2021–22 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team explained

Conference Link:Pac-12 Conference men's basketball
Mode:Basketball
Year:2021–22
Prev Year:2020-21
Next Year:2022–23
Team:Arizona Wildcats
Conference:Pac-12 Conference
Short Conf:Pac-12
Record:33–4
Conf Record:18–2
Coachrank:6
Aprank:2
Hc Year:1st
Assoc Coach:Jack Murphy
Ahc Year:3rd
Asst Coach2:Riccardo Fois
Ac2 Year:1st
Asst Coach3:Steve Robinson
Ac3 Year:1st
Champion:Pac-12 regular season & tournament champions
Roman Main Event champions
Bowl Result:Sweet Sixteen

The 2021–22 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Arizona during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team led by Tommy Lloyd, in his 1st season as a head coach. This was the Wildcats' 48th season at the on-campus McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona and 43rd season as a member of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished with a record of 33–4, 18–2 in Pac-12 play to win the regular season & Pac-12 tournament championship. During the season, Arizona was invited and participated in the Roman Main Event in Paradise, Nevada. Arizona defeated Wichita State and Michigan to finish in a championship game. In the postseason, Arizona defeated Stanford, and Colorado and UCLA in the championship game of the 2022 Pac-12 Conference men's basketball tournament in Paradise, Nevada, in their 8th overall. The Wildcats were invited and participated in the 2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, where they defeated Wright State and TCU in San Diego, California but lost to Houston in San Antonio, TX in the Sweet Sixteen.

Previous season

The Wildcats finished the 2020–21 season 17–9, 11–9 in Pac-12 play to finish in fifth place. Due to a self-imposed one-year NCAA ban, the Wildcats did not participate in the Pac-12 tournament or the NCAA tournament.

On April 7, 2021, after 12 seasons and amid the continuing corruption scandal, the school fired head coach Sean Miller.[1]

Offseason

Coaching changes

Miller was fired on April 7, 2021, citing the program has incredibly high standards to have success on and off the court.[2] Following Sean Miller's departure from Arizona, Arizona hired longtime Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd.

Departures

Arizona Coaching Changes
NameAlma materPrevious positionNew position
Pittsburgh (1992) Head coach Xavier
Danny Peters Ohio State (2010) Assistant Coach Assistant Coach (Xavier)
Arizona (1999) Assistant Coach Head coach (Grand Rapids Gold – NBA G League)
Justin Coleman Arizona (2019) Graduate assistant Assistant Coach (Tennessee Tech)
Anthony Richards Le Moyne College (2018) Director of Student-Athlete Development Director of men's basketball operations (Holy Cross)
David Miller Arizona (2015) Recruiting coordinator Assistant Coach (San Jose State)

Additions to staff

Arizona Coaching Changes
NameAlma materPrevious positionNew position
Whitman (1998) Associate head coach (Gonzaga) Arizona (head coach) [3]
Pepperdine (2008) Director of player development (Phoenix Suns) Arizona (assistant coach)
Radford (1981) Assistant Coach (North Carolina) Arizona (assistant coach)

Transfers

Due to COVID-19, the NCAA ruled in October 2020 that the 2020–21 season would not count against the eligibility of any basketball player, thus giving all players the option to return in 2021–22.[4] Additionally, any players who have declared for the 2021 NBA draft—including seniors, who must opt into this year's draft—have the option to return if they make a timely withdrawal from the draft and end any pre-draft relationships with agents. Thus, separate lists will initially be maintained for confirmed and potential departures.

Outgoing Transfers

Arizona Outcoming Transfers
G 6'3" 185 Graduate Senior Seattle, WA Elected to transfer to Washington.
Ira Lee F 6'8" 245 Senior Los Angeles, CA Graduate transfer to George Washington.
Matt Weyand F 6'5" 200 Senior Walk-on; Graduate transfer to Concordia.
Jemarl Baker Jr. G 6'5" 195 Redshirt Junior Elected to transfer to Fresno State.
F 6'11" 235 Redshirt Junior Elected to transfer to Louisiana Lafayette.
G 6'1" 185 Junior Elected to transfer to Baylor.
Tibet Görener F 6'9" 200 Freshman Istanbul, Turkey Elected to transfer to San Jose State.
Daniel Batcho F 6'11" 245 Freshman Paris, France Elected to transfer to Texas Tech.
Reference:

