It is a fun and busy time around Arizona with the basketball program moving on to the Sweet 16 this week and a chance to reach the Final Four still very much alive. Plus, Monday marks the return of spring practice and there is always plenty going on in other areas as well. Here is this week’s busy War Room.
Football
Arizona took a break from its spring practice schedule for spring break over the last week, but it will get back to the field Monday as things pick up with an afternoon/early evening practice. The Wildcats have made some nice progress so far but it didn’t quite show in the team’s midway point open practice. That is why Rich Rodriguez will have another one at the end of spring next Friday, March 31, to better showcase his team.
* As Arizona continues to move toward its spring schedule the development continues and with install all but done for the spring that means a lot of focusing on the fundamentals for the Wildcats the next six practices. There are still questions that Arizona hopes to be closer to answering as things wrap up over the next two weeks.
Here are three things we are most interested in seeing or questions we’d like to see answered as the Wildcats finish up their final spring practices.
- How much more progress can the quarterbacks make?: We have said all spring that the progress from Arizona signal callers will take a jump - or won’t depending on the work that gets put in - over the summer and into fall camp. That is when the real progress should be visible. For now it is happening in small increments, but Rodriguez overall has been more pleased with that group when it comes to passing the ball. Spring ball works out well for Khalil Tate and returning starter Brandon Dawkins because it forces them to work on the areas that need improvement. We all know what each can do with his feet, but because they cannot be tackled during spring it makes for an increased emphasis on the throws.
It hasn’t been perfect but in the two opportunities the media has had a chance to watch the team in action the progress is being seen in certain situations. Tate is seeing the field a bit better and has his throws a bit more dialed in while Dawkins is becoming sharper with his timing and making more of the throws the staff needs him to make.
For now that duo will be ahead of the others quarterbacks coming in this summer and it will be about getting those two ready to go for the season. Still, it will be interesting to see where both are by the end of these next two weeks with some continued work.
- The linebackers who emerge as front runners: There have been different linebackers working with the first unit up to this point. In the open practice earlier this month it was Jake Colacion who emerged as another option with the starting group at the “will” linebacker spot and because of all the hits the group took after the season with players moving on he is one who actually has time in the program on his side to make a move. Along with Brandon Rutt at the middle backer spot and DeAndre’ Miller at stud that will likely be the group out in front heading into the rest of the offseason.
Still, things are far from settled. There is a strong group of incoming freshmen making their way to Tucson this summer plus some of the newcomers will have a say as well. Tony Fields II has impressed so far this spring and he showed some quality plays from the will spot during the Spring Showcase. In addition to him Kahi Neves has been making some nice progress as the second-team stud linebacker. Both, should they continue their progress into the summer, should be expected to see time this season at the linebacker spots.
There are still jobs up for grabs, however, and it will be interesting to monitor who else emerges these next two weeks.
* Can Arizona get healthy again on the O-line?: It has been a struggle at times to get any kind of footing this spring as players have been out along the offensive line with different ailments. A couple started practice just watching and others have gone down since then. It has made it so bad that Arizona can’t even go a full three-units deep because of the numbers being so low. The Wildcats didn’t sign any offensive linemen in the class, but they will have a mix of blue shirt and preferred walk-on players who will be coming this summer to help out the depth.
What UA truly needs these last two weeks is to get healthy and stay healthy to get some good work in to close spring ball. Michael Eletise had some high hopes coming into the spring but he was injured to start and the break could have done him some good to get truly back to 100 percent health wise so he can start really making a charge for a starting spot. But maybe more than any other injured player it is Keenan Walker who most the media and fans want to see out on the field.
He didn’t participate in the Spring Showcase and in the first open practice he was working mainly with that incomplete third group. As things stand at this very moment the chances of him playing are slim, but he has all the talent you could want. Getting fully over his knee injury has been an issue, but he also needs to get on the field to earn himself some time and a chance to move into the rotation. The Wildcats have been working him at left tackle so there is a veteran already there with the starting unit in Layth Friekh, but Walker could still make a move with a good finish here the next couple weeks if he’s able to stay on the field.
As much as most of the rotation is locked in already with so many returning pieces it is kind of a mess behind that group so these next two weeks will be important heading into the rest of the offseason.
* Arizona continues its hunt for any possible late additions to the roster and for now the options are starting to run a bit thin and/or are being kept a bit quiet. Rodriguez has not been opposed to adding another quarterback to help strengthen his group if the situation is right. LSU grad transfer Brandon Harris has been at the forefront of that but as of now things are trending in a different direction. The LSU quarterback will visit North Carolina this week and if he likes what he sees he has been open to pulling the trigger on a commitment there for his final season. The plus side for UNC is that it has room at the position as a starter where as Arizona and Texas, his other two finalists, do not. Still, if he doesn’t end up giving the Tar Heels his pledge that will leave the door open for the ‘Cats to get a visit. That is the plan right now, but everything won’t be known until he visits Chapel Hill.
