Arizona Wildcats Basketball

In the battle for West Coast supremacy, No. 3 Arizona's veteran leaders helped snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as the Wildcats came from behind for a 66-63 win in overtime over No. 9 Gonzaga.

Junior power forward Brandon Ashley scored the final six points of regulation for Arizona. Senior T.J. McConnell—not exactly renowned for his scoring as much as his defense and distributing—scored all six of Arizona's points in overtime.

Business as usual for the Wildcats.

They have already used up about six of their nine lives in the first few weeks of the season to remain 8-0. Three times in the span of eight days, they were pushed to the brink by UC Irvine, Kansas State and San Diego State, but—in the spirit of Jimmy V Week—they survived and advanced.

At times on Saturday, it felt like we were watching a replay of their Maui Invitational championship win over San Diego State. In both cases, neither team led by more than six in a game with just 120 combined points at the end of regulation.

What it didn't feel like, though, was a replay of last year's round of 32 game between Arizona and Gonzaga.

The No. 1 seed Wildcats dominated the No. 8 seed Bulldogs in the tournament by a score of 84-61. However, things were clearly different with a healthy Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. for Gonzaga and no Nick Johnson or Aaron Gordon for Arizona. That duo combined for 35 points in the tournament game.

In the tournament, Arizona forced 21 turnovers, blocked eight shots and more or less had its way in the paint, shooting 53.2 percent (25-of-47) from two-point range.

This time around, nothing came easily for the Wildcats.

At the end of regulation, Gonzaga had only committed eight turnovers. (The Bulldogs coughed it up five times in overtime, but that shouldn't completely nullify 40 strong minutes of ball control.) Arizona blocked one shot the entire game. And with Gonzaga packing in the lane on defense, every single two-point shot was contested.

Gonzaga is packing it in on Arizona...going under every screen and begging the Wildcats to shoot challenged jumper or drive traffic.

— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) December 6, 2014

For the first 36 minutes or so, these two teams—one a very strong preseason candidate to win the national championship and the other a mid-major that annually gets dismissed as a team that can't win when it matters—looked like mirror images of each other.

If anything, Gonzaga was playing Arizona basketball better than Arizona. The Bulldogs were tenacious on the glass, massive in the defensive paint and relentless with their efforts to score from inside the arc.

But when the going got tough, the Wildcats got going.

And incredibly, they did so without getting much of anything on offense from the player who has practically already been crowned the Sixth Man of the Year.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson came into this game averaging 13.4 points per game, but he attempted just one shot over the final 30 minutes of play.

Don't misconstrue that as a criticism of Hollis-Jefferson's play on Saturday night. His impact was felt on the defensive end, where he and Brandon Ashley were switching on ball screens all night and frustrating the heck out of Pangos.

Gonzaga's star point guard came into the game with five turnovers all season, but he committed four in this game while scoring just eight points on 10 field-goal attempts.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has guarded Kevin Pangos, Byron Wesley, Kyle Wiltjer and Damontas Sabonis tonight. Unbelievably versatile defender.

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) December 6, 2014

Four players scored in double figures for the Wildcats, but there's no denying they won this game by playing outstanding defense and shutting down Pangos.

As Raphielle Johnson of NBC Sports noted in his game recap, "It was Arizona's stifling defense and the late-game play of senior point guard T.J. McConnell that proved to be the differences."

Stifling defense is the part of the game that comes with experience, and it's where Arizona plays like one of the best teams in the country.

Anyone can get hot and immediately fit into an offense averaging 85 points per game, but holding opponents to 60.6 PPG (while playing at an average tempo) starts with veteran leadership and getting everyone to selflessly buy in.

The Wildcats don't force a ton of turnovers, but they contest without overcommitting and (usually) dominating the defensive glass.

Gonzaga grabbed 35.1 percent of offensive rebounds in this game—worse than Arizona's season average of 24.5 percent, according to KenPom.com (subscription required)—but what the Wildcats lacked in defensive rebounding on Saturday they made up for by not biting on the head fakes of Kyle Wiltjer and Pangos.

They refused to get baited into silly fouls and remained in perfect position to defend the actual shots, ultimately limiting one of the most efficient offenses in the nation to a field-goal percentage of 39.7. Gonzaga entered the game shooting 54.5 percent and had not been held to less than 45.0 percent in a game.

At a certain point, though, it goes beyond the numbers and the X's and O's. Great defense puts Arizona in a position to win games, but the players still need to execute and actually come through in the clutch—which they have been doing all year.

