arizona daily wildcat - nov. 19 - hoops

Student Reps:

INSIDE THE GUIDE

Celebrating more than 105 years of Wildcat basketball tradition

B2 • Building a new legacyMiller creating own traditionB4 • Versatile froshSkilled recruits fit coach’s styleB6 • The evolution of styleA look at the past four years

B7 • Two for the show Niya Butts’ program plansB8 • The desert appeal Arizona’s newcomer breakdown B9 • Unknown future 5 questions for W-hoops

MEN’S HOOPS WOMEN’S HOOPS

Illustration by Colin Darland/Arizona Daily Wildcat

B2 • thursday, november 19, 2009 • arizona daily wildcat

Season ticket-holder Eddie Brown has attended Arizona men’s basket-ball games since 1953. He played for ex-UA basketball coach Bruce Larson (1961 to 1972) in an era well before basketball put Tucson on the map.

“Sean Miller’s going to have a bet-ter record than Lute (Olson),” Brown said without hesitation.

A nearby iconic superfan, 76-year-old Phyllis Goodman, was intrigued by the conversation at halftime of an exhibition game this season.

“Well, I don’t know about that,” Goodman said.

“Oh, he will,” Brown replied confidently.

“It’s pretty hard to beat (Olson’s) record,” Goodman countered. “But it doesn’t matter. What was, was. He’s going to do a great job, I’m excited and I think Lute is, too.”

Goodman has attended Arizona men’s basketball games since before McKale Center’s existence. In this season’s first few exhibition wins, she was the second-most loyal Arizona basketball enthusiast sitting as a spectator. First, of course, would be Lute Olson, the architect of the Arizona basketball program, who often sits five rows behind the UA bench.

Just like when Olson retired last season, Goodman wrote a letter to Miller wishing him best of luck. Both Olson and Miller wrote back hand-written notes thanking her.

“He’s a real class, class guy and wonderful successor,” Goodman said. “I’ve been ready all year, all season, all summer.”

So has Miller.The first-year head coach filled im-

mediate needs, completely overhauled the approach and even got involved with marketing his new product.

He answers questions in a long-term mentality, often referring to the current team as his “program.”

He called the streak of 25 straight NCAA Tournament appearances “damaging” to this year’s young team built for the “future.”

The tradition that brought Miller to Arizona isn’t carrying him anywhere.

He’s doing it himself.“Because things have happened

here in the past, doesn’t necessar-ily mean they’re going to continue. We want to create our own legacy,” Miller said. “This is a new season

and a new beginning from everyone in our program. It’s clearly a time to move on for our program and it starts right now.”

He revamped the media guide to begin with new NBA-related pages featuring former Wildcats’ accom-plishments in the league.

He moved the UA coach’s radio show from the UofA Bookstore to an upscale restaurant in the Foothills, a wealthier area of Tucson, to sell tickets.

He invited the UA student body to practice and gave them new chants to enhance home court advantage.

Miller brought in a top-15 recruit-ing class before even furnishing his office in McKale Center.

He didn’t just hit the ground running. He hit it with a marathon mentality.

“As the head coach at Arizona right now, I feel like I’ve been here for two years,” Miller said. “And really I’ve been here for just six months.

“It’s been a long time coming. It’s a new place, it’s a very much new be-ginning for our staff. It’s an opportu-nity to really create a program from day one, throughout.”

Fans, alumni and students of all ages have caught on.

Tuesday night in McKale Center, Miller invited all UA students to attend the end of practice and learn new chants, enhancing the arena’s atmosphere.

Afterward, Miller took a few ques-tions from students.

“You in the back, last one,” Miller said and pointed to a man in the last row.

“I graduated here in 2001, I just kind of stumbled in tonight and I just wanted to thank you,” the man said with confidence. “We were in a world of hurt there for a bit looking for a coach, and we couldn’t have done better than you and I appreciate you being here.”

He prompted a loud ovation — one that would be tough to manage at a mid-major Atlantic 10 Conference school like Xavier.

No doubt, he’s in the Pacific 10 now.“It’s kind of like the Arizona frenzy

is back,” said junior Jamelle Horne. “Miller’s brought that vibe back from the East Coast with him. I’m just ready to get things going.

“It’s fresh, man,” Horne added. “This year is just a totally different feeling on the court, totally different understanding of the game.”

Nic Wise’s leadership abilities created followers way before the Twitter boom.

His importance to the Arizona men’s basketball team was put into perspective during his sophomore year, and his value to the program’s success has increased tenfold since then.

As the only senior on this season’s young Wildcat roster, Wise’s leadership is immeasurable. He made this statement in Arizona’s exhibition game

against Western New Mexico on Nov. 10 when he scored 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting to go with eight assists and five rebounds in just 23 minutes.

“I’m real excited about Nic Wise,” said UA head coach Sean Miller. “To me, he’s ready to have a terrific senior year. He’s so important to what we do. I like the way he is — he’s ready for the game, he’s very focused, and watching the games, he’s serious about having a good performance.”

Sporting News magazine named Wise the No. 6 college point guard in the nation for this season. CBSSports.com’s Gary Parrish ranked him No. 12.

The national exposure isn’t new. In February 2008, during his sophomore year, the point guard underwent knee surgery and was out for four weeks. During that span, the Wildcats went 2-5. But by the end of the season, the NCAA Selection Committee noticed how valuable to the team Wise was, and gave Arizona a postseason bid, even with only 19 wins.

Flash forward to today. Wise is playing for his fourth head coach in as many years. The current coach is a former point guard himself, so naturally Wise has thrived under Miller’s coaching style.

“The uptempo game obviously fits Nic great,” said Nic’s father, Greg Wise. “Coach Miller is really good, but the coaches that he’s brought in are all really

good also. The whole staff is great.”It seemed as if the stars aligned at

just the right time to keep Wise in a Wildcat uniform.

If Jerryd Bayless hadn’t gone to the NBA after his freshman season and Brandon Jennings hadn’t gone overseas after signing with the Wildcats, Wise might have left Arizona.

If Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill hadn’t gone to the NBA after last year, or if Wise hadn’t decided to back out of the NBA Draft, Arizona might not have a senior at all this season.

Having his brother, Dondre Wise, on the team with a scholarship this season certainly helps.

There is no doubt that Nic Wise is back, and is ready to be the team’s leader.

“Nic is really the heart and soul of our team,” Miller said. “For any Wildcat fan, Wise definitely shows what a college basketball player is all about.”

Nic Wise spent the past summer expanding his role as a dominant point guard. He attended the USA Men’s World University Games Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo. in June. In August, he went to the second annual Chris Paul Elite Guard Camp in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Paul’s camp was brief but powerful: The players had a workout Friday night, two workouts Saturday and a workout and

games Sunday morning. There was even a bowling trip Saturday night.

It was a fun camp for Wise, but also a business trip for someone aspiring to get to the NBA after this season.

He returned to the desert with a

new mentality as a floor general and a team leader.

