------------start of article------------------KCX's Arizona Wildcats 2006-07 PreviewThis Arizona team is full of seniors- and with seniors comes experience. People say UCLA will finish first in the pac-10 but UCLA doesn't even have a scholarship senior on the roster. Even though Arizona has lost Hassan Adams and Chris Rodgers, there is no doubt in my mind that Arizona has improved. Lute Olsen has done it again and has brought in the new freshman Chase Budinger. Let me introduce to you new guys, the Arizona roster:Point Guard - # 15 Mustafa Shakur (Senior, 6-3, 190 lbs)11.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4,7 apg, 1.5 spg, 30.7 mpg, .423 FG, .333 3PT, .806 FTWe know Lute Olsen knows how to make his point guards turn into stars (I.e. kerr, stoudamire, jason terry, bibby, arenas, gardner). Shakur could have made the NBA last year but withdrew his name to return to Arizona for his senior year. He believes that Olsen will help him improve and turn him into a first round pick for the nba draft this next upcoming year. One thing about Shakur is that he knows how to drive to the rim alot and make a play whether its dishing it out, drawing a foul, or making a basket. Along with this, he is a great ball handler which prevents him from turning the ball over alot. He is one of the best Pac-10 guards this year. He also has a pretty good shot shooting 42.3% from the field. Last year in the ncaa tourney, he averaged 17 points and 7 assists per game. No doubt he knows how to fill up stats during games but the intangibles are the things that make this guy special. His leadership and experience will bring Arizona far. Shooting Guard - #5 Jawann McClellan (Junior, 6-4, 225 lbs)McClellan's stats are not posted because he only played two games last year. Unfortunatly, his father died of a heart attack last year and it affected him in his school work and he was academically ineligible for the year but appealed it. Then in the 2nd game back, he went under season-ending surgery after tearing a ligament in his wrist. However, dont underestimate this stud. He was selected arizona's outstanding freshman in a vote by his teammates in the season before. In the Pac-10 Tourney, 2 years ago, he put up 11.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, and 61.9% shooting) Olsen even though Jawann would be the top scorer and maybe top rebounder heading into last year before the season started. Small Forward - #34 Chase Budinger (Freshman, 6-7, 190 lbs)(High School Avg: 32.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg)If you havent heard about Chase, it is about time you have. Great hype surrounds this kid out of California. Obviously, Lute Olsen knows talent when he sees it. He's coached at least 30 all-americas at Arizona alone. So when Lute Olsen says something great about a player, you better bet your ass hes telling the truth."Chase has the best high school credentials of any kid we've ever had at Arizona," Olson said. "He's such a competitor, too. He's not coming in here with a guaranteed starting spot. Those aren't given at Arizona based on reputation; they're earned by competing at practice." (Quote from ESPN).Budinger was also co-MVP of the McDonalds All-American Game. You also know this kid has hops when he is named the national high school volleyball player of the year. Many people say Chase is NBA ready and that he would have gone there if the NBA didnt put the rule that you had to go to college first. He is very versitile and will drive opponents crazy with his all-around game. SG/SF - #3 Marcus Williams (Sophmore, 6-7, 205 lbs)13.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.8 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.6 bpg, 28.8 mpg, .453 FG, .435 3PT, .726 FTWilliams is something special. He lead the Pac-10 freshman in scoring last year and made the All-Pac-10 Freshman selection. Marcus Williams also scored 430 points last year which is one of the most by a freshman in school franchise. In the last 10 games of the season, he averaged 16.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game which is incredible.There is obviously even more room to grow this year as he becomes one of the teams' leaders. He can also be very clutch and become a dangerous weapon, especially from the 3 shooting 43.5% last year from beyond the arc. If you are to choose one Wildcat to step it up this year, choose Marcus Williams because as the teams best scorer, look for him to be the go-to guy. "With Marcus, he had a great freshman year and has been working very hard in the off-season," Olson said. "I think he's going to have a great year. He made a lot of progress last year, especially on the defensive end." (Quote from CBS Sportsline) -------------These are just some of the key players to watch this year for this talented school. People take out your calenders and mark Saturday Jan. 20 in Westwood and Thursday, Feb. 15 in Tucson because Arizona will prove to the nation that they are the number one team in the Pac-10. I predict Arizona to get 30, maybe more, wins with the help of Shakur, Marcus Williams, the talented freshman, along with the rest of the team. ------------end of article-------------------------I was looking on espn last time and I read an article stating who should be ranked 4th in the nation after Florida, Kansas, and UNC.Jay Bilas, a basketball expert stated:<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Arizona. The Wildcats have everything: size, skilled players, good depth and explosiveness.Point guard Mustafa Shakur is a reliable ballhandler and passer who gets overlooked because he is not a great shooter. What he can do is run the break, run a team and get into the lane and create. Shakur is a really good college point guard.Jawann McClellan is healthy and has the ability to shoot and drive, and Marcus Williams is a budding star who could wind up being Pac-10 Player of the Year. Williams can shoot it with range and put it on the deck, and he has a scorer's mentality. He really came on toward the end of last season, and I believe he will make a big jump in his game this season.Plus, Ivan Radenovic is as dependable, trustworthy and versatile a big man as you will find anywhere. Radenovic will not rise up and dunk over people, but the guy can pass, hit an open jump shot and make plays. In short, he can play.Add in Kirk Walters, who has ability but has not yet figured things out, and Chase Budinger, a fine freshman prospect, and you have the makings of a Final Four-caliber team. And, oh yeah, coach Lute Olson is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He's pretty good, too.