Arizona Basketball is back! Wildcats tip off regular season with doubleheader in McKale | News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – Arizona Basketball is back!

The Wildcats tip off the regular season with a doubleheader in McKale Monday. The Women’s team takes on UT Arlington. The Men’s team battles Canisius.

It’s a new era for both teams as they enter the Big 12. Luckily, they have plenty of familiar faces. 

Arizona Women’s hoops returns its trio of sophomores. Jada Williams, Breya Cunningham and Skylar Jones. They led the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament as freshmen, despite the team only having seven players.

“We all have that confidence,” Jones said. “We all have that maturity because we got thrown in the fire. That was the best thing that could happen to us. We have that experience, maturity. We know the things we need to do to get things done.”

Add fellow sophomore Montaya Dew into the mix. She joined Arizona as the highest rated recruit in program history, but missed all of last season with the torn ACL. 

“Checking in for the first time is going to be a moment to try not to cry,” Dew said. “You feel the energy sitting on the bench. I feel like it’s totally different when you’re on the court.”

Senior Isis Beh also returns invaluable experience. This is her sixth year of college basketball. While the core group of players stayed the same, there is one big difference from last season: depth.

Head Coach Adia Barnes added three freshmen and four transfers. 

“We are a brand new team basically,” Williams said. “We have depth. We’re going to be pushing. We’re going to be running and gunning. We’re going to be true to who we are no matter what conference we’re in. We’re still going to press. We’re going to be physical. We’re going to be aggressive. We hang our hat on defense just like we did last year.”

Arizona Men’s Basketball has its fair share of veteran players too. Guards Jaden Bradley, KJ Lewis and Caleb Love – who’s a preseason AP All-American.

“Best backcourt in the country,” Love said. “I don’t see that as a wild statement.”

“We’re all athletic,” Lewis said. “We all can defend. I think we’re going to score the ball really well this year.”

“Experience goes a long way,” Bradley said. “We know the game. We’ve been there. We also have some transfers who have been in March Madness as well.”

Forward Trey Townsend is one of them. He helped Oakland University upset Kentucky in a magical March Madness run last year. 

“Everything is much bigger in scale,” Townsend said. “The size of the arena. The fanbase and everything. It’s a special experience and something I’m excited to be a part of.”

There’s also guard Anthony Dell’Orso from Campbell university and forward Tobe Awaka from Tennessee. Awaka started in both exhibitions in place of Motiejus Krivas who’s dealing with an ankle injury. It’s unclear if he’ll play against Canisius.

“I think it’s trending in the right direction,” Head Coach Tommy Lloyd said. “When he’s ready, we’re ready for him.”

Freshman Guard Carter Bryant is also expected to make a splash. He was a 5-star recruit and a McDonald’s All-American.

Lloyd is ready for the new challenge of the Big 12. The Wildcats were picked to finish 5th in the conference preseason poll, despite entering the season ranked 10th in the country. 

“I’m as excited as I was my first year,” Lloyd said. “I love this group of guys. There’s beauty in the challenge.”

Arizona Women’s Basketball tips off at 4 p.m., followed by the Men at 8 p.m.