Kentucky has been more dominant and Duke has been exponentially prettier on offense, but what are those teams going to do when they suddenly find themselves in a tie game in the waning moments? Neither one has played a game decided by fewer than 10 points yet this season and might panic when faced with a tough situation.

But Arizona?

Playing one-possession games is right in the Wildcats' wheelhouse. They thrive under pressure and continue to rise to the occasion. It's the type of characteristic you can't teach in practice or add via great recruiting.

It comes with experience. And it comes in handy in a trial by fire like the NCAA tournament.

These Wildcats have already been forged in the flames and are well-positioned in the driver's seat for the No. 1 seed in the West region, with wins already over Gonzaga and San Diego State.

They'll be ready for whatever challenges they face along the way.

Kerry Miller covers college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @kerrancejames.

Finesse isn't what makes Arizona freshman Stanley Johnson special. But back in April at a practice leading up to the Jordan Brand Classic in Brooklyn, Johnson went out of his way to unveil his skill when working on a post-up drill with some of the best bigs in the country. It was obvious Johnson was quick enough to get around any of the other players, but impressive as that might have been, he was instead making it a challenge. One by one, he was beating them by banking in one-footed fallaway jumpers, a la Dirk Nowitzki.

After each shot fell through, he flashed a big smile.

Johnson is a natural athlete, as good as you'll find in college basketball this season. And he could get by with just relying on his speed and strength. But to Johnson, he wants to be more than just an athlete, and he's had to work for people to see more than just 6'7" and 245 pounds of raw power.

"Nothing ever came easy for him besides banging into other people," says Charlie Torres, Johnson's trainer back home in Fullerton, California.

What everyone sees is the product on the court, and Johnson is off to an impressive start this season at Arizona. He leads the third-ranked Wildcats in scoring at 14.1 points per game and earned MVP honors at the Maui Invitational last week. 

But behind the scenes, Johnson has progressed so quickly at every stage of his career because of hard work. He worked with Torres, perfecting skills like that Nowitzki shot. He worked at his craft while practicing with and observing the one-and-done phenom he replaced at Arizona: Aaron Gordon. He's worked at it as far back as playing youth basketball on a team started by his mom, Karen Taylor, a former collegiate and overseas professional player.

The result is as close to the total package for a perimeter player as you'll find in this season's freshman class: the speed and agility of a running back with the handle of a guard and the strength of a post player.

And the work ethic to keep getting better.

---

Johnson arrived at Arizona as accomplished as any freshman in the country. He won four state titles at Mater Dei High School, becoming the first player in California history to go four for four at the state's highest classification.

The last two years, he has been the star. But as a high school freshman, Stanley Johnson was a project.

The summer after his first year at Mater Dei, he was sneaking off to a side gym during lunch of summer school. Two older teammates were working with Torres and his partner, Shea Frazee, in the main gym.

For three straight days, Johnson would peek around a curtain and smile when the trainers looked over. Finally, he asked if he could join.

"What grade are you in?" Torres says he remembers asking, assuming the "big bear" who had been peering in was a senior on the football team.

When Torres found out Johnson was going to be a sophomore and watched him play, he realized he had discovered the next big thing in the area.

"I said, 'Shea, this kid could be high-caliber, a potential lottery pick,'" Torres, who made his reputation by training former Arizona star Derrick Williams, recalls. "'He just needs confidence.' His confidence was completely shot."

Johnson had been a role player as a freshman, providing a big body and rebounding from the post for Mater Dei. He had the ability to be more than that, but as soon as he started working with the trainers, it became clear he lacked the work ethic to get there.

Torres says he wouldn't get back on defense in five-on-five games, and they would make him sit out.

"We had to kick him (out)," Torres says. "'Stan, go home. You're messing up the game. Get out of here.' Sometimes he'd have to wait and watch because we were his ride home."

Later that summer, Johnson went to try out for the United States' under-16 team and found a mentor in Gordon.

Gordon ended up as the leading scorer on the gold-medal-winning team at the FIBA Americas Championship. Johnson barely made the team and hurt his thumb during the tournament, playing in only two of the five games.

But when Johnson got home, his attitude was completely different. He worked hard and listened to his trainers. When they asked what happened, he said watching and talking to Gordon had made him realize his approach needed to change.

"Stan was kind of infatuated with Aaron," Torres says. "They played together on the (Oakland) Soldiers, and Aaron just outworked people. That became his motto. Stan was going to outwork people.

