No. 7 – Arizona

	Click here to listen to Athlon's podcast about Arizona.  Featuring Senior Editor Mitch Light, presented by Icehouse
	Click here to purchase Athlon's 2006/07 College Basketball magazine

Lute Olson was so eager to move past the most turbulent season of his Arizona career that he scheduled a full practice for Aug. 21, the first day of school. Due to a quirk in NCAA rules, the Wildcats were able to hold 10 workouts before embarking on a six-game September exhibition tour in British Columbia.

“A lot of places might be happy with a 20-win season and two very good games in the NCAA Tournament,” says Olson, who turned 72 in September. “For us, it was a season we prefer to forget.”

FRONTCOURT – Senior Ivan Radenovic has become reliable in every aspect, from posting up inside and shooting on the perimeter to rebounding and holding his own defensively. Arizona expects him to be a team leader, contend for All-Pac-10 honors and take many of the year’s most important shots.

The versatile Radenovic will sometimes be used at center in Olson’s smaller, up-tempo unit. He can also be used at the wing, to provide matchup problems for opponents.

“We know what Ivan can do,” says Olson. “The rest of our frontcourt is going to come into focus as we go. We have many pieces. The competition for playing time will be intense.”

Senior center Kirk Walters has yet to display star potential. He is a feared shot-blocker but has not developed an offensive game and has difficulty guarding quicker players. If he continues to struggle, Arizona will probably play a smaller lineup rather than use sophomore Mohamed Tangara and freshman Jordan Hill extensively. Tangara has been injured (back) and has not evolved into the inside force the Wildcats thought he could be. Hill has been compared athletically to former Wildcat center Channing Frye, but his offensive game is raw.

Former walk-on Bret Brielmaier is undersized at power forward but is smart, hard-nosed and seems to be in the right place at the right time.

It might be that Olson will use one of his wing players — Marcus Williams, Chase Budinger, Jawann McClellan or explosive sophomore Fendi Onobun — at the power forward if Walters doesn’t take command in the middle.

BACKCOURT – As is customary in Tucson, the Wildcats are loaded in the backcourt.

Senior point guard Mustafa Shakur, a three-year starter, withdrew from the NBA Draft for a final college season. But he is expected to get a fight for the starting job from fiery freshman Nic Wise and talented sophomore J.P. Prince, who did not shoot well in his freshman season.

“We need Mustafa to run the offense and play shut-down defense,” says UA associate head coach Jim Rosborough. “We’ve got enough scorers. We’re not going to be looking for that.”

Late last season, Williams shared some point guard duties and thrived despite his lack of experience there.

The two wing spots will be contested by Williams, Budinger, McClellan, Onobun and junior defensive ace Daniel Dillon. Ideally, Olson would like Williams, Budinger and McClellan to split 80 minutes among them and contribute about 15 points each.

Olson has called Budinger the most talented player he has ever recruited to Arizona. Budinger is versatile enough to play point guard and power forward, and he will be used all over the floor. But he will have daily competition from Williams, who was Arizona’s best player in the final half of his freshman season, and McClellan, who has the potential to lead the club in scoring and rebounding.

FINAL ANALYSIS – Arizona won’t pause to miss last year’s leading scorer, Hassan Adams, or its defensive stopper, Chris Rodgers. The Wildcats should have suitable replacements in both of those roles.

It’s imperative for Olson’s team to shoot with more accuracy. The club’s .319 3-point percentage was lowest in school history.

Fortunately, Budinger, Wise and McClellan are more skilled shooters than either Adams or Rodgers. If Walters develops into a reliable scorer, the Wildcats will generate more open shots on the perimeter.

“We’re going to be good,” Olson says. “Some people say we have too many players and will have problems figuring out who plays. That’s a good problem. Starting jobs will be won in practice, and with rebounding and defense. Shooting isn’t going to be a problem this year.”