Arizona Wildcats’ Defense Make Them A Contender in NCAA Tournament

The Arizona Wildcats have been a highly ranked team all year long, and have several players that will likely be playing professionally next season, including potential lottery pick Stanley Johnson. They have one of the best floor leaders in T.J. McConnell, who has greatly improved his offensive game and is capable of jump starting the offense now with his scoring. They have a pair of big men down low who can compete with anyone in the country, and another wing in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson who is a talented athlete. They also have a shooter in Gabe York who is capable of coming off of the bench and forcing teams out of a zone defense.

All three of the Wildcats’ starting perimeter players are capable of locking down opponents, combining athleticism and intelligence to get the job done. Hollis-Jefferson might be the best of the bunch, and can take top opposing scorers out of the game. They have long, athletic big men down low who can contest shots and make it hard to score at the rim. They are also an outstanding rebounding team, which helps them control the boards and limit second-chance points.

The Wildcats used their defense to contain one of the top players in the country, D’Angelo Russell, making his life extremely difficult every time down the court. This ability to match up with top players is going to make them tough to beat in the tournament. They have the roster to guard all kinds of teams, whether they be guard-oriented or dominant in the paint. The Wildcats have some talented players who can score, but it is their team defense that makes them true contenders.