Arizona Wildcats 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Post Season

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Arizona Wildcats

Pacific-10 Conference (16-15, 10-8)

Seed: #

Big Wins: 1/10 Washington (87-70), 1/23 at Arizona State (77-58), 1/31 California (76-72)

Bad Losses: 1/8 Washington State (76-78), 1/14 at Oregon State (64-67), 2/6 at Washington State (60-78)

Coach: Sean Miller

Why They Can Surprise:

Arizona has not exactly had an easy time in a weak Pac-10 under new head coach Sean Miller. Yet, the team has had some nice wins against teams like California and Washington. But this is also a team that has lost to Oregon State and Washington State twice. The team commits a few too many turnovers, but having a senior leader like Nic Wise running the show has kept this team in the postseason. Not only will Wise create shots for his teammates, but he is a prolific and dynamic scorer in his own right.

Kyle Fogg is the other consistent scorer on the perimeter, but Coach Miller has a ton of other options when the group of guards need a spark. Lamont Jones is not a shooter like Fogg, but he has had some quality games and can score in a hurry by attacking the basket. Brandon Lavender has started a handful of games and is a decent outside shooter. Kevin Parrom has been slowed at the end of the year with a foot injury, but he too is an effective slasher who can help the Wildcats out on the glass.

Why They Can Disappoint:

And this team needs help on the glass. Jamelle Horne and Solomon Hill are decent rebounders, but nothing special. Horne is a 6-7 junior who can stretch out the defense with his superb outside shooting ability. The fact that he has the toughness to be second on the team in rebounding despite spending so much time on the perimeter is quite impressive. Hill will spend most of his time in the paint and he is not a bad scorer around the basket. However, Hill is not that effective of a rebounder and the 6-6 freshman has some work to do in that regard. Kyryl Natyazhko is an intriguing option off the bench. The 6-10 freshman is not much of a scorer at this point in his career, but he is at least a big body who can come in off the bench and eat up some fouls and grab a couple boards.

Who To Watch:

It is another freshman, Derrick Williams, who has turned the future of the frontcourt into something to look forward to. The 6-8 La Mirada, California product is not a true post player and Natyazhko is the only true post on this team that sees any playing time. That means the Wildcats play small and Williams is asked to do a lot on the glass and on the defensive end. He has done both of those things quite well, although having Horne by his side blocking some shots has made his defensive duties a little easier, but he is also Arizona’s best scorer. While Williams will do most of his scoring around the basket, he is capable of stepping out and hitting the mid-range jumper and many opposing centers will have a tough time keeping up with his athletic slashes to the basket.

Probable Starters:

Nic Wise, Senior, Guard, 14.4 ppg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 spg

Kyle Fogg, Sophomore, Guard, 11.1 ppg, 2.2 apg

Jamelle Horne, Junior, Forward, 9.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.0 bpg

Solomon Hill, Freshman, Forward, 6.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg

Derrick Williams, Freshman, Forward, 15.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg

Key Roleplayers:

Lamont Jones, Freshman, Guard, 6.6 ppg, 1.6 apg

Brendon Lavender, Sophomore, Guard, 3.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg

Kyryl Natyazhko, Freshman, Center, 1.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Kevin Parrom, Freshman, Guard, 4.6 ppg, 1.7 apg, 4.2 rpg

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 72.0 (103^rd in nation, 3^rd in conference)

Scoring Defense: 71.9 (259, 10)

Field-Goal Percentage: 44.5 (121, 6)

Field-Goal Defense: 43.5 (192, 6)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.3 (154, 4)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 36.3 (80, 3)

Free-Throw Percentage: 73.2 (38, 2)

Rebound Margin: -0.1 (196, 7)

Assists Per Game: 12.5 (201, 7)

Turnovers Per Game: 14.2 (201, 7)

Joel’s Bracket Says: