2020–21 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team
American college basketball season
The 2020–21 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Arizona during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season . The team was led by 12th-year head coach Sean Miller , in his final season at the program, and played their home games at McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona as members of the Pac-12 Conference . The Wildcats finished the season 17–9, 11–9 in Pac–12 play to finish in fifth place.
The school self-imposed a postseason ban for the 2020–21 season amid an ongoing NCAA investigation over an FBI bribery scandal involving a former assistant coach and agent between 2017 and 2018 hoping to avoid further punishment from the NCAA.[ 1] [ 2] The ban included both the Pac–12 Tournament and the NCAA tournament .[ 3] On April 7, 2021, the school fired head coach Sean Miller due to allegations related to the corruption scandal.[ 4]
Previous season
The Wildcats finished the 2019–20 season 20–11, 10–8 in Pac-12 play to finish in tie for 5th place. They received the 5-seed in the 2020 Pac-12 tournament , where they defeated Washington in the first round and were set to take on USC in the quarterfinals before the remainder of the Pac-12 Tournament was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
Offseason
2020 recruiting class
Dalen Terry , originally from Phoenix , Arizona , was the first commit of the 2020 recruiting class. He verbally committed to Arizona on July 23, 2019 over rival Arizona State , Arkansas , California , Colorado , Memphis , USC and Utah . Terry a consensus four-star prospect out of Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, Arizona .
Bennedict Mathurin , originally from Montreal , Canada was the second commitment of the 2020 recruiting class. He verbally committed to Arizona on January 15, 2020 over Baylor & Washington State . Mathurin a consensus four-star prospect out of the NBA Academy Latin America.
Kerr Kriisa , originally from Tartu , Estonia , was the third commitment of the 2020 recruiting class. He verbally committed to Arizona on April 18, 2020 over BYU , Oregon & Syracuse . Kriisa a consensus four-star prospect out of BC Prienai in Prienai , Lithuania .
Daniel Batcho, originally from Chatenay-Malabry , France , was the fourth commitment in the Arizona class. He committed to Arizona on April 23, 2020, over Arizona State, Creighton , Miami & Virginia Tech . He is a consensus four-star prospect out of Centre Fédéral de Basket-ball in Paris, France .
Tibet Gorener, originally from Şişli , Turkey , was the fifth commitment in the Arizona class. He committed to Arizona on April 28, 2020, over Nebraska , Creighton, UC Santa Barbara & UConn . He is consensus four-star out of Orange Lutheran HS in Orange, California .
Ąžuolas Tubelis , originally from Lithuania , was the sixth commitment in the Arizona class. He committed to Arizona on May 27, 2020. He is currently a four-star prospect out of Rytas Vilnius in Lithuania.
Tautvilas Tubelis, originally from Lithuania , was the seventh commitment in the Arizona class. He committed to Arizona on May 27, 2020. He is currently an unranked prospect out of Rytas Vilnius in Lithuania.
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name
Hometown
High school / college
Height
Weight
Commit date
Dalen Terry G/F
Phoenix, AZ
Hillcrest Prep
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Jul 23, 2019
Recruiting star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports : ESPN : ESPN grade: 84
Bennedict Mathurin G/F
Montreal , Canada
NBA Latin America (MX)
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Jan 15, 2020
Recruiting star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports :
Kerr Kriisa G
Tartu , Estonia
BC Prienai
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
Apr 18, 2020
Recruiting star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports :
Daniel Batcho F
Chatenay-Malabry , France
Centre Fédéral de Basket-ball
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Apr 23, 2020
Recruiting star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports :
Tibet Gorener F
Şişli , Turkey
Orange Lutheran HS (CA)
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Apr 28, 2020
Recruiting star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports :
Ąžuolas Tubelis F
Vilnius , Lithuania
Rytas Vilnius
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (110 kg)
May 27, 2020
Recruiting star ratings : Rivals : 247Sports :
Tautvilas Tubelis F
Vilnius, Lithuania
Rytas Vilnius
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
230 lb (100 kg)
May 27, 2020
Recruiting star ratings : Rivals : N/A 247Sports :
Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals : #7 247Sports : #5 ESPN : #5
Note : In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.
