Pac-12 Preview: Will 7 teams make the NCAA tournament again?
By Ben Dull
Arizona Wildcats
Like the Buffaloes, the Wildcats got off to a nice start in the non-conference. Adia Barnes is also entering her second season in Arizona. The other three teams that finished at the bottom of the Pac-12 standings alongside Arizona appear ready to improve. Five freshmen enter the fold for a team losing its three leading scorers and ten of its 13 players overall from ’16-’17. Barnes did bring in the second-ranked recruiting class in the nation and will look to begin making their mark in a loaded conference.
More on the Wildcats:
Numbers & notes
14-16 overall in ’16-’17, 5-13 (T-Last) in Pac-12
The Wildcats were picked 11th in the preseason Pac-12 media and coaches polls.
Arizona went 9-2 in the non-conference last season, including a win on the road against Mark Trakh and the New Mexico State Aggies.
Signature Pac-12 wins for UA included a sweep of Washington State and a home win over Arizona State at home.
Arizona was eliminated by Oregon in the first round of the Pac-12 Conference Tournament (70-63).
Morgan Valley joins the Arizona staff after serving as an assistant at Washington the last two seasons. Valley and Barnes were on that staff together in ’15-’16.
Departures
LaBrittney Jones — 15.6 PPG (led team), 6.8 RPG, 30.8 MPG (led team), ’16-’17 All-Pac-12 honorable mention, ’16-’17 Pac-12 All-Defense honorable mention
Malena Washington — 12.3 PPG, 28.5 MPG (29 starts)
Breanna Workman — 8.1 PPG, 24.8 MPG (21 starts)
Taryn Griffey (16.1 MPG, retired due to injuries), Dejza James (15.4 MPG), Lauren Evans (18.9 MPG, 11 starts), Farrin Bell (played in 10 minutes), Charise Holloway (played in 10 games, transferred to Santa Clara), Bria Rice (6.5 MPG, left program), Eugenie Simonet-Keller (played in 3 games, left program)
Returners
Jalea Bennett — 6.9 PPG, 1.0 SPG, 19.3 MPG (5 starts)
Lucia Alonso — 5.3 PPG, 43.1 3PT% (25-58), 2.4 APG, 29.6 MPG (27 starts)
Destiny Graham — 3.8 PPG, 19.2 MPG (25 starts)
Fresh faces
Kat Wright, F (transfer from FAU, eligible immediately, led team in 3PM as junior)
Lindsey Malecha, G (a junior, last played for Hill-Murray HS in Minnesota, All-State Class AAA as senior)
Sammy Fatkin, G (Everett Herald Player of the Year for Glacier Peak HS in Washington, all-state as a senior)
Marlee Kyles, G (IBCA 3A/4A Special-Mention All-State for Larkin HS in Illinois)
Sam Thomas, F (USA Today Player of the Year in 2016, led Centennial HS of Las Vegas to Division I State title)
Kiana Barkhoff, F (played in German D2 professional league at the age of 15, helped lead Palm Harbor HS in Florida to 24-8 record last season)
Alisson Reese, G (All-District for Cypress Woods HS in Texas)
“I think what’s really helped this year is the three transfers because they’re experienced,” Barnes said at Pac-12 media day. “Like she has a tremendous amount of experience, so they can add to Rev #1 by #170 at 2017-10-11 18:06:00 GMT page 1 of 4 the culture in positive ways and help mold the freshmen. It’s just going to be really hard looking down the bench and seeing three great players that can’t play this year, so that’s going to be a challenge.
Aarion McDonald, G (must sit out the season, Washington transfer, Pac-12 All-Freshman team, 3rd leading scorer behind Kelsey Plum and Chantel Osahor in ’16-’17)
Tee Tee Starks, G (must sit out the season, Iowa State transfer, started 14 games in ’16-’17)
Dominique McBryde, F (must sit out the season, transfer from Purdue, honorable mention All-Big Ten as sophomore in ’16-’17 and started 25 games)
“So all the players that we recruited, they’re all players like Kat that she said: I want to be part of this legacy and go there and start something special. We had to sell a vision. It’s hard to sell a vision to 17- year-olds. But selling them saying this is what we’re doing, this is what it looks like. We’ve had the experience.”
5 games to watch
January 5 v. Stanford, 5:00 PST (Pac-12 Networks)
January 19 v. Colorado, 5:00 PM PST (Pac-12 Networks)
January 21 v. Utah, 11:00 AM PST (Pac-12 Networks)
February 2 v. Washington State, 5:00 PM PST (Pac-12 Networks)
February 18 v. Arizona State, 3:00 PM PST (Pac-12 Networks)
The Wildcats face a tough home test in Stanford in their third conference game of the season. From there, they take on Oregon/Oregon State/Cal before hosting Colorado and Utah. UA opens its Pac-12 slate against Colorado and Utah. Those four games against those two teams are likely to have a big say in how their season shakes out. The Wildcats host Washington State for their lone matchup this season; the Wildcats swept the Cougars last season. Arizona sees Arizona State twice in three days toward the end of the season. The home date with the Sun Devils comes second to kick off a three-game homestand to wrap up the regular season.