“My job is to be the coach on the floor and make sure the guys are not getting too loose even though we were up 20 points,” Wise said.

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NOW PRELEASING for

2010!

11/15/09 vs. NAU11/19/09 vs. RiceEA Sports Maui Invitational11/23/09 vs. Wisconsin11/24/09 Colorado/Gonzaga11/25/09 Third Round12/02/09 vs. UNLVBig 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series12/06/09 at Oklahoma

12/09/09 vs. Louisiana Tech12/12/09 at San Diego State12/21/09 vs. Lipscomb12/23/09 vs. North Carolina StateFiesta Bowl Classic12/28/09 vs. BYUPac 10 Regular Season12/31/09 at USC01/02/10 at UCLA01/08/10 vs. Washington State

01/10/10 vs. Washington01/14/10 at Oregon State01/16/10 at Oregon01/23/10 at Arizona State01/28/10 vs. Stanford01/31/10 vs. California02/04/10 at Washington02/06/10 at Washington02/11/10 vs. Oregon

02/13/10 vs. Oregon State02/21/10 vs. Arizona State02/25/10 at California02/27/10 at Stanford03/04/10 vs. UCLA03/06/10 vs. USC03/10/10 Pac 10 Conference03/18/10 NCAA Rounds 1 & 203/25/10 NCAA Regionals04/03/10 Final Four04/05/10 Championship

2009-2010 Basketball Schedule

Creating a legacy

Name: Dominique Giovanni WiseNickname: NicSize: 5-foot-10, 180 poundsHigh school: KingwoodHometown: Houston

Father, Greg Wise, is a high school basketball coach and real estate agent in Houston.

2008-09 Stats15.7 PPG2.5 RPG4.6 APG

By Lance Madden Arizona Daily Wildcat

solidifies Wildcat lineupWiSe’S RetuRN

Mike Christy/Arizona Daily WildcatPoint guard Nic Wise focuses on the court in an exhibition game against Augustana College. Wise, the only senior on the team, will be counted upon to lead one of the country’s youngest teams.

By Bryan Roy Arizona Daily Wildcat

From the Atlantic 10 to the Pacific 10, Sean Miller has restored the vibe and lifted a program out of uncertainty into a long-term state of mind.

Michael Ignatov/Arizona Daily WildcatSean Miller applauds his team during a timeout in Arizona’s opening game against NAU on Sunday, Nov. 15. Miller has begun to create his own tradition in Tucson.

School-by-School comparison

Xavier UniversityEstablished: 1831Type: Private Jesuit Catholic universityEndowment: $125 millionFaculty: 294 full-timeUndergraduates: 4,000Postgraduates: 2,500Location: Cincinnati, OhioCampus: 125 acres

University of ArizonaEstablished: 1885Type: Public research universityEndowment: $518.7 millionFaculty: 1,705Undergraduates: 29,070Postgraduates: 6,870Location: Tucson, Ariz.Campus: 380 acres

Athletics comparison

Xavier UniversityConference: Atlantic 10Arena: Cintas Center (Capacity: 10,250)

NCAA Tournament Elite Eight2004, 2008NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen1990, 2004, 2008, 2009

University of ArizonaConference: Pacific 10Arena: McKale Center (Capacity: 14,545)

NCAA Tournament champions1997NCAA Tournament runner up2001NCAA Tournament Final Four1988, 1994, 1997, 2001NCAA Tournament Elite Eight1976, 1988, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen1951, 1976, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2009

Sean Miller profileBorn: Nov. 17, 1968 (age 41)Place of birth: Ellwood City, Pa.

Career highlightsOverall: 121-47 (.72)

AwardsA-10 Tournament Championship (2006)A-10 Regular Season Championship (2007, 2008, 2009)A-10 Coach of the Year (2008)

Playing career1987-1992: PittsburghPosition: Point guard

Coaching career*1992–1993 Wisconsin (Graduate Asst.)1993–1995 Miami (OH) (asst.)1995–1996 Pittsburgh (asst.)1996–2001 NC State (asst.)2001–2004 Xavier (asst.)2004–2009 Xavier2009–present Arizona

* Head coach unless otherwise noted

B3 arizona daily wildcat • thursday, november 19, 2009 •

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There aren’t as many questions as last year’s Wildcats faced, but the identity of Sean Miller’s team is far from defi ned.

Here are fi ve questions surrounding the 2009-10 season:

1. Can the Wildcats end their ASU losing streak?

More than half of the UA student body has never seen Arizona beat ASU in basketball.

It’s jaw-dropping to think a five-game losing streak spans across two seasons, but give credit to ASU head coach Herb Sendek’s rebuilding process.

Ex-Sun Devil James Harden, selected third overall in the 2009 NBA Draft, earned a laundry list of awards during his two seasons in Tempe — both of which were 20-win campaigns.

Most notably, he left without ever losing to the Wildcats. Losing Pacifi c 10 Conference Player of the Year Harden and veteran Jeff Pendergraph, a senior selected in the second round of the Draft , leaves the Sun Devils without go-to scorers, aside from senior point guard Derrick Glasser.

It’s all too familiar in Tucson.The Wildcats also lost the vast

majority of their points to the Draft — Jordan Hill went eighth overall and Chase Budinger went in the second round — and enter this season without go-to scorers aside from senior point guard Nic Wise.

Now it comes down to whose freshmen are better. Sendek was out-recruited months after Sean Miller’s arrival.

A top-15 freshman class should get it done.

“Every school has their rivalry. Our program is at such a level, it’s not like how can we do against such and such. It’s big picture,” Miller said. “That game means a lot. We’re not going to say that’s just another game. No it isn’t.”

2. Is the young frontcourt ready for prime time?

Miller will rely on freshmen Kyryl Natyazhko and Derrick Williams to play the majority of the No. 5 spot.

Ideally, Natyazhko and Williams will eventually play on the court together with UA junior Jamelle Horne in a size-oriented lineup. For now, it’s a three-guard backcourt with Natyazhko and Williams sharing time down low until the Wildcats face longer teams.

Williams, an oversized 6-foot-8 power forward, is one of the more athletic and versatile men in the freshman class and could certainly be a threat come Pac-10 play.

The three will attempt to replace rebounder and inside scoring machine Jordan Hill, who averaged a team-high 18.3 points and 11 rebounds per game last season.

3. Will Wise stay healthy? Wise missed seven games in the 2007-08 season due to an ankle injury, and in that stretch, the Wildcats went 2-5 with combo guard Jerryd Bayless running the point.

Last year, Wise managed to stay injury-free while averaging a team-high 37.6 minutes per game.

“Like a leader and like a senior — and Nic is both for us — he really stepped up and played excellent,” said Miller after the Wildcats’ season opener against NAU.

Wise sprained his ankle twice this season and hasn’t fully recovered.

“Nic and I have that relationship where I trust him,” Miller said. “This late in his career, he knows what he can do and what he can’t. We’re hopeful we can get him through this next three or four days and on Thursday, he feels better .”