Malik Zaire remains an option for Arizona at the quarterback position, but it is a slim to none chance for the Wildcats with him. There will have to be some serious movement in a new direction for the Wildcats to get him on board.
Basketball
It is of course a big time for Arizona heading into the new week as it prepares to face one of Sean Miller’s longtime employers, Xavier, in the Sweet 16 on Thursday in San Jose. Arizona is in an interesting spot as the NCAA Tournament has already taken some unexpected turns as it always does. UA’s path through the West Regional seems to have been simplified some, but there are always tough games and surprising events in the field of 64. Nothing is guaranteed but Miller and his ‘Cats are in good spot heading into the week.
As we did last week we will highlight all that is going on with Arizona right now when it comes to its next opponent, what sits up ahead for potential future games plus a breakdown of the Wildcats themselves headed into the new week.
Xavier
The last time Arizona met with Miller’s old team was back in 2015 and it should be a game that is still fresh in the memories of Arizona fans. The Wildcats won the game in a battle that ended up looking a lot like the contest Saturday against St. Mary’s. Back then the Musketeers had big man Matt Stainbrook who created some issues inside and UA had to deal with an injury scare to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the game as well. Xavier had a lead and UA had to climb back eventually winning 68-60 – a similar score and circumstances as its 69-60 win over St. Mary’s on Saturday.
Xavier had all kinds of turmoil during the season and ended the year before the NCAA Tournament losing seven of its previous 10 games. However, it’s all about how you play during the Tournament that matters and for Chris Mack’s squad that has been well so far.
The Musketeers are coming off a 91-66 win over third-seeded Florida State to advance to play the Wildcats and that is after beating six-seed Maryland 76-65 in the first round. Xavier heads into Thursday night’s game with a 23-13 record over all.
* For Xavier it all starts with Trevon Bluiett who heads into Thursday’s matchup with the ‘Cats as his team’s leading scorer averaging 18.5 points to go with 5.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and a team-high 38 percent from 3-point range. Against Florida State he scored 29 points with over a third of those coming from free-throw line. The junior from Indiana will be the player Xavier leans on most and he presents an interesting match up for UA with his 6-foot-6 frame.
In addition to Bluiett the Musketeers start three other guards including junior J.P. Macura who didn’t have his best game against Florida State. The The 6-foot-5 Minnesota native 10 points and two rebounds in 30 minutes of action over the weekend against the Seminoles.
Football
Arizona took a break from its spring practice schedule for spring break over the last week, but it will get back to the field Monday as things pick up with an afternoon/early evening practice. The Wildcats have made some nice progress so far but it didn’t quite show in the team’s midway point open practice. That is why Rich Rodriguez will have another one at the end of spring next Friday, March 31, to better showcase his team.
* As Arizona continues to move toward its spring schedule the development continues and with install all but done for the spring that means a lot of focusing on the fundamentals for the Wildcats the next six practices. There are still questions that Arizona hopes to be closer to answering as things wrap up over the next two weeks.
Here are three things we are most interested in seeing or questions we’d like to see answered as the Wildcats finish up their final spring practices.
- How much more progress can the quarterbacks make?: We have said all spring that the progress from Arizona signal callers will take a jump - or won’t depending on the work that gets put in - over the summer and into fall camp. That is when the real progress should be visible. For now it is happening in small increments, but Rodriguez overall has been more pleased with that group when it comes to passing the ball. Spring ball works out well for Khalil Tate and returning starter Brandon Dawkins because it forces them to work on the areas that need improvement. We all know what each can do with his feet, but because they cannot be tackled during spring it makes for an increased emphasis on the throws.
It hasn’t been perfect but in the two opportunities the media has had a chance to watch the team in action the progress is being seen in certain situations. Tate is seeing the field a bit better and has his throws a bit more dialed in while Dawkins is becoming sharper with his timing and making more of the throws the staff needs him to make.
For now that duo will be ahead of the others quarterbacks coming in this summer and it will be about getting those two ready to go for the season. Still, it will be interesting to see where both are by the end of these next two weeks with some continued work.
- The linebackers who emerge as front runners: There have been different linebackers working with the first unit up to this point. In the open practice earlier this month it was Jake Colacion who emerged as another option with the starting group at the “will” linebacker spot and because of all the hits the group took after the season with players moving on he is one who actually has time in the program on his side to make a move. Along with Brandon Rutt at the middle backer spot and DeAndre’ Miller at stud that will likely be the group out in front heading into the rest of the offseason.