"He came back a completely coachable sponge. He worked hard. He listened. He was thriving at Mater Dei. And it showed."

Throughout the last few years, Johnson has made 6 a.m. workouts a part of his regular routine. When Torres didn't have a car, Johnson would come pick him up. When Torres was working with another player, Johnson would come pick up Torres and whomever he was working with.

Torres and Frazee are also assistant coaches at La Mirada, a school 10 minutes from Johnson's house. Johnson would show up to their practices to get in extra workouts after they finished coaching, often showing up early to help coach the La Mirada players.

"It's like watching The Sandlot," Torres says. "He was Benny the Jet. All the other kids weren't as serious. They wanted to watch the fireworks. No, Benny the Jet is trying to hit home runs and go to the Dodgers."

---

After Johnson scored 24 points in the Jordan Brand Classic at the Barclays Center, he stood in the interview room and listened as a reporter told him he was impressed with his stroke since he didn't really have the reputation as a shooter.

"I'm glad I'm an underrated jump-shooter and surprise you when I make shots," Johnson said. "I can definitely bring some jump shooting to the table. I can definitely be a floor-spacer."

His jumper is a work in progress, but it's also something that he's happy to show off after years of working to make it respectable. When he started working with Torres, Johnson shot it from his belly button. When he had the ball on the perimeter, his defender would stand in the lane.

"He didn't like that feeling," Torres says.

"He's a guy that wants to be a great player," Arizona coach Sean Miller told Bleacher Report this summer. "If you've watched Stanley as a ninth- and 10th-grader like we did, he was a far cry from where he is today. That's a true testament to his work ethic."

When Johnson started to show the ability to knock down outside shots as a high school junior, it took opponents by surprise. Johnson made five three-pointers and scored 26 points in a state championship win over Gordon's Archbishop Mitty squad in 2013.

"I didn't know he could shoot the ball that well," Gordon says. "He came out and hit his first couple shots from far away."

But there's still work to do in what will likely be his only season at Arizona—Johnson is projected to be a lottery pick in the 2015 NBA draft. He is so determined to prove that he can shoot from outside that occasionally he'll force an untimely perimeter jumper when he could get to the bucket. He went 2-of-10 from deep through Arizona's first three games, but he has gone 6-of-9 since and is shooting a stellar 42.1 percent from deep. 

Johnson is great in the open court and thrived this summer at the Under-18 FIBA Americas Championships playing in Team USA coach Billy Donovan's full-court press. He was the MVP of the tournament and averaged 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. He was at his best getting out in the transition opportunities Donovan's pressure defense created. The college game is not always so open, and Arizona plays more of a half-court style, but Johnson is starting to adjust.

"He's going to have to get used to not being able to just overpower everyone. Knowing how to get space and get his pull-up jump shot off, get the floater off," an NBA scout told Bleacher Report. "Because he's not going to be able to just drive through everyone in college and certainly not at the next level."

Sometimes players try to show that they can do what others think they can't, and that's one thing Johnson could battle this season. This is where his relationship with Gordon could come in handy. Gordon had his own struggles with his outside shot, but he impressed NBA scouts with his ability to defend, rebound and play with great energy.

Gordon continues to mentor Johnson from afar.

"I just tell him not to treat Arizona as a stepping stone to the next level," Gordon said. "While it's not his ultimate goal to play college basketball, he can't miss out on the time there preparing for the next step."

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The goal at Arizona is, of course, to win.

Johnson has always won.

In addition to the four state titles, he didn't lose a game in his last two years of high school and is off to a 7-0 start at Arizona.

"He makes big shots, big plays. It's uncanny," says Frank Burleson, a veteran journalist on the California prep basketball scene. "That's the thing that set him apart over the last four years. There's very few people who have been as good a prospect as he is and who have also won so frequently who also came through in certainly clutch situations."

Johnson's potential was on display this summer at the Drew League in California, a pro-am that often lures NBA talent. He played on a team with James Harden and Derrick Williams, and the Arizona freshman dropped 30-plus points in two of the first three games, and was MVP of the league one week.

Johnson likes winning so much that Torres says he's a "jerk" even when it comes to pickup games. "He'll fight for every loose ball," Torres says. "He'll fight for calls. He'll argue about calls. We have an ongoing joke at the gym—he's a professional pickup player, because he'll do whatever it takes to win."

Johnson likes a challenge, but his career path has obvious intentions.

He went to Mater Dei because it is the most tradition-rich program in California.