4. Can Jamelle Horne stay consistent?

The jubilant locker room in Miami shed light on one nickname that team goofball Horne probably didn’t want to hear: “Wildcard.”

“We always call him the wildcard because you never know what you’re going to get out of him,” said

ex-UA forward Fendi Onobun after the Wildcats defeated No. 11-seed Cleveland State to reach the Sweet 16 last season.

Horne’s inconsistencies date back to his freshman year under interim head coach Kevin O’Neill, a time he admitted was frustrating.

“(Former assistant coach Mike Dunlap) confronted me in front of the group and told me that I really needed to have a look of seriousness on my face and have a mental thought of being serious,” Horne said at Miami. “It wasn’t the foul trouble that he was disappointed in, it was the energy and effort I gave out on the court.

“That hurt me,” he added. “That stuck with me and made me not want to disappoint the team.”

One year later, the Wildcats cannot afford to endure a bad game from Horne.

“I’ve had two years under my belt, I’ve had a ton of experiences and I can’t be a wildcard this year,” said Horne at media day this year. “I have to be Mr. Consistent this year. I’m ready for that.”

5. Will ‘The Streak’ continue?

Sean Miller said The Streak could very well end this season.

“It’s something that can really be damaging to this year’s team,” Miller said. “It’s something we can’t control.”

Twenty-fi ve consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances will face another bubble ready to break this postseason — not necessarily because of the Wildcats’ youth, but the Pac-10 youth as a whole.

The Pac-10 could be a three-bid league this season, one year after NBA ballers Hill, Harden, DeMar DeRozan of USC, Jrue Holiday and Darren Collison of UCLA and Taj Gibson of USC were all selected in the fi rst round.

That’s a lot of star power gone, and any team beyond preseason favorites Washington and California must legitimately earn bids.

Expect another bubble. This one might pop.

— Bryan Roy can be reached at media@wildcat.arizona.edu

5 QUESTIONSfor Arizona men’s basketball

COMMENTARY

By Bryan Roysports writer

Arizona Men’s Basketball Remaining Schedule

Date: Opponent: Location: Time:Today Rice Tucson, Ariz. 8:30 p.m. MST

Maui InvitationalNov. 23 Wisconsin Lahaina, Hawaii 7 p.m. HTNov. 24 Colorado/Gonzaga Lahaina, Hawaii TBANov. 25 Third Round Lahaina, Hawaii TBA

Dec. 2 UNLV Tucson, Ariz. 7 p.m. MST

Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood SeriesDec. 6 @ Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 6 p.m. CT

Fiesta Bowl Classic Dec. 9 Louisiana Tech Tucson, Ariz. 9 p.m. MST

Dec. 12 @ San Diego State San Diego, Calif. 7 p.m. PTDec. 21 Lipscomb Tucson, Ariz. 7 p.m. MSTDec. 23 NC State Tucson, Ariz. 8:30 p.m. MSTDec. 28 BYU Tucson, Ariz. 7 p.m. MSTDec. 31 @ USC Los Angeles 4 p.m. PTJan. 2 @ UCLA Los Angeles 10 a.m. PTJan. 8 WSU Tucson, Ariz. 6:30 p.m. MSTJan. 10 Washington Tucson, Ariz. 3:30 p.m. MSTJan. 14 @ Oregon State Corvallis, Ore. 7 p.m. PTJan. 16 @ Oregon Eugene, Ore. 1:30 p.m. PTJan. 23 @ ASU Tempe, Ariz. 7:30 p.m. MSTJan. 28 Stanford Tucson, Ariz. 6 p.m. MSTJan. 31 California Tucson, Ariz. 1:30 p.m. MSTFeb. 4 @ Washington Seattle, Wash. 7:30 p.m. PTFeb. 6 @ WSU Pullman, Wash. 5:30 p.m. PTFeb. 11 Oregon Tucson, Ariz. 8:30 p.m. MSTFeb. 13 Oregon State Tucson, Ariz. 6 p.m. MSTFeb. 21 Arizona State Tucson, Ariz. 3:30 p.m. MSTFeb. 25 @ California Berkeley, Calif. 6 p.m. PTFeb. 27 @ Stanford Palo Alto, Calif. 5 p.m. PTMarch 4 UCLA Tucson, Ariz. TBAMarch 6 USC Tucson, Ariz. TBA

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B4 • thursday, november 19, 2009 • arizona daily wildcat

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MULTITALENTEDVersatility in recruits perfect � t for Miller’s style

Name: Lamont JonesNickname: MomoSize: 6-foot, 200 pounds High school: Oak Hill AcademyHometown: Harlem, N.Y.

Strengths: Toughness. The Harlem, N.Y., native plays like he’s willing to dive onto the Big Apple’s asphalt playground courts for a loose ball. At 200 pounds, Jones is physically superior to most other freshman point guards and that will only help him make an immediate impact.

Needs to improve: Point guard skills.More of a scoring, combo guard, Jones will need to learn how to control the tempo of his team, a la Nic Wise. If he can keep his team calm, then Wise will get the needed time on the bench to have energy down the stretch.

Name: Kevin Parrom Nickname: KP3Size: 6-foot-6, 205 pounds High school: South Kent School Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.

Strengths: A great feel for the game.Whether he’s � nding the open man while being double-teamed or grabbing an o� ensive rebound and trying for a put-back, Parrom always seems like he knows what to do next. Nothing surprises him and he’ll take whatever the opposing team throws at him.

Needs to improve: Aggressiveness.While Parrom might not see the playing time nor the role to be a top scorer, he’ll eventually need to be comfortable being counted upon in that department.

Name: Solomon HillNickname: SoloSize: 6-foot-6, 230 pounds High school: FairfaxHometown: Los Angeles

Strengths: Vision and passing.Combine his size and rebounding ability with his great vision and Hill is a one-man fast break. He has all the tools to be considered the player with the most potential, mostly due to his high basketball IQ.

Needs to improve: Shooting.If Hill ever extends his range to the 3-point line, watch out. While he won’t be needed to shoot many jumpers now, that’s what will make or break Hill playing at the next level.

Name: Kyryl Natyazhko Nickname: The Ukraine Train or K-RealSize: 6-foot-10, 255 pounds High school: IMG Academy Hometown: Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine

Strengths: Upside. Natyazhko has the build to put on some muscle and the basic tools to become a complete inside-out player. Head coach Sean Miller can only hope he puts together some of those tools this year, as he is the only true big-man on the roster.

Needs to improve: Intensity and conditioning.Natyazhko is still getting used to the speed of the college game. With that comes reaching a � tness level capable of carrying his 250-pound frame the length of the court.

Unlike the past few years, the Arizona men’s basketball team already has a vi-sion for the identity into which it hopes to mold itself this season.

Sean Miller’s philosophies require a roster with versatile players, and that will defi nitely be showcased throughout his fi rst season as head coach. There’s no doubt the 2009 team, despite being young, knows its strengths.

