Arizona is on its annual quest for an NCAA title

Fresh off a weekend that saw a convincing sweep of USC and UCLA, the annual buzz that surrounds Arizona Wildcats basketball is loud and clear.

Then again, it’s a slightly different tune. Last season, the Wildcats were excellent throughout the regular season and Pac-12 Conference Tournament, which they won for the second time in a row, sending them into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed.

Then the wheels fell off. In what seems to be an annual affair within March Madness, there was the inevitable big, early upset – only this time Arizona was the victim, falling to Princeton in the first-round 55-59. That was not the way their story was supposed to end.

So as fans of the No. 9 ranked Wildcats (14-4) once again begin to ponder the possibilities of a national championship – and those possibilities are undoubtedly real – it’s time to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Cats. As is regularly the case, Arizona is fully capable of winning it all.

If there’s any doubt surrounding Arizona basketball, it’s likely a biproduct of playing in the Pac-12 this year, where the Wildcats are the only team that currently stands out. In fact, no other team in the conference resides in the national top-25. Perhaps the weekend sweep of UCLA (8-11) and USC (8-11) alleviated some concerns following losses to Stanford (10-8) and Washington State (13-6), both on the road. Perhaps like no other conference, home court advantage seems very real in the Pac-12, which is why will it be important for Arizona to shine down the stretch, where seven of their final 13 games are on the road.

But once again loaded with talent, Arizona can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the country. Early season wins against Duke and Wisconsin serve as evidence of that, while losses to Purdue and Florida Atlantic give pause.

Which Arizona team will emerge in March? Let’s assess. 

Hoops Harlan’s Pick: Arizona to win NCAA title +800

Typically speaking, stars emerge when the lights are brightest – a.k.a. the NCAA Basketball Tournament. And in any given run through the tournament, most teams require more than one player to step up. In Arizona’s case, there are plenty of candidates who could do that this March. In fact, Arizona boasts five players who average double figures in scoring – Pelle Larsson, Oumar Ballo, Kylan Boswell, Keshad Johnson and Caleb Love can all score. Perhaps best yet is that Love (North Carolina) Johnson (San Diego State) – along with sophomore guard Jayden Bradley (Alabama) were not part of last year’s collapse to Princeton; ideally, there are no ghosts in the closet for them, each of which plays a key role. Can Tommy Lloyd, who was named AP National Coach of the Year in 2022 get the most out of the Pac-12’s most talented roster when it matters most? Anything – good or bad – is possible when it comes to March, but at +800 (the second-best odds in college basketball currently) it’s worth taking out a wager on the Wildcats.