He sought out the best trainers in the area and worked with them at every possible opportunity so he could become more than just a "big bear."

He studied and mimicked Gordon because he was the best player in the state.

And he picked Arizona because Miller has stockpiled talent.

Enjoy the process, Gordon says.

Johnson will. He just wants to make sure he finishes on his terms.

"Arizona has been on the brink of getting to a Final Four a couple times, and this year I think we have no excuse not to make the Final Four," he says. "For me, it's national championship or bust."

C.J. Moore covers college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @CJMooreBR.

The Arizona Wildcats handled the Missouri Tigers just fine in the quarterfinals of the Maui Invitational. But during their victory, the Wildcats exposed to opponents what their fatal flaw is.

In the 72-53 victory at the Lahaina Civic Center, the starting guard combination of Gabe York and T.J. McConnell combined to shoot 3-of-15 from the field and 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. The numbers did not get any better for the reserve guards, as Elliott Pitts and Parker Jackson-Cartwright combined to score five points. 

The lack of production from the backcourt is not an issue that has popped up out of nowhere. In the first three games of the season, only two guards found their way into double digits. McConnell scored 12 in the opener against UC Irvine, while Pitts scored 10 points against Cal State Northridge. 

This may not seem like a major concern now thanks to the strong frontcourt, which includes Brandon Ashley, Kaleb Tarczewski and Stanley Johnson, but it will hurt the Wildcats if the issue isn't fixed soon. 

The numbers produced by the big guns down low should be enough for Arizona to win the Maui Invitational. But looking further down the schedule, the problem at the guard position will be exposed sooner rather than later. 

Sean Miller's team faces a big early-season test against Gonzaga on December 6. If York and McConnell fail to keep up with the contributions of Kevin Pangos and Byron Wesley, the Wildcats could be handed a reality check by Mark Few's Bulldogs. 

Pangos and Wesley have combined to average 22.8 points per game in their first four games. McConnell and York entered Maui with a total of 15.3 points per game. 

The other big nonconference game on the schedule for the Wildcats is the December 13 clash with Michigan, which also possesses a dangerous backcourt led by Caris LeVert and Derrick Walton Jr. 

Through three games, the Wolverines duo has scored a combined 33.4 points per game. If a big gap in scoring production still exists by the time the two teams meet, Arizona could be in for a rude awakening.

On the defensive side of the ball, there are few reasons to be worried about the play of the guards. McConnell produced three steals and pulled down three rebounds against Missouri. In his previous three games, McConnell recorded 19 rebounds and 12 steals. York's defensive numbers are a bit more concerning, as he has just four steals and four rebounds this season. 

Despite the low numbers to start the season, York is a solid defender. McConnell will be the player who catches everyone's attention because of his steal numbers, but York is able to hang with some of the nation's best when he plays at the level he is expected to. 

Throughout the game against Missouri, McConnell did distribute the ball well with nine assists, but he could not become a consistent scorer. York was almost nonexistent, as he scored three points in his time on the court. The lone basket from York came with six minutes and 16 seconds left in the game. 

The two guards saw their respective offensive failures covered up by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who started in place of York to begin the second half. Hollis-Jefferson ignited the Wildcats offense with five quick points to start the second stanza. 

The performance of the potential Sixth Man of the Year candidate and freshman Stanley Johnson were the two big positive takeaways for Miller. If York continues to struggle on the offensive end, Miller could enter Hollis-Jefferson into the game to provide a spark like he did Monday. Hollis-Jefferson is being asked to embrace the sixth man role this year, and if he comes up big in York's spot, he will hand Arizona a massive boost. 

At some point in the season, we could see Hollis-Jefferson take over for York in the starting five, especially if the sophomore continues to score as much as he has in the first four games.

But it would take a massive struggle throughout nonconference play for York to lose his position. The junior guard brings a veteran presence to the lineup, and playing with four big men may lead the Wildcats to focus too much on their play in the paint. 

Because the Wildcats have Hollis-Jefferson waiting on the bench to play in key situations, they may be able to live up to their potential. Arizona is expected to take care of business in the Pac-12 and make a deep run when March rolls around. 

There is a chance the guard trouble will continue into the Pac-12 regular season if the Wildcats lose to Gonzaga and Michigan. But given Miller's past as a point guard, we should expect him to find a fix to get McConnell and York out of their respective slumps before the games that matter most. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

All statistics obtained from ESPN.com. 

