Sean Miller is ready for a challenge.
Arizona has been an incredible story over the past two seasons, totaling 67 victories. The Wildcats would have been in a greater spotlight if it wasn't for a pair of losses to Wisconsin in the Elite Eight. Last season, Arizona finished at 34-4.
Why will this season present a challenge? The 'Cats lost their top four scorers from a year ago -- Stanley Johnson, Brandon Ashley, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and point guard/team leader T. J. McConnell. Each member of that quartet averaged double figures in scoring. That's a lot of offense and experience to lose moving forward,
Miller has worked hard to build a special program in Tucson, winning 76 percent of his games during his first six seasons as head coach. He plans on having a team in the hunt in a very competitive Pac-12, battling the likes of California, Utah, UCLA, Oregon State and Arizona State.
There are several veterans returning, led by big man Kaleb Tarczewski up front. He shot an impressive 57.2 percent from the field last season, but he was only sixth on the team in field goal attempts. He will have to be a more aggressive scoring threat. Gabe York averaged more than nine points in just 23 minutes per game, so he will have an increased workload as well.
Role players like Elliott Pitts, Dusan Ristic and Parker Jackson-Cartwright have waited in the wings and will have an opportunity to make greater contributions.
Another reason for optimism is a trio of players stepping on the court. Former Boston College standout Ryan Anderson was a third-team All-ACC selection a few years back. He sat out last season after transferring; his last year with the Eagles, he averaged 14 points per game and seven rebounds per game.
Mark Tollefsen is a senior transfer who has immediate eligibility coming from the University of San Francisco. An All-WCC second-team choice last season, he averaged 14 points per game.
Kadeem Allen is expected to be a major factor after redshirting last season. He was the national JUCO Player of the Year at Hutchinson Community College in 2014.
Players have bought into Miller's concepts, playing hard on defense and being efficient on the offensive end. It also helps to have an experienced coaching staff that includes former head coaches Joe Pasternack (New Orleans) and Mark Phelps (Drake).
The fans at McKale Center are among the best in the nation. Even after losing four talented players in Johnson, Ashley, Hollis-Jefferson and McConnell, the future is bright. The names will be different, but the Wildcats should see plenty of positive results.