</div>Another expert (Doug Gottlieb) stated: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Arizona.It is funny how we look at Arizona. In so many ways, the program has massively underachieved over the last couple years. Yet despite obvious missteps in and out of Pac-10 play, the Cats were mere minutes away from ending Illinois' miraculous run, in Chicago no less, before an epic collapse in the Elite Eight just two seasons ago. This enigmatic bunch has produced no Final Fours since 2001, yet here they are ranked in everyone's top 10 again.That is precisely why this U of A bunch will live up to the hype. There is new motivation in Tucson. Whether it comes from Lute Olson sensing this may be his last great run or whether it is players like Mustafa Shakur, who might be fighting for his job as well as a future paycheck, this team has the makings of your classic Olson team. Think about it: great wings who will all play in the NBA, experience at the point, athletic big men who are more role players than stars and a style that fits the personnel.While Olson has salivated for a year at the prospect of coaching freshman stud Chase Budinger, it is his compadres that make Arizona dangerous. Don't get me wrong: Budinger, a prolific jumper who not only can do everything to score but also knows how to play, is everything he has been billed as. But Jawann McClellan and Marcus Williams will decide how good this team can be. McClellan is coming off a wasted year because of eligibility issues and a wrist injury, while Williams is coming back after a solid and sometimes spectacular freshman year.Williams seems a lock to be a lottery pick when you combine his size and his ability to create off the dribble and in transition, while McClellan should be the consistent shooter Arizona lacked after the graduation of Salim Stoudamire. Combine these two with Budinger, sprinkle in four-year starter Shakur at the point and backup Nic Wise, and you have yourself one heck of a backcourt.Sure, the inside is a bit thin with Ivan Radenovic and Kirk Walters, but while Villanova, Saint Joseph's and Illinois all have made runs with four guards in their lineups, remember that only Arizona, back in 1997, actually has won a national title with a four-guard lineup.</div>Folks, I'll say it right now, jump on the Arizona bandwagon because this team is something special.
I really like Chase Budinger. He's going to be a good player, wow. He has a great feel for the game, he moves well, he has nice form on his shot, he always seems to be in the right place at the right time, he's pretty long, he carries himself like a veteran. I think he's going to be a very good player for Arizona, and he will be a good pro as well.
Good job man, props to you. I really like this young Arizona team, they have some talent. Marcus Williams will be a lotto pick this year, and Budinger could probably be one too if he comes out. Both of these kids are very talented guys, and both have a lot of NBA potential as well. But even outside of those two stars, they have a solid supporting cast. Shakur is a pretty servicable guard (although he really struggled last night) and he is a dynamite ballhandler. He needs to work on his decision making, but he can get the job done. I like Radenovic as well. He reminds me a bit of Raef LaFrentz because he can take his game outside and he can also block shots. This team has a very good starting 5, they are going to win some ball games this year.
Thanks CB, and just for the record... Arizona lost yesterday but it was in virgina's new stadium.. it was the stadium debut and the crowd was going crazy, but you still have to give credit to that underrated virgina team.. arizona will bounce back ims ure.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KCX @ Nov 13 2006, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Thanks CB, and just for the record... Arizona lost yesterday but it was in virgina's new stadium.. it was the stadium debut and the crowd was going crazy, but you still have to give credit to that underrated virgina team.. arizona will bounce back ims ure.</div> Yeah, I watched the game. Damn, that crowd was jumpin' though huh? But they put up a good fight, too bad they lost their lead. But a very well played game by Marcus Williams, Chase Budinger, and Ivan Radenovic. They really blew it at the end.
Ah I watched the game to. UVA is a very underrated team and they played a great game and just flatout outplayed us in the 2nd half. I'll give them a lot fo props for that win. I'm not wo worried about Arizona though. I think what we saw in the 1st half is what we'll be seeing the restof the season. I'm still sticking with my prediction fo them making it to the Final Four. Marcus Williams proved he can be our go to guy, Chase Budinger proved he will be one of the top performing freshmen this season, Ivan Radenovich played incredible in that game, and we really showed our depth. We have a very special team this season.