Sources:
2021 recruiting class
Shane Nowell, originally from Sammamish, WA , was the third commit of the 2021 recruiting class. He verbally committed to Arizona on October 31, 2020 over rival Montana , Montana State , Oklahoma & Washington . Nowell was a consensus four-star prospect out of Eastside Catholic in Sammamish, WA.
2022 recruiting class
Coaching changes
On April 3, 2020, Assistant coach Justin Gainey accepted the Associate Head coach position at Marquette.[ 10]
On May 27, 2020, former Arizona great & NBA veteran Jason Terry was announced as an assistant coach on Miller's staff.[ 11]
Personnel
Roster
2020–21 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Height
Weight
Year
Previous school
Hometown
G/F
0
Bennedict Mathurin
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Fr
NBA Academy Latin America (MX)
Montreal , Canada
F
1
Daniel Batcho
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
Fr
Centre Fédéral de Basket-ball
Paris , France
G
3
Jemarl Baker Jr.
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
RS Jr
Kentucky
Menifee, CA
G
4
Dalen Terry
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Fr
Hillcrest Prep
Phoenix, AZ
F
5
Tibet Görener
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Fr
Orange Lutheran HS (CA)
Istanbul , Turkey
F
10
Ąžuolas Tubelis
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
Fr
Rytas Vilnius
Vilnius , Lithuania
F
11
Ira Lee
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
Sr
Crossroads School
Los Angeles, CA
G
13
James Akinjo
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Jr
Georgetown
Oakland, CA
F
20
Tautvilas Tubelis
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Fr
Rytas Vilnius
Vilnius , Lithuania
F
21
Jordan Brown
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
RS So
Nevada
Roseville, CA
G
25
Kerr Kriisa
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Fr
BC Prienai
Tartu , Estonia
G
31
Terrell Brown Jr.
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
GS
Seattle
Seattle, WA
C
35
Christian Koloko
7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
So
Sierra Canyon School (CA)
Douala , Cameroon
F
50
Jordan Mains (W)
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
So
Pinnacle HS
Scottsdale, AZ
G
53
Grant Weitman (W)
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Fr
Salpointe Catholic HS
Tucson, AZ
F
54
Matt Weyand (W)
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Sr
Mater Dei HS
Irvine, CA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on
Roster Last update: Jan. 11, 2021
Freshman forward Daniel Batcho had surgery on his right knee in late October and is out indefinitely. A timeline for his return to the court for the 2020-21 season will be reevaluated in late January.[ 12]
Freshman guard Kerr Kriisa has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA until Feb. 4.[ 13]
Jan. 11, 2021 - Jemarl Baker Jr. out for remainder of the season.[ 14]
Coaching staff
Depth chart
Schedule and results
The Wildcats opponents are still being finalized in the summer and dates and times will be finalized in the fall. Arizona will host opponents Northern Arizona , Northern Colorado ,
Cal State Bakersfield , Cal Baptist & Montana at McKale Center in Tucson, AZ . Arizona was forced to cancel the 2020 NIT Season Tip-Off in Brooklyn with Cincinnati , Texas Tech & St. John's because of the COVID-19 pandemic , as well as the Wildcats two true road against Gonzaga & Illinois . The Pac-12 announced it would add two Pac-12 regular season games from the previous 18-game schedule, adding Colorado & Stanford . The Pac-12 announced on August 11, 2020 that all fall sporting events would be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[ 15]
Date time, TV
Rank#
Opponent#
Result
Record
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Site (attendance) city, state
Regular season
November 27, 2020 *3:00 p.m., P12N
Grambling State
W 74–55
1–0
19 –
15 – J. Brown
7 – T. Brown Jr.
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
December 5, 2020 *12:00 p.m., P12N
Northern Colorado
Cancelled due to Covid-19 at Northern Colorado
McKale Center Tucson, AZ
December 5, 2020 *12:00 p.m., P12N
Eastern Washington
W 70–67
2–0
15 – Akinjo
9 – A. Tubelis
5 – Terry
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
December 7, 2020 *7:00 p.m., P12N
Northern Arizona
W 96–53
3–0
33 – Baker
11 – J. Brown
6 – Terry
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
December 9, 2020 *5:00 p.m., P12N
Cal State Bakersfield
W 85–60
4–0
16 – T. Brown Jr.
