shot and post moves need to develop. Tangara’s
defense and rebounding should be enough to get him some floor time this
year. Walk-ons Matt Babcock and Bret Brielmaier will add more depth under
the basket.
Who to Watch: Mustafa
Shakur, Salim Stoudamire and Hassan Adams might be the more flashy players,
but Channing Frye needs to have a good year for the Wildcats to reach the
Final Four. Frye, a 6-11 248 pound Phoenix native, averaged 15.9 points and
7.4 rebounds last year. As a senior this season, Frye will have to continue
to put up big numbers. At times he may be the only big man on the floor
with four guards around him, putting all the pressure of the frontcourt
squarely on Frye’s shoulders. If he can handle that pressure and be a
leader for the entire team, then things could become much more pleasant in
Tucson.
Projected Conference Rank:
The Pac-10 might not be the toughest conference in the nation, but any team
can beat you if you look past them. If Arizona remains focused, a 1st
place finish won’t be a problem at all. If the egos clash, Washington and
Stanford won’t have a problem moving up to the top of the conference.
Projected Post-season
Tournament: NCAA
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Team #5 ,
Team #3 »
Email Joel Welser:
jwelser_chn@ameritech.net
Chat About CHN's Top #144
Ranking:
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