One of the top prospects in the Class of 2016 has announced his commitment, as 5-star power forward T.J. Leaf will be headed to Arizona.    

Leaf announced his decision Wednesday via his Twitter account:

I've decided that I'm committing to the University Of Arizona! #beardown so excited to have this opportunity! #ArizonaWildcats

— Tj Leaf (@leafsquad22) November 19, 2014

Leaf is certainly an exciting prospect. Standing at 6'9" and weighing 215 pounds, he's the 14th-ranked prospect in the nation according to 247Sports' composite system, the No. 3 power forward and the No. 2 player from the state of California.    

He was excellent for Foothills Christian in 2013, averaging 22.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 4.5 assists in 35 games. That was good enough to see him named a 2014 MaxPreps Sophomore All-America honorable mention. 

Jerry Meyer of 247Sports made the following comparisons when evaluating Leaf:

I liken 2016 Arizona commit T.J. Leaf to a cross between Kyle Singler and Chandler Parsons.

— Jerry Meyer (@jerrymeyer247) November 19, 2014

That's pretty good company for a 17-year-old. Alex Kline of The Recruit Scoop adds:

TJ Leaf brings an inside out game to the PAC-12. He can shoot, rebound & pass extremely well for someone 6'10, who can play many positions.

— Alex Kline (@TheRecruitScoop) November 19, 2014

Leaf now gives Sean Miller and Arizona their first 5-star recruit for the Class of 2016. Miller and Arizona are certainly having a good month—according to 247Sports, they have also secured the top recruiting class for 2015.

In other words, Arizona looks as though it will be a force to be reckoned with for the next several years. The Wildcats from Kentucky may get all the hype when it comes to recruiting top classes, but the Wildcats of Arizona are looking pretty darn good at the moment.

Sean Miller knew that he had big shoes to fill when he took the men's basketball head coaching job at Arizona in the spring of 2009.

He was fully aware that his performance would be judged by one standard: How does he compare to U of A legend, Lute Olson?

Instead of being intimidated by Olson's success, Miller has embraced him and the program's tradition of excellence. Instead of burning bridges, Miller works hard to demonstrate unassuming respect for the much-loved creator and builder of Arizona basketball.

ESPN's Dana O'Neil quoted Miller as saying:

What I understand is that Coach Olson gave 25 years of his life to this program. He built this and he's always welcome here. I want him to be viewed as the father of this program. I'm just the current caretaker.

Miller's humility and hard work have quickly put Arizona back among college hoops' elite.

How does Miller's first five years (2009-2014) at the Wildcats' helm compare with Olson's initial half-decade (1983-1988)?

To evaluate how Miller matches up so far with Olson, we will look at how well both did in their first five seasons at Arizona in three key areas: conference play, overall record and postseason performance.

Conference Play

Olson and Miller both had challenging first years in Pac-10 play.

Olson's 1983-84 squad went 8-10 (eighth place) in the league race. Miller's initial team (2009-2010) was slightly better, going 10-8 (fourth place) in the conference season.

Both coaches progressed nicely after their opening campaigns. 

Olson led the Cats to two first-place conference finishes (1986, 1988) in his first five years while posting an overall conference mark of 64-26 (71.1 winning percentage). The best of Olson's first five teams was the 1987-88 Wildcats, who posted a 17-1 conference mark, with their only loss coming on the road against Stanford.

Miller's men also secured two conference titles (2011, 2014) while winning one less league game (63-27; 70.0 winning percentage) during the same time period.

Miller's best team so far at Arizona was last year's crew (2013-14) that went 15-3 in Pac-12 play. All three losses occurred after Brandon Ashley went down with a broken bone in his foot in a road game against Cal on Feb. 1.

You cannot get much closer than these two were for their first five conference seasons.

Overall Record

Very few coaches have significant success in their first year in a new program.

Olson and Miller were no exceptions.

Fresh off of taking the Iowa Hawkeyes to the 1982 NCAA Sweet 16, Olson's first Arizona squad struggled.

The Wildcats started the season losing 11 of their first 13 games. They regrouped to win nine of their last 15 games for a first-year record of 11-17.

Even with winning just 11 games, Olson had started to set the program back on track. The year before he showed up, the Cats posted a 4-24 record under Ben Lindsey.

Miller, like Olson, also left behind an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance (2009 at Xavier) to come to the Old Pueblo.

While Miller's opening games as the U of A's coach were not as bleak as Olson's, he still had a challenging first showing. The Wildcats never really clicked, going 16-15, missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since Olson's first season.