6 – Koloko
7 – Akinjo
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
December 12, 2020 *TBD, P12N
New Mexico State
Cancelled due to Covid-19 at New Mexico State
McKale Center Tucson, AZ
December 12, 2020 *4:00 p.m., P12N
UTEP
W 69–61
5–0
18 – Akinjo
7 – Mathurin
3 – Akinjo
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
December 16, 2020 *5:00 p.m., P12N
Cal Baptist
Cancelled due to Covid-19 at Cal Baptist
McKale Center Tucson, AZ
December 19, 2020 5:00 p.m., P12N
at Stanford
L 75–78
5–1 (0–1)
29 – Baker
7 – J. Brown
9 – Akinjo
Kaiser Permanente Arena (0)Santa Cruz, CA
December 21, 2020 *3:00 p.m., P12N
San Diego
Cancelled due to Covid-19 at San Diego
McKale Center Tucson, AZ
December 22, 2020 *5:00 p.m., P12N
Montana
W 70–64
6–1
18 – Akinjo
9 – A. Tubelis
5 – Akinjo
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
December 28, 2020 7:30 p.m., P12N
Colorado
W 88–74
7–1 (1–1)
22 – Akinjo
8 – Koloko
8 – Akinjo
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
December 31, 2020 6:00 p.m., P12N
at Washington
W 80–53
8–1 (2–1)
13 – Mathurin
7 – 2 Tied
4 – 2 Tied
Alaska Airlines Arena (0)Seattle, WA
January 2, 2021 8:30 p.m., P12N
at Washington State
W 86−82 2OT
9−1 (3–1)
24 – Mathurin
11 – Mathurin
6 – Akinjo
Beasley Coliseum (0)Pullman, WA
January 7, 2021 7:00 p.m., ESPN2
USC
L 73–87
9–2 (3–2)
31 – A. Tubelis
9 – Lee
6 – Akinjo
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
January 9, 2021 7:00 p.m., ESPN
UCLA Rivalry
L 76–81
9−3 (3–3)
25 – Akinjo
8 – A. Tubelis
8 – Akinjo
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
January 14, 2021 9:00 p.m., FS1
at Oregon State
W 98−64
10−3 (4−3)
31 – Mathurin
10 – Koloko
9 – Akinjo
Gill Coliseum (0)Corvallis, OR
January 21, 2021 7:00 p.m., ESPN
at Arizona State Rivalry
W 84−82
11−3 (5−3)
24 – Akinjo
7 – A. Tubelis
6 – T. Brown Jr.
Desert Financial Arena (0)Tempe, AZ
January 25, 2021 9:00 p.m., ESPN2
Arizona State Rivalry
W 80−67
12−3 (6−3)
18 – T. Brown Jr.
12 – A. Tubelis
6 – Akinjo
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
January 28, 2021 8:00 p.m., ESPN
Stanford
L 64−73
12−4 (6−4)
17 – Akinjo
5 – 2 Tied
6 – Akinjo
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
January 30, 2021 3:00 p.m., P12N
California
W 71−50
13−4 (7−4)
20 – Akinjo
6 – 2 Tied
8 – Akinjo
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
February 4, 2021 5:00 p.m., FS1
at Utah
L 58−73
13−5 (7−5)
17 – A. Tubelis
7 – 2 Tied
4 – T. Brown Jr.
Jon M. Huntsman Center (0)Salt Lake City, UT
February 6, 2021 6:00 p.m., FS1
at Colorado
L 79−82
13−6 (7−6)
22 – Mathurin
5 – Koloko
7 – Akinjo
CU Events Center (74)Boulder, CO
February 11, 2021 6:00 p.m., P12N
Oregon State
W 70−61
14−6 (8−6)
14 – 2 Tied
10 – A. Tubelis
6 – T. Brown Jr.
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
February 13, 2021 12:00 p.m., ESPN2
Oregon
L 61−63
14−7 (8−7)
20 – A. Tubelis
7 – A. Tubelis
5 – Kriisa
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
February 18, 2021 7:00 p.m., ESPN2
at UCLA Rivalry
L 60−74
14−8 (8−8)
21 – Akinjo
8 – A. Tubelis
3 – 2 Tied
Pauley Pavilion (0)Los Angeles, CA
February 20, 2021 4:00 p.m., FOX
at No. 17 USC
W 81−72
15−8 (9−8)
20 – Akinjo
15 – A. Tubelis
7 – Akinjo
Galen Center (0)Los Angeles, CA
February 25, 2021 9:00 p.m., FS1
Washington State
W 69−53
16−8 (10−8)
19 – Akinjo
9 – A. Tubelis
8 – T. Brown Jr.