“A ton of talent, a ton of versatility,” said junior Jamelle Horne . “We’ve got a lot of versatility at each position.”

Those are the types of players Miller re-cruited to Arizona before he even coached his fi rst game.

His fi ve-man freshmen class refl ects the desire to break down position stereotypes. Freshmen Kyryl Natyazhko, Derrick Williams, Solomon Hill, Kevin Parrom and Momo Jones all have games not defi nable by passer, shooter or scorer.

“I think the interchangable type of players are the ones you can build a program with,”

Miller said before the start of the season.His players aren’t point guards or power

forwards. They’re basketball players, and that mentality is one fans can expect when watching a Sean Miller team play.

Arizona has long been known as an uptempo school, thanks to former head coach Lute Olson’s development of NBA-caliber point guards.

Pushing the ball up the court will con-tinue under Miller, but his teams will not necessarily become reliant upon the point guard controlling the fast break.

A perfect example of how Miller will force the tempo by taking advantage of versatility, Hill, a point guard in a small forward’s body, has the green light to bring the ball up the court after a defensive rebound.

“It’s basically the reason why I came here,” Hill said. “(After a rebound) it doesn’t have to go to (point guard Nic Wise). Coach gave me permission and I can push the ball as soon as I get the rebound.”

Catching the opposition’s defense off guard and putting it into a hectic backpedal will be that much easier with Miller allow-

ing skilled wings to, in essence, play point guard. Parrom, a 6-foot-6 small forward, will also be relied upon in that aspect.

Historically at Xavier, those same philosophies led to Miller’s squads being strong at distributing points to all fi ve players on the fl oor. In the 2008-09 season, eight of Miller’s players averaged at least fi ve points per game, while no player averaged more than 14.1 every night. Still, the team scored liberally at 71.7 points per game.

The versatility of the freshman play-ers will add to the Wildcat’s defensive plans as well.

“(Hill and Parrom are) guys who can play different positions and pass and un-derstand how to play as a team,” Miller said. “Usually those type of players can de-fend multiple positions as well.”

Miller’s ball-pressuring, man-to-man defense being able to make switches across screens helps improve the defen-sive effi ciency. When the defense holds the opposition, then the Wildcats can be-gin their fast breaks with haste.

In order to keep his players fresh and able to play all out on both ends of the court, Miller will again look toward play-er versatility to make an already deep roster even deeper.

With guys like Hill and Parrom able to play either wing position and Jones able to play at the point or shooting guard slots, the fl exibility in substitution patterns increase so the team will be able to go big or small, and create mismatches with the other team.

The Wildcats’ versatility lends itself to every aspect of what Miller is hop-ing to develop. In the end, coordinating different lineups will take time. So will the players’ ability to fi nd their role on a team full of question marks. But make no mistake about it: Miller has an iden-tity and style he’s hoping to create.

It doesn’t start with a group of small for-wards, point guards and centers. It starts with a team of basketball players.

By Kevin ZimmermanArizona Daily Wildcat

Name: Derrick WilliamsNickname: D-WillSize: 6-foot-8, 235 pounds High school: La MiradaHometown: La Mirada, Calif.

Strengths: Raw athleticism.Williams has already been called the strongest player on the team by Miller and has the greatest amount of pure athleticism to become a great inside presence for Arizona.

Needs to improve: Court awareness.Williams sometimes looks lost on the court and will rely on his athleticism over technique in his defense and rebounding. That being said, the California native will still get high percentage shots around the basket.

Defense...Vision...

Athleticism...

Mike Christy/Arizona Daily WildcatMike Christy/Arizona Daily Wildcat

Michael Ignatov/A

rizona Daily W

ildcat

IMPACT FRESHMEN

Solomon Hill

B5 arizona daily wildcat • thursday, november 19, 2009 •

With his cool demeanor, senior point guard Nic Wise acts as the Arizona bas-ketball team’s mediator, the guy to keep his young team focused and in check.

But in the name of balance, forward Jamelle Horne will surely be the team’s fire to Wise’s ice. As the Wildcat’s en-ergy guy, Horne is trying to carry his

outgoing personality from the locker room to the court.

“(The coaches) got their hands on me and told me, ‘We’re surprised you haven’t had a better year since you’ve been here,’” Horne said during the team’s media day. “But I guess that’s a part of going to college and learning your roles and waiting your time.”

As a five-star rated high school pros-pect out of San Diego, Horne showed

flashes of talent in his first two seasons but could never put together a string of solid contributions.

He averaged 3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game as a freshman, nothing short of disappointing for a five-star player. In his sophomore campaign, those numbers saw some improvements as Horne put up 6.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per outing.

One day the 6-foot-7, 215 pounder would give the team a shot of energy off the bench, but the next, he’d disappear. Those moments were what spurred head coach Sean Miller’s comments on his surprisingly poor production. But instead of taking the criticism personally, Horne took Miller’s words to heart.

“It made me realize I need to have a big year this year,” Horne said. “The team needs someone to step up besides Wise.”

Now, Miller has placed the onus on Horne to produce not just in one area but across the board. He even called the athletic junior the team’s best re-bounder and expects Horne to be among the team’s best shot-blockers, its leader in steals and among the best in 3-point shooting.

“He can play a great game and not score any points,” Miller said. “I’ll flip it and tell you that he can score 20 points and absolutely kill us.”

As Horne describes it, he can never take a break. His job: fly around, create havoc, beat his chest and flat-out intimi-date the opposition.

And those contributions won’t show up in the stat box. Horne’s energy and tenacity will determine whether Arizona thrives or dives, much more so than his averages come the end of the season.

How’d he get there? Set on improv-ing his game and solidifying his role on the 2009-10 squad, Horne took lessons over the summer from former Memphis guard and current Sacramento Kings rookie Tyreke Evans.

With Evans, Horne did more than work on his shot or his ball handling. He also developed a new mentality — one crucial to his team back in Tucson.

“Just toughness,” Horne said of what he learned from Evans. “You know, kind of have that ‘I’m not going to let you breathe, I’m going to take your heart (mentality).’”

“That’s the type of guy Tyreke is,” he added.

Becoming relentless in his efforts, Horne has been suffocating opponents through two exhibition games and the team’s opener against NAU. Against the Lumberjacks, Horne’s presence was felt early as he swatted two shots into the stands on NAU’s first two possessions.

He finished the game with 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.

Whether he will bring that consistent tenacity with him throughout the season has yet to be seen. But unlike his fresh-man and sophomore campaigns, the coaches won’t have to remind Horne of his role and what’s expected of him.

“Defense, defense, defense,” Horne said without hesitation. “I’m going to have to be that guy this year to lock down that key scorer on the other team.”

Now, it’s on Horne to produce.

Name: Jamelle HorneNickname: MeloSize: 6-foot-7, 215 poundsHigh school: San DiegoHometown: San Diego

Strengths: Energy and vocal leadership.Horne will be asked to wear his heart on his sleeve and give the team a double-double on a nightly basis. Thanks to his freak athleticism, he could help the team in most any statistical categories.

