Year in and year out, I get very excited for the college basketball season to start for a few reasons.  1)  The Arizona Wildcats.  2)  Indiana Hoosiers.  3)  Air Force Falcons.  4)  March Madness (although, March Madness is really number 1, but you have to go through the season to get there)

Arizona is going into the season ranked #17.  I think this is probably a little generous for a program that lost so much from last season.  Mustafa Shakur, Ivan Radenovic, and Marcus Williams all are gone from last years team that lost to Purdon't (Purdue..it's an Indiana thing) in the NCAA Tourney. 

Arizona is going to have to lean heavily on Sophomores Chase Buddinger and Jordan HIll, along with Freshman guard, Jerryd Bayless and Senior guard, Jawann McClellan. 

The team is lacking a true point guard threat, but Nic Wise and Daniel Dillon are going to be splitting time trying lead this highly potent offense.  Freshman, Laval Lucas-Perry could also push for significant playing time at the point if the leadership isn't what the coaching staff wants.

The starting line-up is probably going to look like:

PG - Nic Wise
SG - Jerryd Bayless
SF - Jawann McClellan
PF - Chase Buddinger
C - Jordan Hill

This lineup is very small, but very quick.  If the Wildcats want to go for size, they have several big man options in Kirk Walters, Brett Brielmaier, Jamelle Horne, Fendi Onobun, Mohamed Tangura, Zane Johnson, and Alex Jacobson.

The loss of Lute Olson, who is taking a indefinite leave of absence, could prove to be the biggest problem of all.  Assistant Kevin O'Neill is capable of running a team, but not many are as good at it as The Silver Fox.

Arizona has a ton of big games outside of the PAC 10 schedule.  Virginia, at Kansas, Texas A&M, at Illinois, and at Memphis are just a few of the games on tap for the Wildcats.

I predict a record of 21 - 10 in the regular season and a 3rd seed in the PAC 10 tourney.  They tip off their season tonight against Northern Arizona.  The Lumberjacks would like nothing more than to pull off the early season upset.  I don't see that happening. 

BEAR DOWN WILDCATS!!!

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Also on the Network: √ Sweaty Jerry Morales - Another Shea Stadium Tribute from BlogLand [Loge 13] √ Mets Will Take The Split [Loge 13] √ Too Little Too Late? [C70 At The Bat] √ Cross Your Fingers [Depressed Fan] √ Cue The Fat Lady [Depressed Fan] √ Red Sox Push Yanks To The Brink [Green Pinstripes] √ The headline of my dreams [Tremendous Upside Potential] √ Livan Largesse [El Lefty Malo]

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