No. 10 Arizona had two exhibitions to arrange for the season forward of its season opener Monday towards Canisius, whereas the Golden Griffins will head into the assembly in Tucson, Ariz., dealing with an opponent for the primary time underneath a brand new coach.
Canisius didn’t renew the contract of eight-year coach Reggie Witherspoon, who guided his group to a 14-18 mark in his remaining season and a 108-130 file 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 file is 320-286.
Christian mentioned he and his group welcome the problem of being collectively for the primary time in a contest towards a program similar to Arizona.
“These are the video games that youngsters wish to play, which is a part of recruiting,” Christian mentioned. “We won’t play a bunch of non-D-I faculties to construct some pretend momentum. We’ll see what Arizona can expose after which learn the way we are able to get higher and do what we have to do on the proper time.”
Arizona, in its fourth season underneath Tommy Lloyd, utilized its exhibitions towards Japanese New Mexico (117-54 win) and Level Loma (113-64) to develop chemistry, work on a rotation and additional hone the off-guard expertise 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 taking pictures from the sphere, prompting him to work on his perimeter recreation along with penetrating the lane and distributing.
“I may develop my recreation and form of fine-tune my recreation to the purpose the place I really feel like I am prepared when my time comes,” Love mentioned of his choice to return to Arizona. “Primarily transferring off the ball, a variety of catch-and-shoots and taking part in off the catch.
“I have been watching a variety 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 effectively.”
Arizona is one other historically sturdy group added to the loaded Massive 12. The Wildcats, of their first season within the convention, are a preseason decide 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 huge man Motiejus Krivas is anticipated to begin at middle 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, may even begin or determine prominently within the rotation.
“We have now complete respect (for the place) we’re getting into (with the Massive 12) and who we’re taking part in towards,” Lloyd mentioned. “We perceive there’s going to be lots of people on the market that wish to see us show it — from followers to different faculties to media to officers.”
Canisius misplaced its high 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.
–Discipline Degree Media
