Brought to Tucson after excellent work on staff at Gonzaga, Lloyd hasn\u2019t missed a beat in his first stint as a head coach, with three Sweet Sixteens and a boatload of wins in his first four years with the Wildcats. He even authored a smooth transition into a much tougher Big 12 last season.<\/p>\n
By many measurements last season was Lloyd\u2019s worst with the Wildcats, but they\u2019ll certainly take 24 wins and a tied for third place in their debut in the Big 12. Arizona thrived in the new environment and were back in the Big Dance again before losing a shootout against Duke in the Sweet Sixteen. That high-powered offense really thrived though it\u2019ll have quite a few changes this upcoming season.<\/p>\n
Losing star guard Caleb Love is the big blow and Arizona will certainly miss their former Pac-12 Player of the Year, but that\u2019s far from the only difference in this year\u2019s roster. After major contributions from KJ Lewis and Henri Veesaar, both of them found new homes via the transfer portal. The Wildcats also lost Trey Townsend, a veteran wing, and a few notable faces further down the depth chart.<\/p>\n
As you\u2019ll see shortly, Arizona has a plethora of young talent coming to town to bolster the lineup, while a few returning faces will have much bigger roles this season. Still in awe of Lloyd\u2019s work in Tucson, we\u2019ll take a deep dive into the pieces on the roster that he\u2019s brought in and start figuring out what lies in the future for these Wildcats.<\/p>\n
Projected Starters<\/strong>Guard \u2013 Jaden Bradley (Senior)<\/strong><\/p>\n The man expected to shoulder the load for the Wildcats, Bradley <\/a>came to Arizona two seasons ago after brilliant work as a freshman at Alabama. He slid into a major role last year as a junior, averaging 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists as the Wildcats\u2019 point guard. His role orchestrated the offense will only be exaggerated this season, especially on a lineup full of young talent.<\/p>\n Guard \u2013 Brayden Burries (Freshman)<\/strong><\/p>\n One of two 5-star recruits joining the scene in Tucson is Burries, a 6-4 combo guard from San Bernardino, California. Considered a Top 10 recruit and a high school All-American, Burries has the capability to score from basically every level on the court. He\u2019s got solid size and versatility in his game, with the ability to drive to the basket and knock down shots both from outside and the mid-range.<\/p>\n Guard \u2013 Anthony Dell\u2019Orso (Senior)<\/strong><\/p>\n Dell\u2019Orso <\/a>put up monster numbers at Campbell before transferring to Arizona last season. He couldn\u2019t quite match that 19.5 points per game with the Camels, but he wasn\u2019t a slouch either, putting up 7.2 points per night with solid efficiency metrics. While Dell\u2019Orso was a starter for most of the season, he could be in line for an even bigger role this season, as the former Australian hopes to help fill the void from those offseason departures.<\/p>\n Forward \u2013 Koa Peat (Freshman)<\/strong><\/p>\n Another major eye opener in this recruiting class, Peat is a 5-star prospect and one of the top frontcourt pieces in the nation. A 6-8 power forward from Gilbert, Arizona, he\u2019s a monster athlete who\u2019ll put up numbers even as a true freshman for the Wildcats. While not a great outside shooter, he has a knack around the rim and projects as a great rebounder and shot maker inside.<\/p>\n Forward \u2013 Tobe Awaka (Senior)<\/strong><\/p>\n During his first two collegiate campaigns, Awaka <\/a>came off the bench at Tennessee before transferring to Arizona last offseason. Year one with the Wildcats was a solid effort, averaging 8.0 points and 7.8 rebounds a night while starting in Arizona\u2019s frontcourt. Now a senior, it\u2019s the final chance for Awaka to showcase his potential, coming off a year where he made 65% of his 2-point baskets.<\/p>\n Key Reserves<\/strong>Forward \u2013 Dwayne Aristode (Freshman)<\/strong><\/p>\n Another key freshman to watch this season is Aristode<\/a>, a 6-8 forward originally out of New Hampshire. Physically, he has all the tools to make an instant impact with the Wildcats and could even earn starting minutes by season\u2019s end. His game is still coming together and he\u2019s not as complete as a scorer, but he can make outside shots and is a different maker on defense.<\/p>\n Forward \u2013 Ivan Kharchenkov (Freshman)<\/strong><\/p>\n The latest great international prospect for Arizona, Kharchenkov is a 6-6 wing from Munich who could also be a major threat for these Wildcats. Offensively, Kharchenkov can do a bit of everything, with a solid shot outside the paint and great driving ability. There\u2019s potential to be a great defender in this Arizona system, though it all depends on how he adjusts to the college game.<\/p>\n Center \u2013 Motiejus Krivas (Junior)<\/strong><\/p>\n