His one weakness: Inconsistency. Will Horne be able to be counted upon each outing?

By Kevin Zimmerman Arizona Daily Wildcat

Junior Jamelle Horne will do the dirty work and be a key component to Arizona’s successMr. ENErgy

Michael Ignatov/Arizona Daily WildcatForward Jamelle Horne rips a rebound away from an NAU player during head coach Sean Miller’s first win at Arizona. Horne’s intensity will be a key factor in how far Arizona goes this season.

Name: Brendon Lavender, sophormoreSize: 6-foot-6, 230 poundsHigh school: Mountain ViewHometown: Mesa, Ariz.

Strengths: Three-point shooting defense

Needs to improve: Confidence

Name:Garland Judkins, sophormoreSize: 6-foot-3, 200 poundsHigh school: Christian Life Center AcademyHometown: Humble, Texas

Strengths: Athleticism

Needs to improve: Finding a role

Name: Ross Davidson,freshmanSize: 6-foot-7, 225 poundsHigh school: Junipero Serra CatholicHometown: San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

Name:Max Wiepking, freshmanSize: 6-foot-6, 193 poundsHigh school: Kent Denver SchoolHometown: Englewood, Colo.

Name: Dondre Wise, sophormoreSize: 6-foot-1, 215 poundsHigh school: KingwoodHometown: Houston, Texas

Name: D.J. Shumpert, sophormoreSize: 6-foot-7, 190 poundsHigh school: Santa RitaHometown: Tucson, Ariz.

Name: Alex Jacobson, sophormoreSize: 7-foot, 245 poundsHigh school: Mater DeiHometown: Brea, Calif.

Strengths: Size

Needs to improve: Defensive presence

Name:Kyle Fogg, sophormoreSize: 6-foot-3, 185 poundsHigh school: Brea OlindaHometown: Brea, Calif.

Strengths: Perimeter defense, non-mistake prone

Needs to improve: Offensive aggressiveness

ROSTER BREAKDOWN

B6 • thursday, november 19, 2009 • arizona daily wildcat

‘06-’07 ‘09-’10‘08-’09‘07-’08

Lone senior Nic Wise runs the offense as the Arizona men’s basketball team’s point guard. His role, beyond being a leader, is crucial to the game’s tempo on both sides of the fl oor.

Having gone through four coaches in four years — eight coaches in eight years if you count his high school days in Houston — Wise has adapted to nearly every style of basketball.

Here’s how drastic the changes have been from year to year, along with the amount of energy required to run the style:

The evolutionof style

Lute Olson Sean MillerRuss PennellKevin O’Neill

Style of off ense: Fast-paced, run-and-gun motion o� enseTempo: 4/5

Style of defense: Man-to-man with some 1-3-1 zone Ball pressure: 1/5

Style of off ense: Pushing the tempoTempo: 4/5

Style of defense: Full man-to-manBall pressure: 5/5

Style of off ense: Slow, half-court style with NBA setsTempo: 1/5 Style of

defense: Full man-to-manBall pressure: 5/5

Style of off ense: Selective, pushing the tempo if available; set plays if there’s no openingTempo: 3/5 Style of defense:

1-3-1 zone with man-to-man principals; full-court pressBall pressure: 4/5

By Bryan RoyArizona Daily Wildcat

File Photos/Arizona Daily Wildcat

B7 arizona daily wildcat • thursday, november 19, 2009 •

Head coach Niya Butts was brought to Arizona to change the landscape of the UA women’s basketball team.

Taking the reins of a team that went 10-20 the year before she arrived, Butts led Arizona to a slightly better 12-19 record during the 2008-2009 campaign, and on the team’s media day last month, she alluded to the struggles of changing the culture of a program overnight.

“Changing the culture here has probably been one of the toughest things we’ve faced,” she said. “It’s still an ongoing process and is the biggest hurdle to overcome.”

The support of the university, however, gives Butts hope for change in the right direction.

“That’s why I took this job, that’s why I came,” she said. “I believe in the support of the administration and our fan base, and as we continue to recruit good athletes and good students, we’re going to absolutely get there.”

A central element to transforming the culture of a

program is landing talented recruits. Unlike

last season, Butts will

take the helm this year able to insert her own

recruits

into the formula. The offseason saw six additions to the roster, including 2008 Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year, Davellyn Whyte.

“It was really her, honestly,” said Whyte about Butts’ impact

on her decision to come to Arizona. “She told me you

have to work to get where you want. She

was honest and said, ‘If you work hard, you’ll have

your position where you need to be.’”

With each player bringing a unique set of skills to Arizona, Butts’ upgraded roster will have the chance to move the program a collective step forward. Off to a quick 2-0 start this season, the excitement of an opportunity to rewrite the direction of the program is palpable.

Immediately after being hired as head coach, praise from former coaches and colleagues preceded Butts before she could even set foot in McKale Center.

“Niya Butts is one of the bright young coaches in the women’s collegiate game,” said legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summit in a statement.

The winningest coach in all of NCAA basketball history was not the only Butts supporter.

“I have worked with no one in my career that has her unique combination of skills to excel as a coach,” said Matthew Mitchell, the head coach at the University of Kentucky, in a press release. “I have no doubt in my mind that she will turn Arizona into one of the top programs in the country that will last for many years.”

Butts will face her fair share of challenges, though. She coaches in one of the nation’s elite conferences, with title contender Stanford sitting comfortably atop the Pacific 10 Conference, not to mention ASU and California, which are both capable of making a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

Arizona will also face its share of growing pains with a team full of

players who need to rid themselves of the jitters of playing Division I basketball for the first time.

These reasons are probably what influenced the media to pick Butts’ Wildcats to finish ninth in the Pac-10.

Regardless of the speculation surrounding this year’s team, one thing is for sure. Butts’ resistance to settling for mediocrity has permeated throughout the program. It reflects in the way the Wildcats play with passion every time they take the court.

“We have a brand new team this year and we are excited to get going,” Butts said. “We were picked to finish ninth in the conference and our team obviously isn’t happy about that.”

Her players have felt Butts’ impact and trust that she can bring the program out of the Pac-10 basement and into relevancy.

“That’s fine, it’s politics. We’re not worried about it,” said senior point guard Ashley Frazier of the media’s prediction. “(It is) lots of motivation. And we will (use it), trust me.”

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Cultivating a winning cultureArizona women’s basketball head coach Niya Butts goes over plays during the Wildcats’ 83-56 win over Grand Canyon University on Nov. 8. In her second season, Butts is looking to change the intensity of the team and the culture of the Arizona basketball program.

