Arizona Basketball is ranked fifth in the NCAA preseason Top 25 poll.
"The one thing that we have going for us is we have that blend that you want to have, and that is youthful talent, willing learners, but also the veterans," said head coach Sean Miller. "Guys who have been through the battles like Dusan Ristic, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, and Allonzo Trier that have been in big, big games."
Wildcat fans will get their first look at the team Friday night at the annual red-blue game, which airs at 7 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks. Rawle Alkins won't be able to defend his slam-dunk title, as he is out until December with a broken foot.
The biggest off the court issue has been the FBI college basketball bribery scandal that has resulted in multiple charges against assistant coach Emanuel Richardson, who is in the process of being removed from his position.
"It's more adversity for us but its not nothing that's new," said guard Allonzo Trier, who missed nineteen games last season after testing positive for a banned performance enhancing drug. "We're going to focus on what we can control right now, and that's how much better we can get every day in practice in a highly competitive environment pushing each other. And, I think this will bring us closer together in the end."
Arizona fans will also get their first look at highly heralded freshman DeAndre Ayton.
