ARIZONA BASKETBALL

Jay Bilas: ‘Arizona’s got all the pieces necessary to make a run’

Dec 20, 2012, 1:14 AM | Updated: 1:31 am

ESPN NCAA basketball analyst Jay Bilas feels the Arizona Wildcats are the best team in the Pac-12.

The Wildcats have started the season with nine straight wins, including a come-from-behind victory over then-No. 5 Florida.

Bilas said that was the type of win where a team grows up a little bit because they rallied late after trailing for basically the entire game.

“To hang in there and find a way to win, that’s the sign of a good team, and Arizona’s a really good team that is going to keep getting better and have a chance at the end of the year to do something special in a year where there’s probably not a great team out there,” Bilas told Arizona Sports 620’s Burns and Gambo Wednesday.

Indeed the Wildcats, who are ranked fourth in the Associated Press Poll and fifth in the USA Today Coaches Poll, are looked at as one of the country’s better teams. They appear to have the requisite size and depth to make a deep NCAA Tournament run, but what may set them apart is the leadership they receive from seniors like Mark Lyons, Solomon Hill and Kevin Parrom.

“I think Arizona’s got all the pieces necessary to make a run later on in the season,” Bilas said. “Looking nationally with the teams they’re going to have to play and compete against once you get to the NCAA Tournament, I think this is one of those years where nobody’s great and if you are healthy and playing well at the end of the year you’re going to have a chance.”

Arizona Basketball

Keshad Johnson #16 and Pelle Larsson #3 of the Arizona Wildcats speak at a press conference before ...

Damon Allred

Grind of final Pac-12 season prepared Arizona basketball for March

No. 2 Arizona men's basketball will look to make it past the Sweet 16 for the first time in Tommy Lloyd's tenure.

24 hours ago

Caitlin Clark celebrates...

Associated Press

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is inspiring a younger generation of players

Caitlin Clark's deep range has expanded the scope of possibilities for up-and-coming women's basketball players.

1 day ago

Chase Hunter #1 and PJ Hall #24 of the Clemson Tigers high five during the first half against the B...

Vincent DeAngelis

Clemson basketball looks to continue ‘underdog’ run against Arizona in Sweet 16

No. 6 seed Clemson takes on Arizona on Thursday after upsetting No. 3 seed Baylor in the 2024 NCAA Tournament round of 32

1 day ago

(L-R) Caleb Love #2, Keshad Johnson #16, Oumar Ballo #11, and Jaden Bradley #0 of the Arizona Wildc...

Vincent DeAngelis

Re-ranking Arizona basketball among Sweet 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament

Multiple publications rank the Arizona Wildcats around the middle of the pack among the Sweet 16 team still in the NCAA Tournament.

3 days ago

Darian DeVries...

Associated Press

West Virginia basketball hires Darian DeVries to be new coach after 6 years at Drake

West Virginia tapped Drake coach Darian DeVries on Sunday to move the Mountaineers past one of the ugliest years in school history.

4 days ago

Tommy Lloyd...

Arizona Sports

How to watch: Arizona vs. Clemson in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

What time and how to watch the No. 2 seed Arizona Wildcats take on No. 6 Clemson Tigers in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

4 days ago

Jay Bilas: ‘Arizona’s got all the pieces necessary to make a run’