If Sunday’s exhibition is any indication — albeit against a team from Spain that resembled that of a high school team in the states — Arizona’s new blood looks like it will pump more vitality into Sean Miller’s already lively program.
Freshman guard Brandon Randolph looked like a Pac-12 freshman of the year candidate with 21 points in his debut, while junior Allonzo Trier scored 16.
Allonzo Trier goes in for the slam against a Spanish pro club team in Valencia, Spain, on Sunday (Arizona media relations photo)
UNC Asheville transfer Dylan Smith had 14, and sophomore Rawle Alkins and freshman phenom center Deandre Ayton each added 10 each as the Wildcats routed Combinado Valenciano 113-44 in Valencia, Spain.
Combinado Valenciano is a professional club team based in Valencia.
Senior post player Dusan Ristic also added 14 rebounds for the Wildcats and Ayton had nine.
Ristic was in the starting lineup at the post with Ayton at power forward, Alkins on the wing, Trier as shooting guard and senior Parker Jackson-Cartwright at the point. Jackson-Cartwright had seven assists without a turnover.
Here is Arizona’s box score:
The following are social media highlights from Arizona’s first exhibition:
Sean Miller’s wife Amy enjoying the trip:
Yep we had this!! #WildcatsinSpain @ISO_ZO @APlayersProgram pic.twitter.com/sLEOLfYqcT
— Amy Miller (@abballwidow) August 13, 2017
A posterizing by Randolph, who made an awe-inspiring debut:
PLAY OF THE GAME 🐻⬇️ Brandon Randolph puts Spain on a POSTER 💥🇪🇸 #ArizonaInEspana @brandolph902 @APlayersProgram
📹: https://t.co/6vKCSrUlp2 pic.twitter.com/wsXq3mGwGx
— FloHoops (@FloHoops) August 13, 2017
Good mid-range game for the youngster:
Knock it down @brandolph902 💦 5 points early for the Wildcat freshman 🇪🇸 #ArizonaInEspana
WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/Vfj2OONzW1 pic.twitter.com/228Hjnk8Bd
— FloHoops (@FloHoops) August 13, 2017
Brandon Randolph. Bucket Getter.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) August 13, 2017
Brandon Randolph … Player of the Year one exhibition game into this thing
— Matt Moreno (@MattGOAZCATS) August 13, 2017
Freshman guard Emmanuel Akot another one of the young talents:
7️⃣ Wildcats on the board & @APlayersProgram is rollin' 🇪🇸 #ArizonaInEspana
END Q1 / 25-8: https://t.co/Vfj2OONzW1 pic.twitter.com/vtAyGWNZVk
— FloHoops (@FloHoops) August 13, 2017
Ayton will greatly enhance Arizona’s inside presence this season:
Casa De Deandre 🏠💪🏾 @RealDeandreAy #ArizonaInEspana 🇪🇸
📹: https://t.co/Vfj2OONzW1 pic.twitter.com/ipSR5eUhsx
— FloHoops (@FloHoops) August 13, 2017
Another freshman, Ira Lee, with another rim-rattling dunk:
Welcome to the 'Cats Club 🐻 ⬇️ @iramandoesit@APlayersProgram on top in Spain 53-27 📹🇪🇸 https://t.co/Vfj2OP5aNz pic.twitter.com/gGb05lQ6j6
— FloHoops (@FloHoops) August 13, 2017
Chase Jeter, a transfer from Duke, is allowed to play in these games, and he showed his promise for Miller starting next season.
Brandon Randolph ↗️ Chase Jeter💥
How about that Wildcats fans⁉️ #ArizonaInEspana @brandolph902 @chasejeter04📹: https://t.co/Vfj2OONzW1 pic.twitter.com/0bv2YUtEuW
— FloHoops (@FloHoops) August 13, 2017
Trier can take it to the hole as well as anybody in the nation:
Allonzo Trier looks like he's in mid season form. (🎥:@FloHoops) pic.twitter.com/SyxbxznoHL
— Arizona DieHards (@ArizonaDieHards) August 13, 2017
Sights and sounds of Arizona’s “business trip” …
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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