Alan Walsh/ Arizona Daily

Wildcat

Alma mater: University of Tennessee, 2000Degree: B.S. in social work, minor in psychology, master’s degree in educationLast position: Associate head coach, University of KentuckyHometown: Americus, Ga.Career highlights: • Played for legendary college coach Pat Summit, and in her time at Tennessee was a member of two National Championship teams (1997 and 1998). • Butts was a three-time All-Academic SEC selection (1998-2000). • She also helped guide Kentucky to an 88-72 record over five seasons in Lexington, Ky. as an assistant coach

By Michael Fitzsimmons Arizona Daily Wildcat

Date: Opponent: Location: Time: Nov. 21 @ San Diego State San Diego, Calif. 6:30 p.m. PTNov. 23 vs. Mississippi Tucson, Ariz. 11 a.m. MSTNov. 27 @ San Diego San Diego, Calif. 7 p.m. PTDec. 4 vs. Nevada Tucson, Ariz. 7 p.m. MSTDec. 9 vs. New Mexico Tucson, Ariz. 6 p.m. MSTDec. 20 @ Georgia Tech Atlanta, Ga. 1 p.m. ETDec. 23 @ UC Riverside Riverside, Calif. 1 p.m. PTDec. 29 vs. Alabama A&M Tucson, Ariz. 7 p.m. MSTJan. 1 vs. UCLA Tucson, Ariz. 2 p.m. MSTJan. 3 vs. USC Tucson, Ariz. 2 p.m. MSTJan. 7 @ Washington State Pullman, Wash. 6 p.m. PTJan. 9 @ Washington Seattle, Wash. 12 p.m. PTJan. 14 vs. Oregon State Tucson, Ariz. 7 p.m. MSTJan. 16 vs. Oregon Tucson, Ariz. 2 p.m. MST

Date: Opponent: Location: Time:Jan. 24 vs. Arizona State Tucson, Ariz. 4 p.m. MSTJan. 28 @ California Berkeley, Calif. 7 p.m. PTJan. 30 @ Stanford Palo Alto, Calif. 2 p.m. PTFeb. 4 vs. Washington State Tucson, Ariz. 7 p.m. MSTFeb. 6 vs. Washington Tucson, Ariz. 12 p.m. MSTFeb. 11 @ Oregon Eugene, Ore. 7 p.m. PTFeb. 13 @ Oregon State Corvallis, Ore. 7 p.m. PTFeb. 16 vs. Cal State Northridge Tucson, Ariz. 7 p.m. PTFeb. 20 @ Arizona State Tempe, Ariz. 9 p.m. MSTFeb. 25 vs. California Tucson, Ariz. 7 p.m. MSTFeb. 27 vs. Stanford Tucson, Ariz. 3 p.m. MSTMarch 4 @ USC Los Angeles, Calif. 7 p.m. PTMarch 6 @ UCLA Los Angeles, Calif. 12:30 p.m. PT

Source: Arizona Athletics

Arizona Women’s Basketball Remaining Schedule

Tim Glass/A

rizona Daily W

ildcat

B8 • thursday, november 19, 2009 • arizona daily wildcat

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Newcomers drawn to the desert, coaching staff

The end of last season for Arizona women’s basketball team was a messy situation.

After posting a 12-19 record in her fi rst season as head coach, Niya Butts learned that four of the freshmen on the 2008-09 team were leaving the program, in addition to the three se-niors who were graduating.

“It was a mutual decision from both parties and in the interest of both parties,” Butts said of the departure of Malia Nahinu , Courtney Clements , Jhakia McDonald and Amani Butler .

Butts was faced with a diffi cult situation

— the transferring of players was a problem for Arizona. The Wildcat bench had only fi ve players who would return for Arizona in the next season. Both during the season and in the off-season, Butts and the Wildcat coaching staff were actively recruiting players to fi ll the void.

But transferring players have also been Arizona’s saving grace. The fi ve transfers who put on Wildcat uniforms this season not only deepened UA’s bench, but also pumped new blood into Arizona’s program.

With one Division I transfer and four junior college players now signed, the only question that remains is the cohesiveness of the team. Do the remaining fi ve players mix well? Does

a common goal unify different players from all over the country?

“If you want to win, you have to have team chemistry. Usually when you have fi ve or six people try to come into a team that was already there, it’s hard,” said senior Ashley Frazier . “The new play-ers have come in and gelled with the returners … it’s crazy. From the jump, from the summer time, the chemistry (was) just there — the posts, the guards, we’re all on the same page.”

The bonding started early in sum-mer workouts. In order for the team to be productive in the season, the team chemistry had to spark from the get-go.

“This summer was really helpful because by the time school came

around we all knew each other and we were ready to go,” said junior transfer Amanda Pierson . “We knew what we had to do and how hard we had to work. It was just really good.”

The coaching staff has seen the im-mediate impact of the new players’ energy. Players who were recruited were all chosen for a specifi c purpose, Butts said. The personnel changes have helped to implement a new uptempo style of offense.

“The energy level is so much higher,” said sophomore Reiko Thomas . “We just have a positive bond. Everyone loves each other, we’re sisters. When you have that off the court, you have that on the court.”

Where they came from Shanita ArnoldUniversity of Arkansas: Fayetteville, Ark.

Soana LucetCollege of Southern Idaho: Twin Falls, Ida.

Brooke JacksonMesa Community College: Mesa, Ariz.

Amanda PiersonSeward Community College: Muden, Kan. Jennifer KioaFoothill Community College: Menlo Park, Calif.

Name: Jennifer KioaExperience: JuniorPosition: CenterHeight: 6-foot-4Last school: Foothill Community College

Why she came to Arizona: “As far as the coaches go, I know they’re really down to earth and they just want the best for us as players and people o� the court. For me this is a new experience as well, so I’m pretty excited about it.”

What she’ll contribute: At 6-foot-4, Kioa is a big target for Arizona in the post. Her ability to rebound will help the Wildcats with second-chance points this season, and will allow Arizona to give star forward Ify Ibekwe a much-needed break during game action.

Chemistry in basketball? When it comes to the fluidity, team, goals come first

By Nicole DimtsiosArizona Daily Wildcat

Name: Shanita ArnoldExperience: Redshirt juniorPosition: GuardHeight: 5-foot-5Last school: University of Arkansas

Why she came to Arizona: “(Arkansas) had a coaching sta� change and it wasn’t a perfect � t, and I think Arizona might be better. Here is a turnaround program with new players and new sta� . I just liked the coaching sta� and players and the whole atmosphere.”

What she’ll contribute: Although Arnold will have to sit out this season due to NCAA Division I transfer rules, she will be a seasoned point guard for Arizona to run the o� ense through after senior Ashley Frazier graduates.

Name: Brooke JacksonExperience: SophomorePosition: GuardHeight: 5-foot-8Last school: Mesa Community College

Why she came to Arizona: “I know what the coaching sta� was looking for and how they wanted to turn the program around, and I wanted to be a part of that.”

What she’ll contribute: Jackson has shown herself to be a sharpshooter for the Wildcats in the few games they have played. Her threat from behind the arc gives Arizona the ability to work the ball deep in the paint or take the three-point shot.

