CBS Sports: Arizona basketball ranked second in the nation
Oct 26, 2017, 10:14 AM | Updated: 2:14 pm
Arizona guard Allonzo Trier (35) drives to the basket against against Xavier during the first half of an NCAA Tournament college basketball regional semifinal game Thursday, March 23, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Matt Norlander of CBS Sports has released his annual ranking of all 351 Division I men’s basketball programs, and the Arizona Wildcats are ranked second.
Only the Duke Blue Devils are ranked ahead of the Wildcats entering the 2017-18 season. Even with an FBI investigation hanging over the program, Norlander expects big things from UofA on the court.
The Wildcats have never had a roster this talented, deep, experienced or athletic under Sean Miller. And yes, the program enters the season with a dark cloud looming over it, as assistant Emanuel Richardson is one of four college hoops assistants charged by the federal government in a two-year-long sting that exposed bribery and corruption in college basketball. Miller’s received public support from his AD and president. Is more to come with the FBI and this program? We await. If all players remain eligible, Arizona is a strong No. 2 team, led by junior shooting guard Allonzo Trier and freshman “power center” DeAndre Ayton.
Arizona finished last season with a 32-5 record (16-2 Pac-12) and won its sixth Pac-12 Tournament championship title since 2002. The Wildcats fell short of the ultimate goal, winning a national championship, when they were defeated by Xavier, 73-71, in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
Trier and Ayton made ESPN’s preseason All-America teams.
Meanwhile, ASU men’s basketball checked in at No. 57 in Norlander’s rankings, an improvement of 31 spots compared to last year.
In evaluating the Sun Devils, Norlander made a bold prediction.
Strong set of guards. Shannon Evans is a stud, and Tra Holder will fill it up. Kodi Justice isn’t well-known now but could be the key glue guy. Bobby Hurley is one season away from making the NCAA Tournament.
ASU finished last season with a record of 15-18 (7-11 Pac-12) and lost to Oregon in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament. When the new season tips off in November, Hurley will begin his third year in Tempe.
The Grand Canyon Antelopes also made the list, coming in at No. 78.
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