Incoming Transfers

Arizona Incoming Transfers
C 7'0" 260 RS Freshman Koulikoro, Mali 3 Transfer from Gonzaga in April 2021. Eligible due to an NCAA transfer waiver.
G 6'5" 215 Freshman Nacka, Sweden 3 Transfer from Utah in May 2021. Eligible due to an NCAA transfer waiver.
6'4" 190 G Grad Senior 1 Transfer from Georgia in May 2021. Eligible due to an NCAA transfer waiver.
Kim Aiken Jr. G 6'7 245 RS Senior 1 Transfer from Eastern Washington in April 2021.[5]
Reference:

2021 recruiting class

Shane Nowell, originally from Sammamish, WA, was the first commit of the 2021 recruiting class. He verbally committed to Arizona on October 31, 2020, over rival Montana, Montana State, Oklahoma & Washington. Nowell was a consensus four-star prospect out of Eastside Catholic in Sammamish, WA.

Adama Bal, from Paris, FR, was the third commit of the 2021 recruiting class. He verbally committed to Arizona on May 11, 2021, over Colorado, Cincinnati, Georgia, Marquette, San Francisco and Saint Mary's. Bal is out of INSEP Paris, France.

On April 24, 2021, Will Reeves announced that he would join the Wildcats as a preferred walk-on during the fall as a forward. On June 14, 2021, Addison Arnold announced that he would join the Wildcats as a preferred walk-on during the fall as a guard. On June 24, 2021, Benjamin Ackerley announced that he would join the Wildcats as a preferred walk-on during the fall as a guard.

2023 recruiting class

Personnel

Roster

Source:

Preseason

Lute Olson Tribute

The University of Arizona & Men's basketball program held a public tribute at the McKale Center on September 12, 2021 for former head coach Lute Olson. The hall of fame coach spent 25 seasons at Arizona before retiring in 2008.[7] Former players Steve Kerr, Jason Terry, Andre Iguodala & Matt Brase all spoke.[8]

Red and Blue game

The annual Red-Blue game took place at McKale Center on October 2, 2021.[9] Christian Koloko, Bennedict Mathurin, Dalen Terry, and Ąžuolas Tubelis participated in the dunk contest, which was won by Terry with a perfect score of 120. The roster was split into two teams, Red versus Blue, with the Red team winning 53−39. Aiken Jr., led the team with 20 points, going 8-for-10 from the field and 4-for-4 from the three with four rebounds. Azuolas Tubelis had 14 points, going 7-for-7 with seven rebounds and two assists. Mathurin scored 16 points, shooting 6-for-12 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free throw line. Koloko finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and four blocks.[10]

Preseason rankings

Preseason awards watchlists

Preseason All Pac-12 teams

Schedule and results

The Wildcats finalized their schedule in the summer, dates and times were be finalized in the fall. Arizona will host Cal Baptist, NAU, Northern Colorado, North Dakota State, Sacramento State, Texas–Rio Grande Valley, Wyoming at McKale Center in Tucson, AZ.[15] [16] Arizona played the 2021 Roman Main Event in Las Vegas with Michigan, UNLV & Wichita State.[17] They played two true road against Illinois & Tennessee,[18] that were canceled the previous season (including not play against Gonzaga in the 2021–22 season[19] [20] The Pac-12 will continue with its 20-game conference schedule, with 10 home & away games per school. Arizona will not play against Washington State at home and Oregon on the road.

|-!colspan=12 style=| Exhibition|-!colspan=12 style=| Regular season|-!colspan=12 style=| Pac-12 tournament|-!colspan=12 style=| NCAA tournament

Pac-12 tournament

In the Pac-12 tournament as a #1-seed, They faced off against #9-seed Stanford, defeated 84-80 in the quarterfinals. They faced off against #4-seed Colorado, defeated 82-72 in the semifinals. They faced off against #2-seed UCLA defeated 84-76 in the title game to win their 8th Pac-12 conference tournament title in Paradise, Nevada.[21]

NCAA tournament

Arizona entered the NCAA tournament as a #1-seed (South Region),[22] facing off against #16-seed Wright State, Arizona won 87–70. Furthermore, Arizona’s victory against Wright State marked their first win in the NCAA tournament since 2017. In the round of 32, Arizona faced off against #9-seed TCU, Arizona won 85–80 in the overtime thriller. In the sweet sixteen, Arizona faced off against #5-seed Houston but losing 60–72, ending their season.[23]

Game summaries

This section will be filled in as the season progresses.----Source:[24]

Houston (Sweet 16)

Rankings

See also: 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings. *AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings
^Coaches did not release a Week 2 poll.

