Mar 28, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (2) celebrates within the second half towards the Clemson Tigers within the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2024 NCAA Event at Crypto.com Area. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos No. 10 Arizona had two exhibitions to organize for the season forward of its season opener Monday towards Canisius, whereas the Golden Griffins will head into the assembly in Tucson, Ariz., going through an opponent for the primary time below a brand new coach.
Canisius didn’t renew the contract of eight-year coach Reggie Witherspoon, who guided his crew to a 14-18 mark in his ultimate season and a 108-130 report general.
Jim Christian, a head coach with a complete of 19 years of expertise at Kent State, TCU, Ohio and Boston Faculty, was employed after spending the previous two years as an assistant at Kent State.
His profession report is 320-286.
Christian stated he and his crew welcome the problem of being collectively for the primary time in a contest towards a program akin to Arizona.
“These are the video games that youngsters need to play, which is a part of recruiting,” Christian stated. “We is not going to play a bunch of non-D-I faculties to construct some pretend momentum. We’ll see what Arizona can expose after which find out how we will get higher and do what we have to do on the proper time.”
Arizona, in its fourth season below Tommy Lloyd, utilized its exhibitions towards Jap New Mexico (117-54 win) and Level Loma (113-64) to develop chemistry, work on a rotation and additional hone the off-guard abilities of preseason All-American Caleb Love.
Love attended the NBA Draft Mix after final season and determined to return for his fifth yr of eligibility after three years at North Carolina (together with the COVID-19-impacted season of 2020-21) and final season with the Wildcats.
He was named Pac-12 Participant of the Yr after he averaged 18 factors, 4.9 rebounds and three.5 assists per recreation final season.
Love struggled within the Wildcats’ Candy 16 loss to Clemson, scoring 13 factors on 5-of-18 capturing from the sector, prompting him to work on his perimeter recreation along with penetrating the lane and distributing.
“I might develop my recreation and type of fine-tune my recreation to the purpose the place I really feel like I am prepared when my time comes,” Love stated of his choice to return to Arizona. “Primarily shifting off the ball, loads of catch-and-shoots and enjoying off the catch.
“I have been watching loads of Steph Curry this summer time, particularly when he was within the Olympics, utilizing the shot-fake, issues like that to create offense not just for himself however for his teammates as nicely.”
Arizona is one other historically sturdy crew added to the loaded Large 12. The Wildcats, of their first season within the convention, are a preseason choose to complete fifth behind Kansas, Houston, Iowa State and Baylor.
Arizona returns level guard Jaden Bradley and KJ Lewis alongside Love on the perimeter.
Second-year massive man Motiejus Krivas is anticipated to begin at heart after Oumar Ballo transferred to Indiana. Henri Veesaar, a submit participant coming back from a medical redshirt, will again up Krivas.
Tennessee switch Tobe Awaka, an influence ahead, and Oakland switch Trey Townsend, a wing, will even begin or determine prominently within the rotation.
“We have now complete respect (for the place) we’re getting into (with the Large 12) and who we’re enjoying towards,” Lloyd stated. “We perceive there’s going to be lots of people on the market that need to see us show it — from followers to different faculties to media to officers.”
Canisius misplaced its prime six scorers from final season.
Cam Palesse, a redshirt sophomore guard, is the highest returner. He began 16 video games final season and averaged 6.8 factors, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists general.
–Area Degree Media