Devils in Detail
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ASU WBB: Devils in Detail Pac-12 WBB Rankings, 12-9

By Sam Ficarro

Mar 6, 2016; Seattle , WA, USA; General view of Pac-12 100th anniversary logo trophy at KeyArena. Oregon State defeated UCLA 69-57. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2016; Seattle , WA, USA; General view of Pac-12 100th anniversary logo trophy at KeyArena. Oregon State defeated UCLA 69-57. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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11. Arizona Wildcats

Mar 21, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Arizona Wildcats mascot performs against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Arizona Wildcats mascot performs against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

The Arizona Wildcats are in a transition year. After the Wildcats finished 11th in the Pac-12 with a record of 13-19 and 3-15 in conference play, and a second round exit from the Pac-12 Tournament, the Wildcats parted ways with head coach Niya Butts. Coming in is Adia Barnes, Arizona’s all-time leading scorer. Barnes previously spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach with Washington. She’ll look to restore Arizona’s success in women’s basketball and lead the Wildcats back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005.

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Arizona is currently 8-2 with their last non-conference game to be played Tuesday versus Portland State. The Wildcats are led by a pair of seniors. Forward LaBrittney Jones leads the team with 15.1 PPG and 8.2 RPG. Jones led the team last season in points per game, rebounds, blocks and steals and provides a key presence in the paint. Guard Malena Washington is the other impactful senior for Arizona. Washington is picking up where she left off last year after leading the team in minutes played, made field goals and made three-pointers, averaging 13.5 PPG and 42.2 percent from the field this season.

However, their 8-2 record could be a little deceiving based on the competition Arizona has faced this season. Arizona only faced one Power-5 opponent this season, a road win at Kansas. The Wildcats will be challenged in Pac-12 play because of improved competition and depth in the Pac-12. Barnes has the Wildcats in the right direction, and they won’t be a rollover opponent. Arizona opens up the Pac-12 season at home versus Cal and Stanford this weekend.