Commentary

CBB Summer Buzz: Arizona

Sean Miller's team has a talented roster but needs a new star to emerge

Updated: August 16, 2011, 3:54 PM ET
By Elena Bergeron | ESPN The Magazine

Insider knows you're hot for hoops during the summer, so we're bringing you a closer look at a few of the big-profile schools before most freshmen have even moved into their dorms.

We continue with Arizona.

Arizona Wildcats

2010-11: 30-8 (NCAA tournament -- Elite Eight)

It wasn't that long ago that Derrick Williams was an unknown quantity. Sure, the No. 2 pick in this year's NBA draft took the marquee role for the Wildcats last year. But heading into last season, it wasn't exactly expected that the sophomore Williams would turn into a headliner capable of pushing the team to an Elite Eight finish, seeing as just one season earlier he had been seen as the co-star to point guard Nic Wise.

Now, with Williams NBA-bound, coach Sean Miller once again finds himself having to fish a new star out of his pool of young talent. That shouldn't be a problem, given how the recruiter has restocked.

As talented a scout as he is a playcaller, Miller hauled in the seventh-ranked recruiting class in the country. Each newbie has a shot at major minutes now that the team has lost its top two scorers (Williams and transfer MoMo Jones). But they'll be challenged by upperclassmen left over from a team that went 10-deep in its rotation in 2010-11.

"This year it's going to be totally different to stop us on the offensive end because we have a lot of weapons," senior guard Kyle Fogg said. "Coach makes it really clear that nothing's going to be given to anyone. You could be a senior and lose your spot to a freshman because he's just going to play whoever the best players are, whoever helps get the win for the team."

That uncertainty about the lineup won't be soothing to nervous Cats fans, but it's making for a competitive offseason.

Welcome to Campus

Josiah Turner, 6-foot-3, PG
ESPNU 100 No. 14 overall


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Elena Bergeron

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