But, it did not take either Olson or Miller long to get their respective ships righted.

Olson's next four teams went a combined 97-34 (74.0 winning percentage), for a five-year mark of 108-51 (67.9).

Miller's next four teams put up an impressive 113-33 record (77.4 winning percentage), for a five-year run of 129-48 (72.9).

With the help of two 30-win seasons, Miller has an ample edge on Olson in total wins (21) and winning percentage (5.0+) in their first five years. 

Postseason Performance

The most important gauge of a college basketball coach's success is how well they do during March Madness.

Piling up regular-season wins without making deep runs in the NCAA tournament creates questioning and criticism.

Both Olson and Miller achieved good postseason success in their first years at U of A.

Arizona was not a program that made regular appearances in the Big Dance before Olson arrived in 1983. In fact, it had only been invited three times in school history (1951, 1976, 1977).

After not being selected for the tournament in his first season, Olson led the Wildcats to appearances in each of his next four seasons. Actually, this initial run was just the beginning of a string of 23 consecutive years of taking U of A to March Madness.

In his first three NCAA tournament appearances at Arizona, Olson's teams were eliminated in the first round. In his fifth season at U of A, Olson's 1987-88 Wildcats made it to the Final Four. This was the first of his four Arizona trips to the national semifinals.

Miller has taken U of A to the NCAA tournament in three of five years, with one additional trip to the 2012 NIT.

In Miller's first three March Madness appearances at Arizona, the Wildcats advanced to the Elite Eight twice (2011, 2014) and the Sweet 16 once (2013).

Even though Olson broke through the Final Four barrier in his fifth season, Miller's initial body of postseason work at Arizona is more impressive. Multiple trips to the "second weekend" require a high level of skill and great degree of consistency.

Olson's total postseason resume is hard to beat. But Miller's early accomplishments put him slightly ahead of the Hall of Famer.

Conclusion

As the 2014-15 Cats have opened with two impressive wins, Miller has crossed the career 250-win mark and looks to add to his notable coaching profile.

He has started his time in Tucson by outdistancing the legendary coach that put Arizona basketball on the map.

For some diehard Olson devotees, this might be a hard pill to swallow.

Now, over the next several years, Miller has the larger task of trying to surpass Olson's career successes in victories, conference titles and NCAA tournament exploits.

Team information provided by SportsReference.com

Sean Miller has something on his 2014-15 Arizona Wildcats roster that few college coaches ever have at the same time: two legitimate seven-footers.

Junior Kaleb Tarczewski (7'0", 245 lbs.) and incoming freshman Dusan Ristic (7'0", 240 lbs.) give U of A 14 feet of muscle in the middle.

While their height does not guarantee greatness, it is hard to argue with former Utah Jazz coach Frank Layton, who once said, "You can't teach seven foot."

Tarczewski has been a fixture in the U of A starting lineup since arriving on campus in 2012.

Through hard work and dedication, Zeus has elevated his game, developing into a rock-solid rim protector and rebounder. GoAZCats.com's Joseph Duruaku states that:

His importance cannot be measured on a stat sheet, but if you look at how teams were forced to play against the Wildcats, it becomes evident that coaches did not want to challenge Arizona's stout interior defense.

Tarczewski has become an effective low-post scorer who makes teams pay when they put him on the line, shooting 75.6 percent last season.

He enters this season in exceptional shape. According to the Arizona Daily Star's Bruce Pascoe, Miller reports that Tarczewski is currently at 5.7 percent body fat. The Cats coach told Pascoe, "There aren't many of those people walking the planet."

Capable of being a double-double guy, Tarczewski is ready for a breakout season. His return to Tucson provides Miller with a very big building block to what could be the first Arizona team to get to the Final Four since 2001.

(Click here to watch Part 2 of Tarczewski's YouTube profile)

Ristic was somewhat of an unknown to many college basketball fans when Miller signed him in March. 

He had only been in the States for two months and was attending Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas.

However, he was known by some high-level scouts who keep an eye on global hoops talent.

Zagsblog.com's Adam Zagoria cited DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony's assessment of Ristic:  

He’s a legit 7-footer with a great frame and really long arms. He’s as skilled a big man as you’ll find. He can score with either hand in the post, is an excellent passer, and can step outside and shoot from the perimeter as well. He’s consistently been considered one of the top prospects in the 1995 international class, which is one of the most talented we’ve seen in quite some time. He’s been really well-coached and should be able to contribute significantly from day one. He needs to continue to fill out his frame and improve his ability to deal with contact and physical play as he makes the jump to competing against higher level competition, but he’s a definite NBA prospect long-term.

