Arizona Men’s Basketball 2020 NCAA Tournament Capsule

March 6, 2020 · Scott Whittum
 

Arizona Wildcats

Pac-12 (21-11, 10-8)

 
Arizona has had a nice quiet bounce back season after missing the 2019 NCAA Tournament with a 17-15 record. Head Coach Sean Miller and his staff have also stayed out of the headlines for the most part, which has helped accelerate the turnaround this season. The reality is at a program like Arizona it’s rare for them to have consecutive rough seasons so college basketball fans should not be surprised that the Wildcats are back in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Big Wins: 11/10 Illinois (90-69), 1/18 Colorado (75-54), 2/6 USC (85-80)
Bad Losses: 12/21 vs St. John’s (67-70), 1/12 at Oregon State (65-82), 2/8 UCLA (52-65)
Coach: Bobby Hurley
 
Why They Can Surprise:
The ability to make shots in the 2019-20 season in the world of men’s college basketball has become an invaluable asset. Arizona is averaging 76.4 points per game and they have a field goal percentage of 44.8 as well. They also do a nice job of sharing the basketball as the Wildcats are averaging 15.3 assists per game. Nico Mannion has come in as a freshman and has made an immediate impact as the floor general as he is averaging 14.0 points per game and 5.3 assists per game on the year. Defensively, the Wildcats have done a nice job of causing turnovers and are forcing opponents to give up the ball 14.4 times per game. Mannion, Josh Green and Zeke Nnaji have all done a nice job of collecting steals and putting opposing players under duress for 40 minutes a night. They also are going to be battle tested from playing non-conference games against Gonzaga and Baylor along with the grind of the Pac-12 conference slate.
 
Why They Can Disappoint:
One point of concern for Arizona is the fact they haven’t been able to get over the hump in contests against Gonzaga, Baylor, or Oregon twice. Thus, when games get tight in the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament it will be crucial for the Wildcats to find the ability to finish games down the stretch in the final four minutes of regulation. Arizona will also need to do a better job of defending the three-point shot as they are allowing their opponents to make 6.7 three-point shots per game heading into the postseason.
 
Probable Starters:
Nico Mannion, Freshman, Guard, 14.0 ppg, 5.3 apg
Josh Green, Freshman, Guard, 12.0 ppg, 2.6 apg, 4.6 rpg, 1.5 spg
Dylan Smith, Senior, Guard, 8.6 ppg, 1.5 apg
Zeke Nnjai, Freshman, Forward, 16.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg
Stone Gettings, Grad Student, Forward, 6.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg
 
Key Role Players:
Chase Jeter, Senior, Center, 6.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg
Jemarl Baker Jr., Sophomore, Guard, 5.7 ppg, 2.3 apg
Max Hazzard, Graduate Student, Guard, 5.3 ppg, 1.0 apg
Ira Lee, Junior, Forward, 3.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg
 
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 76.4 (43rd in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 65.2 (56, 3)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.8 (122, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 39.4 (19, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.2 (176, 5)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.2 (80, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.1 (99, 6)
Rebound Margin: 4.0 (65, 3)
Assists Per Game: 15.3 (27, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.8 (63, 2)
 
Recent Postseason Appearances:
 
2018 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Buffalo
2017 NCAA Round of 64 win over North Dakota
2017 NCAA Round of 32 win over Saint Mary’s
2017 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Xavier
2016 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Wichita State
2015 NCAA Round of 64 win over Texas Southern
2015 NCAA Round of 32  win over Ohio State
2015 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Wisconsin
2014 NCAA Round of 64 win over Weber State
2014 NCAA Round of 32 win over Gonzaga
2014 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over San Diego State
2014 NCAA Regional Final loss to Wisconsin
2013 NCAA Round of 64 win over Belmont
2013 NCAA Round of 32 win over Harvard
2013 NCAA Regional semifinal loss to Ohio State
2012 NIT First Round loss to Bucknell
2011 NCAA Round of 64 win over Memphis
2011 NCAA Round of 32 win over Texas
2011 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Duke
2011 NCAA Regional Final loss to Connecticut
2009 NCAA Round of 64 win over Utah
2009 NCAA Round of 32 win over Cleveland State
2009 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Louisville
2008 NCAA Round of 64 loss to West Virginia
2007 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Purdue
2006 NCAA Round of 64 win over Wisconsin
2006 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Villanova
 
*all team stats through 3/8