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
February 27, 2021 12:00 p.m., CBS
Washington
W 75−74
17−8 (11−8)
26 – Akinjo
15 – A. Tubelis
7 – Akinjo
McKale Center (0)Tucson, AZ
March 1, 2021 7:00 p.m., ESPN2
at Oregon
L 69−80
17−9 (11−9)
19 – Akinjo
7 – Mathurin
8 – Akinjo
Matthew Knight Arena (0)Eugene, OR
*Non-conference game.
# Rankings from
AP Poll . (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in
Mountain Time .
Rankings
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Final AP — — — — RV — — RV — RV — — — — — — — Not released Coaches — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings ^Coaches did not release a Week 2 poll.
Player statistics
Individual player statistics (Final)
Minutes
Scoring
Total FGs
3-point FGs
Free-Throws
Rebounds
Player
GP
GS
Tot
Avg
Pts
Avg
FG
FGA
Pct
3FG
3FA
Pct
FT
FTA
Pct
Off
Def
Tot
Avg
A
PF
TO
Stl
Blk
James Akinjo
26
26
903
34.7
405
15.6
124
327
37.9%
53
130
40.8%
104
127
81.9%
8
51
59
2.3
141
51
60
37
0
Jemarl Baker Jr.
12
12
353
29.4
144
12.0
50
124
40.3%
24
70
34.3%
20
24
83.3%
2
32
34
2.8
21
22
12
7
4
Daniel Batcho
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0%
0
0
0%
0
0
0%
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Terrell Brown Jr.
26
9
666
25.6
190
7.3
62
159
39.0%
14
38
36.8%
52
67
77.6%
13
77
90
3.5
90
37
23
24
6
Jordan Brown
26
12
512
19.7
244
9.4
93
166
56.0%
0
1
0%
58
97
59.8%
41
94
135
5.2
15
61
23
12
23
Tibet Görener
8
0
30
3.8
9
1.1
3
9
33.3%
3
9
33.3%
0
0
0%
0
6
6
0.8
1
4
3
0
0
Christian Koloko
26
19
448
17.2
119
4.6
39
94
52.0%
0
1
0%
35
56
62.5%
58
67
125
4.8
8
70
19
12
35
Kerr Kriisa
8
5
180
22.5
44
5.5
14
42
33.3%
14
38
36.8%
2
2
100%
1
3
4
0.5
19
12
10
3
0
Ira Lee
23
1
256
11.1
68
3.0
27
49
55.1%
0
0
0%
14
19
73.7%
22
48
70
3.0
7
36
23
4
7
Jordan Mains
2
0
4
2.0
3
1.5
1
3
33.3%
1
2
50.0%
0
0
0%
1
0
1
0.5
0
0
0
0
1
Bennedict Mathurin
26
12
647
24.9
280
10.8
88
187
47.1%
38
91
41.8%
66
78
84.6%
32
92
124
4.8
30
43
30
18
2
Dalen Terry
26
14
540
20.8
119
4.6
39
94
41.5%
14
43
32.6%
27
44
55.9%
20
63
83
3.2
38
61
31
19
10
Ąžuolas Tubelis
26
20
689
26.5
317
12.2
115
231
49.8%
13
42
31.0%
74
104
69.2%
67
117
184
7.1
32
65
61
15
16
Tautvilas Tubelis
5
0
9
1.8
1
0.2
0
2
0%
0
2
0.0%
1
2
50.0%
0
1
1
0.2
0
1
0
0
0
Grant Weitman
5
0
8
1.4
0
0
0
0
0%
0
0
0%
0
0
0%
0
1
1
0.2
0
0
0
0
0
Matt Weyand
4
0
6
1.5
0
0
0
0
0%
0
0
0%
0
0
0%
0
1
1
0.2
1
0
0
1
0
Total
19
–
–
–
1961
75.4
667
1492
44.7%
174
468
37.2%
453
623
72.7%
307
690
997
38.3
403
463
309
152
104
Opponents
19
–
–
–
1783
68.5
631
1470
42.9%
184
539
34.1%
337
477
71.7%
223
589
812
31.2
292
524
322
140
72
Awards & milestones
Season highs
Players
Points: Jermal Baker Jr. – 33 (Northern Arizona)
Rebounds: Jordan Brown, Ąžuolas Tubelis (twice) – 15 (Grambling, USC, Washington)
Assists: James Akinjo (twice), Terrell Brown Jr. – 9 (Oregon State, Stanford)
Steals: Akinjo – 5 (Oregon State)
Blocks: Terrell Brown Jr., Christian Koloko (twice) – 4 (Northern Arizona, Cal State Bakersfield, Washington State)
Minutes: Akinjo – 44 (Washington State)
Team
Points: 98 (Oregon State)
Field Goals: 35 (Oregon State)
