This week we'll look at the Arizona Wildcats as they emerge from the darkness that was the season of 2005-06. Normally I don't like to talk about who was lost from the previous season other than mentioning them, but the loss of Polkey loomed over all, and this program is ready for a more joyful 2006-07 season.
Having said all that, last year's team shot and rebounded poorly but played hard. This year the Wildcats welcome four new players who will help immensely in the areas of shooting and rebounding. In fact the incoming players are two sets of twins, the 6-6 and 6-7 Bofia sisters from Cameroon, by way of Illinois Central JC, and the 6-1 Neabors twins from Pomona. The two sets of twins will give instant rebounding, post defense, post offense and depth. Arizona also returns all seven of their leading scorers, except top scorer, Guard Natalie Jones.
Post play really has to start with Jr Shannon Hobson, who missed the entire previous season. She's 6-2, strong, and will be a focal point. Before her injury she was not a big scorer, but was the Wildcats most inspirational player last season, despite not playing, and can play very strong defense. Suzy Bofia, the shorter twin at 6-6, scored 12 points and had 9 rebounds per game in JC last year. Her 6-7 sister wasn't nearly the scorer, but with her height, and the depth they have, should be an important contributor.
Newcomers 6-1 Rhaya and 6-2 Rheya Neabors are frosh, and both were ranked in the Top 100 or so in the US last year in High School. They will add depth to returnees 6-1 Whitney Fields and 6-0 Ché Oh. Oh, you might remember, was having a fine game against Stanford at Maples but was injured during that game. Fields averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds per game in her frosh season and Oh averaged 8 points and nearly 6 rebounds in the 20 games she did play.
The strength of this team, especially as the two sets of twins become accustomed to the college pace, is the Guard position. Ashley Whisonant, 5-8, returns as the PG, backed by Jessica Arnold. Last year they played together at times. Whisonant averaged nearly 14 points per game and led the team in assists by quite a bit. Arnold, only 5-4, averaged 6 points per game.
The 2 Guard will be their best player, 5-9 Joy Hollingsworth, who is one of only two Seniors. Joy averaged 14.4 points per game and made 50% more 3's than anyone else. She will be the leader, backed by Kelsey Burns, 5-11, who averaged 4 points per game and hit 36.6 of 71 three-point attempts. Linda Pace, 5-9, is the only other Senior. She averaged 5 points per game and didn't attempt a three-pointer.
In summary, this team lacked posts last year and has 5 now. The younger players have gone through an ordeal and should be battle tested.
And not the least, Joan Bonvicini is a very good, successful Head Coach.
Recruiting: Well they had 8 in the Scout Database and all have committed elsewhere. This will be a problem.
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