College basketball 2017-18 preseason Top 25
By Chris Stone
No. 1 Arizona Wildcats
Notable departures: Kadeem Allen, Chance Comanche, Lauri Markkanen, Kobi Simmons
Notable returnees: Rawle Alkins, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Keanu Pinder, Dusan Ristic, Allonzo Trier
Notable newcomers: Emmanuel Akot, DeAndre Ayton, Alex Barcello, Ira Lee, Brandon Randolph, Dylan Smith
When the Arizona Wildcats are positioned as a national title favorite, it’s impossible not to mention the obvious blemish on head coach Sean Miller’s otherwise sterling resume. The 48-year old is heralded as one of the sport’s top coaches because of his ability to land top-tier recruiting classes year after year, coach high-level defense and position his team well heading into March, but his failure (to date) to make a Final Four remains the elephant in the room.
The good news for Miller and Arizona fans is that this year’s roster is perhaps as good as any that he has ever had in Tucson. The Wildcats return star guard Allonzo Trier who averaged a ridiculous line of 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per 40 minutes last season all while posting a highly efficient 61.2 true shooting percentage. Sophomore Rawle Alkins will join Trier on the wing after opting out of the NBA Draft. The 6-foot-5 swingman brings a unique combination of physicality, athleticism and 3-point shooting with him. Meanwhile, seniors Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Dusan Ristic and Keanu Pinder will also be back in the fold.
Alongside those talented returning players will be the nation’s No. 3 ranked recruiting class led by 5-star prospect DeAndre Ayton. The 7-footer has faced questions in high school about his motor, but he is essentially the prototype you would develop in a lab if you wanted to design basketball’s next unicorn. Talented wings Emmanuel Akot and Brandon Randolph will give Arizona depth that few other teams have at the position while Alex Barcello and Ira Lee may be tasked with important backup roles early in their young careers.
Youthful exuberance is rarely enough to push a college basketball team over the finish line in March, but when combined with experience, it can be dangerous. For example, Duke’s 2015 national title team headlined by Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow was lead by the steadying hand of senior guard Quinn Cook while Kentucky’s famed 2012 championship squad benefited immensely from the presence of Terrance Jones, Doron Lamb and Darius Miller.
More so than at any time during Miller’s tenure at Arizona, the Wildcats are built to make a deep run in March and finally kick the proverbial elephant to the curb.