Field Goal Attempts: 75 (Washington State)
3 Point Field Goals Made: 13 (Northern Arizona)
3 Point Field Goals Attempts: 28 (twice) (Cal State Bakersfield, Washington)
Free Throws Made: 32 (ASU)
Free Throws Attempts: 43 (ASU)
Rebounds: 58 (Washington)
Assists: 21(three) (Cal State Bakersfield, Northern Arizona, Oregon State)
Steals: 10 (ASU)
Blocked Shots: 10 (Northern Arizona)
Turnovers: 18 (Stanford)
Fouls: 29 (Washington State)
Weekly awards
Jermal Baker Jr. (Dec. 14)[ 16]
Bennedict Mathurin (Jan. 4)[ 17]
Ąžuolas Tubelis (Feb. 22)[ 18]
Ąžuolas Tubelis (Mar. 1)[ 19]
Pac-12 Conference honors
James Akinjo
Jordan Brown
Pac-12 6th Man of the Year
Bennedict Mathurin
All―Pac-12 Freshman First Team
Ąžuolas Tubelis
All―Pac-12 Freshman First Team
All―Pac-12 Honorable Mention
See also
2020–21 Arizona Wildcats women's basketball team
References
^ "Arizona is the latest to self-impose a 2021 postseason ban, but the NCAA needs to show that's not enough" . CBSSports.com . Retrieved April 12, 2021 .
^ "Arizona's notice of allegations from NCAA includes five Level I violations stemming from FBI bribery scandal" . CBSSports.com . Retrieved April 12, 2021 .
^ "Arizona Wildcats to self-impose one-year postseason ban over NCAA infractions case" . Archived from the original on December 31, 2020.
^ "Arizona fires coach Sean Miller after 12 seasons" . ESPN.com . April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021 .
^ "Josh Green entering draft after freshman year at Arizona" .
^ "Arizona's Nico Mannion declares for NBA draft" .
^ "Arizona Wildcats' Zeke Nnaji confirms NBA draft decision" .
^ "Georgetown expert analyzes new Arizona commit James Akinjo" .
^ "Seattle grad transfer Terrell Brown commits to Arizona" .
^ "Justin Gainey Returns To MU As Associate head coach" . GoMarquette.com . Retrieved May 28, 2020 .
^ "Jason Terry on Sean Miller's Arizona basketball staff? Former Wildcat responds to report" . coachesdatabase.com . Coaches Database.
^ Pascoe, Bruce. "Arizona freshman forward Daniel Batcho out 'indefinitely' with knee injury" . Tucson.com . Retrieved November 6, 2020 .
^ "Kriisa Granted Eligibility By NCAA; Can Begin Competition Feb. 6" . Arizonawildcats.com . Retrieved December 21, 2020 .
^ Pascoe, Bruce. "Arizona Wildcats guard Jemarl Baker out for season with broken wrist" . Tucson.com . Retrieved January 11, 2021 .
^ "Pac-12 Conference postpones all sport competitions through end of calendar year" .
^ "Pac-12 POW, Week 3" . pac12.com . December 14, 2020. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2020 .
^ "Pac-12 POW, Week 6" . pac12.com . January 4, 2021. Archived from the original on January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021 .
^ "Pac-12 POW, Week 13" . pac12.com . February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021 .
^ "Pac-12 POW, Week 14" . pac12.com . March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021 .
Venues Rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons NCAA national championship in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics