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1 week Ago
Don’t let another disappointing performance at Arizona Stadium distract you from the fact that season is getting close to starting just up the street. The 2024-25 men’s basketball season begins in just over two weeks, but before that the Wildcats will play a pair of exhibition contests. The first of those, against Eastern New Mexico, is set for 7 p.
m. MST Monday at McKale Center. Arizona will once again be breaking in a bunch of new talent, as it added three players from the NCAA transfer portal and a pair of freshmen.
But the Wildcats also bring back six players from the 2023-24 team that won the final Pac-12 title and reached the Sweet 16, including conference player of the year Here’s what to watch for when the UA takes on Greyhounds in a tuneup tilt: Love is the only returning starter from a year ago, though guards and were the first players off the bench all season and became very integral to Arizona’s run to the Sweet 16. Bradley will take over the point guard spot from , now at Illinois, while Lewis figures to be on the wing where fared so well. The other two starting spots are up in the air, one because of the number of options available and the other because of health.
The 4 could go to one of three transfers, either ex-Tennessee forward or wings (Campbell) or (Oakland). All three figure to see plenty of playing time, both in the exhibitions and once the regular season begins Nov. 4 against Canisius.
“The four has been really effective for us,” UA coach said. “Whoever’s played that spot in our three years here has been really successful. And the first guy to wrap his arms around that was Azuolas Tubelis, and he played it his own way.
And then we ended up with Keshad (Johnson), who kind of took that role last year, along with some help from Pelle. And they played it their way. And I think what’s important with that position is, it gives you a lot of flexibility with what you want to do.
You can really adapt what you want to do offensively and defensively just based on that guy’s skillset. We have great options there this year.” The center position is a little more uncertain.
Much revolves around the health of sophomore , who was in line to replace but he’s dealing with an ankle sprain that has kept him out of practice. Krivas did not participate in the Red-Blue Showcase on Oct. 4 was not suited up for an open practice a week later.
“It depends on what the doctor says,” Krivas said during Arizona’s local media day. “If they say I’m good to go I’ll play. If he can’t go then redshirt sophomore will start, and either way he should see plenty of run.
It will be Veesaar’s first action against an actual opponent since the 2022-23 season as he redshirted last year following an elbow injury. Veesaar, who dislocated his elbow last preseason, said his recovery took longer than expected and made sitting out the entire season the best move. He tried to take advantage of the time off, calling it a double offseason.
“I was able to gain more weight, get my body right,” said the 7-foot Veesaar, who is listed at 235 pounds after being at 200 as a freshman. “I was able to workout every day without having to rest for games.” Arizona will continue to play fast—it had the No.
16 adjusted tempo in Division I last season, per , and has been in the top 20 each of Lloyd’s three seasons—and try to push the ball up the court. But without a proven inside scorer like Ballo, Tubelis or Johnson this may be Lloyd’s most perimeter-driven squad. If Dell’Orso or Townsend are at the 4 it would essentially be a 4-guard lineup, while when Veesaar is on the court expect to see him not just setting screens out beyond the 3-point line but also launching.
Veesaar said that was a big part of his “double offseason” and even the threat of a big man shooting from outside can open up the offense. “I feel like, especially depending on who we have on the floor, it helps a lot, because it opens the court up for each other,” he said. “If you make a three, they’re gonna have to come closer.
” Neither Ballo or Krivas attempted a 3 last season, while in 2022-23 Veesaar and combined to make 4 of 14 from outside while the 6-foot-11 Tubelis was 10 of 32. Where they may be the most noticeable change in how Arizona plays is on defense. The Wildcats ranked 10 in defensive rating last season but it was more about rim protection and getting steals than forcing bad shots.
This time around, expect a more comprehensive attack on that end of the court. “I think this team has a chance to be a really good defensive team,” Lloyd said. “We might be able to do some different things this year than we’ve done in the past that allows us maybe to be a little bit more aggressive, but individually, I think we have pieces.
Tactically, I think we’re on the right track. Now like anything, we gotta get a little more experience and get better, but I do think we could be a team that hangs our hat on the defensive end for sure.” Monday’s exhibition will be streamed on ESPN+, one of 12 games this season that will not be available on linear TV, including the Nov.
15 contest at Wisconsin that will be shown on Peacock. Both exhibitions and Arizona’s first two regular season games will be streamed only. and former UA basketball standout will call this game and possibly other home tilts on ESPN+ during the nonconference slate, as those broadcasts that will be produced in-house and the school has some input on who is on the mic.
Once the Wildcats move into Big 12 play, when they are on streaming five times, ESPN will assign crews for the games. If you don’t have ESPN+ already it’s available in a slew of different streaming packages, either by itself or bundled with the likes of Disney+ and Hulu among others..