Player statistics

Individual player statistics (final)[25]
MinutesScoringTotal FGs3-point FGsFree-ThrowsRebounds
PlayerGPGSTotAvgPtsAvgFGFGAPct3FG3FAPctFTFTAPctOffDefTotAvgAPFTOStlBlk
Benjamin Ackerley0000.000.0000%000%000%0000.000000
Kim Aiken Jr.709613.7355.0132748.1%91656.3%020%816243.4148372
Addison Arnold0000.000.0000%000%000%0000.000000
Adama Bal2301044.5341.5132748.1%81747.1%020%28100.41010731
style=white-space:nowrap Oumar Ballo36055615.42506.99114562.8%000%689770.1%581051634.52157321244
style=white-space:nowrap Justin Kier36672320.12496.98819844.4%349535.8%394783.0%111021133.1824749231
style=white-space:nowrap Christian Koloko363690925.345612.718128264.2%030%9412873.4%951712667.4491015826100
style=white-space:nowrap Kerr Kriisa323095629.93179.99828035.4%7923134.2%404981.6%1565802.51545570193
style=white-space:nowrap Pelle Larsson36274420.72587.28317647.2%328936.0%607481.1%28931213.4658956278
style=white-space:nowrap Jordan Mains150302.0100.73742.9%030%4666.7%48120.804220
style=white-space:nowrap Bennedict Mathurin3636116432.364017.821447045.5%8121837.2%13117077.1%491552045.79164653610
style=white-space:nowrap Will Menaugh0000.000.0000%000%000%0000.000000
style=white-space:nowrap Shane Nowell190663.5150.861833.3%1520.0%22100.0%015150.869842
style=white-space:nowrap Will Reeves0000.000.0000%000%000%0000.000000
style=white-space:nowrap Dalen Terry363699127.52807.810922049.5%267435.1%364973.5%391341734.814282484611
style=white-space:nowrap Ąžuolas Tubelis353486224.649714.219635555.2%103727.0%9514366.4%681512196.38068733725
style=white-space:nowrap Tautvilas Tubelis140241.740.32728.6%030%010%0000.001300
style=white-space:nowrap Grant Weitman160251.620.11333.3%020%000%1230.203100
Total36–7250201.4304784.641099221549.6%28079335.3%56977073.9%4131083149641.6714598483242207
Opponents36–7250201.4244667.94905235038.5%26481332.5%37255267.4%429783121233.7426677460252101
Legend
  GP Games played  GS Games started Avg Average per game
  FG Field-goals made FGA Field-goal attempts Off Offensive rebounds
 Def Defensive rebounds  A Assists  TOTurnovers
 Blk Blocks Stl Steals High Team high

Awards & milestones

Season highs

Players

[26]

Team

[27]