Still, things are far from settled. There is a strong group of incoming freshmen making their way to Tucson this summer plus some of the newcomers will have a say as well. Tony Fields II has impressed so far this spring and he showed some quality plays from the will spot during the Spring Showcase. In addition to him Kahi Neves has been making some nice progress as the second-team stud linebacker. Both, should they continue their progress into the summer, should be expected to see time this season at the linebacker spots.
There are still jobs up for grabs, however, and it will be interesting to monitor who else emerges these next two weeks.
* Can Arizona get healthy again on the O-line?: It has been a struggle at times to get any kind of footing this spring as players have been out along the offensive line with different ailments. A couple started practice just watching and others have gone down since then. It has made it so bad that Arizona can’t even go a full three-units deep because of the numbers being so low. The Wildcats didn’t sign any offensive linemen in the class, but they will have a mix of blue shirt and preferred walk-on players who will be coming this summer to help out the depth.
What UA truly needs these last two weeks is to get healthy and stay healthy to get some good work in to close spring ball. Michael Eletise had some high hopes coming into the spring but he was injured to start and the break could have done him some good to get truly back to 100 percent health wise so he can start really making a charge for a starting spot. But maybe more than any other injured player it is Keenan Walker who most the media and fans want to see out on the field.
He didn’t participate in the Spring Showcase and in the first open practice he was working mainly with that incomplete third group. As things stand at this very moment the chances of him playing are slim, but he has all the talent you could want. Getting fully over his knee injury has been an issue, but he also needs to get on the field to earn himself some time and a chance to move into the rotation. The Wildcats have been working him at left tackle so there is a veteran already there with the starting unit in Layth Friekh, but Walker could still make a move with a good finish here the next couple weeks if he’s able to stay on the field.
As much as most of the rotation is locked in already with so many returning pieces it is kind of a mess behind that group so these next two weeks will be important heading into the rest of the offseason.
* Arizona continues its hunt for any possible late additions to the roster and for now the options are starting to run a bit thin and/or are being kept a bit quiet. Rodriguez has not been opposed to adding another quarterback to help strengthen his group if the situation is right. LSU grad transfer Brandon Harris has been at the forefront of that but as of now things are trending in a different direction. The LSU quarterback will visit North Carolina this week and if he likes what he sees he has been open to pulling the trigger on a commitment there for his final season. The plus side for UNC is that it has room at the position as a starter where as Arizona and Texas, his other two finalists, do not. Still, if he doesn’t end up giving the Tar Heels his pledge that will leave the door open for the ‘Cats to get a visit. That is the plan right now, but everything won’t be known until he visits Chapel Hill.
Malik Zaire remains an option for Arizona at the quarterback position, but it is a slim to none chance for the Wildcats with him. There will have to be some serious movement in a new direction for the Wildcats to get him on board.
Basketball
It is of course a big time for Arizona heading into the new week as it prepares to face one of Sean Miller’s longtime employers, Xavier, in the Sweet 16 on Thursday in San Jose. Arizona is in an interesting spot as the NCAA Tournament has already taken some unexpected turns as it always does. UA’s path through the West Regional seems to have been simplified some, but there are always tough games and surprising events in the field of 64. Nothing is guaranteed but Miller and his ‘Cats are in good spot heading into the week.
As we did last week we will highlight all that is going on with Arizona right now when it comes to its next opponent, what sits up ahead for potential future games plus a breakdown of the Wildcats themselves headed into the new week.
Xavier
The last time Arizona met with Miller’s old team was back in 2015 and it should be a game that is still fresh in the memories of Arizona fans. The Wildcats won the game in a battle that ended up looking a lot like the contest Saturday against St. Mary’s. Back then the Musketeers had big man Matt Stainbrook who created some issues inside and UA had to deal with an injury scare to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the game as well. Xavier had a lead and UA had to climb back eventually winning 68-60 – a similar score and circumstances as its 69-60 win over St. Mary’s on Saturday.
Xavier had all kinds of turmoil during the season and ended the year before the NCAA Tournament losing seven of its previous 10 games. However, it’s all about how you play during the Tournament that matters and for Chris Mack’s squad that has been well so far.
The Musketeers are coming off a 91-66 win over third-seeded Florida State to advance to play the Wildcats and that is after beating six-seed Maryland 76-65 in the first round. Xavier heads into Thursday night’s game with a 23-13 record over all.
* For Xavier it all starts with Trevon Bluiett who heads into Thursday’s matchup with the ‘Cats as his team’s leading scorer averaging 18.5 points to go with 5.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and a team-high 38 percent from 3-point range. Against Florida State he scored 29 points with over a third of those coming from free-throw line. The junior from Indiana will be the player Xavier leans on most and he presents an interesting match up for UA with his 6-foot-6 frame.
In addition to Bluiett the Musketeers start three other guards including junior J.P. Macura who didn’t have his best game against Florida State. The The 6-foot-5 Minnesota native 10 points and two rebounds in 30 minutes of action over the weekend against the Seminoles.