NBADraft.net's Davide Bortoluzzi, in reporting on the 2013 Nike Junior International Tournament top prospects, described Ristic this way: 

He’s really polished from a technical standpoint, with good post moves and use of pivot foot, and the ability to conclude using the baseline or in the middle of the area. His favorite conclusion is a reliable hook shot, which he’s able to execute with both hands. He has soft hands, with a good range out to 16-17 feet. Starting from post position he has good court vision and great passing abilities, often finding teammates on the perimeter, able to exploit the openings that the double teams on him create.

Ristic's total game is still a work in progress, but he has an excellent foundation from which Miller and his staff can build.

His opportunities, as a freshman, will be largely dependent on his ability to become competent on the other end of the court and on the glass.

Check out some highlights from his short U.S. high school career:

The immediate assumption is that Ristic will grow, mature and develop his game while facing Tarczewski every day in practice and backing him up in Arizona's upcoming games this season.

There is a good chance that is exactly what will happen.

But, is anyone else thinking about the possibility of an occasional Twin Towers frontcourt? Could Zeus and the Serbian 7-footer clog the middle together?

Before you freak out, I am not suggesting that Ristic will bump multi-talented power forward Brandon Ashley out of the starting five.

Ashley is 100 percent after sustaining a broken bone in his foot against Cal in February of last season.

The 6'8" junior will again create matchup problems with his ability to face up and knock down shots from the perimeter.

However, Ristic had an exceptional first outing at Arizona's recent Red-Blue scrimmage, scoring 14 points (on 7-of-8 shooting) in 18 minutes (h/t ArizonaWildcats.com).

The Daily Wildcat's Roberto Payne reported:

Ristic displayed noticeable touch and fluidity around the basket, which is incredibly rare for an international freshman. He showcased several post moves, such as a hook over his right shoulder and a mini up-and-under move.

Ristic's impressive outing was not against some overmatched walk on. He went head-to-head with Tarczewski, who ended up with 11 points (with 7-of-7 from the line) and 9 boards:

Going Twin Towers for short stretches is not a far-fetched farce, as Tarczewski and Ristic have complementary skill sets.

Miller could put Ristic at the high post to face up and Tarczewski on either block with his back to the basket.

They will not be the second coming of Olajuwon and Sampson or Duncan and Robinson.

But who knows? Tarczewski and Ristic could be an intriguing change of pace up front.

Or they might be a tormenting force, making life miserable for some of Arizona's opponents.

Player profiles provided by ESPN.com

Updates from Monday, July 14

Zack Rosenblatt of the Arizona Daily Star talk to Ray Smith about his decision to commit to Arizona:

Original Text

The Arizona Wildcats have shot themselves near the top of the 2015 recruiting rankings after securing the commitment of small forward Ray Smith, per Scout.com's Josh Gershon:

Smith confirmed on Twitter that he's heading to Tucson:

According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Smith is the 13th-best recruit in the country and third-best small forward.

Before getting the 5-star forward on board, 'Zona ranked 17th overall in the class of 2015, according to 247Sports. That obviously changed with Smith joining fellow 5-star recruit Justin Simon as the Wildcats jumped all the way up to third behind Syracuse and Ohio State.

This is also some welcome news for the prep star, considering he tore his ACL just a few days ago, per Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader:

Gershon, CBSSports.com's Jeff Borzello and Evan Daniels of Scout.com all praised Smith's ability with his athleticism in particular highlighted:

The torn ACL is a tough blow for Smith, but he's got plenty of time to rehabilitate and get ready for his freshman season at Arizona. Even if he loses a slight step after his recovery, he'll remain a tremendous high-ceiling prospect, who can keep the Wildcats near the top of the college basketball hierarchy.

Head coach Sean Miller has done extremely well on the recruiting trail over the past few years, compiling the fourth-best class in 2013 and sixth-best class in 2014, according to 247Sports.

Much of Arizona's hopes in '15 hinge on guys like Brandon Ashley, Kaleb Tarczewski and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson sticking around past this year. But at least with Simon and now Smith, Miller will have two impact freshmen with which to build around.

Getting to the Final Four is not easy. Even the best programs don't get there all of the time. 

The last time Arizona made it to the NCAA tournament's national semifinals was when it played Duke in the 2001 title game. That was 13 years ago.