Weekly awards

Bennedict Mathurin

Christian Koloko

Ąžuolas Tubelis

Midseason awards watchlists

Bennedict Mathurin

Christian Koloko

Ąžuolas Tubelis

Final awards watchlists

Tommy Lloyd

Christian Koloko

Bennedict Mathurin

Postseason awards and Pac-12 honors

Bennedict Mathurin

Christian Koloko

Pelle Larsson

Dalen Terry

Ąžuolas Tubelis

Tommy Lloyd

National awards

Bennedict Mathurin

Tommy Lloyd

See also

2021–22 Arizona Wildcats women's basketball team

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arizona basketball coach Sean Miller out after 12 seasons with the Wildcats. 2021-04-07. CBSSports.com. en.
  2. Web site: 2021-04-07. Arizona fires coach Sean Miller after 12 seasons. 2021-04-12. ESPN.com. en.
  3. Arizona Names Tommy Lloyd as Men's Basketball Head Coach. Arizona Wildcats. April 14, 2021. April 14, 2021.
  4. DI Council extends eligibility for winter sport student-athletes . NCAA . October 14, 2020 . November 24, 2020.
  5. Web site: Aiken has committed to transfer to Arizona.
  6. Web site: Pascoe . Bruce . On Kim Aiken's absence, ankle pains, and Arizona Wildcats' ability to control tempo . Tucson.com . 8 December 2021.
  7. Lute Olson Public Tribute Set For Sept. 12. Arizona Wildcats. August 17, 2021. August 17, 2021.
  8. Tribute and memorial service for the late Lute Olson. Tucson.com. September 12, 2021. September 12, 2021.
  9. Arizona Releases Men's Basketball Early Season Schedule, First Watch Red-Blue Game Information. Arizona Wildcats. August 4, 2021. August 4, 2021.
  10. Terry Wins Dunk Contest, Arizona Completes First Watch Red-Blue Game. Arizona Wildcats. August 4, 2021. October 2, 2021.
  11. Web site: AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll. live. AP News. https://web.archive.org/web/20200920163811/https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll . 2020-09-20 .
  12. Web site: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll. live. USA Today. https://web.archive.org/web/20211027162515/https://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaab/polls/coaches-poll/2021-2022/2021-10-27/ . 2021-10-27 .
  13. Web site: 2022 PRESEASON WATCH LIST. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221101107/http://www.hoophallawards.com:80/west.php . 2015-02-21 .
  14. Web site: 2022 PRESEASON WATCH LIST. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150219014601/http://www.hoophallawards.com:80/malone.php . 2015-02-19 .
  15. Web site: 12 February 2021. Arizona announces 10-year scheduling series with NAU.
  16. Web site: Arizona Wildcats move Wyoming basketball game to 2021–22.
  17. Web site: Arizona, Michigan, Wichita State & UNLV Headline 2021 Roman Main Event in Las Vegas.
  18. Web site: 10 May 2021. Arizona, Tennessee basketball finalizing home-and-home series, starting in 2021–22.
  19. Web site: 10 May 2021. Arizona unlikely to play Gonzaga in 2021–22 after hiring Tommy Lloyd.
  20. Web site: 2 October 2020. Arizona agrees to postpone Gonzaga game, will reportedly load schedule with home games, mid-majors.
  21. Web site: 2022 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament Bracket. https://web.archive.org/web/20211015212655/https://pac-12.com/mens-basketball/mens-basketball-tournament-2022. dead. October 15, 2021. pac-12.com. March 12, 2022. March 27, 2022.
  22. Web site: Arizona Selected as No. 1 Seed in South Region. arizonawildcats.com. March 13, 2022. March 27, 2022.
  23. Web site: 2022 DI Men's Basketball Championship Official Bracket. ncaa.com. March 14, 2022. March 27, 2022.
  24. Web site: Game Summaries. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191212005838/https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule . 2019-12-12 .
  25. Web site: Individual Stats. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191212021726/https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats . 2019-12-12 .
  26. Web site: Individual Game Highs. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191212021726/https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats . 2019-12-12 .
  27. Web site: Team Highs. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191212021726/https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats . 2019-12-12 .
  28. Web site: Pac-12 POW, Week 4. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206204227/https://pac-12.com/article/2021/12/06/pac-12-mens-basketball-performance-awards-presented-nextiva-dec-6-2021. dead. December 6, 2021. pac12.com. December 6, 2021. December 6, 2021.
  29. Web site: Pac-12 POW, Week 5. pac12.com. December 13, 2021. December 13, 2021.
  30. Web site: Pac-12 POW, Week 15. https://web.archive.org/web/20220221200114/https://pac-12.com/article/2022/02/21/pac-12-mens-basketball-performance-awards-presented-nextiva-feb-21-2022 . dead . February 21, 2022 . pac12.com. February 21, 2022. February 21, 2022.
  31. Web site: Player of the Week. pac12.com. December 13, 2021. December 13, 2021.
  32. Web site: Arizona's Mathurin is Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week. Arizonawildcats.com. December 14, 2021. December 14, 2021.
  33. Web site: Pac-12 POW, Week 2. pac12.com. November 22, 2021. November 22, 2021.
  34. Web site: Pac-12 POW, Week 2. pac12.com. February 7, 2022. February 7, 2022.
  35. Web site: Skretta . Dave . Big Ten lands three players on AP All-America first team . Associated Press. 15 March 2022 .
  36. Web site: 2021-22 NABC All-America Teams . NABC . March 31, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220316154632/https://nabc.com/nabc_releases/2022/nabc-names-2022-division-i-all-america-teams/ . March 16, 2022.
  37. Web site: DeCourcy . Mike . Sporting News 2021–22 college basketball All-America team . Sporting News.
  38. Web site: Arizona's Tommy Lloyd wins AP men's coach of the year . John . Marshall . Associated Press . . April 1, 2022 . April 2, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220401234606/https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Arizona-s-Tommy-Lloyd-wins-AP-men-s-coach-of-the-17051879.php . April 1, 2022.
  39. Web site: Former Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd wins NABC Coach of Year in first season at Arizona . Theo . Lawson . . March 29, 2022 . April 2, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220402014528/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/mar/29/former-gonzaga-assistant-tommy-lloyd-wins-nabc-coa/ . April 2, 2022.
  40. Web site: Arizona's Tommy Lloyd named USBWA Coach of Year . Bruce . Pascoe . . March 30, 2022 . April 2, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220331082030/https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/basketball/arizonas-tommy-lloyd-named-usbwa-coach-of-year/article_01a01ff4-b042-11ec-893e-0f0c69c5d615.html . March 31, 2022.

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