To return to the NCAA tournament, a team needs contributions from returning players and incoming recruits. Here's a look at Arizona and its chances of dancing again in 2016.
Quick references:
Possible 2015-16 starting five
Who is lost: Each season, it is becoming a regularity in Sean Miller's program that an underclassmen bolts to the NBA -- and this year is no exception. Highly acclaimed freshman Stanley Johnson didn't take long to exhibit his talent as he led the Wildcats in scoring and was a dependable rebounder. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Kaleb Tarczewski and Brandon Ashley also could forgo their final seasons of eligibility and head to the NBA. Hollis-Jefferson would be the most substantial loss considering the versatility he has brought to the lineup each game. Ashley's scoring would be missed early on, but he has been far too inconsistent during his tenure with the Wildcats. Meanwhile, Tarczewski's size and strength would be difficult to replace, but he needs another college season to improve his post moves and consistency. In addition, Miller will lose two-year starting point guard T.J. McConnell, who provided facilitating, leadership and moxie for the Pac-12 champion.
Who is added: Since Miller's arrival, the Wildcats have been hauling in elite classes. This year's crop includes four ESPN 100 prospects: Allonzo Trier, Ray Smith, Justin Simon and Chance Comanche. Trier will battle York for the starting 2-guard position because of Trier's ability to score in a variety of ways, and he could start considering the roster turnover that is expected in Tucson. Smith, who is still recovering from an injured ACL, has the length and athletic ability to make an impact right away, while Simon is a jack-of-all-trades type who impacts the game with his elite athleticism, ball skills and passing. Comanche, on the other hand, will need to gain a considerable amount of strength, but he does have the frame and budding skills to be an impactful 4-man down the road.
What it means for next season: The Wildcats will experience a potential monumental overhaul in their program if the aforementioned underclassmen bolt to the NBA as expected. Trier has the strength and skills to be a double-digit scorer to match the output exhibited by Johnson. Elliott Pitts will see his minutes increase due to his ability to knock down jump shots. Overall, though, point guard is the one position that may take some time to evolve. Jackson-Cartwright has the savvy and skill, but he will have to show the durability to take on the minutes left by the departed McConnell. As a result, Miller may end up adopting a "point guard by committee" strategy as York will assuredly take on some of the ballhandling duties. Keep an eye out for Simon as he possesses the ball skills and passing ability to take on some of the point guard duties early on. In the front court, Miller will welcome Boston College transfer Ryan Anderson, who should provide consistent scoring and rebounding from the 4-spot. The other frontcourt position should be snatched by Ristic, who has shown continued improvement and will at least duplicate Tarczewski's modest numbers.
Trending: Down. Until the underclassmen and a decorated recruiting class show they can make up for the starters who go pro, it definitely will be rebuilding time for Miller. There is still a lot of talent and untapped potential in the Wildcats program, but the roster lacks experience.