Name: Soana LucetExperience: juniorPosition: ForwardHeight: 6-foot-1Last school: College of Southern Idaho

Why she came to Arizona: “I believe in the coaching sta� at Arizona and really enjoyed getting to know the players on the team.”

What she’ll contribute: Lucet gives the guards option to get the ball to the basket. Arizona will need her presence to be able to score points in the paint. Although she can score from the inside, Lucet is also a threat at the 3-point line.

Name: Amanda PiersonExperience: JuniorPosition: Forward/CenterHeight: 6-foot-3Last school: Seward Community College

Why she came to Arizona:“I saw that there was a really good opportunity to be a part of turning a program around. I just really like the coaches and the atmosphere of McKale and the whole university in general.”

What she’ll contribute: Pierson will also be part of the Wildcats’ bench depth this season. Her height will give Arizona another tall target in the post and especially help with blocks and steals on the defensive side of the ball.

Name: Davellyn WhiteExperience: FreshmanPosition: GuardHeight: 5-foot-10Last school: St. Mary’s High School

Why she came to Arizona:“The entire coaching sta� is really amazing, and I can’t wait to play for them.”

What she’ll contribute:The 2008 Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year was a big recruit pickup for the Wildcats in the o� season. Whyte’s shooting accuracy allowed her to register in double � gures in every game she has played for Arizona so far this season. Her impact has been immediate on the team, as shown by the Tournament MVP of the Iona College Tip-O� Tournament.

— compiled by Nicole Dimtsios

B9 arizona daily wildcat • thursday, november 19, 2009 •

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1. Will Arizona be a surprise in the Pac-10?

Picked by the media to fi nish ninth in the Pacifi c 10 Conference, the Arizona women’s basketball team seemingly has nowhere to go but up. This year, it has the pieces in place to turn some heads in the Pac-10. Sure, the usual suspects are primed for a run at the conference title, with ASU and California both ranked in early polls. And keeping with tradition all roads for the Pac-10 crown lead through Palo Alto, Calif., where Stanford sits at No. 2. But fourth place and beyond is anybody’s game this year. If Arizona can fi nd a way to master its uptempo offense by consistently reducing its turnovers on that side of the ball, it can keep up with any team offensively. With an uncontested All-American like Ify Ibekwe on the court and several new threats like Brooke Jackson and Davellyn Whyte , Arizona can take advantage of the opportunity to prove some of the pre-season doubters wrong.

2. How does the bench depth change the

team dynamic?Head coach Niya Butts brought

in six new players this year, and they all bring something to the table, making this team rich in depth. The ability of the coaching staff to keep players rested without the consequences of a scoring drought is a huge asset to any team, and one that makes this team so compelling.

“We definitely have players who can score the basketball,” Butts said. “As a coach, it gives you an array of options, and you enjoy that on the sidelines not having to work too hard, because we know we have players who can put the ball in the hole.”

The depth has been evident in the early part of the season already, as when Reiko Thomas led the Wildcats in scoring against Miami (Ohio) by coming off the bench to score 17. A fresh set of five who can score late in the game is a huge advantage for Arizona and a deep bench is crucial to the success of a promised “run-and-gun” style of offense this year.

3. Who will become the face of Arizona

women’s basketball?Ibekwe is the leading candidate

for becoming the face of this team. What the junior forward brings to the court day-in and day-out cannot be taken for granted. The ability to score and rebound while keeping up with an offense that likes to push the ball is rare, and Ibekwe’s accolades entering her third year are well deserved. If there is a player who might take over Ibekwe’s role as the face of the team, hyped freshman Davellyn Whyte seems to be the obvious choice.

“I’m speechless about Davellyn,” Butts said after Whyte’s MVP performance at the Iona Tip-Off Tournament. “She’s taken the leadership role and taken ownership in the team. She’s doing a lot that can be expected of a senior or a junior, not a freshman. She’s just got a great feel for the game.”

If Whyte continues to show the tangible development that she has demonstrated in her early career at Arizona, look for her to be one of the best players in the Pac-10 soon.

4. Will the change in style of play be

enough to get Arizona back to the NCAA Tournament?

Getting a team with six new players to the Big Dance would be a major accomplishment, and it is hard to expect that result in the tough conference that Arizona plays in.

That said, the 2009 Wildcats seem motivated to make some noise with their change in offensive play. Not only is it fun to watch, but it is hard to defend against when it is properly executed.

With pre-season No. 19 Georgia Tech on the schedule in Atlanta, Ga., later in the year, that game will be a litmus test for the offense.

Will it be able to operate against elite teams? What are its limits? When teams take the fast break away, how will Arizona respond? These are all million-dollar questions that will ultimately determine how far the 2009-10 Wildcats go, and only the games will provide the answers.

5. Can Butts really change the culture of

Arizona basketball? It’s hard to say whether being a school

in which the men’s basketball program has been dominant for 25 years is a blessing or a curse for the women’s team. Most of the attention and publicity is spent on the men’s squad, but Butts has shown an effort to make the women’s team part of the basketball conversation. She has shown the ability to bring in elite personnel and is reaping the benefi ts of that ability early with the impacts of Davellyn Whyte and Brooke Jackson. To change the culture of a program, you have to build from the bottom up, and Butts seems to acknowledge the importance of that. At a certain point, however, the team has to produce results on the court. Winning breeds excitement around campus and brings the spotlight to the program. The team has already shown that it has taken steps in the right direction under the guidance of Butts. She strives to make basketball more than just “bouncing balls on the court” and hopes to provide a memorable experience for all of her players during their four years at Arizona. Players have alluded to the sense of family that Butts has created, and consequently, that should translate into winning over the support of UA students.

5 Questions for the Arizona women’s basketball team

COMMENTARY

By Michael Fitzsimmonssports writer

— Michael Fitzsimmons can be reached at sports@wildcat.arizona.edu.

B10 • thursday, november 19, 2009 • arizona daily wildcat

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Resurrection of the starting five

The fi ve players who start for the Arizona women’s basketball team will have to set the tone early and pick up the offensive pace for head coach Niya Butts . Although the depth of the Wildcats’ bench has vastly improved from last season,

the play of the starting fi ve will be the key to jumping ahead of their opponents. “From a style-of-play perspective, we’re going to try to keep it uptempo,” Butts said. “We tried that somewhat last year, but the personnel limited us from doing that.

From the group we have out there this year, (we will) really be looking for some exciting basketball.”Butts’ plan for Arizona this season is to make opponents play at its pace and allow the offense to keep attacking. The

starters for the Wildcats will have to set that pace early and lead the way for the new players on the bench.

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Name: Ashley FrazierPosition: Point guardClass: SeniorNo.: 11 Why she’ll start: After transferring last season, Frazier has become the uncontested leader of the Wildcat o� ense. With her speed, agility and defensive abilities, she’s the perfect � t to run head coach Butts’ fast-paced o� ense.