Last year, it seemed like the Wildcats' drought was going to be over. Sean Miller's squad started off the 2013-14 season by winning its first 21 games (13-0 in nonconference and the first eight Pac-12 contests). Most college hoops fans and analysts anticipated that U of A would be making a trip to North Texas in April.

But then, Brandon Ashley, Arizona's versatile power forward, broke his foot in a February 1 game at Cal, and the trajectory of the season changed. Even though they won the conference regular season and entered March Madness as a No. 1 seed, the Cats' tourney hopes were not nearly as bright as they were earlier.

U of A made it to the Elite Eight for the second time in four years but ended up losing to Wisconsin in a game that went down to the wire. Close again, but still not getting where it wanted to be.

According to ESPN's Stats and Information, "Arizona is the first team in NCAA Tournament history to lose four Elite Eight games by three points or fewer."

Looking ahead to the 2014-15 season, Miller's Wildcats will be loaded. Not only will they have an exceptionally talented starting five, they will also have a second unit that could be a Top 25 team on its own. 

Talent, depth and potential are not enough to get it done.

What does Arizona have to do to break through to get back to the Final Four? What areas are most important for the Wildcats to address if they are going to make a legitimate run at the school's second men's basketball title?

Free-Throw Failures

Arizona was not a good free-throw shooting team last year. Even though a lot of attention was given to Aaron Gordon's atrocious (42.2 percent) accuracy at the line, the Cats also struggled as a team (65.9 percent; No. 305 in the nation).

If you subtract Gordon's brickwork and Nick Johnson's team-leading 78.1 percent, the U of A shot a pedestrian 69.7 percent.

A surprising area of improvement needs to come from the Cats' returning backcourt players. Point guard T.J. McConnell only knocked down 62 percent of his freebies last year, and shooting guard Gabe York only hit 67.3 percent of his attempts.

The good news is that the Cats' frontcourt anchors, Ashley (75.7 percent) and Kaleb Tarczewski (75.6 percent), make their opponents pay when they put them on the line.

The outcomes of close games in 2014-15 will be impacted by Arizona's ability to get to the line often and pick up precious points when there.

Dearth from Downtown

Before last season began, many people suspected that U of A was going to struggle in its three-point shooting. In reality, the Cats shot an acceptable 36.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Where they lacked was the frequency of shooting from distance. Arizona attempted 14.8 three-pointers per game (No. 313 in the nation) and made only 5.4 threes per game (No. 259). Only 22.1 percent of the team's points came from beyond the arc.

Sure, the Wildcats were long and strong inside, and they worked hard to get the ball to the rim. However, because they didn't squeeze off more shots from the perimeter, teams tended to pack the lane and make life a little more difficult.

McConnell (36 percent) and York (38.5 percent) are both solid three-point shooters, but the best bomber on the team is rising sophomore Elliott Pitts. After getting his bearings early in the season, Pitts became a valuable marksman coming off the bench, connecting on 39.3 percent of his treys.

This perimeter trio needs to keep opponents honest by being consistent threats from beyond the arc.

It is uncertain how much three-point shooting help any of the new additions to the team will provide. JUCO all-american Kadeem Allen is an excellent scorer (25.9 PPG as a sophomore at Hutchinson CC; NJCCA.org) but only a 30.5 percent shooter from the business district. All-everything freshman Stanley Johnson is an absolute beast, but he generally does not put most of his points on the board from far off.

Partial Pressure

Arizona was one of the nation's best defensive teams in college basketball last year. The Cats ferociously challenged their opponents' shots (No. 1 in opponents' effective field-goal percentage, 42 percent), especially inside the arc (No. 2 in opponent two-point percentage, 40.2 percent).

It was somewhat surprising to find out that the Cats were only average in terms of on-ball pressure in 2013-14. They averaged 5.9 steals per game (No. 192) and forced 12.4 turnovers per game (No. 163).

With Tarczewski protecting the rim and Ashley patrolling the middle, Arizona can take more risks on the perimeter. Because of their extreme overall depth, the Cats could significantly turn up the heat and become passing-lane nightmares without compromising their interior might.

Look for sophomore small forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Johnson to torment the unfortunate Pac-12 wings any time they get the ball.

Looking Ahead

Arizona may not start off the upcoming season winning every game it plays into the month of February.

But if the Wildcats make these improvements, do not be shocked if they plow through both their nonconference and conference schedules and make a serious run at the 2015 Final Four in Indy.

Individual and team stats provided by TeamRankings.com.