Arizona basketball: Inside look at the Wildcats' remaining nonconference opponents
The Arizona Wildcats are off to a roller coaster start, tumbling to a 4-3 record early in the season. Here's a look at who Sean Miller and the Cats have left on their nonconference schedule.
UNLV REBELS
Updated
Location: Las Vegas
Date/Time/TV: Dec. 2, 8 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Game location: Thomas & Mack Center
Series with UA: Final game in four-year series
Last season: 11-21 (4-14 Mountain West)
Final 2015-16 RPI: 239
Coach: Marvin Menzies (11-21, second year)
Go-to guys: F Brandon McCoy (five-star freshman), G Jovan Mooring (12.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
X-factor: G Kris Clyburn (7.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
Key newcomers: McCoy, G Jordan Johnson (Milwaukee transfer), F Shakur Juiston (juco transfer), F Anthony Smith (juco transfer)
Outlook: The Rebels had their worst season in program history during Menziesβ first season after moving from New Mexico State, but Menzies hopes to recover through some creative recruiting. He has not only the international connection he fostered with the Aggies, but also brought in the nationβs top juco prospect (Juiston) and a five-star freshman in McCoy. The Rebels should be strong up front and have some capable wing players, but a lot of newcomers of all different stages could make building chemistry a challenge.
Digital version: unlvrebels.com, @therunninrebels
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Updated
Location: College Station, Texas
Date/time/TV: Dec. 5, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Game location: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix
Series with UA: Second year of two-year series at semi-neutral sites (UA won 67-63 last season in Houston)
Last season: 16-15 (8-10 SEC)
Final 2016-17 RPI: 93
Coach: Billy Kennedy (115-85, seventh year)
Go-to guys: F Robert Williams (11.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg), C Tyler Davis (14.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg), G Admon Gilder (l3.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
X-factor: D.J. Hogg (12.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
Key newcomers: G Jay Jay Chandler, G T.J. Starks, G Duane Wilson (Marquette grad transfer), F Savion Flagg, F Isiah Jasey
Outlook: Already with one of the nationβs top frontcourts, especially after Robert Williams opted to return to the NBA Draft pool, Texas A&M added a number of playmaking guards to round out what could be Kennedyβs best Aggies team yet β including their Sweet 16 team of 2015-16. The backcourt now includes J.J. Caldwell, a four-star recruit who as ruled academically ineligible last season, and his presence should allow Gilder to play more often off the ball and also allow Hogg to play a more natural power forward spot. Overall, Texas A&M has enough depth and speed on the perimeter to allow it to play at a faster tempo.
Digital version: 12thman.com, @aggiembk
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Updated
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Game/time/TV: Dec. 9, 8 p.m., ESPN2
Game location: McKale Center
Series with UA: First year of two-year series (second game will be held Dec. 9, 2018 at Tuscaloosa)
Last season: 19-15 (10-8 SEC)
Final 2016-17 RPI: 82
Coach: Avery Johnson (37-30, third season)
Go-to guys: G Collin Sexton (five-star freshman), F Braxton Key (12.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
X-factor: G Dazon Ingram (10.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
Key newcomers: Sexton, G John Petty, F Alex Reese, F Galin Smith, G Herb Jones
Outlook: After reaching the NIT in his first two seasons at Alabama, Johnson has a program-changing guard in five-star guard Sexton, a strong finisher, shooter and distributor. Johnson also brought in a prolific scorer in Petty, a two-time Mr. Basketball in Alabama who also considered Kansas and Kentucky. The Tideβs best players are all freshmen and sophomores, but thereβs enough talent to get Alabama back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six years.
Digital version: rolltide.com, @alabamambb
NEW MEXICO LOBOS
Updated
Location: Albuquerque, N.M.
Date/time/TV: Dec. 16, 6 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Game location: The Pit, Albuquerque
Series with UA: Second game of two-year series (UA won 77-46 last season at McKale Center)
Last season: 17-14 (10-8 Mountain West)
Final 2016-17 RPI: 87
Coach: Paul Weir (first season)
Go-to guys: G Sam Logwood (7.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg), G Chris McNeal (juco transfer)
X-factor: F Dane Kuiper (6.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
Key newcomers: G Troy Simons (juco transfer), G Antino Jackson (Akron grad transfer), F Makuach Maluach, F Jachai Simmons (juco transfer)
Outlook: Three seasons after Steve Alford left for UCLA, New Mexico is starting over again. The Lobos fired Craig Neal after he won an average of 16.3 games over three seasons β and lost standout guard Elijah Brown to Oregon as a grad transfer β then the school looked down the road to hire Weir after one season at New Mexico State. Weir managed to talk the Lobosβ third-leading scorer, forward Logwood, into coming back after he announced he would transfer and kept landing a variety of transfers and international players through August. Weir favors a fast pace and a defensive toughness that could entertain fans at The Pit, but there may not be a whole lot of winning at first. Thereβs just too much inexperience and too little size.
Digital version: golobos.com, @unmlobombb
NORTH DAKOTA STATE BISON
Updated
Location: Fargo, N.D.
Date/time/TV: Dec. 18, 7 p.m., Pac-12 Networks
Game location: McKale Center
Series with UA: One-time appearance (UA pays NDSU $95,000)
Last season: 19-11, (11-5 Summit)
Final 2016-17 RPI: 110
Coach: David Richman (fourth year, 62-34)
Go-to guy: G Paul Miller (16.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg), F A.J. Jacobson (10.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
X-factor: G Cameron Hunter (redshirt freshman)
Key newcomers: G Nnamdi Van Dulm (juco transfer), G Chris Quayle (juco transfer), C Jordan Meidinger, G Jake Mertens, G Tyree Eady
Outlook: A good mix of returners and incoming talent should ensure the Bison are again a strong mid-major team, with a chance for a Summit League title and postseason berth. The biggest issue will be finding a point guard to replace Khy Kabellis, who transferred to Pacific after two seasons, and filling a void in popularity and production of departed supersub Dexter Werner. Either Hunter or Quayle is likely to take over point guard, and Miller leads strong group of scorers on the wings.
Digital version: gobison.com, @ndsumbb
CONNECTICUT HUSKIES
Updated
Location: Storrs, Conn.
Date/time/TV: Dec. 22, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Game location: McKale Center
Series with UA: First year of two-year series, with second game scheduled for Dec. 8, 2018 in Storrs or Hartford, Conn.
Last season: 16-17 (9-9 American Athletic)
Final 2016-17 RPI: 117
Coach: Kevin Ollie (sixth year, 113-61)
Go-to guys: G Jalen Adams (14.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg), G Alterique Gilbert (10.3 ppg)
X-factor: F Terry Larrier (13.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
Key newcomers: F David Onuorah (Cornell grad transfer), F Eric Cobb (juco transfer), F Josh Carlton, F Kwintin Williams (juco transfer), F Tyler Polley, F Isaiah Whaley
Outlook: The proud Huskies program suffered its first losing season in 30 years in 2016-17 and thereβs no guarantee theyβll be any better this season under Ollie, who led UConn to the 2014 national championship. Three key players were hurt early last season and three more transferred out after the season, while Ollie also let go of associate head coach Glen Miller, a longtime Husky player and staffer. Ollie prefers aggressive defense and rebounding, but he probably wonβt have the depth and talent to do it well unless Gilbert (shoulder), Mamadou Diarra (multiple knee issues) and forward Terry Larrier (ACL) can bounce back smoothly from injuries they suffered early last season. Health could determine whether this team breaks .500 again.
Digital version: uconnhuskies.com, @UConnMBB