Name: Davellyn WhytePosition: GuardClass: FreshmanNo.: 0Why she’ll start: While it’s still very early in the season, Whyte has begun to emerge as a scoring powerhouse for Arizona. She scored 27 points in the season opener against Iona College and has proved why she was the Wildcats’ top pickup in the o� season.

Name: Brooke JohnsonPosition: GuardClass: SophomoreNo.: 12Why she’ll start: In her short career at Arizona, Jackson has shown why she was an NJCAA Division II First-team All-American. In her � rst game in a Wildcat jersey, the sophomore registered a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Name: Ify IbekwePosition: ForwardClass: JuniorNo.: 3Why she’ll start: Ibekwe has proven that she’s the real deal when it comes to production — she averaged a double-double last season. The junior is the main target under the basket for the Wildcats and the standout for Arizona around the conference.

Name: Soana LucetPosition: ForwardClass: JuniorNo.: 53Why she’ll start: Lucet rounds out Arizona’s forwards with a high percentage shooting option for the Wildcat o� ense. Her high shooting percentage from the � eld allows the o� ense to have options when it comes to the forward position.

By Nicole DimtsiosArizona Daily Wildcat

Tim Glass/Arizona Daily Wildcat

Ify Ibekwe

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Staff Picks

Lance Maddensports writer

How far will the team go?

Who will be the Most Valuable Player?

I know what you’re thinking: This team is young, inexperienced — yadda, yadda, yadda. But this team is also a lot deeper than it has been in the past, no matter how young the majority of the players are. The team had excellent chemistry very early on, and everyone understands their role. And, oh yeah, there’s that new coach in town, who has proven his past teams can win. It’s Miller time.

NCAA Tournament Second Round

This is almost a no-brainer. As long as Nic Wise stays healthy, he is going to lead the Wildcats, both on the stat sheet and in the locker room. He has become more vocal this season. He understands he is the leader, but is in no way selfi sh. The small-est Wildcat will have the largest impact.

Nic Wise

The key to making the NCAA tournament will be how well Arizona plays in Pacifi c 10 Conference games. Luckily for the Wildcats, the league is in for a down year, and having a wide-open conference will give even a young team like Arizona a chance to win on any given night. That being said, such a young team — no matter how much they improve — will be fodder for any halfway experienced squad come March.

NCAA Tournament First Round

Nic Wise may be the leader, but the team will rely upon Jamelle Horne producing night-in and night-out to have a chance at success. He brings energy, rebounding and the only experienced inside pres-ence. He has the most to lose as a guy who has not yet had an up-to-par season. At the same time, he has the most to gain as the player who can single-handedly keep Arizona’s head above water.

Jamelle Horne

Arizona’s renewed bench will be the key to how far the Wildcats can make it this season. The start-ing fi ve for the UA has an offensive threat waiting at position, but Arizona will have to keep the play-ers fresh in order for that impact to be felt. With depth problems seemingly solved for head coach Niya Butts, the Wildcats should be able to imple-ment their new run-and-gun style of offense, and will see a defi nite improvement from last season.

Sixth in the Pac-10

The unquestioned star of Arizona women’s basketball for the past two seasons has been Ify Ibekwe. The now-junior averaged a double-double last season and has the defensive skill to round out as a dual threat. The new additions to the team will allow Ibekwe to get some rest dur-ing games and be more productive without giving every ounce of her effort.

Ify Ibekwe

Kevin Zimmermansports editor

Nicole Dimtsiosassistant sports editor

Michael Fitzsimmons

sports writer

This team is completely different from the team that went 12-19 a year ago. Full of fresh faces and an explosive offense, the Wildcats can make up for anything they lack in the post presence of other teams in the Pac-10 conference. If they can keep turnovers low and allow their offense to take off, then they could win a couple of games in the Pac-10 tournament, and maybe even make the Big Dance in March if they play consistent basketball.

Fifth in the Pac-10

With All-American forward Ify Ibekwe returning with another year under her belt, it’s hard not to choose her for this honor. She consistently turns in double-doubles and last season, and fi nished with an aver-age of 15.7 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. Her impressive resume grows each year, and entering her third season as a Wildcat with a strong supporting cast, she is an easy selection for Arizona’s MVP this year.

Ify Ibekwe

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Arizona Daily Wildcat

B12 • thursday, november 19, 2009 • arizona daily wildcat

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CHANGES:DATE: 11/13/09 3:52 PM TITLE: College WiFi AC: McKinley 3875

GA: dd SPECS: 4/C Newspaper PP: SMITH 4899

ISSUE QUESTIONED BY RESPONSIBILITY RESOLVED?

(1)This exclusive no-extra-charge Uconnect Web offer is valid on the retail purchase or lease of any eligible new and unused 2009 or 2010 Jeep vehicle delivered by an authorized U.S. Chrysler Group LLC dealer. Offer includes Uconnect Web unit router, product installation, and one year of service. Offer is valid for students (including full-time, part-time, undergraduate, and graduate), former students who have graduated up to six months prior to program start date, faculty, or staff of Arizona State Univ.; Brigham Young Univ.; Colorado State Univ.; Univ. of Arizona; Univ. of California, Berkeley; Univ. of California, Davis; Univ. of California, Irvine; Univ. of California, Los Angeles; Univ. of California, San Diego; Univ. of Colorado; Univ. of Utah; Univ. of Washington; Univ. of Southern California; and Washington State Univ. Eligibility must be verifi ed prior to purchasing/leasing Jeep vehicle to be eligible for this offer. Visit jeepgowireless.com for complete rules. Offer ends 3/31/10. (2)The Uconnect Web feature is not intended for use by the driver while the vehicle is in motion. (3)Maintenance Plan covers 3 years/36,000 miles, whichever comes fi rst. Offer based on factory-to-dealer cost reimbursement and is in lieu of other lease/cash allowance fi nancing incentives. Dealer contribution may affect fi nal price. Residency restrictions apply. See dealer for Maintenance Plan copy and full details. Offer ends 11/30/09. (4)Financing for well-qualifi ed buyers. Not all buyers will qualify. Offer ends 11/30/09. ©2009 Autonet Mobile, Inc. All product

names and service names or logos used are trademarks or registered trademarks of Autonet Mobile, Inc. Jeep is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC.

JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITEDJEEP PATRIOT JEEP COMPASS

GET WI-FI ON ANY JEEP® VEHICLE AT NO EXTRA CHARGE.(1)

University students, faculty and staff members can now access the Internet from virtually anywhere by receiving UconnectTM Web(2) and one year of service at no extra charge with the purchase or lease of any new Jeep® vehicle.

So log on and ride off into the digital age of technology.

No-Extra-Charge Maintenance(3)

3 years/36,000 miles

+0% APR(4)

Aim your camera phone at this tag for an entirely new Jeep brand experience.

Get the free app for your phone at http://gettag.mobiMessage and Data Rates May Apply.

Go to jeepgowireless.com or text JEEP to 48696 for more information.

Message and Data Rates May Apply.